This story got really cheesy, and I apologize. It just wrote itself that way and I don't really like it, but oh well, what can you do?

Hopefully you enjoy it!

Thanks for reading! Love you all,

Mia

The Life, Love and Lies of Tom Riddle

Chapter Five: How Cliche

The next day, Hermione walked into the Great Hall, eyes red and puffy from the night before and caught Tom's eye. He looked at her for a second, until Malfoy said something, breaking his concentration. He growled and turned to Malfoy. "WHAT!"

"Jeez Riddle, what made you so pissed off?"

"You."

"Well, I was just going to comment on that girl you like, Alexis Dumbledore. She seems upset."

"Yeah."

"Do you know what's wrong?"

"No." Tom lied.

"Maybe I could go over there and make her feel better, if you know what I mean." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Tom turned in his seat and glared harshly at Malfoy, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Touch her, and you die."

"Jeez, overreaction."

"Not at all you bastard. Touch her, you die. Simple as that."

"Fine." Malfoy turned back to his breakfast and Tom turned his attention back to Hermione. He felt horrible for leaving like that. It's just, no one had ever said 'I love you' to him before and it scared him. Not that she loved him, he was overjoyed about that, it scared him that he wasn't repulsed with the idea of having someone love him. He wanted her, he wanted to love her, and it scared him because he would be setting himself up for hurt, becoming vulnerable, and he didn't like it one bit.

He stood up and walked over to the Gryffindor table, the act catching many peoples' attention. "Hermione," he whispered, once he arrived next to her. Her head snapped up to look at him. "Can I talk to you?" She looked at his face, studying him, to see if he was going to hurt her again, but all she could see was his sincerity. She nodded curtly and stood, letting him lead her out of the Great Hall. They both could feel the stares of every single person in the room on their retreating backs, some of anger and jealousy, others, pure curiosity or shock.

They walked outside and went to the lake. "What?" She asked coldly.

"I deserved that. And much more. Okay, I wanted to apologize." Her eyebrows shot up.

"Apologize? For what?"

"Being such a jerk yesterday. I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I know you care, otherwise you wouldn't have cried about it. And when you told me you...loved me." He swallowed hard. "I was..."

"What? What were you?"

"Scared. I never have had someone tell me that before and it scared me that I liked hearing you say it. It scared me that I wasn't repulsed. It scared me that...I love you too."

Her jaw dropped. "Tom..."

"Shh." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. "I've grown to know you, the real you, and I don't care what you are. I love you." This time, he said it with more conviction, more confidence.

"I love you too Tom." She grinned and leaned forward, kissing him. He was shocked. He froze and, subsequently, so did Hermione. She slowly pulled away. "Sorry." She mumbled.

"It's okay, I just wasn't expecting that." She laughed and leaned into him, hugging him tightly. "You realize we've only known each other for like, a week. Right?"

"Yeah, but...don't you believe in love at first sight?"

"I do now."

"This is so cliche."

"True." He laughed. "But hey, somethings have to be."

"Yeah. Hey, are you mad at me still?"

"No, you did what you did to save everyone. I'm not mad."

"Good." They walked back inside and were about to go to class, when Malfoy, flanked by Avery and Mulciber stopped them.

"What's going on here?" Malfoy spat, looking between the two.

"Nothing." Hermoine said, grinning slightly.

"Right." He replied, sarcastically rolling his eyes.

"Right." Tom declared, with authority. Avery and Mulciber backed off. Malfoy stood his ground.

"Just don't let a girl get in the way of our...club." Malfoy hissed, eyes narrowing.

"Fine." Tom spat back, eyes so cold that Malfoy backed down too.

The three walked away and Hermione looked at Tom. "You're still-"

"Not now." He cut her off and walked to class. She looked at him suspiciously but walked with him anyway. They sat in class, but neither was listening. Hermione was thinking about the 'club', as Malfoy had so wonderfully dubbed it, and Tom was thinking about how he could stop it. He didn't want to hurt muggleborns anymore, not now that he loved one of them. He was so screwed.