Author's Note: Had a snow day so I was able to get another chapter done! This one is for starrnobella and Dramione84 who helped me with the idea for where they'd end up in time! Also a thank you to starrnobella for reading it over for me! Thank you to those that reviewed! I appreciate it! Remember to pay attention to the time jumps and dates! Enjoy, and please review when finished! xxDustNight

Disclaimer: All non-original characters, plot points, and information belongs to J.K. Rowling. The story plot and dialogue belongs to me. I do not write for profit.

Current & Future Trigger Warnings: Infidelity, Character Death, PTSD, Depression, Sexual Tension, Sexual Content, Mildly Dubious Consent

Summary: When her partner gets lost in time, Hermione is forced to seek out the help of her estranged husband. With Draco by her side, she travels through time desperately searching for Theo. Along the way, Hermione finds herself having to accept that sometimes love truly is forever and that maybe you really can love more than one person at a time.

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Partners in Time
Pairing: Hermione/Theo and Hermione/Draco
Rated: M
Time Jump #4: August 23, 2025
Song Recommendations: "Be Mine" by The Heavy, "I Won't Give Up" by Coren Paschoal

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Time Jump #4: August 23, 2025

Landing in the middle of a dense forest, Hermione and Draco immediately separated, the former extracting the intricate golden chain from around their necks. Pocketing the Time-Turner for safe keeping, she wet her lips as she inspected the area they'd arrived. Draco appeared to be doing the same, running a hand through his blond hair and making sure to look anywhere but at her. Clearly, the awkward moment from back in the office hadn't left him feeling any less upset at her than before.

"Alright, so where do you think we are," he questioned, walking to peer around the trees. "Or rather, how far into the future have we gone?"

Inhaling, Hermione tried to calm her nerves. Unlike Draco, she'd never been too good at masking her emotions. It's what always brought them to blows…well, words anyway. They were always so good at fighting with one another, each one unwilling to let the other have the last word. Even in the end, he'd fought valiantly for her, but she'd insisted on the break, unable to look at him every single day while thinking of someone else…

Shaking herself, she joined him at the edge of the clearing. "No idea, but we'll never find out if we linger here in the forest. Let's head that way," she insisted, pointing towards an area that appeared to be a path of sorts. They fell into step next to one another easily enough, both taking care not to bump into the other. Occasionally, Hermione would glance up at Draco through her eyelashes, trying to discern his mood. He was giving nothing away though, silver eyes staring straight ahead and jaw clenched.

After a few minutes, they neared the edge of the forest, light from the fading sun beginning to filter through the branches. There was also a strange noise, and without even having to glance over at Draco, she knew he'd withdrawn his wand from inside his robes. She did the same, the feel of it reassuring in her palm. About ten feet from the edge, they stopped, both listening intently as they tried to figure out what they were hearing.

Tired of waiting, Draco reached out and took hold of Hermione's shoulder. "You first—this is your crazy mission, after all." He shoved her forward, snickering slightly as she stumbled over the uneven terrain.

"Prat," she mumbled, regaining her footing. She shot him a glare as she put her back against the largest tree. He was staring at her intently, arms crossed, but wand at the ready. Sunlight made his blond hair shimmer and his eyes appear almost molten. She was momentarily reminded of how attractive she always found him, but pushed aside such thoughts, swallowing audibly. Taking a deep breath, she broke eye contact with her ex-husband and peered around the tree, a stunning spell ready on the tip of her tongue.

Upon seeing what was before her, she deflated, wand arm dropping as she stepped fully into a gap between trees. "You're kidding me," she whispered, exasperated. With pursed lips, she turned around to glare at Draco, hands coming to rest on her hips. "Just wait until you see where the hell we ended up." She gestured over her shoulder using her wand.

Confusion clouding his face, Draco stalked forward, brushing past her to find out what she was so disappointed about. He stopped short, the large stadium now making sense of the noise they heard. It was cheering, lots and lots of cheering echoing through the forest. A huge grin grew on his face as excitement bubbled in his chest. "Do you know what this means?"

"Of course I do—"

"It's Quidditch!"

"Quidditch," she groaned, rubbing a hand over her weary face. "It just had to be the Quidditch World Cup."

"Yes! Now this is how you time travel, Granger," Draco practically sang as he made to step fully out of the forest and towards the stadium where the most anticipated game whatever year they were visiting was currently taking place.

"Shut it, Malfoy," she countered, taking hold of his arm and dragging him back into the forest and out of sight. "We can't just go barging in there, you realize. You know just as well as I do all the security protocols and wards that protect that stadium."

Smile fading, Draco glanced forlornly back at the stadium before sighing with resignation. "Damn it. You're right." Re-crossing his arms, he stared hard down at the curly-haired witch. "What now?"

"No clue, but Theo must be here somewhere…at least some version of him." She glanced about as if her work partner would suddenly appear and end this search so they could go home.

"We don't even know where here is, Granger," Draco pointed out, gesturing around them. "I suggest we at least figure out the where and when of this place…and maybe who's playing. That might help us." He glanced away guiltily, not letting her catch his eye.

Narrowing her eyes, she poked him in the chest. "Draco Malfoy, you just want to know who is playing so in the future, our future, you can place a bet and win!" He brushed her hand away, a smirk now playing on his lips as he met her chocolate eyes.

"I would never—"

"That's bullshit and you know it," she cried, laughing at him.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, grinning down at her with a real smile this time. Sighing again, he met her gaze and turned serious. "Look, Theo's obviously not here, our Theo, I mean. If he was, then he'd be hiding out here somewhere like we are, unable to get in the stadium."

"That's true, and there's no sign of him." Hermione dropped her gaze to her hands, a sudden sadness overtaking her. "I just thought this time…we'd find him."

"Look," Draco began, using his finger to push under her chin so she was looking at him again. "We'll find him, I promise, but we're just going to have to keep looking."

"You don't mind?"

She held her breath waiting for his answer. That was what they'd been fighting about before traveling to this point in time. She'd asked him to come with her again, and he'd told her no. He'd also said it was a waste of time, that Theo was probably lost forever and she should just move on like she did with him. Of course she'd been forced to defend Theo, insinuating that Theo was worth twice the wizard Draco was. He'd not liked that, and slammed his office door in her face. It wasn't until she'd started crying and muttered through the patrician that Theo would search for him if it were the other way around that he'd finally opened the door, pulling her inside.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Draco exhaled slowly. "No," he spoke softly, I don't mind." When Hermione burst into tears, covering her face, his eyes went wide. "Merlin, Granger…there's no need for all that."

Sobbing into her hands, Hermione tried to speak. "I'm sorry—I'm just so thankful that you're here with me. I couldn't do this all alone. There's so many places to look in the past and future. I've no idea where he's gone."

As she continued to cry. Draco felt a bit of the wall he'd built up around his heart beginning to crumble. Despite what she'd done in the past, with Theo no less, Draco knew that she still held a small piece of him. So, rolling his eyes towards the canopy of trees, he reached out and tugged her into his arms, hating that she still seemed to fit so securely.

"Quiet, Granger," he scolded softly. "Your sobs are going to set off the wards."

"No—no they're not," she sniffled into his chest, arms wrapping around him as she glanced up through her teary eyes. "You're just saying that to be mean."

"You caught me," he replied with a smirk. "Always trying to make fun of you." His heart ached as old feelings stirred within him. Glancing away, he tried to hide this from Hermione, not wanting her to feel worse than she already did.

A small giggle left her then, a smile breaking through her tears. Reaching into her pocket, Draco extracted the Time-Turner. She said nothing as he did this, an old familiarity settling around them. He waited for her to untangle herself from his embrace before handing it to her. She nodded, wiping her eyes and face with the sleeve of her robes, and then taking it from him. Calming slightly, she returned the chain around them and then raised her eyebrows.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."