[DISCLAIMER]
This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing.

Chapter Two - Coaxed

Theodore Nott scanned the ever-boisterous room. It was only Tuesday afternoon, and yet the Leaky Cauldron was filled to the brim. Customers' conversations polluted the air, practically deafening him. His eyes fell on a quiet figure sitting alone at the end of the bar. They had the heavy hood of their dark moss cloak up so as to hide their identity, but Theodore knew whose heavy and nightly curls were peeking underneath — he sat behind its owner for the better part of his Hogwarts career, after all. The silence surrounding the figure was louder than all of the cheering that clouded the room, and he could feel it beckoning him.

Theodore never saw himself as a bully, and despite the disgrace his father had left him, the Nott name still held power. And so, at the sight of the young Lord Nott, the gentleman seated next to the silent magician quickly got to his feet and turned to leave. When Theo took his seat, the hooded figure hummed to let him know they were aware of his presence.

"Hello, Theodore." The voice was just as clear, just as light as he remembered — always perfectly modulated. It was like the fragile silver wrapped around the pinky of their left hand, palms down on the bar. Theo could tell there was a smirk gracing their lips even though he couldn't see their face.

"Slytherin colors seem to suit you, Miss Granger." He heard a soft chuckle leave her lips.

Her voice was soft, "Theo, how many times have I told you to call me Hermione?"

"My apologies," he tossed her name in his head a few times before slowly enunciating, "Hermione." Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, save for perhaps Hogwarts's librarian Irma Pince, Theo and Hermione were study partners until their sixth year — before the Golden Trio went on the Horcrux Hunt. They had lost contact during and even after the war, but he had kept tabs on her when he could. He had a mild obsession with the bright witch, he knew that. And if he were asked why, he'd only respond, how could he not? She was brilliant and stunning, and she held herself with a noble grace. However, Theo knew his obsession went far beyond any romantic inclination. From the moment he met her, he could feel the strength of her magic — of her power. And he wanted it. But he knew she would be too clever to let him use her, and so he would let her use him and share in her glory.

The barmaid set down his usual glass of firewhiskey when Hermione spoke again, "It's a bit early for Ogden's, isn't it?"

Theo eyed her glass; it was nearly empty, but he could see remnants of the same amber liquid resting at the bottom. "It is," he replied. "What brings you here at this day and time? It's not even the middle of the week."

"I could ask you the same thing, Theo." Though her hood was still up, Theo knew that she was having a silent debate. Having studied with her for so long, of course he knew all of her tells — even the more subtle ones, like the way her pointer finger would gently tap against the table whenever she was in deep thought. And she was doing just that. He knew she would tell him eventually, but he had to do a bit of coaxing.

Theo's voice was low, "What else is there for me to do? It's hard to get a job when you're a Death Eater's son, don't you know? And even with the Ministry's seizure of two-thirds the Nott Estate, I still have too many galleons for me to know what to do with. Still, I can't open a business. No one will let me rent space, let alone sell me land or space. And so I come here, to this ever-boisterous pub where, despite my affiliations, people don't totally care who I am because they're all happily pissed. I come here to pretend and to forget about the burden left by the sins of my father."

Ah, he hadn't meant to confess everything. But it seemed, that even when they were children, he could easily spill all of his secrets around her. Not much has changed, it seemed.

There was a slight crackle in the air surrounding Hermione. It was somewhat contained, but Theo saw the small surge of her magic hovering at the ends of her dark hair. There was that power again.

Hermione exhaled slowly and Theo felt her magic retreat into her. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke, "I'm here to convince myself that we're better off than we were before. I come here with my hood up so I'm not bombarded by their gratitude because I want to be able to observe. I come here to convince myself that these merry folks are happy with the way things are — with the new laws the Ministry is passing. New, ridiculous laws set to restrict us all. I come here to convince myself that the Ministry doesn't need any form of reformation at all." She drawled, "and despite my title as the brightest witch of my age, my involvement with the war, and the First Order of Merlin they awarded me, my word has very little sway against the Wizengamot. Because, despite my going into war against blood purity, they said to me, "What do you know about Wizarding customs, Miss? You are only a muggle-born witch." A growl escaped her throat, "What's worse is the Order won't back me."

Theo raised an eyebrow at that. He knew the Ministry would enact laws in response to the damage the war had left, but surely these laws couldn't be that bad? He had heard rumors of a Marriage Law, but surely that's all that it was? A rumor? A frown tugged at the corner of his lips. No, it was highly probable that the Wizengamot would pass a marriage law. They had seized most of his assets, after all. "War reparations," they had said. Well, he thought, it would be if they hadn't distributed it all as reward to their precious war heroes.

It made sense that the rest of the Order didn't support Hermione — they had reaped the benefits, so why contest the Wizengamot? Why bite the hand that feeds you?

He said it without really thinking, "You'd do well in power, Miss Granger." This time she didn't correct him.

Instead, Hermione slipped him a piece of parchment. "Stop by this Friday night. I'll key you into the wards, so you can floo in." She stood to leave and he rose to give her a parting bow. She pulled the hood of her cloak back just a bit so he could see her full lips framing perfect teeth. "It was good to see you, Theodore."