Reckless ~ Tomione

Friends or Foes?

As footsteps approached Hermione in the Common Room, she did a quick calculation. Draco would be in bed, so the only person who would willingly talk to her at a time like this...

"Riddle," Hermione greeted without turning around. The footsteps paused right behind her, before slowly retreating.

"Sorry, were you expection Tom?" A softer voice than she was expecting asked her. Hermione whirled around, and finding, to her surprise, Abraxas Malfoy standing there.

"No, no," Hermione rushed to assure him, because she didn't want anyone to start a rumour that she was meeting up with Tom Riddle at night. "Just couldn't think of who else would be down here at this hour."

"Well, except for you," Abraxas said, smiling softly. The girl was rather taken aback by his gentle manner, which contrasted greatly with the other members of his 'group'.

"Couldn't sleep." Hermione shrugged. She turned back to face the fireplace, and heard the rustle of fabric, telling her that Abraxas sat down next to her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, to which Hermione didn't answer. "Riddle didn't hurt you, did he?"

Hermione didn't reply. She couldn't, not until she had proof that Abraxas Malfoy could be trusted. He might tell Riddle, or do something to her for defying his 'master'. Why was he even asking?

"I'm fine," she said tersely. The current Malfoy heir seemed to realise the subject was uncomfortable for the girl, and so he dropped it.

"The Goblet is supposedly choosing the champions tomorrow," he said conversationally. Hermione's brain took a second to process it, before freezing. Tomorrow would decide whether her plan worked or not. She and Draco were good at charms, but there was no way to tell whether or not the Confundus Charm worked on the Goblet.

While it was true that both of them were good at magic, and they both had their wands pointed at the Goblet, the Confundus Charm took a lot of practice, skill and concentration to cast properly. 

"Hello? Earth to Hermione?" Abraxas said, gently shaking her.

"Are we now on a first name basis? I didn't know we were that close," Hermione teased, making Abraxas smirk.

"Oh please, Hermione, you know you can't resist these charms."

Hermione snorted. She could see where Draco got his arrogance from.

"Or that swoon-worthy face of yours," Hermione replied, mockingly nodding seriously. "Or maybe it's the hair. I'm just so attracted to glow-in-the-dark blondes."

Abraxas laughed, even though she was poking fun of him.

"Well, you should know, then, that I'm seriously into wild, frizzy hair, which Griffindors sometimes mistaken for their house insignia."

Hermione scowled mockingly, although a part of her felt compelled to defend her old house. This is my house now, she reminded herself.

"Thanks for a good laugh, Hermione," Abraxas told her, standing up. Hermione followed suit. "I guess I didn't realise how much I needed that. And you can always come to me if you're having trouble with Tom. I mean, I know I haven't really given you a reason to, but- well, you know..."

Hermione laughed, feeling happy. She still wasn't sure if Abraxas was trustworthy, but at least she had gained a new friend, however sketchy their friendship was.

"Goodnight, Abraxas," she bade him, heading towards her own dormitories.

"Night, Hermione," he replied with a wink and a smile.