Authors note: 2K votes. I am so grateful. Thank you guys for the love, for the comments and the votes. I love writing this story, and I am grateful that I could explore the depth of Tom's character here, as well as Hermione's. I have attempted to keep J.K's characters in accordance with the personalities she has given them. Tom, the quiet spoken, evil yet brilliant student. Hermione, fiery and intelligent and kickass (when she hasn't been cursed lol)

Enjoy xxx

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Jade was almost as tall as Hermione, which in comparison to my 6 foot 4 figure was short.

But what she lacked in height she made up for in fiery attitude and spitfire look which instantly made me think of Hermione all of a sudden in one brutal lash of memory. Fuck.

"I'm not scared of you." She told me boldly. I don't think I had ever seen this side of her before. I had always known her to be Shalini's meek sister, the nerdy girl who tried in every way to lift her family name out of the gutter where it belonged.

"This is a first for you, isn't it?" I leant against the bathroom wall opposite her, staring at her intensely. She kept my eye contact without breaking it for a single moment.

"You are certainly quite unlike how I originally perceived you to be." I said quietly. "In fact, in the days to come you may even be very useful to me."

"Say what you want, this changes nothing." Her response was cold. "I am going to Dumbledore right now and I'm going to tell him what you've done."

"And what is that exactly?" I asked. "What do you think I've done?"

Jade shot me a filthy look. What the hell do you think you've done?

"You've magically altered Hermione, Tom. She acts like a little confused kid since you were last seen with her. Clearly you've gone and done something, cast some sort of curse over her. It's vile. I feel sick each time I see you with her, controlling her. I'm not going to let you get away with this."

"You do realise that when you go to someone like Albus Dumbledore you're going to need evidence to back a ridiculous accusation like that. Do you really think he's going to believe the pathetic nonsense you're rattling on about? He's going to look for proof."

"No shit." Jade said heatedly. "The proof is literally right in front of him. He's going to believe me. I'm going to see him now, and when I come back I'll let you know how it went."

"Well, go on then." I said. "Why don't you go and do what you've just been telling me for the past 10 minutes you were going to do."

Jade turned on her heel and stormed off, making an effort to slam the bathroom door shut behind her in the overly dramatic manner I associated with teenage witches.

I needed to find Hermione. I had to modify how I had programmed her, alter her so she wouldn't stir as much suspicion as she had been. As I had been.

I walked to the door, opening it easily and stepped out into the Hall. Jade's retreating figure could be seen marching off in the direction of Dumbledore's office, her head held high in the air. She was confident she would get what she wanted. I was confident that she wouldn't.

It didn't take long to find Hermione, I walked up the first flight of stairs to my designated class, History of Magic, and saw her standing outside the door alone in the hallway looking lost.

"Tom." She came closer as she saw me approaching, her pale face lighting up. I was... happy to see her too. And it wasn't just because I needed to see her, something deep inside me stirred feeling every time I she was in my presence. Something uncomfortably unknown.

There were no witnesses around us.

"Hermione. What are you doing, I told you to go to classes before. Did I not?"

"I couldn't concentrate. You weren't there." She replied, staring up at me with that vacant look I was quickly growing to hate.

"I'm sorry." She said expressionlessly. "I really didn't mean to. Sometimes I forget things."

"It doesn't matter now. I want you to listen to me, and follow closely with what I'm going to say next. Can you do this for me?" I stepped closer to her, noticing how she didn't step back or even flinch as she normally would.

"Is that a yes?" I put my hand on the small of her back.

"Yes. I'm listening." She said clearly.

"I want you to act normally, to not ask questions and speak only when spoken to. If anyone asks you if you are in trouble or hurt in any way you are to lie, and do so convincingly. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Tom. I will do that."

"Good girl." I stepped back, watching her reaction closely. Her eyes were wide, I could see my own reflection in their depths looming over her like a menacing shadow.

"This is how you are going to act unless I alone give you the word to stop. Now, let's go to class since we are now both late."

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"How did it go?" I entered the Common Room to find Jade sitting alone on a sofa in front of the fire.

"You altered her again." Jade said by way of response. "She's acting normal. You've made it so she's acting normal."

"Maybe I did." I took a seat opposite her, staring into the flames dancing in the grate before us. It was a cold evening.

I looked over to see Jade's frown, the fire catching the shadow beneath her eyes.

"That is beyond evil, and you know it."

"You've has your fair share of games in the dark, Jade." I reminded her. "Although I am terrible, don't forget that you also have skeletons in your closet. And if you ever forget that, just let me know. Because I will personally ensure that I will be the one that digs them all out."

Jade paled.

There was silence for a moment after, the only sound was the crackling of the fire.

"What was it?" She asked. "A jinx? A curse? What did you use on her?"

I didn't speak for a moment.

"It was... none of your concern. And what are you going to do if it was either of those things you mentioned? Because lately the only thing you've done is do nothing at all."

"I will find a way to stop you, mark my words." Jade stood. I didn't say anything, I didn't even look at her. The fire was a damn sight more captivating than a stupid triggered bitch.

She left, and finally after some time I left too, walking up the stairs to my room and closing the door firmly behind me. Hermione was sound asleep in my bed where I left her. I took my cloak off and hung it over the chair beside my desk. My eyes were drawn to Hermione, she looked better asleep than she did when she was awake. She looked more like the Hermione I had known before than the new version I had conjured. I would have to reverse this curse soon. At least it had served its purpose. She would be further intimidated by my power once she realised what I had done.