A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter! I am so glad that you liked Theo and Hermione's little conversation. They still have some things to work through but we are getting there. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates, and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter twenty-five and be on the lookout for chapter twenty-six in a few days!
Mrs. Weasley had made no secret how unhappy she was to be hosting Hermione's new plus one to her eldest son's wedding, but Remus had explained, in as gentle of terms as possible, that it was a non-negotiable. If Theo couldn't go, Hermione wouldn't be going either. The mother of the groom had relented, but made no efforts to make the youngest Nott feel welcome in her home, huffing about Death Eaters the moment that the young couple arrived. Hermione hoped that Mrs. Weasley didn't think that there could be something between her and Ronald, still.
She had quickly put the kibosh on Hermione and Theo sharing a bed, though, insisting that he could bunk with Charlie in Percy's old room, while Hermione could share a room with Ginny like previously. There hadn't been much time to argue about it, because almost as soon as she had shown up at the Burrow, the Minister of Magic was as well, to dispense with Dumbledore's last will and testament. Theo had not been invited in and in fact Scrimgeour looked surprised to see him there at all. Hermione told him that he hadn't missed out on much, showing him the copy of the Tales of Beedle the Bard that she'd received.
Then, they had been pulled apart in preparations for the wedding. Mr. Weasley had been happy to have an additional wizard on hand to help raise the tent that the ceremony would be taking place in, and had recruited Theo to come help. Hermione had been pulled away to help with floral arranging, something she learned she did not have a great skill at, before helping Ginny to get ready.
Hermione had never been to many weddings before, having been an only child without many cousins. The last one she had been to was her parent's old receptionist, but she'd been ten years old and hadn't really enjoyed the festivities. She was positive that the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour would put all the previous to shame, if only because it was to be a magical ceremony. And, it didn't hurt that this time she had an actual date for the wedding.
She had loved the somewhat awestruck look in his eyes when he saw her come down the stairs in her red dress. He looked smashing in his dress robes, too, though he had regrettably shaved the bit of scruff from his cheeks. They sat next to one another, hands clasped together, during the ceremony. Hermione had felt tears of joy prick at her eyes at the beauty of the ceremony, the love Bill and Fleur had for one another evident to everyone who had gathered.
The dinner and dancing afterwards had been far more awkward. Ron made no secret that he was unhappy to have a Slytherin there, let alone with Hermione, and so Harry was left to play the intermediary between the four of them. It would have been fine, except he kept getting so distracted by Ginny that he was really quite useless. There had also been the awkward exchange with Viktor Krum, who made no secret that he was disappointed Hermione was not still single, but respected the clear signals that Theo was broadcasting that she was his witch. She knew it was wrong, but she still got such a thrill at the way he would sling his arm around her waist, pulling her towards his chest when another suitor would intrude on them.
The only guest who had anything to say about a Nott's presence at a Weasley wedding was Ron's Aunt Muriel, who made a comment about how things had changed if Cantankerous Nott's - apparently an old school chum - grandson was cavorting with a known muggleborn.
But in the end, the only thing that Hermione would remember of the wedding was Kingsley's patronus bursting in, giving the guests advanced warning of a coming Death Eater attack. People were apparating away left and right, but Hermione could only focus on finding Harry (well, and Ron), and getting him out of there as soon as possible. Theo hadn't left her side, and instead had his wand drawn, looking around wildly.
Grabbing the trio of boys' hands, the duty of apparating them to safety fell to Hermione. She had been prepared for this after all. Once they were in the safety of muggle London, she gave them a change of clothes so they would blend in better. She didn't miss the red look on Ron's face when he saw how comfortable Theo was with muggle clothing.
After that, they had gone to a cafe to talk through their next moves. Theo had been a bundle of nervous energy since they had left, clearly agitated, but he kept his thoughts to himself, sighing and rolling his eyes when it was revealed that she was the only one who'd done any advanced planning. They hadn't had a moment to relax before two Death Eaters - Rowle and Dolohov - came in the cafe after them. They were clearly surprised to see Theo with the Gryffindors, but didn't pause their dueling to interrogate the Nott heir. Didn't they already know about her relationship with him? Surely Draco or Greyback should have said something about it.
It was a miracle that they were able to incapacitate the two Death Eaters, even with the two on four odds, but they knew they weren't out of the woods yet. "What do we do, Hermione?" Harry asked, pacing back and forth like a mad man. "They've seen us, we can't just let them go."
"We could obliviate them," Ron said, finally having a suggestion. "Hermione, you should do it - you're the best with spells, and well...we don't want to mess this up."
He didn't see the distressed look on her face at the demand that she handle everything, just like she always did, but Theo did. He gave her a hard look. "No, I will do it," he insisted, leaving no room for arguments between them. Hermione relaxed, glad to have him, but furious that Remus must have told him about her parents.
"You can't do it," Ron sputtered, upset. "How will we know if you are actually wiping their memories and not just letting them run back to You-Know-Who like you've been ordered to?"
Theo rounded on the other boy, practically snarling in fury. "You'll just have to trust me or do it yourself, Weasley," he answered, waiting a beat for him to say anything. When Ron had no further argument, Theo returned to his task and obliviated the pair effectively.
"Where do we go next?" Harry asked weakly, looking to Hermione for guidance like he always did. "We can't stay out here, not while Death Eaters are on our tail."
"We should go to Grimmauld Place," Hermione said, sounding unsure of herself. "Since it's not under fidelius anymore, they might not think that we would return there."
Harry didn't look too convinced, but he nodded in agreement. "I suppose it's worth the risk. We don't have to stay long, just until we figure out a plan."
That decided, they all grabbed onto Hermione's hand again and she side-along apparated them the old Black townhouse. When they walked inside, it was empty but ransacked. After a few revealing spells, Hermione pronounced that they were truly well and alone.
Regrouping in what had once been a parlor, Theo quickly lit a fire in the fireplace. It might have been summer, but the townhouse was dank and drafty and the fire chased away some of the gloominess. Eerie shadows played on the walls, while they all stared at one another, trying to get a handle on everything that had happened that night. Hermione was glad to have Theo's protective arm around her, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
Ron was the first to break the silence. "So, what, he's just going to be coming with us then?" he asked, making it abundantly clear how unwelcome he found Theo Nott.
Hermione sat up straighter, knowing that it was better they have this conversation now, rather than letting it fester. "Yes," she said, leaving no room for argument. "I've told you that I'm Theo's mate...it's more than just dating. We are...compelled to be with one another. Where I go, he goes."
"But he's a werewolf, Hermione," Ron argued back, unwilling to give up an inch. "Don't you think it's a little bit dangerous to be dragging a werewolf all over with us? We need to focus on taking down You-Know-Who. You can't be worrying about a werewolf, too."
She could feel Theo stiffening at Ron's hurled barbs, but he didn't respond. Lifting her chin, she looked at Harry, trying to figure out where he stood in this argument. "Harry, you know that I would do whatever I could to help you," she said, swallowing thickly. "If you would rather I don't come with you, to help you, because you are uncomfortable with Theo, I will respect your wishes. I am sure that Remus would be happy to help in my place."
Hermione made the offer knowing that her assistance was something that Harry could not really afford to turn down. After all, wasn't tonight proof enough for that? Still, she sat up rigidly, waiting for him to answer, knowing that he might tell her to leave and take Theo with her, if he was going to be coming with.
Harry ran his fingers through messy black hair. "Of course I want you to come with, Hermione," he said in a rush, flashing an apologetic look to Ron. "And if you say that you and Theo are...a package deal now, I guess he will come along, too."
"Harry!" Ron spluttered. "What if he's a Death Eater?"
Theo wrenched up his sleeve, revealing unblemished skin to the two boys. "I'm not and never will be a Death Eater. I didn't want to be one, but I certainly wouldn't become one after I was bitten by Greyback on the Dark Lord's orders," he snarled at Ron's obtuse statement. "Look, you are just going to trust me. And, if you can't trust me, than at least trust that I would never ever let any harm come to Hermione."
"Ron, we are going to need all the help that we can get," Harry said, shoulders dropping with the gravity of the situation coming crashing down on him, suddenly. "And, you saw, Nott could hold his own in a duel. If he wants to come along on this...this suicide mission with us, then, I am not going to stop him. We have five bloody horcruxes to find after all!"
"Dumbledore told you not to tell anyone about those," Ron croaked, still unhappy with Theo being privy to all the details.
"Yeah, but it didn't stop me from telling you and Hermione," Harry argued back. "I can't do this on my own, Ron. And, if Hermione trusts Nott, I trust him, too," he said with finality. His mind was made up on the matter, and Hermione knew she could relax, at least partially.
"Ron, is this going to be a problem for you?" she asked cautiously, reading his face. Even though they hadn't worked out as a couple, Hermione still cared about the redhead as a friend. They'd been together, the three of them, for nearly seven years now. She hoped this wouldn't be the thing to tear them apart.
He frowned, but shook his head. "It's fine," he said, sounding sullen. "But, don't make me regret this Nott," he added on with a warning, before standing up from his seat. "I am going to see if I can find some food in the kitchen. Maybe Kreacher has left some tins or something." He fled the room.
Harry, realizing that he was left alone with a rather amorous couple, quickly made his own excuses, saying he was going to go look in Sirius's room for what was left. When Hermione and Theo were finally alone, he pulled her to his chest, kissing the top of her head, laying down on the chaise they shared. "You should get some rest," he whispered. "I figure good sleep will be few and far between from here on out."
Listening to his heart beat a steady rhythm, Hermione felt her eyes quickly drooping shut.