Breaking Hermione

Bad Behaviour

Hermione P.O.V

Tom reached out his hand to me, his smile was ice white and blinding. He knew I couldn't refuse him, or wouldn't refuse him.

"I need you to trust me." Tom's eyes were intense as they stared at me. "Don't make this difficult."

He held out a pale hand, the gold of his shirt cuffs glinting in the light. All of the voices around me seemed to die out. I could hear my own breathing, my senses were flooded with Tom. He was tall, he looked extremely good tonight. But what was new. He always looked good. And it pissed me off.

I took his hand and allowed myself to be guided by Tom out to the centre of the floor. It was one dance. Surely I could survive this. All around me there were other dancers. Isabella Rey and Daniel Dolohov. Shalini, her tear streaked face in the arms of Xavier Malfoy. I caught her eye and looked away quickly, but not before she gave me a small kind hearted smile. The music began, and Tom led the way. I didn't know what style of dance it was.

"Follow my lead." Tom said in my ear. His arms were on my waist, mine on his shoulders. He knew how to dance, and I wasn't surprised. He knew a lot of things, it really was a shame the only side of him I ever got to see was the mindless psychopath. The music helped calm me, and as we danced I couldn't feel fear. It felt like the old feelings had died out and had been replaced. Power emanated from Tom in a way that now reassured me. Maybe it was his height. I'd always been a sucker for tall guys, especially for someone as short as me. He made me feel protected, somehow. Like when he was there nothing could hurt me. Except him.

The music stopped, and Tom gave a low bow.

"Thank you for the dance." He said to me lowly. His dark eyes were shining very brightly.

"You're welcome." I stepped away from him, and as I did his eyes narrowed ever so slightly as they analysed my dress.

"That dress," He said. "I recognise it. Where did you buy it from?" It was the second time tonight I had seen him look so surprised.

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out."

"It belonged to the secret mistress of Salazar Slytherin didn't it?" Tom was looking at me as though he had never seen me clearly before.
"Such a thing is rare to come by."

"How did you know it belonged to her?" I asked him, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Not many people know about this."

"There have been photographs of Salazar with her. You can find them in the library." Tom told me. He stepped closer, his hands tracing along my back coming to rest on the silken fabric against my shoulder. "There was one picture I saw when I was doing some research on Slytherin House, I found it in a very old book. I'll have to show you if I find it, it's got Selise in that exact dress. But that's not what I'm curious about."

I looked up to find Tom's eyes focused on me intensely.

"What made you decide to wear something Salazar Slytherin gifted?" He asked me directly.

"I..." I couldn't for the life of me remember.

"Are you going to dance?" Someone asked us. Tom rolled his eyes. "What do you think?" He snapped at them.

"Let's go..."

I took his hand and walked away from the dance floor, taking him through the crowd until we reached a spot beside the wall where we were alone.

"I have no idea." I said truthfully. "I was drawn to the fabric. And then a witch offered it to me."

"Who was the witch?" Tom pressed.