A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter. I am so glad that you enjoyed the bits with Bellatrix and I hope you enjoy a little friendship time, too. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions. Huge thank you to lanamarymack for alpha/beta reading this chaper!
Please let me know what you thought of chapter seventeen and be on the lookout for chapter eighteen in a few days!
As soon as her shift was over, Hermione made her way over to the Half Moon to join Theo. She had to remind herself not to skip over as quickly as she could — she should let him sweat a little bit. After all, she'd agreed to give him a chance, she hadn't said that she was going to fall for him immediately.
When she walked in the door, Theo turned from his spot at the bar immediately to see who'd walked in. He looked relieved when he saw that it was her.
She slipped into what was quickly becoming her usual stool and Fenrir brought over a pint of cider for her before returning to his other customers. It was busier than usual, seeing as it was a Friday night.
"I was starting to worry that you weren't actually going to come," Theo admitted once she was settled, giving her one of those crooked smiles. He was turned on his stool to face her, his long legs touching hers under the bar.
"And stand you up?" she teased. The thought hadn't even crossed her mind once.
"I just thought you might change your mind about disobeying your parents," he said. "I know that you're a bit of a rule follower."
Hermione raised her eyebrows, wondering if he'd forgotten their trip just a day before. "If they aren't going to follow the rules, why should I?" she asked.
"Well, I'm glad that you showed up," Theo said, reaching out to touch the bare skin of her shoulder, fingertips finding the love bite he'd left behind, even though it was covered artfully with concealer. "I have to admit that I was pretty jealous when I saw you talking to Potter."
"Harry?" Hermione asked with a snort, knowing that there was no way that she could ever be romantically involved with him, not when they'd been practically raised as siblings, despite their early practice kisses.
"Yeah. The way that he looked at you...at your lips..." Theo trailed off, his blue eyes dropping to her pouty lower lip. "It was enough to drive me crazy."
"You don't have to worry about him," Hermione reassured him. "I'm not interested, even if he is." She still thought that Harry being into her was preposterous, but then again, she supposed that he had been heaping on the compliments tonight.
"There was nothing I wanted more than to kiss you in front of him — to show him who you belong to," Theo said, his voice dropping an octave lower, while he leaned in closer to her, as if he was going to kiss him right then and there.
Hermione wished that hearing him being so possessive would have been a massive turnoff. He revealed himself to be little better than a caveman. But yet...knowing that Theo wanted to show everyone that she was his made warmth pool in her belly and her pulse to surge under her skin.
"Oh, I belong to you, do I?" she asked him, sharply.
Theo smirked at her and nodded, unbothered by her response. "Even if you don't want to admit it, I can tell," he said, before gesturing towards the decreasing space between their bodies. "Look at how you lean into me."
She blushed when she realized that it was true. Yes, she was drawn to Theo. And she enjoyed kissing him more than she would ever admit. But she wasn't about to admit that she was his yet. Not a chance.
He pushed her hair back over her shoulder, before dipping his face to catch her lips in a far too brief kiss, before breaking away. Fenrir was staring the pair of them down, making it clear that he didn't approve of that sort of behavior in his pub.
They ordered dinner and shortly after it was in front of them. Theo leaned in close to her while they shared chips and told her about the work that her parents were doing that night, involving a large drug shipment coming up from the South of France. Hermione didn't approve of their work, but she couldn't deny that learning all of the details was fascinating. She even found herself biting her tongue to stop from adding suggestions now and again. That would be a step too far.
She didn't ask about how his task was going — organizing the robbery of their local football stadium — even though she was intensely curious about it. Was he being careful? Was he considering all possible angles? Was it going to happen soon? What would happen if they got caught?
But it was better not to ask her myriad questions, not wanting to give him the idea that she in any way approved of what he was doing. She wished that he would find some other means of work or even return to schooling if he wanted to. She might understand how it had been easy for him to get sucked into this world with Alfie for a father, but she didn't want him to continue down that path.
Those thoughts were far too heavy for a Friday night. That was a conversation better saved for another time.
When they finished their dinner, they settled up with Fenrir before slipping out into the cold night. Theo wrapped his arm around her when he saw her shivering, making their gait a bit awkward and slow, but she enjoyed the feeling of his warmth seeping into her and she snuggled in closer to get a better grasp.
They arrived at Adrian's flat not too much longer and helped themselves inside. The usual suspects were hanging out in the living room, but it was not as raucous a party as the last one that Hermione had been to. She wondered if it was just because it was earlier in the night or not.
Draco was excited to see her when she walked in the door and waved her over. "Hermione!" he greeted her warmly, his normally pale cheeks flushed with pink. "How is suspension treating you? Will you be back in school on Monday?"
Knowing that she was in good hands with Draco, Theo sauntered off in the direction of the kitchen.
"My parents were not too happy, but yeah, I'll be back. Suspension was alright — I hate missing so much class, but I've managed to have some fun, too," Hermione responded, letting her eyes flicker towards Theo briefly. "I'm surprised that you are keen to talk to me after I attacked your girlfriend."
Her cousin scoffed. "Pansy isn't my girlfriend and if you asked me, she brought that on herself. You're my family and that's way more important than some stupid girl," he sneered. "Although you did so absolutely feral. Honestly, I never got the similarities between you and Aunt Bella, but I totally see it now. I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of your wrath."
"I'm not sure that my wrath was really that terrifying," Hermione said, self-deprecating. Yes, she had snapped, but it wasn't as if she'd managed to do much damage, despite her best efforts. "So, is Pansy hiding away around her somewhere? Do I have to watch my back all night long?" she questioned, looking left and right for any sign of dark colored bob.
"Nah, when Theo told us you'd be coming, we figured it was best not to invite her," Draco said with a grin.
"Wow," Hermione said, feeling a bit stunned. She never imagined that they would choose her over Pansy, someone who had been their friend for a lot longer than she had.
"Like I said, you're family," Draco said, shrugging his shoulders. "But I doubt we can keep her away forever, so you guys might want to hash it out."
Hermione nodded in agreement. It wasn't as if she had any real reason to hate Pansy. It was the other girl who had started it with her endless jabs and snipes. She doubted that they would ever be best friends, but it wasn't as if they couldn't coexist. If Pansy was willing to behave herself, Hermione knew that she could do it too.
"So, you and Theo, then?" Draco prodded, not trying to be subtle when he turned to stare in the direction of his taller friend.
She blushed furiously. "It's not like that," she insisted, even though she knew that her resolve was quickly wearing down. "Yet. But I don't need you trying to tell me who I can and can't date. My dad already tried and if he couldn't wear me down, what makes you think you could?"
Draco laughed at the mental image. "I am sure that I'm much less intimidating than my Uncle," he agreed. "I just…you guys are different. You have ambitions, you're going to University. I don't know if Theo will ever leave the neighborhood. I just don't want you to be held back from your potential."
"God, Draco, we are just snogging, not making wedding plans!" Hermione said, though she took his point. She didn't think that there was anything that could hold her back from University, though, not even Theo.
"Alright!" He conceded, holding up his hands in surrender. "Just looking out for you."
Hermione thought it was odd to realize that the people who were looking out for her were the people she'd never expect….Theo, Draco, Daphne….even her parents to a certain extent. Sirius and Remus, who had looked after her for so long, seemed content to throw her away at the first sign of rough seas.
"With that awkward conversation out of the way, should we join the others in the kitchen?" Hermione asked, before leading the way to join the party.
Daphne was standing next to a big bowl, mixing some sort of raspberry red concoction, looking a bit like a mad witch working on a potion. Only, this potion was boozy and sweet and sure to go down easy. Theo was chatting with Adrian, ignoring Blaise standing between Tracy's legs, sitting on the counter. Marcus was deep in conversation with a pretty blonde girl who was wearing a football kit. Hermione quickly gathered that she was called Katie. She was pleased to see the big lug with a girl who was well suited to him, judging on the debate on diving in football matches they were engaged in.
Hermione greeted Daphne with a quick peck on the cheek. "That looks brilliant, Daphne," Hermione said, though she was a bit nervous to drink it. She worried that one sip might knock her on her arse if she wasn't careful.
Once she was near enough, Theo pulled her close to his side, slinging his arm around her waist. Adrian, who was previously wary of her, didn't bat an eyelash at the interaction.
"Theo says you want to go into law," Adrian said, leaning forward so she could hear him over the music.
"Yes," Hermione agreed. "I'm not sure if I'd be better suited as a solicitor or a barrister. But, I want to help do some good."
"In the spring, I'll be done with my coursework and starting the work experience portion of my degree," Adrian explained. "I'm definitely going to be a solicitor. I don't need to hear myself speak or argue with magistrates."
Hermione was fascinated to hear about another person in the role that she was considering. She had all sorts of questions that Adrian was only too happy to answer. He wanted to go into criminal law because, as he said, he wasn't interested in doing good — just making loads and loads of money. Even though they weren't aligned on their reasoning for studying the law, Adrian did offer to sit down with her some other time, when alcohol was not involved, to talk to her more about the process of applying to University.
Daphne interrupted their conversation with an assortment of mix-matched shot glasses in her hands. She doled out one to each of them. Hermione took the glass and held it up to the light. There was some of the red purée at the bottom, but the majority of the drink was clear liquid. Hermione was nervous to down the unknown alcohol, but before she could ask, Daphne was raising her glass.
"Cheers!" She said with a wide grin.
They all clinked their glasses together and then it was down the hatch. Hermione didn't hesitate, not wanting to seem like the priss she came off as. The alcohol did burn a bit, but it was sweet and more than palatable. She could easily drink ten of those.
"Ooh, those are dangerous, Daphne," she said, an infectious grin on her face. "You better keep me away from those or else Theo is going to have to carry me home."
"And I'm sure he'd hate that," Adrian quipped.
Theo's cheeks were just a bit pink, but he gave her a wink and a smile. She was glad to know that he wasn't embarrassed by their association. If anything, it was the opposite.
"I'm so glad you liked them — I've been working on them for ages and I think I've got it just about perfected," Daphne said, obviously pleased with herself. "And you have as many as you want to. You can sleep here if you can't make it home. I promise the couch is comfortable."
Hermione laughed, but was thankful for the offer. "I'm actually supposed to be grounded," she answered. "So I think that this is one night I have to make it home, or else my parents will be even more annoyed with me than they already are."
That being said, Hermione was happy to have one more of Daphne's delicious drinks before switching over to beer.
"So what were you guys talking about?" Daphne asked, eager to join the conversation.
"Adrian was telling me about his program. I want to read the law, too," Hermione answered. "I just realized I never asked. What do you plan on doing after secondary, Daphne?"
"Ugh, I wish that I could just be done with school," she said with a frown. "But daddy wants me to study accounting, so accounting it is."
"Daphne is really good with numbers," Adrian said, looking at his girlfriend fondly.
Hermione bit her lip, thinking over her next question and hoping that it wouldn't cause too much offense. "Theo, if you could study anything in University, what would it be?" She asked, looking up at her neighbor with big eyes.
He gave her a crooked smile while he thought it over. "You know, when I was little, I always wanted to be an archeologist. To have adventures and go hunting for history," he said, remembering his childhood. "But, that's not a very practical field. There wouldn't be much money in it."
"Money isn't everything," Hermione said, even though she knew it rang hollow.
"I'd probably do something in business, I suppose," Theo said with a shrug. "Or finance. I'm good at seeing trends and, like Daphne, I am good with numbers."
"Maybe you could help me with my maths sometime," Hermione suggested, wondering if reminding him of school work would entice him in some way to give up his lifestyle. "It's the subject I struggle with most."
"I think that despite your struggles, you are probably still in the top five percent of the class," he flattered her.
It was true though.
"Enough talk about boring school!" Daphne ordered. "I want to play some games."
They joined everyone else in the living room to play the same card game as before and a game called Pence, which Hermione found to be a disgusting excuse to chug beer as quickly as possible. She didn't want anyone putting a penny in her drink and so she did a good job of guarding it as well as she could. The card game was fun, though, and this time she found herself to be much better once she had a better handle on the rules.
She spent the whole evening cuddled up into Theo's side, just appreciating the weight of his arm around her shoulders. She was aghast when he used it to his advantage, slipping a penny into her drink and making her finish what was in it.
"Alright," she said standing up once she'd retrieved the penny. "I think I've stayed out long enough. It's time for me to go home."
"I'll walk you," Theo said, standing up as well, putting his finished beer down on the table. They wished all their friends goodbye, before heading out into the evening air.
"Thanks for getting me out again," Hermione said, thinking that she'd had a very good time. Her hand found his and entwined their fingers together. "It's good to break the rules every once in a while."
"I'm glad you think so," Theo answered pleased.
Before long, they were standing at the top of her steps. It was clear that neither one of them wanted the night to be over.
Hermione leaned back against her front door, her fingers toying with the zip of Theo's leather jacket. She looked up at him hopefully and it seemed as if he knew exactly what she wanted. His fingers found her chin and tilted her face up to look at him so that he could kiss her.
She immediately sighed into his body, her hands slipping under his jacket and around his waist, holding him against her body. Parting her lips, she deepened the kiss immediately, moaning when she felt his tongue invade her mouth. God, she could just stay like this forever.
Not entirely sure how long they stood on the stoop kissing, Hermione became increasingly aware that her parents would be furious to find her like this again if they came home. Regretfully, she broke off the kiss and stared up into Theo's eyes, pupils blown wide with desire.
Hermione bit her kiss-bruised lower lip. "You better go, before I do something like invite you into my room," she said, regretfully.
"You're right…if I wait any longer, I might do something stupid like agree," he said with that crooked smile of his. "And, I would rather stay on your parents' good side if I can help it."
He dipped his head to press one last lingering kiss to her lips, before turning and walking down the steps. When he got to the bottom, he turned to face her. "But can I take you out again, soon?"
"You better," Hermione answered, imperiously. She could hear him chuckle as she disappeared into her empty house.