Last time on You Want Me To Marry Whom?
"It's ok Hermione, it shows you care" I smiled
"Of course I care, your my friend" Theo's smile fell from his face as the situation became awkward.
BrightestWitchOfHerAge16 - Thank you so much for the review, This chapter is not a cliffhanger, I thought I might let you off :), It was slightly awkward for Theo but read down and see what happens :)
xXMizz Alec VolturiXx - Thank you for the review, I will be honest and say I completely forgot about their opinion, i have added it into this chapter :)
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does however the Bradbury's are my creation. Read and leave a review please.
Hermione POV 31st December –
Six days. Six days Theo has been ignoring me, Six days he has slept in another bedroom than ours, six whole days of awkwardness between us, but not tonight. Tonight Grandmother has arranged a New Year Masquerade ball at the Manor and half of the wizarding world will be attending. Groaning with my head in my hands I stand up from my four poster bed and set out to search for my tonight's date, Theo.
An hour later and I still couldn't find him, I had checked the spare bedroom and ensuite bathroom, the musical room where he spends time playing our Kawai grand black piano, the library which is his usual haven and the conservatory where he can see the majority of the Manor's gardens where he likes to watch the grass blades swaying in the wind.
"He's with your Grandfather dear" Pulling me from my mental map, Grandmother whispered into my ear before swiftly moving into the ball room. I wasn't really sure where Grandfather took Theo but my best guest would be our duelling cage.
"Hermione" Grandfather nodded slightly as I entered the room and took a seat on the outside of the cage. Theo looked tired and ragged but Grandfather looked the complete opposite, lively and calm.
"I think we are done for today Theo, if not Elizabeth will have both our necks if we are not ready for tonight's fiasco" Grandfather made his way out of the cage to kiss my forehead before leaving the room. Theo took a few deep breaths before warding the cage off and taking a seat next to me.
"Hello" Theo greeted coldly, my eyebrows knitted slightly at his coldness radiating from his anger.
"Theo … please do tell me what it is I have done" I pleaded resting my hand on his clammy one.
"Hermione …" Theo started
"Miss Bradbury you better come quick" Cassie squeaked and ran from the door.
"Come" Theo helped me up from my chair and we followed Cassie into the parlour room to a room full of red heads ... and Harry.
"This is wrong, you have sold her to a death eater, she will be tortured or worse … killed" Ron protested to my calm Grandparents, Theo unnecessarily stood behind my Grandfather in a sign of protection to the older Wizard, where i stood neutral in the middle.
"Ronald you will do well to lower your voice in my house" I seethed through gritted teeth before turning to Harry.
"You told them I presume" Harry nodded
"How. very. " Harry looked confused
"What right did you have to meddle into my business, where were anyone of you when I needed you? Mmm? I had one friend, one and it wasn't any of you, I havnt seen or heard from any of you for months" Ron stepped around Harry.
"Are you still webbing your lies Bradbury" Ron spat gripping my wrist tightly.
"Lies? Bloody lies? When I escaped your clutches I was black and bloody blue" I pulled my wrist out of his grip as a hand gripped my shoulder from behind.
"Hermione, you never mentioned he laid a finger on you" Grandfather's calm mask dropped as he stared in disgust at the Red head in question.
"I didn't want any trouble; it was the day after the first time we met in the head dorms. I didn't feel like I could come to you … so Draco took me Severus whom in time healed me physically and emotionally"
"I never laid a finger on you" Ron protested throwing his arms in the air.
"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not I am past the hate and the anger I once I felt towards you, I am marrying Theo and there is nothing anybody can do about it, Theo's family now, something I wish I could call you again" I addressed Arthur and Molly whom didn't know who to believe.
"Mione' I thought he was hurting you, you didn't seem yourself when I saw you last week, so withdrawn and when Nott came our you tensed up" Harry stepped forward put stopped when I put my hand up.
"You thought Theo was hurting me? Theo wouldn't lay a finger on me because he cares for me and I am"
Theo walked silently over to where myself and Grandfather stood and kissed my temple. The first sign of affection from my Fiancé in a whole week and it was something I craved.
"I think we should leave now, it's obvious Hermione isn't pressured into anything" Percy Weasley stepped forward and ushered his family and Harry to the floo before disappearing into flames to the burrow.
"Well … what was that about?" Grandmother raised an eyebrow in my direction.
"I can only guess when I saw Harry in Hogsmeades on Christmas Eve he thought I was being pressured into marrying Theo, so in thinking they could all storm around here to try and stop it" Grandmother smiled slightly.
"You could have mentioned he hit you" Grandmother's eyes glassed over for a second before the tears disappeared.
"Grandmother, it's been over a year. If it is ok I would prefer not to talk about it" Grandmother nodded reluctantly before once again ordering the elves around once more getting ready for the ball.
"Come, we need to get ready" Theo whispered huskily into my ear before turning me around.
"I saw you once ... at school I mean. I needed a word with Severus and he had given you a dreamless sleep potion. You looked angelic laid on his sofa with your wavy hair sprawled over the pillow." Theo reminisced
"You knew Ron hit me?" Theo nodded
"Don't worry, he got what he deserved" Theo spat venomously
"Theo, what did you do?" I asked nervously. Theo smirked down at me as we reached the top of the stairs.
"Nothing major, The Weasley Twins did more to him than we could" Theo gently patted the hand in the crook of his arm.
"We?" I asked confused and Theo nodded
"Myself, Pucey, Draco and Blaise" I frowned actually realising after the incident with Ron the four unluckily gentleman could be seen wherever i wondered around the castle alone.
"We would slip him fever tablets or lock his bathroom door so he was late for lessons. Just silly little pranks that got him into some trouble in the end, but what the Twins did to him was worse, They put a curse on him and for weeks he thought he was going insane. The curse formed a ghost type figure that would follow and growl at him any time he would look towards the figure, it's an old curse to slowly send the person insane."
Theo opened our bedroom and I was surprised that all he's things had been moved back in.
"Are you going to tell me why you have been ignoring me all week?" I asked running a bath for myself. Theo leaned on the door frame and watched me skitter around the bathroom for bath products.
"Just use your wand for your bath, Daphne used to" I raised an eyebrow at his assumptions
"I was angry ok? Last week when we was talking on your bed you said we are friends" I frowned slightly at Theo.
"But we are friends" Theo shook his head and turned around to leave the room, sighing I climbed into the bath and settled down.
Swirling the radox bubbles around in the bath to the lovely aroma of Jasmine and ylang ylang. My mind wonders to the afternoon with the Weasleys, it infuriated me to no end. Who do they think they are coming into my house trying to start an intervention? Where were they when Ron had me corned throwing punch after punch to my rib cage, only leaving me alone when Draco through him out of the dorm room. The entire painful memory mad my body shiver.
"Hermione, have you finished it's nearly 6" Theo shouted through the door, sighing I released the bath plug with my foot only jumping out when all the water had gone down the bath drain. With a simple body and hair drying spell I was ready to slip into my black and silver ball gown.
"Theo" I called from the bathroom, Theo came in with black pants and his shirt unbuttoned, Quidditch did him justice I noticed as my eyes wavered around his muscle filled chest. Snapping my eyes up to his smirking face and I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him.
"Can you zip me up?" I turned around and pulled my hair over my left shoulder
"Of course" Theo slowly and carefully zipped the dress up an fastened the clasp at the nape of the neck.
"You look beautiful" Theo whispered before kissing my temple and left the bathroom.
Cassie came into my bathroom as soon as Theo left to fix my hair, Merlin knows I have never been able to tame the wild thing.
"I see Theodore's things have mysteriously moved back into place" I could practically hear her smirking behind me.
"Yes, we had a fall out but I think were fine now" I answered fixing a pair of black sapphire earing into my pierced ear holes.
"Yes, the elves do speak" I turned around and narrowed my eyes slightly
"What have you heard Cassie?" I asked as Cassie through her hands up in surrender.
"Hermione, Theodore likes you more than 'just friends' and you labelled your relationship at the friendship stage, I think that's why he is angry." I frowned slightly
"Look, I see the way the way he looks at you when you're not watching, the light dances in his eyes as you smile or laugh, you light his miserable world up and make him happy… there your hair is now a masterpiece"
Cassie left with a 'pop' after I thanked her for doing my hair. Turning the bathroom light off I returned to the bedroom to Theo fiddling with the ribbon of his mask.
"Let me fasten that for you" I moved onto the bed and tied Theo's mask around his head. Theo's mask matched my own, being black but silver ribbon and silver glitter around the eyes.
"You look really nice this evening Theo" Theo nodded and slipped his dinner jacket on as I moved to sit at my vanity table to apply my make-up by hand.
"Why don't you use your wand? I remember Daphne would use her wand and the make-up would appear to perfection" I gulped audibly
"Not everybody can be perfect like Miss Greengrass, now can they now Theo?" I retorted and slipped my mask over my face as Grandmother came into the room.
"Come on you two the guests are already arriving" Theo stepped up from the bed and helped me to my feet and out of the room.
"Where's your engagement ring?" Theo whispered
"Oh Merlin, I slipped it off whilst in the bath" Theo waved his hand and the ring appeared on the rightful finger.
"Thank you" Theo nodded as we descended down the white stone staircase.
"Theodore Nott and Hermione Bradbury" Someone shouted as we entered the ballroom arm in arm.
"Relax, your muscles are starting to tighten" I nodded and let him guide me around the ballroom.
"May I step in" A cold and collected voice said behind me after dancing with Theo half the night. Theo released my hand and bowed to me. I turned to Draco and curtsied as he bowed low.
"You look beautiful Hermione" I smiled and lowered my head a touch in embarrassment.
"You don't look half bad yourself Dray" Draco smiled.
"I see Zabini and she Weasel isnt here" Draco's voice held no disgust like it once would when he mentioned Ginny.
"No, Ginny has been taken around the Zabini family it seems" Draco smirked as he swing me around rather fast.
"Don't ever do that" A laugh escaped my lips as Draco twirled us for a second time.
"I think I better stop making you laugh, your Fiancé seems to be sending me death glares" Draco whispered rather close to my ear, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
"I think he keeps comparing me to Daphne Greengrass" I admitted, Draco looked down at me waiting for me explain.
"It's just subtle things, if I do anything by hand he says 'Daphne would do this' or 'Daphne wouldn't do that'" Draco smirked as the Dance changed into a slow waltz.
"As far as I am aware Daphne has been Theo's first and only conquest, take it with a pinch of salt if he doesn't have many girls to compare anything you say or do with of course he is going to compare you to Daphne" I nodded in understanding, of course it made sense after all.
"Lets get a drink" I nodded as Draco led me over to the bar.
"Enjoying the Fire whiskey Severus?" I asked cheekily as I ordered a tonic water.
"Of course Miss Bradbury" Severus raised his glass up to Draco and moved around to converse with Lucius and Cissa.
"May I?" Grandfather bowed to me, asking for a dance. I pulled away from Draco and curtsied.
"You look simply dashing this evening Grandfather" Grandfather grunted but still smiled
"Stupid penguin suit" he murmured not as quiet as he wished it to be.
"I see Theo has moved back into your bedroom" Grandfather noted as I nodded
"Why are you allowing us to sleep in the same room and the same bed?" I asked looking up at my Grandfather
"I may be old but I do know a thing or two. When me and your Grandmother were arranged to be married the nights almost killed me sleeping in the next room to such a young beautiful woman and not allowed anywhere close. Nights cut out learning about your betrothed, you may find Theo snores or he might sleep talk and at least you're prepared, plus I know you won't do anything, We fully trust you won't disrespect our orders Hermione." I finished the dance with my Grandfather and allowed him to rescue Grandmother from a gentleman looking at his feet and counting his steps.
"Would you care to accompany me on a walk?" My fiancé whispered into my ear.
"Of course" I turned and smiled at Theo as he placed his hand on my lower back. We walked into the depth of the gardens near the maize and gerbera daisies.
"I'm sorry I have made you uncomfortable referring your actions to those of Daphne's" I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"Draco Malfoy I could kill you" I whispered under my breath
"Theo, it's fine, Draco explained" I placed my hand on his arm in a comfortable manner.
"It's not, I cannot compare such an delicacy as yourself to any beautiful creature in the world for you would always come out on top" I blushed and lowered my head slightly, When I looked back up Theo removed his mask and let it drop from his fingers onto the grass.
"Its custom as such when at a ball like this, a gentleman asks a lady to remove her mask so a gentleman can see the beauty beneath it. Would you do the honour my lady of removing your mask?"
Theo asked as I nodded slightly. My hand's moved to the silver ribbon and unfastened the knot at the back of my head and let the mask slip off my face and onto the ground next to his own.
"Beautiful" Theo whispered before his lips came gently crashing down onto my own in a passionate manner. Fireworks set off with whistles and bangs throughout the Manor's grounds.
"Happy new year's Hermione" Theo rested his forehead on my own.
"Happy new year Theo" I smiled as his thumb stroked my cheek.
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