I tried to warn you just to stay away
And now they're outside ready to bust
It looks like you might be one of us
-Heathens, TØP ( TWENTYØNE PILØTS )
Hermione slowed her car down to a snail's pace as she neared the figure walking along the side of the street. She frowned, recognizing the young man as he turned to face her.
"Nott?"
It was Nott, alright, only…he didn't like as put together as he normally did. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, something that eerily looked like blood staining the collar. His bottom lip was busted, a nice bruise on his cheek bone to match. No words were exchanged as she reached over to open the passenger door.
This wasn't the first time she'd rescued the young man whenever he found himself in a pickle. This was just the first time she'd picked him up on the side of the road, in the middle of the night, looking worse for wear. She eyed him as he strapped himself in, gaze curious as he settled into the seat.
"Can I sleep on your couch tonight?"
Hermione bit her lip. It wouldn't be the first time, but Ron was supposed to be staying over…
"…yeah," she reluctantly said.
Nott eyed her, eyes intense as he took in her expression.
"…unless that boyfriend of yours is coming over."
"I'll come up with something," she answered.
He hummed, closing his eyes and leaning his head back.
"What happened, if you don't mind my asking? Did you get jumped? Should I call the police?"
Nott chuckled, shaking his head slightly as he grinned.
"Why, so they can arrest me too?"
Hermione faltered, taken aback by his answer.
"You're worried about me. That's kind of cute…" Hermione flushed "…but you don't need to worry about someone like me."
His gaze found hers then.
"I'm no saint, sweetheart" he motioned to his face "believe me, I had it coming…"
"Teddy?"
His eyes widened, and under any other circumstances, Hermione might have laughed. However, this was no laughing matter. She swallowed as he hastily stood, the girl on his lap practically landing on the floor as he did so, quickly forgotten. Her eyes glanced towards the table again, lingering on the powdery residue that was left behind. Before she could say anything else, a firm hand found its way onto her shoulder and she stiffened.
"How do you know, Theodore?"
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, her words getting caught in her throat. Her mind was still trying to process what she'd just seen. She was saved by Theo, who spoke for her.
"We're classmates," he said, voice completely controlled.
She frowned in confusion, lifting her head. Hermione's eyes met his again, and something in them told her that the true nature of their relationship wasn't to be known. She winced as the man beside her chuckled, clearly amused.
"Quite the small world we live in, isn't it?"
Neither she nor Theo replied, and Hermione visibly relaxed as Riddle stepped away from her.
"Perhaps you can introduce her to everyone then. Show her around, and make her feel…welcome," the last word came out as almost a whisper.
Theo opened his mouth, and Hermione didn't know if it was to protest or agree. She never found out which as the ring of Riddle's phone filled the air.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Hermione felt a tight grip on her arm. She practically had to run to keep up with Theo as he yanked her to the other side of the room, bypassing curious eyes. He was dragging her through a door that led into another extravagant hallway. The door was slammed shut, and Hermione winced as her back harshly connected with it.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
Hermione winced as the harsh whisper of his voice echoed off of the walls, the panic in his voice evident. Her eyes widened, and she looked at him like he'd grown a second head.
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Why are you-?"
She jumped as his hand harshly came down on the wall beside her head. She had never seen Teddy like this before. His eyebrows were furrowed, nostrils flared, and jaw clenched as he looked at her with a mix of confusion and fear. His eyes were bloodshot, no doubt because of the coke she'd just seen him snort.
"You do not get to ask me questions, right now! Not until you tell me why the fuck you are here, consorting with him," he screeched, pointing at the door behind her.
Hermione released a shaky breath, looking down.
"I…I was in the bathroom at a club when I…heard something. Just arguing, and then some gunshots, but they think I saw something. Theo, he thinks I saw something that I shouldn't have, but I didn't see anything," she whispered, the fear creeping back in.
Theo stumbled back, eyes troubled and lips trembling as he ran his hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face.
"Teddy," she whispered.
"…and you're still alive," he shakily replied.
Hermione felt her heart drop, because the way he said it, it didn't sound like a good thing.
"What does he want with me?"
"What club were you at? Why were you there?" he asked, completely ignoring her question.
"Mamba. I was with Draco…"
Hermione remembered the name so well because she hated snakes. She had felt uneasy just looking up at the place, but Draco had reassured her that it was safe.
Theo scoffed, raking his hands through his hair again as he cursed before turning around and kicking the wall.
"Teddy!"
"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Bloody hell, Hermione!"
"Teddy, what does-?"
She cut herself off as he grabbed her wrist and tugged her down the hallway.
"Where are we going?"
"I'm getting you out of here, now. I'll tell him that you got the best of me, tricked me or something, I don't know. I just have-."
He cut himself off, shaking his head.
"I have to- oh God," he groaned, letting his head fall into his hand.
He suddenly fell, squatting with his arms resting on his knees, head lowered as he let out harsh breaths.
"You shouldn't be here, you should never have been here," he whispered, shaking his head, hair hiding his face from her.
He was suddenly up again, eyes hard as he continued to drag her through the halls. They turned the corner, and Hermione shrieked as the wall just past her head exploded, dust flying as Theo yanked her into him. She had turned her head away from the debris, facing whoever shot the gun. Theo's arms tightened around her as she lifted her head, looking through her hair to come face to face with Riddle.
"Going somewhere?"
Hermione was shaking in Theo's arms, feet stumbling over one another as Theo stepped further into the light. It took him a while to answer.
"Sir…," he began.
"I went through her phone, you know, the night I took her… I came across a person named Teddy, and being the curious man that I am, all it took was a click to recognize the number…"
He walked towards them, arm outstretched, and Hermione's eyes focused on the barrel of the gun that was nearing them.
"Not only am I curious man, young Nott, but also a smart man. Teddy is…quite the familiar nickname, wouldn't you agree? Especially for someone who is…just a classmate?"
"I-."
Hermione winced as Riddle cut Theo off with another gunshot, this one shattering the lamp just behind them. Theo took a step back as Riddle swiveled the gun back around to directly face her.
"I knew you were lying. A first for you, really. Hence why I decided to sate my curiosity instead of just…" he shrugged "…killing you. You're going to tell me how you two know each other, and you're going to tell me now."
Theo hesitated, clearly reluctant to tell him the truth.
"She's…my best friend," he finally answered.
Riddle raised an eyebrow, assessing her all over again.
"I'd put my bet on lover, but we all have to be wrong sometimes, I suppose. Besides, I'm sure you understand how cliché that would have made this entire situation if it were true," he chuckled, eyes gleaming as if he was in on a joke she did not understand.
She felt Theo stiffen, before letting her go, only to step in front of her.
"Sir…she's…she's like my family. She doesn't know anything. Let her go," he pleaded.
"No."
"Please…"
Hermione grabbed Theo's arm as Riddle pressed the gun to his forehead.
"I'm not letting her go, and you know why."
Riddle grinned, and Hermione swallowed. Her grip tightened and she gasped as he brought the butt of the gun onto Theo's face. Riddle grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him away from her. A dark shadow fell over his face, all traces of humor gone.
"Pull something like this again, and I'll make you scrub her blood off of these new floors," he hissed.
Hermione took a step back as he shoved Theo away from him before straightening his own shirt.
"From now on, wherever she goes, you go. You have enough common sense to not pull another stupid stunt because no matter what you do, I'll find her. Understood?"
Theo gave a sharp nod.
"You're dismissed," he said, narrow eyes following her as Theo dragged her away.
Neither one of them said a word until they reached his car, the dark vehicle parked in the twelve car garage. She jumped as he kicked his tire, digging his fingers into his hair as he screamed. Hermione took a deep breath, albeit a shaky one.
"Give me the keys. Let me drive…"
Theo began to pace, fingers frantically running through his hair and over his face. She walked towards him, hand outstretched.
"Theo, you're high. Just let me-."
"Shut the fuck up, Hermione!"
She faltered, eyes widening at his harsh language. She found herself at a loss for words at the moment. She had never in her life seen him like this. She knew that the drugs had something to do with it, a matter she was determined to discuss with him. However, another part of her worried that this…was Theodore Nott. She wondered if this was the Theodore Nott she'd heard whispers of in school. The Theo whose friends were known to get caught up in all sorts of trouble. The Theo who broke as many hearts as he did noses. The Theo who'd ruin lives just because he was bored one day and decided that he could.
She always knew that he'd hid a whole other part of his life from her, something she had long accepted. It was his right, after all. Besides, he'd done so much for her and became such a prominent fixture in her life that she'd decided to let the curiosity go. Now, however, it seemed that she was coming face to face with what he'd tried to hide for so long.
"Why? Why? Why, Hermione?"
Hermione winced as he screamed in her face, eyes full of fury and accusations, as if all of this was entirely her fault. She didn't understand what he was asking. She crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him as he paced, clearly strung out.
"Why did you lie to me? I asked you about Tom Riddle and you said-."
"What the hell was I supposed to say, Hermione? Hmm? Yeah, I know who he is. In fact, I'm working for him. What, was I supposed to tell you that I'm working for the most dangerous man in the city?"
"Why are you working for him?"
He simply glared at her, hands on his hips.
"Why are you working for him? Do you know what kind of man he is? What he's done?"
Theo laughed, a sharp and mocking sound that unnerved her.
"Oh, that's rich coming from you," he spat.
"I-."
"I was born into this, Hermione. This is my life, my fucking legacy," he threw out, still pacing.
He reminded Hermione of an angry bull, waiting to charge.
"You, on the other hand…"
"What? What about me? What the hell does he want with me, Theo?"
Theo was suddenly in her face, chest pushing against her own as he dug his fingers into her arm.
"Why don't you ask your boyfriend?"
She stumbled away from him, gripping her arm as she backed away, eyes wide and confused.
"Draco's not…ugh. It's not even like that," she confessed with a huff.
Theo froze, he had begun pacing again, but was now facing her with the most peculiar expression on his face.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
She sighed, rubbing her arm, wincing.
"He's just…helping me out, is all," she mumbled.
"What does that mean?"
She glared up at him.
"It means, that…that man in there ruined my family's life. He took everything we had, and if I didn't do something, my mum and dad were going to lose everything!"
Theo's eyes fell closed, and he chuckled once, followed by a string of laughter that just kept coming. His hand landed on top of his car as he keeled over, shaking his head.
"Please…oh God, please," he dragged out the word "…don't tell me you went to him."
"Theo…"
He sat up, humor completely wiped from his face as he advanced on her, nostrils flaring. He yanked her towards him and she fought to pull away.
"Do not tell me that you went to Draco sodding Malfoy for help. Do not fucking tell me that," he snarled.
"I didn't have many options, Teddy," she screamed.
"Are you insane? There's hardly a man left in town who doesn't owe that prick something or another. Just what are you doing for him, hmm?"
Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but the words wouldn't come out. Her face reddened, and Theo let her go, stepping away in shock.
"Are you sleeping with him?"
Hermione didn't answer, but she didn't need to.
"Are you fucking him for money?"
"Don't say it like that," she groaned.
He spread his arms out.
"How else am I supposed to say it? That's what it is! Do you know what some people call that, Hermione?"
"It's not only sex, okay? We do other stuff too," she said.
"You don't even like him!"
"That's not entirely true. I told you, he's fun and I actually enjoy-."
"Anyone can be fun to be around if they're paying you enough," he sneered.
She reared back, eyes widening before she hit him in the chest, tears threatening to spill over. Not once had she ever felt shame for what she'd done. It was for her family, people she'd do anything for, and she had no regrets when it came to making sure that they were taken care of.
"Shut the hell up, Teddy," she whispered.
He gripped the skinny strap of her dress, pulling it away before letting it snap back against her skin.
"Did he buy you this? These earrings too?" he asked, the disgust clear in his voice.
"Shut up!"
"He's a drug addicted, trigger-happy piece of shit, Hermione. He's going to use you up and spit you out-."
"He and I have a deal! That is all. He takes care of mine and my parents' debts, and for all intents and purposes, I'm his girlfriend-."
"You really think it's going to be that simple? People are going to start coming after you-oh. Wait…" he tilted his head, eyes resting on her, as he waved his hand around them "…they already have."
Hermione opened her mouth, but he continued before she had a chance to speak.
"You want to talk about me and who I work for? Ask him what his father does! Ask him just what kind of family business he's planning to take over. I can assure you, he and his father have ruined just as many lives."
Hermione frowned, eyeing him. Theo smirked before shaking his head, opening the passenger door.
"Get in the car, Hermione…"
"I'm not getting in the car when-."
"For fuck's sake, get in the damn car, Hermione," he snapped.
Hermione clenched her jaw before shoving past him and sliding into the seat. She flinched as he slammed the door shut. Neither one of them spoke as he pulled out of the garage, the world flying past them as he sped down the street. Her somewhat pleasant evening had taken a turn for the worse. The last thing she had expected to find in Riddle's house was her best friend snorting lines of coke like it was something he did on a regular basis. He probably did…
She eyed him as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, clearly on edge. She had assumed that he considered himself done with her for the night, and that he was taking her to her house, or his house one. Possibly to just yell at her some more. She sat up in surprise when she recognized these streets, streets that didn't lead to either one of their houses.
"Theo…?"
It wasn't long before he was turning onto a familiar driveway. She gripped the dashboard as he slammed to a halt just outside of the gate, putting the car in park. She watched as he jumped out of the car, slamming his hands against the gate, screaming.
"Let us in, you son of a bitch!"
Hermione stumbled out of the car, running towards him.
"What the hell are we doing here? What are you doing, Teddy?"
Hermione grew nervous as the gate began to open, allowing Teddy to slip through and walk down the driveway. She followed after him.
"Teddy, let's just go," she pleaded.
She didn't understand why he was at Draco's house, of all places. He hated Draco, and the feeling was practically mutual, and she figured that whatever reason Theo had driven here, it couldn't be good. She inhaled as she caught sight of Draco walking towards them, a scowl on his handsome face. His eyes quickly ran over her figure, pausing briefly on her arm before his eyes landed on Theo.
"Guess where the both of us just came from? Riddle's place," Theo spat before Draco could utter a word.
Draco paused, eyes resting on her, troubled.
"Hermione? Are you alright?"
"What the hell do you think, Malfoy? She was at the wrong place at the wrong time because she was fooling around with you," Theo said, shoving Draco.
She gripped his arm, pulling him away from the blond.
"Theo, stop," she pleaded.
"This ends, now," he hissed, walking towards Draco again.
Draco smirked, eyes finding hers again.
"Hermione…?" he questioned, an unspoken question of what she thought of this.
"I can take care of her debt, I will take care of it," Theo answered before she could.
Draco's gaze did not waver from her.
"I don't answer to you, Nott. Hermione knows that she can put a stop to this whenever she wants," he calmly replied.
"That's bullshit! You know that she won't-."
"Well, then, there's your answer," Draco replied, eyes connecting with Theo's.
"You took advantage of her situation, knowing it wouldn't be long before she caved. You can have any girl you want. You don't fucking need her!"
Draco leaned all of his weight on one leg, hands shoved into his pockets as he regarded her dark-haired friend.
"You're right, but I want her," he replied, eyebrow raised.
Theo's jaw clenched, fed up.
"He sells drugs, Hermione. Drugs, and cars, and-."
"Get off of my property," Draco sneered, stepping towards him.
"With pleasure," Theo bit back, reaching towards her.
"She stays."
"Like hell," Theo replied.
"You think I'm letting her go anywhere with you?" Draco questioned.
"I have strict instructions to go wherever she goes. If she stays, I stay," Theo said with a smirk.
Draco's lips pulled into a crooked smile.
"Sleep in your car, then."
"Since the both of you wish to talk amongst yourselves as if I'm not here, I'll be taking my leave then. I'm tired, and I've had a very…eventful day. Theo, sleep wherever the hell you want, but I'm going inside."
She faced Draco now, eyes hard and mind muddled as she seemed to really look at him for the first time.
"You and I will talk in the morning," she said, mouth downturned in a frown as she walked past him.
She wasn't sure why she was so upset with Draco. It wasn't as if they were together, so it wasn't like he owed her anything. Still, had she known the truth from the beginning, she never would have agreed to their arrangement. She idly considered calling it off, wondering how she would take care of her parents now.
"Hermione," she was gently pulled to a halt.
She looked over his shoulder to see Theo walking towards his car to, no doubt, park closer to the house.
"Tell me what you're thinking…"
She looked up at him with a frown.
"I'm thinking that this is too much. I can't-," she cut herself off, shaking her head.
His fingers brushed along her jaw.
"Hey…"
"No," she pulled away "I'm not trying to get caught up in whatever little rivalry that you and Riddle have going on. He's threatening my friends, Draco."
He pulled her against his chest, gripping her chin.
"I can protect your friends, and I can protect you," he said, eyes boring into her own.
"…because you're just like him? You know how he operates? Two side of the same coin," she whispered, leaning away.
"No…" his lips brushed against hers "…because you're mine, and I protect what's mine."
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