Hermione's Riddle

Memory Box Part 4

A Grave Mistake

Tom flung open the portrait in an irritated mood. He and Hermione were just taking a break from studying and were hungrily devouring each other in a passionate kiss when they were rudely interrupted by someone banging on their door. 

"What?" He practically seethed, not caring who was on the other end.

Abraxas and Fleamont were standing on the otherside with their mouths hanging open. "Maybe we should come back," Abraxas said to Fleamont.

Potter nodded and pulled on Abraxas' sleeve. "An excellent idea." The two of them started to slowly back away.

"Tom, who is it?" Hermione asked, coming to the entryway. "Oh, hello," her flushed face turned scarlet and she tried to smooth her hair out with unsteady fingers.

"We are truly sorry for interrupting. I believe we may have made a grave mistake." Before Tom could say anything to them, the two idiots ran away with their tails tucked between their legs. Maybe those two did have some sort of common sense.

'What did they want?" asked Hermione.

"Don't know but I hope they have a reasonable excuse when I hunt them down tomorrow," said Tom as he led her back to the couch.

Advice

Tom's sudden stop caused Hermione to come to a halt outside the library doors. "I will meet you back in the dorm. I forgot to grab a book for Herbology," Tom lied effortlessly. It hurt him to lie to his little witch but there was something he needed to take care of in secret.

"Kay," she smiled at him. Her lovely brown eyes were warm and inviting, making him already hate the words he had spoken. "Don't be long." She untwined her fingers from his before taking off down the corridor.

Tom stormed back into the library while keeping quiet, not letting his anger seep out in the form of magic or curse words. He marched all the way back to the back where he and Hermione had previously been sitting.

"Come out you two," Tom said to the bookcase in the last aisle. With hushed whisperings and guilty expressions emerged none other than Potter and Malfoy.

"I told you he would bust us," Abraxas jabbed at Fleamont.

Tom quirked an eyebrow at them and waited for their bickering to cease. "May I ask as to why you felt the need to follow me and Hermione?" He asked with his arms crossed over his chest and with most of his weight leaning to one side.

Abraxas and Fleamont shared a look. Fleamont looked away first with a sigh. "We thought you two were on a date, but it turns out that the bookworms were just studying."

"It was a date," replied Tom, not understanding why the boy sounded so exasperated.

Abraxas shot Tom an incredulous look. "I know you two like to study but that is not what a date consists of."

"Yeah," Fleamont agreed readily. "A date consists of going somewhere new, somewhere other than a library where the two of you can be alone. Maybe share a drink or something."

The incredulous look that Abrazas wore was now aimed at Fleamont. "A date is something a little more romantic. Like giving her some flowers and complementing her before taking her out to dinner. Sharing a nice conversation over food and drinks."

Tom and Fleamont looked at Abraxas. "You would be the expert," commented Fleamont.

"What?"

"So, you are telling me that I am doing this whole dating thing wrong?" Tom interjected before Fleamont could answer Abraxas.

"Yes!" The two shouted at him. 

Tom almost flinched, taken aback by their outburst. Was he really doing everything wrong? Hermione never said anything, but then again, she never had the chance to really go on a date either. Maybe he should try out Abraxas' suggestion.

Flowers were an easy enough thing to do. And for dinner, he could just take her to Hogsmeade and maybe go to the Three Broomsticks. But how would he ask her? If he was going to do this right then he wanted it to be a surprise.