First I want to start by saying, we now have 10 followers on this story, that may not seem like a lot to a bunch of people, but for me I'm just insanely grateful anyone is reading this story. This story has a special place in my heart and I'm glad that people are enjoying it.

To get my mind off something that's happening later, I managed to write an insane amount between last night and today. So I'm updating a day early!

This chapter is focused mainly on Ginny and Theo with a dash of Harry and Hermione friendship feels at the end.

I hope I did my job and properly gave you all the feels in this chapter...which may have some smut in it. Which I've said before is all new to me so I'm sorry if it's baad.

chic. geek. fangirl. freak : I'm SO glad you liked the last chapter, I feel almost like I'm writing this story for you and I sometimes to be honest, which isn't a bad thing. Also yepp you were definitely right about Little Red. Your wild guess paid off ;). Also I'm nervous/excited to write the scene at Malfoy Manor, for the most part I'm trying to stick to the canon events in terms of the trio whilst adding my own spin to the whole thing. We've got a little while yet before that happens. You're pretty freaking amazing :D

I'm trying to figure out from whose perspective I'm going to write the majority of the next chapter since I do want to do some stuff about the Order but I think I may focus a bit more on Gwendolyn and that kind of side of things, not too sure. Any suggestions would be amazing! Now onto the chapter, I've rambled long enough I think.

Please leave a review letting me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and only the storyline is mine.

"A Legilimens?" Ginny exclaimed disbelievingly, "you're messing with me right?"

"No...what you just did. The Dark Lord himself couldn't do that. You weren't even trying. To be fair my some of my walls were down," Blaise said seriously.

Ginny pulled her knees to her chest, propping her chin on them. "Is that what happened with Theo a few weeks back?"

"No wonder he's been avoiding you," Ginny flinched at his words and noticing how harsh it had sounded he quickly tried to make it better, "I mean he had to do horrible things and I'm guessing you saw some of that. He's probably scared." Blaise put a hand on her shoulder in comfort.

"So what do I do...about this," Ginny frowned pensively, Blaise looked a bit at loss for words.

"Honestly, I suggest you learn how to use it. You don't have that many people to practice on, I sure as hell don't want you rifling around in my head. Dray may lose it if you even suggest it and Theo...well, that would be the epitome of complicated." Ginny raised an eyebrow and Blaise continued, "he's trying to protect you, and letting you see what those Monsters- including himself in his mind, is a far cry from doing that."

"Do you know if he's coming home tonight?" Ginny asked.

"He is, actually. Wait what time is it?" Blaise queried, twisting his body on the couch to peer at the kitchen wall clock. "It's six. He said to expect him around nine, which means you have just about three hours to kill."

"Thanks, Blaise. Sorry I-"

"Entered my mind without my permission? Sure no problem. Don't do it again," Blaise smiled, but she could see the hardness in his eyes. Self preservation was definitely kicking in. Blaise may consider me family, but I doubt he even lets Draco or Theo see into the dark, dusty corners of his soul. Me accidently seeing that memory has unsettled him far more than he's willing to let on.

"It won't happen again," Ginny tucked one of his curls behind his ear and hopped off the couch, padding into her bedroom. "Oh and Blaise," She turned to face him, one hand on the doorframe, the other at her side.

"Yes, Red?"

"Make sure to put locking charms on the entrance to your room, oh and the one to the roof as well," She smiled before entering her room, gently closing the door behind her.

"I know what that Old coot Dumbledore was saying now that one time," Blaise grinned as he recalled a day that he passed by Dumbledore remarking on how sometimes they sorted students too early. Red would definitely classify as a bit of a Slytherin now for sure. Blaise thought proudly, getting up to fix himself a glass of Firewhiskey. If I am going to get the feeling that Red left behind on her way out of my brain, I'm going to need to down at least half a bottle. I should probably take the bottle with me, cast the locking charms, and then drink to my heart's content. Sounds like a plan, Blaise shrugged as he squatted and opened one of the bottom kitchen cabinets.

Grabbing a half empty bottle towards the front, he stood back up, kicking the door shut with his foot.

Who would've thought that Red was a Legilimens, a darn good one. With enough practice she could probably slip inside anyone's mind without them knowing it.

Blaise grabbed a clean glass from one of the cabinets above the sink and bottle in one hand, glass in the other he made his way to his room. This ought to be an interesting night.

...

Ginny tried to stay awake; doing everything in her power to do so. After she left Blaise she nervously paced back and forth in her room, where for some strange reason she decided to re-arrange all the furniture.

Now the Queen sized bed was facing the window and window seat, with just enough room to the right of the bed for the bathroom door; which opened inwards anyways so that wasn't really a problem. The dresser was next to the window and Ginny moved the armchair into the corner of the room, to the right as you entered the door. Her desk was now facing the door, with just enough room behind it for her to slip easily into her chair.

Ginny had also cleaned up all the dirty clothes that she had haphazardly strewn about the room. She paused when she realised she was sweeping by hand. She pulled her wand from behind her ear; a habit she had picked up from Luna, and with a few waves and flicks the room was spotless.

Looking at the clock she saw that she still had an hour and a half. How in Merlin's name did I do all that and I still have that much time left? I'm going to take a shower.

Ginny headed into the bathroom, not bothering to shut the door. She turned the water on, and fiddled with the tap until she managed to get the water to the temperature she wanted; hot, not too hot that it burned her skin, but hot enough to melt away some of her anxiety.

Ginny stripped out of her clothes painstakingly slow, her muscles were sore from all the training she had been doing every day for the past two weeks to keep herself occupied.

She left them in a heap on the floor and pulled aside the white plastic shower curtain, and stepped into the tub one step at a time. Shower then soak in the tub for a little bit, sounds swell, time to rest these aching muscles a little bit.

Ginny languidly shampooed and then conditioned her hair, leaving the conditioner in and swirling her hair into a bun on top of her head. My hair is starting to break due to the lack of attention, I have nothing better to do whilst I soak, might as well let repair itself whilst I do.

She lathered herself quickly and efficiently, ignoring the tightness of her muscles around her shoulder blades as she scrubbed at her back. Stepping under the hot spray she washed all the suds off, and when she was done she let the water go down the drain before she blocked it, letting the tub fill up. She grabbed some vanilla oils and let some run out under the flowing water. She waited until the tub was three quarters full before turning off the water and gently sinking into it. Much better.

...

At the same time the last occupant of the house had returned a little bit early. He hesitated by Ginny's door before shaking his head and heading towards the attic entrance. Shit. It's locked. I'm going to kill Blaise in the morning. I could try the roof, but if this one is locked then so is that one. I'll just sleep on the couch...which is missing. Why is the fucking couch...Blaise. Theo growled ferociously, internally cursing him for giving him no choice but to sleep in Ginny's room. I could sleep on the floor- dammit what is wrong with me. Red is...Red is...I guess I'll just have to suck it up.

After pacing back and forth the living room in deliberation for a few minutes, Theo threw his hands in the air. He was now hovering outside her-their door. Clenching his jaw, he reached forward and felt the cool brass under his skin as he twisted the knob and opened the door.

...

Ginny had heard footsteps outside her door and decided to cut her bath short, she leaned her head back in the water and washed out most of the conditioner, quickly standing up so she could drain the water out. She leaned down to pull the plug out and when she stood up she could feel his eyes on her. She spun around, splashing water around. She was so stunned that he was actually there, she forgot all about her nudity. Which Theo had no problem noticing.

Ginny didn't utter a word as she squeezed the water out of her hair with her hands. Theo stepped into the bathroom doorway, there was a dirt stain on his cheek, and his clothes were filthy and covered in dried mud. He kicked off his boots, pieces of dirt falling off and landing around the bathroom floor. Not breaking eye contact he pulled his shirt over his head. Throwing it on the ground next to her pile of discarded clothes as he stepped closer and closer. Almost like a predator seeking its prey.

The closer his proximity got, the more aware Ginny became of her nudity. She had only been completely naked in front of Theo twice and both times had been in the dark. Ginny flinched as the last of the water circled the drain, making a large sucking sound as it went down.

"Ginny," Theo murmured. He never calls me that, is he going to break up with me, then why is he stripping. Why is he looking at me like that? Dammit.

"Theo?" The voice that came out was more scared and ragged than she thought it would be.

"Can I-" Theo stopped right in front of the tub, his hand extended as if to touch her cheek, but he couldn't bring himself to be the one to close the distance.

Ginny didn't answer him, she leaned forward and nestled her cheek against his hand, which had become rough from the dirt and whatever Macnair had him do this evening.

"You're clean. I'm dirty." Theo said quietly, his blue eyes breaking away from hers as he began to pull away from him. He's talking about a lot more than that and we both know it.

"If you're dirty, I'm dirty too," Ginny growled, gruffly pulling his hand until it smeared across her upper chest by her collarbone. "So don't give me that bullshit and try to run away."

"I'M A MONSTER." Theo bellowed, yanking his hand away and delving them both into his hair and then behind his head as he looked at her.

"Theo-"

"You...you saw. I'm a monster," Theo said blankly, but Ginny could see right through him.

"Get in the tub," Ginny commanded.

"Pardon?"

"You heard me, get in the tub. First we're going to wash all of that off of you and get you clean and then we're going to talk. Really talk. Otherwise we might as well quit here," Ginny sniffed, rubbing her nose with the back of her hand.

"I-"

"Just get in the fucking tub," Ginny snarled, turning back on the shower, it hit her head on and the dirt began to wash away.

Theo wordlessly removed his pants, when he got to his boxers he hesitated.

"That's not what this is about, and I've been standing naked in front of you for a while now. So no need to be shy,"

"I don't know if I can control myself, Ginny," He admitted honestly.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, but right now...this is the longest conversation we've had pretty much all month."

Theo couldn't deny that as much as he would have liked to, so he hooked his thumbs on either side of his hips and tugged his boxers down. Ginny examined him and stepped back in the tub to give him room to get in. Theo stepped in under the spray and Ginny drew the shower curtain.

Ginny ran her hands over his shoulders helping clean the dirt off of him. His head was bowed forward and he was watching her under half closed eyes.

When his body was clean of the dirt, Ginny turned him around and started massaging shampoo into his hair.

"We can talk now...if you want."

"Why did you run away?" Ginny whispered, her fingers still in his hair as he turned back around.

"You know why,"

"You don't need to be ashamed of anything when it comes to me, Teddy," Ginny sighed, shivering when he put his hands on her lower back and pulled her flush against him. Tingles ran through her body when her nipples brushed against his chest before her breast came into full contact with his skin.

"I know it's just...if I can't forgive myself how can I even begin to expect you too, Red?" Theo asked softly.

"The same way I know you'd forgive me if we'd switched roles. I was there Theo. I could feel every emotion you did. At no time were you enjoying it. You were sick to your stomach. If you enjoyed it even half as much as that savage did then it would be a different story, but you didn't. As long as you don't enjoy it and you try as hard as you can to avoid doing it; then we'll always be good." Ginny said firmly. Theo tilted his head back so the suds wouldn't get into his eyes. His curls heavy with water. When he looked down at her again she could feel it in the air. The rift between them was getting smaller and smaller and she could almost touch the seams that were knitting themselves back together.

"I'm sorry I avoided you for so long, Red."

"I'm sorry I invaded your privacy," Ginny mumbled, lowering her eyes. She didn't know how she did it and Blaise told her she needed to hone her skills; but she wasn't sure she wanted to.

"Well I guess I'm going to have to get over it since you need to practice on someone,"

"What?" Ginny's head snapped up to look at him.

"This is probably going to be difficult and I can't promise I won't avoid you for a day or two after, but Blaise and Draco are out of the equation, and I'd rather have you poking around in my head, than not having you here at all. At the same time I'll help teach you Occumencly, that way your mind will be protected from others trying to get in."

"Well that would be awful nice of you," Ginny teased lightly, knowing how serious what he was offering to do for her was.

"You promise you won't think less of me?" Theo asked, his expression open and vulnerable. Ginny pulled him down to sit in the tub, and she straddled his hips, his eyes darkened slightly as her core brushed against his length.

"I promise Theo. As long as you don't enjoy what that man makes you do, I will never think less of you. No matter what." Ginny swore, leaning down, grasping the sides of his face gently as she brushed her lips against his. Theo laid his flat palms across her back and pulled her closer.

"I love you, Red," He said as he caressed his lips with his, his eyelids fluttering shut. Ginny smiled happily, he didn't say it very often, which made it all the more special when he did.

"I love you too, Teddy," Ginny breathed against his lips as his warm smell filled her nostrils. This is where I belong, in his arms.

One of Theo's hands moved to rest on her ribs, stroking up and down, leaving a faint trail of goosebumps as he did. Neither of them seemed to care that the shower was still going, the water moving over their bodies, in between them, across their backs, Ginny felt the water drops falling on her eyelashes and she grinned when Theo growled and his hand moved in between them to knead her breast.

"I missed you, Red," Theo grinned crookedly.

"I'm sure you did," Ginny panted, nipping his bottom lip and his other hand moved into her hair. She gasped loudly when his fingers moved to roll her taut nipple between them.

Ginny smirked into their heated kiss when she moved her hand down his body until she reached his length. He hissed when she grasped it and started moving her hand back and forth torturously slow.

"Two can play at that game, Red," Theo moaned, slipping his hand down until it reached her already wet core, his index finger entering her slowly digit by digit. Ginny rubbed her thumb over his head, and then quickened her pace slightly. Theo matched her by slipping another finger inside her and pumping in and out of her.

"Teddy," Ginny threw back her head, her thighs quivering against him as she moved even quicker. Raking her nails down his back with her other hand, biting her lip. Theo moved his mouth so it was on the side of her neck, sucking down as he moved in and out of her faster.

"Beautiful," he breathed hotly against her neck.

Theo was doing everything in his power to hold out until she came first. Which from her quick light pants would be soon, his thumb started to rub against her clit and from there it was only a matter of time. She felt it building in her lower abdomen before she cried out, coming all over his hand. He didn't even have time to be smug before he followed her over the edge, spurting all over her lower abdomen.

"Remind me to fight more often," Ginny laughed breathily, kissing him as the water washed them clean.

"I don't think we'll have a problem with that." Theo leaned back to look at her, he never knew how she managed it, but she always tasted of mint chocolate and he could never get enough.

"We should get to bed," Ginny whispered, shifting so she was lying against him fully, her head resting on his shoulder. His hands were thrown across her back casually.

"Can we stay here for a little bit longer?"

"As long as you want, we are wasting water at this point, but I mean..."

"Fine, but after we dry off, I forbid you to get dressed."

"You forbid me do you?" Ginny laughed, turning to nip his skin lightly.

"Yepp,"

"Merlin, it's good to have you back, love."

"I'll have to remember to thank Blaise after I hex him in the morning,"

"How'd you guess?"

"I'm a good guesser, knowing him he probably grabbed a bottle of Firewhisky on his way up."

"Probably,"

"We're going to have to talk about you going back to Hogwarts," Theo said reluctantly after a few moments of silence. The only sound the running water hitting their bodies and the bottom of the tub.

"My friends need me,"

"I know,"

"I'll come back to you, I promise," Ginny pulled back to look at him, her thumb stroking along the bottom of his jaw.

"You better," He threatened, turning his head to kiss the inside of her palm.

"Always,"

...

October 31st

Harry had been a bit distant since she had told him about Draco. Today even more so. It was the anniversary of his parent's death, and he was in a sombre mood. She sat in the entrance of the tent watching him stare out into the distance from his seat on the tree trunk.

Enough is enough. I gave him space but really, I didn't murder someone or betray him. Though he may see me not telling him as a form of betrayal. Ron certainly would. Hermione snorted. I would be consorting with the enemy. I think Harry is more hurt than anything that I didn't tell him. I...there was never a good time. Especially after what Draco was forced to do. How could I tell him that Draco never wanted to hurt anyone? He would ask how I knew that, and that would've put us both in danger. Especially since Harry's mind is still kind of open to You-Know-Who's. I took a huge risk telling him the other day. It's a good thing that that is probably the last thing on 'The Dark Lord's' mind. Hermione bit her lip, closing the book in her lap, placing it carefully out of the way and standing up. She brushed off her butt in case there was any dirt as a habit and strolled over to Harry's side.

His eyes were closed and sensing her presence they snapped open and her warm brown eyes met his bright green ones.

"We need to talk,"

"The last time you said that you told me you're in a relationship with the person responsible for Dumbledore's death," Harry said calmly, shifting to face her, crossing his arms across his chest, "what is it this time? Don't tell me, you and Snape are best friends,"

"That's not fair and you know it," Hermione frowned. "I couldn't tell you. To be honest I was going to wait until after the War was finished to tell you at all."

"Who knows how long that's going to be, it could be another year, or longer!" Harry exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"I know. I didn't want to distract you. It's not like I expected you do bake me a congratulatory cake or anything, but I wanted you to at least try and hear me out." Hermione recalled how he had shut down after she had uttered the sentence that had changed everything. Aside from Ginny, Harry was the only person she had told about her and Draco. Even though his reaction had stung, it had felt like a weight lifted off of her shoulders when she told him. Right now I've told everyone closest to me, Ronald is going to need to work his way back into my good books. If he even says anything bad about Draco, I'll hex him until he apologises. Hermione scowled, at this point I don't care what Ron thinks.

"Ok...I'm listening," Harry sighed, pushing his glasses back further onto the bridge of his nose as he looked up at her expectantly, fiddling with the drawstring for the hood of his grey jacket.

"You were convinced he was a Death Eater-"

"I was right," Harry interrupted, Hermione narrowed her eyes before continuing.

"So I started following him on my own. I was exhauted one time and he caught me. I didn't have the cloak or map you see. He confronted me about it, asked me what I was doing, and his sleeve slipped and I saw it."

"What did Malfoy do?" Harry frowned, his interest piqued.

"He tried to cover it up but it was too late. It was his eyes though. That's what changed everything. He was scared, ashamed, and he attempted to hide that by sneering and calling me a Mudblood."

"He did-"

"I noticed then that he hadn't done it all year." Hermione cut Harry off before he went off on a tangent. His anger softened slightly at that. "There was no malice in his voice either, and I don't know what made me do it, he was talking and his words were jumbling together and none of it reflected how he was feeling. So I grabbed his shirt and pressed my lips to his. It was chaste, it didn't last for more than a couple seconds, but it was enough to shut him up," Hermione smiled fondly. "I don't know what possessed me to do it, but the look on his face was worth it. Then I left him there."

"You just...left him there?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Yupp. He purposefully avoided me for a full two weeks before we talked again. He demanded to know why I hadn't told 'Saint Potter'. I said I'd tell him if he told me why he took the mark when it was obvious he didn't want to. He used glamour charms on it after our first encounter by the way,"

"Go on," Harry was leaning forward, Hermione was glad that he was actually openly listening to what she had to do.

"After that we both seemed to just make excuses to bump into each other, and we didn't talk about his task, his parents, our friends. Until we kissed again. That changed everything. You remember I was upset about Ron and Lavender?"

"Yea...speaking of, when did that change?"

"Later that night, after you left. Malfoy found me. We ended up talking and he said Ron was 'an idiot that couldn't tell his arse from his head if he wanted.' At first I was irritated but then he spent the next hour trying to make me feel better in his own way. It was the first time I had seen him genuinely smile...that's when it happened I think...that's when I started to fall for him."

"Then you kissed him?"

"He kissed me,"

"So I'm guessing you weren't a-"

"Filthy little Mudblood? No, I hadn't been for a while I found out later."

"And here we are," Harry nodded thoughtfully.

"And here we are," Hermione repeated in agreement.

"Ginny has a boyfriend doesn't she?"

"How-"

"I could tell. It was hard to even though I knew her so well."

"Draco is helping the others at Hogwarts," Hermione blurted out, she hadn't meant to tell him, but she didn't want to give Harry the chance to guess who Ginny's boyfriend was. From what Ginny had told her the last time she saw her, her and Theo were in a similar situation; with the exception that Theodus Nott was a true monster, whereas Lucius was misguided and when he saw the error of his ways it was too late.

"What?" Harry said, his mouth hanging open as his eyes widened.

"With the Carrows, he's helping the best he can. He helped after Neville, Luna and the others got caught trying to steal Godric Gryffindor's sword." Hermione whispered.

"If he really as different as what you're telling me then I'm willing to give him a chance when we see him again." Harry said slowly after a few long moments.

"That's all I can really ask, Harry." Hermione smiled gratefully, moving forward to hug him, he wrapped his arms around her as she rested her chin on top of his head.

"I'm glad you're here, Mione. I don't think I could do this by myself...especially not today," He admitted quietly.

"I'm just happy that I can help, Harry. I love you, you know,"

"Don't let Malfoy hear you say that," he teased lightly.

"Trust me, when this War is over I think he'll be happy enough to actually become friends with you," Hermione chuckled.

"That will be the day," Harry laughed.

When this War is over and I can wake up next to Draco every morning. That's what I want. I want him safe, and away from all those sick, sadistic people. I want him with me and happy. I'll even try and make peace with Lucius, and properly meet Narcissa. Hopefully Bellatrix gets locked up for good as well as the rest of the Death Eaters, we defeat Voldemort. Then I hope Harry can find happiness, true happiness, and get to know his Godfather. Merlin knows he deserves it. One day all of this will be over, and we'll all make it over to the other side. That may sound naïve, but I wholly and truly hope that we all make it out of this alive. That I can see Draco again. Hermione thought as the chilly air danced through her curls.

How did you like it? Let me know :p

Right like I said I have a general idea of what I want to do for the next chapter but not too, too sure.

I really hope you liked it, and I'll have another chapter for you next week :")

-Indieblue xx

P.S. I love all you people that read any of my stories. Seriously I have 90+ followers reading Promise, I think I may just burst of happiness if I reach 100. I hope you guys have a lovely evening and all that shizz :D