Chapter 6
Theo bustled around the kitchen, as she showered off the sweaty reminder of her nightmare. She'd feel better after a shower, he'd said, and Hermione had agreed.

When she returned, she was wearing a large, black t-shirt that bared a lot of leg, with a fluffy white towel piled on her head. Theo wanted to look at the exposed skin, but he tore his eyes away. There certainly wasn't any point getting carried away in that regard.

"Smells good," She forced a smile as she watched the Slytherin make himself at home in her kitchen. It truely was a sight she never thought she'd see. It did actually smell very good, her stomach growled in anticipation.

He winked, picking out a peice of pasta and tucking it between his lips. "Much to your surprise, I'm sure, but it'll relieve you to know that I'm fully house trained."

She found the smile more genuinely this time, "That's lucky, wouldn't want you pissing on the carpet."

"Hey, I've not done that for at least a few weeks now, Granger." She laughed, the towel dropping from her head, hair tumbling free.

She sobered, suddenly remembering who it was, who was currently playing chef. She shouldn't let her guard down, she already had done more than enough. "Glass of wine?" She asked, pulling a bottle of red from the cupboard and uncorking it.

Theo drained the pasta, folding into the tomato sauce he'd whipped up, and bringing it to the table. He'd set it beautifully too, digging through her cupboard to find matching china. Hermione's kitchen was open plan, split with an island in the middle that lead to a small dining room. "Oh go on then." He smirked, letting her past to collect two wine glasses from the glass-fronted cupboard. When she returned, he pulled out her chair for her, helping her to sit.

"Feel better after a shower?" She nodded, waiting for him to serve her as he twirled the large utensils in his hands. She took up her napkin, folding it over her lap.

Hermione eagerly picked up her fork, she hadn't eaten anything all day, and had actually thrown up most of yesterday's food too. No wonder she was so weak.

The pasta was good. Firstly, she had never thought Theo would know his way round a kitchen, and secondly, if he did, never thought it would be this tasty. "I have to say, I'm impressed."

He held his hand to his heart, "That might be the first nice thing you've said to me."

Laughing, she popped another peice of pasta in her mouth, resting an elbow against the worn wood of the table, "Don't let it go to your head."

"Too late." Winking at her, something he managed to pull off very well, his face cracked into a smile. It was hard to detach the genuine looking smile in front of her from the smirking man in her dreams. She looked away.

Theo could tell the temperature in the room had changed as he'd tried to lighten the mood. Sometimes she would forget, look so free, just for a moment. Then it would all come snapping back. "So," she said, trying hard to maintain the conversation, "Tell me a bit about yourself; Hotelier, that must be fun."

Theo shrugged, part of him didn't want to maintain the lie. He didn't want to lie to her and start off this new leaf with half truths, but he didn't have a choice. "It's good, but it gets lonely." He picked at a peice of pasta; that bit about the last fifteen months was certainly true.

She smiled, "I highly doubt someone as objectively charming as you struggles for attention."

Theo met her eyes across the table, "I don't want that sort of attention." She didn't say anything in response to him, holding his gaze and not looking away. "I want to find something special, with someone who sees the good and the bad and doesn't shy away from it."

"So no love intrest from back home," That was the closest she'd get to mentioning their former lives.

Theo shook his head, "I was under house arrest for thirteen months and then, when I was released, I started travelling around," To find you, he finished voicelesly. "There isn't much time for dating."

She tried not to think of the house arrest and the reasons why it was enforced. She didn't want to ruin the meal he'd made by telling him she didn't think house arrest was enough of a punishment for him. From his eyes, she thought he knew though - thought he probably agreed. "I thought you said running was basically a cowards way out?"

Theo laughed, "I'm a Slytherin. It's in my slithery nature." She tried to match his laughter but it was forced. He was good at reading her, she realised, he quickly changed the subject, "What do you think about the Hotel, Ganger?" He helped himself to seconds, trying to fill hers too but she pushed her plate away telling him she was full to the brim.

"I don't know anything about hotels." She said, placing her used napkin into her empty bowl. She shrugged.

"You always have good advice." He said, tucking into his second plate, "I'd like to know what you think."

She thought pensively for a few moments, "It's a nice hotel, it runs empty a lot though. There is not much out here and, when it's not good walking weather, tourists are limited."

"You're not just trying to get rid of me?" He smirked, winking at her again, a smile lying behind the ocean of his eyes.

She really, really wanted to relax, but seeing him so easy, so playful, it felt so wrong. It felt like some sort of horrible trick. Like he was hiding something from her. "You asked for my advice."

"That I did."

They washed up together in silence, Theo wetting his hands in the soapy water and Hermione drying the plates with a pink cotton tea towel. She asked if he wanted coffee, knowing it was expected, but he shook his head, reaching for his jacket, "I don't want to outstay my welcome." Hermiome didn't have anything to say, so she kept quiet. She would be lying if she said she wanted him to stay. "I hope to see you soon, Granger?" It was a statement, but it sounded like a question. He was asking if she was going to leave.

"Sure." She said, but it didn't sound very convincing.

Theo tugged on his coat, fastening the zip and walking to the front door. He stood next to it, one hand on the knob, "Good night, Hermione."

She closed the door behind him, the thick wooden slab shutting him out in the dark. He had a long night ahead of him, he wouldn't be sleeping again until he was sure she wasn't going anywhere.