Disclaimer: Not my characters.

This story is part of my Hermione/Theo mini-series entitled: Of Writing and Falling in Love. Each story/one-shot has a separate plot and characterisation from the others, dependant on the prompt I am given.

Prompt: Must use the phrase 'Post hoc ergo propter hoc.'

Of Memories and Waiting.

10.

He finally cornered her on the second floor, stuck between the stairs and her room.

"No Granger. That's not how it works. You don't get to kiss me, then walk away like nothing happened." She flung her body around to glare at him.

"You mean that I don't get to walk away, but you do? Every opportunity you have you end the conversation and leave!" She stalked towards him, eyes blazing. His eyes turned stormy. "You are such a hypocrite!" She approached his space, but was caught unawares when he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun them so she had her back to the wall.

"Not every conversation Hermione, just the ones where I have to." The heat from his hands raced through her body, igniting a slow burn that would last for hours. She opened her mouth to reply, but he placed a finger over her lips to silence her. "No. We're moving off topic. You didn't even give me a chance to do anything, you just kissed me and left, then ignored me for a month! How the fuck am I supposed to feel about that?" She swallowed nervously. He leant down to whisper in her ear, "You never. Ignore. Me. Is that clear?" Biting her earlobe, she exhaled against his finger, tongue darting out to lick it before retreating hastily.

She shifted, trying to get him to move, but instead he fell into the cradle of her thighs. Face burning; she defiantly met his gaze before inhaling sharply at the sudden flare of heat she saw there. Jaw clenching, he skimmed his finger down her collarbone, between her breasts before sliding his hand to one side, grasping her hips and wrenching her closer to him, nestling himself so she could feel his aching length pressed against the seam of her shorts. She wriggled and he groaned, dropping his head to her shoulder.

"Stop. Answer my question." She rolled her hips instead of responding, watching his carefully placed control fray at the edges. Breathing faster, shallower, her head fell to the side when he bit her throat and sucked, hard.

"No – don't – no marks!" She felt his smirk, his tongue soothing the agitated skin.

"Too late." His voice was husky, pitched low and she shivered. "I gave you the opportunity to answer my question and you didn't. So why don't you be a good girl and answer it now, hmm?" His fingers started to rub circles on her hips, and she moaned distractedly.

"Fine! I'll never… oh God! Won't ignore you again! Just – please…" A husky chuckle was his only response before he finally caught her lips in a bruising kiss, stoking the burn he'd started earlier. Cupping the back of her head with his other hand, he enflamed her soul with kisses, firing every nerve she had in her body. Twining his tongue with hers, he released her to inhale breathlessly, pressing his forehead against hers.

"Wanted to do this when you saw my shoulder a month ago. God Granger, the dreams I had. Of taking you, marking you, making you mine." Images flooded his mind, causing him to tilt his head back as he twitched against her with a heady moan. Rocking his hips against her, he possessed her mouth again, full of fire and sin. Hermione thrashed beneath him, scoring her nails against his back, arching herself, rubbing, aching, wanting. Incomprehensible noises voiced from deep within her as she pleaded with her body for more of his heat.

A slammed door preceded a shouting match from downstairs. Hermione felt like she'd been doused with icy water. Halting the kiss, he traced her mark idly, suddenly seeming less sure of himself. Swallowing nervously, he refused to meet her eyes.

"Will you be mine?" She saw the tension he carried in his shoulders, and traced his cheek with a finger thoughtfully, nibbling her lower lip.

"It'll be difficult." He laughed sardonically.

"Hermione, this entire new life has been difficult for me - I doubt it could get any worse." She exhaled.

"True." Fingers twitching, his eyes finally met hers after darting over her face, as if searching for something. She suddenly realised she hadn't answered his question. "Oh Theo, of course I will. Did you ever doubt it?"

His shaky chuckle proved that actually, he had, but the relief on his face as she embraced him only served so cement her decision.

23/07/12