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: As a special treat for all of you sticking with me through my sporadic updates here is Chapter 10 a bit early. I hope you enjoy!

Hermione could feel the sweat beginning to bead and slowly drip down the nape of her neck as she fought against the wards. What she had once thought such a simple task was proving to be quite the insurmountable one. She lowered her slightly trembling arm and dragged her left forearm across her forehead. She had been undertaking this task for the better half of an hour and had hardly gotten anywhere with it. With shoulders slumped in mild defeat and a heavy sigh falling from between her lips, she returned to her room and collapsed to the floor, grumbling obscenities the entire time. She would make her way in there, she would. She just needed to form some sort of strategy to get around them. To feel for any soft spots within the fabric of magic that seemed to be endlessly layered.

What the hell did that man do for a living? She thought heatedly as she jabbed the tip of her wand at the radio, small sparks flying. She began to lightly cast spell after spell in a lazy attempt to fix the blasted thing, ignoring the faint rumblings of her stomach. She pressed the heel of her palm against the offending organ and looked up at the cuckoo clock that hung a bit off-center on the wall. Theo would be back soon she was sure, hopefully. Until then, she stood up once more and made her way back to the kitchen. It was as she was browsing through the meager offerings hidden away in the cupboards that the pop of apparition sounded behind her, sending her adrenalin pumping like a herd of wild horses within her veins. With a swift turn on her heel, she sent her fist flying through the air, striking against the center of a chest plate – her knee soon following to make its home between the offender's legs.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?! BLOODY BLEEDIN MERLIN. Oh, I'm going to be sick. Oh, may the Fates preserve me. Holy shite."

Hermione's hands flew up to cover her mouth, not absolutely sure what to do. She stuttered out a shaky I'm sorry and Reflex!, before bending over at the waist, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and guiding him to a seat at the table. She watched as his body slightly shook and he began to dry heave.

She quickly took a step back – she was not about to clean that up. Crossing her arms over her chest she sighed, "Honestly. You don't have to be quite so dramatic."

Theo's already wide eyes seemed to grow even larger as he stared up at her. "Dramatic? I'm being dramatic? Entering my house and having my bollocks shoved so far up my body they've now settled and plan to live the rest of their days out as ovaries is not being dramatic. For fuck's sake, I think I'm dying. I need medical attention."

"You shouldn't sneak up behind me."

Theo grunted, his hand gently cradling his injured groin. "Again, it's my house. Besides I told you this place was Unplottable. Why the hell would I share the location with anyone I associate with on a daily basis?"

Hermione shrugged carelessly, "I don't presume to know your business."

"Of course you don't, little twat that you are." Theo mumbled. Raising his voice only slightly enough to be heard clearly, he said, "Seeing as you aren't going to comfort me in my time of need. If you would be so kind as to put away the groceries while I recuperate from this traumatic injury, I'd so greatly appreciate it."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but did as she was asked. She truly felt bad for him as it had been an accident; and from the unwanted stories Harry and Ron would share about Quidditch injuries, she knew it had to hurt something fierce. Nibbling her bottom lip, her mind went down a different path and began to devise a way to break into Theo's room. She couldn't find it in herself to give an utter shite on whether he discovered what she had done or not.

"What do you do for a living now? Besides licking the fungus from between your Master's toes and thanking him for the pleasure of it."

Theo gagged so strongly at the mental image he drew from her words that he quickly forgot about his nether pain and began to wretch in the sink. What the fuck was wrong with this woman? With a disgusted grunt and a hand dragging across his mouth, he glared fiercely across the room where Hermione stood, biscuit box in hand and a doe-eyed look drawn on her face.

"What?"

Theo snarled, "You just can't resist spouting these vitriolic comments can you?"

Hermione shrugged, "Well when I have an opening I do like to take it."

Theo slammed a cupboard door shut causing her to jump slightly in place. Wide eyes watched as he angrily stomped across the room and out of it – throwing himself down on the worn-leather of the living room couch. Hermione finished putting up the remaining items and slowly approached the seething man.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry – I mean I did – but I didn't think you'd have quite this reaction."

Theo sighed and leaned his head back on the cushion. "I'm not angry. A little pouty? Maybe. Absolutely fucking disgusted, yes. Please do try to refrain from making such horrid mental images next time you open your mouth. Such disgusting things shouldn't leave a mouth as pretty as yours." Wink.

Hermione chuckled and gave a simple nod as she curled up in the adjacent chair. "Alright, but I really am curious. What is it you do for work?"

Theo smirked, "Curse breaker."

Hermione groaned, throwing herself back further into the chair. "Of course you are. I should have known, seeing as how you always talked about it at Hogwarts. Well, I suppose a congratulations is in order. Where's the drink in this place?"

Theo pointed in the direction of a small trunk that had been pushed into a far corner of the room. With a hop in her step she approached the trunk and opened the lid, eyes peering curiously at the contents within. With a quick reach for the Firewhiskey and two short glasses, she made her way back to her chair and poured them each a decent size portion. With a single finger, she pushed his glass closer to him causing Theo to roll his eyes at her obvious attempt to avoid touching.

Taking his drink, Theo snickered and turned on his side so as to properly face her. "So I see you couldn't get past them."

Hermione glared, picking at her broken nails as if overcome with sudden boredom. "Possibly."

"Well, I suppose that will teach you to snoop, won't it? As I recall, I specifically told you to leave my room alone."

Hermione growled and took a surprisingly large gulp of the liquid, nearly choking as the severe burn coated her throat and lit her stomach. "You know damn well that you telling me that would have me salivating at the chance. You just wanted a reason to feel smug about the one thing you may exceed at. Well, bully for you mate."

Theo laughed and Hermione was entranced by how the light lit his face. He should laugh more often. She quickly shook her head side to side to rid herself of the thought. What did she care if he laughed more often or how he appeared in a certain light that seemed to make his soul beam from within? She didn't. Not in the slightest.

Hermione awoke from her inner turmoil by Theo who had obviously said something – something scandalous if his devilish grin was anything to go by. "What?"

"I said, I think we both know there's more than this one thing I'm good at."

Hermione sighed, her cheek resting against the palm of her hand. She stared across the small space between them in thought. "I promised to stop giving you nightmares, so how about you do the same for me, yeah?"

Theo smiled. "Whatever you wish."

Silence fell between them, their eyes connecting every few moments or so. Hermione could feel the insides of her stomach begin to squirm, as if a couple of puffskeins had been set loose within her. As she watched his muscles clench and ripple during his stretching, she could feel the burn of a blush – or perhaps it was the alcohol – beginning to stain her cheeks. That would simply not do. Forcing a yawn – and, yet, no force was needed – she removed herself from the chair and stood in place, setting her near empty glass on the wooden table. Their eyes locked, her breath caught in her throat. She opened her mouth once, twice, but words failed her. She needed to go. Now.

"Well, I'm off to bed, I think."

Theo nodded, standing himself, ultimately bringing his body closer to hers. Hermione clenched her fists at her sides, forcing every ounce of her body to stay still. She thought she was going to pass out from lack of air as he seemed to move closer still and when his hand slowly reached out, gently brushing one of her stray curls from her cheek, she assumed her body would collapse any second.

His eyes scanned her face, taking in every nuance, every muscle twitch beneath the skin. Although she stood ragged and exhausted before him, she was still utterly breathtaking. With a swiftness he would have bungled up as a child he pressed his lips firmly against her forehead before jumping back and guarding his groin with a raised leg and his arms forming a barrier.

Hermione watched him, both dazed and more than slightly amused. Who knew all it took was a good kick to get him to be so well-behaved? With a small chuckle, she patted him on the shoulder – feeling his muscles recoil from her touch – and made her way to her bedroom. As she curled up in her bed, the blanket secured around her body, she buried her face in her pillow and let the brilliant smile she had been holding back flash within the darkness.