"Wake up."
Hermione rolled over. Morning sunlight bled in through the curtains.
"Wake up."
That was strange, she thought she heard Tom's voice. A chuckle sounded from near her doorway. Hermione bolted upright in bed to find Tom standing near her door, an amused smirk plastered on his face.
She wanted to snark at him but couldn't bring herself to. This familiar sight had become unfamiliar to her these past two weeks. Her heart raced in anticipation as to what Tom standing in her room meant for their future. She really hoped it went to where she wanted it to. Hermione hadn't realized just how much she had missed Tom until this moment.
"Stop your gawking and get ready. Breakfast is waiting," with that, Tom left her room.
Hermione threw the covers off of her and quickly got dressed. She stopped in front of the mirror. Her mass of brown hair was in tangles and covered her face to the point where it was difficult to see. Using the spell that Tom had taught her for hair, she uttered the words underneath her breath. She watched in amazement as her hair untangled itself and the curls smooth out until they were beautiful ringlets. Satisfied, she went to meet Tom in the small common room.
Tom was sitting in the wingback chair that he favored. Laid out in front of him on the coffee table was a platter of eggs, bacon, a plate of toast and a bowl of fruit. Two mugs filled with orange juice sat beside empty plates. "You convinced the elves to let us have breakfast here?"
"Don't sound so shocked. You should have known I would have figured out how you entered the kitchens," smirked Tom.
His mood swings were starting to give Hermione whiplash but she was starting to believe that she liked him that way. Reading his moods had become easier and it was exhilarating to know that she could get such an array of emotions out of him. She licked her bottom lip in anticipation, eager to witness what other emotions she could rise out of him. His eyes flicked to her lips at the sudden motion. He crossed his legs before clearing his throat. "I heard some of your story. Now I'm ready to hear the rest-or at the very least, your first year of Hogwarts. I want you to leave nothing out."
Hermione shoveled a bite of eggs into her mouth as she thought over his words. "Wouldn't it be better if you used legilimency on me. I'm not thrilled at the idea of having someone poking around in my mind but it would make storytelling much easier. You also wouldn't have to worry about me lying to you."
Tom smiled at her words. "I had hoped you would suggest that but I want to hear you tell me about your first year."
Hermione wasn't going to try to argue with him so she began telling him her story-well, hers, Ron's, and Harry's. "I had first met Ron and Harry on the train to Hogwarts while I was helping Neville look for his pet toad, Trevor. During the sorting, I was placed into Gryffindor-don't roll your eyes. There is nothing wrong with being in Gryffindor. Anyways, I was mainly focused on my schoolwork and didn't really make a lot of friends. It also didn't help to have a rat like Malfoy around, always trying to stir up trouble."
Tom sat up straight in his seat. "Malfoy? Abraxas' son?"
Hermione shook her head. "Grandson. I'm not sure what happened but Abraxas's son and grandson turned out to be horrid people. They're rats who despise muggles and mudbloods alike. They believe in pureblood supremacy. So, with Malfoy always stirring up trouble, it led to getting Harry onto the Gryffindor quidditch team as the seeker. Later in the school year, a troll was released. It had trapped me in the girl's lavatory and I was lucky that Harry and Ron came to save me. That was when we began to suspect professor Snape. Turns out, it was a professor but we had suspected the wrong one. When it came for Harry's first game, his broom began to act out. It was under a spell. I thought it was professor Snape and set his robes on fire. Oh, how I was wrong but it still saved Harry and even got us the golden snitch." Hermione laughed as the memory of Harry spitting out the snitch played in her mind.
"Along with our schoolwork, quidditch, and studying, the three of us began to snoop around, trying to find anything incriminating on Snape. What we found was a three headed dog named Fluffy and a secret passage. Let's just say that by the end of the year, we found out that professor Quirrell was behind everything. He was after something called the Philosopher's Stone. An item that allows one's life to be extended."
"Interesting," said Tom with a thoughtful expression. "Too bad only one who was not looking for it could retrieve it out of the mirror."
Hermione looked at him with raised eyebrows. "How did you know that it was in the mirror. I don't believe I mentioned that part-you used legilimency on me!" accused Hermione.
Tom nodded. "I did."
"How did I not know? Legilimency usually forces one's memories to the surface. It's usually a painful experience."
"I enhanced the spell," said Tom matter-of-factly. "It allows me to see what one is thinking without being forceful. It's best that the target does not know it is being used on them."
"Did you use this on me yesterday?" Hermione wasn't sure if she wanted to strangle him or bash her head in for not noticing that something was going on.
"I did," confirmed Tom.
Hermione sighed in defeat. She hated that her mind was invaded without her knowledge but at least it was helping Tom to see that she really meant what she had told him. "What part of the story today did you enter my mind?" She wanted to see if maybe she had felt something and had just brushed it off.
Tom fidgeted in his seat. A light blush dusted his cheeks. "When you entered the common room." Hermione felt her eyes bug out. Her face heated and she knew she sported a deep, crimson blush. Tom gave her a smile that sent the butterflies in her stomach into overdrive. "I also cannot wait to see these. . .other emotions."
Hermione picked up the throw pillow beside her and chucked it at his head. "You prick!"
Tom simply dodged the pillow and chuckled. "I thought you would be thrilled that I believe you and am willing to forgive you." Hermione stopped in her action of throwing another pillow at him. He forgave her? "Though, I am still unsure as to why you would want me. Are you not afraid that the information you share with me will be used to change the future into my favor?"
Hermione shook her head. "When I first arrived here, I was afraid that I would change the future that I know. Now, I strongly believe that what has happened and what will happen during my stay in this time has already happened. I also believe that the Lord Voldemort of my time is a copy."
"A copy?" Tom asked in puzzlement.
Hermione nodded her head. "I believe that either the diary or the ring has more of your soul than necessary for a horcrux. I believe that when it is time for me to go back to my time, I will take you with me. The Horcrux with the strongest amount of your soul in it will gain in strength and make a copy, one that has your memories up until the time it was created. Personally, I think it was the diary."
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Would you believe me if I told you it was Dippet who first proposed that idea," laughed Hermione. "He has some books on theories behind Horcruxes that support the duplication theory of a split soul."
"Dippet? Clumsy, dense Dippet?" asked Tom in a disbelieving tone.
"He's not as dense as everyone believes. He once told me that he came up with the charade in order to remain out of the eyes of others. If you're powerful and smart, you attract attention and enemies. If people believe you're dense and unassuming, they don't pay nearly as much attention to you as they would if you weren't."
Tom nodded his head. "It's actually quite wise to pull such a charade." Tom looked at her with serious eyes. "Does that mean he had already suspected me."
Hermione nodded. "He figured it out before Dumbledore. He thought that if he taught you and treated you as a favorite student then you would change for the better."
"Does he know about the Horcruxes?"
"Yeah. He figured it out when your eyes turned blue. Apparently, a physical change such as that is a key factor in noticing a split soul."
Tom became quiet as he entered into deep thought. Hermione was curious as to what he was thinking but figured she could wait until he told her. She didn't have to wait long.
"I believe you are correct in your theory. I would have to read the books first but it would explain quite a few details. Like my eyes for instance. Did you know that I originally had brown eyes?"
Tom had brown eyes? Hermione just couldn't picture him with anything other than those gorgeous green eyes. "I can't picture it," admitted Hermione.
Tom chuckled. "No I guess not. One day you might see them, that is if I could ever fix my broken soul."
Hermione cracked a wide grin. "It's a good thing that we destroyed almost all the Horcruxes in my time. There's just one left."
"All? I only made two."
Hermione shook her head. "There were six of them."
Tom nodded his head as he thought it over. "That means the copy of myself finished my original plan and found the diagram, locket, and Chalice though I am not sure what the sixth one would be."
"A snake."
Tom smiled deviously at her. "How Slytherin. Though it is surprising to create a living horcrux."
"It is," agreed Hermione. She decided to take the chance and walked over to where Tom sat. She wasn't sure what she was going to do but didn't have to figure it out. Tom grabbed her hand and pulled her down onto his lap.
He leaned his chin on the top of her head. "You don't know how happy you have just made me."
Hermione wrapped her hands around his. "I think I might know because I am just as happy." She shifted until she could look at him. "Will everything be alright between us?"
Tom offered a lopsided grin. "If not, then you have my permission to hex me." Before she had a chance to say anything else, Tom leaned in and captured her lips with his. His tongue brushed against her lips and she opened her mouth to allow it entry. Loving Tom was a rollercoaster of emotions but worth every ride.
Tom shifted his lap and moved her until she cradled him between her legs. His arms wrapped around her lower back and pulled her closer. He deepened the kiss as his tongue danced an intricate dance with hers. She couldn't let him do all the work. She grinded her hips against him, loving the feel of him underneath her. He moaned into her mouth, causing her to become slick with heat.
One of Tom's hands moved up her side. Slowly combing her body until it came into contact with her breast. A blue light lit up the room before he could cup her breast. Tom broke away from her with a snarl.
A ball of blue petronas light floated beside them. Floating with it was a paper butterfly. Hermione sighed, hating Dippet's timing.
"I better see what he wants," said Hermione as she untangled herself from Tom. She grabbed the paper butterfly and unfolded it. She quickly read over the letter with a grimace.
"What does it say," asked Tom in all seriousness.
Hermione grinned at Tom as an idea came to her. "Would you like to join us for a glass of butter beer? I am late for my chat with Dippet." Hermione dropped the letter and wrapped a hand into one of Tom's. "I would like it if you joined me."
Tom frowned at her suggestion. "Can't we just ignore the letter and return to our make-out session. It is much more pleasurable than a chat with the headmaster, that I can promise," he smiled provokingly.
Hermione swatted at him. "Don't tempt me. Besides, you want to borrow those books, don't you?"
"Fine," sighed Tom. "Let's get this over with."
Hermione kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you." She pulled away from him, a playful smile on her lips. "We can always finish this later. We do have the rest of winter break." To be honest, she would much rather stay there but she was afraid they would move too fast. Her body certainly seemed to want to.