Chapter 13
The truth about Cedric
Theo knew that he needed to make some effort with Hermione, so early the next morning, Theo kissed Draco's shoulder and took Hermione over to Malfoy Manor so that she could try to find her phone. She smiled so brightly at him on the drive over that he knew that nothing would ever prevent him from keeping her forever. She was like the human incarnation of sunshine.
"Theo," Hermione said, surprising him. "Do you have any family?"
"I have some distant cousins in the old country," Theo admitted, "But my father died years ago,, and my mother abandoned us when I was a kid, but considering what a brute my old man was, I can't really blame her."
Hermione nodded, and Theo guessed that she wanted him to continue. "Narcissa, Draco's mom, was like a surrogate mom or a very involved aunt, I guess. I sort of raised myself, though."
"I can understand that. My parents weren't really planning to have a child. I was a bit of a late in life surprise. I think my mum thought she was going through menopause. They sent me away to boarding school as soon as I was old enough. After they died in a car crash on holiday, it was just me. I've got Harry and Ron and his family too, I guess, but…"
Theo raised an eyebrow at her as he took a turn. "Are those your friends that Draco mentioned don't like him?"
"They like him fine," she started, but stopped at his skeptical look. "No you're right. They don't like him. They are really all about their football league and pints at the pub, Draco's a bit too intellectual and 'posh' for them."
"Hermione, you aren't any less intelligent than Draco," Theo began. "So how do they…"
"I just tone it down for them. They aren't interested in my science blatherings." Hermione's cheeks colored in a blush.
"Well, you don't have to pretend to be someone you aren't for me," Theo told her. "I like you, complex scientific theories I can't follow and all. You and Draco push me to be smarter. And you haven't met his cousin Luna yet, she missed Narcissa's funeral because of flight delays. She's finishing up a Masters in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering. I'm surrounded by geniuses." He laughed, although he liked it. A smart businessman collected the brightest minds that he could, that's how he stayed on top.
"Draco has a cousin?" Hermione asked in surprise. "He's never mentioned her."
"Yeah, his dad's little sister's daughter. There was a bit of a falling out when Draco was a kid and she really came back into Narcissa's life after her mom passed. I think he's only met her twice. We'll have to fix that, she's moving home after she graduates anyway." And Draco will probably need to participate in the wedding party when Luna and Blaise tie the knot, but that was a little difficult to explain to Hermione at the moment. He'd put that off as long as he could.
Their conversation was cut off as they pulled up in front of the house and they didn't even have to go inside, because there it was shattered on the driveway.
"Oh bloody hell. Here it is." She waved it in the air, and Theo could tell she was biting back tears. He'd buy her a new one if she asked. Theo could see how upset she was, but she didn't ask him to take care of it for her. She would learn to come to him for all her problems in time. There was nothing that he couldn't handle for her.
"What's the matter?" Theo asked, although he was well aware, having had Pansy drop the phone there last night where it was sure to also get soaked by the early morning sprinkler.
"It looks like someone has run it over," Hermione sighed. "I can't believe that I dropped it." Her lip wobbled as though she was going to cry. "I'm so stupid."
"Hey, sweetheart, don't talk about yourself like that. Accidents happen. Do you want me to take you somewhere and see if we can get it fixed?" Theo asked, he hated to see her upset, even if he was the cause.
"No-no, it looks like a lost cause," her lip stuck out in the pout he so loved to bite. "I'll have to see about getting a new phone."
That she couldn't really afford a new phone went unsaid.
But Theo knew.
Hermione cradled the phone in her lap the whole way back to his place, where all the rest of her possessions were. Her eyes blankly stared out the window as Theo drove. He reached over and squeezed her thigh reassuringly, and Hermione gave him a half-hearted smile.
"We'll try charging it when we get back," Theo told her. "Maybe it's just the screen. That's easily replaced."
Hermione nodded but didn't say anything.
Once they were back at his place, he put the phone on one of the chargers in his office and stroked her face. She watched the screen with a forlorn look on her face that changed to excitement as a little red battery icon could be seen.
Hope evident on her face, Hermione managed to turn it on after charging it and then she saw that there were no new messages.
Despite how sad Hermione was, Theo was thrilled.
Everything was going according to plan. Her connection to England was getting more and more tenuous.
He swallowed his smile with pleasure, his face stoic for her benefit.
Theo hadn't spent any time at the club in over a week, and he was way overdue to spend some time in his office. After spending most of the day with Draco and Hermione cuddling and watching movies at Nott Castle, he kissed them both and informed them that he needed to go to his office for a few hours. Neither of them asked to come with him, but he could tell that they wanted to. Sweet little pets that they were.
He was sure that they'd manage to keep themselves entertained. He'd have someone drop by dinner in an hour or two. He couldn't have them get hungry now could he?
His desk was covered in mail. They'd been putting it in his inbox originally, but it had clearly overflowed days ago. Greg had been in charge of the club while Blaise and Adrian had been out of town and Theo had been indisposed, but after Theo got a disembodied hand in the mail from the Serbians a couple of years ago, Greg had sworn that he was never touching the mail ever again.
Theo pulled out his letter opener, the brass knife long and sharp. He started on the overflow covering his desk, meticulously sorting the different documents: bills to be paid, legal correspondence, threats, etc.
One envelope stood out, the paper black and the lettering golden calligraphy. The handwriting looked familiar, but Theo couldn't quite place it. He carefully opened the envelope and a sheet of thick black paper with the same golden ink. He unfolded the letter carefully, his eyes flickering down to the signature. His breath escaped him in a hiss of pain.
"Fuck," he whispered into the silence of the room. Theo's hands shook as he started to read.
Hey Theo,
We had a good time, didn't we?
So if you got this, I'm dead and either I did something stupid like mixing pills again…Or somebody killed me, there's another letter I wrote if I got sick and if it had been long and drawn out then I hope I would have found the balls to tell you how I felt before the end. I started writing these after I got in that motorbike accident a few years ago, remember the one? When I woke up with you sitting next to my bed? Good thing my father never caught you there.
I gave up the bike after that, but I suppose it could have been a car wreck.
Anyway.
I love you.
And it's only been you, for the last five years.
I know I pretended I was seeing other people.
I wasn't.
I didn't want us to ever end, so I never told you how I felt. You couldn't reject my feelings for you if I didn't tell you about them. I thought if you knew that I had developed an emotional attachment that you would have ended things. And I couldn't have survived that.
You were the best and worst thing to ever happen to me.
You were what I wanted and I was happy that I had you even if I never told you the full extent of how you had captured my heart and nearly every one of my waking thoughts…most of my dreams too.
I hope that you are the best and worst thing for someone else who deserves you and that magical cock.
I wish we could have been more open. It's my only regret. I would have loved to have had you on my arm at a gala just one time.
The two of us in tuxedos? Kissing next to the champagne fountain?
There wouldn't have been a dry panty in miles.
I'm so sorry that I left you suddenly like this, please know that I never wanted to be parted from you. I never felt more like myself than when we were together. I hope our last time together was full of hot sex and music and that you will remember me fondly.
I should have told you.
I know.
Again I'm sorry.
And if someone killed me, please know I'd never want you to turn the other cheek, but I'm sure that you know that about me already. Maybe I shouldn't have written that last bit…well I'm dead so whatever.
I love you.
I've loved you since we were sixteen.
The last five years were bliss.
God, Theo.
Please try to find someone to keep you warm and don't grieve me too much. I know you cared about me in your cold possessive way. Did you love me? Do you? I wish I wasn't such a coward, I've died never knowing.
At least I make a gorgeous tragic figure.
But you are a survivor. You'll make it out and if I was just more than a hot fuck then you'll get over me in time.
Goodbye my love,
Cedric.
Theo couldn't breath, couldn't think. Cedric, as he had seen him the last time, ran through his mind, every sight and scent and sound in crystal clarity. The dying notes of the piano in their loft which was now ashes.
Turning back around as he pulled on his vest, Cedric agreed, "Sounds perfect. I'll bring some party favors. Keep your suit on until I get here, so I can hold your tie while I call you daddy and ride your cock." Heading towards the door, Cedric threw one more sultry smile on his way out.
Theo felt as though something inside of him was shattering. He'd been desperately trying not to think of Cedric, of his loss. This letter was like a knife cutting open a barely healed wound.
Cedric had always been an overly organized Type-A personality, one motorbike accident and he was writing out multiple pre-written letters in case of his death, but did he really expect to be killed? Theo recalled how in school Cedric's to do lists had to-do lists. Cedric's mind had always been a bit of a mystery to Theo, obviously he'd never really understood how his thought process worked.
Blinking in a haze of confusion that he couldn't quite shake, Theo couldn't believe that he had never realized that Cedric would have been willing to openly be in a relationship with him.
All those missed opportunities ran through his mind, torturing him with a series of impossibilities.
He could have had Cedric on his lap at his bar? They could have gone out to dinner together? He could have held Cedric all night long?
This couldn't be fucking real.
He was so angry he was vibrating with it.
His decanter and cups flew through the air, shattering against the wall as he screamed in futile fury. His chair was next, shattering into pieces as Theo heaved it. The lamp followed. He didn't stop until the small room was in complete disarray, and his chest heaved in exertion.
Slowly, the door opened a crack. Greg nervously peeked inside. "Theo? Are you alright?"
"No," Theo admitted. "But I will be as soon as whoever killed Cedric fucking pays for it, double the reward offers I want to know who is responsible immediately. And get someone to come clean up this mess. I'm going home."
He couldn't bring Cedric back, and that hurt, but he could go hold the two people who had eclipsed the pain he was feeling.
Theo knew that he shouldn't take how angry he was on Draco and Hermione, but he needed some rough sex. He needed to prove to himself that they were real and there and that he was alive and so were they. He felt so out of control. He knew that he was slamming the door to his car, that he was ripping the door open, that he threw his keys into their bowl and sent both of them crashing to the floor.
He squeezed his eyes shut and took a shuddering breath. He needed to get himself under control or he was going to hurt them. He didn't want to hurt them, not permanently anyway.
"Theo?" Draco's voice called from upstairs. "Is that you?"
"Yeah," Theo called back.
"Is everything okay?" Hermione. Did his dear sweet Hermione know something was wrong?
"No-no it isn't. I'll be right up." Theo slid his belt from his loops and doubled it up and snapped it once. He shook himself. He couldn't be that rough with them. He left his belt sitting on the table and headed up the stairs. Each step he took a breath and reminded himself that he wasn't angry with them, that this wasn't their fault, that they were just as precious to him as Cedric had been.
He grabbed his shibari rope out of a cabinet at the top of the stairs, this had never made it over to the apartment. He was going to tie them up so elaborately that they would never ever escape from him. He needed them forever, needed to have them with him always.
They couldn't leave him like Cedric had done.
He wouldn't permit it.
"Theo, what's happened?" Hermione asked from the bed.
"Have you been crying?" Draco whispered, coming up to Theo and wiping his cheeks. "What's wrong?"
Theo dropped the rope to the floor for a moment wrapping his arms tight around Draco.
Draco was alive. He was here. Hermione was here. They were both safe.
"Lay on the bed with Hermione, dragon," Theo whispered into his ear. "Take off your clothes. I need you naked for what I'm about to do."
"Will this make you feel better?" Draco whispered back.
"Yes," Theo let out a rough exhale. "Yes, I need this."
"Alright," Draco whispered, soothingly. "Whatever you need, you know that."
Theo watched as Draco joined Hermione on the bed and he carefully undressed her, kissing and stroking her, whispering to her as he did so. Then Draco was kicking off his own pajama pants and tossing his boxers to the side of the bed.
Theo unspooled the rope and watched Hermione's eyes widen.
"Hermione darling, I've had a very bad day and I'll apologize in advance, but don't worry, I won't hurt you. I'd never hurt you." She nodded slightly and Theo accepted that as permission.
Placing Draco on his knees, Theo carefully tied the knots, patterns and crossovers making patterns on Draco's arms which he had pulled behind his back. Hermione was fascinated, Theo could tell. He shoved Draco down, his face into the pillows, his naked ass in the air. Theo ran a possessive hand over it, already getting hard and ready to fuck him. But first, he had other things to attend to.
"Hermione, now cross your arms beneath your breasts and clasp your wrists." Theo secured her wrists beneath her perfect breasts, then the ropes encaptured those same breasts and held her arms tight against her torso. He pushed her back onto the same pillows, and then gripping Draco's corded arms, Theo lined Draco's mouth up to Hermione's already glistening core.
"Draco, keep Hermione entertained, I'll be right back." Theo went to his closet and pulled out the green leather bag that he kept there. He started to line the various toys on the side table and he noticed that Hermione was watching him with a scared expression. She couldn't even focus on the way that Draco was licking her body, all her attention was on Theo.
Theo grabbed a cock ring and was pleased to see that Draco wasn't fully hard so he slid the silicone ring up his shaft. "Now that should keep you from coming too soon."
Draco moaned, directly into Hermione's pussy which caused her hips to buck into his face.
Theo took the lube and massaged Draco's exposed asshole, sliding one then two fingers in, scissoring to try to prepare the tight hole for what Theo was about to do next. He carefully slid a well-lubricated tapered butt plug into Draco's ass, causing the other man to gasp and rock against the intrusion.
"There we go, that's a good boy." Theo smacked Draco's ass which elicited another moan.
Theo moved Draco over so that he could access their pretty little princess. "Now watch me have my way with Hermione." Still dressed except for his belt, Theo only opened his pants enough to free his cock, loving having her naked beneath him while he was still clothed. He was so hard it was painful. He slid into her dripping body. Draco had gotten her nice and ready for him.
"Now I don't want you to come until I tell you to, princess. Do you understand me?" At Hermione's nod, Theo let out a noise of contentment and put his hand around her throat. She gasped and he squeezed, causing her pussy to flutter around his cock.
"Now, now, don't come yet, darling," Theo commanded as he fucked her hard, his grip tightening on her throat causing her eyes to roll back in her head as her back arched in pleasure, her toes curling, tears running down her face. Theo couldn't stop himself, pounding into her with abandon, his tattooed hand on her throat, the word "FUCK" on his knuckles so obscene against her perfect little throat. He rolled his hips and Hermione surprised him by orgasming, her body clenching him so tightly that he couldn't help but fill her up. He let go of her throat and stroked her abdomen, imagining one day letting his seed grow there in her perfect brilliant body.
Eyes closed, she was still shuddering in her release, but Theo watched with detachment for a moment.
"You were naughty Hermione," Theo murmured, leaning to speak into her ear. "You came before I told you to and you made me come as well. So very naughty. You liked my hand around your throat didn't you?"
She made a noise that sounded like affirmation, but Theo could see that he'd managed to bruise the delicate skin of her throat. He clucked his tongue and pulled his softening cock from her body.
"It's time you learned what a real punishment is," Theo sighed, and leaned over her to grab the paddle that he'd sat out, the one where the cut out would leave the word "slut" over and over on her ass when he was finished with her.
"Theo, I'm sorry," she choked out.
"I'm sorry too," he sighed. "I didn't want to punish you. I told you not to come. You chose not to listen to me, Hermione." He slapped the paddle against his own palm, enjoying the sting. He nodded to himself and flipped Hermione over so that her face was near Draco's. The blond was watching Theo wide-eyed, but whispered soothing words to Hermione as Theo used the paddle on her ass cheeks, the rhythm fast and hard. Hermione let out a scream at the first strike, but then quieted. He didn't stop until they were both bright red, the word standing out on her flesh like a marquee. Hermione was sobbing softly, tears running down her cheeks.
Theo didn't think that she had ever been prettier.
He stroked her rosy skin and sighed with contentment. She was dripping between her legs and Theo knew that despite her tears she was enjoying what he was doing to her.
Draco was next with the paddle, but he didn't cry, he only nodded when Theo whispered, "So that you'll know too what happens when you don't obey me."
The word slut on Draco's ass did something to Theo and he was so turned on that it was painful, but he wasn't going to allow himself to come yet. He hadn't earned it, but his pets certainly had.
Theo flipped Draco onto his back, and then lifted Hermione into his arms, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Did you learn your lesson Hermione? Your orgasms are mine, you can come once, you can come ten times, but only if I say so."
"Y-yes Theo," Hermione gasped.
"That's my good girl," Theo whispered. "Now ride Draco and make him cum and then I'll fuck you again."
Hermione's pupils were blown wide as he kissed her hard, then lifted her to line Draco's aching cock up with her body. The cockring had done its job and Draco's shaft was swollen and red, precum dripping. Theo stretched the silicone ring and slid it off Draco, before his two pets were permitted to play with each other. Draco moaned as Hermione slid down his length. Theo grinned because this wouldn't take long.
"Oh," Draco moaned, trying to thrust upward into her despite the awkwardness of his body with his arms tied behind his back.
"Now, now," Theo murmured, stroking Draco's cheek. "Lay still and let Hermione do the work. She's going to make you cum. Aren't you sweetheart?"
"Mmmm," Hermione moaned, eyes closed, as she rolled her hips taking Draco in, her core muscles working hard with her hands still tied so she couldn't use them to balance herself. She almost fell forward so Theo decided to help. He gripped her curls roughly and wrapped them around his fist, forcing her head back.
Theo bit her where her neck met her shoulder hard and whispered, "Go ahead and come, Hermione." He played with her tits with his free hand, teasing her piercings. She was panting and Draco was as well. "That's right my darlings. Go ahead and come, show me how much you love each other."
"Oh fucking hell," Draco cursed. "Here I come."
"Yes! Yes!" Hermione moaned, back arching.
"That's right," Theo purred, pleased with them. "That's it."
Draco and Hermione came simultaneously, Hermione making a mess all over Draco and the bedding. She was still shuddering in her orgasm when Theo pulled her limp body off of Draco and threw her on her back. He fucked her hard, spreading her legs wide, his hand on her throat again. He pushed one of her legs back with his other hand and put her knee over his shoulder so he could pound deeper, so she could take him further.
"Fuck Hermione. You feel so good," Theo snapped his hips, fucking her so hard that she was gasping in pain from her sore ass as he thrust into her again and again. He groaned as he emptied himself into her, taking his hand from her throat and playing with her oversensitive clit until she was clenching and her back was arching as she came again for him. "That's a good girl."
He sighed. He felt much better. That was just what he needed. He slid himself from her body and helped her sit up, supported by his leg.
"Here let's get you both untied now," Theo carefully undid the knots on Hermione, rubbing her wrists as they were freed. "There we go, sweet girl." He looked over her bruises and laid her down carefully. "Here Draco, let's get those arms free too." Theo helped Draco to his knees and untied his arms carefully massaging each inch of skin as it was exposed.
"Here let me get some ointment," Theo hopped up and stretched. Damp with sweat, he popped open a few of his shirt buttons and adjusted his pants which were damp from their activities. He grabbed a couple jars from his side table, coming back to gently take care of them. When he lifted Hermione into his lap so that he could put ointment on her raw ass cheeks, she started to cry.
"Hey, hey," Theo rubbed her back. "You are okay, I'm right here. I've got you. You did so good. You were so good. You and Draco were everything I needed and I feel so much better now. You are perfect, Hermione, just perfect."
She pressed her face into Theo's neck. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm being ridiculous."
Theo stroked her hair and Draco reached over and started rubbing her back after getting a nod of permission from Theo.
"No, you are fine. It was an intense session, but you did so well. I'm so proud of you. You took everything I gave you. It was so good, Hermione. Perfect. You were amazing." He kept repeating praise to her, soothing phrases and stroking her everywhere he could reach. "You are a perfect girl."
Her lip was still quivering when she looked up at him, "Do you really think so?"
"Oh fuck yes, Hermione." Theo smiled at her, using his thumb to wipe away her tears. "After I rub Draco down, I'm gonna make you two some tea and how about we cuddle and watch a movie?"
"The Princess Bride?" She asked, hopefully.
"Whatever my princess wants," Theo laughed, meeting Draco's eyes. The quicksilver glowed with something like love. Theo bit his cheek to keep from telling them he loved them. It was too soon. He didn't want to scare them off.
Blaise was calling, so Theo picked up the phone despite the late hour and being in bed next to a sleeping Hermione and Draco.
"What's going on?" Theo asked without preamble.
Theo could hear Blaise take a deep breath on the other side of the line. "The DNA under Cedric's fingernails just came back with a match…"
"Who was it?" Theo demanded a little too loudly causing him to check that he didn't disturb his pets. Hermione and Draco slumbered on, Hermione spooned in Draco's embrace, her face pressed into his thigh.
"Theo…" Blaise sighed. "I need you to promise not to do anything rash."
"Don't fuck around with me," Theo said into the phone, in the calm tone that he used when he meant murder.
"It was Greyback," Blaise replied.
"Have your lab tech destroy the records and the sample," Theo commanded.
"Already done,"
"Good. Meeting tomorrow to go over the next steps," Theo commanded in a dark tone. "Make sure everyone is there at noon."
Theo hung up.
Sleepily, Draco looked up at him with one eye open. "Theo, who was that?"
"Just Blaise, baby, go back to sleep," Theo kissed Draco on the forehead and laid back onto the pillows as well.
Sleep was a long time coming, Theo weighed the various options for revenge in his mind. He wanted Greyback to taste blood and pain before he met his maker. Looking at the two laying next to him and thinking about how that had once been Cedric solidified the fact that Greyback had to be dealt with, so that nothing like this ever happened to them. Greyback's gang, the Pack, was going to be scrubbed from the earth as well.
His vengeance was going to be total.
