A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters/locations related to the franchise. That all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling. I hope you enjoy the only thing I do own...the plot. Also M rating for language and possible sexually explicit scenes (really just wanted to be safe with the rating).

-TNHGTNHGTN-

Theodore was up and off of the couch faster than Hermione could register the door had moved. He had a blanket thrown over her chest, and advanced to the door to block whoever was entering from seeing the nearly naked witch as she scrambled to grab her...his jumper and throw it on. "Theo, have you seen Hermione?" she heard the worried drawl of Draco as she quickly corrected her clothes and hair, "Wait...where's your shirt?" She heard the worry in Draco's voice slowly leak into confusion.

"Malfoy you have the worst bloody timing in all of Britain I fucking swear," Theo growled before casting a quick glance over his shoulder. He was still preventing Malfoy from coming into the room, but once he saw that Hermione was dressed he stepped aside. Hermione watched as Draco entered the room, his eyes flicking to hers, taking in her haggard appearance and messy hair before landing on the mark on Theo's neck. She watched as both of his pale eyebrows raised, realization slowly dawning on him. The confusion was quickly replaced with a knowing smirk.

"Oh, there's my favorite witch." Draco crowed, his smirk spreading into a genuine smile.

"Yes, here she is, you can leave now." Theo rolled his eyes before crossing the room picking up the worn copy of The Fellowship of the Ring from where it had been abandoned on the floor. Hermione instantly felt guilty for leaving it there, but Theodore gave her a smile as he set it down on the end table positioned near the couch, next to her wand. The smile alone was enough to make a blush rush to her cheeks. His eyes were now back to their typical royal blue as he crossed his arms against his bare chest.

"Afraid I can't leave quite yet," Draco stated as he perched himself in a chair, picking at invisible dirt on his sleeve before settling back, "I have some rather interesting information that I thought the two Heads of House should know." Theo's shoulders stiffened and he looked back at the blond expectantly.

"And?" Theo prompted before leaning up against the couch.

"Weasley is outside your common room waiting for you to come back," his grey eyes were alight with amusement.

"Why?" Hermione stared at him expectantly as the blond raised a single eyebrow before scoffing.

"Like I bloody asked. I went to the dorm to see if you found him," Draco motioning to Theo, "and to make sure you were alright. I saw the Weasel sitting outside the portrait of Merlin's Tower, and decided to check the study to see if you were here, which you were. Although, I didn't expect to find the Golden Girl in such a compromising position," He paused before smirking again, "Nice jumper Granger," Hermione blushed as she self consciously fingered the hem of the jumper.

"It was a Christmas gift," She gave a small smile as pink tinged her cheeks.

"I know it was, you should have heard him fussing. He was so worried you would be offended and wouldn't wear it. Guess he was wrong."

"Yeah he was,"

"Well, he has been blind to your attraction to him for awhile now."

"I know."

"HE is still in the room with you two." Theo huffed.

"Yes, you are." Draco was smiling again now. "Speaking of which, why are you two snogging in here. You have a private room."

"I wasn't exactly concerned with being proper." Theo shrugged before casting a glance at Hermione, "The girl of my dreams kissed me after delving into the darkness of my mind, but seeing how she reacted I am going to assume she didn't see anything too terrible." Theo continued as he grabbed his shirt off the floor. After he cast a quick Reparo on the buttons he put it on. When he had finished buttoning and no one had spoken he looked up to his two friends. Their eyes were down cast. "Hermione-"

Hermione shook her head. She couldn't look at him right now, especially with how his voice sounded. "Draco-" Theo choked on the word. He was looking quickly between his best mate and her, his eyes scrunching in confusion, before horror crossed his face."What...why did you go looking for Hermione?" His question was directed at Draco, who was now staring at the fire.

Theo's memories began to flood her mind and she shook her head again trying to force them away as the tears started coming. Not for the first time in her life Hermione wished she had mastered Occlumency. She wanted nothing more than to compartmentalize like Theo could. Like Draco could. But she couldn't, and now she was watching the same two memories on repeat as the boy she loved was tortured by his father. She tried to stop the emotion, she tried to force control over herself as she had no right to feel affected by these memories when the boy who had experienced them could go day to day without breaking down. But no matter how hard she tried she couldn't control the broken sob that escaped her throat. Draco was off the chair in a second and had his arms wrapped around her as Theo watched on, panic dawning on his pale face.

"What did she see?" The sound was forced between clenched teeth.

"I don't th-"

"Dammit Draco fucking tell me,"

Draco shook his head and looked at Theo pointedly. "She needs you right now, not me you bloody git." That seemed to shake Theo out of his state of mind, as he crossed the couch to the other side of Hermione and wrapped her in a hug. Hermione immediately turned her face into his shirt, burying her nose into his scent and steadying her breathing.

"I saw you watching me in fourth year, that was a cute little pep talk." She laughed around her thick throat as she felt his arms tighten. She felt Draco remove his hands from around her shoulders as he gave her a small kiss on the head before he stood.

"Take care of her Nott," Draco murmured, "Take care of her, and don't make me regret helping you get her." Draco looked back at her, as she looked at him. Grey meeting brown in a silent understanding. No matter what happened he would be there for her and she would be there for him. That's what friends did...and he was her friend. She gave him a minuscule nod, her head still pushed up against Theo's chest. Draco nodded back, releasing a heavy sigh, and leaving the study.

"What else," Theo prompted.

"You begged Draco to help me during the war." She started, "You punched Draco for calling me a mud-," She felt him release a small chuckle. The rumbling in his chest grounding her before she took a deep breath and continued, "I saw your mum...and I saw that sperm donor you call a father." He stiffened and waited, "It-Theo I am so sorry." She started to cry again.

"Don't," His voice was thick, "you never have to be sorry for what happened to me. It was never your fault. If anything you were the one thing that kept me ok. Coming to school and seeing you." He rubbed a hand down her back. "I knew I wanted to have a chance to be with you, at least as your friend, from the moment I saw you answer the first questions Snape asked us in potions. You were so fucking brilliant. When I found out you were muggle-born I knew that my father would never allow it. But now...thanks to you and Potter I have that chance. I am never going to give it up!" He held her tighter and kissed her on her head, working down her hair line and slowly onto her eyes. Laying gentle kisses against her lids and down the tear tracks on her face. Each kiss was like a balm to her battered soul. She had been on the verge of a breakdown since the memories, but these kisses were like an anchor. Holding her steady amongst the storm.

"You know…" she smirked as he reached her cheeks, "My favorite color is not lavender." He froze and pulled back. He looked at her bemused, with a small grin on his face.

"Oh?" There was a slight laugh to his voice.

"It...it changed recently."

"How recently?"

"Do you remember when you found me in the alcove?"

"How could I forget, that was the first time you ever let me hold you." He brought a hand up and started running fingers gently through her hair as she pulled back to look at him more fully.

"Did you know your eyes change color with your mood?" He shook his head slowly, that damn dimple on his cheek, "They do, and I've seen every shade they can exhibit make an appearance in a number of different scenarios...besides one." She moved to sit on her knees, grabbing his face in her small hands, feeling the stubble across his chin as she held him staring at her. Chocolate meeting royal blue...not quite her goal. She lent forward, hands pushing his face to the side as her breath grazed his ear. "Do you want to know," hand sliding down his chest, "Are you curious?" Hand dipping to his trousers, catching on the belt, "Which shade they are now?" She looked up. She was right...Royal had lightened to her new favorite color, forget-me-not blue. The color that only belonged to her. The color that couldn't be brought out by anything other than time spent entwined with her.

He groaned. She took that as permission to keep going. So she did. She kissed his neck again, giving him a matching mark. Twin red stains on perfectly pale skin marking him as hers on either side of his strong neck. She would be damned if she ever let him go again. She needed him as much as he wanted her. She needed the safety that she couldn't get anywhere but in his arms. So, in his arms, her fingers traced his belt; pulling on the leather until she felt the pop of the silver metal escaping its prison.

"Granger," He groaned again. "Please, if you keep going I-" He grabbed her hand stilling it just as she started on the button on his trousers. He took a couple of deep breaths, but she could still see him, strained against his trousers. "You are...inexperienced, yeah?" She blinked a couple of times, pulling her head back in shock at the bluntness of his question.

"I-" She could feel the hot blush creep up her neck. He nodded as if that was answer enough.

"Granger, I want you. More than I want the air I breathe...More than all the galleons in my vault, more than-" His throat caught, "more than the magic that runs through my veins and ties me to this world. But-" He looked at her until she met his eyes. There were walls up in them, clearly trying to snatch whatever control he could through his practiced precision of Occlumency, "I don't want you to ever regret what you do with me. Let's take things slow ok?" When she didn't answer he cupped her cheek kissing her lightly on the lips. It was chaste and soft when he pulled back he had his lip tucked in his teeth again, "Go with me to Hogsmeade this weekend?" Her breath caught in her throat and she released it with a sharp gasp. Did he just ask her on a date?

"Um-Yes...of course, Godric yes!" She kissed him again. He laughed through her kisses holding her by her waist as she tried to climb into his lap again.

"Salazar Granger," He laughed gently, pushing her gently back so she was seated slightly away from him, "I would love to do nothing more than sit in this room with you and never leave. Unfortunately, we have a weasel problem that needs dealt with at home." He lifted her until she was standing before grabbing his cloak and her blanket. "If you would do the honors, love." He motioned to the door. She nodded before opening the door, and walking them into their common room. Their home.

-TNHGTNHGTN-

A/N 2: I do not own The Fellowship of the Ring. That belongs to our Lord of all fantasy. Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien!