Chapter 1
Hermione POV
She had been on her feet for 2 hours now. Taking the vital stats for all the psych department patients, and updating her senior Dr. Ivans on their progress.
She was monitoring the stats for a young wizard, a Seth Neilson. Apparently, drug addiction was not just a muggle phenomenon. Wizards too had means to overdose on substances. This wizard had been extremely fortunate that his friend had rushed him here. Some teenage experiment with mixing several hallucinogens like Euphoria Potion, and Poppy Seeds, mixed with other unknown substances had caused an almost fatal poisoning.
Even now their team had not been able to properly identify the concoction this boy had taken, but luckily concentrated doses of bezoar seemed to be working on him. There was nothing for it but to watch and wait. Hermione was optimistic that the boy would heal.
On the way out from the ward, Agatha Neilson, Seth's mother, stopped Hermione, "How is my son?"
Giving her a reassuring smile Hermione responded, "Don't worry Mrs. Neilson, Seth's vitals have stabilized. In another hour, we'll shift him to stronger antidotes. We'll keep monitoring him, but he really is doing fine. You've been here all day, please take a break ... Seth's in good hands, you can floo back to your home and come back."
Despite her reassurance, Agatha gave Hermione a pained look from her tired eyes, "If it's all the same, I'd still like to wait to talk to Dr. Ivans."
Giving her a small nod Hermione said, "Yes, Dr. Ivans will come for the rounds within the hour."
Hermione left Seth's mother in the sitting area, going to the floor where desks had been allotted to all the trainees.
Putting her clipboard at her desk, Hermione summoned her beaded bag. Out came her water bottle and her box of roasted nuts that she kept as snacks. Sitting down and munching on a few peanuts, Hermione couldn't help remembering the obvious distress Seth's mother had been in when she had first come to the hospital on check on her son. Shock had been her first reaction as Seth's mother had kept blubbering, "My Seth, he would never do anything like this... poisoning due to euphoria potion...no, there must be a mistake...", and really, it was hard for Hermione to explain what had happened.
Seth's friend, Aaron, had conveniently lied to Seth's mother that at the party the potion was mistakenly consumed. Later, Hermione had sneakily confronted Aaron and threatened him at wandpoint to reveal what had happened, and only then had he confessed to the type of potions the boys had been mixing and consuming to get a high. It was a pity that both Seth and Aaron were not smart chips, because apart from the know ingredients that he had confessed to taking, they had also stupidly mixed many unknown quite obviously poisonous substances as well, that had led to Seth's hospitalization.
What burned bright in Hermione's mind was Seth's mother obvious worry and concern. And this paternal emotion naturally made Hermione nostalgic and worried about her own parents, Monica and Wendell Granger, both dentists, and the best parents she could have hoped for.
The worry was because Hermione had not told her parents about her relationship with Tom Riddle. They had started dating almost 3 months ago, and in this time, Tom had been promoted to be the Departmental Head of International Magical Cooperation (IMC), and Hermione had successfully submitted her thesis on the healing properties of Asphodel. When she reflected on her absent-minded and somewhat crazy behavior just before her submission deadline, she almost cringed. Somehow, Tom had wrangled her to live in his apartment, and while the lease on her own rented apartment was still being paid, she had moved in with Tom in the past month. They had both been extremely busy in the three months that they had known each other -- Tom with his new duties as the Head of IMC and Hermione with her thesis submission.
But, during these months, Hermione had become absolutely certain that Tom was the one for her. She had not shown her best side to him. She had ranted and raved about her supervisor's making last minute draft adjustments that she needed to research. She had spent sleepless nights on the kitchen table at Tom's apartment, her scrolls completely occupying the kitchen-diner with the ever-present pot of coffee. She had certainly had one major meltdown which had involved hysterical crying and she was almost convinced snot had also dripped from her nose. It was that incident that she now remembered:
She had looked despairingly at the oft-used copy of her 'Gendell's Encyclopaedia of Rare Herbs' which she had used extensively in her research. But the question of how potioneering could enhance any properties of the Asphodel was clearly not in the book, and she had very little time left till the submission. She had just burst out crying. It was at that time when Tom had come to the Apartment.
She had immediately wiped the tears, but he had seen them, and the next moment she had been engulfed in his warm embrace, and his words,"Shh! It's okay, if you want to cry, just cry it out. I know you can solve whatever it is that's troubling you."
Haltingly she had poured out her dilemma to him, and he had provided the solution, talking her down from her tendency to worry and catastrophize. He had pointed out that if the proof of some healing properties could not be given through potioneering at a short notice, she could instead include suggestive theories and the impact of certain methods on the herb. She had already been revived by his hug, but Tom had seen to it that she had eaten properly without worrying about the work. He had got falafel wraps for them, and since the kitchen-diner table was temporarily occupied with all her scrolls, he had spread a rug in the drawing room and they had sat down to eat their wraps, and unsurprisingly drink some coffee.
The next day she had indeed taken up the matter of proving certain aspects of the thesis through potions to her supervisor, and he had agreed, even extending the submission by a full month to allow her to properly test her hypothesis.
Now that her thesis was finally submitted, Hermione realized that Tom had talked her down from her anxiety so many times. That man, despite being busy with his own work, had taken care of her as much as he could, and even more than her friends had been able to. Ginny and Harry were obviously out of reach as they had gone for their honeymoon. As for Ron ... well, after he had been going behind her back, seeing Lavender for more than three-fourths of the duration of their 10 month fling, Hermione had lost all faith in him. As for her parents, they meant well, but more often than not, they had dropped enough hints that they would be happier if she rejoined the muggle world. She had turned 26 this September, but her parents still felt she could study some course in the muggle world and rejoin them. They were well-meaning, but they did not completely understand her now. The magical world had given her a lot, but to some extent she had also lost the connection with her parents, and though she did not talk to them as much as she wished she could, but revealing her relationship with Tom to her parents was something she was concerned about.
But in all this, she felt that she had found her home with Tom. He had not abandoned her at her craziest, and somebody like him who had been a supporting presence through her worst times, was certainly someone she wanted to be with in her best times.
Tom POV
The past months three months had been a whirlwind of activity. He had taken charge as the Head of IMC as old Herbert stepped down. He had taken charge when the France and Britain had for the first time signed a treaty for exchange of magical creatures that they could research on, and the Ministry was trying to collaborate with Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, for hosting another triwizard tournament, despite the debacle of the previous tournament where Hogwarts student Cedric Diggory had been killed within a deadly maze. There had been huge demonstrations in the magical community on the archaic Triwizard Tournament Traditions that pretty much did not care about the safety of the contestants. Thus, this time, before anything can be officially announced, his Department had been tasked with preparing the Draft Safety Guidelines for the Tournament, and these Guidelines if approved by Britain would be sent to France (for coordination with Beauxbatons) and to Norway and Sweden (for coordination with Durmstrang). The suggestions from France, Norway and Sweden would again be incorporated to finalize the Guidelines and Safeguards. It was tedious work, with multiple international floo visits to and from both the Magical School Professors, and the Ministry Representatives.
The work was slow-going, and there was nothing for it, but to go through several rounds of bureaucratic approvals.
He and Hermione were both busy, and that's why he had wanted her around him. He couldn't spare a moment from his work, but he couldn't also leave Hermione all to herself just when they had started seeing each other. He had taken advantage of her frazzled state with her thesis and expedited their relationship from mere coffee-dates to moving in with him in his apartment. After all, sooner or later she would anyway be living with him, as he had planned to get married to her by the end of the year. Did he plan it so that it coincided with his birthday in December, well, not really...it was just a strange fixation that he needed to seal the deal with Hermione, because he wanted no ambiguity in her mind or in the world's eyes that she belonged to him.
He had marked in red the crucial points of research his team had collaborated with on the Safety Issues in the Triwizard Tournament when his cabin door was flung open.
Lucius Malfoy stood before him with an incensed expression. The distaste curling his mouth looked as if he had smelled dragon dung.
"Lucius, I would think you know better than to come unannounced before me," Tom gave the man a censorious glance that had the white-haired Malfoy patriarch swallowing nervously.
"My Lord-", Malfoy began to say, as Tom cut him off.
"Close the door!", Tom ordered Malfoy.
"Of course, My Lord. I had just heard ... We had heard, that you're courting a mudblood and--"
Tom stood up, "Are you questioning Your Lord, Malfoy?"
"No, of course not--"
Before Malfoy could finish speaking, Tom had sent the cruciatus curse and the silencing spell at Malfoy, who fell writhing in agony on the floor, and his shouts which could not be vocalized. Indifferently watching the slumped wizard before him, Tom let up the cruciatus.
"Malfoy, do not think I have any sympathy for the mudbloods. But the path to power is no longer solely in the hands of purebloods alone, as you well know. Purebloods are and have always been superior, but the magic is no longer accepting to grace purebloods with any power."
Twirling his yew-wand in his hands, Tom glanced at the kneeling Malfoy. "In the past twenty years, only squibs have been born from the recorded pureblood unions. You're lucky to have your son and heir, Draco, as a wizard," Tom paused here to let his next words sink in, "but with your dear daughter Amalthea, barely 9 years old and a squib, you know that purebloods cannot continue to hold complete power over the magical world. It is fortunate that the Ministry has not yet rolled out a Marriage Law, but you know that if the purebloods keep marrying each other, magic will die for their branches. Already too much inbreeding has caused documented illnesses and deformities within the pureblood ranks."
Tom walked to Malfoy in a bid to soften his edge now bringing a concerned tone to his voice, "Rise my friend. For my path to power, the mudblood is important. And, you know if I come into power, a new school rivalling Hogwarts in its Majesty would be built for the squibs, and your daughter ...", Tom paused again to hook Malfoy to the carrot, "... your daughter will not have to face the persecution of being without magic in our community. In the coming years, with me in charge, I will ensure that no unfairness is meted out to special children like your daughter. Do not question my motives again Malfoy, you should know better than to question Your Lord," Tom finished menacingly.
Lucius Malfoy beat a hasty retreat after that.
Now Tom just had to deal with one more problem. Noticing the slight flickering shadow behind the pillar diagonal to his cabin, Tom murmured Stupefy.
Bringing the body of the stupefied Harry Potter in his cabin, Tom shut the door. It was unfortunate that Auror Potter had heard his conversation with Malfoy, and had gotten it into his head to tell Hermione to cut ties with him. But unfortunately for Potter, Tom was a powerful legilimens, and he had been able to hear Potter's thoughts. For the aggravation Potter had just caused him, Tom was tempted to crucio the stupefied Potter, but that wouldn't do. Potter's hiding skills were sloppy, but upon waking, Potter would be able to identify traces of the unforgivable curse. For now, Tom settled an obliviate upon him placing new memories in Potter's mind of Potter submitting the Measures for the International Auror Training Programme at his desk and going out of his cabin, before fainting in the corridor.
Tom called the Ministry Healer Department with fake concern over Potter fainting outside his office. The Healer, a matronly mediwitch attended to Potter. The cause of the fainting was termed to be work fatigue, and a dreamless sleep potion and rest was recommended. Though Potter gave him uneasy glances, he could not understand what made him distrust Tom Riddle.
Chapter 2
Hermione POV
It was the weekend. Beautiful, lovely weekend, and she lazed around on the couch cuddling into Tom. Tom had some papers in his hands, but now they lay abandoned as Tom kissed her senseless, and she gave as good as she got. It was incongruous that despite all their fooling around with each other, they had not really had sex with each other. But then maybe, it wasn't so incongruous, after all, half the time of their living together till now, Hermione had been a mess with her thesis, and Tom also had been busy with his work.
Just as she was getting out of the haze of kissing him, Tom asked, "So, when are you going to take me to meet your parents?"
This question snapped her right out of her composure.
Tom had told her about his parents. His mother Merope Gaunt had been employed at his father's place. They had married and soon enough his mother had gotten pregnant. His father was a muggle whose parents had disapproved of the match from the start. Tom's father had divorced Merope, barely a month into the marriage, and had married the heiress his parents had wanted him to marry.
Tom's mother had not survived the childbirth, but even at her deathbed she had loved Tom's father, and had given him his father's name. Tom Riddle Senior, had taken charge of the boy, but Tom had been brought up by a host of servants rather than family, and as soon as he was old enough to attend school, Tom's father had shipped him off to a Boys' Boarding School called The Wool's. Then Hogwarts had come into Tom's life at the age of 11, and he had not looked back.
Hermione had almost cried when Tom had emotionlessly described his abysmal childhood in as few lines as possible.
She had told him about her parents, and she couldn't help comparing that though she sometimes had her differences with her parents, she had never once had any cause to doubt her parents' love for her throughout her life.
Why had Tom brought up meeting her parents all of a sudden?
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Tom POV
He knew Hermione was not expecting his question. But as she had slept with him these past months, Tom had as gently as he possibly could, taken stock of all her memories and feelings. He knew she had been dating Weasley, but their relationship despite dragging for 10 months, had never culminated to the final sexual act, and she was still a virgin. He knew that though she was exasperated with her parents for alluding to her that they wanted her to rejoin the muggle world, she was also deeply attached to them, and any relationship with her to be a permanent one, eventually needed her parents' stamp of approval. She had stopped caring for her friends' opinions after her break-up with Weasley. She was never hung up on Weasley, it was a school-time crush on him that had fizzled out on her part within the first month of her dating Weasley. Subconsciously, Hermione Granger felt that her friends did not value her and many times felt used by them. She had been the driving academic force to both Potter and Weasley in Hogwarts, but her dedication had never really been understood by either of them.
He knew why she was worried about introducing him to her parents. He would turn 40 by December this year. A 14 year age-gap was what she was fretting about. She was afraid of their disapproval. If there was anything that Hermione Granger craved, it was recognition, the recognition for being the best at whatever she did -- a beautifully Slytherin-trait he understood well about, but the counterpart of this trait was her fear of disappointing people she cared about, and there was never any doubt that she cared about her parents.
But for the arcane ritual that he planned, he needed Hermione to be willing and doubt-free when submitting to him. That's where alleviating her worry over her parents was a small price to pay for his end goal.
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Hermione POV
Tom was the picture of nonchalance as he explained, "I want to meet your parents, because I want to ask them for your hand in marriage."
These were words any girl who loved her man would most want to hear, but for Hermione, these words spiked her worry. "Tom, this is too fast, we barely know each other, how can you even talk about marriage? And, even if you want to marry me, shouldn't you ask me instead of my parents. I'm not a child you know," Hermione huffed out.
Tom gave her an amused glance. "Of course you're not a child, but unlike me, you love your parents, and getting their blessings for our relationship would make you happy, and I do want to make you happy, Hermione. And, we have been living together for three months now, so that disclaims your concern that we barely know each other."
Tom was giving her a long and hard stare, and she really couldn't help averting her gaze from his intense stare. His reasons were valid, and her protest seemed childish in the face of his reasons. She certainly couldn't say she barely knew him. She knew he was just as dedicated to his work as she was. He had gotten the reputation of being a ruthless Department Head and she had personally known him to suspend two workers for sloppy work, but she also knew he was fair in his dealings. When extremely stressed out, Tom would sometimes become moodily silent, and those were the times when he would seek her physically, kiss her with a longing that pulled at her own. Her concerns were only about the reception her relationship with Tom by her parents, because she knew that she did not want to leave him.
"Fine, I'll owl my parents that we'll meet them next Saturday. Does that work for you?"
Tom POV
Monica and Wendell Granger kept a neat house. The moment he had stepped into their house, he had set a confundus on both the dentists. Tom had been careful to charm the elder Grangers, and they approved of him on principle. His parents had died, but he had still made a success of himself and become a Department Head, had his own apartment, and cared for their daughter. The confundus helped them remain confused about his age, confused about many things, but a nicely set imperio also kept the meeting smooth.
Hermione was also relieved to get her parents' approval. She was a little suspicious at their ready approval, but he had been careful to ensure that her parents otherwise acted as their usual self around her.
By the end of the evening, he had a very pleased witch in his arms, and after getting her parents' approval Hermione looked at him like he had hung the stars for her. His plan was truly in motion, but he would not deny that pleasing his witch warmed him, notwithstanding the deception he had to use.