Chapter Thirty-Nine

Doesn't take a Dementor

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Blaise Zabini peered beside him at one of his best friends and tried his best to hide his amusement. Theodore Nott looked like a nervous baby niffler who couldn't decide between two galleons; in this case, though it was two shirts.

Top of Form

"Mate, she won't care what you wear; she'll also probably be late considering the rumour mill about Gryffindor parties." He remarked, making the slightly older teen glare at him before he pulled the blue turtleneck over his head. "Why are you so nervous about this?"

"Blaise mate, I'm going on a date with Téaleon Potter, bloody hell I don't know what I was bloody well thinking." The slytherin grunted, before pulling his dragon hide boots on.

"You were thinking, she's hot, she's actually nice, and she's normal, maybe I should see about trying to date her," Blaise joked, earning a glare from his friend. "What, come on, you know you were thinking it so stop overthinking the situation and go have on actual good time with the one girl who seemed to actually be interested in you."

Bottom of Form

With that Blaise walked out of the dorm leaving Theo with his face buried in his hands. For a moment he stayed like that before begrudgingly looking up, catching his reflection in the mirror. Blaise was right, he needed to just realize that Téa actually wanted to go on a date with him, she'd agreed after all so he needed to bring the courage – which Slytherins weren't known for – to the front and go forward.

"Bloody woman is turning me into a Gryffindor." He grumbled yet left the dorm anyway and made his way to the entrance hall. It took about ten minutes to walk there but as he arrived, he found other students gathered and meeting up to head to the magical village. Finding a place to stand he waited patiently.

Patients soon turned to worry though as more and more students arrived and left and the number in the entrance hall dwindled. His worry was about to turn into a panic that he would be stood up when a sudden scream had everybody turning to one of the hallways leading to the entrance hall before moments later a large white dog – or grim – in this case bounded towards them.

The beast came to a stop before him before an all too familiar female voice echoed from it.

"On my way, woke up late, please don't leave."

With its message delivered the beast gave him a one-over before seemingly nodding and vanishing leaving Theo with the feeling that he'd just been judged and found acceptable by a bloody patronus.

Amusement elevating his worry he relaxed against the stone wall until the clear sound of heals against stone reached his ear making him look up towards the same direction the grim patronus had arrived and swiftly spotted the figure running towards him. He suddenly felt his breath hitch in his throat as he caught a good glimpse of the girl running towards him.

Silver hair was left loose, flowing around her in a cascade of silver-white that was uniquely her while emerald green eyes almost seemed to glow. She was dressed in a pair of black leather pants and a purple long-sleeved shirt; it was the boots she wore, thigh-high boots with a good 1-inch platform and 6-inch heel that boggled his mind. How she could run in those he didn't know, but she seemed perfectly comfortable, if a bit out of breath as she finally skidded to a stop before him.

"I am so sorry," she panted making him grin.

"No worries, Gryffindor parties are notorious so I sort of assumed you would be." He remarked earning a rich blush from the Gryffindor.

"Notorious are we, I guess there are some truths to the Hogwarts rumour mill," she joked making him chuckle before he pushed himself from the wall.

"You look beautiful," he finally complimented making the blush deepen while she looked him over and smiled.

"You're looking quite dashing as well." She returned making him grin, before she turned around giving him a perfect view of her perfectly formed arse and he couldn't help but agree with Blaise this one time. "Shall we go?"

"Yeah, yeah we should." He agreed, hurrying to avert his eyes from Téa's arse and up to her eyes which he realized were on him and sparkling with mischief as she smiled cheekily back at him.

Averting his eyes, he quickly stepped up beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist before leading her out of the Entrance Hall. He heard her laughing softly beside him and couldn't help the small blush that covered his own cheeks. Merlin, she was a cheeky woman.

"So what is the plan for today?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice as they walked towards the magical village.

"I thought we'd just walk around and do as we pleased, then we could have lunch. I've reserved a table at the Three Broomstricks so we can have a place to eat." He remarked, unsure really if this would be to her liking, he'd not been on many successful dates and was beginning to think it was his own doing.

"Sounds perfect and relaxing." She agreed not a hint of disappointment in her voice.

The journey down to the village was a pleasant one, the duo talking about simple things and upcoming exams. As they entered the village, the conversation soon turned to the various stores they would visit. Yet as they walked towards their first store, it swiftly became clear to Theo just how looked up to Téa was to the people of Hosgmeade and the students of Hogwarts. Many greeted the silver-haired witch with enthusiasm. Many of the villagers saying how happy they were to see her and Téa greeted them all in return, either with a wave or a smile.

Entering the first store, Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop, the elderly witch who ran the shop greeted the duo.

"Hello dears, oh Téa so wonderful to have you return dear, I have a supply of your favourite quills in the back." The witch greeted making Theo raise on eyebrow with surprise.

"Hello Mrs Scrivenshaft's, and thank you! I was looking to replenish my stock, would I be able to get a dozen please?" Téa requested happily.

"Of course dear, look around and I'll go get them for you." The witch declared before heading off into the back of the store.

"Popular you are," he remarked, earning blushed cheeks.

"The people of Hogsmeade are super nice," Was the only reply he got as his date began looking around.

It didn't take long for the older woman to return, a single box floating beside her before it gingerly settled on the counter. Finding what he needed, he turned to find his date looking over a set of new fountain pens that the store had gotten in. Gingerly she picked one up and looked it over before noticing him staring as she turned towards him.

"You found everything?" she asked curiously.

"Yep, you?" The nod was the only response he got, and they made their way to the counter. Once everything was paid for the duo left for their next stop until they'd completed all their needed shopping with exception of the sweatshop that they would do last.

"You hungry?" He questioned yet she shook her head and took his hand.

"Not yet, come I have a story to tell." She declared before pulling him with her.

Falling into step beside Téa, he hesitated a simple moment before making the choice to keep his hand entwined with her own. She didn't seem willing to let go anyway, and it was nice.

As they walked, however the further they got from Hogsmeade until he remembered just where they were going, the Shrieking Shack.

"What are we doing here, the supposedly most haunted place in the magical world." Theo joked earning a laugh from Téa before they came to a stop.

"Its true history 'll surprise you you know," she spoke, voice dancing with amusement as Theo quickly noted her shimmering eyes. "The Shrieking shack only made noise on the full moons."

"It's odd, I understand that but what is interesting about that?" He asked curiosity peaked.

"Well, you see they planted the Whomping Willow over the Shrieking Shack only during our parents' generation. The reason for that is because Professor Lupin started attending Hogwarts and as he was a werewolf at the time, Professor Dumbledore created a safe place for not only him but others for the transformation."

Realization pouring down on Theo made the boy close his eyes and shake his head. The villagers only ever heard howling during a full moon, how nobody even associated that with a werewolf transformation, he didn't know but now he felt very foolish.

"Rather amusing isn't it, Moony transformed in there for seven years and after a while, he was joined by four friends, my father, my godfather, and the friend that would later be the traitor. They'd each managed to become animagi's and joined Remus during the full moons as it became less of an impact on him to be surrounded by other animals, especially animals that could match him."

"That's what you call friend loyalty," Theo murmured, feeling utter respect for the group of friends who would stand by one of their own.

"Peter wasn't as loyal I'm afraid, even back then he was hesitant to become an animagus and join in on the full moons." Téa murmured while leaning on his should. "He betrayed my family, his family and what did it get him but years of hiding as a rat before returning to Voldemorts side and cowering before a madman. He threw away years of friendship for the life he has now."

The barely suppressed anger and disgust in Téa's voice had Theo looking down to find his date's eyes almost glowing. He felt true pity for anybody who got on Téa's bad side and to be honest never wanted to be on her bad side if the small amount of magic radiating off of her was anything to go by.

"His lost, he abandoned an amazing friendship," he remarked while wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to his side.

Perhaps it was from the shock of the action but the magic radiating off of his date swiftly disappeared and she turned to face him with widening emerald eyes. Staring into them he quickly noted her uncertainty and yet he could also see something else. For some reason, he felt a thought pop into his mind and before it could be completely thought through, it escaped his lips.

"Your eyes are glowing," he whispered, "they're beautiful,"

With that, his body seemed to move of its own accord and he dipped down, his lips pressing against her own, softly at first before growing with intensity as she responded. It was only when they pulled away from each other that Theo noticed how Téa was gripping his shirt and leaning against his chest and his own arms had tightened around her waist.

He was just about to say something when Téa pulled away her eyes filling with dread as a sensation a chill filled the air. Theo was about to question her when he spotted them. Approaching from the mountains was a flock of Dementors.

"We need to get back to town now," Theo whispered feeling dread fill him yet before he could say anything Téa grabbed his hand and spun.

With a crack, the sensation of being squeezed through a tight rubber tube surrounded Theo. Just before he thought he'd faint of oxygen loss the sensation vanished and he steadied himself against the side of a building. Realization quickly hit him and he gazed to his date, whose face was set with determination.

"You just apparated us," he gasped out.

"Theo, gather the older years, you all need to escort the younger students to the school ASAP, I'll warn the Professors." She urged, before turning to move in the other direction. Yet she stopped, and Theo could ask her what was wrong she spun on her heel, grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him into a searing kiss that had his toes curling.

While the first kiss had been intense, this kiss was even more so and while Theo was all too happy to respond. Sadly for the teen boy, it swiftly ended before the silver haired witch was gone.

Shaking himself from her his state of shock and heading off to do as the young Gryffindor told him. The first students he ran into were higher years and delivering the new of the impending Dementor attack had them moving into action. As students gathered together, it seemed Téa had reached the professors as the unmistakable voice of Professor Lupin urged all students back to the castle.

As Theo helped carry a third year on his back after the kid had fallen with a sprained ankle. Just as he arrived at the gates he turned and watched numerous patronus charged towards the incoming Dementors. At the lead was the grim patronus that was Téa's.

Even with the patronus, the site of the dementors approaching from the mountain and converging on the small magical village only seemed to hit home. The attack on St Mungos was only weeks old and yet the Dark was able to perform another attack. This time aimed at them, aimed at the future of their world.

The Dark Lord didn't care about anything other than himself and he showed that by setting the attack in motion that could injure and or kill multiple children.

"I'm scared," the third year whispered pulling Theo from his thoughts making his heartache.

"I know kid, I know."

Turning his back to the village, he entered the grounds and with him entering the gates shut. War was upon them, and Theo was ready to defend his life and any other life that needed to be defended.

…

The Dementor Attack on Hogsmeade made the news, which also made the news was how the staff was able to defend against the Dementors. A photo displaying the heroic actions of the Hogwarts Professor also showed that numerous other adult figures had participated in the defence of the village yet what made Theo even look at the picture was the figure at the for front. With Amelia Bones on her right and Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt on her left, the unmistacable figure of the girl he'd kissed and been kissed by stood with determination on her face.

Theo had not had the chance to speak with his – well Téa after the attack, leaving them falling into O.W.L's with the unknown feeling of just what they were. He'd been studying none stop in hopes of achieving high marks in his exams and going from the dorm to exams to the library, like a tringle.

She more than likely was doing the same or at least he thought she was until one day as he was returning to his dorm from the library when he was pulled suddenly into a classroom.

"What the – "Yet he came short, the emerald eyes of Téaleon staring at him with nervousness and worry meeting his own. "Téa,"

"We've been busy," she remarked, voice slightly hesitant.

"O.W.L's," he answered before straightening himself. "I mean they really are bad,"

"Yeah, they are." The teen whispered before shuffling ever so slightly. "I've been meaning to speak to you about – about our um well our date,"

"I – wanted to talk about that too." He answered, his worry about the situation returning like a force of nature that made him want to run from the room.

What if she didn't want to be his girlfriend? What if she regretted the kiss? These and so many other questions had been dancing around his brain for the past few days, dancing in an ugly way that didn't answer any of them and only caused him frustration and worry.

"I had a – had a wonderful time with you well until the Dementors arrived. Um, I didn't tell anybody that I could apperate, like to keep it in my back pocket as a safety net. It's useful." She began before seemingly gaining determination as she straightened her shoulders and turned her gaze onto him. "I wanted to talk to you about – us."

"Us," he mumbled unsure where this was going yet before he could even speak up she was speaking again.

"As you know, I'm involved in this war. As much as I would love to stand down and let the adults take responsibility – I just can't. I'm part of this war because the fool that runs the dark side wants me dead. He's wanted me dead since I was a year old and I doubt he'd allow to step out of the war and just let the adults take care of things." Here she stopped and took a deep breath before diving right back in. "Me being part of this war, hell not even that, the fact that Voldemort wants me dead has placed a target on my head from the start, all of my friends have similar targets as they are MY friends. Yes Hermione is a muggle born and is hated by the dark for that simple reason and Ron is a Weasley, considered a blood traitor family. Hell, his family fought during the first war, meaning they would have been targets anyway but they are higher-level targets because of me. They know this, they've known for a long time now and have – well I don't know if they've accepted it but they know it.

You thought I don't think you've realized what – dating – me would mean. It would mean overshadowing Ron and Hermione in danger. If Voldemort were to know that you were dating me you would become a prime target to either kill or capture. I don't want to place you in that position Theo, I don't want you to place your life in danger because of me." By now Theo felt his heart constrict as he realized just what she was doing, that and the fact that she was actually right.

Did he care that he was in danger? He was always in danger, the Death Eaters were not happy that his father had been discovered to be under the Imperious, wanted him dead just like his father wanted nothing more than to bring the Dark to justice. This placed him in danger. Now the question, did he care?

"I don't care," he remarked stopping her before he even realized that she was talking causing her eyes to widen. "Listen Téa, my father is a target of the dark, which means I'm a target already. Let me be crystal clear, I don't care. I don't care that I'm a bigger target because I'm dating you. I won't let the dark dictate what I can and cannot do in my life and I will do what I please."

"But Theo –" "NO! I don't know what will happen between us; all I do know is that I really like you. You make me laugh, you make me smile, and you make me feel like a normal person. I want to try whatever this is with you if you will let me because I am more than ready to see where whatever is between us goes." He declared before grabbing her hands and encasing them in his much larger ones. "Will you let that madman rule your life and your choices?"

He fell silent after that, choosing to give Téa the chance to digest just what he said. For a moment the silver-haired teen gazed into his eyes with concern and confusion before slowly flashing to anger, before moulding into confidence that made him a bit concerned.

"You're right," she whispered, making his heart flip flop. "I shouldn't let him rule my choices in life,"

And before Theo could say anything to agree he found the silver-haired Gryffindor against him, arms around his neck and lips on his own as she kissed him fiercely. Within moments his own arms wrapped around his tiny waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss, happiness blooming inside of him.

The dark had taken his father from him, but they wouldn't take the person he loved from him, not now and by merlin all mighty he would stand by her even if they weren't together.

Author note:

Hi dear readers! I'm so sorry for the delay in getting this out to you all, its been a long time and my only answer is, I've been stuck. I've not been inspired to write and when I have its been with a huge block in the way. Finally yesterday it just seemed to click and the final parts of the chapter formed into position.

So I hope to post again soon and hoped you enjoyed the chapter.

Cheers!