Hermione's Riddle

The Meeting

Tom shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you did all of that."

"Believe it," grinned Hermione. She got up from her seat and sat down in between Tom's legs. He wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his head on her shoulder.

Ever since Tom disbanded the Knights of Walpurgis, he had been insistent on hearing the rest of her Hogwarts days in between classes and Quidditch. It took a few weeks but she managed to feel him in on everything up until the battle at Hogwarts. She was saving that story for another day.

"Turning yourself into a cat has to be my favorite. It sounds more outrageous than the other feats you've accomplished."

"Even riding a dragon or getting kidnapped by mermaids?" Tom mumbled an agreement against her neck causing her to roll her eyes. "Well. I guess I can agree. That is an experience that I would not like to repeat."

Tom nibbled at the sensitive skin in the crook of her neck. "It is something that I would like to see for myself."

"Too bad. You'll have to stick with my memories. If I ever turn into a cat again, I'll hex the person responsible."

"Duly noted," mumbled Tom as he pressed deeper kisses into her neck.

. . . .

Tom apparated them to a small, but beautiful back garden. Sitting on a bench surrounded by rose bushes was Mary Riddle. She looked up from the sound of their apparartion. "Tom," she smiled when she saw her grandson. The smile quickly turned into a frown when she took notice of Hermione. "I see you brought that hussy who spied on you."

Hermione could feel Tom's hand tighten around her arm. "That is a derogatory term. I find it very insulting but you are correct." It was no time for her to be bristling at the woman's words. She knew that Tom had written to his grandmother during their temporary break-up and she wasn't going to hold her anger against her. Actually, Hermione was pretty sure that she would do much worse if she was in Mary's position.

"You could have written to me ahead of time. I received no word from you for weeks. Imagine my surprise when I received one in the morn, though you did not inform me that you would be bringing a guest," huffed Mary while still sitting gracefully.

Hermione could almost share the woman's irritation. "Tom," she growled, "that was quite rude of you. She's your only family left-" she wasn't, but she was the only decent one. "-you should show more consideration." She turned toward Mary. "I apologize on his behalf for not writing you sooner and also for this preemptive visit. I wanted to formally apologize to you for the pain I had caused Tom and any pain that may have caused you."

"Well, at least she has manners," huffed Mary.