Solving Riddles

Facade

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HP

It only took Hermione a second to react to the kiss. She wrapped her arms around Tom's neck and pulled him closer to her and Tom snaked his arms around her waist. Tom bit Hermione's bottom lip and she gasped, granting him access to her mouth, he explored it with his tongue making Hermione moan slightly. Tom slipped his hand up Hermione's shirt and rested his hand on the curve of her hip, Hermione felt as if her skin burned where Tom touched her. A voice in Hermione's head kept telling her that this was wrong, that she should be shoving him away from her and running in the other direction, but it just felt so good to be held, to be kissed.

Hermione broke the kiss and took a deep breath, she looked up and found Tom staring down at her, they stared into each other's eyes and the intensity of the moment increased and then......it ended. Footsteps could be heard coming from around the corner, the two quickly broke away from each other just in time to see Professor Slughorn walk into the hallway. Tom was the first to speak, "Good morning Professor." he said in his usual cool voice. Slughorn turned to them and smiled, "Why hello Tom, hello miss Bellouve." Hermione nodded vaguely at Slughorn in acknowledgement and bowed her head obscuring her face from view.

"Tom now that I've got you here, I'd actually like to talk to you about something, that is if you don't mind."

Tom glanced over to Hermione and then turned back to Slughorn, "Not at all Professor."

Hermione took this as her chance to leave, she turned to Tom, "I, um I better get going. I'll see you later." she stammered, Tom nodded stiffly at her and she turned around and walked away.

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Why, why, why did you kiss him, Hermione?! It was wrong and wrong and completely irresponsible, how could you do this to yourself? How could you be so stupid?! Hermione kept scolding herself as she stormed into the Slytherin common room and threw herself onto an armchair in front of the fire, she sighed exasperatedly, "Everything's definitely gone to shit now." she muttered under her breath. The only problem was that she couldn't bring herself to actually regret kissing him.

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Tom watched Hermione as she walked away and smirked inwardly. He didn't understand why he kissed her but to him, it really didn't matter because now he wanted her and whatever he wanted, he always got. He turned back to Slughorn and smiled, "So what do you want to talk to me about, Professor?"

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Hermione paced back and forth in the common room wondering what to do, avoiding him just seemed to make matters worse and faking things just wasn't her style, apparently, the only thing she had done since she had come here was mess up things. You know what, I won't hide from him, I've messed up everything anyway, what more is there to lose? Hermione took a deep breath and sat down, she was sick of this, no more playing games, it was time to sit down and make a proper plan, one that she wouldn't screw up like all the others, and with that, her mind was set.

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Tom found Hermione in the common room staring into the green flames of the fireplace, he didn't speak as he sat next to her. He expected her to talk first and when she didn't he got tired of waiting and cleared his throat, she turned to him and raised an eyebrow expectantly and when he didn't say anything she turned back to the flames. Tom was dumbfounded, she well and truly had him dumbfounded, "Listen, about earlier-"

"It was just a kiss, Tom, I get it, it meant nothing. That's what you were going to say, right?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Right."

She smiled, "Good. Anyway, I'm going to bed, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight." he watched her walk up the stairs and disappear into the girl's dormitories.

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The classroom was filled with chatter and laughter, Hermione sat onto her chair with a long sigh, boy did she hate this class. The class grew silent as Professor Crichton walked into the class, Hermione had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at the woman, did she always have to look so damn angry?

"Good morning ladies." Said Crichton, her sharp eyes scanning the class, "Today we shall be learning about cleaning charms and spells." that was all she needed to say for Hermione to look out the window and completely zone out.

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Abraxas looked over to Tom who was watching the Bellouve girl and wondered what exactly had him so focused on her, she was just a dull mudblood after all, so what was so damn interesting that almost everyone had their minds on her. He cleared his throat and Tom snapped his head towards him, "Yes Abraxas?" he asked seemingly annoyed.

"I just wanted to ask, when's the next meeting?"

"Tonight, the room of requirement seven p.m sharp, don't be late." and with that, Tom got up and walked out of the great hall.

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A/N: It's been awhile, sorry.