Cat and Mouse (Tomione)

Chapter 9

The day was cold but the air smelled of maple when Hermione arose from her deep slumber. The events in the library played out in her mind on a loop. Could she use this to her advantage or was she drawing unnecessary attention. His eyes though made her knees grow week. She realized they were not black pools but they were actually blue, but such a dark blue they appeared black. She shook her head and made her way to her bathroom to get ready for the day.

When she entered the common room the smell of maple intensified. There was Abraxas and Druella standing by a buffet table full of breakfast food. Hermione forced a smile onto her face and approached them. Just as she meant them Tom Riddle had reached them too. The air now felt heavy around her, almost suffocating. She went to the table to grab a plate and place her breakfast on it. Tom followed closely behind leaving barely any room between them as the chose their food. When it come time to get their seats he placed his palm on the small of Hermione's back to guide her where he wanted her to go knowing she wouldn't make a seen. Hermione placed herself by Druella and Tom took no time in taking the seat on her other side.

Breakfast went painfully slow for Hermione but as soon as classes begun her day sped up. She was able to act normally until Ancient Studies. They were assigned groups to do a project on ancient magical civilizations. She was with a Ravenclaw named Anthony Gold, Druella and unfortunately for her, Tom Riddle too.

Tom had made it his mission to make her as uncomfortable as possible for her. His left hand rested on her thigh the whole class as they worked, occasionally massaging further and further up her leg. At the end of class Hermione would of run from the classroom if it wasn't for Tom grabbing her bag before she could place it on her own shoulder. He gave her a cynical grin and started to walk away with her bag. She walked after him but kept a reasonable distance between them. He took a turn down a dark corridor they normally wouldn't take but she had no choice but to follow. He stopped dead in his tracks and spun around to face her. He tilted his head slightly while looking her up and down. Quickly he placed a hand on her hip to back her up against the wall. His grip tightened once her back was against the wall and a creepy smile graced his lips. He dropped their bag on the floor next to them in order to cage her in further with his other arm. He looked deeply into her eyes searching for answers before he spoke."Hermione dearest. What mysteries you hold. I know your name isn't yours. It's just another lie. Isn't it wearing you down to keep up all this lies? Wouldn't it just benefit you to have someone to confide in? To trust?"

His hand on her hip now circled her waist pushing them even closer together. She could feel his waist against hers. His chest pressed against hers. Her heart increased it's rhythm. His minty breathe fanned her face as her mind went fuzzy. She looked away from his eyes and snapped out of her trance. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to penetrate her mind and distract her with arousal. Well two can play this game. She coyly looked back at him before lightly placing her lips on his collar bone. "I'm not hid anything Mr. Riddle. You are just seeing what you wish to see. I have people I can trust and confide in. I suggest you should do the same. You may laugh with the masses but you are not apart of them. I see how lonely you truly are. I see this darkness in you. It's eating you alive and you have already given into it. There is more to life them just the act of being alright. Your broken but just hanging onto a notion of greatness that you may never reach. If anyone here need a friend, it is you because you have no one."

With that she picked up her bag an left his presence. Tom watched after her with glee. He finally had someone who could play the game just as well as him. He finally had an equal, but not for very long. He would break her. He would remold her to how he seemed fit. She was going to be his greatest achievement yet.

He walked towards his dorm instead for class with a grin on his face. The conversation replaying in his head as he walked. His hand rubbing the stubble of his face as he though. He knew they would cover for him. He knew she actually would.

Hermione Vogel....What a mystery.

***

Hermione sat in class quietly in the back. As minutes passed she realized he was not going to be joining. There were going to be questions ask when the professor came over to her. As the professor approached she knew what she had to say.

"Where is Mr Riddle, Miss Vogel?" "He was feeling a bit under the weather Professor so I told him to go rest and I'll get his notes for his since we have all the same classes together." She silently cursed Tom in her head for putting her in this type of position. Why wouldn't he though? He was the budding Dark Lord right now, who cared for on one but himself.

The remaining classes went by in a blur for Hermione. She took her place at the Slytherin table but one person was still missing. Why wouldn't he show for dinner. The food went and last classes flew by and still she didn't see him. Unfortunately for her he was her partner for the remaining classes. She felt like a broken record repeating the same excuse over and over again. Now she had a pile of notes to give to him when the last thing she wanted to do was see him. Maybe she could just get Abraxas to bring them to him but she couldn't find him. So she trudged her was to the boy's room and knocked. Just when she went to knock the second time the door swung open to relieve Tom standing there with a curious look on his face.

"Your notes for the classes you missed. " After placing them in his hands, she turned and walked away.

Tom stood in his doorway happily. She was already falling into place and she didn't even know it. This was going to be fun for him. He couldn't wait to have her begging to be in his presence. He wanted her to beg for him. To beg at his knees. She was going to become his perfect little pet. A cynical smile played on his lips as her walked back into his room.

This was going to be fun...