April 13, 2 am
"A Proper Tea is much nicer than a Very Nearly Tea, which is one you forget about afterwards."
Theo groaned when he looked away from his parchment and at the grandfather clock in the corner of his room. 2 am. He rubbed his face with both of his hands before looking back down at his finished essay. If he kept getting high marks, he wouldn't need his parents after he graduated. Finally be free of them, of all of their beliefs, of their friends. The work was exhausting, but completely worth it.
Standing up, he picked up his empty mug and walked out of his room towards the kitchen. "Mione?" Theo squinted his eyes, looking at the huddled form in front of the fire, "What's wrong?" He asked, forgetting about his tea and managing his way over to the silent girl. "Mione?" He repeated, sitting beside her. Theo's eyes widened when he saw the tear tracks down her face. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her onto his lap. "Shhhh." He murmured into her hair, slowly rocking side to side, "It's okay, it's all okay." He whispered, tightening his grip on her. They stayed like that for a few minutes, the only sounds coming from his words of comfort and the crackling of the fire.
"It was a stupid dream." She muttered.
"From the war?" He whispered, leaning back to get a look at her face. She nodded quietly. "Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione paused, and thought of Theo's friends… He didn't need to know that it was Draco's aunt that still caused all the nightmares in her head. She didn't need to ruin something that was working perfectly well.
"I was tortured…" She paused, trying to figure out what to say, "Interrogated by a Death Eater because I knew Harry." She finished, figuring it was accurate enough. No one needed to know about the Horcruxes, not if it would put Harry's morality under question. She felt the arms grip even tighter around her.
Theo didn't know what to say. There wasn't anything he could do to take away the pain she had already dealt with… and he wouldn't treat her differently, she would just hate that. "Would you like some tea?" He asked, interrupting the pregnant silence. Hermione looked up at him in shock, and then gave a small smile.
She nodded her head and wormed off his lap. Theo stood up and then looked down at the huddled mass below him.
"Well come on." He smirked, holding out his hand for her to grab. Hermione gave him a questioning look before grabbing it and standing up, the blanket still wrapped around her. "I doubt you know the proper way to make tea." He grinned, tucking a stray hair from her plait back behind her ear.
"What makes you think I don't?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Because this is the frilly stuff purebloods are forced to learn growing up." He informed her, dragging her into the kitchen. He smiled when she let out a chuckle. He'd make her present and future better. "So you see a proper tea, includes milk and sugar. It's a lot better than a very nearly tea, which has either or none." He nodded in affirmation.
"Oh please, I've had amazing tea that didn't have milk." She retorted, leaning against the counter as he set up the kettle and ingredients. Theo looked back at her and her makeshift pajamas. An old DA shirt and shorts.
"Trust me Granger, this tea is much better." He turned back to his masterpiece.
"Wow, that is good." Hermione moaned licking her lips to get more of the taste.
"Better than you thought it'd be isn't it." Theo smiled. Hermione nodded her head and gave a small laugh.
"Can't believe I wasn't into it."
"Want me to stop?" He chuckled, eyeing her reaction.
"What no." She sent him a perplexed gaze.
"Well it's nearly there." He gave a determined look at her, not wanting to make a mess.
"Merlin Theo, alright." Hermione huffed, making the raven haired boy laugh.
"You know I'm surprised being half blind hasn't made this any harder." He thought aloud. Hermione cocked her head to the side.
"Yeah I suppose that should've thrown off your aim." She replied, bringing the refilled mug of tea up to her mouth. Theo laughed as some of it missed her mouth.
"I knew it was going to spill." Hermione simply rolled her eyes at him. "Well it's passed 1." Theo announced, picking up his own mug of tea and hopping off the kitchen counter.
"Thanks for the "Proper Tea"." Hermione smiled, getting of the counter as well.
"Night." He gave a small smile at her as he watched her make her way back to her room's portrait.
"Good Night!" She called over her shoulder.
20 hours later
Theo yawned and put his book on the side table beside his bed. Maybe tonight he'd be able to get a full nights rest.
"Theo?" A soft voice called from the other side of his portrait.
"The passwords Proper Tea." He replied, as the door opened, revealing very much the same girl from earlier that morning, only this time her hair was down.
Hermione looked around the room and settled her gaze on the man before her. His hair was a mess, and nearly covered the top of his reading glasses. The only light in the room was from the pulled back curtains, that allowed the moon in, and a single, but strong, candle beside his bed. "I um," She paused, biting her lip. Maybe this was asking too much.
"Yes?" He asked, slowly taking off his glasses, his expression now worried. He hadn't forgotten about her nightmares.
"I had a nightmare and I was wondering if I could sleep in here with you. I could sleep on the floor its fine, I brought my own comforter," She started, pulling on the long blanket dragging behind her, "But it's fine if that's too much, I understand, I just didn't want to be alone. And I didn't have a nightmare after we talked last night. That's all." She finished quickly, wanting to get it over with. Hermione furrowed her brow, she had faced countless Death Eaters and yet she was scared to ask for comfort. Gryffindor courage was a strange finicky little thing.
"You don't need to sleep on the floor." He started, scooting over on his bed before looking down. "Oh I can put on a shirt." He chuckled nervously, his brow furrowed, looking around the room for one.
"No it's fine… I'm use to it with Harry and Ron." She answered, moving to the open side of his bed.
"Oh so you sleep with them often?" He raised an eyebrow, his smile letting her know she was joking. Hermione raised an eyebrow too.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She laughed at his expression before quickly slipping under his comforter. He didn't need to know that after the war, the group had slept together frequently in one room.
April 14, 2am
Theo awoke to whimpering and quickly pulled the trembling girl against his chest. "Shhhhh, its okay." He whispered in her hair, tightening his hold on her waist. Theo smiled as the sleeping girl quieted back down. "Shhh." He repeated, right before falling asleep.
Theo really didn't mind that she kept coming back for the rest of the school year.
A/N: hai^-^ okay so this is not the end! I promise:3