Author's Notes: I want to say thank you to Hermione-Lyra-Malfoy-Riddle, nadasnape, Jane2004, and guest reviewer Jenisha, for taking the time to review the last chapter. This one is for you guys!
Chapter Twelve – The Luckiest Slytherin
'Don't deny to him that you love me.'
-William Shakespeare
The words 'You kiss by th' book' had fallen from Hermione's lips before she could even really think of them. She knew her lines off by heart and yet her heart was speaking for itself; it seem to beat at an inhuman speed as she was left breathless by the kiss. Unconsciously her hand went to her heart, which was difficult, as she was still locked in Draco's arms. Why is the room so hot? Why is he starting to smell so sweet again? Oh Merlin, I recognise that smell – am I going to lose my mind and memories again?
You know why, a sinister-sounding voice says in Hermione Delacour's head, he's a veela and you are his mate – you be for you to be so affected by it so. Then another more pleasant voice retorts or it could just be that he was a good kisser? Just because he can kiss you well doesn't mean you're in love.
The sincerity in her words and her breathless tone of voice makes Hermione blush bright scarlet as she glances around the room. This glance reveals how much her fellow students have also noticed that sincerity.
This is all so wrong!
Hermione instantly jerks out of Malfoy's arms.
The only thing worse than seeing a good portion of the school, her friends, and her boyfriend witness her being affected by the "staged" kiss is the look of the leading man – The veela who is smirking like he had won a hard battle and the same veela whose eyes are glowing like molten silver.
Hermione instinctively steps back as the crowd of students, as well as Professors McGonagall and Burbage, thunder in applause after a brief and curious silence.
Draco Malfoy gives Hermione one last grin before dramatically giving their audience a prolonged bow. Hermione stand in shock as her thoughts raced through her mind: I cannot BELIEVE I did that I kissed Malfoy and I lik – no, get a hold of yourself Hermione, you cannot think like this, you simply can't – and right now, he, the swine, is taking all your limelight.
With those thoughts inside Hermione Delacour's head, she takes a small curtesy and blows a kiss to the audience, in the same way all those actresses she'd seen in professional performances do. This causes the applause to grow louder and louder. The students and teachers loved it. Hermione doesn't know how to feel about this. Should she be happy she did a good job of Romeo & Juliet, even if it wasn't entirely based on her acting abilities? Or should she just be furious at Draco Malfoy for using her favourite play to take advantage of her lips? Hermione isn't sure.
Then the doors to The Great Hall slam shut!
A single pronoun pops into Hermione's head.
Theo.
'A most excellent performance from Mr Draco Malfoy and Miss Hermione Delacour!' Enthuses McGonagall, clapping her hands with a cheery smile upon her face.
Hermione is no longer listening as she immediately walks to go off the stage. Malfoy follows her and offered her his hand so she could get off the stage, but Hermione ignored him as she hopped off the stage all by herself. It is this git's fault if Theo is upset.
Hermione raced out of The Great Hall and went in search for her boyfriend.
I just hope he's not gone to the Slytherin common room, as I can't get in there!
The Great Hall doors opened and closed again very quietly (so much so that Hermione barely heard them open at all), and Hermione turns to see Justin-Finch-Fletchley exit the hall.
'Mione, if you're looking for Theo, he's probably going to The Black Lake while you were rehearsing with Harry, I saw him going down to practice using his chemistry set.' Justin tells her. Hermione smiles at him.
'Thank you, Justin.' Hermione says. She is now headed for the Black Lake.
The first thing she notices as she goes down the hill towards the Lake is a stench. It smells a little bit like ingredients going into potions, but Hermione knows there is a difference, this stench was more acidic than most potions. Hermione figured that the smell must be from Theo's chemistry set.
Sure enough, Hermione finds the stench is precisely that as she sees Theodore Nott working hard with a small muggle chemistry set by The Black Lake.
'Theo!' Hermione calls as she runs to meet him.
'Go away, Hermione. I am too busy to talk.' Theodore replies dismissively as Hermione met him by the Black Lake.
'Theo, what's wrong? You rushed out of The Great Hall and left me?' Hermione asked, even though she dreaded she already knows the answer.
Theodore sighed. 'I think you know why, Hermione. I saw you kiss Malfoy.' He wasn't looking at her too interested in pouring Merlin-knows-what into his chemistry tubes.
'But Theo that was just for the audition -'
'But it looked like a lot more than that, Hermione.' Theo says. 'I have seen the way he looks at you, and I know you went searching for him before and I don't know why and a part of me doesn't even want to know why. Maybe I am being too sensitive and maybe I am overreacting but seeing him kiss you, seeing you kiss him and look like you enjoyed it more than you have ever enjoyed our kisses breaks my heart.' Theo tells her with a saddened expression; there were tears in Theodore's chocolate-coloured eyes and it caused Hermione's own heart to ache.
Can I tell him? Will Theo understand anything about this stupid male veela thing? Or will it be the end of us. Do I want it to be the end of "us"? Do my wants even come into the situation? Hermione thinks to herself as she struggles to produce a response appropriate for the situation.
'It breaks my heart because I think I love you, Hermione.' Theo says – Hermione's heart skips a beat. She tries to interject him but he carries on speaking, as if he is racing to get his words out because he has limited time to do so.
'And I have never really loved anyone in my whole life, not even my own mother really, but I love you, Hermione. For all our time together in our short relationship I have been the happiest I have ever been. You, with all your smarts, your kindness, and your unbelievable beauty, just make me feel whole. You make me feel like I am a better person than I am. You make me feel like I am worth something – that I am somebody, as before you I was just that Slytherin who was lucky enough to hang out with you; that's pretty much all everybody ever said about me. But now I am called "the luckiest Slytherin", the luckiest guy in Hogwarts for being able to hold you and love you. And I don't ever want to lose you, Mione. But I am dreading the fact that I am about you, as you seem to want a guy that could never ever deserve you.' Theo finishes.
Hermione looks shocked and feels as if time itself is frozen as Theo's eyes lock onto her and she sees the astonishing truthfulness in his words.
That's it. I have no choice but to tell him – Theo deserves to know.
'Theo, I don't want Malfoy, as I know he doesn't deserve me. But…what happened back there isn't about being deserved or about love, or about my feelings.' Hermione tells him. Theodore stares at her with a perplexed expression. 'It is about veelas…' Theodore's eyes grow wide: Hermione shakes her head. 'It's not what you think – this has nothing to with my veela ancestry – but rather his.'
'But-but, how?' Theo demands suddenly, utterly shocked by Hermione's explanation. 'The Malfoy's don't have any veela blood.'
'I didn't think so either, but I don't know the ins and out of it right now, but I plan to find out everything before I have to make any decisions. Theo, I hate to say it, and to be truthful I don't know how to say it, but-but Draco Malfoy – is a-a a male veela and I-I think that I'm his mate.' Hermione burst into tears at the thought – it's so impossible but after those feelings, those out of nowhere feelings that spark an almost supernatural passion, how can I deny it?
And as Hermione sobs at the unfairness and impossible-ness of it all, Theodore Nott does something most unexpected thing to Hermione, as he pulls her into a caring embrace and slides his arms around her shoulders.
'Hermione – I don't know what to say, really, but I know we can get through this. We have to – I mean you can't just go with a complete prick just because his veela heritage might've chose you – you've got to have more a choice in that. It's your right, a witches right, a human right to have a choice in the matter. I promise you, my turtledove, we'll figure this out together. I'm not giving you up if you still want me. We'll figure this out and no matter what you'll have the right to choose your own path in life. I won't rest until this is resolved and it's a distant memory in your head, my love, I promise you that.' Theo tells her and it only makes Hermione cry more as she shifts her body to bury her blonde head in the crook of his neck. She inhales his earthy, comforting, scent. It's so unlike the intoxicating smell of Malfoy. Hermione thinks as she feels the soft palms of Theodore's strong hands stroke her back. It soothes her.
'Hermione, I hate to ask you this, but I have to ask as I knew her for a long-time (and there have been rumours), but…but did …Malfoy…did Malfoy kill Pansy Parkinson?'
Hermione looks up at her boyfriend.
'He-he did, and it's all my fault! She wasn't his Mate – but I-I a-am and he killed her because he couldn't have me!' Hermione's cries grow even louder at her despairing thoughts.
Theodore shakes his head. 'We don't know that for certain yet. Either way it is certainly not your fault – it can't be. You're too good of a person for that, Hermione. No matter what, I'll be here for you.' He pulls her closer again.
Draco Lucius Malfoy seriously wished that he hadn't chose to hide behind that tree as he burst into hot tears himself as he witnessed his Mate be comforted and caressed by another man: the pain, as always, was unbearable.
I need to take more potion. Draco thought to himself.
'Draco, 'ou foolish boy, why do I 'ave to remind 'ou?' Fleur said from behind him. As if reading his mind, she hands him a potion. 'I pinched some out of 'our pocket 'cause I know you would forget.' She told him. Draco snatched the potion out of Fleur's hands and downed it instantly.
Relief.
'Thank you.' Draco said in one breath as the pain started to dull down a bit.
Fleur sighed. 'You need to always 'emember, Draco.' Fleur chastised him. Draco watched as Fleur looked over to where her younger sister was sat on the grass with Snotty-Notty.
' 'E's right, 'ou know, ma sister deserves the choice of who to be with.' Fleur told Draco carefully. Draco shuddered as he realised that Fleur is right.
'I will still get her to know my name.' Draco muttered under his breath with determination.
The next day there is a cast listing up outside The Great Hall…
Romeo & Juliet Cast Listings Year 1994/1995
Directed by Professors Minevra McGonagall and Charity Burbage
Romeo – Draco Malfoy (4th year, Slytherin)
Juliet – Hermione Delacour (4th year, Ravenclaw)
Paris – Neville Longbottom (4th year, Gryffindor)
Mercutio – Blaise Zabini (4th year, Slytherin)
Lady Montague – Luna Lovegood (3rd year, Ravenclaw)
Lord Montague – Ronald Weasley (4th year, Gryffindor)
Lady Capulet – Katerina Pavlov (4th year, Ravenclaw)
Lord Capulet – Wayne Hopkins (4th year, Hufflepuff)
Juliet's Nurse – Cho Chang (5th year, Ravenclaw)
Tybalt – Justin Finch-Fletchley (4th year, Hufflepuff)
Benvolio – Terry Boot (4th year, Ravenclaw)
Friar Lawrence – Fred Weasley (5th year, Gryffindor)
Friar John – George Weasley (5th year, Gryffindor)
Prince Escalus – Theodore Nott (4th year, Slytherin)
Anthony – Michael Corner (4th year, Ravenclaw)
First Guard – Kevin Whitby (1st year, Hufflepuff)
Second Guard – Rosaline Clearwater (3rd year, Slytherin).
Third Guard - Colin Creevey (3rd year, Gryffindor)
First Musician – Avgustin Warbeck (2nd year, Ravenclaw)
Second Musician – Leon Gallagher (3rd year, Ravenclaw)
Pot Man – Seamus Finnigan (4th year, Gryffindor)
Balthasar – Ginny Weasley (3th year, Gryffindor)
Sampson – James Samson (2nd year, Hufflepuff)
Gregory – Ernie Macmillan (4th year, Hufflepuff)
Peter – Oliver Rivers (4th year, Ravenclaw)
Servant to Capulet – Mabeus Selwyn (2nd year, Slytherin)
Abram – Brahms Moon (3rd year, Ravenclaw)
The Apothecary – Valentin De Lacombe (2nd year, Slytherin)
The Chorus – [a narrator role played by a single actor] Astoria Greengrass (2nd year, Slytherin)
Additional singer – Bertena Jackson (1st year, Ravenclaw)
Theodore Nott took one long look at the cast listings and then took a longer look at Hermione Delacour's prideful smile but anxious eyes, and Theo found himself wishing he had made more of an effort to prepare for the auditions, as in that moment, he wasn't feeling like "The Luckiest Slytherin" anymore.
'This could be the end of everything, so why don't we go? Somewhere only we know.'
-Keane (From the Song: 'Somewhere Only We Know.')
Author's Notes:
Could the knowledge of Draco Malfoy being a male veela really be the end of everything for Theo and Hermione? Let me know what you would like to happen for them and for Draco in the reviews!
Happy Reading Everyone!
Love,
Fantasticlavendercrystals xx
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to what I said in the 'We Lay Our Scene' chapters about only students who aren't taking part in the Tri-wizard Tournament being able to audition, I've had to change the cast listing so Neville Longbottom is Paris rather than Harry Potter. Apologises for my confusion.
