Cat and Mouse (Tomione)

chapter 5

(Eileen Prince)

Days went by with no incidents for Hermione but her paranoia great day by day. Now having Druella by her side gave her an excuse to leave the future dark lords clutches. He still hadn't done anything to her yet. No questions were asked about her background that she didn't expect. None of her lies have come out into the open yet. In fact slytherin house was nothing she expected or were they letting her get comfortable before the on slot of torture. 

As she arose from her bed a sickening feeling over turned her stomach. It was not the type to make you sick but the type that spoke a warning. Something was going to happen today. Something bad.

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Abraxas and Tom strolled down the hallway to Defense consumed in a hushed conversation. If one listened closely you could her the name Vogel thrown in here and there. A dark look over came Tom's face at what ever information Abraxas was giving him. This information brought the perfect to a stand still. His face contorted in deep concentration. His hand absentmindedly caressed his chin where a light bit of stubble could be seen. He looked up at Abraxas and gave him a chilling smile. 

"That's wonderful Abraxas. Just absolutely wonderful."

Abraxas let an involuntary shiver run down his spine at those words. He was proud to have pleased his lord but wondered if it was the right thing. Hermione Vogel never had done anything to anyone while she started here. So was giving his lord conformation of his suspicion was the right thing to do. She seemed like a lovely person but she was put in slytherin for a reason. A reason they must discover. 

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Hermione sat in her usual seat in defense. The feeling of dread didn't leave her as she sat there. In fact it only intensified. This was one of the classes she couldn't avoid Riddle in since her is her assigned partner for the year. 

As Tom sat down by her he had to control his glee. He could see her obvious discomfort right now. She was terrible at hiding it. Her cheeks were tinged pink with frustration and her body practically screamed "Save me! I don't want to be here, next to him!"  She leaned slightly away from him as if her was going to attack her any second. Her hand was hovering over her wand. Was this a defense mechanism or did she see through my facade?... he wondered. 

Hermione tried her best to sit relaxed but her gut was screaming at her to run away and to never look back. The way Riddle observed her was sending chills up her spine . Every look was unnerving. The professor broke through her mental debate. 

"Now I want everyone to work with their seat partners on distraction spells. So everyone spread out and start. I don't want anyone harmed or you will receive detention and points taken away. Now start."

Hermione followed Riddle to the end of the classroom furthest away from the professor. Next to them was Nott and Lestrange. Hermione faced Riddle to begin their practicing. 

Tom started off with non lethal magic. This would be the first time he would see her potential. 

"Colovaria"

Hermione quickly diminished the spell before it could reach her and fired one of her own.

"Baubillious." While the light temporally blinded Riddle, Hermione casted a bedazzling hex on herself to become invisible to those around her. She quietly walked behind Riddle and unveiled herself to tap on his shoulder with her wand raised. 

"I take it I win that round?"

Tome looked at the girl behind his blankly but he was hiding the surprise behind his mask. She had blinded him and appeared behind him. He nodded at her politely. She took her place once again across from him. This time her would not go as easily but he must not show his true potential. 

He summoned a smoke screen and shoot petrificus totalus at her non verbally. Surprisingly when the smoke cleared a green shield surrounded the girl. He never heard his spell hit her shield and that's when he relised his spell was suspended there in mid air. She had frozen his curse only feet away from where he stood. Her shield went down as while as his spell disappearing. She summoned a blue ball or flames in her hands and projected it towards him but it stop just a foot from his face and fizzed out. Just when her petrificus totalus hit him. 

Hermione walked to Riddle to help him up when he through off her spell and shoot a curse at her. Her legs gave way and her vision blurred. She could faintly see his out line crouching over her as ha spoke.

"You are doing well for a girl. I would think you've had experience dueling before many times. Maybe even been in a real fight. Maybe you were on the front lines against Grindelwald or maybe not but mark my words Vogel, I will find out your past. If you want this to be easier just tell me or keep hiding. Either way you will be found out for what and who you are. For one thing I already know Miss Vogel, if that's even your real name, is that you are a liar." 

A bone chilling shiver went down her neck as he spoke those words. Her mind worked over everything that she had done since she had arrived in 1944. For the rest of the day she avoided Riddle like the plague while on question ran through her mind.

What gave me away?