Beta: Glitter
The rest of the day passes in a blur, though Hermione keeps thinking to herself that it is the slowest day ever. Every glance at the clock shows only another minute has passed, but before she knows it the last class of the day is released and she makes her way to Dr. Snape's classroom.
She gnaws on her lower lip as she makes her way down the hall and to the door, reaching out to knock just as the door flies open, causing her to step back with a surprised noise. "Oh!"
Standing in the doorway, tall, blond, and good-looking Draco Malfoy sneers down at the other student. "Granger. What are you doing here?"
Hermione narrows her eyes and straightens up, throwing her shoulders back with a haughty sniff. "I have a meeting with Dr. Snape and Dr. Riddle, actually. What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
One pale brow arching, he crosses his arms over his chest as his grey eyes move down her body, lingering on her chest for a few seconds too long. "I was speaking with Unc- Dr. Snape." He smirks, eyes glancing back up to hers.
His grin only widens at her affronted expression and she redoubles her glare at him. "Please control yourself. This isn't some bar on Knockturn Alley. Now, excuse me. I have a meeting…"
Draco leans against the doorframe, blocking the entrance. "Uncle Severus actually just stepped out; he had to run to the loo. He'll be back in a moment. So, for now, it's just you and me." He sighs deeply before his expression turns wistful. "Oh, what to do, what to do."
Hermione snorts and steps back. "There's nothing for you and me to do, Malfoy. Please move so I can go inside and wait." She glances at her watch, frowning slightly. "They should be back here shortly."
He pouts down at her. "Are you sure it was today, Granger? It seems odd that two such punctual men as my uncles aren't already here, waiting for you to… come." His eyes gleam devilishly.
She huffs and stomps one foot, opening her mouth to berate him just as a deep voice sounds from just to her side. "What exactly is going on here? Miss Granger, why aren't you in the classroom?"
Hermione whirls and gasps softly as she realizes Dr. Riddle is standing only a few feet away, her brown eyes widening in surprise. "Dr. Riddle! Oh, I'm sorry, sir, er. I was just having a – discussion – with Draco here." Her eyes narrow as she glares back over her shoulder at the blond prat.
Upon hearing Tom's voice, Draco straightens up and smiles pleasantly. "Unc- Dr. Riddle, sorry, it's all my fault, I'm afraid. I was just discussing… this weekend with Uncle Severus and he had to step out for a moment. I was just telling Granger here he'd be back in a few moments."
Hermione's mouth drops open as she stares at Draco, her hand clenching the strap of her bag. "You…! I've never heard such rubbish in my life!"
Tom arches a brow and looks at Hermione, surprise flickering over his face for a moment before his eyes move down her tense form, taking in her squared shoulders and braced legs. "Hm. I'm afraid we have a meeting, Draco. You should get back to your dorm. I believe your father's condition for your participation this weekend was that you be caught up on your school work and prepared for the next week." He smirks at the younger man before nodding. "Good afternoon, Draco."
The blond's eyes widen and he nods quickly. "Yes, sir. Good afternoon, Dr. Riddle. Granger." He smirks at the girl before skirting around her and striding off down the hallway, hands tucked into his pockets.
Hermione mutters softly to herself, glaring at his retreating form before she turns to move into the classroom – only to yelp as she collides with Tom's body, dropping her bag to the floor with a loud crack as she begins to fall. Hands grasp her arms and jerk her back up, making her squeak as she is hauled up against his hard chest. She gasps softly, her hands grasping his shirt before she looks up startled, into his eyes.
Tom swallows hard, staring down into her whisky colored eyes. He has always thought of them as merely brown, but with the light shining through he now picks out flecks and smears of gold and amber. "Are you alright, Miss Granger?"
She nods slowly, her tongue brushing over her lips as she watches his eyes glance down at the movement. "Y-yes, Dr. Riddle. I, I'm so sorry, I should have… been watching." She breathes in deeply, sighing a little at his scent, the same sandalwood and ozone that she noticed in his office, which is at the same time earthy and electrifying.
His fingers flex for a moment around her arms before he checks that she is settled on her feet. "I apologize, I should have waited for you to pass first. It would have been the gentlemanly thing to do." He smiles self-deprecatingly before glancing down at the floor. "Let me get that." He swoops down and picks up her bag, frowning. "I am afraid your strap has broken."
"Oh, no! I was hoping it would last longer!" Hermione steps forward and frowns at the snapped leather before sighing deeply. "I suppose I'll just need to get a new one sooner than I'd planned." She shakes her head, chewing on her lower lip in consternation.
Tom tilts his head, watching her for just a moment too long before he motions. "Come into the classroom. Let's see what can be done about it while we wait for Severus. Apparently, he has gotten lost." He smiles before pressing his hand against her lower back, ushering her into the lab.
Hermione shivers at the feeling of his large, warm hand, distinct even through her shirt and jumper. "That's very kind of you, sir, but I'm afraid it's seen the end of its usefulness. It's an old bag; it was my father's when he was at university."
He quirks a brow at her words before walking over to Severus's desk, peering around for a moment before grabbing the spool of dark twine with only the barest hint of hesitation. "It's worth something to you, then. If you'll allow me, I'd like to at least attempt to repair it. I'm quite good with rope, I've been told." He glances over at her from under his dark lashes, his smile turning wicked for a moment.
Her eyes widen as she watches him, a blush spreading over her lightly freckled cheeks. "Sure, I mean... the worst that you could do is not fix it, right?" She smiles shakily, her eyes floating down to his hands as he begins twisting and unspooling a long stretch of the thin fiber.
"That's right, Miss Granger. The worst I could do." Tom smirks over at her as his long fingers begin to wrap and twist the rope around her bag's strap, anchoring it in the still-secured D-ring before creating a latticework around the existing leather. Hermione settles at the desk closest to Tom, her eyes fixated on his long, pale fingers as he works the rope through and around, pushing it through loops and pulling it tight into little flowery knots. She sucks her lip into her mouth, chewing on it absently as she watches in silence.
After about twenty minutes, he twists off the rope with a flourish and, grabbing a pair of scissors from a black glass cup on Severus's desk, cuts it. He twists the remaining few inches and pulls it around, tucking it back into the pretty design neatly before he holds it out to her with a smug look. "Here you go, Miss Granger. That should do it."
She reaches out and takes the bag carefully, her fingers stroking the flower-like design of interweaving rope. "Thank you so much! And it's so pretty. How do you know how to do that?"
Tom chuckles and replaces the now noticeably smaller spool on Severus' desk. "It's called an Ashley's Flower Knot. I was a Scout." His eyes focus on her stroking fingers, still idly playing with the black rope that now makes an interesting contrast from the worn brown leather and canvas.
Hermione's eyes flick back up to his face, a blush spreading down her neck as she smiles brilliantly. "Well, thank you and all of your rope tying experience, sir. I appreciate it very much."
He snorts softly and spreads his hands in front of him with a smile. "However I can be of service to you. You're welcome." He smirks before his eyes move to the door, brow arching as he notices Severus hovering in the doorway, black-clad arms crossed over his chest. "Severus, it's about time you decided to grace us with your presence. This meeting was scheduled to start over twenty minutes ago."
Severus scowls mildly as he walks into his lab. "Dumbledore caught me as I was leaving the loo; you know how he likes to go on." He nods to Hermione as he walks over to his desk. "Miss Granger. I am assuming you have some paperwork for me; go ahead and pull it all out, then." He stops and stares at his desk for a long moment before glaring at Tom as he reaches over and pushes the rope a few inches to the left.
Tom chuckles and glances back to Hermione, who is watching them with wide, glittering eyes. When she notices his look, she blushes and quickly digs into her bag, pulling out a folder. "Oh, yes, sir, Dr. Snape. Here! I looked over my schedule and what I know of your classes and came up with this preliminary chart." She steps forward and passes the papers over to the chemist.
He nods and grabs a red pen from the glass cup. He flips through the papers, making a few notations here and there before he holds them out to Tom. "Would you like to look over these and make any changes or suggestions, Tom?"
He drags his eyes away from Hermione. "Hm?" He contemplates the folder for a long moment before he shakes his head. "No, I can't imagine why I would need to, Severus. She's in your care, after all. I'm not going to be here." He glances back at the young woman then nods. "Right, well, I'm off. I have my own paperwork to complete, after all. Severus, Miss Granger. Good afternoon." He stands and strides from the room without waiting for a response from either of them.
Hermione blinks in surprise and watches Tom leave before looking back over to Severus, her expression relaying her confusion. "That was oddly abrupt."
Severus narrows his eyes at the door before looking back to his student. "This schedule works for me. You will be here at seven o'clock in the mornings on Wednesdays and Fridays, and stay until five o'clock on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That is an additional six hours a week. I will undoubtedly require your assistance on special lab days as well, allowing for your schedule."
She nods quickly, fingers squeezing the strap of her bag. "Yes, sir. That's perfect." She smiles up at him. "Thank you, again, for allowing me this opportunity, sir."
He nods and holds the folder back out to her. "Of course, Miss Granger. You are all set, and I will see you tomorrow morning."
Hermione nods and reaches out to take the folder, pausing as she notices the black twine bracelet snug around his wrist. "Uhm, yes. Thank you, sir. See you in the morning!" She blinks then smiles again. "Good afternoon, Dr. Snape." She backs from the room quickly, clutching the papers to her chest.
Severus watches her leave before he rolls his eyes and sits down at the desk to complete some grading of his own. After a moment of silence, he looks up and stares hard at his desk. "Where are my scissors?"