Author's Notes:Hello peeps! ^_^ I know it has been a billion years since I last posted anything, but life has really been whooping my ass for the last 4 years. :"( So these last 4 years have been spent fixing myself and figuring out what I want to do with my life. In brief, I'm no longer the cute little nerd whose only concern was on passing physics. I now have a plethora of real world problems. Adulting, right? :/ And…I already forgot of what I learned in school anyways. So that little side note may affect how the rest of this story plays out. Hopefully for the better.

However, since it has been so long since I've updated, I had to look at past chapters to figure out what the hell I was trying to do with this story. And upon reviewing past chapters, I really wish I had written this story a lot better. I just think there are some aspects in here that where poorly thought out and I think they hurt the overall story. I'm glad there are plenty of you who love the story regardless, and maybe I'm just being nitpicky. I'm sure if I attempt to rewrite what I have, the story will never be finished. So, I'll just work with what I started with, and maybe after it's complete, I'll consider a rewrite. I don't think I'm really cut out to write multi-chapter stories, and may just stick to one-shots after I finish this and House of Many Riddles (I'm even more disappointed with this story and have no idea how to move forward).

Anyways, here is chapter 14!

Chapter 14: Relax

July 8th 5:59 AM

Sunlight lightly glowed through the dusty blinds by the time Draco woke up with a piercing headache and a sour stomach. Vomit remained in his breath and made him feel more ill as it hit his nose. He wanted to rush to the nearest bathroom to hurl, but as his eyes scanned his surroundings, he knew he was in very unfamiliar territory. The musty couch he was thrown on was nothing like the king-sized, canopy bed with 800-count silk sheets he normally slept on. Looking down at himself, he was still in the clothes he had on the night before, which now were garnished with some stale vomit.

God, what did he do the night before?!

With every ounce of strength he had, he stood up and made it his mission to find a bathroom to clean himself up. Though the effort would probably be like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet-wound. Luckily, the dump of a flat he was in was fairly small, and he was able to reach the bathroom in a few short paces. As soon as he made it, he dropped to his knees and threw his head over the toilet. The bile didn't come up right away, but Draco knew it was coming. His insides were burning, and he needed to release something or he felt he would die.

When it finally did, he didn't feel much better. Once he felt confident nothing else would come out, he stood up to the sink to throw water on himself. It was refreshing, but did very little to help the dreadful hangover he felt. As the water dripped from his face, he looked at himself in the spotty mirror. His eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and his face was far paler than normal. The first thought that struck him was of his parents. How disgusted would they be if they could see him now?

He had been living his life for them. Groomed to be the next successor to Malfoy Enterprises, he carried a massive burden on his back ever since he was conceived. Most of his life was spent rigorously studying everything from foreign languages, economics, sociology, and whatever his father could think of that would be necessary for his success. Draco was an above average student, but above average wasn't good enough. Whenever his father felt he was "slacking", he would have the tutors brandish canes or rulers. Something they would smack at the desk, and occasionally on his back or over his hands.

In spite of all this, he couldn't hate his father. He just wanted something for himself. Joining the Death Eaters may have been too hasty a decision, but one he felt he had to make in order to find some relief from the constant pressure he felt. That first time he had a drink, and the alcohol hit him just right, tension had disappeared like magic. The gang may've been putting him through hell, but it was only temporary. Once they saw him as one of the "boys", everything will great. They were just feeling him out. Making sure he could handle the lifestyle. He would show Tom and the rest of them he deserved their respect.

7:48 AM

Tom and Hermione had made their way to a café on their drive back to London. It was spent mostly in silence as she was clearly struggling to keep her eyes open and he remained deep in his thoughts. Before scooping the girl back up from where he had left her to head out of the old "abandoned" mansion, he had checked-in with Severus. Neither men were very verbose in nature, but their brief conversations were never mindless small-talk.

5:21 AM

Severus heard the door creak in his lab, but he was not startled in the least. Tom was the only person ever came to see him. Mainly because he was the one of the two people who knew he lived in the basement of the old abandoned mansion. Not a problem at all. Severus actually liked the isolation. Less stress.

"I know it's pointless to tell you anything, but would it kill you to knock before you come in?" Severus asked without turning away from his work.

"No, but is the extra effort on my part truly necessary?" Tom made his way into the room as if he owned it. Then she just hunched over by the table Severus was working on.

"I suppose not. Although you're here earlier than I had expected." Severus continued with his disinterested tone.

"I was able to get my hands on some more 'business'. We can never have too much money, right?" Tom said.

"More work for me. Oh, joy…"

"I know, I'm such a generous boss." Tom added on to the sarcasm. "You know, I'm thinking within the next five years or so, everybody in the nation will look to me as their boss."

"What on Earth are you talking about?"

"I've found this girl." Tom's tone became more serious. "She's very bright. Plenty of untapped potential. But still doe-eyed enough to where I can mold her with my ideals."

"Hmph…I don't think I've ever heard you say such kind words about a female before. I think one of your most famous lines is 'the best position for a woman is on her back'." Severus added.

Tom chuckled. He always found it ridiculous how women would fawn over him, not caring that he might be dangerous. Although, men weren't much better. How many men joined the Death Eaters just to share in his glory? They whored themselves in another fashion. While only a select few he was the top man on the pyramid, they all knew for sure he carried a great deal of power within the Death Eaters.

Hermione, though…there was just something about her that intrigued him. She was bright, but was that the only thing that he liked about her? The thought of her on her back did excite him a little.

"She's attractive, but much too young than what I typically go for. Besides, fucking her might ruin her. Her mind is something I can't afford to waste. Especially since I want to knock Grindelwald out of power in only a few short years."

"My, Tom. I doubt she's anything that impressive."

"Take my judgement seriously, Severus. I'm never wrong."

Or could he be? Glancing over his coffee again, she still appeared pitifully tired. And she had taken multiple naps on their trip out. She needed to match his pace if she is ever to become useful to him. He rarely ever slept.

"You sure do sleep a lot." He finally commented out loud.

"What? You kept me up for almost two days now." Her voice was a bit weak from exhaustion.

"Two days is nothing. You have idea of the amount of work we need to do? But if you think sleep is more important, then by all means." Tom sniped.

Hermione wasn't sure how to respond. Tom wasn't really being unreasonable. The needs of the world outweighed her own. Grindelwald's reign of terror had lasted long enough.

"So what's the next move?" Hermione asked.

"Next move?"

"Yeah. When we get back to town."

"I guess I'll give you some books to review until we meet up again. I have some other business to attend to. I assume I don't have to tell you what will happen if you slack off on the tasks I assign you?" Tom's tone was light-hearted, but she saw the threatening look in his eyes.

"I don't slack." Hermione responded.

"Good. Now hurry up and eat." Tom finished his coffee.

The drive back to London really dragged. Tom's focus remained on the road and Hermione already knew he wasn't the small-talk type. But she felt like taking another nap may not have been the best option. Seeing how he commented on it. She needed to do something.

She reached over to the radio and started fumbling with the knobs.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Tom snapped. It was expected, but Hermione was too tired to care.

"How can you expect me not to fall asleep when it's dead silent in here?" She snapped back.

"I have a lot going on in my mind, and that does a perfectly good job of keeping me awake."

"I should hope so since you're driving."

"You're very cheeky." Tom sighed. "Hold on, do you know how to drive?"

"No." Hermione answered. Her feet were her only means of transportation. Even her dad relied on public transport to get from A to B. Finances just weren't in their favor to buy a car.

"It's easy. It's just like when you tailed me in the Jag. The only difference now is that you get to mess with the pedals." Tom pulled over to the emergency lane.

Oh, crap! He's serious! Hermione felt panic.

"Come on now. Get over to the driver's side. We don't have all day." Tom snapped as he hopped out.

Hermione followed suit and took a seat on the driver's side as instructed. Tom lit a cigarette once he made himself comfortable on the passenger's side.

"What's the hold-up? Just put your foot on the brake, and switch into drive."

She did as she was told, and her heart threatened to rip through her chest as the truck began moving. Even slightly.

"Okay. Now gently push on the gas pedal. Gently. I don't want you fucking up my truck."

"Oh, am I not supposed to do that?" Hermione was really getting annoyed with him talking to her like a child.

"Just relax and get us back home. Want a cigarette? It might help your nerves." Tom offered.

"No, thank you." Hermione took in a deep breath and exhaled before she started picking up the pace and got back on the main road.

"At a girl." Tom slid back and made himself more comfortable. "Now let me see what's on the radio."

Asshole. Hermione thought as he started fumbling with the radio. Of course, he would choose abrasive Rock music.

"A mulatto! An albino! A mosquito! My libido! Yeah!" Tom sang aloud, totally surprising her. He was like a completely different person. What had gotten into him?

"Don't look at me like that?" Tom noticed the look of confusion on her face. "Are you awake now?"

"I sure am." Her focus remained primarily on the road. Thank goodness they were the only vehicle around in sight.

"Good. You'll find that I can be quite creative and it seems like you'll be quite an interesting student. At times, you'll find I'll demand a great deal. But every now and then, we can relax. Or like Americans like to say 'chill'. I think it'll make our bound stronger. Don't you think?" Tom continued to puff on his cigarette.

"The hell are you getting at?" Hermione was really confused now. Just how interested was he in me? I have a boyfriend…Wait, do I? What are me and Ron anyways? We've only been on a couple of dates. Why am I having these thoughts, anyways? Tom and me? Absurd!

"You will be seeing a lot of me from now on. Me and you are going to take over the world, right?"

"Yeah, I guess…" Hermione answered sheepishly.

"Come on. You will never make it with that attitude." Tom shook his head. "Say 'Fuck Grindelwald.'"

"Fuck Grindelwald?" Hermione was never much of a swearer.

"Yeah, 'Fuck Grindelwald'! I don't think you've quite tapped into the hatred that should push you forward."

Tom sure did look like he was full of hatred. But why? Her life was no picnic either, but she didn't go around saying "Fuck everything". She had a passion to see change but didn't see the need to fill herself with negative energy.

"Whatever." She shrugged him off.

"Hmph. I'll break you soon enough." Tom flicked his cigarette out of the window, but promptly lit another.

"I'd like to see you try." Hermione challenged. Tom snickered.

What does she have in store for me? Tom thought.

The rest of the ride, neither one of them chose to speak. Both mainly focused on the road ahead of them. Of course, Hermione was looking out to make sure she wouldn't hit anything and was driving like an old lady because of it. Tom wasn't bothered though. And really he only picked on her mainly for his amusement. It was kind of cute to see her get all worked up. Did he really want her filled with hate like him? Not really. Her optimism was refreshing.

As long as she helped him achieve his overall goal of taking over the country, that's what mattered most to him. With her eyes so focused on the road, she missed what may have been one of the most sinister looks his face ever made. Something that made him appear less…human.

A/N: Yeah…I know this chapter was really short. And kind of a fluff piece. But I am struggling a bit with moving this story forward. I guess this chapter will wrap up the first part of the story, and now I can move on to more action-ny parts. So its very likely the next chapter will have a small time jump compared to this day-to-day format that I had been maintaining.

Thank you so much to those who have stayed on with this story and hello to all you new readers!