22: Dillie

Hermione swished her wand and watched as everything neatly packed itself into her trunk. She then shrunk it and everything in it before putting it into the pocket of her dress coat. Oh, how she missed wearing pants.

She walked down the steps with a skip until she reached the floor the headmaster's office was located on. The hallways were empty since everyone had left the school two days before. Hermione, Tom, Dippet, and Dumbledore were the last ones to leave. She saw a swish of purple robes disappear behind the closing gargoyle statue. Dumbledore must be leaving.

Hermione picked up her pace, wanting to say goodbye to her Transfigurations teacher.

Tom met her on the bottom of the steps just as the gargoyle slid open again. "Hurry up. I want to say goodbye to professor Dumbledore."

Tom rolled his eyes but followed her up the steps. It still weirded her out but she was slowly growing used to him. He was different from what she had imagined from Harry's stories.

She bounded up the steps with Tom in tow. Once she reached the top she opened the door. Dippet and Dumbledore were standing in the center of the room talking. When the door opened, both turned to greet the two students with warm smiles and sparkling eyes. Their conversation died instantly. From the conspiratorial glances, Hermione had to assume that the two professors were discussing her and Tom. She would have to ask Dippet about it later.

"Ah, Miss Norris, Mr. Riddle," greeted Dumbledore. "Now that you are here in person, I may wish you two a grand summer vacation."

Tom scoffed behind her and Hermione had to resist the urge to elbow him. "Same to you, professor," smiled Hermione.

Dumbledore nodded before turning to the fireplace. He picked up a hand of floo powder. "I will see you all next year. Dumbledore home!" The floo powder fell from his hand in sparks of green. When the smoke disappeared, Dumbledore was gone.

Tom eyed the fireplace warily. "It's safe to travel by floo, my boy," chuckled Dippet. "As long as you pronounce clearly," winked Dippet.

Hermione laughed with a shake of her head. Now she saw where Dumbledore got his sense of humor.

Dippet picked up the floo pot. "Hermione, would you like to go first? All you have to say is 'Dippet Manor."

Hermione grabbed a fist full of floo powder and walked up to the fireplace. "Dippet Manor!" Green smoke enveloped her and she felt a pull on a cellular level. Within seconds, she was standing in the fireplace of a dark home. She stepped out into the room. "Lumos!"

The room around her brightened spectacularly. Hermione stood in a grand living room. Dark wood covered the floors with a few carpets. The walls were painted yellow and above her hung a glass chandelier.

Green flared behind her and out stepped Tom. Soot dusted the shoulders of his suit. His eyes were wide with fascination.

"First time traveling by floo?" asked Hermione with a bemused smile. Tom nodded then looked around his surroundings.

The fireplace lit green again before Dippet waltzed out. He clapped his hands and the whole place lit up. Hermione had to suppress a smile when she was reminded of the 'Clap On' lights in the muggle world during her own time.

"I have a meeting that I have to get to, but you two may stay here and explore," said Dippet as he rubbed his beard. "Any room you want is yours except for mine which is located on the third floor, connected to the library. That room is off limits."

"Your room or the library?" asked Hermione.

"My room. I would never deny anyone entrance to a library," chuckled Dippet.

Hermione squealed as she thought about what the library might hold. Access to a poor-blooded wizards' library had her mouth watering.

Dippet clapped his hands once again, pulling Hermione out of her reverie. A house elf appeared with a loud pop. Hermione flinched at the thought of Dippet owning a house elf.

"Master, you are home," smiled the small creature.

"Dillie, this is my granddaughter, Hermione and her friend, Tom. Treat them well." With that, Dippet apparated away.

Dillie turned toward Hermione and bowed. "Master Dippet has told Dillie of mistress Hermione. Dillie is pleased to finally meet you." Hermione gritted her teeth.

"Dillie," said Tom, earning the house elf's attention. "Show us to the available rooms," demanded Tom.

"You can't just demand what you want," snapped Hermione. "You should ask politely."

"Dillie does not mind. Not all are kind to Dillie as master Dippet. Dillie is used to this kind of behavior."

"Dillie, did you work for a family before Dippet?" asked Tom, surprising Hermione.

Dillie nodded her head solemnly and grabbed at her long ears. "Dillie worked for the Notts. Master sold Dillie and Master Dippet bought Dillie," said Dillie with a warm smile. From Dillie's behavior, it seemed as if Dippet was a kind master though it still bothered her that he owned a house elf outside of Hogwarts.

"Dillie will show good rooms now." Dillie snapped her fingers together and levitated Tom's trunk, she then gestured for the two to follow her up to the second floor. Dillie led them down the west wing all the way toward the end. Hermione had no clue Dippet was this well off in the wizarding society. "This is the third best room, Dillie gestured to the door on her right. "This is Mistress' friend's room." Dillie then gestured to the door on her left. "Second best room for mistress. Dillie decorated it. Dillie hopes mistress will be pleased with it."

Hermione rubbed the small creature's head. "I'm sure I'll love it, Dillie."

"You should probably see it first before you assume that it will be to your liking." Hermione shot a glare at Tom before storming into her new room.

The room was covered in the same dark wood floors. A plush white carpet covered the floor by the bed. The bed was a large canopy covered in pink. A writing desk sat along one wall. The room was gorgeous and fit for a princess.

Hermione dug the trunk out of her pocket and sorted everything out. After she was unpacked, she went to find the library.

The third floor opened up into the extensive library. There were wall to floor shelves filled with various books. In the middle was a set of stairs that led to a small balcony overlooking the room. A small, comfortable sitting area was set up. Hermione grabbed the first book her hand could find then curled up on the small couch. The book that she had randomly picked wound up being about ancient charms and Hermione found it a very interesting read.

The stairs creaked giving Hermione a warning before Tom's head appeared. "This is amazing. It's better than the one in Hogwarts."

Hermione didn't bother to respond and went back to reading her book. Tom found a book of his own and took a seat beside her.

. . . .

Tom felt something hit his arm. He looked down to find Hermione's head resting on his shoulder. Her legs were curled up beneath her and the book that she had been reading was clutched in her hand. He chuckled at the sight before him. It thrilled him to no end that the little witch was comfortable enough around him to let down her guard. Instead of using legilimency on her like he would have anyone else, he slid the book out of her grasp and marked the page. He used his wand to slide it onto the coffee table so as not to jostle the sleeping witch awake.

In between his reading on the history of the Ministry of Magics, he would steal glances of the sleeping girl beside him. Her frizzy curls fell over the back of her neck, exposing the long slender neck that they normally hid. Her mouth was slightly parted open and her head was tilted up just a smidge. He started wondering what it would be like to kiss her awake. Wondering what her lips might taste like.

He pulled his gaze from her with a scowl. Those were thoughts that the idiots he was surrounded by would think, not him. He never saw the attraction that witches supposedly held. To him, they were more of a distraction.

A loud pop of apparation echoed in the large room. Hermione bolted up from her position with alert eyes. Dillie stood in front of them with a tray filled with tea and snacks. "Dillie brought snacks." Tom wasn't sure if he wanted to thank or strangle the small creature before him.