Draco dressed into his cloak, tucked his phial into his shirt and grabbed his wand. Theo was once again snoring, and loudly. He knew that his mate would want to come along with him, for this particular outing.
"Nott." He whispered harshly.
"Mm.." Theo groaned out.
"Nott." He said with a light slap to Theo's face.
"Wha- Santy Claus?" He sat up quickly.
Draco growled, "Yeah, ho ho ho."
Theo rubbed his eyes, "Ugh. What in the bloody hell are you waking me up for? I was dreaming fairly well, you wanker."
"Could you seriously be any louder?" Draco's annoyance was growing more and more.
Theo rolled his eyes and whispered very slowly, "What. Is. Your. Reasoning. For. Waking. Me. Up?"
"Well if you'd shut up for a minute I could bloody well tell your arse!"
They were whispering with the intent of yelling.
"Let me just bend over so you're better positioned then!" Theo shrugged, "So?"
"I'm going to get a pensieve, want to come?"
Theo pressed his head back into his pillow, "Of course I do. But why at -" he glanced to his watch, "at bloody three o'clock in the morning."
"So we won't be caught. The witch that sells them only does business at night."
"Sounds like my kind of lady." Theo smirked.
Rolling his eyes, Draco threw Theo's cloak at him, "Let's go."
"Alright, alright, only because I know you want to watch your shagging." As he stood he clapped Draco on the back, "I understand, mate."
The two wizards cast a disillusionment charm upon themselves and snuck into the common room. Blaise and Pansy were snogging one another on a sofa.
"Looks like you've got competition." Theo whispered.
"Sod off." Draco plundered his invisible elbow into his invisible friend.
"Oohg." He stifled his groan.
"How do you suppose we get out of here?"
Draco reached for his wand and cast a swift Petrificus Totalus on the snogging pair, then the men fled.
"So who is this woman we are meeting?" Theo asked as they stepped onto the Hogsmeade grounds.
"I can't remember her name. I just recall my mother mentioning her once... I know where to find her." Draco replied.
Bringing themselves back into sight, they each pulled their hoods over their heads, checking around to see if anyone they might know would recognize them. Luckily, with it being so early and a holiday, they didn't run into a soul.
Finally stopping in front of a rather large, old purplish house, Draco nodded, "This is the place."
'Madam Mysteries'
Theo cocked his head, "I've heard of this place... Draco, are you sure they sell a single pensieve here?"
The front door of the building opened and the men ran to hide behind a bush.
"See you next week, Sev?" A woman called out. "Obv...iously." The man wore a...was that a smile?
Theo and Draco's jaws dropped, "Oh my Gods."
Severus Snape pulled his cloak closer to his body, and treaded down the front steps. He observed his surroundings, as if he was looking for something. Snape made his way down the street, and out of sight.
"Oh-ho. This is bloody brilliant!" Theo started laughing. "This is way too fucking good."
Draco wouldn't believe what he just saw, there was no way that Severus Snape was down here for a quick shag.
"I mean come on, he's not down here to buy a pensieve." reasoned Theo, still laughing.
A bell alerted the witch behind the counter. She was young, looking but a few years older than them.
"Hello." she nodded her head, circling around the counter, "What can I do to help you?"
Her smile was soft. Theo cocked a brow and held out his hand for hers. She obliged, kissing it he began, "Well, for starters you could tell me the likings of your name, my lady."
There it is. The Theodore Nott charm.
The exact reason Draco invited him along. It was known that she wouldn't sell to underage wizards or witches, so hopefully his plan would work accordingly.
"Honoria." she batted her lashes, "But my friends call me, Honey."
Theodore froze. "Ex-excuse me?" He stood up straight, a cheesy grin painted onto his lips.
Returning a smile, "Honey." She said once more.
"Miss Honey." He started, "I saw that Sna-."
Draco stopped him, giving him a firm expression, "That is not why we are here."
Theo pursed his lips, still admiring the woman before them.
Honey returned behind her counter, "I take it you're here for business and not pleasure."
Theo looked as if he was on 'cloud nine'.
"Later perhaps." Theo winked, and Honey couldn't help but laugh.
Draco shook his head, "Yes, we are here to purchase a pensieve. A small one, if you have it."
She studied the men, "How old are you?" She implored.
Theo was beaming, "How old do you want me to be?"
Now serious, she leaned forward over the counter, "I only do business to ones of age." Looking back and forth between the two, "However." her eyes landing onto Theo once more, "I am looking for a partner for an event I have to attend."
"He'll do it." Draco said before Theo could speak.
She chuckled lightly, "Alright. Deal." Theo didn't say anything, he was enthralled with the woman.
"The smallest I have is wand deep, wand wide."
Honey held up a small stone bowl. "Would this do?"
Draco nodded, "Yes. How much?"
"Fourteen galleons, but, since your friend here will be joining me, I suppose I'll give it to you for seven."
"Great." Draco pulled the money from his pocket and placed the gold onto the counter.
"So what are your names?"
"Uh, I'm Malfoy. And this is," Draco glanced over to the drooling man, "Theo."
She laughed, "Well, Theo. I'll be seeing you next week. Friday. I'll owl you, sweetheart."
"Thank you for this." Draco transfigured the bowl into a coin and placed it into his pocket before dragging Theo to the door.
"That was Honey, mate!" Theo exclaimed once they made it outside, "Theo didn't say she would be so..." He looked over to Draco, "You good?"
"Yeah. Just ready to get back."
The wizards were able to get in some shut-eye before having to get up for the day.
Draco and Theo made their way to the Owlery to check for any mail. Theo received a letter from his father, "Humph. Well a letter for Christmas, that's a start." He said chuckling.
Draco checked into his own cubby and a small package wrapped in emerald green was waiting for him. Theo was reading his mail, so Draco placed it into his cloak, not allowing Theo to see.
He always felt bad when he'd get something and Theo didn't.
"I wonder when I'll be getting my invitation from Honey." Theo said with a wide smile.
The Great Hall had small groups of people sitting around at different tables, enjoying their breakfasts. The air smelled of tea, coffee, bacon, pancakes, as well as everything sweet.
Hermione was reading a book, while nibbling oatmeal from her spoon. She looked up to see Draco and Theo entering. Theo nodded to her, and she gave a faint smile, waving to him. Draco caught this, but only glared at the two.
Don't let your guard down. He repeated to himself.
McGonagall approached the two, "Good morning."
Theo was piling a rather large bite of pancake into his mouth, and Draco was pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Professor." Draco greeted.
Theo was still chewing, "Prowfesther." He grinned. McGonagall proceeded, "I hope the two of you have a good Christmas. Is there anything you need?"
Draco side glanced at Theo, and back to the elder witch in front of him. "No, I don't think so."
Theo was shoving another bite into his mouth, "Mr. Nott?" "Nowpe."
She nodded, "Very well."
Tuesday and Wednesday flew by, fairly Hermione-less. Well, only because Theo did a fair job of avoiding her. He thought about skipping their study meeting tonight but he rationed that it would make he and Draco all the more suspicious to her. It wasn't that she was unpleasant, he just hadn't gotten over the things he witnessed in the pensieve. He felt a closeness to her now that he hadn't before. He felt the needed to protect her and was so bloody annoyed that she couldn't just make things easy and drop her questions. He had seen their friendship and seen her die. He wasn't about to let it happen again.
As he descended the stairs from his dorm, he noticed Draco sitting on a far sofa, alone in the common room, spare a small group of giggling first year girls. He placed his tea cup down and waved Theo over.
"Want to do something tonight? I don't think I can take just sitting around with my thoughts much longer."
"Sorry, mate. Can't."
"You sure about that? I nicked some firewhisky." Draco said with a smirk as he pulled a bottle from his robes.
"As much as I would love to sit here and get completely and utterly pissed with you, I'm wanted in the library."
"Yeah? By who?"
"You know who. Don't want to fill her head with even more questions do we?"
"You're right. More for me, anyway." He said with a weak smile "Get on then!" He added with a dismissive hand.
Theo paused before stepping forward and ruffling Draco's hair. "See ya later then, mate! Try not to get too rowdy without me."
They both chuckled as Draco attempted to fix his hair, and Theo set off toward the door.
Theo escaped the dungeons quickly before thinking to stop at the kitchens in the basement. Maybe if he could shut up Granger with some cocoa, they could focus just on runes. He doubted it, but he could dream couldn't he?
Two cups floated ahead of him as he took the stairs to the first floor two at a time and pointed himself in the direction of the library. As he rounded the corner to the library he froze when he saw Madam Pince. He quickly backed around the corner again before casting disillusionment charms on the two hot cups. "Old bint and her books." He muttered before continuing onward, to the back of the library.
He lowered himself to a seat at the table across from the bushy-haired girl and reached across it to hand her a cup.
"Good evening, Granger."
"Theo." She said simply "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"And miss the chance to sit in the library, studying on a Thursday night when I could be drinking with Draco? Never!"
Hermione assumed this was a joke but quickly decided she could use this to her advantage.
"Oh yeah? Is Malfoy particularly unpleasant lately?" She prodded.
"I shouldn't have said that." He thought before steeling himself to respond.
"You know, Miss Granger, you sure spend a lot of time talking about my friend. I'm beginning to think I'm being used. What is with your obsession with Draco?"
She blushed before sputtering, unable to form a proper sentence. Theo tried to hide his smile.
"I am not obsessed!" she hissed "Merely curious."
"Well then, I don't suppose you'll ask about my Christmas? Or thank me for that lovely cup of cocoa I went out of my way to get for you." before adding "Who would have thought the brightest witch of her age to be so rude?"
She stared at him in shock before cringing and squealing a hasty "Sorry!"
"Thank you so much for bringing me this cocoa. Now how was your Christmas, Theo?"
Through mock-sadness and a dull voice he replied "See, now you're only asking because I asked you to ask me."
He let her jaw fall to her lap before bursting into laughter.
"No! I'm serious, how was it?"
"Ah. It was..." he shrugged, "Alright. Pops sent me an owl telling me to make sure I pass the N.E.W.T.'s. That I have the family name to uphold. He's so thick though, he doesn't realize I'm only a sixth year."
He said waving his hands. "How 'bout you, Granger?"
She sighed, "Lonely. But it was well. My mum and dad sent me a muggle book, and a new jumper."
Theo's face showed obvious infatuation, "Did you get anything?" She prodded.
He shook his head, "Nope."
At this, she felt a little uncomfortable, she reached across the table and swatted his arm. "So runes then?"
The two pored over translation after translation before being interrupted by Madam Pince, who was shooing them out to close the library for the night.
"Shoot! I hadn't realized the time." Hermione muttered while collecting her things and loading them into her bag.
"I've been feeling quite tired but I assumed it only because our conversation has been growing more and more boring as the night went on." He smirked, widening his eyes with humor.
She giggled and they both rose from their seats, heading to exit the library.
They parted ways, Theo heading to the dungeons and Hermione up to Gryffindor Tower.
He reached the Slytherin common room and stepping through the wall, noticed it was empty. It was ordinarily lacking inhabitants at this hour but being the Christmas holiday, it was even more so.
"Th—Theo!" A voice slurred angrily.
He spun around to find Draco sneering at him.
"A bit late isn't it?"
"Yeah, mate! Lost track of time."
"I'm sure you did." He spat.
"Draco! Lighten up. What the hell is the matter?" His expression growing increasingly puzzled.
"S'not fair."
"That you drank all the firewhisky? I was thinking the same thing, you arse."
"No...Hermione."
"What? What about her?"
"We both watched those memories. Both of us were affected by her. You get a second chance and I can't even talk to her let alone go near the witch!"
"If you think—"
"Of course I don't think that. You don't stand a chance with her."
"I am offended!" Theo huffed "She's er...was my best mate's wife. There is a strange unique line I can't cross if I ever saw one!"
"I know, I'm being stupid. I want you close to her. To keep an eye out." he paused before continuing "And you could, uh...tell me about her. Who would have thought it. Me wanting to know more about Granger."
"Hey, if it gets you to stop talking about Potter!" Theo said with a wink, which was quickly met with a familiar Malfoy scowl.
"But if it makes you feel better, every time I see her she just wants to ask about you. You've really lost your icy touch."