After Nott had touched her scar so affectionately, Hermione had felt brave enough at lunch to lose the scarf and leave her scar exposed for once. She pushed aside her thoughts of what her friends might say or think. Afterall if he could stand to look at, to touch it, then her friends should be more than supportive. Her eyes left his; it was as if they were in a trance. Hermione was so captivated by his stunning green gaze that she didn't even notice people were staring at her. In fact, all eyes in the great hall were on her, even the stormy grey stare of Draco Malfoy. But she didn't care. None of it mattered because it didn't matter to him.

"Well, well, Granger is feeling courageous today, isn't she Theo?" Malfoy's voice was soft as he whispered to his best friend.

"She complained about feeling warm during Arithmancy." Theo shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly hoping that Draco wouldn't push the subject. "I guess she decided to roll with it."

"And how do we know that? Been keeping an eye on the Gryffindor Princess there, mate?" Blaise Zabini chimed in, nudging Theo in the ribs jovially. "Watching her take her clothes off?"

"Not everyone is a perv like you," Nott pleaded to Salazar for the blood to not rush to his face and give him away "I know because she ended up seated next to me, Zabini"

"Right, sure Nott, I totally believe you. After all, you only share a bathroom with the girl; and it's not like she just happened to walk straight into your room…" Zabini quipped.

"Merlin, Drake!" Theo turned to smack Draco with his Potions textbook.

"Sorry, mate, didn't realise that was meant to be a secret." Malfoy took a bite out of his apple and hid his smirk. He could tell there was clearly more to this story than the little Theo was willing to share in front of Blaise.

Once lunch ended, Theo headed to his next class only to find Miss Hermione Granger already sitting at a desk, the cauldron in front of her already for whatever they hoped to be brewing. He waited a moment before deciding to take the seat next to her. Hermione turned and smiled before pulling out her textbooks and preparing to take notes. Draco gave him an exasperated look as he went to pair up with Blaise, not too happy he had just lost the only competent potion partner he had ever had. It wasn't long before Theo found himself caught in his own thoughts.

She was so confident in her movements and the way she carried herself; it really was no wonder that people followed her during the war. She was smart, caring, resourceful and beautiful. Wait what? Beautiful? Where did that come from? He shook his head and pulled out his own textbook.

They worked well as a pair. There was almost complete silence as they brewed their Draught of Peace. It was as if they had been working together their whole life. The way they knew how to make space and move around one another, the ease at which they changed place and added ingredients without needing to ask if the other was ready. They were perfectly in sync. And it did not go unnoticed.

"Merlin's beard! It is perfect!" boomed Professor Slughorn upon reviewing their potion. "Marvellous, marvellous. It appears you two were made for each other!"

Draco was trying not to snigger when the Potions Master turned to him. "Looks like you won't be top of the class this year either Mister Malfoy"

At this Hermione had to turn away to stop herself from laughing at the look on Malfoys face. Priceless was an understatement.

Theo and Hermione quickly figured out they had both qualified for the same NEWTs and thus had the exact same class schedule. Making the most out of it all, they silently sat together the rest of the day and, once the day was over, mutely walked back to their dorm. The unspoken connection between them lingered after the Arithmancy class, but when they arrived at their corresponding doors, they turned to look at each other and, without a single word, went their separate ways.

Unbeknownst to the other, in the solitude of their rooms, both Hermione and Theo slid down their bedroom doors till their heads rested on their knees.

"This is not good." They whispered and sighed in unison.

"Fuck, where is Draco."

"Oh Merlin, I need to tell Ginny."