Disclaimer: I do not own any canon characters or situations in the Harry Potter Universe; nor am I paid for this. I just play in their world in no small thanks to Rowling's generosity.

Warnings: Story content contains strong language, violence, and graphic sexual scenes.

A/N: House hunting is the equivalent of slaying a Basilisk or Hungarian Horntail, I feel, thanks to this being a Seller's Market. *le sigh*


Hermione stared up into the eyes of a man she had buried in the back of her subconscious many years ago. Emotions coursed through her mind and body like a rampaging herd: confusion, love, fear…anger. The latter took her heart within its scorching spindly fingers and squeezed with all its might. She felt her eyes begin to slowly narrow, her pulse quicken. She watched her reflection in Theo's eyes as he realized the exact moment he had messed up. Watched as his torso leaned further away from her, his body lifting from the disheveled blankets; but it was too late. Before she could truly comprehend what she was doing, her hand had struck out like a pissed off viper and smashed into the bridge of his nose. She had to admit that punching Slytherins had been dearly missed.

A pained squawk tore from his chest as his hands rushed to control the flood of blood pouring from his nose. "What the bloody hell woman!"

With a snarl, Hermione launched herself at him – knocking them both to the ground. Tears leaked from her eyes in thin rivulets as her hands continued to slam against his chest. "You're dead! You're supposed to be dead! W-where's my wand? Give me my wand, Theo!"

With one hand plastered to his nose and the other trying to restrain the tiny fists flying at him he managed to say – although muffled, "On the table!"

She tossed her head to the side and caught sight of her wand lying peacefully on what appeared to be a quaint little nightstand. With a hmph she removed herself from his waist and darted for the piece of wood. Within seconds, she had turned on her heel and had the tip digging forcefully into his right cheek – her hair sparking in indignation.

"Why did you bring me here? Why didn't you just kill me when you found me?"

Theo looked up at her with a look that crossed between you're an idiot and she's finally gone crazy. "What? Why would I kill you? You should know me better than that."

Hermione stared hard at the bruised man before her. Her eyes momentarily following the flow of blood he was trying to avoid choking on. "I don't make it a habit of knowing Death Eaters personally."

An uncomfortable silence filled the room for several moments before Theo cleared his throat. "Look, we can get into all that in a moment; but first, do you mind?"

Hermione watched as he wiggled his fingers in the general direction of his face. She grunted and with a muttered Episkey, his nose straightened and the flow of blood began to slow before stopping completely. Theo tried to stand, but as Hermione wasn't having any of that - if her jabbing her wand in between his ribs was any indication - he remained on the floor – crossing his legs at the ankles.

"Thanks. So, I know you're just about bubble over with questions. Go on, ask them; but, for every question you ask, I get to ask one in return. Deal?"

Hermione rolled the suggestion over in her head. On one hand she needed to get as much information out of him as possible before moving on with her plan; but, she also didn't know what questions he would ask and she was certainly not ready to face whatever the two of them had once shared. Sliding her tongue across the top row of teeth, she sighed. "Alright, but nothing before the Final Battle."

Theo shrugged, "That seems fair. Go on, ask your questions love."

Hermione grimaced, as if that word alone had brought upon her death sentence. "Don't call me that. You lost your right to call me anything of the sort when you disappeared. You may call me Granger. Nothing else."

Theo watched her stand before him in all her defiant glory. Hair wild, chin tilted up, jaw locked, and eyes burning with questions. He tried not to smile. Really, he did; but there was just something there that tugged at the strings of his soul that absolutely demolished any attempts of resisting. He got a swift kick in the shin for it, but he couldn't say he regretted it.

"So, are you going to ask your questions or just stand around and stare at my devilishly handsome face all day? Oh, and could you please put away the wand. I think we've established I'm not going to kill you."

Hermione remained silent, but slowly lowered her wand, causing Theo to roll his eyes dramatically. With a sigh, she sat back down on the all-too-fluffy mattress. "Why did you bring me here and where is here?"

Theo chuckled, "Ah, ah, ah. Always so inquisitive…Granger." Wink. "That's two questions. Which would you like answered first?"

Hermione scowled, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. "Where is here?"

"This is a cottage that I purchased two months ago from an elderly muggle couple that had just recently passed to the next life."

Hermione could feel the lashes of her left eye beginning to twitch. She was much too impatient for this and immediately regretted ever agreeing to play these stupid games he was so fond of. "That doesn't really explain where we are."

Theo smirked, placing his elbow on his raised knee – chin resting in an open palm. "All you asked is where is here; and, I hate to tell you this, but we're in my cottage. You didn't really require any form of specification during the initial negotiation now did you? Is your favorite color still lavender?"

Hermione blinked, slowly. Her mind trying to process the words that had just come out of the man's mouth. "Seriously? That's your question?"

Theo simply nodded, an ever-growing smirk taking over his face. "Yes, please answer it."

Hermione rubbed the palm of a hand down her face with a groan. "Yes. My turn. Why did you bring me to this cottage?"

"Because I didn't find the thought of you dying in the woods pleasurable in any way; and, believe me, you are not one to leave me wanting…Granger." Wink.

Hermione could feel the heat beginning to crawl up her neck and into her cheeks. Why did he have to say such insufferable things? Before he could get his next question out she asked, "Why would you care?" Not that she was interested in any way as to what it was. No. Of course not.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer. You know why and I shan't repeat myself." Theo muttered, his eyes looking at his bloodied fingernails in disgust before wiping them lazily on his pressed trousers. "Is your Patronus still that adorable little otter?"

She began muttering profanities under her breath receiving a chuckle from the dark-haired wizard in return. She glared down at him with a whispered, "Your questions are stupid."

"Maybe to you, but I like my questions. So, is it?"

Hermione sighed. "Yes. It is. Isn't yours a honey badger? What a darling little Hufflepuff you make."

Theo narrowed his eyes, the lids falling practically closed as he peered through the thin slits. "I'll have you know the honey badger can be quite the fierce little bugger when needed. More so than your otter. What's that thing going to do? Nibble me to death?" Theo burst into laughter when he caught the blush staining her cheeks. "That's a rhetorical question by the way. So I get to go again. Let's see…"

"No, no, no. You asked a question and I don't give a bloody damn whether it was rhetorical or not. How are you not dead?"

"Simple. No one's killed me yet. Now..."

"Theodore Matheus Nott. Answer me. Now."

Theo sighed, throwing his body back to lay fully on the floor. His eyes stared upwards at the thick wooden support beams. He lay there silently, seemingly gathering his thoughts on how best to answer. He was interrupted by the impatient grunting of his once beloved. He did not hide the fact he rolled his eyes in the slightest; and found some twisted amusement in watching her body tense and fists clench. "It's the truth. I'm not dead because I haven't been killed. I'm not sure how I made it this long and, to be honest, that's why I purchased this cabin. I've spent the last three years ensuring your safety, but at a cost to me personally, both physically and mentally." Pause. "The degrading revels they make us partake in…even if you've managed to become this battle-hardened warrior for the Light…the things they make us do…it's…it's repulsive, Hermione. I'm trying to slowly get out. Up and leaving is an immediate death sentence; but, hopefully, one day I'll be able to leave this place…" he paused, his eyes shifting towards Hermione, before whispering, "…with you."

Hermione looked down at her clasped hands; although, her vision was so blurry all she could make out was their fuzzy outline. She could feel the burning start of fresh tears and she absolutely refused to let them fall. It felt like these past couple of days had been nothing but of her crying. She couldn't break down in front of him. Especially him. He had torn her apart once. He certainly wouldn't do it again because of a few meaningless words.

"You said you've been protecting me…how? Why?"

"The how and why are much the same, yeah? I protect you through whatever means necessary because I..."

Hermione could feel her heart beginning to race, her hands beginning to shake, and her lower lip beginning to tremble. "Stop. You can't. You don't even know me. Not anymore."

Theo scoffed and jumped to his feet, "Of course I know you. I know that your hair is a beast that can't be fully tamed, especially in the mornings. I know that your eyes are the shade of my favorite sweets. I know that you tug your right earlobe when you're second-guessing yourself about a question on a test. I know you get self-conscious about the ink stains on your fingers. I know you have scars – physical and mental. I know you sleep with a picture of your friends close by. I know you're on some back-arsed crazy mission to take down the tyranny of the nose-less bastard. I know, that no matter what happens in this life, you will always remain pure."

He stopped pacing and slowly approached her still frame. He stared hard into her wide, glassy eyes; tenderly brushing a curl from her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. With care he knelt in front of her and took her hands within his, giving them a gentle squeeze. "I know you're probably asking yourself how do you know? Simple. I know because you are the quintessential Gryffindor, through and through. There is no self-preservation in you. You are not a coward. Not like me." Theo swiped the tears from her chapped cheeks with the slightly rough pads of his fingers before grasping her hands once more. "So, you see. I do know you. It doesn't matter how much time has passed or the events that have happened in between. I know your essence, your light, and your love; and no matter how much you wish it to be untrue, my heart will never stop loving you."

He carefully got back to his feet after placing a quick kiss to the back of each of her hands. He smiled in that way he usually did when she was around and cheerfully asked, "Now that the dramatics are over for the time being, would you care for some breakfast?"