Summary: Anonymous Prompt: “Tom Riddle is in love with his teacher Hermione Granger”

Pairings: Hermione/Tom

Warnings: Fluff

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The first flower that appeared on her desk that year was a Gloxinia.  It was the second day of school, and she found the single purple flower rimmed in white.  She couldn’t help but smile at the pretty thing, and she kept it on her desk in a vase.

When that flower started to wilts the next was a red tulip, and that too seemed like an odd choice, but she went on with her lessons keeping each flower as it came.  She enjoyed the sweet little gestures as they arrived.

She figured it was a student, but as the flowers came without a note, she decided to let the person stay anonymous.

“What’s that?”  Hermione looked up at Neville as he leaned the doorway.

“My weekly flower.”  She said holding up a blue violet.  She thought it might be her favorite so far.

“He’ll always be true.”  He said with a fond smile.

‘What?”  She asked with a laugh.

“The blue violet.  It means watchfulness, and that the giver will always be true.”  He said in a teasing way.

“What?”  She asked blinking at her friend.

“Flowers have meaning Hermione.  I thought you would know that.”

“I teach trigonometry.”  She said as she looked at the flower in her hand.  “What does the Red tulip mean?” She asked curiously.

“Red is a declaration of love,”  he said with a laugh. “Do you have a secret admirer?”  he asked seeming pleased with the idea.

“Maybe.  All my kids are brilliant.”  She said blushing as she wasn’t sure if she should keep displaying the flowers.

“It’s harmless Hermione.  Only a flower.” Neville promised to ease her mind.

After that, she looked up the meaning of every flower, and they all meant to love in one way or another.  It was sweet and kind, and after a while, she didn’t think much about it.

“Have a good holiday Mr. Riddle.”  She told Tom as he headed for the door.

“You too Miss Granger.”  He said stopping as another man wondered in her doorway.

“You ready to go ‘Miony?”  He asked with a goofy grin on his face.

“In a moment Ron.”  She said smiling at her boyfriend before turning back to collect the last of her things.

“That kid has an attitude,”  Ron said as he looked down the hall.

“Tom?”  She asked frowning.  “He’s brilliant.” She said shaking her head.  “My best student.” She said as she walked over and kissed Ron before they headed home.

When they returned from holiday, her classroom had been vandalized.  With marigolds thrown on every surface. She frowned as she looked at her once most sacred place and she couldn’t help as her eyes glazed over.

“Miss Granger?”  Tom asked as he came to see what was wrong.  “Are you okay?” He asked as he looked over what the vandals had done.

“Look at what they did to our classroom.”  She sighed and took Tom’s hand as she shook her head.

“Would you like help to clean it up?”  He asked carefully.

She smiled at him squeezed his hand.  “Thank you, Tom. That would be appreciated.”

It was comforting having him there as they cleaned everything.  It has looked much worse than it was. Hermione leaned down and picked up one of the marigolds.  She knew exactly who had done this, they had all but signed the deed.

She went over to her desk where she had the book on the language of flowers and looked for the flower’s meaning.

“Cruelty?”  She asked the air and her frown only deepened.

“More like grief and jealousy.”  Tom corrected making her look up at him.  “I thought about it, and I was going to put this on your desk if you hadn’t already seen.”  He added as he pulled a carefully wrapped flower from his bag and placed it on the desk next to her.

She unwrapped it and pulled out the purple hyacinth.  “It means I’m sorry.” He told her, so she didn’t have to look it up.

“Tom.”  She said with a sigh, sounding more tired than angry to her ears.

“I’m a senior Miss Granger, Hermione.  I know school rules don’t permit such a thing.  But you are the most brilliant woman I’ve ever met and the only teacher here worthy of my time.”

“Mr. Riddle, this isn’t appropriate.”  She said as she looked up to find he was looking at her with an intensity he usually reserved for call discussions.  “Not only because of school rules, but I have a boyfriend.”

“He’s an idiot that makes you cry.”  He pressed. “But I can wait, Miss Granger.  I am nothing if not patient. I’m not one to give up on the things I want; I am sure I have made that clear in my academic pursuits.”

She gave him a kind smile.  “No more flowers Mr. Riddle, no more secret devotions of love.”

“For now.”