Hermione didn't see Theo for the rest of the week but something had shifted between her and Neville over the weekend. While she had felt comfortably close to her fellow Gryffindor; he had pushed over the line into insufferable territory lately. He was there when she went to the library. He was there to walk her to class. He was bloody there when she woke up in the morning until she went to bed at night.

Hermione had just exited from the stairs to the girls dormitory on her way to Ancient Runes when he appeared, yet again.

"Hey Hermione!"

She repressed a groan. Hermione had no idea what was wrong with him. She purposely waited until the last possible second to leave knowing he would have to leave earlier in order to not be late for Herbology. Apparently the loss of points didn't weigh heavily enough to stop him.

"Morning Neville. I'm heading to-"

"I'll walk you." He smiled brightly and it was so… puppy-like she couldn't tell him no. He all but jumped out of the portrait sending a group of younger students skittering out of the way. She bit her tongue as she stepped into the halls.

Her temper held until he literally snarled at a fifth year Ravenclaw who was staring at her. With a sigh of exasperation she pulled him by his shirt into a hidden room behind a tapestry.

"Hermione what-"

"No Neville," she snapped. "You tell me what. You have been suffocating me for the past few days and I have tried to be patient. But now I am running late for Runes so I think I at least deserve an explanation."

"I have not-"

"Neville. Who have you spent time with this past week?"

"Well-"

"Not me and not counting meals in the Great Hall," she clarified.

Neville crossed his arms, his face screwing up as he thought. After a moment she began to tap her foot loudly. She was going to be very late after already missing this class last week.

"Well?"

"Me and Ginny walked back from Astronomy together." When she continued to glare he smiled sheepishly. "Okay. I see your point."

"Neville-"

"I'm just worried about you, is all." Neville smiled weakly.

"Worried about what?" She tried to glare at him but it was hard to hold onto her anger when he was so genuine. His soft smile melted her like butter, reminding her of younger years and nights spent around the fire in Gryffindor tower.

Neville's mouth opened then closed, his eyes flashing in confusion. After a moment he looked up at her, completely baffled.

"I have no idea. I just… something is compelling me to stay around you. To keep you safe."

"What wrong? Have you noticed something?" Her guard was immediately back up, eyes shooting to tapestry blocking the entrance. She had ignored Harry too many times when he had 'a bad feeling' and suffered for it.

"No. Not like that. It's new," he grumbled as he tried to piece out the new logic of his condition. She waited, even though it would just make her later, because she was the only one he could talk to. After a few more seconds of silence she spoke again.

"That's sweet." And it was. But that didn't stop it from being bloody annoying. "But unless there is some overarching sense of impending doom I would like a bit of space please."

"I'm sorry." He kicked at the ground awkwardly.

"It's okay." Hermione sighed and wrapped her friend in a hug. "This is all very new for us. There will be kinks to work out. Just try to talk to me instead of just acting."

"There's just something about you being alone…"

"Neville. We live in a castle full of hundreds of students," she deadpanned. "I am never alone."

"But you aren't with one of us."

"Sure I am. There is always a Gryffindor-"

"No one of…" He blinked slowly, realization setting in on him. " Us. Like me or Theo. Hell maybe even Justin at this point. I want you are other w-"

She dove forward clamping her hand around his mouth with eyes on the door. After she was sure he wouldn't be finishing that sentence she threw a muffling charm over the two of them.

"Honestly Neville. People are going to think we're snogging in here."

"Sorry." He smiled sheepishly. "But yeah, I guess I just like having someone around you and since we are together the most often, that person is me. It feels safer."

"Safer? I don't need prot-" she snapped her mouth shut, remembering a similar conversation with Theo earlier last week. With a begrudging sigh, she cursed the new hurdles in her day-to-day relationships.

"Okay. I think I know what you mean, But still-"

"It's not rational, but it's there," he said with a shrug.

"And I'm still late."

Hermione frowned, rubbing her temples as she tried to think of a solution that wouldn't result with her either hexing him or sending for Harry's cloak and map.

"New plan. For today at least. Theo has Ancient Runes with me. I will have him walk me back from class. Will that satisfy your fussing?"

Neville crossed his arms over his chest and thought. Eventually he just looked up and shrugged.

"Guess we'll have to see."

After a little while more he begrudgingly agreed to let her head to Runes alone, throwing suspicious glances over his shoulder as he headed toward the greenhouse. Hermione waited until he had rounded the corner before bolting down the hall to her class. She slid in the room, drawing a pointed look from Professor Babbling before she continued her lecture.

Hermione started over toward her seat in the front when something caught her attention. Theo's scent rolled around her, warm and welcoming. She spotted him at his spot just to the right of the door, twirling a quill lightly. He glanced over at her and nodded in greeting. After only a moment's hesitation she adjusted the hem of her skirt and confidently plonked her bag down on the desk next to him. She immediately made herself busy pulling out parchment and the book. It didn't do anything to stop the whispers rolling room.

"Afternoon, Hermione."

"Theodore." He rolled his eyes and she couldn't contain her smirk. "How are you? I have barely seen you all week."

A fact that was starting to smart, considering he hadn't so much as looked at her since the library.

"Late I see? Did you have to take a few extra turns to ditch Longbottom."

"Answering a question with a question. Not very clever." She waited until the people around her were more focused on their speculation than the subjects to continue.

"You've been avoiding me."

"Nonsense," he responded, scratching down a strange triangle shape. "I avoid everyone."

"Are you mad at me? Because of… that?"

She hated how weak her voice was. She had always been so confident when it came to saying what she meant, but for some reason this was different. Theo paused, the tip of his quill resting against his forehead.

Their (and everyone else's) conversation was cut off as Professor Babbling cleared her throat, eyeing the whispering parties toward the front. Hermione began to take notes. Every so often she would look at Theo.

He was remarkably handsome. Even more so when he wasn't aware she was watching. He took notes studiously, his long fingers scratching along the parchment with the ease born of practice and dexterity. Every once in a while he would drag his opposite hand smoothly through the dark ringlets of his hair. Unlike hers, the loose curls looked shiny and soft. It was almost painful to restrain herself from reaching out. She should have dug her fingers in them when she had the chance. Every once in a while his mouth would part as he repeated something before scratching the symbols down. His lips just reminded her of last Thursday, how deliberate and controlled each movement was against her own. The contrast of his careful but forceful actions and the rough stone of the wall sent something dangerous sparking through her mind.

It was at that exact moment she realized that she had been staring at Theo Instead of taking notes for the past ten minutes. She rigorously threw herself into the lesson, trying to drown her errant thoughts with symbols and translations.

Hermione was in the middle of marking down a particularly squiggly hieroglyphic when she felt an unfamiliar crackle of magic roll over her. She stopped scratching on the parchment when his hand drifted over hers. When she looked at him he was still facing the front of the room as if it were normal, after a moment she did as well. When he spoke his voice was at a low whisper.

"I assumed you didn't want me around."

"Why on earth would you assume that?" she whispered back.

"Just... I just realized that it was kind of sudden change and I didn't want to push you."

"Push me?" she questioned. "About what?"

He shot her a look out of the corner of his eyes that almost had her ripping her hand away.

"Dear God," she groaned. "I'm not a nun. I have been snogged before."

"Well pardon me for being a gentleman."

"How about next time instead of being a gentleman you at least actually talk to me instead of just assuming things," she huffed. He frowned and she could help but tack on "-or at least have the decency to assume correctly."

That brought his smile back and he hid it behind the white fluff of his quill. How awful that he felt the need to hide it. What kind of life sets someone up to hide such a beautiful thing?

"That seems like a challenge," he said.

"Maybe it is," she quipped back.

Hermione waited for him to say something else as she marked down the symbol on the board. His hand resting on hers was horribly distracting and every time she would almost forget about it he would lightly draw his thumb over the top of her wrist. She nearly jumped out of her skin when his hand tugged hers down from the table. In one meticulous movement, he rested their combined hands on her bare thigh. The touch of fingertips sent her pulse racing.

"Theo-"

"Shhh. There is a notice-me-not charm but if you get too loud you'll break it."

She shifted in her chair, wondering if anyone was going to turn around. What did too loud mean? She chanced a look at Theo who was still taking notes with his left hand smugly. More out of habit than anything she pulled her hand to her skirt hoping to adjust it. All of the hems seemed way too short even though she knew this was one of her new ones. She made a point to look up a charm for unshrinking the wash.

His hand released hers but settled on her bare skin without hesitation. She inhaled sharply when his fingertips wrapped around the thick expanse of her thigh, brushing lightly against the sensitive skin.

"Theo," she tried again. It came out a bit breathless and quite a bit higher pitched that usual.

"I'm hardly going to do anything in the middle of class." He rolled his eyes. "I'm not a total lech."

"Still..."

"Are you taking your notes Hermione?"

"But… The class-"

"You'll miss the homework assignment."

She begrudgingly returned her attention back to Professor Babbling who had jumped so far ahead in the lecture that Hermione was limping behind. It didn't help that every few minutes, just as she got focused, Theo's pinky would brush just under the hem of her skirt before dipping back down. By the time class was coming to an end she was going crazy and was more than a bit irritated.

"I'll do it Professor." Theo's voice was loud and clear as he pulled his hand away. The notice-me-not charm faded away as the Rune's professor glanced over.

"You'll need someone to do the women's bath as well. Miss Granger-" Hermione jumped to attention. "Please assist Mister Nott after class."

"Of course Professor." She managed not to stumble over the words but her voice still sounded a bit breathy. Judging by Theo's smirk he had noticed as well.

"Alright. We will look at those next class period. You are dismissed."

Hermione began to pack up her bag while the rest of the class filtered out. When she straightened, Theo was waiting for her, an easy smile on his face.

"Alright there Hermione?"

"Fine," she ground out, trying to still her wildly fluttering heart. She stomped toward the door and exited into the rapidly empting hallway.

"Well no time like the present."

"What?"

"You were volunteered to grab an etching of the women's bath on the fourth floor so we could review the water heating runes. Were you even paying attention?" The smug smile on his face made her realize he was teasing her and that made her want to hex him. Stupid Slytherins.

"Fine. Let's get it out of the way," she snapped. Her temper was already worn from dealing with Neville and she did not have time to play games today.

She turned on heel, stomping toward the fourth floor corridor. He followed beside her at an easy pace, dodging around students on their way to various classes. By the time they reached the fourth floor the corridor was empty with even the latest first year scurrying into their classroom doors.

Hermione was still mentally cursing his name when Theo hooked her around the waist and dragged her into what looked like an expanse of stone wall. However, when his arm touched it, they passed right through in a rush of magic. She suddenly found herself in an old spiral tower with stained glass windows high on the walls above them leaking in light.

"Th-"

Suddenly his lips crashed into her and her mind promptly forgot whatever scathing thing she was about to say. Her anger rushed away as arms hooked around her back, pulling her flush against his chest. Theo's tongue trailed expertly across lips, prompting them to part. She groaned as he bit lightly at her bottom lip sending her heart careening down a cliff.

Her hands drifted up his chest and into his hair to run through the soft curls that had been tempting her for days. He growled, snaking one hand behind her neck and maneuvering his back to lean against the wall. Her body melted against him, a puddle of heat and electricity.

When Theo pulled away she was starved for air but still trying to pull him closer. He laughed and toyed with one of her curls in his fingers.

"So was that the correct assumption?"

He smiled broadly. The action was both endearing and infuriating as her blood coursed through her veins. She was sure her heart would burst due to the prolonged blood pressure. She groaned, leaning her forehead against his as she tried to get ahold of herself.

"Tease," she spat.

When Hermione looked up at him his eyes were sparkling wildly. His face was set into a stony line as he gazed at her dangerously.

"Never."

His voice was husky and filled with a deep vibration that made her stomach flip. She shifted awkwardly, suddenly aware of how short her skirt was and how alone they were.

"Theo?"

"Just ask Hermione."

His hand drifted down her neck tracing along her collar bone until she shivered. She pushed up against him, raking her nails along his scalp and eliciting a groan. He pulled away, staring at her.

God it should be illegal to look so good. His eyes were dark and half-lidded. Lithe didn't capture the way his muscles tensed in his shoulders as he leaned down to kiss her. Not even a week ago he was half dead in a hospital bed and here he was, leaning over like a predator. His scent alone was enough to make her quake by just sitting next to him. Merlin she would give him anything he wanted.

"Just the moon," he growled. He nodded forcefully and surged against her, molding her body completely to his. She was suddenly very aware that she was not the only one affected.

"Y-yes," she agreed. "Moon."

Good Godric. she thought as he snogged her thoroughly. The length of him dug into her stomach, sending her thoughts spiraling to all sorts of dangerous places. Oddly enough when he pulled away again the most useless one was voiced.

"There is no moon."

"What?" he questioned, his gaze blazing down her body.

"It's a waning crescent... So there is not really a moon."

He looked at her for as if she were some sort of strange unknown rune he hadn't seen before. After a moment he rolled his eyes.

"The bloody thing is still in the sky isn't it."

Hermione had no time to argue before his mouth was back on hers, his tongue coaxing hers to roll and press against him. Ever so slowly, his hand drifted from her shoulder and down her chest waiting to be stopped. When he finally cupped her breast she moaned into him. She could feel his smile as he teased her through her shirt until she was panting. With practiced hands he popped the first button of her blouse off and dipped his fingers under the cups of her bra.

Hermione's knees shook dangerously as he rolled a hardened nipple between his fingers. Her fingers scrambled to support her, one hand pulling at his hair and the other digging into his shoulder.

"Fucking hell, Granger," he groaned, rolling his hips against hers. She pressed her thighs together, trying to ignore the damp heat of her knickers as he kissed his way down her neck. When he bit down lightly at the juncture of her shoulder and neck she keened, bucking against him.

When his other arm released her waist she pressed further against him, not wanting to stop. He spun her around suddenly, her back pressed flush against his chest as he panted in her ear. One hand still toyed with her chest while the other drifted down to rest on her thigh. The action sent a shot of desire straight to her core.

She could feel him smiling against her neck when he pinched her nipple, drawing a low moan as his other hand circled the spot on her thigh his pinky finger had just barely brushed. The skin was still flushed and sensitive from earlier.

"And you call me a tease. You sat there the entire class in a skirt far too short to be regulation, letting me touch these gorgeous legs." He growled possessively and it pulled at the instincts that laid dormant in her mind. "Do you have any idea how hard it was not to sink my fingers into you and see if I could make you come without anyone noticing?"

He should not be allowed to say that.

She whined softly as he dragged her skirt up higher. Her breath was coming in short pants as she watched him watch her. His eyes were the color of sky right after sunset, when all the pinks and reds had disappeared.

"Oh you like that idea don't you?"

She wondered briefly where the kind, flirtatious Theo had gone but then again, she wasn't sure she wanted him back at this very moment. He dipped down by her ear, nipping at the outer edge of it. His fingers barely tucked under the edge of her knickers, not touching where she needed them to be. She writhed against him shamelessly, not even having the dignity to be offended by his amused chuckle.

"There is always next week."

At this point she would probably agree to anything if he would just move.

"Theo. Please."

She was fully aware she sounded like a wanton mess but she couldn't help it. Not with the way his hands ran over her body and played her like an instrument. Or with how his scent soaked into her skin, surrounding her in warmth and passion. Or when his eyes stared impossibly down at her like a dragon hoarding its most valuable treasure. It was all too much.

"What do you want Hermione?" he breathed harshly against her. "There can't be any assumptions about this."

A part of her wanted to throw caution to the wind and just let him take her. She wasn't particularly attached to the concept of her virginity and likely would have lost it a long time ago if it weren't for the war. But she was certain that she didn't want her first time to be in a dusty abandoned stairwell.

"Maybe… just your hand…" She bit her lip, gasping when he leaned over her shoulder to capture it with his in a searing kiss. She sighed when they broke apart, his eyes glittering in victory. "...for now."

He nodded against her neck, letting his fingers slip completely over her knickers. When his fingers brushed against her clit through the silk she held back a moan and distractedly cast a muffling charm. Taking that as his cue, he dipped his fingers below the fabric, setting her spine ridged when he brushed the sensitive nub with one finger. He chuckled lowly against the skin of her neck, his hot breath reflecting the unbearable heat from her own body.

"Aren't you sensitive. I barely have to touch you and-" He demonstrated with another flick of his hand drawing a moan from her chest. "Merlin that sound. That sound is going to haunt my dreams, Hermione."

Before she could respond he dipped his finger to prod at her entrance. Her knees shook violently and he wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her up.

"Now now. None of that Darling. Stay standing. That's a girl. Salazar's Might you are soaked, aren't you?" His filthy words were affecting her almost as much as his hand was. He wasn't where she wanted, not yet. In a bold move she grinded her hips down against him, trying to achieve some of the pressure she so desperately needed. Theo hissed as he pulled his hand away before his fingers entered her, eliciting a small whine from the back of her throat.

"Oh, I don't know about that. Do you think you're ready darling?" He prodded her again as he peppered kisses along her neck. "Are you sure?"

"God. Yes, Theo. Please."

"Since you asked so nicely."

Hermione moaned as he inserted one long finger into her core. She felt her walls flutter around him, her body begging for more. She felt the powerful need to be filled, preferably by the thick length digging into her lower back.

"Shite Hermione," he groaned, pressing himself tightly to her. "You're so damn tight."

" Move . I need-"

She was cut off as he pumped into her, sliding through her slick walls with ease. She lost her ability to breath when he brought his thumb up to rub against her clit with each thrust.

"Shhh, I know what you need," Theo murmured into her hair as he slipped another finger in, filling her up nearly enough. He curled them slightly, brushing up against that spot that she never seemed able to reach.

"Please. Please. Theo. Please." Her mumbled words dissolved into nonsense as he worked into a frenzy. When she felt a familiar tight coil burning inside of her she purred. It wasn't something a boy had ever got her close to. When he began pumping in steady consistent motions she felt herself flutter around him, hovering on the very edge of the abyss.

"I can feel you Hermione, Gods you are soaked." His voice was so low now she doubted regular humans could even hear it. Her muscles tightened, every bit of her feeling a second away from snapping. "I know you can come for me. Let me see. Let me feel you come, Darling."

Hermione broke apart, white stars flashing against the back of her eyes as he rode her through her orgasm. She might have screamed, or maybe not. All she could really hear was the blood rushing through her ears and the deep rumbling of Theo's baritone.

" Mine."

By the time her muscles stopped spasming, she was only held up by his arm looped around her waist. Theo's lips were mouthing soft words of praise against her neck broken up by kisses and licks of her skin. When she was steady enough to turn, he pulled her to his chest, pushing away where her shaking hand rested on his belt.

"Save me the embarrassment, Granger. I nearly lost it just listening to you."

She leaned back to smile sheepishly, too well satisfied to feel selfish. He was gazing down at her lazily, his expert fingers tracing slow circles on her lower back.

"So… There's no moon." Her voice was hoarse and still carried some of the breathiness from earlier.

"So you say. What did you get in Astronomy again?" he murmured, tucking her back against him and resting his chin on her curls.

"An O."

"Bugger. I suppose you may be right then."

"I think we had better chat."

"Are you always right about everything?"

"Yes," she laughed.

"Double bugger."