A/N: Yes, I know. It's been a horribly long wait and all I can say is I'm so sorry! School was pretty much hellacious this semester. But I buckled down and got this done as quickly as possible, passed it on to the beta, and here we go! :D I am almost done with the next one, as well, so it should be posted soon.

Thank you so much to all of you lovely readers and reviewers! You're all amazing. *hearts*

Beta: The Magnificient Glitter

After Lucius' departure, Tom and Hermione moved from the playroom and down the stairs into the living room. Tucking her into the couch, he presses his lips to her forehead and strokes her hair back, before pulling back enough to look down at her. "Are you feeling alright? Grounded?"

Hermione smiles and nods, letting her head fall back against the corner of the couch. "Mmm. I'm good, yes."

He chuckles and strokes a knuckle down her cheek. "I'm going into the kitchen for some water, and I'll heat up some chips, and we can watch a movie. Sound good?"

"Oh, that'd be brilliant. Thank you!" She sighs happily, tucking the corners of her sheet – because it truly is hers at this point – around her still nude body a bit more securely as she settles deeper into the couch.

Tom smirks, watching her settle in before he strolls back to the kitchen. It only takes a few minutes for him to dig out a couple of bottles of water and to toss a plate of chips into the stove to heat. After dumping them into a large bowl, he grabs the waters and heads back to the living room, smiling again when he spots Hermione with the clicker, passing through channels idly.

"There isn't a whole lot on… oh, a classic movie marathon?" She turns her bright eyes towards him, watching him approach and settle on the couch on the cushion beside her, setting the bowl and one of the bottles onto the coffee table.

"Sure, that's fine." Tom reaches over, pushing the second water into her hands, before tugging her feet into his lap and making himself comfortable.

Hermione's eyes widen as his fingers idly begin stroking her ankles and the tops of her feet, and she watches him for a long moment, before following suit and settling back.

They spend the rest of the afternoon, cozied up on the couch, snacking on chips and water, chatting about school and life, before they find time is intruding on their relaxing afternoon, and Hermione is forced to return to her dorm.

-.-.-.-.-.-

The next week starts off clear and cool, the ever-elusive sun shining down on Hogwarts' campus and melting through the remaining slush.

Humming under her breath as she braids her hair back from her face, Hermione smiles as her thoughts run back to the weekend. Her first time with Tom was perfect, he was perfect, and she is still glowingly ecstatic.

Of course, the wrinkle is being unable to even mention the possibility of their current relationship to anyone else. The thought makes her sigh as she twists a hair tie around the end of her braid, before grabbing her bag and heading out to the common room.

Upon reaching the large room, she glances around curiously. It's empty, which isn't unusual for that time of the morning – most of the students are at or on their way to breakfast – but the messy-haired young man slouching in one of the plush chairs is unusual.

"Harry! You're up and about rather early for a Monday morning." Hermione smiles as she walks over towards him, swinging her bag idly.

"Hermione." Harry's tone of voice makes her pause, her steps faltering for just a moment as she looks down at her long time friend.

"Would you like to walk me to breakfast? I'm hoping for some sausage; it sounds particularly good this morn– "

Harry interrupts her suddenly. "Where were you this weekend?"

She freezes, her mouth opening just slightly and her eyes widening minutely. After a heartbeat, she blinks. "With my parents, Harry. I told you that! They're in town for –"

"They called me when they couldn't get a hold of you. Figured I was their best bet for knowing where you were, and yet… I couldn't really tell them where you either, because I didn't know, Hermione." Harry surges up from his chair, scowling down at her.

Drawing in a deep breath, she closes her eyes briefly then opens them, staring up at him. "Harry, just - will you calm down, please? It's not, it's not bad, ok? I was…" She groans, covering her face with her hands before letting them drop. "I was with a - a friend."

Harry's brows fly up his forehead as he nods. "A friend? Right."

"Right. A friend. A very good friend. A male friend. Uhm." Hermione licks her lips, nibbling at the corner of her mouth before she looks up at him with wide brown eyes.

"A boyfriend, you mean? Hermione, you don't have a boyfriend."

"Uhm, well, actually..." She lets out a little laugh at Harry's incredulous expression.

"You're telling me you have a boyfriend, a boyfriend that no one else knows about, and you were will him all weekend? Where no one knew where you were? And why didn't you answer your phone?"

Hermione sighs and crosses her arms over her chest, a small scowl creeping over her face. "Yes, Harry. I have a boyfriend, I was with him all weekend, in private. And I forgot to plug it in, so it died. I threw it in my bag this morning and hadn't even looked at it." She looks up at him with narrowing eyes. "Satisfied?"

"Not nearly!" He pushes a hand through his hair before throwing his arms out. "What if something happened? Or this guy isn't a good guy or he hurt you or something? No one would've known, Hermione!"

Jerking back in surprise, her eyes widen before she reaches out and pokes him hard in the chest multiple times. "Now see here, Harry James Potter! Firstly, I'm older than you and can do as I please. Secondly, he isn't a bad guy and would never do anything to harm me! Thirdly, none of it is your business! And for your information, Ginny knows that I have a boyfriend. She doesn't know his name, because he's a bit older than me, and we're keeping it quiet until after I graduate, but she knew and I'm glad she's a good enough friend to keep her mouth shut."

Glaring at him, Hermione pokes him once more for good measure before drawing up to her full height. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get to class." She spins around and stomps away from him.

Hearing a mumbled "fuck" before a few thudding footsteps, Hermione feels it when Harry reaches out and grabs her arm, tugging her to a stop. "Hermione, no, wait. I'm sorry, all right? I know, it isn't my place, and I'm a huge prat, and I am sorry. I was just worried about you, and you didn't answer your phone, and… I'm sorry."

She sighs deeply, looking up at the ceiling as he rambles his apology until she spins around on her heel and frowns up at her oldest friend. "It's all right, Harry. And I apologize as well. I should've checked my phone and kept it charged; I'm sorry about that." She quirks a brow as he relaxes at her words. "But not for going away and having a good weekend. That's still my business, and I would do it again, and still not tell you where I was going."

Harry sighs and nods, before tugging her into his arms for a tight hug. "All right, I get it." He relaxes fully once she returns the hug, before stepping back from him.

"Good. And remember that." Hermione smiles up at him, before reaching out and hooking her arm through his. "Come on, walk me to breakfast. Maybe there are a few sausages left that Ron didn't get to."

Laughing, Harry nods, acquiescing, and walks down to the cafeteria hall with her, arm in arm.

-.-.-.-.-.-

Tom sits at his desk, staring at the long cold tea in his mug, a small smile playing around his lips.

He doesn't even hear the tall figure slipping into his office and shutting the door. Not until a rather large and very heavy book is dropped right in front of him, making him jump from the chair, knee cracking against the underside of the desk, tea sloshing in the mug and sprinkling a few nearby papers with small brown spots. "Bloody fuck!"

Glaring at the darkly chuckling Severus, Tom hisses at him. "What the hell is wrong with you, Snape?!"

With a smirk, Severus shrugs one shoulder before gesturing with a long pale hand to the book. "You asked to borrow it. I was finished with it, so now you may borrow it."

"Yes, but a normal person wouldn't have just dropped it on the desk like that. Did you even bother knocking? This isn't your office, you know." Tom sighs and brushes his hand along his tie as he settles back into his chair, still scowling at the man in front of him.

Severus's smirk widens as he watches Tom, settling back onto his heels as he crosses his arms over his chest. "I did, actually. You, however, weren't paying attention. Apparently that cold mug of tea was more important than acknowledging one of your oldest friends knocking at your door."

Rolling his eyes, Tom sighs and waves a hand negligently, spinning his chair to the side. "Oh, bugger off. But leave the book."

"Yes, that's all well and good, after all, but I'm here for another reason. Lucius needs a count for Saturday. You are bringing your new pet, aren't you?" Black eyes narrowed, the slender man watches his old friend closely. The slight twitch of the eyebrow, a flash of white teeth nipping the line of his lower lip, the taut stretch of skin over his knuckles as his fingers tense. Oh yes, Lucius was correct. I owe the arse a bottle of something expensive.

"Of course, I am. I told you before, mummy; I'll be bringing a companion this month." Tom glances over at Severus, the light streaming from the window turning his eyes silver-green before he turns his chair again. "So yes, tell his Lordship that there will be the two of us."

Severus chuckles darkly, spreading his hands and bowing deeply, "As your Highness commands." He then throws two fingers up in Tom's direction before spinning on his heel, the hem of his coat flaring as he strides out of the office.

Tom chuckles quietly, propping his chin up in his hand as he leans back over the paperwork on his desk though it is only a few moments before his eyes drift to the side, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

-.-.-.-.-.-

Settling into his office chair, Severus sighs as he raises the ringing mobile to his ear. After three rings – precisely, as always – there is a click.

"It took you long enough, Severus."

"Are you quite serious, Lucius? We spoke not even an hour ago."

"I did say it was of the utmost importance, did I not? Or is my memory failing? Of slight importance? Not at all important? Important whenever you get to it, maybe?"

He hisses into the phone, "Lucius. Shut up. Yes, he is bringing her along to the meeting."

"Oh, thank all the holy saints. I was beginning to wonder if his cock had fallen off. Maybe that harpy you set him up with had removed it with her talons."

"That was you, Lucius. You set him up with the harpy."

"Did I? Well, damn. Won't be able to do that again, now will I? He's set now."

"You know; I do believe you're correct."

"Of course, I am. Maybe you should look into bringing a companion as well." There is a sudden click over the line.

Severus sighs and taps the power button, muttering, "Arse can never just say goodbye."

-.-.-.-.-.-

The rest of the week passes in a blur; classes and friends, quick meetings during her lab hours, texts between all the other things in their lives. Before either Tom or Hermione realizes it, she is slipping from the dorm after lunch on the next Saturday and knocking on his door.

The next meeting is later that night, and they have a small drive ahead of them to Wiltshire.