Theo slowly dragged himself through the cafe's doors the next morning. He got little sleep the night before after he received Draco's letter in the late evening. His best friend, his brother from another mother, had owled him for years but no one gave him the letters. He spent years hating Draco before giving up the grudge. He thought Draco wanted nothing to do with him and vice versa.

He was in the middle of sipping his tea when the small crew of Grangers entered. Henry was asleep in Hermione's arms. Theo quickly got up and grabbed the small, sleeping boy. Hermione smiled.

"Thanks. My arms were getting tired. He's getting bigger," She said.

Fina waved at Theo but didn't say a word. She yawned.

"Long night?" He asked.

Hermione's expression stiffened. "Not now." He nodded.

Sonia walked up. "Going now?"

Theo nodded. "I'll be back by three so we can go shopping."

Sonia smiled. "I thought you forgot."

"I couldn't forget. I just wanted to get this taken care of as soon as possible. I'm hurt you'd think I'd forget about you, dear aunt." Theo faked an insulted look.

Sonia nudged Theo. "Go. Find a house for you and this lovely family."


The first four places were beyond Hermione's expectations. Theo was content with every option, but the two adults left the overall choice to the two children. They were almost to the first house when Fina and Henry were wide awake. Hermione still wouldn't tell Theo what was wrong, and he knew she wouldn't with the children present.

Little Plate was located on Belvedere Road. Theo wanted to keep their place close to it but also wanted to experience other parts of London, which is why he had places picked on the opposite side of the Thames.

They found the perfect place on Crawford Street between Baker and Gloucester. It was a central location between Hyde and Regent's Parks.

Immediately opening the door, Henry and Fina were in awe and started exploring. Theo glanced at Hermione. He saw the amazed look on her face as she walked deeper into the house. This was it. He signaled realtor that they would take the place.

He followed Hermione into a side door. A library was off the living area. "It's a beautiful place, Theo," She mused. She turned to him. "I still can't thank you enough, and I feel like I owe you so much."

He hugged her. "You've done plenty already, Hermione. You accepted me without judging, you agreed to live here with me, you trust me with your children, and you got my best friend to talk to me. I get to see my brother."

"So he owled you then?" He nodded. "Good. Good. I was worried he wouldn't. I'm happy for you Theo."

He pulled back and smiled at her. "It's because of you, sweetheart."

She blushed. "Will you tell me what happened last night? And don't say nothing did because I could tell something was wrong."

Hermione sighed. She knew she had to tell him the truth, because in the past week, Hermione had discovered Theo understood her better than most.

"Ron owled last night. And do not jump to conclusions," She said after seeing his face twist. "He owled to say he left the stuff Henry and I left at Harry and Ginny's place. Finny had left a shirt there too and some other stuff and he gave it to the love child. I was mad and raved to Neville and Hannah. Finny heard and was upset which caused Henry to be upset. It… it was a long night."

Theo felt horrible for Hermione and her children. They didn't deserve Ron in their lives.

"I believe we should go find Fina and Henry," They climbed the stairs. "I do hope they enjoy this place considering the realtor is off to fetch the paperwork."

Hermione stopped at the top landing. "You mean this place is going to be our home?" Theo nodded and joined her at the top. "Oh Merlin, thank you! You're the best."

Theo chuckled. "I don't deserve you in my life, Hermione Granger."

Fina came out of a bedroom holding Henry's hand. "Did you just say we are going to live here?"

They nodded. She jumped up and down. "We're gonna live here, Rhys!"

Henry started cheering too. Hermione grinned at the sight of her happy children. She forgot all the troubles of late. Theodore Nott saved them and there was no way he would be leaving them anytime soon.


Sonia couldn't help but notice the happiness radiating off her nephew. Maddalena would be proud to see her son like this. Sonia was the younger of the two Shafiq daughters. She was 17 when she left home.

Like the Greengrass family, the Shafiq family remained neutral in causes and did not voice many opinions. The last time Sonia was in the wizard world was for Maddalena's wedding in 1970 to Thoros Nott. Sonia left the day after the wedding and didn't hear from her sister until she received the birth announcement of Theodore.

Thoros Nott was 38 years old and Maddalena was 20 when they wed. Sonia never liked Thoros but Maddalena swore he was the best man she could ever hope for. Granted, Sonia never met many pure blooded men due to her squib status but Thoros seemed to embody them all. Sebastian Willworth nee Travers changed that perspective for her, but he too was a squib and didn't even know his family.

Sonia could tell Theo was equal parts Maddalena and Thoros. He acted like his mother but looked identical to what his father looked like all those years ago. It scared Sonia the first day when Theo walked into the cafe after being released. She swore it was his father from 1970. Which also left Sonia reliving how in fact Thoros Nott was at one point a handsome man.

"You're quiet, Aunt Sonia. Is something wrong?" Theodore asked her.

She glanced up at her nephew. Theodore didn't look a day over 30, which surprised her considering where he spent the past 13 years. A few strands of his chocolate hair hung in front of his eyes of the same color. The cold tinted his cheeks a rosy color. A small smile never left his face through the stores they visited, and Sonia could tell Theodore wasn't particularly enjoying muggle holiday shopping scene.

"I'm fine, Theodore. I was just doing some thinking," she said. "I haven't known you for your whole life but I've seen you grow so much and I can't tell you enough how proud your uncle and I are of you and how much your mother would be too if she were here."

Theodore smiled. "I bet mother would thrilled to see me living a muggle life and about to live with a divorced muggleborn and her two children. Yes, mother would be thrilled."

Sonia glared at her nephew. "Your mother may have stuck with those pureblood traditions and never mentioned her squib sister but I can guarantee from the letter I received from her with your birth announcement that all she wanted was for you to be happy and successful in life."

"Hermione wanted me the offer stood for you and uncle Seb to come over for Christmas dinner since we have a place. She figured out uncle Seb had lied about the family thing since it was before the living arrangement," Theodore offered.

"We'd like that," She smiled. "So I know you've found gifts for Serafina and Henry but what are you getting Hermione?"

Theodore shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea. I want to get her something special. I… I really like her aunt Sonia. I like her children too. When we were out at the pub, she told me I deserved happiness and I didn't believe her. But now I think she's right. And I want happiness with her," They continued walking down the busy street.

"I don't plan on asking her to marry me for Christmas," He continued. "I'll ask her on an actual date for sure. I've only been reintroduced to her about a week and I'm already…"

He couldn't finish the sentence because he was too afraid to admit it. "In love?" Sonia finished for him. He nodded.

"Maybe get her a necklace or something nice," She suggested.

Theodore shrugged again. "Hermione never seemed like the jewelry type. She always liked reading but I feel like everyone gets her books. I want to be original."

Sonia laughed. "And buying the woman a house doesn't make you original?"

"She doesn't know," He said quietly. "Granger doesn't know I bought the house. She thinks we're renting it."

"Then give her a set of keys."

"But I did," He sighed, "We signed the papers at lunch. The place is empty and their boxes are still packed so some of her friends are helping her moving around now. I promised to be back for dinner."

"Give her a copy of the deed then and get her some other small thing. I'm sure she'll appreciate the thought no matter what you get her," She told him.

They stopped in front of a row of boutiques. "Try these places. They always have nice things," She suggested and then pointed across the street, "I'll be at that cafe. They have good tea and scones."

Theodore nodded and walked off. Sonia smiled as her nephew looked for the perfect gift. He was a sweet boy and deserved someone as sweet like Hermione and her lovely children. Sonia knew Maddalena would be happy for him, even he went against whatever nonsense Thoros tried to plant in his mind.


Hannah, Neville, Luna, Rolf, and their children were still at the house when Theo arrived. "Where's Fina and Henry?" Theo asked when entering the kitchen.

"They're upstairs with Lorcan and Lysander playing," He paid no attention to the quartet sitting at the kitchen table. "I have no idea how we can afford the rent for this place Theo, even though you refuse to tell me how much this place costs."

He smirked and leaned on the counter. "That's because I'm the only one who needs to know. No offense Hermione, because I know you are a capable woman, but this is the one thing, as technical man of the house, I am going to take care of. You can worry about food."

He heard chuckles from the table. "Theo's a fine bloke with a good perspective," Neville said.

Loud thumps came from the stairs and Theo was shoved into the counter. He groaned as Fina shrieked, "Theo! You're home! I hope it's okay we picked rooms before you so you get the leftover one."

Theo picked up the girl. "That's fine ballerina Fina."

She crooked her head. "I'm not a ballerina, Theo. I thought you knew that."

He heard more giggles from behind. "I do know that, Fina beena."

"What's a beena?"

"I'm trying to rhyme, you silly goose," He teased her.

"Can you put me to bed, Theo?" She asked.

He looked behind to get Hermione's approval. She nodded. "It is getting late for the children," Luna commented. "I'll go up and get the twins."

"Do you want me to put Henry to sleep to?" Theo asked.

"If you wouldn't mind," Hermione said.

"I don't. I'm always here to help." He carried Fina to the stairs. "It's bed time Fina Fina."

Fina mumbled something inaudible that Hermione didn't hear. Luna followed after.

"He's lovely, Hermione. Don't let him get away," Luna said when she returned. She shuffled Rolf and the twins to the floo and wished their farewells.

"He's not the same Slytherin," Hannah commented.

"He's better than Ron, Hermione," Neville said. "I'd like to get to know him better."

Hermione smiled and hugged her friends. "Thank you. I don't think he's leaving anytime soon."

"We just want you happy Hermione, and we want someone good to help you with Serafina and Henry," Hannah said. "I think Theo can provide the support you need."

They walked to the floo. "Are we still good for boxing day shopping? Luna said Rolf can watch the twins. Maybe they could come here with Neville and bond with Theo and entertain Serafina and Henry."

"I have to talk to Theo first, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind. He cares for those two a lot." Hermione smiled at the few memories had of Theo caring for her children.

Neville and Hannah glanced at each other and smiled. "We're happy for you, Hermione. Owl your answer when you can. Take care."

Hermione walked upstairs to see Theo gently closing a bedroom door. "Both children are asleep."

Hermione wrapped her arms around him. It felt too fast paced but Hermione cared a lot for Theo. He was better than any other guy. He was nothing like she thought he would be. She was happy that she made Finny write a letter to him. It wasn't a school project at all. The new wizarding elementary wouldn't do something like that. Hermione picked Theo because she knew he shouldn't be there and could use a little happiness. She never would've imagined it would become this. She was happy it did.