Memory #1: 2 years after the war:

The first day on the yacht started out as one may expect, She and Pansy had finished one bottle of champagne before all the hellos were even said. The air was breezy and she felt a lightness that so differed from the feeling that permeated her heart since the war. She greeted the other guests and some she knew of or had heard about from her time at Hogwarts. It was a friendly feeling. She felt optimistic about the day.

That's when she saw him. He was looking out at the water like he was alone before he looked up at her. The intensity behind his eyes was a surprise and she looked back, a question in her eyes as a response.

He was quite tall, dark hair, very thin, but there was something intriguing about him. Perhaps it was his eyes, light in color, too light to hold all that darkness that permeated out from him. She could feel his energy immediately. It gave her goosebumps and activated her flight or fright mentality.

She was frozen a few feet from him, unable to move, unable to break the gaze of his burning, questioning eyes. He did nothing. He just stared at her. He didn't look her up or down, he didn't smile, he just stared. Unrelenting.

His eyes bore into her down to her soul and she knew in that moment that he saw all of her. Everything she kept hidden, all her fears and pain, even her desires. He saw it and she saw it mirrored back into him. She thought she was going to faint, or throw up, or kiss him passionately, maybe she would do all three.

"Hermione! Come here! You have to help me finish this bottle of champagne! I have a surprise for you!" Pansy was giggly when she drank champagne, which was the opposite of how she normally was. Hermione slowly pulled her eyes away from Theo and followed Pansy over to the area the rest of the people had congregated. She felt those eyes on her back as she walked away.

"So you and Theo looked tense over there. What happened before I walked up?" Pansy linked her arm with Hermione's and spoke in a whisper.

"Nothing," she whispered back, "we didn't even speak to each other. He's intense, yeah? What's his story."

"Oh Hermione, you have no idea. He is a brooding little thestal of darkness. Astoria Greengrass dumped all over his heart last year. She thought she had a chance to get with Draco after I broke up with him and she decided to use Theo to get to him. It didn't work, but it was a cunning bitch of a plan, I'll give her that. Why? Are you interested in him?" Pansy smiled.

"Well, no. Yes. I don't know. Let's say I'm intrigued by him. I feel like he knows all my secrets."

Pansy laughed at that. "He has what you might call emotional intelligence. He can read people quite well. That's why we've always been friends. His candidness spoke to me in a viper pit surrounded by half truths. He's complex. You'd get along swimmingly."

"What's your surprise? More champagne?" Hermione changed the subject.

"Oh no! You are in for a treat." Pansy downed the rest of her champagne and walked over to a group of people. A few older Slytherin's were next to her, people she only vaguely recognized. Then Theo walked over, finishing his drink and setting it on the table. He still stared at her. He waved his wand and picked up a guitar. Music? She questioned? Pansy now had what looked like a microphone, and there was a drummer, and what looked to be a bass guitar player.

"What few of you don't know," began Pansy, mostly addressing Hermione, "is that there is a long standing tradition in Slytherin to learn an instrument. I myself could never manage more than singing but several of my housemates became quite good. Especially Theo over here, who can play everything."

The music went on for hours and Hermione enjoyed every moment of it. Pansy had a beautiful haunting voice and Hermine thought she could have a successful career as a singer. They didn't seem to favor any genre and she was surprised by their performance. Especially Theo's. He watched her the entire time he played. She alternated between watching his eyes and watching his hands. Merlin, he played that guitar well. Each time his fingers strung a chord, a jolt went to Hermione's heart. When the band wrapped up, Hermione tackled Pansy in a hug.

"You were brilliant! How did I never know you could sing like that. I've never heard of anything like that in Slytherin."

"Yeah well, it wasn't something we broadcasted. Our year in particular had the best musicians. Mainly because of Theo. He is musically gifted. He taught Draco to play the piano and guitar, he taught Blaise to play the drums. Daphne and I to sing and write music. Crabbe and Goyle even learned to play believe it or not! Those idiots had an ear for jazz."

Hermione burst out laughing. "I will never believe that for as long as I live."

"It's true! It was quite poetic in fact, the most hated, supposedly cold house, created soulful touching music. It was my favorite thing about being a Slytherin. Sometimes I sing at open mic nights at muggle bars, but it's not the same. Not quite the same magic we had, all playing together."

"Wow, Pansy, I had no idea. That's amazing. We didn't do anything like that in Gryffindor."

Now it was Pansy's turn to laugh. "I would be shocked if any Gryffindors had a creative bone in their bodies, mostly athletes from what I've determined. Now Ravenclaws, on the other hand, they were creative.

Did you know Luna created magical musical theatre in her year? They held the performances quarterly from what I was told. I think they also created quite a bit of art. Their pursuit of creative knowledge was enlightening."

"How did you know about that?" Hermione asked.

"Tracy Davis dated a Ravenclaw during our 4th year. Apparently he was gifted with watercolor and charcoal portraits, amongst other things."

"Wow, I cant wait to ask Luna about this. What insane people joined a play created by Luna?"

"I think it was sort of a joke at first until the later years. She was misunderstood for a while before she grew on her house. I think by 7th everyone enjoyed the performances and even participated. Something to take their minds off everything going on in the war and in our school."

"Amazing." Hermione said again. "What about the Hufflepuffs?"

"Culinary geniuses," Pansy replied.

"I believe that," Hermione said thoughtfully.

The rest of the day was spent drinking and eating and lounging in the sun. Hermione was seriously considering buying her own yacht by the time nighttime came. She hadn't yet talked to Theo but throughout the day she could feel him staring.

They locked eyes often and she could not look away when it happened. She was anxious to speak to him but she couldn't quite make the first move. Maybe he wasn't interested in her that way. Maybe he was angry she was on his yacht. Maybe he didn't speak to her because he didn't want her here. The maybes were killing her. Maybe he was intrigued by her. Maybe he felt her look into his soul, maybe he wanted to make love to her on the deck underneath the stars. These were questions she needed answers to.

Around midnight was when it all changed.

—

Memory #2: 2 years after the war, midnight on the yacht:

Hermione was seated on a chair facing the ocean. She watched the waves crash against the boat under the moonlight and felt the cool sea breeze blow her hair until it was wild. She drank fire whiskey now, which she seldom had a taste for.

She was too frustrated for more champagne, besides nighttime was made for dark amber liquor and ales. She could hear the laughter inside from the few people still awake. She was just starting to wonder if Theo was one of the laughing guests inside when someone sat in the chair next to her.

She knew it was him. She kept looking at the waves, wracking her brain for some sort of opener to talk to him, willing herself to turn her head and look at his face when he spoke.

"Hermione." She gasped and slowly turned her head towards him. She couldn't believe after 18 hours he was finally speaking to her. She locked eyes with him. His expression was unreadable.

"Theo." She said. Her heart was pounding in her chest, wondering what on earth he was going to say next. He didn't say anything at all. Instead he leaned back in his chair and looked out into the waves. She was baffled. What in Merlin's name was the point of that? So she leaned back in her chair and followed his gaze out to the sea.

—

Memory #3: 2 years after the war, the next morning on the yacht:

At some point she must have fallen asleep or passed out which was more likely considering the amount she drank the day before when she chanced a glance to the seat next to her it was empty. She sighed sitting up. Curiously she looked down at her lap, a warm blanket covered her legs. Hmmm, she thought. Perhaps Theo was interested after all. She wrapped it around herself and smirked when she thought about him.

She stretched. What she needed was a shower, a hangover potion, and something to eat. She made her way inside to the bathroom. When she went for the door knob, the door swung back towards her. She stepped back as a hard body knocked her over, catching her before she hit the ground.

It was him. Of course it was him. He was in a towel, laying on top of her. He was staring at her again. Of course he was staring. Merlin the staring. It was then she felt something else. Something else pressed up against her thigh and growing hard. She gasped again, looking down at his towel covering… he pulled her up quickly. Clearing his throat, but not releasing her, she still felt him against her leg. She moved her arms up around his waist. Taking a chance. Her heart was pounding.

He stepped back and released her. She could feel the embarrassed tears coming to her eyes and she ran out of the room. Damn it all to hell why was she stuck on a boat! There was no where to run to. Everyone would be up soon. So she went back to the chair she deserted earlier and pulled the blanket over her head. She didn't acknowledge when he sat down next to her again. Although she assumed he was now dressed. What a shame.

"Hermione." She gasped again. Damnit why did one word from this man make her feel this way. Did he even know how to talk? This was infuriating, she was going to give him a piece of her mind. Hermione Granger didn't play these games. She whipped off the blanket and glared up at him. Before she could say anything he spoke.

"Look, I want to apologize for a few moments ago. I wasn't expecting you, and it took me by surprise."

She stared at him blankly, "did you really just say a whole sentence to me?" She cringed. That was out loud.

"I have many things to say to you." He replied evenly.

"You do?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven't you said anything to me for a day and a half!" She was so frustrated by this man.

"Because," He began, mulling over his words. He took her hand. She looked down at their hands, shocked that he initiated such intimacy. His hand felt amazing in hers.

"The things I have to say to you aren't appropriate in such a large group."

Um what? What in Godric's green earth did that mean?

"What," She said stupidly. His thumb was rubbing small circles on her hand. It was distracting.

"You need to be wooed properly, and I can't do that here."

"You're going to woo me?" Her eyes were wide.

"Yes," He said again. He squeezed her hand before he let go. He stood up to leave. Before he left he turned back and said,

"Enjoy your breakfast."

He flicked his wand and a full English breakfast came soaring to her on a tray. There on the tray was her very own hangover potion, and one white gardenia that was opening and closing with magic. Why a gardenia she wondered? But what a way to woo!