Dumbledore's Infiltration Attempt

A/N: Sorry for the infrequent updates, not to be a typical FF writer but I was in the hospital for a few days and was really sick recently which has set me back a lot, so I've only just found the time to get writing again. Side note, I wrote the first part of this A/N in June last year, I've just had a lot of changes in my life and haven't had the opportunity to update. Enjoy!

Three weeks went by quicker than any Hermione had previously experienced, and she had found that settling into Slytherin was far easier than her introduction to Gryffindor in the 1990s. Tom continued to stick closely by her side, his distrust of Dumbledore only increasing after seeing the professor's behaviour towards his only true friend; and so, Tom waited for her in the common room every morning to escort her to breakfast, he had even started carrying her bag on his shoulder and he always always made sure he took the seat next to her in all classes.

This morning was no different, Tom was waiting for Hermione by the entrance to the common room as she smoothly walked towards him with her dormmates. Silently he took her bag from her, slinging it over his shoulder, and holding out an elbow for her to slide her arm around. Together, they walked towards the transfiguration classroom, talking quietly between themselves, slightly tense knowing that Dumbledore was about to make the next hour and half of their lives quite unpleasant.

Transfiguration

Silently, the Slytherins took their seats, sticking to the seats they had decided upon in their first lesson of the year. Dumbledore's eyes gleamed coldly when they met with Hermione's and a small, dark smile took its place on his face. She shivered slightly, uncomfortable with the old man's attention on her. Tom grabbed her hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze, while glaring straight at the powerful wizard at the front of the classroom. Something in his eyes must have alarmed Dumbledore, as his smile quickly dropped from his face and he began his lesson.

"Miss Smith, please remain behind so I can speak to you about your last assignment." Her blood ran cold, and she nodded at the man. As the rest of the class funnelled out of the classroom, Hermione remained stoic in her seat; if the old man wanted an interrogation, she gained a small amount of satisfaction knowing she was inconveniencing him slightly, making him come to her.

"Miss Smith, I fear we have rather unfortunately had a poor start to knowing each other," a faux smile spread across his face, "I worry that you have become rather close with young Mr Riddle. Well, that is quite unfortunate, he appears to have a proclivity for the dark, and I rather fear that will spread onto you if you continue to spend so much time around him." Never in her old time had he been this straight to the point, she thought darkly.

"Quite frankly, Professor, I do not see how it is any of your business who I choose to associate with. Tom has shown himself to be a true... friend to me. I rather think you should focus on keeping your blatant favouritism to yourself instead of meddling in the affairs of fifteen year olds. It's rather unbecoming of you, sir." Hermione fought to keep her face blank, as pride surged through her at her own response. She had surely condemned herself to poorer treatment from him, but she had grown to really care for Tom, and wanted to remain as close as possible to him, to level out his darker impulses and show him love he truly had been missing his entire life.

"Well, Miss Smith, I would appreciate if you let me know if anything untoward occurs with Mr Riddle. He is not to be trusted."

"No, Professor, I fear it is you who cannot be trusted," and with that Hermione stood from her chair and made to leave the room. Before she could open the door, she felt the old git pushing on her mental walls harder than ever before. Slamming her occlumency shields up as hard as she could, she turned to level him with the coldest glare she had ever given another person. His eyes narrowed at her, "What are you hiding, child?" She said nothing and stormed out of the classroom

Tom was waiting for her outside the classroom, and immediately he took her bag from her shoulder and slung it over his, taking note of her vicious expression. He led her away from the classroom with an arm around her waist and started towards the seventh floor.

The Room of Requirement

Tom paced Mia back and forth opposite the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy three times, and led her through the door that appeared, into a cozy room with plush green sofas and a roaring fire.

"Mia." She turned to look at him, "yes?"

"What happened in there Mia? You came out of there looking like you were ready to murder the man, which I would help you with of course, but it's a little risky to try that while we're in school." He joked with her, at least she hoped he was joking about helping her slaughter their transfiguration professor, though she rather wanted to right now.

"That absolute git tried to apologise for getting off on the wrong foot, then immediately tried to warn me away from you because he thinks you're some budding dark lord or something! Then when I essentially told him to bugger off, the prick tried to get me to agree to spy on your supposed dark activities! Obviously I told him to screw himself, so he tried to break into my mind when I turned to leave. He's a fucking evil prick!" Tom stared at her, slightly shocked at the string of profanities that fell from Mia's mouth. Once he processed what she had told him, his face darkened and Hermione felt her skin prickle as his magic flared around him. He was strikingly beautiful.

"I will end him, Mia."

"No, you can't, it's too risky, and we need him to keep Grindlewald at bay, at least until we're out of school and can deal with him ourselves." He considered her for a moment, his head tilting as he processed her logic. His magic calmed slightly, but he still wasn't relaxed enough that Hermione could trust he wouldn't make any rash decisions. A thought flashed across her mind for barely half a second before she acted upon it, launching herself upwards and pressing her lips to his. He stilled in shock, his magic flare completely stopping. Hermione pulled back and looked at the floor, not wanting to see the pitying look on his face while he rejected her. Yet no rejection came. With his forefinger and middle finger he tilted her chin towards him and asked, "did you mean it?" with such sincerity that Hermione's heart broke. She nodded hesitantly. There was a pause, before he leaned down and crushed his lips to hers. She gasped slightly in shock, and he parted his mouth with her, using her gasp as an opportunity to gain entrance to her mouth. For two people who were ferocious in everything they did, the kiss became slow and gentle, passionate and loving. When they broke apart, Tom's face remained an inch away from Hermione's, their breath intermingling, with only the sound of slight panting filling the room.

A/N They finally kissed! Screaming in excitement as if I didn't write and decide when it would happen. Please keep leaving reviews, I love reading them and want to know how I can improve for my lovely readers! Until next time (hopefully sooner than a year like this update, sorry!)