Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead.

Grammarly is my Beta, I know I am still missing things though. Sorry.

Music is my Muse
This chapters song: Like I Can, Sam Smith
Lyric of choice: He'll never love you like I can.

Aftermath

Chapter Fourteen
Nott Mansion

Theo let out a deep breath and turned on Potter. "Why the hell did you warn him?"

Potter glared at him. "Because the bastard works for a pretty powerful Sultan so when we do arrest the prick I want to be able to say we gave him due diligence."

Zabini gave Potter a two fingered salute. "I will go let them know an offer was made and get the paperwork signed so we can go hunting."

Potter snorted. "Thanks."

Theo stood up. "I am taking her home."

Zabini stood up. "Not sure that's a good idea, mate. Your townhouse isn't my idea of a safe house."

Theo grunted. "I know that you arse, and that's why I am taking her to the Mansion. None of those fuckers will get near that place."

Potter shook his head his eyes wide. "She's a muggle born; won't your house eat her?"

Zabini chuckled as Theo glared at Potter. "No. I will open the wards for you, Malfoy and Zabini only."

Potter nodded and said. "Let's go then, I want to see the look on her face when we show up there."

Zabini walked away saying. "Sometimes you're a real bastard, Potter."

Draco walked back his face angry. "That total fucking twat." He hissed pulling Hermione along with him.

Theo grabbed her looking her over; she was shaking, hopefully with anger and not fear. He knew they had heard the conversation. He noticed that Draco had a strong arm on her wand arm.

"We are going to the Mansion, better wards," Theo said looking at Malfoy who grimaced and then nodded.

"I have to head back to the office and make that Sultan's life hell while I am still pissed. I will see you in an hour, I'll apparate in, leave the floo closed." Draco said his tone livid.

Theo took a hold of Hermione and then nodded at Potter. "Give me two minutes to change the wards."

Harry nodded and Theo disapparated to the library, the only room in his home that he was very sure Hermione would like. He pulled out his wand to change the wards and then moved to pour himself a whiskey.

Potter arrived a second later a bit breathless and Hermione glared at him. "Why didn't you arrest that prat for doing that spell on me? It's illegal!"

Harry nodded and then said. "We'd rather arrest him for something bigger and we need him to go back to his boss and bait the hook. Then we get them both."

Hermione snorted and walked over to the fireplace, starting a fire with her wand that she had gotten back from Theo before she had walked off with Draco earlier. It had taken all self-control not to hex that awful man into oblivion. She was still shaking with anger and embarrassment.

OoOOoO

Theo sighed and handed a fire whiskey to Potter who took it with thanks and then moved around to study the room around him, figuring Harry knew better than to touch anything, Theo walked over and pulled Hermione into his chest leaning down to rub his cheek in her hair. "I am so sorry, kitten," he said hoarsely.

She gave a little sob and stomped her foot. "I feel like I was violated. He had no right to know that about me."

Theo sighed and turned her around, taking in her flushed face and teary eyes. "I know he didn't," he said earnestly.

She looked up at him and said. "I wanted to tell you."

Theo nodded and cupped her cheek. "I am not sure I would have believed you."

She let out a frustrated breath and then said. "No one does. I just, after the war, and then before that-"

Theo hugged her into him. "Hermione, you don't have to explain yourself to me."

Harry snorted and said. "Although I might demand an explanation."

Theo glared at him but Hermione let out an adorable growl causing him to laugh. Those two really did act like siblings.

OoOOoOO

Hermione let Theo hold her as she tried to shake off the cold that had been stuck on her since that man had hit her with the purity spell. She had known what had happened immediately as her middle had burned and glowed gold. And of course, the look of horror and shock on Malfoys' face had confirmed it. The bastard had checked to see how many men she had slept with to determine her price! As if that should matter? It was degrading, disgusting, humiliating. And her secret had been laid bare in front of someone who was not her friend. She shivered as she remembered Malfoys' anger. Okay, maybe he was a friend. He had been so upset for her and thrown himself in front of her. For a brief moment, it had been her stopping Draco from cursing the man. And then as the man had talked, Draco had grown more and more angry. She had seen his mark rising under his shirt.

She rubbed Theos' arm now and shuddered as she felt that his mark was still welted up angrily. "Theo, thank you for what you said."

Theo looked down at her and nodded before he pulled her over to a chair and called for Tuily.

The elf showed up and looked around curiously. "Master is home? Shall Tuily call back the other elves?"

Theo rubbed a hand down his face and then gave a brief nod. "Sure Tuily, that would be fine, and can you find a room for me and Hermione that she will be safe in if we need to stay the night here?"

Tuily frowned. "Shall Tuily have the portraits covered master?"

Theo groaned and tipped back on his heels before he gave a short nod. "Yes, and then dinner for five."

Harry sighed. "I was picking up Ginny."

Theo nodded. "Six then."

Tuily nodded and disappeared.

Hermione turned to Harry. "You don't have to stay Harry."

Harry shook his head. "We are guarding you actually, and Ginny would love to see you." He looked at his watch. "Right, let me go and get her from work and then we will come right back."

Theo nodded waving his wand to change the wards again.

Immediately after Harry left Draco showed up his face still harsh with his anger. "Done, the bastard will be sorting that out for years. I love being able to fuck with people's gold. Where is everyone?"

Hermione watched Theo sigh. "Zabini went to the ministry and Potter is grabbing his wife."

Draco snorted. "Brilliant a mudblood, a blood traitor, and half blood in the house all at once. Will it fall down on us?"

Hermione smirked but saw that Theo did not look amused so she grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit on the arm of her chair. "He does have a point, Theo. The house might explode."

Theo looked down at her and smirked but to Draco he said. "I told you not to bloody call her that, Malfoy."

Hermione shrugged and held up her arm. "It's my scar to bear, Theo."

Curiously Draco looked rather sick and turned around abruptly to go and pour himself a drink.

Theo grabbed her arm and pulled it to his mouth, kissing her scar. "That upsets him, kitten," he said softly so only she could hear.

Hermione's eyes widened and she looked over to see Draco staring stonily at a wall drinking. "Draco." She said suddenly understanding. He turned giving her a cool look and she said very firmly. "It wasn't your fault and I am sorry I upset you. I won't do it again."

"Draco," she said suddenly understanding. He turned giving her a cool look and she said very firmly. "It wasn't your fault and I am sorry I upset you. I won't do it again."

Draco considered her a moment and then he nodded his face softening marginally.

Theo sighed and put his hands on her shoulders squeezing them as he stood behind her, offering her comfort. They waited for a bit, each lost in their own thoughts and no one speaking.

OoOOOoOO

A pop announced the arrival of Ginny Potter with Harry who gave a short wave and then left again, Ginny rushed forward to hug Hermione who had stood up.

"Oh my gosh Hermione! Harry just told me."

Theo frowned. "Where is Potter going?"

Ginny turned giving him a long look before she said. "Zabini caught up to him and told him to meet him after he brought me here."

Malfoy snorted. "Wonder if that bastard made his move?"

Ginny jumped and then said. "Draco Malfoy!" She turned to Hermione. "If that's who you are dating I am going to throttle you."

Theo chuckled and then said. "Technically she isn't even dating me and it's my house she has been staying at."

Ginny looked wide eyed between Theo and Hermione and then said. "Hermione, you are sleeping with someone and not dating them?"

Draco spoke up. "Well, she isn't shagging him; that was proven tonight."

Hermione went red as Ginny whirled around. "Proven how? What the hell am I missing?"

Hermione sank back down into her chair and said. "If you we are going to talk about this someone had better get me a drink."

Theo laughed and stood up. "I will kitten."

Ginny stared at Hermione and said softly. "Kitten?"

Hermione sank her head into her hands. "He calls me 'kitten'."

Ginny snorted and yelled. "Get me one two tiger, I think I will need it."

Draco started laughing as Theo said. "Snake, she calls me snake she weasel."

Hermione snorted at that. "No I don't," she said shaking her head.

"I haven't been a weasel in four years you prat, so find a new nickname," Ginny said unconcernedly. "Hermione, what on earth is going on?"

Hermione sighed. "Theo and I are friends."

Ginny looked over at the handsome wizard pouring drinks and said. "Um, have you looked at him Mione', he's delicious. Why aren't you shagging him?"

Theo grunted while Draco snorted and said. "I asked that already, they didn't have a reason that made any sense."

Ginny looked over at Draco and nodded. "I am not sure there is one."

Hermione groaned. "Can't two people be friends?"

Ginny nodded. "Sure they can, but you can't sleep next to someone that good looking and not want to be more than friends. I understood you not shagging my brother, good call there, but Theodore Nott is fit."

Hermione gestured at a grinning Theo handing Ginny her drink. "And standing right there good grief Gin."

Ginny shrugged smiling her thanks for the drink. "So is he gay?"

Draco choked on his whiskey and started laughing so hard he about fell over. Theo handed Hermione her drink and grimaced. "No, I am not." He said rolling his eyes. "And yes I would shag her."

Hermione went pale and then glared at him. "Did you really need to tell her that?"

Ginny sat back nodding. "Yes, yes he did. It was my next question. So what gives, Hermione?"

Draco spoke up. "She's a virgin."

Hermione took a huge swallow of her whiskey and she watched Ginny's head snap back at her in shock.

"No, Gaston-"

Hermione flinched. "I never technically did it with him."

Ginny frowned. "But I thought you and Charlie?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, never, and kind of wrong Ginny, he's your brother."

Ginny shrugged looking unconcerned. "You went to visit him for a week in Romania, we all assumed."

Hermione knew she looked prissy, but honestly. "Ginny we told you we weren't-"

Ginny waved her off. "Don't worry mum believes you; it's just that we didn't."

Hermione flushed. "Ron thinks I shagged his brother?"

Ginny looked up startled and then laughed. "Well, yes, it's Charlie; he is a bloody dragon trainer."

Theo was watching her his face tense. "I didn't shag him!" Hermione said in irritation.

Draco grunted. "Yeah, we know. Purity charm, remember."

Hermione sat back in a huff. "Well I have never even snogged the man."

Ginny shook her head. "Now that's a bloody shame!"

Hermione gasped. "He is your brother!"

Ginny sipped her drink. "Dragon trainer, Hermione. You should have shagged a dragon trainer. It's the principle of the matter."

Draco snorted in laughter and then said. "I agree. What were you thinking, Granger?"

Hermione shook her head. "Oh shut up, Malfoy. I don't actually snog people because of who they are or what they do."

Ginny giggled. "So you didn't snog Theo because he's a gorgeous ex Death Eater? Wait, you have snogged the man at least, right?"

Hermione went pink as Theo laughed nodding at Ginny.

"No, I didn't. I snogged him because he is kind and good, and –" she flushed and closed her mouth as Draco went into another fit of laughter. "Oh hex him!" Hermione said glaring at Theo who was grinning down at her.

He shook his head and leaned down tipping her chin up with his finger his face moved down so that she could hear him as he whispered huskily. "I am not always kind, defiantly not good, and I snogged you because you turn me the fuck on, just so you know."

Ginny was fanning herself as Hermione felt her face heat and then Theo leaned forward and kissed her very gently.

"But I will be everything you need me to be when we finally do shag, kitten." He said in a deep whisper against her ear.

Hermione glanced helplessly up at him, but the devil winked at her and sauntered off leaving her with a still fanning Ginny who was grinning widely.

"What did he say?"

Hermione shook her head not even going to get into this conversation with Draco Malfoy in hearing distance.

Notes:
Oh my goodness, what Theo said to Hermione here.. I melted when I wrote that...
Hope you enjoyed it as much as me!