Chapter Seventeen.
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Thanks to her daily sessions with Julia, her increased dose of potion and having Theo and Blaise around to lift her spirits, Hermione found herself feeling much better over the next week. Though she still had moments of melancholy, and she was nowhere near back to her usual self, she was functioning and participating, which was a enough of an improvement for now.
One thing that was troubling her now, though, was the fact that Theo had returned to his own apartment and she once again found herself sleeping alone. Just having him next to her was enough to provide her with a feeling of safety and tonight was her first night without him. She had tossed and turned for hours in the too-big bed before finding herself here, in front of her roommates bedroom door. She raised her hand and knocked, hearing his footsteps as he approached and the door opened to reveal his tired face.
"Whassup?" He mumbled. Clearly she had woken him up. "Everything o'right?"
"I can't sleep on my own." She admitted sheepishly and he snorted before swinging the door wide open and waving his arm toward the bed.
"After you, m'lady." He drawled and Hermione laughed as she crawled into the side of the bed that she knew was opposite to where he usually slept.
When he returned, Blaise flopped a heavy arm over her waist and closed his eyes, but Hermione lay awake. She thought of Theo and wondered if she could truly fall for him. The answer was a resounding yes, of course. Julia had been right when she'd said that he provided a love and devotion that was unique. He was gentle and wonderful, and Hermione found her that her heart swelled at the thought of him.
"He realy does love you, you know?" Blaise mumbled and Hermione looked at his face to see one eye open and watching her.
"Are you a legilimens?" She gasped and he chuckled.
"No, but wouldn't life be so much fun if I was?" He winked, "Could you love him?"
"I might already," She admitted, grinning at Blaise, "I'm not sure, but I definitely could. He's brilliant."
"Excellent," Blaise grinned, stretching and rubbing his eyes. "Now, would you care for the latest updates of our non-existent love affair?"
"Of course. You're my very own tabloid." Hermione laughed and he glared at her, which she returned by poking her tongue out at him. He poked it back into her mouth and chuckled. "What's the latest?"
"Well. I've either murdered you and hidden your body or you've upped and left me, taking half of my fortune with you. Take your pick." He laughed, recounting the latest ridiculous lies in the Prophet.
"Hmmm..." Hermione tapped her chin, pretending to consider her options, "I either end up dead or rich, that's not really a fair choice." Blaise snorted.
"I knew it! You only love me for my vast riches!" He exclaimed, covering his eyes dramatically and Hermione giggled.
"Thank you, Blaise. For looking after me." She smiled once they had settled down.
"Of course." He assured. "You're basically my family. Like he little sister I never had."
"But I'm older than you." She yawned, closing her eyes.
"I'm taller than you. Go to sleep." He muttered, clearly almost asleep himself.
Hermione laughed and rested her head on his arm, slowly allowing her mind to shut down for the night.
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"Morning mate." Blaise called as Theo stepped out of the floo the next morning. "Your witch is still asleep in my bed." Theo snorted as he walked into the kitchen.
"Only you could get away with that comment." He chuckled, accepting a cup of coffee from Blaise and sitting down at the table. "What's she doing in there, anyway?"
"She couldn't sleep on her own," Blaise shrugged, "So she came into my room."
"Oh." Theo muttered, glancing out of the window at the bright blue sky. "How was she last night?"
Theo had left after dinner when Blaise had pulled out a selection of pink DVDs and suggesting that they watch chick flicks. Theo had quickly declined and hastily disappeared through the floo, leaving Blaise and Hermione to watch their sap alone. They'd watched Legally Blonde, The Princess Diaries and Bridget Jones before Hermione had headed to bed, exhausted.
"She was alright. Cried in the usual places, but otherwise she seemed fine." Blaise informed and Theo smiled. "What are your plans for today?"
Theo had mentioned that he was going to get Hermione out of the apartment today. Considering that she hadn't left it since their date the Saturday before last, Blaise was more than happy to back his decision. He'd suggested somewhere outside but Theo had told him he'd already started to make the plans so Blaise had left him to it.
"Bookshops." Theo grinned and Blaise chuckled.
"Did someone say bookshops?" Came a tired voice from behind them and Blaise turned to see Hermione crossing to the coffee machine.
"Fancy it?" Theo asked, smiling and she hesitated before nodding slightly. "I'll be with you the whole time."
"I know." Hermione said, pulling out a chair and joining them at the table. "I just don't want to see anyone we know."
"We won't." He said assuredly and she raised a brow at him, "We're going to the south coast, purely muggle."
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Hermione and Theo enjoyed a peaceful day of wandering in and out of antique and secondhand muggle bookshops and lazing on the sandy beach in Cornwall. The sun had been shining and Hermione revelled in the feeling of warmth against her skin. Theo had thoroughly spoiled her, having surprised her when he pulled a wallet full of muggle money from his pocket, and she had picked up some truly wonderful books that she was excited to add to her library. He'd also bought her lunch in a beautiful seafront restaurant and ice cream to eat on the sand.
She had persuaded him to join her in paddling in the sea and she had almost cried laughing when he screamed because some seaweed got tangled around his foot. In all, it had been the most relaxing and wonderful day that Hermione could remember herself having in a long time, and she was incredibly thankful to Theo for bringing her here.
They were currently sat on a bench, watching the sun set over the water and she turned to him, smiling. She didn't say anything, but pulled him towards her for a kiss before pulling away.
"Thank you for bringing me here." She told him, turning back to the sunset and felt his arm rest around her shoulders.
"My pleasure." He smiled, "How are you feeling?"
"Relaxed." She murmured, looking over at him. "I feel better right now than I have in a long time. I can't remember the last time I was excited to read a book."
"Well you've got plenty to choose from." He laughed, nudging the big bag of books next to him with his elbow.
"I did get quite a few, didn't I?" She chuckled.
They were silent for a few minutes, watching the sunset and the other people passing them by. To anyone who saw them, they would appear just a normal couple enjoying a romantic view, but to Hermione, this was a revelation. She felt truly happy, and it seemed like such a long time since the last time she had felt this way.
"Tell me something I don't know about you." Theo said as he played with a lock of hair near her shoulder.
"Like what?" Hermione asked, smiling as she turned to face him.
"Something that nobody else knows." Theo said and she nodded, appearing deep in thought.
"Oh! I've got it!" She exclaimed and he gestured for her to continue. "When I was 7, and I was just starting to experience outbursts with my magic, I got so annoyed with my teacher for giving me a low mark on a test, even though I'd worked really hard, that I made all of her clothes disappear."
Theo was silent for a moment before his shoulders started to shake with suppressed laughter. He tried to hold it in but Hermione snorted in a very unladylike fashion and it set him off again, causing him to erupt in loud uncontrolled laughter. Hermione was laughing with him and by the time they'd settled down, she was rubbing at a stitch in her side and Theo was breathless.
"That is fucking amazing." He chuckled, shaking his head.
"It wasn't so funny in a room full of traumatised children. Your turn," Hermione chuckled, nudging him with her shoulder, "Tell me something I don't know about you."
"Hmm..." Theo hummed, his face concentrated in thought before he snapped his fingers and turned to Hermione, "I once turned Draco's hair bright pink for calling you names."
"What?" Hermione gasped before chuckling, "When was this?"
"Fourth year," He laughed, "He had to go to Flitwick to reverse the charm."
"Oh!" Hermione laughed, "Professor Flitwick started to grin oddly at Draco about halfway through the year! Now I know why!"
Theo nodded and pressed a kiss to Hermione's temple, pulling her closer to him and she rested her head on his shoulder, soaking in the relaxing final heat from the sun.