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.

All mistakes are mine. Sorry.

Warning: Rated M. Cursing, sexual innuendos, lemons and fluff ahead. Basically what you would expect from a romance novel nowadays.

Music is my Muse:
Song for this chapter: Homewrecker; Gretchen Wilson
Lyric of choice: I'll teach you a lesson if you get to messin' with my man, you don't stand a chance...

I would like to thank Crazy4Wood and AlexandraO for reading over the chapter before I posted it.

Love of a Mate

Chapter 21
The Tale of Two Theo's

Hermione and Ginny walked with linked arms towards the Leaky Caldron for a late lunch. Both in Muggle clothes as they had been out shopping that morning for Ginny's wedding. Ginny had decided she wanted Hermione to not wear dress robes but instead be in a Muggle gown and they had just spent three hours browsing high-end shops around London.

Hermione paused as she felt a small pull in her heart and heard Draco whisper, "I just got an owl from Theo to meet him at his house for lunch or tea, going to head over to Nott Manor, see you tonight, my heart."

She smiled as she sent back her love and a quick message. "Have fun, don't forget tonight we are having dinner with Ginny and Harry."

Ginny was prattling on about shoes she had found that she was going to wear with her wedding robes, there was no talking her mother into a Muggle dress for that, so Hermione nodded as they slipped into the bar and over to a corner table to get some much-needed food.

OoOooOoO

Two hours later saw them pouring over Muggle wedding magazines they had purchased and Ginny sighing over a particular dress.

"Do you think if I showed this to mum she might change her mind on the robes?" Ginny asked wistfully pulling the magazine to her with greedy eyes.

Hermione smiled at her friend. "It couldn't hurt," she said taking back the magazine to look it over. "You could always implement some of the stylings from this dress into the robes?"

Ginny's eyes narrowed and then she nodded. "True, mum is always up for a compromise."

Hermione laughed. "I imagine after raising as many children as she has, compromise is key. But you are her only girl, Ginny. She is just excited."

Ginny grimaced and sipped her tea. "I know, but it's like it is her wedding and not ours. Harry is really good natured and even he is getting fed up."

Hermione chewed on her lip. "Well, talk to her about it."

Ginny snorted. "Right, just talk to mum. Let's see you do that, you're as terrified of my mum as I am."

Hermione shuddered and laughed raising her tea cup. "True, very true."

She paused as Draco whispered in her head again. "Still with Theo, not sure what is up with him. Having a few drinks."

Hermione frowned but shook her head, she would talk to Draco about it when he got home. She went back to looking at magazines with Ginny until there was a bit of a scuffle at the bar that had them both looking up. Someone had demanded a bottle of fire whiskey and then crashed it to the floor, causing Tom to yell in outrage.

"Hermione isn't that Theo Nott?" Ginny asked with a slight frown.

Hermione had been turning around but at this, her head jerked up and her eyes narrowed as she realized that, Theo Nott, was indeed standing at the bar yelling at Tom, the barkeep. She stood up and moved over quickly and quietly stunning the man and binding him.

Ginny let out a gasp of shock. "Mione'?"

Hermione shook her head and sent a Patronus off to Harry. "Get to the Leaky right away, bring an antidote to Polyjuice potion."

Ginny's eyes narrowed as she looked over the bound and silenced wizard glaring at them. "Why do you think this isn't Theodore Nott?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the wizard in front of them. "Because Draco said he was with Theo Nott right now at Nott Manor, I highly doubt an imposter would have gotten through the wards, so whoever this is, has to be polyjuiced."

Ginny's eyes flew back to the man and she raised her wand. "Why would someone polyjuice themselves to be Theo Nott?"

Hermione shook her head and reached out to her husband. "Draco, Draco I have Theo Nott at the leaky. Someone is polyjuiced as him!"

She frowned and threw up a muffliato looking at Ginny her eyes a bit wild. "Draco isn't answering, I can't sense his thoughts at all. He just told me he was with Theo and about to have drinks not five minutes ago!"

Ginny frowned moving closer to her friend. "Does he ever not answer you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, you know that, and distance wouldn't be a factor, he was able to contact me from France last week."

Ginny nodded biting her lip before her eyes flashed with anger. "Something isn't right," she threw off her own Patronus. "Harry, get here now!" Then she looked up at Tom the barkeeper. "Can you hold him until Harry Potter arrives, sir?"

Tom bowed his head his eyes narrowed on the wizard in front of him. "Aye, I can."

Hermione was working to not turn around and torture whoever it was polyjuiced as Nott as she sent out thoughts to Draco, but he was silent.

Ginny grabbed her hand and pulled her away once Tom took over with his wand raised. "Okay, Hermione, we can go through official channels and let the Auror's deal with this, or we floo off to Malfoy Manor as soon as we see Harry and then apparate to Nott Mansion."

Hermione looked at the wizard in front of her and put an additional binding spell on him before she nodded at Ginny. "Let's go, we don't need to wait for Harry, whoever that is isn't getting out of that." She disarmed the wizard and handed the wand to Tom who nodded at them his eyes full of anger.

Ginny's face was grim as Hermione grabbed her hand and they headed out into Muggle London, there was an alley behind the Leaky they could use.

OoOOooOO

Draco awoke suddenly but didn't open his eyes or move, he had been drugged, but bugger on the bastard that had done it, he was a Veela, and it moved through his system faster than it would a normal wizard.

Without using his sight he took in his surroundings. Cold damp stone underneath him, probably a dungeon. He could hear water dripping and feel a slight breeze, someone was shuffling around and muttering to themselves, he scented the air and had to work to not stiffen. Theo, Theo had done this to him? He attempted to move and realized he was magically bound as well as being bound with some kind of metal.

"Hermione," he whispered in his head softly.

He didn't have to wait long, he felt her relief before she said curtly. "Can you tell me where you are? Did you leave Nott Mansion, or has he got you there still? What did he drug you with? Are you hurt?"

His lips twitched, trust his mate to know he was in trouble already, slowly and carefully he peeked through his eyelashes and ascertained that he was in a dungeon, with what looked like a potion station set up. Slowly he shifted, Theo had his back turned and was looking over a book muttering to himself. He winced as he realized his wrist was bound away from him and hurt like the devil, looking down his eyes went wide as he saw that he was being bled, a pewter cauldron underneath his slit wrist.

"I am in a dungeon, probably still in Nott Manor, Theo is here and he has slit my wrist and is collecting my blood."

The rage he felt from his mate almost had him laughing. "Why would he be taking your blood?"

Draco was curious about that himself, reaching out with his senses he listened in on Theo's muttering. Potion ingredients? He was muttering about potion ingredients and the fact that someone was not already there to tell him how to continue with what he was doing.

"Potion ingredients, and he is waiting on someone. My guess is he figured out I am Veela. Our blood is rare and worth a lot, male Veela blood."

Draco winced as his mate went into a spitting rage. "Did you know your blood was a rare potion ingredient?"

Sheepishly he replied, "Yes, my heart."

He wasn't surprised when she didn't respond, he knew she was going to be livid with him for not telling her this could be an issue. He also could read enough of her thoughts even without her projecting them to him to tell that she was completely mental that he had stuck guards on her when his blood was priceless.

The door creaked open and Draco let his body go limp pretending to still be unconscious as another person entered the room.

"What took you so fucking long?" Theo hissed.

Whoever it was grunted. "Only been down here twice, bit of a maze this place."

Draco sighed, he was definitely in the Nott dungeons, they were a complete maze. "Nott dungeons, the other person is here now."

"On our way." Was all that was said, damn she was pissed at him.

The other man moved towards him and lifted his wrist sealing it back up and picking up the cauldron. "Now you have to bottle this within the hour or it's useless, needs a charm on it. How long has he been bleeding?"

Theo cursed. "Fuck, about forty-five minutes more or less."

The man shrugged. "Should be alright, have plenty more where that came from. Not like they will know he is here with that double you sent out."

Theo gave an evil chuckle. "The little bitch of a Parkinson is finally good for something."

Draco had to work to remain still, Pansy was involved? What the fuck? "Pansy is polyjuiced as Theo I would guess." He said to Hermione.

He heard her soft snort in his head. "We know, we caught her at the leaky and Harry sent us a Patronus when he gave her the antidote. She was imperioused, no idea by who, the magical signature isn't Theo's though, they have that on file from after the war."

Draco nodded internally and then had to work on staying totally still as the man came back and set down another cauldron using his wand to open Dracos' other wrist.

Bloody hell, how much blood had he lost, he was already dizzy. "Bleeding me again, I am getting dizzy. I might pass out, I will regenerate the blood quickly but if I go silent don't panic."

He felt her love wash over him and then her voice in his head, full of steel and anger. "Panic is not an emotion I have right now. If Theo isn't imperioused they won't find his body."

Draco had to hide his smirk as the man shuffled off, he smelled of stale whiskey and body odour. Who had Theo found to help him? Why was Theo doing this?

"Not sure he is a full Veela if he is still asleep from that potion, mate." The unknown wizard said with a dry chuckle.

Theo snorted. "Who cares, the blood is worth the same."

A grunt met this remark. "Just means we can't bleed him as often is all, slower going. You sure no one will come here looking for him?"

A nasty chuckle. "They will come but I have an alibi, so I can let them in and send them on their way. They think I am dead and won't ever find my son, this is the perfect plan."

Dracos' eyes snapped open as he stared at the man he had thought was Theo, shite, this was the Elder Nott? Suddenly everything made sense. "Hermione, it's not Theo Nott Jr we are dealing with, this is his father, Theo Nott Sr.!"

"Well I guess we know why Theo has been acting so different, is he alive do you think?"

Draco felt sick to his stomach as he looked around the dungeon room he was in as quickly as he could. "He isn't with me," he said sadly. What had happened to his friend?

"We will figure it out, my love, don't upset yourself," Hermione whispered gently into his head.

There was a small pop and a house elf squeaky voice said. "Master, the Mudblood who married the Malfoy heir and her blood traitor friend are here to see you."

Nott Sr. let out a disgusted grunt. "The first visitor's, well let me go and see them off."

Whoever the other wizard was, did not seem fazed by this and just shrugged, Draco watched through his lashes as Nott Sr. swept out after telling the elf to see the ladies into the parlour and offer them drinks.

"Don't drink anything he offers you, he is on his way up. I am down in the dungeons, they are a maze." Draco said urgently to his mate who just scoffed back at him.

"As if I would drink anything this bastard offered me. How many elves does he have?"

Draco frowned at that question. "Um, three, why?"

"Because we have to neutralize them."

"You're going to hurt his house elves?"

Hermione was glaring, he could feel it. "Neutralize as in keeping them out of the way, that doesn't necessarily mean we harm them."

Draco felt himself start to slip. "Feeling faint, love. Don't kill him, please."

"I love you, we will get to you soon and your mother has a healer waiting for us at home."

Draco slipped into unconsciousness with a slight smile on his lips, of course, his mate had his mother and a healer waiting for him. He almost felt sorry for the Elder Nott, the wizard had no idea what the two witches waiting for him could do when riled. He just hoped Harry got to them before Hermione ended up in Azkaban for torturing and killing Theodore Nott Senior or anyone else who stood in her way.

OoOOooOoO

Hermione quietly and quickly told Ginny what was going on, she used Pig Latin which she had learned as a lark as a child and taught Ginny in order for them to have conversations without her brothers able to spy on them. She figured a few elves were listening in and sent out a silent thank you to her long dead grandfather who had learned the funny dialogue from an American POW during World War Two when they had been in an internment camp together. Papa Granger had taught his little granddaughter and they had enjoyed many an afternoon conversing together to her Nan's annoyance.

Ginny just nodded her eyes going around the room quickly and efficiently. "We should give him what looks like a heart attack and call for the elves for help, then we can bind them up and have Kreacher watch over them, he is meaner than the Malfoy elves."

Hermione gave a slow nod. "Will he come if we call?"

Ginny smirked. "Yes, he adores me, and there were no wards preventing elf magic I noticed, so he can pop right in."

Hermione nodded, she hadn't noticed those wards either. Good that was the elves handled then. "Any ideas on how to get through the maze of dungeons?"

Ginny frowned. "No, not a one, but if we can find the real Theo Nott he might be able to help us. Remember you have to keep the witch or wizard alive to use the polyjuice."

Hermione felt her body buzz with relief and excitement. "Right, that's right. I think we might have our play, one of those elves has to know where Theo is."

Ginny's eyes danced with glee. "I bet they do, well Kreacher can help out with that I am sure. I do so love his evil side myself, and it's about time we put it to good use. Shame we can't just have the Malfoy elves pop into the dungeons to get Draco but we don't know who is with him or what condition he is in, and usually, the dungeons are warded against an elf not of the family just popping in there. "

Hermione shook her head but gave a grim smile. "I hate hurting the elves but I want to know where my husband and his friend are, Kreacher won't kill them will he?"

Ginny shrugged. "Don't know, don't care right now. Draco is part Black, Hermione, Kreacher will see it as his duty to find him."

Hermione gave a long sigh. "Right, well game face, let's look nice and innocent."

Ginny nodded and the two witches sat with smiles as they waited for the Elder Nott to show up.

"I call dibs on hitting him first with the spell," Hermione said softly as they heard shuffling.

Ginny inclined her head. "Fair enough, I will take care of the elves and call Kreacher."

Hermione nodded and then looked up as the door opened.

"Hermione? Ginny? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The wizard had just barely shut the door when Hermione's spell hit him and he collapsed.

"Oh, Merlin!" Ginny shouted jumping up. "He is having a heart attack, quick, elves, does he have elves!"

Hermione rushed forward at the twitching wizard grabbing his wand and pocketing it as three pops were heard around them.

"Master, my master!" Cried an elf, before Ginny shot all three with stunners and bound them together. "Kreacher! I could use some help."

A pop and Kreacher was looking at her curiously. "My soon to be mistress needs Kreacher?"

Ginny nodded smiling at him and giving him a slight bow. "The wizard on the floor is Theodore Nott Senior not Theodore Nott Junior and we need to find both Theo and Draco as quickly as possible."

Kreacher bowed frowning. "Kreacher does not know this house, mistress."

Ginny nodded. "Oh, we know, but we thought you could get Theo's location from these elves. He is a dear friend of Draco's and could probably tell us how to find him if he is able to speak. Draco is being bleed by some maniac in their dungeons. "

Kreacher's' ugly face twisted with rage. "Master Draco is being held captive, Kreacher will help." He walked around the three elves before he snapped his fingers and they all came out of their sleep from the stunners, their eyes wide with horror at the two witches standing over them with cold angry faces.

"Right, you three have two choices, tell us where young Theo Nott is or deal with my house elf Kreacher. He is rather vicious and I should mention from the house of Black, your master has a descendant from that house down in his dungeons."

Hermione spoke up now her voice cold. "That would be my mate, Draco Malfoy."

One of the little elves squeaked out in a bold voice. "The mudblood would not harm us, she tries to help house elves."

Hermione grinned at them evilly. "No, I try to free you. Ginny, a sock should do it, don't you think? We can have their incapacitated Master hand it to them, not a hard spell to animate his hand to move."

Kreacher let out a long chuckle. "Mistress Malfoy is as mean as Kreacher now."

Hermione lost her grin and stared down at the trembling elves who were looking at her with varying degrees of horror and terror. "Now, where is your young master and where is my husband. You have thirty seconds to start talking before I free you and turn you over to Kreacher to torture. Elf magic is much more harmful than our own on your lot."

Kreacher cracked his knuckles happily as Ginny looked at her best friend. "Merlin I forgot how demented you could be when someone threatens your family. The last time I saw this look on your face was when you thought Voldemort had killed Harry."

All the Nott elves cringed at the name as Hermione shrugged. "Ten seconds, decide." She tapped her foot counting down the seconds as she waited.

Ginny was right, Hermione did not tolerate those she loved being put in danger.

Notes:
There you go, my muse has thrown a twist in on me. It's been Nott Sr. all along. So, do you think the elves will talk or will they be getting socks? ;) And, don't mess with Hermione!