Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and again you know who it belongs to.
Notes: Thanks to my reviewers, the help was appreciated.
Midnight Rendezvous
Chapter 2
Regrets, loves and hates all rushed through her mind as she desperately sought to save her self, but alas to no avail. 'Is this really the end?' she wondered. All the things she could have done, all the things she would have fixed, if only…if only…
Though Hermione was never the type to give up, this time it seemed that saving herself was nearly impossible. Her fear clouded her mind, and her courage and determination diminished. Where were Harry and Ron when she needed them the most?
But strangely enough the deafening impact never came; instead two strong arms clasped around her waist, and hoisted her to safety.
For a second Hermione was still scared, convinced she was falling to her untimely death, but when she didn't feel the cold wind howling in her face, Hermione opened her eyes. To her relief she wasn't hurtling through the air. But the relief didn't wash over her in huge waves like she had expected but it was more subtle. It blew in puffs into her body like a small kind of thankfulness, like when you didn't fail a test. Somehow she felt as if she had known she was never going to get hurt. This night was getting weirder and weirder.
Sighing, Hermione leaned back into her savior's chest, instinctively thinking it was either Ron or Harry. But it was neither Hermione soon found out as a smug voice commented in her ear,
"Getting awfully comfortable aren't we?"
That was all it took to snap the Gryffindor out of her hazy reality. Immediately she broke out of her mystery savior's grasp. His face was completely hidden in the dark, and the moonlight wasn't helping her very much. But hearing the smugness in his voice, she guessed too soon.
"Malfoy!"
But no cocky reply followed her accusation; it couldn't be Malfoy, could it?
Instead the mystery person took out his wand and muttered a quiet, "Lumos!"
The dark night sky was immediately illuminated by the soft glow of light emanating from the stranger's wand. Though it wasn't as bright as Hermione would have fancied it to be, the light was still enough for her to make out her rescuer's features.
A pale face stared back at her, highlighted with various shadows from his wand. Thick dark hair rested on top of his hair, rippling a chocolate brown where the light hit it. A few strands of hair fell in front of his eyes, mingling with his thick lashes. His eyes… they were a curious color. Blue like water but dark like storm clouds, in fact they seemed a deep hazel color.
If Hermione wasn't totally bewildered, she would have blushed furiously under the intense gaze of the handsome boy standing in front of her.
Some where in the deep recesses of her mind came the memory that she was standing staring at this stranger and looking like a complete idiot. Finding her voice, Hermione attempted to make a suitable thank you.
"Erm… well… thank you for saving me. I don't know what would have happened if … if you hadn't been there. I owe a lot to you."
"Its no problem, I was just in the right place at the right time."
Hermione relaxed, hearing his smooth voice. He was probably right; maybe he had just been in the right place at the right time.
His face seemed so familiar, but she just couldn't put her finger on it. He was probably a 7th year. She must've passed him on her way to class or something. Hermione's eyes traced his form as he leaned against the stone banister, tilting his head skywards. Yet there was something oddly unsettling about him.
"Couldn't sleep?"
The boy's smooth voice broke her train of thoughts.
"No, not really. A sudden burst of insomnia seemed to have taken control of my body."
"Yeah, same here. Who knew the fates were so cruel." A bit of sarcastic humor laced his words.
Hermione found herself enjoying this conservation; he was very easy to talk to. Maybe she would see him around more often.
"May I ask your name?"
"Um, well ..." Should she trust him with her name? He had virtually popped out of nowhere but he had saved her. It was only polite to introduce herself.
"It's Hermione Granger."
"Nice to meet you, Hermione. I'm Tom Riddle."
A/N: So how is it coming along? I'm worried about my characterization of Tom, do you think he was too nice. Well they did say he was charismatic. That's it for now!