Theo usually wasn't so nervous before a date, but something in this girl made him sweat and wanted to have everything perfect. Blaise couldn't let him forget how uncharacteristic of him he was acting — after berating him for not wearing a Devil's costume.

"You spoil all the fun Theodore, how am I supposed to be Cupid if I don't have a Devil on my side?" Blaise whined, while Theo was making the last adjustments to his costume.

"The same way that you don't have an Angel on your side," Theo replied without beating an eye, used to Blaise's antics by now.

"But I'll have an Angel by my side! Draco is going as an Angel!" Blaise was giddy with happiness, which made Theo a little unsure of his friend.

"What did you have to bribe him to agree with this?" Theo asked, surprised that Draco would agree.

"I didn't have to bribe anyone, he's doing this for the love he feels for me." Blaise huffed, which made Theo raise an eyebrow. "What? Draco loves me, and he's doing because I asked for… and because I promised to go with him to that cricket match next month."

"I knew it! Draco never does anything for the good in his heart, even if he loves us." Theo chuckled and went to grab his keys. "Okay, I'm off to go pick up my date and I'll see you at the party."

"Have fun, don't do anything that I wouldn't," Blaise said, entering the bathroom. Theo just chuckled, thinking about all the things that Blaise would do that Theo never would do.

Theo was still dazzled that he managed to ask Hermione on a date, and even more dazzled that she accepted. He wasn't going to think about it now, he was going to enjoy his date and even more the party.

Didn't take long for Theo to come to Hermione's flat and in no time at all, he was ringing the bell. He didn't have to wait much, and when Hermione opened the door, she took his breath away. He was so happy that she had told him which was her favourite costume, because it was perfect on her: from the scarf that she was using in her head, to the corset and long skirt, Theo didn't think that he could take his eyes off her.

"Hi Theo," Hermione said shyly, blushing under Theo's stare. She was glad for him, because she never had felt more pretty in her life. "Ready to go?"

"I.. I… yeah, sure!" Theo stumbled over his words, blushing like Hermione. He offered his arm, which she readily took, after closing her flat's door behind. They didn't talk much while walking towards Theo's bike, but they shared smiles that spoke volumes.

Taking care to not ruin their costumes, Theo rode to the Malfoy's Manor, liking the way that Hermione's arm tightened around his waist and he vowed to feel that same feeling more times in the future. Didn't take long for them to come to the Mansion, and Hermione was amazed at the opulence of the party, but she wasn't going to tell that to Theo; they soon were ushered inside the house and Hermione sighed with all the decorations.

"They go all on Halloween, it's wonderful, isn't?" Theo murmured in her ear, making a shiver run down Hermione's spine. "I used to love it when I was a little kid, and I love it even more as an adult."

"I can relate to that, I loved the way that my parents used to decorate our house for Halloween," Hermione said softly, smiling at Theo. "And what do you usually do at these parties?"

"I probably would be at the bar with my friends or showing my dance moves on the dance floor," Theo said smiling, nodding with his head in the direction of the dance floor. "What do you say? Want to show everyone here our dance moves?"

Hermione smiled and just nodded, letting Theo carry her to the dance floor; the DJ was playing a selection of Halloween music and they were all so upbeat that it was impossible not to dance. Midway through the dance, Theo's friend joined them and Hermione couldn't stop laughing: one of them was dressed as Cupid and was dancing around Theo and her, fake shooting arrows in their direction — Theo would later say that Blaise never were the most subtle person he knows — and he was accompanied by a blond guy dressed as an Angel, but the face that he was making was anything but angelical.

"I'm sorry for my friends," Theo said a while later, when they took a break and went to grab a drink.

"Don't need to apologize, they were adorable," Hermione said, taking a sip of her drink. "Their costume was very original."

"Don't let them hear you saying that you found they're adorable, they don't like it very much," Theo said laughing. "Blaise wished that I wear a Devil's costume to complement the fantasy, but I prefer very much to be a pirate."

"I prefer you to be a pirate, too," Hermione said to her glass, but Theo heard her.

It was in that moment that their eyes met and it was like some magnet force was casting a spell into them, and they couldn't resist any longer. Theo put his and Hermione's drink at the bar top, and carefully — almost as if asking permission, came closer to Hermione, putting a hand on her waist and the other on her cheek; Hermione wasn't behind, putting a hand on Theo's chest and the other on his neck, bringing him closer.

Theo didn't waste time and soon was kissing Hermione with all his might, asking for permission with his tongue. His kiss is not at all the same as those movie stars, but one steeped in a passion that ignites. It is the promise of realness, of the primal desire that lives in us all. And with it he tells her that he is awake, connected within, that he embraces himself rather than hide as a copy of those romantic idols. It was a perfect kiss in Hermione's opinion.

For the rest of the party, Hermione and Theo didn't stay far from each other, always at arms reach; Theo was very glad that he decided to go for a costume of his choice instead of wearing what Blaise wanted. It was like it was a spell created to help him find Hermione and he wasn't going to let her go anytime soon.