A/N: Thank you for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter! This one hasn't been beta'd, but through no fault at all by the lovely lanamarymack and Angela 007. I'm just a slow poke this week! You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you think of chapter twenty and be on the lookout for chapter twenty-one soon!
Considering how to spend his Saturday, tea with Abraxas Malfoy was now rather low on his list. Tom was not looking forward to being badgered by the scion about giving up Hermione and following the narrow path that Abraxas had defined for him. But, to his chagrin, he found that he didn't have anything better to do and so he'd accepted the invitation before he could change his mind.
When he walked through the Floo, he was immediately disappointed to see that he was the only one invited to this impromptu afternoon in the conservatory.
"And what have I done to earn the honor of a one and one afternoon with you, Brax?" Tom asked, attempting to hide his annoyance. Although he was sure Abraxas knew his true feelings, there was still the need to veil what one was really thinking, so as not to outright offend.
"Well, I invited Edmond and Evan, but they were otherwise engaged," Abraxas said. "Evan is off hunting with his future father-in-law and Edmond had business on the continent."
Tom knew that the blond was lying, but he wasn't going to call him out on it unnecessarily. He didn't want this to be an unpleasant afternoon if he didn't need it to be. Still, it didn't stop him from wishing that he was holed away with Hermione all weekend - in her flat or his, he wasn't particular.
Salazar, Tom could admit to himself now that he could spend years with Hermione and never tire of her. She wasn't just a passing fancy that he would tire of once he wrenched every bit of novelty from her. No, she was something he wanted to come back to again and again, a familiar favorite who would never go stale. He couldn't believe the way that she'd breezed into his life with a smirk and completely upended him.
For the first time in his life, Samhain was colored with good feelings rather than the disdain that normally followed. He never thought that his witch would be so bold as to initiate sex in a forest, but he found that Hermione was full of surprises.
In all of his fantasies of what their first time together would be like, he had never imagined it would be after a failed Samhain ritual. He was almost embarrassed at his complete lack of control where she was concerned. But, he quickly rectified his mistake. He'd gone back to her flat the morning after Samhain and finally crossed the threshold to her room and she didn't let them leave for the rest of the weekend. The rest of the month of November was spent oscillating between deep conversations about ancient magic and eager tumbles in the sheets. They couldn't keep their hands off of one another.
And, for once in his life, Tom just enjoyed himself, not bothering with thoughts of the future domination of the British Wizarding World. It was nearly all he'd thought about since he was a teenager - he could allow himself a bit of fun.
Now, his plans would have to be changed as he had a new chess piece at his side. He could only imagine what he could accomplish with Hermione by his side, supporting his every endeavor.
While the honeymoon period was certainly not over, Hermione had become engrossed in her own work once December rolled around. It seemed that she was swept up into some sort of project that she couldn't explain to him, other than that it required travel. And when she was home, she sometimes begged off, saying she was too exhausted to talk.
It left Tom bereft and with too much time on his hands, suddenly. Time in his social calendar that Abraxas was only too happy to snatch up.
"Tea?" Abraxas offered, pouring into their cups without waiting for a response.
Tom took the cup and took a small sip - perfectly brewed, of course - before looking around the room, each and every corner filled with plants. "It looks as if Aurelia's flowers are doing well," he said, hating the need to fill up the empty space with words.
"Yes, she's got quite a green thumb, you could say," Abraxas said, proud of his wife. It was one of Abraxas's more admirable qualities. He did seem to genuinely care for his family, something that Tom couldn't necessarily say about others. Some of their set was so focused on continuing their line and that was it.
He used to think of the idea as silly, but now he could admit that it had its merits.
"I'm sure you didn't invite me here to talk about herbology, though," Tom said, plastering a fake smile on his face.
"No, of course, you are very astute," Abraxas agreed. "I...I am not trying to question your plans, Tom, I just want to be sure that I am doing everything I can to support you in your plans."
Tom frowned. "You know that I do not hesitate to make my needs known when they come up," he said, blithely. Abraxas would know if his support was needed. What was not needed was his constant interference.
"It's just that...we have the votes in the Wizengamot to force an election, and I just think we should consider it while Tuft is vulnerable," he explained, quickly. "Things have been good, yes, but that's changing. The writing on the wall is obvious to many of us in the Wizengamot. Tuft needs to go...but only when there is a suitable replacement waiting in the wings."
He couldn't stop from smirking at his friend. "Ever the politician, Brax," Tom said, disdainfully. "Have you ever considered yourself as the suitable replacement?"
Abraxas made a show of balking, but not enough that it made it clear that the thought hadn't flit across his mind once or twice before. "I think I speak for the rest of the Knights when I say that...we've all decided that real power sits with you, Tom," he promised. "You lead us, even if a title hasn't been put to you. You are the one that we trust to make real change."
"You flatter me," Tom said, giving away no hint of emotion.
"However...if you should wish me to...to stand for selection as Minister for Magic - act as the figurehead while you are pulling the strings," ABraxas suggested with a nervous laugh. "I'd be more than happy to act as your puppet."
Tom let Abraxas's suggestion hang in the silence for a moment, as though he were really considering it. It was fun to build up Malfoy's hope a little bit. "That won't be necessary, Abraxas," he said, finally, watching his friend deflate like a balloon. "But, you are right, the time is right to begin figuring out where we stand. I'd love to know who amongst the Wizengamot might...have strong leanings away from our ways of thinking."
"Of course, Tom," Abraxas agreed. "There are a handful I can think of without further research."
"And, I have been putting it off for a while yet, but I will be leaving Borgin and Burke's when the time is right," Tom announced.
Abraxas looked relieved. "I am glad to hear that," he said. "I know that you have your reasons for working there, but I can't help but think that working as a shopkeeper is woefully beneath you."
"It's served its purpose," Tom said, knowing that he was able to gain a tremendous amount of experience there. He'd certainly learned how to charm people into giving him what he wanted. He could tell that Abaxas longed to know what purpose it served, by he kept his mouth shut.
"And, Hermione...does she have a role in these future plans outside of her...interest in the old ways?" he asked, slyly. "Surely, we are looking forward to hosting her at Yule and the Malfoys' annual Yule party as well."
Tom wanted to tell Abraxas that Hermione was going to be his Queen, at his side forever, no matter what anyone had to say about her blood status, just to rub his nose in it. "Yes, she has a role to play," he answered, simply.
"Ah, yes, that explains it," he answered, before taking a sip of his own tea.
"Explains what?" Tom asked, turning his head to one side. He did not like feeling like Abraxas knew something that he did not.
"What she was doing up at Hogwarts," Abraxas said, breezily. "I was there for a Meeting of the Board of Governors, you know. And I was so surprised to see her being escorted through the castle by Dumbledore of all people."
"Dumbledore?" Tom repeated, feeling dumbfounded.
"Yes, I know, I was concerned as well," he continued. "But then, I figured that she must be doing something on your behalf, because what cause would she have to be up there otherwise?" Abraxas peeked a look at him, trying desperately to detect any cracks in Tom's facade.
But, he would not give into the temptation. "Hermione wasn't up there on my business," he said with a neutral tone, though inside he could admit that his mind was spinning. "But, you know, she does still work for the Ministry. She was already called up there once this year after someone charmed a radio. It sounds like the Professors are all too incompetent to handle any problem that has the smallest amount of complexity."
"Oh, so you knew that she was at Hogwarts?" his friend pressed, picking at the wound he wasn't sure he'd inflicted.
"Of course," Tom agreed. "She doesn't keep anything from me."
That was a lie, of course. But, what Abraxas didn't know, he couldn't use against him. Tom finished his tea quickly afterwards and, having spent a sufficient amount of time in the Malfoys' conservatory, finally made his goodbyes and returned to the secrecy of his own flat.
As soon as he was safely within his own walls, he let out a growl of frustration. No, Hermione decidedly did not tell him that she was going to Hogwarts or that she'd spent any time with Dumbledore. He thought that she hated the wizard as much as he did - wouldn't that be enough reason to bring up her unfortunate work assignment? Unless perhaps it wasn't a work assignment?
Tom was surprised with how quickly his mind conjured betrayal, but he could see the mounting signs, couldn't he? She'd been pulling away from him in recent weeks, no longer keen to spend so much time with him. Had she gotten all that she wanted from him and now she didn't need to keep up the pretense as much?
Dread settled into his belly when he thought about her off-hand questions about horcruxes. At the time he'd convinced himself that she couldn't possibly know, but maybe he was wrong. Stalking his way into his bedroom, he rummaged through his thin, leather jewelry box, relieved when he found his family ring still safely nestled among the velvet. If she'd been tasked with finding his horcruxes, she'd missed the one that was right underneath her nose.
The more he thought about Hermione, the more his concerns that he was being duped grew. Hadn't he thought that she was nearly a perfect match for him? What if that wasn't authentic at all, but instead a carefully curated version of a witch who might catch his eye? Was it fate that had brought her into his shop, or had it all been designed to ensnare him and...
What exactly, he wasn't sure yet. He was not blind that both he and his way of thinking had enemies. He had never thought that someone would target him with a witch to achieve some aim. The idea was almost silly.
But, if Hermione had laid a trap, then he had certainly fallen right into it.
He needed to see her, before he let his paranoia run away from him. He was sure that if he could just speak with her, he'd be able to suss out the truth one way or another. He penned a quick note and sent it off to his witch, eager for response.
