Disclaimer: Characters belong to JKR

-

-

Over a month's worth of ward cracking and two more of researching during every spare moment, all the while worrying she'd be caught for all of this. And just when she was so close to understanding Regulus' theories and how they might help Harry, just when she was so close to getting away with it all, she's robbed. All her machinations for naught.

Or rather for Nott.

Bloody Slytherin.

It was just like one of them to swoop in and steal the spoils of someone else's hard work. She should have hexed him when he turned his back on her, the supercilious prat. Of course, he knew she wouldn't. It was utterly un-Gryffindor to hex someone when their back was turned.

She hoped the wards she set had held him off, though she suspected that the Nott family library could rival that of the Black's, and unlike Sirius, Theodore liked to read.

She pushed the possible implications of that out of her mind. There was no sense getting in a snit about it before meeting with him, and regrettably, she had come to the conclusion that she did indeed have to meet with him. He hadn't been in the library or at the Slytherin table for meals all day and she no idea when she might see him alone again. She couldn't afford to wait.

The corridors were dark and cool as she glided toward the tower stairs. She was early, but she suspected he would be even earlier. As she neared the top of the tower, she took a moment to steady her breath before entering the darkened room where Theodore was certain to be waiting.

"Couldn't wait to see me again?" he teased from the shadows.

"If I appear overeager it's because I'm anxious to have my book back," she stated evenly.

"Yours now, is it?" he drawled as he stepped toward her and into the moonlight.

She shrugged noncommittally, not wanting to concede nor create more conflict.

"Funny," he continued with mock curiosity, "it has someone else's name inscribed inside the cover."

So, he had opened it. She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head in a gracious nod of recognition for his achievement over her wards. He held up his wand hand and flexed it, signifying the injury he had sustained while attempting the feat, and she smiled despite herself.

"You're a very clever witch, Hermione."

"For a mudblood, you mean," she added.

"Don't put words in my mouth," he rejoined curtly.

Mildly surprised, she nodded to him again and replied, "My apologies."

Existing in what was appearing to be a mutually agreed upon equal footing with a Slytherin was a new and interesting experience. Though she, of course, took it with salt. She didn't really know Theodore, but she knew enough not to trust him.

"Those were perhaps the most creative wards I've ever encountered, and I've encountered many. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say you learned your warding techniques from the same place you got this book."

She replied with another shrug.

He grinned at her, his dark blue-green eyes piercing into hers, and he appeared both handsome and dangerous at once. "Tell me where you got this book," he ordered, waving the book before her.

"No," she replied, a bit annoyed with the command.

"Can't or won't?" he questioned.

"Does it matter?" she rejoined.

He closed the space between them and began circling her. "As a matter of fact."

Clever boy. Dangerous, sneaky, clever boy. If she, in fact, couldn't tell, he'd know it was somewhere secret-kept. How much had he guessed already? Had he spoken to his father since the old man had escaped from Azkaban?

"I'm sure you're well aware that admitting to having contact with certain types of people could be grounds for expulsion from this school among other legal difficulties," she parried effectively.

He smiled at her again, but it didn't reach his eyes this time. She'd struck a nerve. He swooped around behind her once more and whispered in her ear, "That and Potter would be most upset."

"Leave him out of this," she replied curtly, shaking off the not-so-unpleasant shiver his breath on her ear had sent up her spine.

"Why?" he queried accusingly, pulling away from her. "He's got everything to do with why you would borrow this book."

"You're wrong. He doesn't know anything about it," she said with certain honesty, stepping toward the window to keep him from crossing behind her again.

"Oh," he grinned, the moonlight dancing in his eyes, "A clandestine affair, is it?"

She suppressed her indignity at the suggestion and continued playing their game. "Not exactly the type of thing a girl's going to brag about, is it?"

"Depends on what you've gotten out of it," he smirked lasciviously. He stepped closer again, and she found herself pinned between the window ledge and his long frame.

She narrowed her eyes. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Why else would I be here?" he replied, arms outstretched displaying his broad chest.

The moonlight on his face cast him in soft blue making him seem paler, ethereal. But he was so close that even as the chill from the stone wall behind her began to seep toward her bones, she could feel the heat coming off of him, reminding her that he was very real and very close. He smelled of spiced soap and an indiscernible sweetness. Fresh ripe plums, she imagined, and unthinkingly licked her lips.

"Oh, I see," he said softly, leaning imperceptibly closer. "The tower at midnight. You thought …"

"No!" she cried out a bit more barking than she had intended, and she felt the heat of a blush spreading across her cheeks. "I thought nothing of the sort. I came here for the book. Nothing else."

"Are you sure?" he teased, "It is our last year and everyone should get at least one snog atop the tower before leaving Hogwarts."

"Well, you'll just have to find someone else to pop that cherry for you Theodore," she quipped.

He pulled his face back, his mouth rounded in insult, but his eyes were shining with glee at her audacious wit. At last, a worthy playmate.

"But, Miss Granger, I was hoping to find a woman with experience to teach me, and here you are. Tell me, how many young men have you entertained up here? Let me guess … Krum?"

She flushed.

"Weasley?"

She pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze.

"Potter?"

Her eyes snapped back up to his, looking horrified and insulted by the very idea.

"I've seen the way you dote on him in potions," he supplied as proof.

"Much the way you do with Malfoy?" she fired back.

"Not nearly so much as that, though one can't exactly be blamed for it, can they? He's ever so dreamy," he drawled playfully.

"Malfoy or Harry?" she questioned coyly.

"Both, actually," he rejoined. "What do you suppose would happen first if we locked them in a cupboard together, murder or sex?"

She knew it was disloyal but she couldn't help her giggle. "Perhaps we should try it sometime and find out."

"I suspect," Theodore predicted, "that Draco is a bottom. And a noisy one, too."

"Just a suspicion?" she probed with a sly grin.

"Well, I have heard some howling and whinnying down in the dungeons, but I've always assumed that was Professor's Snape and Trelawney.

She clapped her hands over her mouth and squeaked, "Oh my gods," as her body shook with repressed laughter.

He watched with pleasure while she flushed and laughed. Things had gotten off to a good start. But of course it couldn't last.

As soon as she regained her composure she straightened up and commanded him, "Give me the book."

He couldn't suppress his smile at her spunk even as he quirked his brows at her in question.

She huffed exasperatedly, "We are here to negotiate, are we not? You give me the book back and I'll tell you what I've discovered about it."

"That doesn't sound like a very fair trade to me," he replied with a frown, "I know how to use the card catalogue in the library. Besides, why should I trust you to tell me everything? You haven't exactly been honest so far."

"I haven't been honest?" she replied incredulously.

"You said the book was neither rare nor valuable," he reminded. "It is most certainly both."

"It's also not mine," she rejoined, "and the wizard I took it from will come for it."

"Is that a threat?" he asked archly.

"No, a warning," she feigned, "One should avoid his bad side as he's … not quite sane."

"12 years in Azkaban will do that to a wizard," he smirked.

"I've heard it can take far less," she replied meaningfully.

He shrugged nonchalantly, though his brow wrinkled unhappily. "Some people aren't quite right before being sent there to begin with."

Her eyebrows reached for her hairline. Did he suggest he thought his father was 'not quite right?' Far be it for her to disagree after their exchange of curses at the Department of Mysteries. She tilted her head to him once more and considered what he was hoping to get out of this exchange.

"You read the book, then?" she stated more than asked.

"Most of it," he replied, his brow still wrinkled.

"And what do you make of it?" she questioned with unabashed curiosity.

"I imagine the same you did," he answered, "The writer was not pleased with what he discovered about his … gift."

"If he was right, I can't imagine anyone would be happy about it," she replied candidly, "No sane person would want a gift with that many strings attached."

Theodore pondered his next statement carefully. There were things in the book that shocked him, but more with fear than actual surprise. Granger was smart and she had gone to all the right books, even the ones on marriage, to find the answers to the questions the book posed. And if she was being honest, they were the only ones who knew that either of them were privy to such information. It could be beneficial to have her help.

"He writes that the conventus-animus charm was used in the creation of his mark. I can't think of any reason to use such a spell if not to bind the powers of the … receiver, directly to the giver."

She hesitated a bit not wanting to give up any of her bargaining chips, but decided it was better to prove her worth now, "There isn't one. He also wrote that the fidelitas vernula was woven with a talio hex that invoked familia aevum corripio. If that's true, then anyone with the same mark cannot turn against the giver without sacrificing every member of their family that carries a similar mark."

"All members of a family are pushed to take the mark," he offered somberly.

"You …" she began.

"No," he answered, "Some have been anxious for it, but I've held them off. I promised to enlist after school. I was really just waiting for my birthday so I could take the inheritance my mother left me and run." That was more than he ever planned to share with anyone. He eyed her for her reaction and was irritated to find her rather unexpressive either way. "Do you think me a coward?" he asked.

"No," she answered quickly, "I think I might do the same in your position."

"You would run and leave your friends and family to fight a war without you?" he asked a bit incredulously. As far as he knew, she'd never run from anything in her life.

"I agree with what my friends are fighting for," she answered honestly, "But if I didn't, I don't think I could ever turn my wand against them."

He seemed mollified if not somewhat relieved by her answer.

"May I have the book now?" she asked, extending her hand.

"Not yet," he replied, tucking the book back into his robes.

"I gave you your answers," she responded with an edge, pushing him for fair play. "If you want to read my research, I can make copies for you," she added.

He nodded. "That would save me some trouble, but …"

"But what?" she snapped, "What else could you possibly want from me?"

He smirked again. She was prettiest when in the midst of an oncoming snit.

"I want …"

"Yes?" she questioned impatiently.

"You …"

"Me what?" she huffed.

"You," he intoned meaningfully.

-

-

-

A/N: Oh cliffy cakes! Thanks so much to those who took the time to review. It's nice to know that people are reading. It does take a good amount of time to do this, and without reviews, it feels quite pointless.

So, what do you think? How far will she be willing to go to get the book back?