A/N
Thank you to: Sunset Whispers for your amazing review. To: my two Guests, you guys are great! A special thanks to: I LoveMusic, for your very flattering review. You made my year!
Also thank you to my two new followers; IceAngel5264 and honeymufins. Hope you are falling in love with Theo!
Chapter 25: Another Intermission
Daphne went straight to Nott Manor after she left Greengrass Estates. The task ahead of her weighed so heavily on her, she moved slowly. Every task she attempted to do, took twice as long as it should have. She had already been up to her and Theo's bedroom and packed all her things. The entire time, Daphne's heart was in her throat, expecting any moment Theo would walk in. He hadn't, now she had to find him and tell him she was marrying Marcus.
She finally found him inside the drawing room, painting the walls by hand, instead of using magic. He had cleared all the furniture out of the room, and removed the heavy curtains, that used to cover the many windows. Now he stood there with bare feet, wearing worn blue jeans, and a plain white T-shirt, dipping a roller into the exact same color purple paint, she had used in her flat. She couldn't help thinking he looked more handsome right then, at that moment, than he ever had. Daphne's breath caught, as she watched him blow his messy brown hair out of his eyes as he stood up, to begin applying more paint to the walls.
She loved watching Theo do things with his hands. 'The Muggle Way', he called it. She remembered thinking, a little over three months ago when he found her, how strange was his aversion to using magic. While spending time with him she learned his reasons for it. Theo had seen magic used in ways it never was intended. He had watched his friends be tortured with magic, been forced to use magic for torture, and had been tortured with magic himself. Theo didn't dislike magic, he had just learned perhaps, people had become too jaded to it, forgetting their own humanity and morals. He had often times told her, it was far too easy to use magic simply because one 'could', and many times he felt they didn't stop to think whether or not they 'should'. Theo felt the wizarding world needed to remember they were humans first, witches and wizards second.
Tears started rolling down her cheeks, as she thought of all the things about Theo she was going to miss. Of course, with his attitude about magic, Marcus would never understand if she chose to use her hands in the garden or while sewing a dress, instead of a spell, as she had started doing. She had found Theo was right, using her hands was just a little more satisfying. She would miss his kisses and being in his arms. But what she would really miss, was the way his eyes sparkled with bits of gold and hints of green when he smiled and was happy. She would miss the way he liked to curl up with her on the couch, in what he called the 'Livingroom' of the wing they had chosen to live in, and watch those Muggle movies. She would miss how excited he got when watching those Muggle Baseball games he liked so much. Theo had talked non-stop about something called Hockey, now she would never get to watch it with him and find out what was so exciting about it. Her life would, revolve around Quidditch.
She would miss his motorcycle roaring to life and the way he smelled after he rode it. She couldn't describe that smell to anyone and make it sound as good as it actually was. Daphne supposed you could call it a combination of his natural musk and adrenaline, mixed with a earthy note he picked up from the wind blowing over him while he rode. There was always a small aftertone of exhaust from the bike that lingered in his hair, and on his leather jacket, but somehow while he was holding her, even that smelled comforting and safe. She loved burying her face in his chest when he would get back from a ride and breath it in. How she wished she had figured out a way to bottle that smell, because she would never smell it again.
Daphne had to put her hands over her mouth, so she didn't disturb him with her crying while she watched him paint; she wasn't ready to end it. She wanted a few more minutes letting herself think about how good it felt to wake up in his arms. To think about what their wedding night would have been like, and how wonderful a honeymoon in the Caribbean would have been. She wanted to try and commit every detail of the last few months to memory, so afraid she would lose them. She had spent five years forcing herself to not forget the color of his eyes, the little wrinkles that formed around his nose when he laughed. The soft way he snored with his head on her lap, when he took a nap after he had been up late the night before.
Daphne was surprised how she had never forgotten the sound of his voice, or the way she felt when he said her name. Now, she stood there wondering if she would forget those things this time, or if they would forever haunt her. Secretly, she hoped they would.
She wiped the tears away, hoping the potion she had taken was still working, and he wouldn't be able to tell she had been crying. She told herself it was time to go in and get this over with, but her feet wouldn't move. Daphne had fallen in love with the man in that room when he was still just a shy, timid, lonely boy, learning to fly for the first time. She had only been a young girl herself, just turned eight, but something about how vulnerable he looked when he had fallen off the broom, had made Daphne's heart skip a beat. She had been his, from that moment on. Daphne made a small squeaking noise, when she tried to hold the tears in and not let them start falling again.
Theo turned his head to the door letting that warm sexy smile she loved, spread across his face. He could always make her feel better with that smile. She couldn't help smiling back at him. Theo blew his hair out of his eyes again, while he turned to face her.
He held his arms out, "Surprise." Theo tossed the paint roller back in the paint and started walking toward her. "I know you said it was too grand and to wait. But I didn't want to wait anymore."
Daphne took a deep breath, looking up at him once he was standing right in front of her. Her heart raced, her chest hurt, she wanted more than anything to wrap her arms around him and just disappear. "You shouldn't have."
Theo wrapped his arms around Daphne's waist and picked her up, "I wanted to. I love you Daphne. This Manor is yours now, as much as it is mine."
He kissed her, gently at first, but it didn't take long before the strong desire to be with her, (which he had when he left the jewelry store earlier), came back to him and he pushed his tongue in her mouth, deepening the kiss. Theo moaned in Daphne's mouth, wrapped her legs around him, and pushed her up against the wall. Daphne kept telling herself not to do this, but as Theo's kisses moved to that spot on her neck just below her ear, she couldn't stop her arms from wrapping themselves around his neck. She had to bite her lip to keep from moaning his name as his hands slowly tugged at her skirt, until they finally met the bare skin of her thighs. Oh, how she loved the way he turned her on, she closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the urge to rip his shirt off him.
After a moment, Theo pulled back breathing heavily, "I want you, Baby." He waved his hand at the door, closing it quickly, and kissed Daphne on the neck again.
Theo slid his hands along her thighs, until he was gripping her bottom tightly. He pressed his growing erection against her, while he sucked on her neck, trying to make her moan. Theo loved to hear Daphne moan his name while they had sex and during foreplay; it always got him harder. Now he craved it, wanted it, needed it. He let the tips of his fingers slide just inside her lacey panties, grazing so close to that sensitive spot, hoping to make her want him, as he recaptured her lips.
He kissed her deeply for several minutes, then moved his mouth back to her neck begging as he did, "Please Baby, say my name. Tell me you want me."
The thoughts of what she wanted to do verses what she needed to do overwhelmed her, and Daphne began crying. Within seconds she was overcome by sobs that wracked her body. Theo stopped kissing her and slowly set Daphne back on her feet.
He looked at her, placed his hands on either side of her face, and tried to wipe away the tears with his thumbs. "Baby, what's wrong? Oh god, did I hurt you?"
All Daphne could do was shake her head back and forth, the tears continuing.
"Tell me Baby, what is it?" Theo ran his hands down her arms, to take her hands in his.
The look of shear terror that entered his eyes once her left hand was in his, was one Daphne knew she would never forget. Theo's right hand started shaking, while he gripped her left hand tighter. That shaking always tugged at her heart. She hated that his father had caused nerve damage from hexing him so many times when Theo was a teen. The nerve damage couldn't be repaired and caused his hand to shake, especially when he was nervous, angry or scared. He had told her the healers had said, he was lucky that was the only permanent damage he had suffered, and he simply had to learn to live with it. Feeling his hand shake uncontrollably, made her cry even harder.
Theo's hand shook violently now, while he explored the unknown ring on Daphne's hand with his fingers. "What the hell is this, Daphne?"
Daphne tried to pull her hand away, but Theo wouldn't let her. "Theo I...I." She couldn't say it, she just couldn't.
He turned her hand over and looked down at the gleaming diamond, set in brilliant silver, with an emerald on either side.
Theo knew exactly 'what' it was, but that didn't stop him from asking again. "I asked you, what the hell this is, Daph. Tell me."
"Theo..." She cried harder, "...my father...contract." Daphne lowered her head, unable to look at him any longer. "M...Ma...Marcus...and...I..."
Theo let go of her hands, as if he had just been burned. He put his hands up to his chest, and took a few steps back from her.
He felt as though someone had just punched him in the gut, hard enough the that air had been knocked out of him. "I can't...I can't breath."
Theo held his chest tightly as he tried to gasp for air. It was only a few seconds, but he felt as though he would never get enough air into his lungs again, as his chest tightened.
Daphne tried to reach out for him, knowing she was causing the pain he was in. "Theo."
"Why?" Theo stepped out her reach, still trying to catch his breath.
She shook her head again, unable to answer. Instead, she covered her mouth with her hands and sobbed louder.
Theo didn't mean to yell, but he couldn't help it when he spoke to her again, "TELL ME WHY!"
Daphne gasped, and jumped a little. Theo had never raised his voice at her before. She wasn't sure how to react, other than to continue crying.
"DAPH!" Still trying to catch his breath, he had been unable to lower his voice.
Daphne took a deep breath, but it didn't help. "I...I can't...tell you."
Rage filled Theo, he turned without thinking and kicked the bucket of paint, splattering purple paint all over the floor. "WHY WON'T ANY ONE FUCKING TELL ME WHY?"
The paint on the floor suddenly burst into flames, causing Daphne to scream. Theo quickly waved his hands at the flames and put them out. Looking at Daphne, who had backed up against the wall terrified, Theo felt like an ass.
He closed the distance between them in two steps and took her hands back in his. "I am sorry Baby, I didn't mean to scare you." Theo looked down, as tears of his own started falling. "Please, tell me why you're doing this. How did I lose you, what did I do Daphne?"
Daphne put one hand on his cheek, and forced herself to look at him, despite the pain in her chest. "You didn't do anything Theo. This isn't your fault. I have no choice."
"No choice? You always have a choice, Daphne. Your father can't make you marry Marcus." Theo took a deep breath and ran his fingers through her hair, trying to control his temper. "I don't know what your father has against me Baby, but you do have a choice. Marry me!"
Daphne let her hand fall from his cheek to his chest. She gripped his shirt tightly with both hands, "I can't." Daphne whispered the words so quietly, she wasn't sure Theo heard them.
He took a handful of her hair and ever so slowly, let the golden strands slip through his fingers, while he stroked her cheek with his other hand. "I bought a ring this morning. That's where I was. It won't be ready until Wednesday. I had the whole night planned out." Theo took a shaky breath, almost choking on his own tears, "I know silver is the popular way to go right now, but..." He looked at her hair in his hand, "..I have always been partial to yellow gold."
Daphne closed her eyes. Oh how she wanted to see that ring, to give in to him and say yes, instead she forced herself to let go of his shirt and started to step away. Feeling Daphne pulling away, Theo fell to his knees and held her hands in his tightly.
He looked up at Daphne through his hair, which had fallen in his eyes. "I love you Daphne, marry me! Please Baby, you're suppose to marry me."
Daphne pushed his hair out of his eyes. He looked as vulnerable in that moment as he did, when he fell off that broom all those years ago. Daphne's chest pounded, "I can't, Theo. I am so sorry."
Theo closed his eyes, and buried his face in Daphne's chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held onto her tightly. Daphne ran her fingers through his hair, the way she always did when she was trying to calm him down. Theo's sobs quieted slightly, but didn't stop as she had hoped they would.
After a few minutes, Daphne moved to pull out of his embrace, "I have to go, Theo."
"No...no, no, no." Theo tightened his grip around Daphne's waist. "I am not letting go, Daphne, I am not letting go."
Daphne kissed the top of his head, "You have to, Theo. I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
Theo shook his head back and forth, "No Daphne, the last time I let go, I lost you for five years." He cried harder, while he looked up at her, "You don't love Marcus, I know you don't. You're mine, you have always been mine."
"No, I don't love Marcus. But I can't be yours any longer." Daphne leaned down to kiss his forehead, but Theo rose slightly up and captured her lips with his.
He tried for all he was worth, to convey his feelings for her, and change her mind with that kiss. He desperately wanted to show her they belonged together, that he was hers and always would be. While softly kissing her, he loosened his grip around her waist and softly stoked one cheek with the back of his hand. Theo was starting to regret his decision to go to the jewelry store this morning. He didn't regret getting the ring, just his timing. He wished he had been here, so he could insist he go with her to see her father. Perhaps had he been there, things would have gone differently, now he had this last chance to convince her to stay.
They stayed locked in that embrace, until Theo couldn't hold himself up in that position any longer, and he had to lower himself away from her. The moment their lips were no longer touching, Daphne pulled away from him and Theo would have sworn he felt his heart practically break.
"You will always be the love of my life, Theo, I am so sorry." Daphne took a few steps backward, knowing she needed to get out his reach.
"Daph!" Theo reached out for her, "Don't do this Baby, don't leave me."
Daphne removed a chain from around her neck, with Theo's mothers ring hanging from it. "I have to Theo, I don't have a choice."
She quickly walked over to him and put the ring in his hand, then ran from the room. As Daphne ran toward the front door of the Manor, knowing she couldn't apparate while crying, she could still hear Theo yelling after her.
"I love you Daphne! Don't do this Baby, please!"
Daphne ran in to Tony in the hallway, he grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her, "Miss Greengrass, is every thing all right?"
She shook her head, "No, Tony. Please, Theo go check on him." She pulled away and ran out the front door.
After a few minutes, Theo knew Daphne wasn't coming back. He wrapped his arms around himself. Why had the room suddenly become so cold? But it was and Theo was shivering. He notice his face was wet, far wetter than the tears should have made it, but he paid it no mind. All Theo could think about was Daphne leaving him. How did he not see this coming? How could he have stopped it? What had he done so wrong, to make her father force her to marry Marcus? Theo wanted to stop time, to stop everything. Nothing mattered without Daphne.
He heard a small noise coming from the doorway, when he looked up, he saw Tony standing there. The man was saying something, but all Theo could hear was a roaring in his ears. He watched Tony, trying to comprehend what the man wanted, and why he was waving his hands above his head, but Theo couldn't piece it together. He closed his eyes and lowered his head, continuing to cry. After a moment, he looked back at the door, but Tony was gone. Of course he was, tending to his employer during an emotional breakdown, was not part of his job. Having become accustomed to Tony's presence, seeing he left made Theo feel even more alone. He closed his eyes tightly, and tightened the grip he had around himself, trying to block out the cold that permeated the room. When he opened his eyes again, he saw a familiar platinum blond standing in the door, making the same type of gestures Tony had made.
Theo looked curiously at Draco, while continuing to cry, again trying to figure out what he was saying. Suddenly, Draco ran into the room, holding his wand over his head. Once he finally got to Theo, he knelt down in front of his friend and laid his wand on the floor. Theo looked strangely at Draco, why was Draco's hair wet and getting matted to his head? Theo closed his eyes again.
"Theo." Draco said his name, but Theo didn't answer.
Draco grabbed his friend's shoulders and gave him a little shake, "Theodore!"
Theo looked at Draco, finally hearing his voice over the roaring in his ears.
"Theo, you're making it rain!" Draco told him, while holding tightly to his shoulders to make sure Theo heard him and understood.
Theo looked around the room, finally able to see the storm he had created from his grief. The wind and rain started to slow down, but Theo didn't stop crying.
Draco relaxed his grip on Theo's shoulders slightly, "What happened?"
Theo tried to catch his breath, but the attempt didn't help, "She left...….she left me...Daphne left me."
Theo leaned onto his friend and continued sobbing. Draco stiffened slightly, unsure how to react. Comforting one of his friends was not something he was used to doing, but he didn't want to let Theo down, clearly he needed him. Draco remembered being in similar situation with Blaise not long ago, but the positions were reversed. It had been him breaking down and Blaise, who had to do the comforting. He slowly steered his arms around Theo's shoulders, the way Blaise had held him a few years ago. Draco held Theo closer to him, allowing his friend to cry. During the moments that followed, the rain stopped and the wind finally died down. Draco sat there holding Theo, wondering why in the hell Daphne would have done this. He would have sworn just the night before, that Daphne and Theo would be announcing their own engagement, from the way they danced and kissed all night at the wedding. The fact that Theo was now broken-hearted on the floor of his own drawing room, which now looked like a tornado had actually gone through it, was not something Draco had expected.
After a while, Tony walked over and took Theo by the right shoulder, "Why don't we move him to the small sitting room, Lord Malfoy. He might be more comfortable there."
Draco nodded and stood, lifting Theo by the left shoulder. To his surprise, Theo didn't fight the two of them as they walked from the wet mess, that used to be the drawing room, down the hall to a small room, decorated in a soft blue. The room had a fireplace, and two couches that faced each other with a coffee table inbetween them. Across from the fireplace, were two armchairs. Pictures of the Nott family hung on the walls. When Theo had moved back in, he had many of the pictures removed from the walls, but the ones in this room were the few stills that he had found. Theo had removed them from the ornate frames they had been in, and replaced them with more modern sleek frames. He didn't want to get rid of all the pictures of his family, but he didn't like the way his ancestors scolded him and sneered at his choices, regarding clothes and magic. The stills were perfect, they didn't move or talk. For now, the other pictures were being stored, until they agreed to stop making comments about Theo's choices.
The few memory pictures that hadn't been stored, were mostly of his mother's side of the family and always had pleasent things to say to him. Those pictures were hanging along the main hallway, with the only memory picture he had of his mother without his father in it, hanging right beside the doorway to his study, so he could greet her every day. She always beamed at him, telling him how handsome he had become, and how proud she was of him. Theo desperately wished it was real, but he would take what he could get. He found himself, once in a while talking to her as if she was really there, but eventually she would say something in the conversation reminding him, she was only a memory.
Draco and Tony led Theo over to one of the couchs, as Astoria came quickly into the room. "I just got done talking to my mother, and come as soon as I saw your note."
She exchanged a look with Draco, and understood immediately Theo was not taking it well. Astoria went over to the couch and sat down, allowing Theo to lay on the couch and put his head on her lap. Tony quickly started drying Theo off with his wand, and then lit a small fire in the fireplace.
He smiled a Astoria, "Just a little warmth, to take the chill off him. I will put it out in a little while. Should I bring in some tea?"
Astoria nodded yes, then started running her fingers through Theo's hair, the way she had seen her sister do so many times in the past. "I am so sorry, Teddy." She hoped the childhood nickname would bring a smile to his face and be comforting somehow.
Draco looked down at Theo, feeling horrible for him. He really didn't know what to say, or how to help him, but he knew Blaise would. "Theo, where is your Muggle phone thing?"
Theo wiped away some of the tears that remained on his face, but didn't move, even though it wasn't Daphne playing with his hair, he didn't want it to stop. "On my desk."
"Ok, I am going to get it. I will be right back." Draco leaned over, kissed Astoria on the top of the head, and left the room.
Theo shivered again and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, once more. "You don't have to stay Tori, I know you have other things you would rather be doing."
"I am not going anywhere Teddy. Right here with you is what I need to be doing. I can go see Daphne later. Did she say why?" Astoria continued to run her fingers through his hair.
Theo shook his head back and forth. "No, she said she couldn't tell me. She just gave me back my mother's ring, and left." Theo covered his face with his hands to hide the fact he had started to cry again.
Draco came back into the room, right after Tony had set out a tray filled with tea, coffee, sandwiches and some veggie sticks. Draco looked at the spread on the tray and smirked, apparently Tony expected them to be there awhile.
Draco set the phone on the table, and sat on the couch across from Theo and Astoria. "I called Blaise. He is on his way. Astoria, did your mother tell you what is going on?"
"No, only that she needed you and I to be flexible. She says that for Daphne's sake, our engagement party needs to happen, just as soon as humanly possible." Tori looked at Theo as he sat up and leaned back on the couch, rubbing his face roughly with his hands. She reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Are you ok, Teddy?"
Theo scoffed, "Do I bloody look ok?"
Astoria grimaced, "Sorry."
"You look like hell, mate." Blaise said from the doorway of the sittingroom.
"Fuck you, Blaise." Theo put his feet up on the couch, and wrapped his arms around his legs.
Blaise walked over to the couch and dropped down beside Draco, "Greg is on his way, can't apparate yet, so it will take him a little while to get here."
Theo stood up, "I don't need all of you here fucking babysitting me!" The fire suddenly roared to life, then backed off.
"Apparently, you do." Blaise said as he gestured to the fire. "So fill me in, what was her or her father's reason?"
Theo shook his head back and forth again, "She didn't say, only that she had no choice."
"I don't understand what our engagement party has to do with Daphne." Draco started drying his hair, "Astoria, what exactly did your mother say?"
Astoria straightened her skirt, "Like I told you, she asked that you and I, please be flexible. I agreed, then she said 'for Daphne's sake our engagement party needs to be held as soon as possible.'"
"I assume you asked why?" Draco brushed his now dry hair with his fingers, trying to put it back in place.
Astoria smiled at him, "Of course. I was offered no explanation. She asked me to trust her."
Theo began pacing the room. "Your mother has always been on my side, perhaps she is still trying to help." Theo noticed the looks he was getting from the group, "Ok, maybe I am just being hopeful, or delusional."
"You're not delusional, mate. She very well could have something up her sleeve. Only time will tell." Blaise gave Theo his famous rogue smile, then looked at Astoria, "Did she give a date?"
Astoria took a deep breath, "Yes, two weeks from now."
"Two weeks? That's barely enough time for me to make sure I can get the day off." Draco sounded annoyed.
"She said it was important, Draco. I am sure you can arrange it." Astoria gave Draco a look to remind him, that at this moment, things were not about him. He took her meaning and leaned back on couch.
Tony knocked quietly on the door, "Sir, a letter just arrived for you."
Theo looked at the parchment in Tony's hand, with emerald writing on the envelope. He reached out and took it from him, flipping it over.
Recognizing the Greengrass family seal on the back and quickly looked up at Astoria. "What is this, Tori?"
Standing up, she took the letter from him, then smiled softly. "This would be the invitation to Draco's and my engagement party, Theo. I guess my mother is wasting no time."
"Well sorry to disappoint, but my RSVP is, Lord Nott will not be attending." Theo walked to one of the armchairs dropping himself into it.
"Sorry mate, you will have to attend." Blaise pulled one leg up, putting his foot on his knee.
Theo sat forward, "Why?"
"To protect Daphne." Blaise said matter of factually.
Anger started to make Theo's blood boil again. He stood up, unable to stay seated. "Protect her from what? Besides, she left me, protecting her is no longer my job. It's fucking Flint's."
Blaise gave Theo a sympathetic look, "From the press, Theo. I understand how painful this will be. However, if Lord Nott doesn't show up, it looks like she was a tramp, who cheated on Marcus, then dumped you as soon as Flint got back to town. You will inadvertently be making Flint look like the compassionate hero, for taking her back. If you show up with another woman on your arm, then we can make the press spin it to make you the 'tramp'."
"So they make me look like an asshole?" Theo sneered at Blaise.
"Yes, mate. You're a wealthy, good looking, Noble bachelor. Your reputation can handle it, hers can't. Take it from me. I have watched my entire life, as my mother found ways to make sure the press spun this sort of thing, so she always come out on top. If you still love her, and I am certain you do, you'll do this for her." Blaise sat back with an easy smile on his face.
"And, just who am I suppose to take with me? There is no one I want to be with, other than Daphne." Theo fell back in the chair.
Astoria poured herself a cup of tea. "It will need to be someone, who understands that it's not a date."
"Why can't it be a date?" Draco stood to remove his suitcoa, which was still a little damp from the rain he had encountered earlier.
"I don't want a date!" Theo stood back up, still completely unable to sit still.
"I understand that, mate. I was just trying to wrap my head around what Astoria is getting at." Draco put his arm around Theo's shoulders. Theo shivered, but nodded his appreciation to his best friend.
"What I mean is, because Theo is a wealthy, good looking Nobleman, the woman he takes, needs to understand it is for show, and that she doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of ever becoming Lady Nott, that position belongs to my sister." Astoria sipped her tea.
Theo gave Astoria a confused look, "Your sister just broke up with me." He cocked his head slightly still looking at her, "How have you forgotten that part?" A few tears fell down Theo's cheeks.
Astoria set her cup down and stood, walking to Theo. She wiped the tears off his cheek, as Draco removed his arm from his best mate's shoulders. "Teddy, it is only temporary, trust me. Daphne loves you, she always has." She smiled sympathetically at him. "I wish you could have seen her that first year in France, she was so depressed. Daph refused to eat or even leave our room before Daddy finally told her, he had stolen your letters. After that, she at least knew you hadn't forgotten her, but it didn't stop her from being so depressed. She missed you terribly." Astoria chuckled softly, "By the end of that first year in France, I think Daphne was ready to curse the next person, who asked her why she was so sad."
"Then why did she agree to marry Flint?" Theo wiped the tears off his face, for what felt like the hundredth time that afternoon. He scoffed at himself, wasn't he a man? Why was he acting like a child? "I am beginning to think I should have stayed in Texas."
Astoria pulled Theo into a hug, "I don't know why she is doing this Teddy, but we are going to find out, I promise." After a moment, she released him and started walking around the room. "I will talk to Daphne, but I can't promise she will tell me anything. Daddy has something over her, I just need to find out what it is."
Blaise wiped his hands on a napkin after he finished a sandwich he was eating, "What if you can't figure it out, Tori? Your father has been tight lipped thus far, as to why he won't give Theo permission to marry your sister. I think we all know his father being a Death Eater, is not the real reason."
"He is right Astoria, I think what we need is something on Flint. Something to make your father see the real Marcus Flint, the one all the people in this room know." Draco reached his hand out for Astoria.
She took his hand and he kissed the back of hers, affectionately. "So how do we get something on Marcus, Draco? What do you have in mind?"
He leaned back on the couch and crossed his legs, "It may be time for me to mend another bridge, I burned some time ago."
"You burned so many of them, which bridge are you talking about, mate?" Blaise gave Draco a sly smile.
"Adrian Pucey. He and Flint are teammates, if I am not mistaken." Draco raised his eyebrows. "He and I got on pretty well while on the team together, back at Hogwarts."
"Perfect. He might have something we can use, or a way to help us get something." Blaise stood and walked over to Theo and lightly gave his friend a pat on the back. "We have a plan Theo. Tori will try to find out what her father has over Daphne. Draco will see what Pucey can tell us about Flint. I will help get you through the engagement party. We just need a date for you."
"Perhaps I can help with that." Greg was finally standing in the doorway. "Sorry it took me so long to get here, Theo. I can't wait until I can apparate again."
Theo gave Greg a half-hearted smile, "It's fine. You really didn't need to come. It's not like we are having a party."
"No, but you're my friend, and you need your friends right now." Greg walked over to the empty couch and took a seat. "I am sure Millie knows someone, who would be willing to go with you."
Theo sniffed and walked to the table and picked up his phone, "That part I think I have covered, mate."
He flipped the phone open and dialed a number. Theo put the phone to his ear and to no surprise the person he called, picked up after the first ring.
Theo smiled, after hearing the familiar American Southern drawl, "Anna, I need you."