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Hermione thought that she had found the perfect partner. But there was something about him that made her suspicious. She couldn't quite put her finger on exactly what it was that made her doubt him.
They had met at a pub not too long ago. After a shite break up last month with her boyfriend of almost five years and crying about it alone in her flat, she decided to drown her misery at a nearby pub. He was there as well, drinking by himself.
A stranger sat down next to her. "Such a pretty thing all alone." He had bright blonde hair and grey eyes, like many chaps she met from private schools. "I make great company."
Hermione scoffed. She needed more drinks for such a cringy line to work.
"I believe she wants to be alone." Another stranger sat on the other side of her. He was the complete opposite of the other. He had dark eyes hidden between dark fallen curls. His pale complexion stood out from his black coat.
"You can stay and keep me company," she said.
The other slammed his glass on the bar and left without another word. Not that she cared. She wasn't in the mood for a hookup.
"Thank you."
He nodded and wiped the condensation off his glass with a long stroke of his thin pale fingers. She watched as his hand moved slowly down with a firm grip and back up.
"Would you like another?" He flicked his tongue on his teeth before licking his lips.
"I'm not leaving with you," she replied coldly.
"You seem to have misunderstood my intention." He picked up his empty glass and waved it. "I'm Tom, by the way."
She furrowed her brows as he extended a hand towards her. "You can buy me another pint, Tom. But I'm still not having sex with you."
He chuckled, and ordered two pints of brew. One for each of them.
"Again, you misunderstand me. I'm just here for a drink or two. I didn't get your name."
Hermione smiled and left it at that until the barkeep brought their beers. He was right, and she had been wrong.
He kept her company as she drank herself under the table. Or she would have, had he not been there to warn her of the consequences. He didn't say much but stayed beside her. It kept others from coming near her.
They left the pub and made it to a late night café, where she learned that he enjoyed books as much as she did. He had refused a seat by the window when offered by the host. She didn't think anything of it then, but now she wasn't so sure about his motive. And when he came up to her flat that night. He stood by the door and didn't come in until she invited him inside.
She had given him a seductive smile, and gestured with her finger to come in. "I know I'm not the only one who doesn't want this night to end early."
"I don't want you to have any regrets." He remained still, just a step away.
"My only regret is we didn't meet sooner. Tom, would you like to come in?"
He smiled and entered her flat. They spent the rest of the evening inside her bedroom. What she thought would be a one-night stand, extended to something more when he stayed the next morning. Neither had work nor other plans.
They barely left her room. He kept the curtains drawn, keeping it dim. She didn't mind it, as they spent most of the time between the sheets. He took a liking to kissing her neck before his climax.
They continued their relationship. He only seemed to want to meet at night when it was dark out. When they out for dinner, he asked for no garlic in his food. He was allergic, he stated.
He was extraordinary pale with dark eyes and hair. His smile could make anyone swoon, and his voice was as smooth as the finest wine.
She recounted the story to her two best mates, whom she met at primary school. They were practically inseparable, even through the numerous antics they got themselves into.
"A vampire. It explains everything." Hermione paced her kitchen as they listened to her story.
Judgemental green eyes behind round spectacles stared at her. He followed her every move without saying a word. The other simply kept picking at his food, enjoying the fried chicken he brought for their weekly dinner together.
"Ron, stop eating. I have a serious problem here." Hermione paused in front of the kitchen table with her hands on her hips.
Ron stopped a brief moment as he chewed the food in his mouth. He regarded her worry with a concerned look, or an annoyed one. It was difficult to tell when his mouth was stuffed.
It fell silent for a moment between the three.
"She's gone mad. Don't you think, Harry?" Ron turned slightly to face him.
Deep in thought, Harry strummed his fingers on the wooden table. "Do you have any brown sauce? I like to dip my chicken in it."
"Do you think her boyfriend does as well. You know, before he bites her neck."
Both held back their laughter. They continued to fill their plates, before she interrupted their dinner.
"Unbelievable." Hermione gave up and walked away. She would prove it one way or the other.
Hermione did extensive research on the internet about vampires. All the fantasy books said the same of the usual things about sunlight, garlic, and crosses.
She needed to buy herself a cross. It had been too long since she stepped foot inside a church. She had gone with Harry and his family when her parents were too busy working on Christmas holidays. And as doctors, they believed in science more than anything.
They would think she was crazy. Vampires didn't exist. But they hadn't met Tom, yet.
Her boyfriend was acting too suspicious, not giving her much information about his past. She only knew that he recently moved back to England after living in Scotland with his mum.
She continued her path down a rabbit hole when she entered his name on a popular search engine. Her heart stopped for a moment when she found an old article.
Over a decade ago, the Riddle family was found dead in their mansion after a fire had broken out, nearly engulfing the home. Three remains were found in the drawing room after the fire was finally put out. Thomas Riddle, his wife Mary, and son Tom were announced dead. They all had soot in their lungs, but not enough to have died from smoke inhalation.
Tom was survived by his estranged wife and son. It was said they had moved out weeks before the incident. His son Tom moved with his mum to Scotland after being accepted to Hogwarts Academy, a school for gifted children.
"He killed his family to keep his secret when it was discovered he's a vampire." Hermione picked up her glass of cognac with a shaky hand. She took a full swig and emptied it.
Harry stared at her, as did Ron. They both turned to each other.
"There are so many wrong things in that sentence." Ron finally broke the silence.
"And vampire isn't one of them," Harry added.
"I'm serious," Hermione said.
"Have you stopped sleeping with him?" Harry asked.
Her cheeks turned a bright pink, and she was sure it wasn't the liquor she drank. "Well, no." It was only a suspicion.
"You suspect him of being a vampire, murdering his family, and burning his home. Yet, you're still shagging him."
"She's gone mental," Ron added.
Hermione went to some speciality shop specializing in goth, vampires, and other mythical creatures. She purchased a few items to keep herself safe from her boyfriend. Her bag was filled with wooden stakes, cross, rosaries, and vials of holy water.
It was nighttime when she left the store and was famished. But she was happy that she finally bought the things she needed. If her boyfriend was a murdering vampire, she wasn't going to go down easily. Well, she did on their first night, and many other nights after.
She waited for the street light to turn green to cross the street. Her favourite café was right in front of her, she could practically smell the greasy burgers and fries that she suddenly craved.
"Hermione." A familiar voice called from afar.
Her heart leapt at the sound. She looked all around her. Tom was waving to her from a block away. She clutched her bag close to her body and hoped that the light would change.
"Hermione," he called again as he jogged towards her.
She couldn't wait any longer and ran, dodging a car that honked at her. Luckily, the walk sign flashed in front of her when she neared the middle of the road. Other pedestrians began to walk from both directions. But one car wasn't quick enough, slamming into her.
Hermione fell to the ground and bumped her head on the pavement. The pain struck her quickly. Everything hurt, especially where the bumper struck her legs. She should have known better.
"Hermione, can you hear me? It's me, Tom. Don't move."
She closed her eyes and hope that her death would be quick. At least she didn't have to fight him and his secret was safe because she still loved him.
Hermione woke to beeping sounds and looked around the room. It was a hospital room. She found Harry near her bedside.
"What happened?" Her throat felt dry.
Harry scooted his chair closer, dragging it on the floor. "You got in an accident last night. Tom called me. He had to go to work. He's a professor at Oxford."
Hermione gave him a perplexed look. He never told her of his occupation. Just mentioned teaching offhandedly as if it wasn't important.
"Ron checked it out. Tom didn't mention it before because he didn't want to sound pretentious or boastful."
It suddenly made sense why he was always tired and met at her flat. They mostly spent weekends together and spoke on the phone the other nights.
"There's more." Harry paused. "Maybe it's best that you hear it from him," he said in a more serious tone.
"No, tell me now."
Harry ran his fingers in his dishevelled hair. "Tom was upset when he saw what was in your bag. I had to explain to him what you said to us about him and how he only chooses to meet at night. Luckily, he cleared things up and laughed about it. He apologized for the misunderstanding and lack of communication between you two."
"That's all? You made it sound more serious."
Harry took a deep breath and pushed his glasses up. His judgemental green eyes were nowhere to be seen. "You're pregnant, Hermione."
She shook her head. It couldn't be true. She was on the pills. Or was. She stopped after her breakup with Viktor. She forgot about them. There was no need. But then she met Tom.
"Nurses said that hormones can mess with your mood and what not. There's also..."
Hermione nodded, but she wasn't really paying any attention to what he was saying.
"You probably need some time to digest all of it. Tom seems genuine. He was happy when the doctor told him. You're the only family he has left."
"What about his mum?"
"Cancer. Passed away last year. You know about his family. It's unfortunate. They were murdered by a disgruntled employee. There are tons of articles you missed. The baby has made you spacey, it seems," Harry joked. "But you didn't hear any of this from me. He thought he was going to lose you."
Hermione nodded. "Thank you for being here."
"Will you be alright?"
"I'm just glad he's not a vampire." Hermione smiled and rubbed her stomach.