Chapter 7

After spending several hours with Hermione and Draco, Theo was ready to leave the Manor. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Blaise, who should still be at the Dungeon.

Bring all the files about H to my place.

The reply was almost instantaneous. Blaise must have been on his phone.

Doing some late night reading?

Theo snorted. Blaise couldn't ever just do what he was told.

Yes. Leaving now. Don't make me wait.

The drive was uneventful and Theo got out of the car to find Blaise waiting for him on the porch.

"I appreciate your promptness," Theo stated, taking the files from his friend's hands.

"I was ready to leave the club anyway." Blaise sighed.

Theo thought of the little blonde that had texted him early in the day apologizing for her flight delay.

"You and I have a meeting tomorrow morning. Here. Eight a.m. Dress to impress and don't be late." Theo commanded.

"Am I going to like this meeting?" Blaise asked.

"I certainly hope so," Theo sighed. "I'm not inclined to have you mope about that cunt for the next decade."

Blaise reached out and grabbed Theo's arm. "Tell me you didn't bring her back here."

"Of course I didn't. I hope she rots in Armenia and that the bastard she married uses her like a broodmare until she dies." Theo pulled his arm away from Blaise. "Luna, Lucius' niece, just finished her post-grad back East. Pharmacology. She's expecting me to set up a match for her. She was supposed to attend the funeral, but there were flight delays."

"You can't expect me to just marry someone you choose for me," Blaise started.

"I can. You made your choice and she turned out to be an evil back-stabbing whore." Theo pointed out. "Luna is pretty, clever and I can replace Snape which I've been dying to do for years. I hate working with men that worked for my father. None of them can be trusted."

"What about Dolohov?" Blaise raised an eyebrow.

"Again, none of them can be trusted," Theo said, annoyance rising. "You won't beat her. That was her only request by the way. And that you'd let her work. She'll be a good wife. She's a little odd, like Draco. It runs in their family I think."

"Her…only request was that I don't beat her?" Blaise's voice was choked.

"Yes," Theo sighed, opening his phone to the picture that she'd texted of her graduation.

A pretty blonde in a cap and gown with dangling earrings smiled in the photo. Blaise took the phone from Theo and looked at it.

"She's pretty."

"Didn't I say so?" Theo looked at his friend. "She needs to get married. If I don't pick someone, some extended family uncle is sure to get involved and she'll be sent back to the old country to marry someone three times her age who will keep her locked in a house. She asked me to do this for her. And you would be better for her than Adrian, but I can offer her to him if you'd prefer."

"No!" Blaise burst out, still looking at her picture. His expression was thoughtful.

Theo laughed and clapped Blaise's cheek, taking his phone back.

"Eight a.m.," Theo reminded him. "Dress nice."

Theo watched Hermione and Draco fuck on the surveillance system. The camera he'd put in their bedroom earlier in the afternoon when the two of them were napping in the living room was perfectly positioned. He needed them both out of the house for several hours if he was going to place microphones around the place. The reliable ones that he favored needed some very specific placement and wiring. But Theo had an excellent imagination, he could imagine the sounds that the two of them were making. Perhaps it would be more fun to hear them in person for the first time anyway.

Draco sat on the edge of the bed and Hermione straddled him, as she held his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. That seemed to be their favorite position, Theo was realizing after watching them night after night.

Did Hermione prefer to be on top or did Draco not know how to control her properly?

Theo could teach him.

He would teach them.

Both of them.

Sitting at his desk with his customary tumbler of bourbon, Theo reviewed all the documents about Hermione.

Hermione Jean Granger.

He flipped through pages and pages of financials. Her family home had been sold four years previous. She had no permanent residence. Her accounts showed very little incoming funds. She had a scholarship here, a fellowship there, a work study perhaps. She was living very minimally as far as Theo could tell.

The charges on her accounts looked like she primarily bought her clothes secondhand at Oxfam, which he guessed was a British charity shop.

Her grades were exceptional and had been her entire life. No surprise there. Draco had told him she was brilliant.

He read through years of emails and text message history with her two friends in London. The cops. He made a mental note to ask Blaise to have his guy dig into them as well. Hermione was a little too close to them. The more he read, the more annoyed he became. The one, Weasley, insulted her constantly. His messages almost always included some degrading comment or slur around her intelligence. And Draco had been right; neither of them liked him. Draco was referred to as "the right posh git" by Weasley or "the loathsome prat" by Potter. Theo liked them less and less the more he read. Weasley borrowed money from Hermione regularly despite never paying it back and supposedly having a good job.

Theo sat those papers to the side and went through some of the others.

The reports on her parents' accident were straightforward, but the lack of a toxicology report made Theo suspicious that her parents had been drinking on the night in question. His math indicated that Hermione would have been fourteen when this happened. She'd have been at school with Draco then. Had they already been dating then? Theo wondered.

The life insurance payouts were a great deal of money, but not compared to Theo's annual income. And when he considered the tuition at that private school in Scotland, it was no wonder that Hermione had so little left.

He referred back to the state of her bank account.

No wonder she didn't buy anything when she was out with the girls. She barely had enough money to pay her tuition and board for the next year. What on earth did she plan to do? Had she told Draco how desperate her financial situation was?

Theo tapped his fingers on the desk and stared at the wall for a long time.

He didn't feel sleepy yet, despite dawn approaching. He decided that staying up was probably his best plan and pulled out his mirror and razor. He cut himself a few lines, inhaling them through a rolled up hundred he kept in the drawer.

He leaned back feeling the drip and the adrenaline starting to run through his body. His heart beat seemed to vibrate in his chest and he took a drink of his bourbon to wash the lingering chemical taste from his mouth.

He pulled all the documents back to himself, going back through all of them to make sure there was nothing that he had missed.

Theo showered and dressed for the day. He did an extra bump to keep himself up for the meeting with Luna and Blaise this morning. He could sleep after they left. He made himself an espresso and waited.

The doorbell rang promptly at 7:30am.

Luna stood at the door. Her black dress was perfect for yesterday's funeral.

"Sorry I missed Aunt Cissy's funeral," Luna stated. "Do you have coffee?"

"Of course." Theo smiled. "Your trip was miserable?"

"Exceptionally so." Luna agreed. "I have flowers in the rental and I'm going to go visit Auntie's grave after this."

"The only thing you missed was the French singer and she's performing somewhere next weekend. I'll get the info for you if you like." Theo kissed her on the cheek.

Luna shook her head, her oversized black hoops shaking.

He took her into the kitchen and made her a cup of coffee and brewed another couple shots of espresso. His silver cream server was in the fridge and he grabbed the sugar, setting it all on a serving tray.

"Why don't you have a kitchen maid?" Luna asked.

"I don't trust other people around my food." Theo replied, honestly. She nodded thoughtfully.

She was so obviously related to Draco and Lucius between her fair skin and almost ethereal blond hair. That and the advanced pharmacology that Luna specialized in. The deep sciences seemed to be another thing that Luna and Draco had in common. Theo wondered if their children would inherit the affinity as well. He was a businessman at heart, but he appreciated what the sciences did for him, primarily the money that they made him.

He guided her towards one of the rooms that was set up for meetings at the house, the overstuffed couches were comfortable and the decor was neutral.

"So you think this Blaise and I will suit each other?" Luna asked without preamble.

"I do. You won't leave him for a wealthy man three times your age and he won't beat you," Theo sipped his espresso. "Everyone here, especially me, is happy. He'll let you run my laboratories without complaining. And he's one of the best personal security people I have and my friend."

"You trust him," Luna took a drink of her coffee. "I thought you didn't trust anyone."

"A handful of people have earned my trust, Blaise is one of them," Theo admitted.

"Well that's nice to hear," Blaise said from the doorway, straightening the lapels of his steel grey suit. It reminded Theo of Draco's eyes.

"Blaise," Luna said in greeting, looking him up and down. His five piece suit with the crisp white shirt set off his dark skin in a flattering manner. He'd worn a simple tie, but the silver snake tie pin hinted at the flamboyant man hidden under the suit.

He stepped forward with his hand extended to take hers. She looked at him, but kept one hand in her lap and the other on her coffee cup.

"Luna," Blaise replied, dropping his hand since she seemed to show no intention to let him take hers and shake it or kiss it. He looked over her tight black dress and petite frame, his eyes lingering on her breasts and lips.

"Blaise, so glad you could join us. Coffee?" Theo smiled looking at his watch. 7:57 a.m. Theo did appreciate Blaise's ability to be punctual.

"Yes," Blaise said, reaching for a cup before taking a seat across from Luna.

"Theo promises that you won't beat me and you will allow me to work. Will there be issues with either of my requests?" Luna cut straight for the chase, a quality that Theo had always admired about her even if sometimes it did take him aback like it did now. A raised brow from Theo prompted Blaise to answer.

"I foresee no issues with you working nor with laying hands on you. I was raised never to raise my hand to a woman. My mother would gut me and that's not an exaggeration." Blaise's serious face made Luna tilt her head and look at him again.

"Come come, Blaise," Theo laughed. "She'd probably use poison."

"She sounds lovely," Luna smiled serenely. "Do you have any requests from me? Number of children you expect? Any particularly volatile kinks? I'd prefer to prepare myself. I am a virgin, as is expected, but I do read a great deal."

Blaise choked on his coffee when she asked the last question. He looked up at Theo with eyes that said what the fuck.

Theo's eyes returned the message of answer the fucking questions. The two men had spent too many years together not to be able to read each other like books.

"No particular number of children," Blaise's knee started to shake, "But obviously I do want them. It's not a problem for you that I'm black?"

Luna snorted. "No."

"And no dangerous kinks. I'm," Blaise looked at Theo for rescue, which did not come, "old-fashioned. I like things in the bedroom to be gentle."

Luna's eyebrows rose. "My mother, goddess rest her soul, taught me to expect that men in our world would be rough in the bedroom, hence why I do so much reading. I wasn't sure what that meant originally."

"I do enough violence as part of my work," Blaise stated. "I don't want that in my marriage."

Luna nodded, her face thoughtful. "Has Theo told you the size of my dowry?"

"Money has not yet been mentioned, no." Blaise looked at Theo.

"No Luna, I haven't yet brought that up. We'll have the lawyers draw up the prenup as long as this seems like a good match to both of you." Theo smiled. "Luna has a house in Malibu that belonged to her mother that's currently rented out to some celebrity, but the lease is up in December. I haven't offered them an extension on the lease in case you two want to live there instead of at your bachelor pad, Blaise."

"Or we can sell it," Luna pointed out. "Or continue to rent it and find somewhere closer that suits both of us."

Blaise looked at her in surprise.

"My mother died there. I'm not terribly inclined to live in that house," Luna added. "My father now lives in New York and forgets I exist even though I've been in school in Boston. But tabloids don't run themselves I suppose. Theo, I don't wish to invite him to the wedding. Can you give me away?"

Theo nodded, "That's an easy request to fulfill, love. Do you have to go back to Boston and pack everything up still?"

"Yes," Luna replied. "I also have six weeks left at my research position. We're putting the finishing touches on a paper on the possibility of tailoring medications to certain genetic characteristics. And I want my name on it. Even if my name will be different after the wedding."

"I don't care if you want to hyphenate." Blaise offered.

"My father's name or my husband's, it doesn't matter. If I was going to hyphenate, perhaps I'd change it to Malfoy-Zabini, those would be families that I want to claim. The Lovegoods have barely acknowledged my existence let alone given me any kind of support. But no, I'll happily be Mrs. Zabini. Dr. Zabini eventually. I plan to do doctoral work while running your labs, Theo."

"I wouldn't expect anything else from you, my clever little raven." Theo smiled at the taken expression on Blaise's face. "When do you fly back?"

"Tomorrow morning." Luna looked at Blaise. "Would you like to take me to dinner? I am going to visit Aunt Cissa's grave and then take a nap at the hotel, but I can be free after six if you would like?"

"Yes-yes," Blaise agreed, handing her his card. "Text me your hotel and room number and I'll pick you up at six."

"I'll be ready." Luna took the card and nodded, walking out without saying goodbye.

Theo laughed at the shock written on Blaise's face. The door shut at the front of the house with a click.

"Is she always so abrupt?" Blaise asked.

"When she is ready to leave, she just goes. She's always been like that." Theo laced his fingers together. "So do you think a Christmas wedding or do you want to do Valentine's Day? I want to make your wedding anniversary easy for you to remember."

Attempting to sleep, Theo was annoyed by the beeping of his phone. He picked it up and saw Pansy's text.

Draco's at home waiting for the lawyers. We're taking Hermione to breakfast, beach, lunch, shopping then dinner and drinks. She should be gone all day.

Theo smiled and texted back.

Make sure you treat her. I'll get you back.

Theo could hear Pansy's eye roll through her text.

No problem. She barely eats more than a bird and we'll go to the Dungeon or one of the other clubs for drinks. I'll use the company card when we go shopping though.

Commands acknowledged, Theo rolled back over, trying to get some sleep before what was sure to be an eventful evening.

It was early evening when Theo let himself into Malfoy Manor with his key. He flipped the surveillance camera app on his phone and found Draco on his mom's balcony, smoking.

"Hey," Theo said walking out onto the balcony, "I came by to check on you. Are you doing okay?"

"As well as anyone could after learning you've been paying for everything my whole fucking life, Theo. There's no money, there hasn't been since Father went to jail, the lawyers said. You have been paying for everything from the property taxes to my tuition to Mum's funeral. It's all been you. Were you ever gonna tell me?" Draco wouldn't meet his eyes, staring determinately elsewhere.

"I knew the lawyers were gonna tell you today," Theo said, his forearms on the bars of the balcony looking out into the sunset. "I figured it was easier. Draco, I won't stop paying, for your school, for whatever you need."

"I could sell the house. It would more than pay for school." Draco took a drag of the cigarette, surprising Theo with how easily he smoked. This clearly wasn't his first time.

Theo watched him carefully before agreeing. "You could. I'd miss being able to come here, though. I spent a lot of time watching you almost blow this place up with your chemistry setup."

"Theo, that's not fair. You can't just pay for my life." Draco smacked his hand on the railing in frustration.

"Can't I? I have plenty of money." Theo shrugged. "I barely even noticed the cost of your tuition."

"But why would you?" Draco cried out, throwing his cigarette off the balcony onto the stones below, as he faced Theo, "Why have you done this?"

Theo was on Draco in a second, his ring adorned hand tight in the blonde's hair, his other hand on his hip shoved him back into the wall. His lips hovered right over Draco's, inhaling the frantic breaths that escaped there. "Are you going to pretend you don't know why, Draco?"

Draco's pupils were blown wide and his heart beat wildly against Theo's chest. "Theo...I can't...Hermione…"

"When will she be back?" As if he didn't have her with Fleur and Pansy having a drink at his bar, with instructions to text him when they were twenty minutes out.

"Soon," Draco breathed.

"Better make this count then." And then the tension broke and Theo's lips were on Draco's. Dracos hands were all over Theo, his shoulders, his back, stroking, grabbing, exploring. Theo ravaged Draco's mouth, nipping with his teeth, plundering with his tongue. The hard erection against his belly let Theo know that Draco wanted him. "Have you ever had a man before, dragon?" Theo whispered, the old nickname now dripping with lust instead of the boyish joking with which Theo used to say it.

"You're the only man I have ever wanted," Draco said, arching into Theo's body as Theo stroked him through his pants. And Theo remembered Narcissa's words: he says your name into the darkness, into the night. Draco had been a boy then, now as a man he still wanted Theo and Theo wanted him. He wasn't in the habit of denying himself something he wanted and he sure as fuck wasn't about to start now.