Saturday arrived and everyone was excited for the first Quidditch Match of the year: Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. Hermione had to spend her entire breakfast that morning listening to Harry, Ron and Ginny going over each teams strengths and weaknesses with a singular focus that made her want to set the Quidditch Pitch on fire.
The thought had brought a wicked smile to her face.
She had spent the past couple days obsessing over her conversation with Malfoy, and as much as a part of her didn't want to admit it...she couldn't help but feel like this whole mess might've been avoided if she'd just had a bit more information on how vows worked. But there was another part of her that felt that Malfoy wasn't someone she could trust...ever. They had so much bad blood between them for the better part of five years. At no time could she remember Malfoy ever saying a kind word to her as Hermione Granger. He'd been cruel, bigoted and had made her feel horrible more often than not. On some level, she knew that his reasons for being a prat were probably complex—but that was a hard pill to swallow when dealing with hurt feelings.
So Hermione had decided that for this next week, she was just going to silently observe Malfoy. Try and see if she could get a sense of whom he really was underneath his stoic Slytherin demeanor. Theo had told her on several occasions that Draco was loyal to those who were loyal to him.
But Hermione had to wonder if that was really true.
All she'd ever seen from Malfoy was the bully he'd been. He had cronies...not friends. They'd followed him around because he was the biggest git of the lot...
But was that all there was to it?
She hadn't felt much like going to watch the Quidditch match and thankfully, she had a good reason to bow out—so with that thought, Hermione found herself in the dungeons patiently waiting for the exact time to stir the Amortentia potion.
As she stared at the golden cauldron, she thought back her first day of potions this year and what she'd smelled in Slughorn's brew. Brows furrowing, the memories of those exact smells assaulted her senses.
The new parchment could've been anyone really and in her mind meant very little.
The sandlewood was a component of many essential healing balms, soaps and colognes...so while not too common, it wasn't like it meant any specific one person.
The third smell however, had left her reeling.
And had been why she'd lied and commented that it had been spearmint toothpaste when in fact—it was nothing of the sort at all.
Green apples. Very specific and not common at all.
Hermione's brow furrowed even more as the tempus charm timed out and she removed the silk cloth, did the proper stirring and replaced it accordingly—putting it back into its proper storage area.
Grabbing her book bag, Hermione left the dungeons feeling a bit out of sorts.
She hadn't admitted to anyone that she'd smelled green apples in the cauldron and she wasn't an idiot either. There was only one person she knew of that had that particular scent associated with him on a routine basis.
Malfoy.
Shaking her head, Hermione didn't understand why that smell had pervaded her senses...not to the exclusion of the other two, but it had definitely been the strongest.
Perhaps that was why she'd been so adamant about obliviating Malfoy on her birthday, or why she'd been so hurt by his subsequent prattish behavior. Because on some level, she knew she was attracted to the ferret.
And she didn't understand why.
She was in a relationship of sorts with Adrian. She enjoyed his company and felt very comfortable with him. He didn't excite her nor make her feel all flustered and wanton...but he was sweet, dependable and kind.
Whereas Malfoy was a jerk.
Egotistical, smug and prattish.
He was also gorgeous, intelligent and magically powerful.
He was a walking paradox. A complete and utter enigma most days, which had left her feeling inadequate on more than one occasion.
But when he'd smiled at her Thursday and laughed spontaneously, in that moment Hermione would be lying if she didn't admit that Malfoy was fit.
And it pissed her off.
She didn't want to be attracted to the ferret. She didn't want anything to do with him...right?
That little voice in her head seemed to disagree with her assertions as she heard it say...
You've always been very aware of Malfoy. Ever since first year. He was always just behind you in marks and in some cases...did even better. He challenged you to be the best witch you can be. Not in the ways you'd wished he would, but the sentiment is valid nonetheless."
"But he's a prat." Hermione mumbled to herself.
"True, but you've always assumed that you knew his reasons for being that way. What if you were wrong?"
"I'm not." Hermione mused a bit louder. "He's a slimy git with no redeeming qualities whatsoever."
"You do know Miss Prewett, that taking to yourself is considered the first sign of insanity."
Hermione's head whipped around at the voice of her Defense Professor, who was watching her with something akin to amusement lurking in his dark gaze.
"I didn't realize I was speaking out loud." Hermione murmured petulantly, and she was even more embarrassed when Snape quirked that infuriating eyebrow at her that screamed he didn't believe her—but all he replied was, "Obviously," in his snarky drawl.
Hermione just stood there as Snape passed her by, his robes billowing effortlessly behind him and as she watch him move out of sight, she sighed despondently.
However was she going to deal with the mess that had become her life?
Continuing on towards the library, she eventually found her way to her favorite spot and placed her book bag on the chair next to her before reaching inside and grabbing her Transfiguration notes for the paper she needed to write on Conjuration of inanimate objects. She placed all her things on the table and wandered the stacks, looking for the proper books she'd need as references to write her essay.
When she had gotten the necessary information and took it back to her table, Hermione stared out the window and she could see a small part of the Quidditch Pitch from here. The game was still in progress so library would be quiet for a while.
As she began her studying in earnest, as always—she got lost in the wonder of learning and didn't notice how much time had passed until she heard a chair being pulled out from across her.
Glancing up, her expression softened as she saw Theo smiling at her.
"Busy?"
"Yes."
He leaned forward and grabbed one of her books, nodding at it after a few moments before setting it back down.
"You've been quiet the last week or so. Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine. Just busy."
Theo snickered and shook his head.
"Hermione, we both know that you're not fine. But if you don't want to talk to me about it, I can't help you."
Biting her lip, she just stared at Theo for a few moments. She really didn't know how to broach the subject, but Theo did deserve to know what had happened. He'd been there for it.
Shaking her head slightly, Hermione decided to bite the bullet and explain.
"Malfoy knows I obliviated him." She blurted out and cringed when Theo gaped and her.
"What?!"
"Theo, I can't say it any clearer than that. Malfoy knows that I obliviated him."
"How?"
"Apparently, he realized something was off when he returned to Slytherin the night of my birthday and too much time had passed. He suspected it, which is why he's been a git this past month. He assumed that I did it against his will."
Theo sat back stunned as he thought about what his cousin was telling him.
Then he whispered out a muttered, "Shite."
"I know," Hermione hummed emotively, "when he confronted me about it, I'm afraid I didn't know what to do. Professor Snape checked my memories and then informed Malfoy what happened. The whole thing is just a huge mess."
Theo pondered the information for a few moments and then asked, "How did Draco confront you?"
"It was Sunday night. I was doing prefect rounds with Ernie and we caught Malfoy and Rowle snogging in one of the empty classrooms in the dungeons. I left, and allowed Ernie to handle it since they were out after curfew. Malfoy followed me and we had an argument."
Theo's gaze narrowed as he could see Hermione's discomfort.
Something else was bothering her.
"He was snogging Therese Rowle?"
Hermione nodded, refusing to make eye contact as she moved a book over to the side with one hand while she gripped her quill tightly in her other hand.
Theo silently observed Hermione, who's demeanor screamed discomfort and sadness but there was another more surprising emotion radiating from her expression as well.
Jealousy.
That one took him aback a bit as he wondered how he could've been so blind as to not see it.
"Hermione, what are you going to do?"
"I don't know," she admitted quietly, "Malfoy wants me to meet him next Saturday when we finish our Amortentia and I have to decide whether or not to give him the memory back. Apparently he can vow on his family magic not to say anything."
Theo's gaze immediately dropped in shame, as he hadn't even considered that option—he'd gone right to the idea of obliviating Malfoy and if he was honest with himself, it was because he didn't trust Malfoy either.
And he hadn't wanted to share that experience with anyone but Hermione.
"I'm sorry."
Theo's gaze lifted and he saw Hermione's expression turn from sad to confused.
"I don't understand."
Theo sighed heavily, his expression filled with regret.
"I honestly didn't even think of that as an option at the time," his face was tight as his eyes darted away from the slowly dawning expression of understanding on Hermione's face. "I just immediately wanted to protect you and knowing how you felt about Draco, that was my gut reaction. Perhaps if I'd explained it better? You might've made a different choice?"
Hermione shook her head. "Theodore Nott, this is not your fault." Theo smirked at how determined his cousin sounded. "Malfoy hinted at something to me that night, that I should've been more vigilant in checking to see who might've been there hiding under a disillusionment charm. He'd also inferred that he was on the balcony at Adrian's home this past summer as well."
Theo cleared his voice before he said, "Uhm...yeah. I kinda suspected that too."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?"
Shrugging uncomfortably, Theo just stared out the window at the now empty Quidditch Pitch. "I didn't know for sure, but I had thought I'd seen him head that way. When I found you and Adrian snogging, I thought perhaps I'd been wrong."
"What do you think I should do?"
Theo turned his head and met Hermione's questioning look with a small smile. "I think you need to do whatever it is you feel comfortable with." Theo admitted earnestly. "Draco can be a bit of a prat...well—sometimes he can be worse than that but I think he's really trying to be better—but he does tend to jump to conclusions."
"Yeah." Hermione bit her lip and lowered her gaze down to the table. "I just wish I could know with absolute certainty if I could trust him."
"And I wish I could tell you unequivocally you can."
Nodding, Hermione just sighed in despair. She wished more than anything that she could say with absolute conviction that what she'd done with Malfoy had been the right choice—but she couldn't. She'd always had a negative knee jerk reaction to Malfoy's taunts and had given like responses in kind. He'd never made things easy for her, nor had he ever cut her any slack. He'd been a bully and a git—and those personality traits were hard for her to overlook.
But Theo had mentioned that Malfoy was loyal to those who were loyal to him.
Shaking her head subtly, Hermione had no reason to wonder if that might've been true as she'd never given much thought to having any kind of contact with Malfoy beyond the cursory pleasantries she might've been expected to engage in now that they were in the same social circles.
"It's a hard decision to make." She mumbled lowly and saw Theo nodding his head from the corner of her eye.
"It is, and one you shouldn't make lightly." Theo replied sympathetically. "I could talk to him if you want?"
Shaking her head, Hermione didn't think anything good would come from that idea.
"No, it's fine. This is between Malfoy and I and as much as I'm loathe to admit it—I'm as much to blame for this mess as he is. Our history is horrible, and it's likely that even if he'd offered to swear a vow on his family's magic, my gut instinct would've still been to obliviate him. I can't help that I feel guilty for doing it, even with his permission—but I didn't think that he'd notice anything untoward either."
"No, I get it." Theo agreed readily. "Draco hasn't exactly made a positive impression on many people."
Giggling, Hermione nodded. "I think that's an understatement, Theo."
Smiling widely, Theo just chuckled and hummed in agreement.
"So a week to decide?"
"Yep."
"Whatever you decide Hermione, I'll support it."
"I know Theo and for what it's worth—finding out we're family and having you in my life has been one of the best things to come out of this entire mess."
Theo blushed and bowed his head in humble thanks. "I hope you know the feeling is mutual, Hermione."
"I know." She smiled genuinely then gestured to her books. "But I need to finish my homework. You staying?"
Theo shook his head. "I'm going to head back to the Slytherin Common Room for a bit. We won today, so there will be a celebration."
"Joy." Hermione snickered. "Have fun."
"Will do."
Hermione watched her cousin head out of the stacks towards the front entrance to the library and she smiled. Theodore Nott was an unexpected happy gift in all this weirdness, and she was glad to have him in her life.