Work Text:
Long chestnut curls blowing in the wind, the scent of lilacs betraying her movement. She was perfect, exactly what he had needed, exactly what this new body craved. Her fire and determination kept her on the move, despite her exhaustion. Running…always running from him. Is was exhilarating to watch, to feel her fear every night when she closed her eyes.
After the bloodshed, after her failure she still held onto her hate, she loathed him in a way that he had rarely felt, even now a year later there was so much anger. They had put up a valiant fight, convinced that they had been making a difference, that they were taking the steps to win. He had almost felt sorry for them even then, thinking that he could ever be so reckless, that there wouldn’t be contingencies.
He’d known the moment that they had started to destroy his horcruxes, and he’d prepared in a way that none of them had expected. Tapping his best and brightest to restore his body, as he knew that his soul was returning to him piece by piece. If only they had known, maybe it wouldn’t have happened that way, maybe Potter would have beat him. But instead he died alone on the forest floor. It had been a peaceful, honorable death. One that Tom knew had started his obsession. Because that’s what this was he knew that, pining after her during the day, watching her every movement, every breath. And coming into her room night after night, entering her mind twisting, changing the smallest details. He was always watching her, day and night.
His forbidden fruit.
He couldn’t have known that the connection between him and the boy would have just an impact, that watching Potter’s life flash before his eyes would reveal the magic that was his mudblood. She was everything that he’d never known that he needed, and he craved her. Not just her body, though he’d be a liar if he said that wasn’t a factor, not just her mind or her magic. No, it was her fire, her conviction. He wanted to break her mind and spirit, he needed her love and devotion. Needed what he had seen through the boy’s eyes.
After the battle had been won, he’d made a grand show. He had plans, had known that if he were to stay in power he’d have to be diplomatic and so he granted leniency to those in the Order, those who fought for the light as long as they bowed before him. Seeing the Dark Lord himself sever the head of his beloved Nagini had extinguished any remaining hope that the light had. So it had pleased him to see just how many fell before him, there had been those stubborn few that had refused would enjoy a life of servitude in place of the death they had been expecting.
Tom had felt for them, the look of dismay on their faces when they realized he would no longer fulfill that role of villain. They were nothing to him now, he had won…almost won that is.
For he wasn’t done, he had plans for Harry Potter’s Mudblood. The moment that the crowd had quieted and he’d given his orders. With the body of the boy who died proudly on display, he pulled her to her feet out of the arms of one of the countless gingers, and claimed her as his prize of war. He hadn’t been naïve he’d watched her passion in Potter’s memories, he’d known that breaking her would be no simple task. But it had been a year, and his progress was glacial.
Night after Night dream after dream she ran from him, ran from the manor towards the light towards him. But Potter was dead, and Tom the clever snake that he was knew how to twist, how to manipulate her thoughts. And though it had taken time he knew that his plan was working. Breaking someone was an art, finding the flaw the perfect spot to poke took talent, took patience.
Tom Riddle had always been a great many things: disciplined, ambitious, resilient. He could be patient, he could sit back and take his time because there was one thing that he would never be and that was a failure.
He watched himself take shape in her memories first, this version of him replacing all of the unsavory images. Gone was the snake like demon who’d haunted her…and in their place a handsome older gentleman with kind brown eyes. Eyes that she would now believe reminded her of her mothers. He watched as bit by bit the stories of what he had done, what he was after shifted. He didn’t want to harm muggles, no, what he wanted was to make the world a better safer place for them both. He wanted the Wizarding World to come out of the dark ages, while celebrating wizarding customs. What was so wrong with that? Slowly, ever so slowly he watched as the man she was running towards in her dreams morphed.
The glasses were the first to go, weeks later his messy black hair had shifted to a beautiful rich brown. Not all at once not big sudden shifts, he didn’t want to be noticed, didn’t want her to push him out. He was almost there, every day the image of the man that she trusted more than anything in the world was shifting to his likeness. He had been patient, and tonight he knew that it was about to pay off.
As Hermione ran towards the edge of the cliff it was finally his arms that were wrapped around her center, holding her close as she buried her face in his chest.
“Why did you leave me?” her voice carried softly on the wind, her fear and anguish thick in her tone.
Tom tucked a wayward curl behind her ear before brushing away a tear with his thumb, “I would never leave you, little bird.”
He could say that with certainty as he knew there would never be a time he would let her go, ever.
“You did! I’ve been searching for so long, where were you?!” She cried out pounding her fists against his chest, and he could feel her pain, her longing.
“I am right here love, I will always find you. You know that.”
She shook her head, her fists still pressed to his chest, “I’ve been so scared, and I don’t even know why anymore.”
Much time had passed, and every time she had this conversation she lost more and more of what Tom had cost her. “Come here pet. You are safe. I’ve got you.”
He wrapped his arms around her taking in the scent of her, relishing the little time they had together like this.
“I love you.” Her words were but a whisper but they had penetrated straight through him.
“You are the only thing that I have ever loved, Hermione.”
Love wasn’t something that Tom Riddle had ever cared for, had even had the slightest interest in. Until that night in the woods, when Harry Potter’s life had come to an end and Tom Riddle had felt Hermione’s love for the boy. Until he had seen first hand what it had felt like to be seen, to be loved. Tom Riddle had never longed for love until he longed for hers.
“You never call me that.” There was a slight concern in her amber eyes and a stiffness in her shoulders.
“Thats how you know that I am being honest.” he chuckled as he kissed the top of her head.
She relaxed before taking a step back and looking up at him, the moment was charged and he wasn’t certain why he had done it, he never had before. But suddenly he found his lips on hers. The kiss had been one of passion and desperation, as his hands gripped her waist. He felt as if he was going to devour her, swallowing every sound, every breath. He couldn’t get enough of her, but all too soon the kiss ended and the two stood panting their gaze locked on each other.
“Are you going to be there when I wake up?” She broke the silence, before she returned to torturing her kiss swollen lower lip.
“Yes, and we can take a walk in the gardens. Would you like that Mi?”
He had known that using his nickname was the right thing to do, trusting his instincts as her eyes snapped to his. A wide smile spread across her face as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I think that I would.”
He pulled her in for another kiss this one far more tender, sweeter. “Good because I love to watch you in those pretty little sundresses.”
Tom had filled her closet with them because of one singular memory, Potter had watched her his trousers tight as she’d danced in an open field with the little redhead he’d recognized from her time with his diary. Hermione had looked beautiful the way that the dress hugged her slight curves had stuck with the boy, and in turn with Tom. But she had refused to wear them in the year that he’d had her.
“I’m scared that you’re lying to me. That when I wake up you’ll be gone and I’ll be all alone back in my cage.” her words broke him from his thoughts.
He kissed her once more before whispering his final words into her ear. “You will never be alone.”
Tom exited her mind just as she began to stir, returning to the doorway positioning himself as if to knock. He watched as her eyes fluttered open, and recognition dawn on her face.
“Good morning, pet.” Tom entered the doorway and watched as her pretty amber eyes met his, and he knew at once that he had won.
There was no fear, no rage as she pulled back the pillowed duvet. He watched his mouth going dry as her bare legs hung over the side of the bed. Her silky green night gown laying gingerly at her thighs, he felt his body’s reaction at once, his eyes trailing up her frame.
“Good morning Tom.” her cheeks were the most stunning pink, highlighting the many freckles that graced her skin.
Testing the boundaries he crossed the room and stood between her slightly parted knees, he noted the way that she bit down on her pouty lower lip. Her breath hitching as he leaned forward caging her between his arms. She didn’t flinch or pull away, merely leaned back on her arms as if she were inviting him closer.
His lips hovered just out of reach, “How would you like to walk the gardens with me today?”
Her eyes went wide, she hadn’t expected the invitation but she recovered quickly with a bright smile. “If it would please you, my lord.”
Tom smiled and placed a tender kiss on her lips, satisfaction surging through his veins. She would absolutely be pleasing him soon.