Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Warning: This Chapter has drug use in it. If you don't like that kind of thing don't read it.

You Shine Brighter Than Anyone
Chapter 5

"I thought he'd never leave!" Hermione said with a smile and a shake of her head.

"Me either!" Harry agreed as he pulled a small black pouch out from his robes.

The two teens began walking through the dark hallways and occasionally apologizing to the portraits that they woke up. After ten minutes of walking through darkness they came to a narrow staircase of black marble steps. Grinning to each other they began a race to the top of the astronomy tower and once they reached the large balcony at the top they collapsed panting.

One she had caught her breath Hermione gave him a smug look.

"I won again!" She said, pumping her fist into the air. Reaching into her pocket she brought out a back of vanilla clove cigarettes. Lighting one she took a deep drag and relaxed into the wall behind her while pulling another one to hand to Harry.

Reaching into the black pouch he first produced a couple of vanilla candles and lit them so that the balcony had a source of light. Then he took the cigarette from Hermione, tapped the tobacco out, and set it down. The next thing that he brought out of the pouch was a small baggie of weed. Breaking it up into his left hand he then used his right hand to pack it into the emptied cigarette. Once it was a full as he could get it he twisted the filter off and lit the joint.

He leaned against the same wall as Hermione and inhaled. After a few seconds he handed it to Hermione who repeated the action and passed it back to him. Once they finished it they decided to use their glass bowl. Just as Harry was pulling it out of his black pouch Hermione held up a hand. Putting a finger to her lips she motioned towards the steps where the sound of footsteps could be heard. Blowing out the candles bother Hermione and Harry sat completely still until a person emerged from the steps.

He had shaggy brown hair, bright blue eyes, and thick black rimmed glasses. He was tall and thin but not lanky in the way that Ron was. He carried himself gracefully and confidently.

Theodore Nott had been going to the astronomy tower for as long as he could remember. Pulling out a Newport and lighting it he walked out to the balcony and was surprised to find Harry and Hermione giggling madly at him.

"Thank the Gods," Harry said laughing, "that it's just you. You have no clue how paranoid I was when I heard you coming."

Theo, not wanting to intrude into their privacy, began moving towards the steps again. He didn't really know either of them and didn't want to bother them. Hermione noticed him leaving and stood up.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Theo turned back around and gave her a confused look.

"I didn't want to bother you so I-"

He got cut off by Harry.

"You're not bothering us! You can come chill with us if you're up for it. What's your name, anyway?"

Theo smiled and sat down next to them as Harry began relighting the candles and finished breaking the weed up into the glass bowl.

"I'd love too. I'd Theo Nott and I'm in Slytherin."

Although Theo expected both students take back their offer to hang out Harry just stuck out his hand.

"I'm Harry Potter and this is Hermione Granger." He said as Theo shook his hand. "We're both in Gryffindor. "

Hermione waved to Theo, smiled, and then lit the bowl. After a few moments she blew smoke through her nose. As she tried to pass the bowl to Theo she noticed his confused look.

"Haven't you ever smoked bud before?" She asked

Theo shook his head and when Harry saw this he smiled.

"You're in for a treat then! Do you see this hole on the side?"

Theo nodded his head.

"Okay, all you do is put one finger over that, it's called the choke by the way, and hold the bowl with your hand. Then you hold the lighter with your other hand, light the weed, and then inhale. You got that?"

Theo nodded his head once again and lit the bowl. His eyes got wide and he started to cough. Hermione reached over and patted his back while looking at him sympathetically. Theo passed the bowl to Harry and began to look embarrassed. Hermione saw this and shook her head.

"It's okay. Everyone coughs their first couple of times."

After the newly formed trio had smoked five bowls Theo had stopped coughing and everyone had moved on to paranoia and laughing. Blowing out the candles, Harry began to pack everything back into his black pouch. Theo started to try and stand up but was tripping and tipping over. Hermione thought this was hilarious and had to run over and hug him. 'He's was definitely going to have to come smoke with us more often!' She thought as she tried to steady him.

Harry had finished collecting all their belongings by that time and they started to walk down the dark steps and back to their respective dorms. Although they were in opposite directions Harry and Hermione walked Theo to the Slytherin dorms to make sure he got there okay.

Theo, never having been high before, was reveling in the experience. He felt completely unworried, which was a feeling he hadn't had in years, and everything was completely hilarious. Just watching the way Hermione's curls bounced when she walked was enough to start him laughing again. He also began to feel hungry. He expressed this feeling to Harry who began laughing as well.

"You've got the munchies, man!"

Theo still looked confused to Harry clarified.

"It's when you get really hungry after you smoke. Try to fight it though. Otherwise every time you smoke you're going to have to go down to the kitchens and try to eat the weirdest stuff. Trust me; you'll even start to eat as much as Ron Weasley!"

At this Theo began laughing. Although he wasn't in Gryffindor he had heard about the Weasly's legendary appetite. Suddenly they were at the Slytherin portrait but he could barely remember walking there. 'Weird.' he thought, 'but so cool.' He waved goodbye to the two Gyffindors and entered the common room.

Now that Theo was safely back in his dorm Harry and Hermione began walking to Gryffindor. They tried not to be too loud but some of the snoring portraits set them into giggling fits again. Finally they got to the portrait and went inside.

Collapsing in the chairs closest to the fire place Harry and Hermione smiled and gave each other high fives.

"So, what do you think of Theo?" Hermione asked.

Harry got a thoughtful look on his face.

"I actually really like him. He's super nice for being in Slytherin."

Hermione nodded her head in agreement. She had thought the exact same thing. Not to mention that he was really cute…

'Stop! You've just met him!'

Her mind told her this but she couldn't help it. He was not only nice but really funny. Just the kind of guy she always fell head over heels for. Although all of Gryffindor thought that she was madly in love with Ron Weasley, they were wrong. They were only best friends and she could never be anything other than friends with him.

Harry's voice brought her out of her reverie.

"Which CD do you want to listen to?" He asked, holding out two of them.

Hermione bit her lip.

"Uhh, I think I want the mix tonight."

Grinning, Harry popped the mix into the CD player and pounding techno beats filled the room. He felt as though he was in the music, not just listening to it. As he started moving to the beat only one thought was left in his mind.

'Thank the gods for a soundproof common room!'