Edited 3/26/23

Thanks to RabidCommentarian for beta work. And bam2305 for alpha-ing.

Wednesday post for you! We're getting CLOSER to going back in time and introducing (re-introducing?) Draco, but we still have a waaaays to go, friends!

Saturday, January 1st, 2000

Theo

Christmas flew by. Before he knew it, it was New Year's Eve. The Order was on a staunch, "No Alcohol" diet after Thorfinn explained that part of You-Know-Who's plan was to attack on days they would "least expect it." When no attack had come over Christmas, many in the Order let their guard down. He knew that some of the younger members were planning a New Years Eve party at one of the other safehouses. Nev, George, and Hermione had been invited, Theo of course had not.

He found himself to be a little jealous of the easy camaraderie that they had with the other younger Order members, it often made Theo feel rather left out. He tried to hide his melancholy from them, but unsurprisingly, Hermione was much too perceptive.

"I'm going to make an appearance, Theo, but I'll be back before midnight," she said fondly, patting his cheek, "I'd rather spend it here with you anyway, how often does one get to see a new millennium? Plus I won't even be allowed to drink so it won't be all that fun anyway."

He bit back a grin and pretended to protest, which she wouldn't hear a word of. And that is how he found himself with a single glass of firewhiskey, sitting in his parlour with one, Thorfinn Rowle. He had been planning on drinking by himself, and kept his Sober Up potion handy in case something happened, when the hulking man had sauntered into the parlour.

"Naughty, naughty little Nott," Thorfinn rumbled from behind him, "Don't you know that we aren't supposed to be drinking?" he swiped the glass from Theo's hand before he could protest and downed it in one gulp.

"That was 100 year old whiskey!" Theo said standing, and putting his hands on his hips.

"Mmm, it goes down so smoothly, doesn't it?" Thorfinn continued, stalking closer to Theo who backed into the chair and found himself tipping back. Thorfinn loomed over him with a small smirk. "Do I make you nervous, Nott?"

"Th-Theo," Theo squeaked, then cleared his throat, "Please call me Theo, sir-uh Finn-Thorfinn…"

Thorfinn's smirk grew. "I think calling you Theo could be arranged, while I do like it when you call me Sir, Finn works when there are others around'' he all but purred, putting each of his hands on the armrests at Theo's sides. "I see you watching me, Theo. Do you know that I watch you too? You look good enough to eat." Finn was a hair's breadth away now. All Theo would have to do is lean slightly forward and press his lips against the larger man's.

He blinked up and looked into the deep blue eyes of the larger man. "I-I'd like that…" he whispered. Finally, he felt the larger man press their lips together, immediately demanding entrance to his mouth. He groaned as Thorfinn gripped his hair, standing. Without breaking contact, Theo was led to the couch and pulled to straddle Finn's lap.

"I've been thinking about the noises you'd make, darling," Finn said as he sucked on Theo's neck. "You've been driving me mad, the way you flit around this house thinking you're in charge."

"I-I am in charge," Theo gasped as Finn hit a particularly sensitive spot.

"But you don't want to be, do you?" Finn growled into his neck. At Theo's whimper, he pulled his head back, and looked at the boy straddling him wantonly. "Do you?" he asked firmly.

"N-No, Sir, I want you to be in charge," Theo whimpered before Finn pulled him into another aggressive kiss.

"So good for me," Theo felt Finn grasp his hips firmly, rocking them together. "I've wanted you in my bed since your Fifth year." Theo made a sort of keening noise he'd never heard come from his mouth before. "I saw you at my game and you were dressed in my jersey and you had the most adorable pink blush to your cheeks. After that I had to wank in the shower, imagining that you were mine," he continued as he ground Theo against him and left his mark on Theo's neck.

"Y-You did?" Theo gasped as Finn pulled his head back for better access to his neck.

"Mmm, I did, darling, but you were only sixteen and I was twenty, and I knew I had to wait until you were of age, and then fucking Dolohov," he wrapped his arm around Theo's waist and held him firmly against his body, "Imperiused me, and every time I saw you I wanted you to see me, but you just saw the fucking mask. Darling I've wanted you for years."

"I never thought you'd notice me," Theo whimpered. "You were the one who made me realise I was gay. I want you so badly, Finn."

Finn threw him on the couch and slotted his body over Theo's. "Have you done this before, darling?"

Theo shook his head, "Not all the way, but I've fumbled around a bit and…" Finn cut him off with a kiss.

"So you'll really be mine, won't you, darling?" He growled.

Theo couldn't even speak, just nodded dumbly at the man above him. Theo reached his arms up and pushed them up the back of Finn's shirt. The man acquiesced and pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the side, he ripped the buttons apart on Theo's shirt and palmed Theo's cock through his pants.

Theo ran his hands up the muscled back and he arched into Finn's hand. "So desperate for me, darling. That's it arch into me," he smirked down at him.

"Finn, please," Theo whined desperately.

"Not here, darling. The first time I have you, it will be in bed after a proper date. I've wanted you for so long, I don't want this to be a one off."

He reached into Theo's pants and palmed his cock causing Theo to buck up, "Come on, darling, I can see how close you are. I've silenced the room. I want to hear you."

Theo moaned as he never had before, and came in what he felt was an embarrassingly short amount of time. When he tried to reciprocate, Finn shook his head, "No darling, this was for you. I just want you to sit here on my lap and kiss me at midnight." Theo couldn't help but be a little bit disappointed, but being in Finn's lap as the man continued to rain kisses down on his neck, he couldn't deny how pleased he was at the outcome.

As the clock ticked closer to 12, Theo felt himself drowsing on Finn's shoulder as the man caressed his back murmuring sweet things into his hair. All of a sudden a siren burst to life, Theo jumped up and looked at Finn who was fully alert already. They looked at each other, Finn grabbing Theo's hand so that he could apparate them to the foyer. Augusta, Remus, and Andromeda came running. Augusta eyed their hands and smirked lightly before turning to Remus.

"The party was an ambush," he said quickly. "They're in battle now." Theo and Finn looked at each other, preparing to apparate to the safehouse. "You need to stay here. Rowle is too much of an asset to lose, and Theo you're needed at the Infirmary. With Hermione and Hannah at the party Madam Pomphrey will need support."

Finn squeezed his hand and let it go with a deep look, and kissed Theo lightly on the lips, "Because I doubt I'll see you at midnight, darling. Stay safe for me, won't you?" Theo flushed and avoided looking at the other three before apparating to the Infirmary.

When he arrived in the infirmary, it was already bustling. Molly Weasley was tending to a bleeding Seamus Finnegan, and Madam Pomphrey was bent over Neville who looked like he couldn't open his mouth. He sighed in relief at seeing Nev at least alive even if he looked like he was in a lot of pain. He stood in his assigned spot waiting for the next pair to come back.

After a few moments, Theo heard the pop of apparition, George was holding Hermione in his arms, as she lay limply. He'd never seen so much blood. He rushed over to them with his wand out.

"Sectumsempra," said George quickly.

Theo nodded curtly and started singing the countercurse, watching the blood return to her body. He'd never seen her look so grey. When the wounds were closed, he directed George to the bed, he set Hermione down and fell into the bed next to her. Augusta was right behind and starting tending to George's wounds. Theo spread dittany over the cuts on Hermione's body, and forced her to swallow Blood Replenishing Potion.

She was going to be okay. She had to be.

Hermione

When Hermione opened her eyes, she tried to sit up, hand grasping for her wand. She blinked a few times, recognizing the Infirmary. Theo was sprawled in a chair next to her bed, legs on the edge of her bed, head tilted back at a very uncomfortable looking angle. The rest of the room was covered in a dusky light that made it hard to see who else was in the beds.

Madam Pomphrey bustled over, smiling at her and casting a diagnostic spell. "Sectumsempra," she said conversationally. "It's a good thing Mr. Nott knew the countercurse or you wouldn't be here. As it stands you're on bedrest for a few weeks. He hasn't left your side, you know. I had to force him to shower as he was making the rest of our guests uncomfortable with his stench."

Hermione chuckled but groaned at the pain that came with the movement. Theo shot awake, legs dropping to the floor. "Mia," he whisper shouted, "you're awake, are you alright? It's been days. I told you that you weren't allowed to leave me and here you go, risking your life. What were you thinking?" he ended, tears pooling in his eyes.

She reached out for his hand, which he quickly grasped. "I knew you'd protect me, Theo. No question. How long have I been out?"

"A week," he said quietly. "I was so worried, Mia."

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Theo. What about everyone else? Was anyone else hurt? Where's George? Harry? I thought I saw Neville and Seamus apparate out pretty quickly."

"George had some minor injuries, but is back home with Molly fussing over him, much to his chagrin, Potter was fine, of course, he's back out on missions already, and Nev and Seamus were the first ones back. One of them got Nev with some spell that removed his vocal cords. He can't talk, but they can be grown back."

Hermione shuddered, "Glad they're alive. Who else? There were quite a few of us there."

"Abbott is gone, Avada, Thomas was killed with a slow acting curse, we thought he'd make it, but he passed two nights ago, lots of other injuries but those were the major ones." Tears began to stream down her face, "You have to rest Mia, I know you want to do something, but we need you back in tip-top shape. I need someone to help with the potions, everyone seems to need something these days."

She pulled his arm so that he was wedged in the bed next to her, she winced as she rolled onto her side, nustling against his chest, weeping. Once she'd cried herself out, she whispered, "We need to fix this, Theo," and she heard him agree quietly as she drifted off to sleep.

The next time she opened her eyes the sun was streaming in the windows. George was sitting in the chair next to her, reading one of the Time Travel journals. "Find anything interesting?" she rasped.

He held a glass of water with a straw out to her, which she sipped greedily. "Nothing too new, although this Nott caused quite the number of scandals, I think he's seduced everyone's wife at this point. The things they did with this gift are frankly ridiculous."

She snorted softly, still feeling a sharp pain at the movement. "How are you doing? Everything all healed up?"

He nodded. "Mia, well, my Mum wants to apologise. I told her I'd bring it up, but to not expect anything. I get if you don't want to hear from her, but I think the battle really threw her."

Hermione looked into the distance pensively. "Alright, I'll hear her out," she said softly.

Later that afternoon, after her nap, Molly came into the infirmary looking cautious. Theo sat next to her, holding her hand and George had his feet up on her bed playing with a Muggle slinky.

"Hello, Hermione," Molly said awkwardly, Hermione just stared at her. "Well I suppose I'm here to apologise. It seems I spoke out of grief and wasn't fair to you. I never thought to ask how you were and that is on me. I hope you can forgive me."

Hermione laughed, ignoring the stab of pain. "You think-" she couldn't hold her laughter back, when she'd finally calmed down, she drew herself up on the bed. "You think that's an apology?"

Molly swallowed, "Well, two of my son's had just died, I can't be held accountable for all of the things I said in my grief."

Hermione heard the slinky drop from George's hands. Theo was tense, ready to spring next to her. "You absolute bitch," Hermione hissed. "I am lying here after getting ripped apart and the apology that you come with is 'I can't be held accountable?' I do not forgive you. My parents are gone too, and my best friend, and friends left and right. You come here on your fucking high horse and try to make me feel bad for you? Get out of my sight. You've burned every chance you had. I'm not sure if you're intimidated by me or what, but you're a grown woman. I am basically a child. You're a disgusting, close minded woman. I pity the rest of your family that they have to be around you. You constantly think you're above everyone. You did it to me and my parents, you did it to Sirius and Harry, and you did it to Theo too. Who's next? Are you going to find fault with Minerva? Madam Pomphrey? Augusta and Neville? I'd recommend that you leave before I'm well enough to hex you properly."

Molly looked furious. She looked to George, waiting for him to say something. He scoffed. "You made your own bed, it's time to lie in it." She spun on her heel and stormed out.

Augusta and Madam Pomphrey watched her go with looks of disgust. "Good Riddance!" said Augusta with a chuckle.

What did you think?