A/N: I decided to go ahead and post this chapter a touch early since I may not get a chance to until late next week, due to visiting with family and all that, so here we go! Enjoy. :)
Beta: The Fantabulous Glitter
The next week begins quietly enough. Hermione makes her way to breakfast with a half-asleep Harry, leaving Ron behind still in his bed.
They head into the large, school-wide cafeteria and Hermione immediately beelines towards the waffles with a happy hum. Loading her plate with two waffles, some strawberries, and a generous dollop of whip cream she heads over to what is commonly seen as the Gryffindor group of tables and settles into her seat after dropping her school bag into the chair beside her. Digging into the pile on her plate, she actually wiggles in her chair with a soft moan of appreciation.
Harry looks up from his coffee with a smirk, arching a brow at his friend. "Enjoying those waffles, Hermione?"
She looks up, licking her lips before grinning unrepentantly. "It's Monday; it's waffle day. Of course I'm enjoying them!" They share a chuckle before she turns back to her favorite breakfast, scooping up a strawberry and licking the whipped cream from it before taking a bite of the fruit.
Hermione glances around the dining hall curiously as others begin to shuffle in while attempting to shake off the haze of the weekend. Her eyes pause briefly on the figure of Draco Malfoy, as always perfectly dressed and presentable. He raises a hand and rakes it through his long fringe as he heads towards his usual seat on the Slytherin side. The movement draws her attention to the woven bracelet on his wrist and her eyes narrow in contemplation. That bracelet… it looks similar to the one that Dr. Riddle always wears.
As though her thoughts summon him Dr. Riddle, accompanied by Dr. Snape, pushes through the doors on her side of the hall and makes his way to the large table used by the staff. She watches the two men as they take their seats at the empty end as far away from Drs. McGonagall and Sprout as possible and each pours a cup of steaming liquid - tea for Dr. Riddle, coffee for Dr. Snape.
Hermione tilts her head and watches them converse for a moment, when suddenly Tom's eyes flicker away from his companion and meet hers. Their gazes lock and even across the intervening space Hermione is drawn into his sea-colored gaze and she can almost imagine his scent, electric and rushing over her like a wave.
As quickly as it begins, the moment ends when Dr. Dumbledore steps between them and stops to speak to the professors. She swallows and turns back to her waffles, shaking her head minutely as though to shake off the sensations.
She digs into the perfectly fluffy stack with a happy sigh. I swear the cooking staff must use some kind of magic to make these. She smiles as she stabs a strawberry and swirls it through the whipped cream before raising it to her mouth. Her tongue flicks against the skin of the berry as she slowly removes all of the cream before she takes a bite, her eyes closing in rapture. After polishing off the fruit with a few more bites, she sucks the fork clean of the juice.
Feeling as though she is being watched, she opens her eyes slowly and looks around. Once again, she finds her eyes moving to Dr. Riddle. His eyes are locked on her mouth and the fork still stuck in it, the pale pink juice staining her lips. Hermione's eyes widen slightly as she notices his hands clutching his mug tight enough that his knuckles are white and the tendons are straining.
She can feel her cheeks flushing as she withdraws the fork and, after hesitating for a moment, stabs a piece of waffle; liberally covering it with whipped cream, she raises it back to her mouth. Her eyes flicker towards Dr. Riddle. She watches him watch her before her tongue darts out to lick the cream from the waffle.
His hands spasm around his cup before he sets it down suddenly with a clatter, his eyes never moving away from her mouth as she digs the tip of her tongue into one of the nooks to scoop out a bit of cream. She smirks before taking a small bite, chewing for a moment before her tongue flits out to lick a bit of cream from the corner of her mouth.
Hermione giggles quietly as she watches Tom swallow hard, his eyes dark and glittering even from across the room. She takes another bite before raising the fork back to her mouth, licking the tines slowly.
Suddenly his eyes shift and lock onto hers, making Hermione gasp softly in surprise. Caught, she bites down on her lower lip and she can feel the blush creeping down her face to her neck. Tom shifts in his chair, propping his elbows on the table as he keeps his eyes on hers, his thumb lightly stroking his lower lip as one eyebrow quirks upwards in challenge.
She swallows, biting down on the tines of her fork for a moment as she watches him before slowly laying it on the table. She glances down at her plate quickly as she picks up the last strawberry with her fingers and, her eyes moving back to his, carefully brings it to her mouth. She licks the berry once before biting into it, slowly eating the entire thing all while gazing into his eyes.
His lips twitch, quirking into a slight smirk, as he glances down at her lips before moving back to her eyes, silently challenging her to keep going. Hermione swallows and then sucks each of her sticky sweet fingertips, tongue curling around one at a time as she draws the remnants of the cream and strawberry juice from her skin.
Tom's eyes narrow, focusing on her mouth as she sucks her fingers clean. His hand has stopped moving, the thumb pressing against his lips, as he watches her closely. When she removes her hand, his eyes trail down her throat before darting back to hers. With a flash of bright white teeth, he bites down on his thumb, making Hermione gasp softly, jolting straight in her chair.
Harry looks over at his friend with a slight frown. "Alright there, 'Mione?"
Hermione jumps again as Harry's voice intrudes upon the connection between her and Tom, her head turning back to her friend sharply with wide eyes. "Sorry, what was that, Harry?"
Her friend frowns, leaning towards her slightly. "Are you feeling alright? You just jumped a mile and you look awfully flushed. Maybe you should skip history and go see Nurse Pomfrey."
She clears her throat and smiles at her dark-haired friend. "Oh, no, I'm fine, Harry. Just had a strawberry seed caught; don't worry."
He arches a brow at her then shrugs. "If you say so." He tosses back the rest of his coffee before standing up. "Ready to head to class? I'm sure Binns is waiting just for us." He grins and wiggles his brows.
Hermione laughs and takes one last bite of her waffles before hopping up. "Of course, Harry. Let's get going." She grabs her bag and when her fingers wrap around the rope-repaired handle, she glances over her shoulder at Tom. He is also standing and moving towards the door, deep in conversation with Snape but, feeling her gaze, he glances over towards her, their eyes meeting for a long moment before he steps outside with his colleague.
. . . . . . . . . .
By the end of the day, Tom is tired and ready to get back to his flat and far away from every other person. Unfortunately, he told Severus earlier, at the other man's request, that he would stop by his office before leaving for the day. After gathering his coat and briefcase, he steps out of the building and makes his way over to the sciences.
Taking the steps quickly, he pushes into the main hall and moves to Severus' office. Pushing the door open without bothering to knock, he moves inside with a soft growl. "Severus, whatever you wanted please make it quick. I'm ready to get the hell out of here and away from all of the -" He freezes upon noticing that while Severus is not in the office, Hermione Granger is.
She is staring up at him from her seat with wide brown eyes, an open notepad perched on her knee and pen poised loosely in her hand. As she watches him straighten up, recovering from his loose tongue, she smiles slightly. "Sorry, sir, but Dr. Snape isn't in at the moment."
Tom blinks at her before narrowing his eyes slightly. "Really, Miss Granger? I do believe I am able to see that with my own eyes."
Hermione's lips twitch, eyes sliding away for a moment before she looks back up to him. "Of course, sir. I assume the professor wouldn't mind you waiting here for him. I'll be very quiet and won't bother you." She tilts her head slightly as she taps her pen against her chin. "I believe he said he'd be back momentarily; it shouldn't be a very long wait."
He straightens his posture at her words, as he glances over to the clock on the wall before looking back to Hermione, eyes locking onto the pen that hovers near her mouth. "Well, he never specified what he wanted, exactly. It may be important. There's no harm in waiting for a few moments." Sea-green eyes shift and lock onto hers, which are deep brown in the dim lighting of the office. "And what, exactly, are you doing here today, Miss Granger? I believe Mondays are your day off from assisting Severus."
She shrugs and smiles slightly. "They are, but I had a few things to clear up with Dr. Snape from class and this was the best time for him to meet with me. I just had a few questions." She bites down on the end of the pen, eyes never leaving his.
"Oh?" Tom licks his lips as he takes a step closer, his coat brushing against the arm of her chair. "From what I've heard, it's never 'just a few questions' from you, Miss Granger." He smirks, eyes flicking down to her mouth then back to her eyes, one brow arching at her.
Hermione blushes, a soft touch of peach spreading across the cream of her cheekbones before she grins up at him. "Perhaps not, but I've never been your student; have I, sir?" She shifts in her chair, re-crossing her legs and he notices the small dimple on the side of her left knee.
He clears his throat softly before slowly shaking his head, his eyes locking back onto hers. "No, you never have been a student in my classroom."
Her eyes widen as she tilts her head to look up at him. She can feel her heart pounding as she takes a deep breath, the scent she has come to recognize as purely his – as Tom's – filling her lungs. He has moved right beside her chair and when she moves her foot the tiniest amount, it presses against his slacks-covered calf.
One long-fingered hand grasps the arm of her chair as Tom leans down towards her, never moving his eyes from hers. He moves his leg slightly and presses it harder against her foot until it has curled around his calf.
Hermione swallows as she carefully uncrosses her legs, sliding her foot all the way down his calf to the floor, his leg now between hers. Her tongue flickers over her lips, wetting them nervously as his eyes flicker to her mouth and follow the movement.
Tom leans forward slightly more, inhaling her soft vanilla-and-jasmine scent. His breath stirs a wisp of curls at her ear as he tilts his head closer.
Suddenly the sound of a door banging farther down the hallway makes Tom startle and step back, bumping against Severus's desk. Hermione gasps in surprise and drops her notepad to the floor as she straightens abruptly.
Their eyes meet for a heartbeat before she blushes deeply and looks down, leaning over to pick up her notepad just as Severus walks into the room.
"So sorry I am late, Tom! I had to make a quick visit to the loo– Miss Granger! I told you to meet me here as well, didn't I? Christ, this day is never going to end, is it," Severus growls as he dumps his briefcase onto his desk.
Tom forces his eyes away from Hermione and over to his friend, smirking as he shrugs. "Well, it has been an… interesting day." He glances sideways toward her before looking back at Severus. "What was it that you needed, Severus? I would like to get out of here as well and only stopped by at your request, my friend."
Severus sighs and rolls his eyes. "It is not of the utmost importance at all, but since you're here now… Miss Granger, I apologize; would you mind stepping out into the hallway for a moment while I speak with Dr. Riddle?"
Hermione nods quickly as she hops up from her chair with a small wobble. A hand curls around her elbow to steady her and she looks up in surprise, meeting Tom's eyes once again. "Thank you, sir. I'll just be in the hall." She smiles and then nods to both men as she slips out of the office, pulling the door closed behind her.
She sighs deeply as she leans against the wall beside the door, closing her eyes and relaxing for a moment. Her head pops back up suddenly as, turning towards the door and listening carefully, she can make out Tom and Severus' conversation rather clearly. Oh, the door didn't latch all of the way! I shouldn't listen in, but they really aren't trying to be that quiet…
She chews on her lip for a moment before taking a step closer to the door, straining to listen more closely to the two men inside the office.
"…it has become a small concern, Tom. Lucius has said something to me all on his own about it."
"You are actually telling me that you and Lucius have discussed my love life or rather the lack thereof, Severus?"
Hermione's brows arch sharply, her mouth popping open in surprise. 'Lack thereof'? He doesn't have anyone he's involved with?
"Only because we are, and I shall only repeat myself one last time, concerned. When was the last time you had a partner? Or, if not a long-term partner, invited someone to a gathering? I'm sure either Lucius or I could find someone you would get along with."
"No, but thank you. It was Lucius who tried to set me up with that idiot woman last spring. She could barely find her arse with both hands, a map, and my explicit instruction, Severus. Trust me; I found this out in excruciating detail during our last session before I sent her on her merry way."
Hermione's eyes widen as she brings a hand up to her mouth, chewing idly on the knuckle of one finger. Session? That's an odd way of saying he had some kind of a relationship with this woman, whoever she was.
She can hear Severus' snort and the sneer in his voice. "It sounds as though you broke her too quickly, Tom. Lucius does not associate with women that dull on a daily basis. I believe she was a partner at one of his firms."
"Then she must be the jest of the office, because I certainly didn't even have a chance to 'break' her, as you put it. She had a great arse but that was the end of her appeal. I am now fairly certain Lucius sent her to me as a joke. She wanted me to handcuff her, Severus."
"Good Lord. All right, I concede Lucius may have been taking the piss out of you; but as it stands you still need a new partner. Even some of the others have mentioned in passing you haven't brought anyone with you the last several months. Maybe try and find someone before next month's gathering, at least to shut everyone up."
She shuffles a step closer, head bent towards the door as her eyes flitter up and down the hallway watching for anyone who may interrupt her little spying session. Gatherings and handcuffs? What exactly are they talking about here? Not that I think I'd mind Dr. Riddle handcuffing me, but… Are they in some kind of cult? I believe they just might be; they both wear those bracelets… which Lucius and Draco Malfoy both have as well! They must all be a part of the same group! But what kind of gatherings are they?
"Fine; all right, fine! I'll attempt to find someone to accompany me to the next gathering. But it's not just going to be some random girl! Anyone I bring with me will be someone I can work with for longer than a bloody week. And you know what that means for you and Lucius: you'll be assisting me."
"Oh, goody." Severus' voice is as dry and excited as sand, even through the door. Hermione bites down on her knuckle to keep the laughter from bubbling out. "I suppose I have to agree to it, as you well know. Just be sure she's not such a complete idiot as the last one. She may have had a great arse, but the woman tried to cuddle with me." His voice has gone sneering and with that, Hermione turns her head away while struggling not to laugh out loud.
Cuddle? With Doctor Severus Snape? Whoever this woman was, she truly must not have possessed any sense. But cuddling? In just what situation were they in where anyone would be cuddling? I wish I knew more about what they are doing!
"You are a complete arse; I knew you found her as idiotic as I did! And, as you well know, finding an interested, interesting, and intelligent woman who doesn't look like Minerva McGonagall is nigh unto impossible. But I shall endeavor to satisfy your demands, your highness." Tom's voice is mocking and Hermione can imagine him even executing an equally irreverent bow to her professor. Which, she can imagine just as well, would outline his arse in those well tailored slacks and…
Stop it! He's your professor, what must be the last vestige of her rational mind protests.
Well, that's not completely true, a small voice hisses in the dark recesses of her mind. You've never been a student in his classroom, remember?
Hermione groans softly and lets her head fall back against the wall. She closes her eyes. Fine; I've gone and developed a crush on Tom Riddle. It's not as though I could help it, though, could I? He's ridiculously attractive and even more intelligent. And he seems to like me well enough. She sighs and thumps her head against the wall. "Don't be stupid, Granger."
"Of all the words to describe you, Miss Granger, I'd never believe 'stupid' to be one of them."
She yelps as she jumps away from the wall, her eyes flying open to take in the sight of Tom standing only a few feet away, smirking down at her. While lost in her own thoughts, she has missed Tom leaving Severus' office and hearing her speak to herself.
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir! I didn't hear you leave Dr. Snape's office. I was just, uhm, thinking about… things." She blushes and looks down before peering up at him again from under her lashes.
Tom tilts his head slightly as he watches her practically squirming in front of him. The tip of his tongue peeks out as he licks his lower lip. She is unbelievably enticing when she blushes and stands in front of him so demure and innocent looking. He knows better now, after her display with the waffle this morning; he knows she is not completely innocent. He can feel the stir in his slacks at the vision she presents in his mind and shakes his head slightly, straightening up.
"Of course, Miss Granger. I must be going now. I hope you have an interesting evening." He smirks down at her, nodding as he walks past her and into the stairwell.
Hermione waits until Tom has left her sight completely before she leans against the wall, pressing her hot cheek to the cool plaster with a soft groan. Things have just become so much more complicated.