A/N: Oh lord, I apologize for the horrendously late update; I lost my idea book! I had the story laid out in it, and it vanished. So I had to redo all the work I had laid out onto it, and this time SAVE it on my computer… if I lose my computer I swear I'll die
"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river flow slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to know."
Nov. 20
Theodore sped through the corridors. He'd heard what had happened between the Weasley King and the Gryffindor Princess, and he had been waiting in the Head Dorms for her to come barreling in. When she hadn't come, he knew exactly where to find her.
The library.
"Mione?" Theo called, earning himself a shush and a glare from Ms. Pince. "Hermione?" He whispered, dashing around the book shelves.
"Theo?" Theodore snapped his head up.
"How in the world did you get up there?" He asked, stepping back to get a better look at her perch. She was… out a window?
"Honestly Theo," She sniffled, "Did you even read Hogwarts: A History?" Theo grinned, even when she was sad she was bossy.
"Maybe I didn't get that far yet. Essays and homework you know?" Hermione rolled her eyes and flicked her wand, sending a book from the shelves flying into her hand. Theo watched, bewildered as the bookcase moved, rearranging its shelves and books to form steps leading straight up to the window Hermione was sitting at. Even after spending his whole life in the Wizarding world, there were still things that amazed him. He hurried his way up before Hermione could change her mind about letting him sit with her.
"So you heard huh? That or you need help on a project, in which case I'm not in the mood to help you." Hermione sighed. Theo didn't reply, still adjusting to the fact that the window was actually an entrance to a small balcony, and that the view was practically breathtaking.
"Please, you might be the brains of the trio, but I'm perfectly capable of besting you in class." He smiled, nudging her with his elbow as he sat down. The two sat down in silence, watching the sunset and the stars peek out, feeling the small breeze. It was peaceful. Then Hermione sniffled. "So do you want to talk about it?" He whispered, scared to break the peaceful balance between them. They had grown closer of course, but he didn't know how strong their string was.
She sighed and laid her head down on his shoulder, apparently it was a lot stronger than he originally thought, "It's not even Ron that made me cry, it was the reaction of people around me. You'd think me being asexual wouldn't matter to anyone… I mean it has absolutely nothing to do with them now does it? But they all… teased me about it." Theo rested his head on hers, and swallowed down the small pang in his throat at the confirmation of his suspicions. "A few snickered, and I heard whispers about that just being an excuse to keep him out of my knickers…. Lavender's friend started laughing about me being an uptight prude… and the worst part is that I shouldn't even be offended by all of this, those people don't even matter to me. I just can believe that after everything I've been through, they have the nerve to make fun of me." Hermione straightened up and Theo stiffened at the look in her eyes.
"I've been through a bloody war!" Hermione hissed standing up and walking over to the rail, "I'm part of the reason no one here is being tortured. For Merlin's sake!" And then the worst thing possible to Theo happened once again, her anger turned to silent tears.
"Hermione…" He whispered, scurrying from his place on the ground to the rail. "Mione, everything you said is right, and I bet right now, those people are being grilled by the rest of the Goody Griffs." He settled himself beside her, resting his back against the rail, getting a clear view of her face. She didn't seem completely here.
"I've been through so much… and honestly… the people who don't accept me don't need to continue to be in my life." She turned and looked at Theo, "So where do you stand Theo?" The look in her eyes was resigned, it was as if she had finally come to terms on how she should look at life, and maybe she had. Theo gave a small smile and tugged her into his arms so her head was resting on his shoulder.
"By you, Bookworm." And Theo held her as she sobbed about the unfairness of the world, because of the ignorance of its occupancy, and because it finally hit her that maybe she had given up her childhood romance, and maybe, she was okay with that.
By the time the two had gone down from the hidden balcony and were winding through the corridors, the moon was already out. And maybe that was the reason a flustered Ginny tackled Hermione, going on about how Lavender shut her friend up, how those FEW people who said anything were idiots, how the common room grew angry at them, and that next time she disappeared and left her worried, she would personally raise hell to find her.
"Oh hello Nott," Ginny smiled at the raven haired boy, finished with her rant. He smiled in return.
"Weaslette." Hermione looked back and forth between her two friends; they knew each other? Well that makes things easier.
"Mione, how about I grab Harry, Ron, and Luna and we watch movies in the Head Dorm, you're invited Theo." Ginny glanced back and forth between the two Heads.
"You want to bring Ron?" Hermione deadpanned.
"Well whether or not he accepts is completely up to him, but don't you think that if I didn't invite him at all, the drama would be worse?" Hermione nodded, hugging Ginny goodbye before the redhead went off to go get the others.
"Sad thing is she knows he won't come for a while… I bet Harry will though." The brunette muttered to herself, watching her friend disappear down the corridors.
"So Hermione…." Theo caught her attention, "what exactly is a movie?" He asked, making Hermione erupt into laughter.
"Come on, you'll love it, you pureblood." She beamed, grabbing onto his hand and leading him back to their dorms. Theo's eyes widened at her display of affection before passing it off as a way she acted around her close friends, something he was glad he was becoming.