Minds on the Headmasters Tower, the three men didn't realize as a fourth person was jogging up behind Draco, completely unbeknownst of the two seemingly invisible men around him.
"Hey Draco! Wait up!" Draco staggered in his trail, turning to see who was calling out for him.
"No Hogsmeade for you today either, mate?" Said the boy as Theo and Draco quickly stepped aside.
Suddenly, a very sixteen-year-old Theodore Nott was ruffling young Draco's perfectly groomed hair. At the gesture, he glared daggers. "No, not today it seems, Nott."
"Well what are you up to, then? Care to go chasing a few lonely skirts moping around the castle?" He said grinning, tapping his fingers together. The younger Draco furrowed his brows at the gesture. Really?
"Can't you see that I am busy?" He gestured to nothing.
Just then the older Nott leaned toward Draco and whispered in his ear, "Bring him."
Shrugging his shoulders, with a breathy groan, he nods toward to Theo. "Er, care to join me?" Young Draco rushed out before his friend could turn away.
"Uh. I thought... Never mind, sure." Theo said with a suspiciously cocked eyebrow.
Once again, off they went. The four of them made it to the Gargoyle Corridor without any other interruptions.
Approaching the entrance to the Headmaster's office, young Theo looked confused, but said nothing on it.
"Acid pops." Guessed Draco. Nothing.
"Fizzing Whizbees."
Sucking in air through his teeth, he squinted to think once more. Third times a charm, right?
"Toffee Eclairs." The elder Draco said finally, and the gargoyle started to spiral.
The younger Theo's confusion only mounted when he didn't see his friend's mouth utter the password. "Man's got quite the sweet tooth, yeah?" Draco offered, smirking.
Theodore only nodded.
As soon as the staircase finished turning up, the Elder Theo nudged young Malfoy to hurry up the stairs, the rest followed.
Upon entering Dumbledore's office, young Mister Nott stopped walking abruptly, allowing the two invisible wizards to collide into him.
"I knew it!" Theo exclaimed through a playful smile. "Ha! I fucking knew it. Now tell me what in Salazar's name is going on?"
"Knew what?" The young blond countered.
"You're hiding something. Or someone's'"
The men revealed themselves, as young Theo's stomach churned when his eyes landed on the older version of himself. "Oh shit."
"They're uh... Well, you see..." Draco couldn't come up with anything, so he just stopped talking.
Knowing exactly what was happening, young Nott turned to young Malfoy. "Yeah I see rather clearly. What the actual bloody fuck are you doing messing with time, Draco?" He accused.
"Me? I'm not messing with anything, it's them!" Draco tutted, tossing his head toward the older two.
Older Theo chucked, "Might I say, technically, you are." He winked gesturing between both of the Draco's, as if comparing them.
Young Theo ran his fingers through his hair, "This is not good. You." He pointed at his older self, "better have a bloody good reason as to why you're breaking the law and taking a chance on killing us. I mean look at you, me, I look absolutely fantastic. I'd like to keep to it."
"Oi! Calm your teats, lad! Don't you think we would have a very good reason as to why we'd be placing my amazingly good looks on the line?" - "And uh, you do get to use these looks to your advantage." He added smugly.
"Go on." Smirked the younger Nott. Gods, he found himself hilarious. And charming.
Definitely charming.
Ah, and hilarious. He shrugged with a smile.
"You two are ridiculous." Older Draco said starkly. His younger self agreed.
Crossing his arms and leaning back into his heels, Theodore observed the men for a moment more, when finally he clicked his tongue, breaking the silence. "So why are you here?"
"Long story, short. Apparently Granger and I are 'in love', we get married, which I don't fucking believe for a second, and she dies, which I've already said, she's probably better off dead... And these two decided that I needed to save her life."
"Why don't you believe it? I believe it perfectly." Young Theo said knowingly.
"That's what I said the day he came out to me in the loo." Older Theo grinned, beaming at himself.
"Ok, look. We haven't much time before Dumbledore gets back. I get that the two of you think you're so special." He flicked his finger between Theodore one and two. "But we have more important maters at hand." The older Draco tugged a phial from his pocket, holding it before them. "This is everything you need to know."
Younger Theo crinkled his nose with a sly smirk, "Will there be any shagging?"
The two blondes turned to him shaking their heads, really? All while elder Theo was laughing, high-fiving his younger self.
"Why am I even surprised anymore?" The younger Malfoy scoffed. "Trust me, give or take a few years, you won't be." Draco advocated, rolling his eyes.
The four men gathered around the pensieve as the older Draco poured the memories into it. They all nodded in agreeance as they held the sleeves of each other's cloaks. Suddenly with a whip and a pull, they fell into the first memory.
"Can they see us?" The young Draco asked quietly, nervousness began to creep through him.
"No." Theo assured him. "Let's go."
Draco was pacing the corridor, trying to reveal the 'Room of Requirement' when Filch had caught him.
"Well, well, well, what do we got here?" Filch says as he revealed and licked his tottered teeth.
He hurried over to Draco, snatching him by his collar. "Get your filthy hands off of me. I am attending Slughorn's Christmas Party." Draco insisted.
"I don't believe that." Filch kept dragging him down the corridor, until Hermione had rounded the corner, looking a bit flustered.
Older Draco smiled as he watched the memory. Hermione looked so beautiful in that coral colored dress, even with that maddening expression. Always so cute when she was mad. Merlin, he missed her.
"Draco! There you are!" She said as she approached he and the cruddy old man. Draco continued to grimace at Filch, but turned back to Hermione, throwing her his trademark smirk. "Hello Granger." He said silkily, as if he had been expecting her.
"What's going on? I've been looking for him, everywhere." Hermione asked looking toward the Haggard man.
"Filchy here seems to think that I am not invited to the party." Draco said, understanding that Hermione indeed was saving his arse.
She chuckled, "He is, Filch. He's with me." She smiled politely.
Filch shoved him out of his hand, leaving wrinkles on Draco's shoulder. "Stupid kids " He mumbled as he limped away
Draco ran his fingers through his already tousled hair. "Thanks." He sighed. Hermione smiled shyly. "No problem." As Draco turned to walk away, he nodded with gratitude, but was stopped when Hermione called out an almost inaudible, "Wait."
The young Draco looked upon himself, astounded that he's even indulging her with conversation. He glanced over at the other three as they were watching in awe. Pathetic.
"D-do you want to come inside?" She pointed over her shoulder, toward the party inside of Slughorn's chambers.
Surprised at her gesture, Draco couldn't find the words to say no. He wanted to yes. Gods he wanted to be the man to court her around on his arm. But he couldn't, he had previous endeavors he had to attend.
"I...uh...well."
"It's ok if you don't want to. It's just my date kind of bailed on me."
"What? Whose your date?"
"Cormac." She said with blushing cheeks.
"Ah. That twat. You're better off for it." He teased. Hermione's cheeks were then scarlet.
"So, do you?" - He shook his head, "I can't. I'd really like to...I'm sorry he bailed though."
"No, no don't be sorry. I only wanted to offer."
As she turned away, Draco felt his tongue slip words before he could even stop them.
"How about we have lunch together some time? You know, to thank you for saving my arse."
She was standing before him once more. Worrying her lip with contemplating a smile. "Sure. I'd like that." Hermione turned and walked away, but as she did, Draco watched until she disappeared behind the curtains to the party.
The Theo's clapped their hands together, as the elder of the two spoke out. "That was fucking adorable."
"I agree, older me. It was rather inspiring, very lovely." Older Theo lassoed his hand above his head, "Should've jumped on it!"
Younger Theo laughed, "Seriously. That dress was easily accessible and she was totally into you."
Both of the Draco's couldn't say anything before they were swooshed away into another memory.
Once they staggered into the setting, all four had been too busy to speak at first.
"I really, really do not like the feeling of that." Elder Theo murmured as he bent forward to his knees.
"Good. That's a punch in the gut for being so crude." Draco had landed perfectly flat on his feet.
"Neh. Arse." He said as he stuck out his tongue.
"So. Where are we now?"