Hermione stared at the contract in her hands, her heartbeat steady as she read through everything once more after Headmaster McGonagall had dismissed Astoria, Draco and Theo. The only people that remained were the Weasleys and herself.
It was Mrs Wesley who broke the silence, moving toward her husband with a disapproving look.
"Arthur, I can't believe you are allowing this she is still a child, and he is a death eater."
Her tone was firm, and Hermione could feel her magic start to prickle as the Weasley Matriarch insulted Theo.
"Molly dear, why don't we go home and discuss this and leave the children to talk."
With that, Mr Weasley rose from his chair and guided his wife toward the floo.
"I expect you both home within the hour" he gave Harry and Ron a stern look before turning to face Hermione, "Congratulations Hermione, let me know when you are ready to officially file."
Once they were gone it was like battle lines had been drawn again. Ginny decisively on Hermione's right, Harry on Ron's, facing off.
Hermione waited for a moment then spoke, "go on then get it over with but do try and restrain yourself this time, I would like to make it to my second class of the day."
Ron's face was a fury of emotions and she contemplated how badly this might ruin their friendship, after all he was not known for his tact. It would not be the first time they had gone toe to toe, and she only hoped that this time, in the aftermath of what had happened whilst on the Horcrux hunt, that Harry for once would not ice her out for the sake of Ron's temper.
"I just can't believe you Hermione, you are gone not even a week and suddenly some bloody rich, Pureblood, Death Eater, SLYTHERIN bastard is asking to court you. Do you even understand what that means? Of course, you don't because you are a Muggleborn not some Pureblood Heiress. Tell me you're not THIS stupid, tell me that you can see that he is just using you to reform his image. That the best way for him and his family to look good after the war is to appear to have changed their views and what better way than to be seen with the Golden girl. Why else would he possibly be interested in you? I know things didn't work out between us but that doesn't mean you go jump into bed with the first bloke that shows you the slightest bit of attention. You can't be that desperate for a bit of male validation can you"
Her whole body stiffened at his words, her magic prickling again on her fingertips as she fought to keep her composure, her eyes darting to look at Harry, who was now facing Ron with a look of utter disbelief. Her words died in her mouth, the lump in her throat growing and her eyes stinging as she fought back tears. Was he right? Was Theo, no Nott, just using her to reform his family image? Did he actually care about her? When had anyone actually chosen her aside from Viktor Krum who left as fast as he came when he realised that she was not ready to go to level he had wanted.
"You absolute arse Ronald Weasley" and before she even realised what she was doing she had raised her hand and slapped him across the face the same way she had Draco Malfoy in 3rd year.
"What the bloody hell Hermione!"
It was Ginny who stepped forward now. Her body half shielding Hermione.
"For your information Ronald, Nott was never a bloody Death Eater. I've checked his forearms myself. So, I think the only person with a prejudicial bias here is you. Okay yes, his dad was a death eater but that doesn't make it his fault. It doesn't mean he doesn't care about Hermione. As to what else he might see in her, did you know that he and Hermione have the exact same class schedule? That's right they are taking the exact same NEWTS, they are in every bloody class together. Did it occur to you that maybe just maybe the student with the 3rd highest marks in your year, only behind Hermione and Malfoy might be interested because she is the brightest witch of our bloody generations. That the two of them might enjoy an actual intellectual conversation that isn't about bloody Quidditch. That as hard as it is for someone with the emotional range of a teaspoon to understand, that maybe the fact Hermione is so kind and willing to overlook people, mainly yours in the past, obvious flaws might appeal to someone who is trying to overcome the shadow of his father's horrible past. In the four days they have gotten to know each other he has shown her more care and respect than you have in eight years. So maybe just bloody maybe that might be why he is interested"
Ron was shrinking into himself not only from the slap but Ginny's words. But she wasn't done yet.
"PLUS, they aren't even bloody dating yet, they have shared one kiss and the only ONLY reason contracts are being brought into this is because Nott wants to make sure Hermione is protected, so people can't go calling her a trollop for holding his hand in public!"
"No, they'll just call her a Death Eaters whore instead" he spat at them both.
At that moment she broke, the flood gates opened, and tears began streaming down her face. Ginny lunged for Ron, caught by Harry and Hermione ran. She ran as if her life depended on it. The last thing she heard was Ron's screams as Ginny fired her famous Bat Bogey Hex at him.
She didn't stop running until she reached the common room. Bursting through the portrait door she fell to her knees sobbing, she hoped everyone would still be in their morning classes. She was wrong.
Within seconds she felt hands gliding her to the couch, she looked up to see the warm eyes of Daphne Greengrass and Blaise Zabini.
"Blaise love, why don't you go get Theo and Drake?"
Hermione tried to object but she was too late, Blaise was gone, and Daphne was dabbing a soft monogrammed handkerchief under Hermione's eyes.
"It's okay, it's going to be okay, you're handling this so well" Daphne cooed as she continued to wipe away the tears that continued to fall.
Theo came booming down the stairs, Blaise and Draco hot on his heels.
"Mione, love, what happened?" He took her hands in his rubbing small circles on her palms.
"Nothing, Theo it's nothing, I'm just being dramatic"
She didn't realise what was happening at first, it felt like a small push to her temple, she thought maybe Theo was brushing her hair off her face but when she looked down his hands were still holding her, and then it hit her.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD MALFOY"
"THAT FUCKING BASTARD"
Hermione and Malfoy yelled at the same. Theo turned to yell at Draco for using Legilimency without Hermione's permission, how he had no right to enter her mind, but the blonde haired Slytherin was already out the door.
Hermione jumped to her feet to go after him, she knew of course that his reaction had nothing to do with her but everything to do with the way Ron had portrayed Theo. She and Theo stepped through the portrait to find Ginny and Draco yelling, Draco screaming to let him pass and Ginny that she had handled it. Once they finally stopped, they headed back toward the group.
"Why don't we all go back inside?" Daphne's voice was soft like she was afraid any loud noise would set them back off.
They sat around the fire, Blaise and Daphne cuddled up on one couch, Ginny and Draco sitting in the two armchairs, leaving Hermione to sit with Theo on the smaller couch.
"Is this, is this, okay? Is it allowed?" Hermione asked as Theo put his arm around her and pulled her protectively to his side.
"Technically? No but no one here will tell on us" she felt conflicted for a moment, but his warmth surrounded her and drowned out Ron's voice in her head.
"Okay someone fill me in, because the last I saw was you lot getting dragged to the headmaster's office after Theo here played thug and decked Weasley, which was bloody brilliant I might add mate, well done. Then these two" Blaise gestured to Theo and Draco, "coming back looking rather smug, then suddenly Hermione is on the floor crying"
Hermione tried to bury her face in Theo's shoulder, she didn't want to have to relive was Ron had said, she hadn't wanted Theo to know. She was embarrassed. His friends had so far, all seemed so welcoming of her despite their past and hers had attacked. It all added to that little voice in her head telling her Ron was right, they must be using her. Theo explained what had happened whilst he and Draco where there, Blaise and Daphne nodding along.
"Causing a scene so Hermione could get what she wanted, how very Slytherin of you Ginevra" Daphne quipped smiling at the red head.
Ginny smiled and tilted her head at the girl before very very briefly summarising what had happened after, she said that Ron had said some nasty words, Hermione had slapped him, he called her a name and that she hexed his bollocks off. Ginny knew that Hermione wouldn't want them all to know exactly what Ron had called her. And she had meant every word she had said to him about Theo. She could see there was something there, of course she could understand his doubts, she had them too at first, but sitting her now, watching the way Theo held her protectively, she knew. It was the right thing for Hermione.
"Really Red? That's the version you are going with?"
Draco's eyes met Hermione's and she pleaded with him silently to not say anything. He looked as though he was about to open his mouth when the heat from her side suddenly left as Theo rose, crossed the short space between them and Draco, grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and punched the blonde square in the jaw.
"That, is for entering her mind without permission so yes, that is the version we are going with." He nestled himself back next to Hermione and noticed the very large grin on Ginny's face.
"Thank you" Hermione whispered into his side.
"Anytime" he whispered as he pressed a kiss to her hair.
Morning classes had now ended and the others were returning to the common room to drop their books for lunch, the group quickly dispersed as too not draw more attention to themselves, and Hermione took a moment alone in her room to contemplate what had been an emotionally draining morning, she heard the lightest knock on her bathroom door and then Theo's head pop in you.
"You don't ever have to tell me what he said to you, and I will never ask Draco, it was wrong of him to invade your mind like that. But if and when you decide that I need to know, I am here to listen."
And then he was gone.
Hermione lay back on her bed, the contract beside her. Ginny was right of course, the contracts were drawn up after Arthur had given her permission for courting, but it wasn't fully binding until filed, and until Nott had presented her with a gift they technically weren't even courting yet. She realised that Theo had just wanted her to know exactly what she was signing up for before she even accepted a gift from him. She lay there now wondering what he might chose. A slight knock on the door came.
"Come in"
"Hey, how you holding up?" Ginny closed the door behind her and made her way over to curl up next to Hermione on the bed.
"I can't get his voice out of my head, telling me I'm nothing, that it's all a game." Tears threatened to spill over again, and Hermione took a deep breathe to centre herself.
"Look, my brother is an idiot we both know that. But I know what it's like to have someone you love turn you away and make you feel like you aren't good enough."
"I'm sorry Gin, I hadn't even thought to ask about you and Harry…"
"No, no, no, this isn't about me. My point is, the next time you feel like Ron's voice is getting a little too loud in your head, come see me, I will remind you, you are worth it. I meant every word I said today to Ron. I know I'm not always good with the support and maybe it comes from being the only girl in a house full of brothers, but I am here for you. I do support you Hermione."
The girls embraced and Ginny said goodbye, leaving Hermione to her thoughts.
