I think there's Something you Should know

I think it's time I told you so

There's something Deep inside of me

There's someone Else I've got to be

Take back your Picture in a frame

Contrary to his original statement, Ginny Weasley has managed to keep her little after-party to a reasonable amount of individuals.

The room was not decorated like the gaudy display at the Slug Club party earlier in the evening. It's subtle. Warm, even. The atmosphere is dimly lit by numerous floating candles, allowing for a more intimate setting. The ceiling is charmed with swirling stars of red and silver. A fireplace is roaring off in the corner where Thomas and Finnigan are seated on the floor with a deck of cards. There's also a table filled with various liquor bottles where Ginny is chatting with Katie Bell. An odd collection of people really, when you add in Corner and Lovegood.

"You made it!" Ginny exclaims as she runs up to them when they enter and gives Hermione and Luna each a side-hug.

"How lovely!" Luna gazes around the room, admiring the candles as they hover around, not destined for any particular direction. "They look like they're dancing."

"Thank you, Luna." She passes each a cup of something or other.

Hermione sniffs the liquid and with a grimace asks, "What is this, Ginny?"

Ginny takes a sip from her cup and smiles innocently, "Oh, you know. A little of this… a little of that."

Theo tries it for himself, it's not bad by any means. "Love, it's fine."

Ginny quirks a brow at him, no doubt due to the term of endearment that fell from his lips. But instead of saying anything, she shrugs and leaves to greet Neville, who looks a little worse for wear as he enters the room.

A bit later, Theo finds himself alone. He leans against the stone wall in an attempt to clear his head as the intoxication filters through his veins. He's completely unbothered when he hears someone approach.

"Nott," Ginny greets as she leans into the wall as well.

"You know, Weasley, you don't put on a bad party,"

"Thanks Nott," She doesn't sound overly surprised by his statement and takes a swig from her bottle. "So, you and Hermione?"

"Yeah," He breathes, "Just don't go advertising it."

"Mums the word," She lazily mimics zipping her mouth shut. "Be grateful there's only a few of us around to see the two of you. Here, together."

"You think anyone would believe me if I told them she and I are just friends?" He doesn't mind a few of their peers knowing. It would be nice to not have to keep hidden all the time.

Ginny cackles, "Maybe you really should have thought about that before snogging her in the corridor," she paused to nudge him in the shoulder with her elbow, "Or taking up her invitation to Slughorn's gathering."

"I'm finding it hard to deny her anything."

"Do you want to keep it a secret? Because neither of you have been acting that way. At least, Not tonight."

"In a perfect world, I could care less if anyone actually knows. But— "

"You're worried what your friends will do if they find out," She finishes for him.

"Exactly. I don't want her to be constantly having to watch her back. I know what some of them are capable of."

"Then why even bother dating her at all?" She quips, "If you really want to keep her safe. Wouldn't you stay away from her, avoid her at all costs."

"Because I– "

"Love her?"

"You know, finishing my sentences could get rather annoying," There's no real anger behind his words. He's simply annoyed with himself for how easy it is for her to read him, even after all the festivities.

Ginny takes another gulp, "Trust me. I don't like doing it any more than you do, but I– "

"Have Fred and George as brothers?"

"Right.

The question still stands," She's turned to staring him down, "Do you love her?"

"Yes, I do," He sighs, rubbing the nape of his neck. He hasn't even told Hermione yet.

They fall silent for a few beats as he takes time to glance up at the group before them. It's picturesque, the way Hermione's giggling uncontrollably—a genuine bright smile on her face—with Thomas, as Finigan is astonishingly dumbfounded at a whimsical looking Lovegood.

"Nott," Ginny continues, "Do you ever feel like you have no control over your own destiny?"

He peers at her, "All the fucking time." But how would she know anything about that?

"Oh stop looking like you're the only one who has issues, Nott." She scolds, but passes her bottle to him anyway. "I'm the only girl in my family and regardless of what you may think, I constantly feel like I'm under everyone's thumb."

Theo knocks back the bottle and enjoys the burning sensation he gets from the Firewhiskey as it feeds his buzz. "I can only imagine, you have what? 6 brothers?"

"Correct as always. It's a little better now that Ron's the only one left with me. But he's far worse than Percy or the twins ever were."

"At least you have someone to watch out for you." Sometimes Theo wondered what it would be like to have at least one sibling. Someone whose job it was to look out for him. His father certainly didn't. Thoros ignored him at all costs, ever since he was little. Only choosing to acknowledge him when it came to that damned family legacy. It was always 'make sure you marry a pureblood girl, Theodore' or 'why can't you be more like Draco? He does as he's told.' It was never about him, who he was or how he actually spent his time.

"I feel like you may be projecting, Nott." She's snippy as she drags her gaze up and down his intoxicated stance. "But, I suppose, you may have a point. However…" she trails off.

"What?"

"I was just thinking about Sirius."

"Sirius Black?" It was the only 'Sirius' he knew of. But why would she be thinking about him?

"The very same." Her voice turns to a whisper, "You know he died this past June."

"I'm aware." It was the talk in his house for a while. He would never forget how Thoros was positively beaming with his friends over way too many bottles of Ogden's. How he had gloated that Black family's own Blood Traitor was finally put into an early grave. "But I don't understand what he has to do with overbearing brothers."

"He told Harry, once, how he regretted not watching over his younger brother, Regulus, before he died."

"Oh."

Until now, Theo had all but completely forgotten about the Black heir. He knew the story well enough. Sirius was constantly used as an example of what would happen if you turned your back on Pureblood Society. As children, it was used to put Draco and himself in their place. However, now that he knows better, he highly doubts that would actually happen. The Blacks were lucky enough to actually have a second son to leave their legacy to. The Malfoys and Notts, unfortunately, didn't have that luxury. It was just Draco and him. If they were to be cast away, there wouldn't be anyone to keep the lines going. And now that Theo was thinking about it, it's worse for Draco, strictly because he has two lines being left to him. Both Malfoy and Black, because Regulus went missing almost 20 years ago and has since been confirmed dead.

"My point is," Ginny said, bringing Theo out of his thoughts, "The grass isn't always greener."

"No, but it does bring up my point that we are from completely different worlds, Weasley."

"How so?"

"Well, you could go off and marry any of these blokes here," He gestures with the bottle in his hand to the others in the room, "which, save for Longbottom, are all half-bloods or less, and your parents wouldn't care. However, if I were to marry Hermione—"

"You would lose everything?" It's now her turn to peer at him through the haze, "Tell me, Nott. If this thing you have going with Hermione—who is quite notably the epitome of a muggleborn witch—actually went that far, would you even care if you lost it? Because of what I witnessed tonight, it appears that you wouldn't mind in the least."

"You're quite intuitive, Weasley." It was truly the million galleon question. One he has spent many nights awake, listening to Goyle's snoring, thinking about. "And again, you are correct."

She stares him down, urging him to explain himself further.

"I'm afraid, unlike Orion Black, Thoros Nott won't just let me go. He, without a doubt, would not hesitate to tear Hermione apart. I just need more time to figure out how to navigate around it."

Theo isn't sure how long his girlfriend has been standing there before she speaks up.

"Looks like Freedom and Whiskey really do Gang Together."

Ginny nearly chokes on her drink, "Come again?"

Hermione rolls her eyes at her friend sheepishly, and snakes her arms around Theo's waist and burying her head in his chest. This is new. Theo has never seen her so plastered before. He struggles to find his balance as she sways and puts the majority of her weight on him.

He smiles down at her, "Freedom and Whiskey indeed."

Take back your Singing in the rain

I just hope you understand

Sometimes the clothes Do not make the man

All we have to do now

Is take these lies and Make them true

Somehow, All we have to see

Is that I don't Belong to you And you don't Belong to me

Freedom! '90 - Pitch Perfect (George Michael)