Invictus [Tom Riddle / Tomione]

Stargazing

After getting home from work that evening, Hermione and Piksy rushed around the cottage in Godric's Hollow, packing up the last few things which she would take to her flat in the morning.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.

Hermione was instantly on alert. She'd received far too many death threats of late to not be suspicious. There were many wards on the home, but she supposed they weren't designed to stop someone from knocking.

"Piksy! Will you look through the window and see who it is at the door?"

"Certainly, Mistress Hermione." Although Hermione had instructed the elf to call her Hermione rather than Mistress Dumbledore, the elf still hadn't been able to change her habits, so a compromise had been struck.

"It be a handsome young man, Mistress."

Could it be Alphard Black? Hermione wondered. "At least say "Miss" instead of "Mistress," Piksy! It reminds me of a house elf named Kreacher who I'm not very fond of. Is his hair blonde or black?"

"It be black as night, Miss."

Right. It had to be Alphard paying a visit. He had owled her saying he might stop by to see her later in the week, but it was a bit early all the same, and she had forgotten to tell him about her new flat.

Hermione ran to the door and whipped it open. "Hello, Alph-"

She stopped short.

It was none other than Tom Riddle standing in her doorway, and not Alphard Black.

" Oh ," she muttered, surprised. "Tom."

His eyes were narrowed as he cocked his head to the side. "Expecting someone else?"

" No ," she muttered defensively, swallowing. "I just wasn't expecting you ."

"My apologies for surprising you. May I come in?"

Her eyes widened. "You most certainly may not."

He laughed incredulously. "I must say, your manners are somewhat lacking. I suppose if you won't let me in, then I'll have to entice you to come out and play." His eyes scanned her in appraisal, taking in her appearance. Hermione wore a very stylish black playsuit that buttoned up the front and belted around her waist. She had a monochrome floral scarf tied around her neck above her collar. Her arms and legs were tanned from her time spent in the garden most weekends. It was a very chic look for the period she was in, and she felt a bit like Grace Kelly in it.

Her cheeks reddened under his prolonged gaze. When his eyes rose to meet hers, he raised his eyebrows and inclined his head as if to say, not bad.

Hermione pursed her lips and glared at him, willing her pulse to slow down. "Why are you here?"

He leaned closer, resting his forearm arm on the door frame. "Why don't you come out and I'll tell you?"

Hermione's eyebrows drew forward sharply. "How do I know you won't curse me as soon as I step foot out the door?"

"Am I a vampire, Hermione? Why do you act as if the threshold of this house will somehow keep me out if I mean you harm?"

She looked around, unsure of how to respond, because he did make a good point.

"Besides," he continued in his smooth cadence, "If I wanted to curse you, I could do so from right here... and I probably already would've. By the way, your house elf is ogling me from the window."

Hermione glanced over and saw a wide-eyed Piksy gazing curiously at Riddle through the window panes. Hermione bit back a smile.

Riddle continued, "Why do you suspect me of wanting to curse you? Have I shown any inclination or desire to hurt you?"