Invictus [Tom Riddle / Tomione]

Interim

Tom awoke, back in his body once more, and sat straight up. He immediately dropped his head into his hands.

It was dark in his bedroom save for the glowing red circle of runes around his bed.

He exhaled sharply, feeling an uncomfortable tightness in his chest.

Seeing Hermione in that state caused a strange mixture of arousal and deep abandonment in Tom.

How could his witch lay there in the darkness of her bedroom, moaning his name as she touched herself... but still refuse to come to him?

He gritted his teeth at her stubbornness, and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"Fuck her," he whispered angrily. He stood and made his way across the room in measured strides. The room was lit with an eerie, scarlet glow.

He leaned against the chest of drawers. On its surface sat his Gaunt ring. He glared at it. He was reminded that if he wasn't going to wear it, he should probably hide it away somewhere, protected by enchantments. Perhaps in the cave. He intended to make another trip to Albania, to learn the creation of Inferi from Zephyris. Then, he would be able to use them to protect his horcruxes.

He gazed at the ring. He would put an enchantment on it, one that would curse anyone who tried to wear it. It was a new curse, and Tom had created it himself; he'd molded it from the dark magic he housed in his body, instilling it intuitively into a chant until he had felt the curse take formation.

He liked to think he was a pioneer in the realm of intuitive magic, but he knew there were other witches and wizards from his bloodline who were notorious for the creation of unique dark curses.

Herpo... Slytherin.. Gormlaith Gaunt.

He'd gotten the idea from Hermione's ring... the one given to her by Dumbledore. Tom had a strong suspicion about that ring and its enchantments. He couldn't be sure, but he'd learned about legendary enchanted objects, particularly pieces of jewelry... items that could protect the wearer against any spells. One such artifact was called the Ring of Dispel. It had been given to Lancelot by the Lady of the Lake. Tom had done research on enchanted rings after feeling a rare and ancient type of magic upon the ring Hermione wore. Tom suspected that she may even bear the Ring of Dispel itself.

Tom didn't want to wear his Gaunt ring now.

He didn't want Hermione wearing Dumbledore's ring either. He wanted her to wear his ring.

A wedding ring.

But if Dumbledore's ring had a certain protective enchantment woven into it... then Tom would not be outdone.

He would simply have to find a ring of similar power for Hermione, or he would have one crafted and enchant it himself... provided she didn't still have her lacy little knickers in a twist.

He took up his horcrux and placed it in the top drawer, which was warded and spelled to make objects seemingly disappear, causing the drawer to appear empty to any but the one who knew its contents. He would move it soon to a more permanent hiding place.

He was still unsure whether Hermione knew about his horcruxes or not. He'd asked her many things about the future which she'd conceded the answers to, but there really hadn't been a good way to ask her about the horcruxes without alerting her to their existence.

The creation of a horcrux was debatably the darkest piece of magic one could engage in.

Tom wasn't sure he was ready for her to know, considering how she'd reacted over the ritual at Riddle House.

He took a deep breath, then grabbed his cigarettes. He walked back to the bed and sat, lighting one, letting the cherry spark and flicker in the deep red ambience of the room.