Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated characters. I just happened to come up with the plot for this ship. All credit to J.K for her amazing universe that she allows us to play in.
Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead.
Grammarly is my beta, all mistakes are my fault.
Music is my Muse
This chapters song: Take Me To Church, Hozier
Lyric of choice: That's a fine looking high horse. What you've got in the stables?
Aftermath
Chapter Eleven
From Bad to Worse.
Theo was having a shite day. The shipment of rare plants from Asia had been damaged, one of his shop witches had just told him she would be getting married and taking two months off, and he was worried about Hermione. He had looked into who was visiting his cousin today and it had left him antsy. There was a Sultan there who had a nasty habit of kidnapping witches and throwing them in his harem.
Finally giving up on getting anything done Theo walked out to put his manager in charge and took off his robes to go for a walk. He found himself in front of the French Ambassador's house frowning wondering if he should just go in, he did have an open invitation after all. Suddenly the door opened and Hermione rushed out looking upset. He caught her and pulled her against him.
She looked up and seemed to deflate as she saw him, she melted into his arms and he heard her taking small deep breaths.
"Kitten?" He asked curiously trying to control his worry.
She shook her head. "Sorry, I just needed some air. He was such a total wanker and grabbed me-"
Theo cut her off. "Who did?"
She hissed. "That stupid Sultan whatever his name is. He just won't back down this time and it's irritating me so much I was worried I might actually hex him."
Theo nodded understanding and then grinned. "Come on, I have an open invitation to visit my dear cousin. I think I will do that today."
Hermione looked up at him her eyes going wide. "Theo," she said warningly.
He smirked again. "Do you know what I like the best about you, kitten?" He asked as he pulled her to his side and walked her up the steps.
She said softly. "I am afraid to ask."
Theo chuckled and leaned down to whisper to her. "You know exactly what I am capable of, yet never ask me to fight dirty for you."
She shook her head her eyes going weary. "I don't need-"
His eyes flashed and he said. "Oh I know you don't, but maybe I need to."
Before Hermione could respond Theo looked up as someone said. "Theodore, what are you doing here?"
Theo pulled Hermione tighter into his side, locking his hand around her slim waist.
"Hello Oliver, I am visiting my witch."
He watched his cousin frown and then smile. "Well, Hermione you never mentioned, how extraordinary."
Theo tried not to roll his eyes at his pompous older cousin. "I understand you have a delegation here from Saudi Arabia today?"
Oliver grimaced a bit and then nodded. "Yes, do come in, I will have them set you a place for lunch."
Theo's smile was wide but not friendly. "Next to Hermione, if you please."
Oliver's eyes went wide in understanding and then turned a bit weary. "Of course, Hermione why don't you introduce Theo around, I just need a moment."
Theo watched the man rush away and turned to Hermione curiously. She was shaking her head looking a bit annoyed and at his raised eyebrow she shrugged and said in a whisper. "He's off to take a calming drought."
Theo chuckled and let her pull away although staying close to her side and rolling up his sleeves. She looked down and let out a little gasp. Seeing what she was looking at he gave her a grim nod. "It darkens when I am angry, Hermione."
Her eyes flashed up to his and her mouth parted before she nodded and turned. He followed her his eyes taking her in. She was still flushed and her hair was falling out of its sturdy French twist. He would bet all the gold in his vault that Hermione hadn't been running out of the Embassy over just being grabbed. He came up behind her as she quietly spoke to an elf and saw a scratch on her neck, it was welting up.
His dark mark burned and he hissed. "Hermione, your neck is scratched."
She put her hand up over the scratch and whirled around her eyes going wide and then closing as her face flushed red. "He, well, he-"
Theo didn't let her finish. "Go fix it, and your hair. Then come back here and point him out."
Her eyes flew open in horror. "Theo, you can't hurt him, he is a prince or something."
Theo snorted. "Hermione, I won't need to hurt him, just trust me."
She bit her lip and he watched tears pool in her eyes.
Theo stepped forward and put his hand on her cheek. "Kitten, he won't touch you again. Go, I don't want him to see you like this. You could settle this yourself but it's my turn, okay?"
She nodded and then rushed off.
He turned to the elf who was watching him wide eyed. "You going to help me?" He asked darkly in French.
The elf nodded and the smile that went across its face was frightening. "Oh yes, mister, Hip will help you."
Theo nodded and bent down. "Good, let's talk about how we are going to make this man very uncomfortable for the next few hours."
Hermione washed her face and let cold water pour over her wrists as she took deep calming breaths. She couldn't believe that that awful wizard had accosted her like that in the hall. And then to run into Theo right afterward and he was so angry, she had never seen his mark that dark. She shivered and looked up waving her wand to fix her hair and biting her lip. She needed to go back but she was still pretty upset. The stupid prince of whatever had frightened her greatly. If it hadn't been for Hip showing up and distracting him so that she could rush off she wasn't sure what would have happened. Her wand had been on her desk!
She gripped it now and decided that she would not let go of it the rest of the day. And if that total bastard did that to her again she would be hexing him, screw the repercussions. What was the point of being a war hero and having two best friends as Aurors if she couldn't hex a wizard who couldn't keep his hands to himself Finally finding her courage she held up her head and wand in hand walked back out and right into Hip who was waiting anxiously.
"We is ready, miss." Hip said in his squeaky voice.
Hermione nodded and smiled at the elf. "Thank you so much, Hip."
The elf nodded and rushed off down the hall. Hermione took a deep breath and followed smiling at the men waiting for her as she made it into the sitting room. "Gentleman."
The wizards looked up and she suppressed a shiver as the Sultan gave her a long cool look. She turned as Theo walked in with Oliver beside him and smiled in relief. Theo was in deep conversation with his cousin in French but turned to give her a long look before he nodded and walked up kissing her on the cheek gently.
"Hello, love," he said in his most seductive voice.
Hermione felt her knees buckle a bit and her breath rushed out of her as she gazed at him. "Theo," she said softly.
When she was finally able to tear her gaze away from his intense blue one it was to find Oliver handling the introductions. She went very still as he introduced Theo as his cousin, and her intended. Her eyes flew back to Theo who was smiling, it should look benign, he did have a relaxed posture, but he managed to look utterly dangerous as he gazed at the wizards in front of him and when she glanced down she saw that his dark mark was blazing on his arm.
She let out a small gasp and moved closer to him, wanting to calm him somehow she wrapped her arms around his waist. His hand settled on the back of her neck, caressing her softly. The men were asking him questions in French rapidly. He raised his arm in a gesture as he spoke and she saw the moment that they saw the dark mark on his forearm.
Their eyes widened and one of them paled. "That is the mark, is it not?" One said staring at it.
Theo looked at the man coolly. "Excuse me?"
The man pointed. "The mark, his mark, you were in the war?"
Theo's smile was evil, it even made Hermione shiver. "I was," Theo said simply.
The man considered him and then the Sultan said curiously. "So, she is pure then?" And then his eyes turned to Hermione and they went dark with lust.
Hermione stiffened but her eyes flew to Theo, his body was almost shivering with his anger, the dark mark was a crest now, raised on his skin. She didn't understand what had made him so upset.
Oliver seemed to realize that there might indeed be violence in his parlor and cleared his throat saying. "I am sure you will find that blood status is no longer the issue it once was-"
Theo's voice was growly. "Oh, that wasn't what he meant, cousin."
The Sultan was considering him his face impassive but his eyes flashed with malice.
Oliver let out a deep sigh and Hermione felt almost faint as Hip bustled in saying. "Lunch is served."
She sagged in relief as everyone turned to head to the table. But she frowned as Theo took a long deep breath. "Of course that is what he meant, Theo." She said softly. "He's a pureblood too, he is wondering why you don't know I am not a pureblood."
Theo looked down at her his eyes narrowed. "No, kitten. That wasn't what he meant at all."
She shivered. "I don't understand."
Theo sighed and kissed her forehead. "And that is why he is alive right now."
She hit him but frowned because she wasn't sure he was joking. He just put his hand on her back and moved her forward. "Do not leave my side, kitten."
She nodded feeling herself shiver as he touched her, something had changed here today with her and Theo, she wasn't sure how to define it but she could sense it and it made her a bit jumpy with anticipation.
Theo sat at the table and watched the fucking sultan stare at Hermione as if she was his favorite wet dream. Bloody hell he wanted to kill the cunt, and he hadn't wanted to kill anyone since he was a boy and he had learned to hate his father.
He needed backup here though, this was not good, the man was far too obsessive over Hermione. He took the parchment and quill from the elf and quickly wrote off a note and duplicated it. He addressed them and then handed them to Hip who looked at them and nodded his eyes going wide with fright.
Theo nodded at him. "Deliver them yourself; we don't have time for an owl."
The elf nodded and disappeared.
Hermione leaned forward. "What was that about?" She asked curiously.
Theo gazed at her his eyes dark with his restrained fury. "Just playing my ace, kitten."
She shook her head at him but smiled slightly. "Slytherins and their scheming."
He grinned and reached forward to tilt her face towards his, his thumb grazing her lips. "You have no idea, kitten. And we are very possessive, snakes."
She shook her head but flushed before she pulled away to respond to the sultan wanker who was asking her a question. This was going to be a very long afternoon, she thought already knackered.
Notes:
Please read and review! Who do you think Theo sent the notes to?
