Theodore finished his dinner and checked his watch, it was time for him to go to the library to go over notes with Hermione. Professor Babbling had paired them a couple of weeks ago to help one another study for the N.E.W.T's.

This would be the first time he'd have talked with her since...everything.

He grabbed himself a take-away cup of hot cocoa and decided to make one for Hermione as well.

"Where are you off to?" Draco asked with sorrow in his eyes.

Poor chap hadn't been able to be alone in almost a week.

Theo gave him a crooked smile, "I have to go study with Her-" He had then noticed that Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini were prying into their conversation.

"Granger. She always complains about how I never bring her a hot cocoa, just not in the mood to listen to the bitching today." He said, not meaningfully.

"Right." Blaise sarcastically said, "We all know the two of you are shagging."

Draco and Theo shared a glance at one another and Theo retorted, "I guess you heard right, then."

He didn't have time to deal with the pettiness from his classmates, at this point he'd say just about anything to shut them up, and to keep Draco's bloody arse safe from being found out.

Theo turned on his heel and headed for the library, fortunately Madam Pince wasn't around to terrorize him for the drinks. However he was always able to swoon her with the batting of his lashes. His mood though, was just too far gone to play 'Mister Charming'.

Hermione was studying in at her usual table, near the back of the library. Her nose deep inside of a book, looking as if she didn't want to be bothered.

Theo felt an abundance of anxiety course through his veins when he caught sight of her.

He cleared his throat nervously, "Hey Granger."

"Oh!" - "Hi, Theo." She looked up with her velvet eyes, and then to his hands, holding the take-away cups.

"I brought this for you." He set one down on the table, taking a seat next to her. Usually he'd prop a foot up on another chair, but this time he sat as if he was restrained to the seat.

"Is everything ok with you?" She asked, her eyes still soft, but danced with curiosity.

"Yep. Just here for the notes."

Theo was overly anxious and felt as if he could throw up. It had only been days it had seemed since he watched her die. It was as if he were talking with a ghost.

"Err... O-ok." She stammered, looking down to the parchment in front of her. "This is what we learned in Ancient Runes." She slid the sheet over to him.

After they had finally gotten all of their notes copied and put together, Theo laid his face onto the table, the coldness of the wood felt good against his warmth.

"You look as if you don't feel well. Would you like me to help you to the hospital wing? I'm sure Madam Pomfrey has some Pepper-Up Potion." Hermione observed.

"I don't. Shit has been... weird lately. But no, thanks. Madam Pomfrey can't fix this." He sighed deeply.

"Yes, for me too..." She said dismissively, at which Theo shot his head up. "How so?"

"Oh... It's nothing really."

Theo crinkled his face, "Huh. What is up with you, Granger. Usually you're all about talking it up, and I just sit and pretend to listen. But today I feel a bit put-off. So out with it."

"Well... He seems different don't you think? Draco. You're with him more than I am, so you'd notice it more-so than I would."

Theo perked at her suggestion, "Whatever do you mean?"

"It's a bit silly, I suppose...I've just caught him staring at me lately... And the other day he, he..."

Theo raised his brows in question, "He what?"

"He actually talked to me like I was a human being." She said as if she was intrigued by it.

"Well that is what you are isn't it? A human." He had to play it off. He couldn't risk her suspicions.

"Well yes, bu-"

"But nothing, Granger." He cut her off.

She looked slightly taken back, "What? Nothing snarky to say? You were there, you didn't think it was strange?"

"What do you mean?" He caught her eyes.

Shit.

Theo made a mental note to ask Draco what the hell he was doing talking to her, he knows the plan.

"Well usually you'd say something along the line of 'why were you staring at him to even notice he was staring at you?' She said in a 'Theo like voice'. Theodore then understood, the other Draco must've said something... But why? He needed to check with Draco just to be sure.

Sighing a soft chuckle, this had to have been one of the reasons they got along so well.

"I've got to go Granger." He stood from the table, "Thanks for the notes."

She nodded questionably, "Sure. Want to get together again nextThursday?"

"You're not going home for Christmas?"

"Oh, no." My parents are going to Majorca..."

He took a deep breath, that's right. He remembered from the memory.

He smirked briefly, "Yeah, alright, see you then."

Returning her own fainted smile, she watched as he walked out the library. He had a different appeal about him.

She shook off the thought and began to gather her belongings to make her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room.