Invictus [Tom Riddle / Tomione]

Vows & Veritaserum

"Why do you want to be an auror?"

Hermione sighed. "Is this a trick question? Have I made a mistake in coming here?"

Gaspard stared at her blankly, only betraying a hint of annoyance in his otherwise unreadable eyes. "Answer the bloody question, Dumbledore."

She took a deep breath. "I suppose, because I want to catch dark wizards, as you could probably tell by my writings of late. I have a bit of a vendetta against them. But also... I suppose I want to prove something to myself."

Gaspard cocked his head, observing her. "I think you've proven yourself, Hermione. No need to go out and put yourself in danger for vanity's sake."

"It's certainly not vanity." She pursed her lips. "I'm going to stand and walk back out that door if you condescend to me again."

Gaspard stared at her thoughtfully. "I'm not trying to condescend to you. I'm trying to tell you that you're quite impressive enough without needing to add "auror" to your list of accomplishments. This job is quite involved, and it will require a hefty time commitment. I don't want to assume, but you do seem to have quite a bit on your plate."

Hermione heaved an exasperated breath. "You did offer me a job, did you not? I must've been imagining that you almost seemed to want me here."

"I do want you here. To train a witch such as yourself would be a dream come true for me and this department. I just want to be sure that your motivations are in the right place before I put a great deal of time and effort into you."

Hermione's eyebrows lifted sharply. "Believe it or not, I have thought this through at length since you mentioned it months ago. I don't do things out of impulse, although my hand was somewhat forced, I will admit."

Gaspard's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

She bit her lip. "My editor-in-chief at the Prophet was replaced. By someone who doesn't like my articles in the slightest. So... rather than be censored, I quit."

Gaspard blinked several times. "I see. So you showed up on my doorstep?"

"I'd already been thinking about it, Gaspard, I assure you." She heaved another deep sigh. "Do I have a job or not?"

He stared at Hermione, watching her carefully.

Of all the wizards she had met, he possessed the most immaculate poker face she'd ever seen.

Tom was different. He put on faces like he put on ties. He could be charming, suspicious, arrogant, pensive, even playful. He had a million faces and they all arrested her.

But Gaspard was a blank canvas. His eyes were piercing but windowless, and his expression betrayed nothing of his thoughts or emotions. To be honest, he unnerved her in an entirely different manner than Riddle did.

Hermione overcompensated for that by being difficult.

"I'm going to warn you, Hermione. There will be no special treatment, no matter what our relationship is or has been, and no matter what my friendship with your father might be."

She looked taken aback. "Why would I expect anything different?"

"You'll have to be tested. Then, you'll go through the same training program as all of my aurors, and it is quite rigorous, be forewarned. It typically takes years for my aurors to be sent out into the really dangerous work, and you are quite young, so I'll have to observe you closely. If I deem that you are not ready to be sent out, you'll have to abide by that." His jaw muscles tensed. "I will treat you like everyone else in this department. I expect every rule to be followed."