Edited 5/6/23: Some new content and clarity, but nothing major!

Wednesday, May 6, 1998

Theo was pacing. He had been for hours. Hermione would occasionally look up from the twinned notebook or her Transfiguration notes to attempt to distract him, but nothing seemed to work. She knew that he hated waiting. As it stood, there was so much unknown… He sighed heavily and collapsed onto the couch, resting his head in his hands.

Spring, Fourth Year

Hermione was waiting for Theo in their corner of the library. They'd gotten off the train a few hours before, but they had to keep up appearances. Hermione had spent some time with Harry and Ron and then claimed she needed a specific book from the library, a sure way to get them to leave her alone. So she sat at what she'd dubbed their table in the library doing a few extra credit Arithmancy equations while she waited for Theo.

She'd always been good at entertaining herself quietly. She didn't have siblings growing up, but her Mum hadn't finished Dental School until she was nine, so there were many nights that they'd study together. Hermione would be working on some advanced assignment while Jean Granger was taking notes on the gigantic books about teeth.

Jean had grown up in Martinique and gone to school in France where she met Richard Granger, who was on a trip with his Dental School friends. She'd been making extra money at a cafe and when she served him his Café crème he'd made her laugh and left his number. He always said that it was love at first sight, but she always jokingly said that she was just looking for a Visa.

He started making frequent trips to come and see her, and brought flowers and a ring to her graduation. They got married at a courthouse in Paris and moved back to Birmingham. Hermione grew up being hyper aware of race and her place in the world. It wasn't comfortable to be a mixed race couple, but her parents had always been able to face the challenges with calm rationalism. It helped that they'd always been more non-traditional than most of their peers.

After Hermione was born, Jean had decided that she wanted to move up from being a Dental Hygienist to joining her husband as a Dentist herself. They'd never had time for more kids as Jean moved through school and then started to work at the practice. Hermione hadn't ever felt lonely though. She'd "helped" the receptionist at the practice greeting customers and had always connected well with adults.

"Mi," Theo sighed as he kissed the top of her head, "I've missed you so much."

She smiled up at him from her book, blushing lightly. "I missed you too, Theo."

"I-" he cut off and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This was not a good break. Father was having more meetings than usual. He was talking to some pretty serious people. I'm worried, Mi. After the World Cup…"

"Do you think Voldemort is coming back?" she whispered.

He flinched slightly at the name. "I'm almost positive. I had Gertie listen in the walls for me. Father has been meeting with Lucius Malfoy and a few others. They're talking a big game, but I could tell that Lucius is concerned. I'm sure my Father is ecstatic."

She looked at him for a few seconds and grasped his palm. "Just because your father believes, doesn't mean you have to, Theo," she murmured.

"No… I know. I don't. I'm just bloody irritated, love. I want to tell everyone about us but…"

She blushed, he'd never called her love before. She shook her head softly and continued, "It's not safe for either of us, I know. Harry and Ron wouldn't understand anyway." She took a deep breath to tell him her news, "Mum and Dad want to meet you this summer if you're able to get away."

"I-They… You told them about me?" he asked, grinning shyly.

"How could I not? I've been writing letters about my 'new study partner' since November. Mum practically cornered me when we got off the platform."

She'd learned over the past few months that Theo wasn't like her. He wasn't able to sit still. He was always doodling or shaking his leg or pacing. He liked to blame being an only child, which always made her laugh as she was the polar opposite.

His knee was rapidly bouncing against hers. She placed her hand on his knee and he stilled. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.

He dropped his head to the table dramatically. "Draco has been quiet lately. He won't talk to me like he used to when we were kids. I'm worried that he actually believes this shite. When we were kids, our Mums had a much more open-minded education than our Fathers. After Mum was gone, both Draco and I were thrust into hardcore Heirship training."

"Did something change?" she asked.

"He's not as vocal as he used to be," Theo said. "I know you've noticed. He hasn't been nearly as much of an arse to you this year. I just… It either means he really believes the Pureblood rhetoric or he doesn't believe it at all and doesn't know who to trust. We haven't been as close since he called you that in Second Year."

"I think you should try to talk to him," she said, chewing her bottom saw his eyes dart down to her lips and tried to hide her smile. "I know the two of you used to be really close, maybe he just needs a friend? You can always say you were joking if he doesn't go for it?"

He looked down at the table, tracing the whorls of the wood with the hand that wasn't held in hers. "I'll think about it. I'm worried though, Mi. You're quickly becoming my most favourite person and I don't know what I'd do if you were suddenly gone."

"I'm not going anywhere. We have much too much to accomplisht!"

He smiled softly at her then his face crumbled. "We need to talk about your parents," he said.

"What about them?" She asked, defensively.

"I heard some things… My Father and his cronies are planning some attacks on the Muggleborn families starting in the Fall. Lucius said he couldn't get the list until then."

She sighed. "I'll reach out to Professor Lupin and Sirius. Hopefully they'll have some ideas and be able to protect more families." After a few moments of contemplative silence she continued. "I've been thinking about it. I think I'll have to Obliviate myself from my parents' memories."

"Hermione!" He said, louder than he intended. He flushed and then continued at a normal volume, "That's almost always irreversible. Let's see if we can find something else!"

She nodded and blinked tears away. No one had ever shown as much intentional care as Theo. Even her parents, who tried, but couldn't quite comprehend her life as a Witch, had never been so aware of her and her feelings. Theo, although seemingly careless and goofy, was always so thoughtful in word and action. He made it very clear that her happiness and security were always at the forefront.

"Theo…" she said, squeezing his hand, "I just wanted to say that," she chewed her lip for a second then took a deep breath. "I love you, Theodore Francisco Nott."

He blinked at her, shocked. "I-I…"

"Don't feel like you have to respond, I just wanted you to kn-" she started.

"I love you too, Hermione. You beat me, I had a whole romantic plan!" She giggled. "I've never felt like this before. It's… a lot. I want to show you off and let everyone know how I feel, but this bloody War!"

"Don't worry, being my public study partner and secret boyfriend is enough for now."

He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "I plan to be your public boyfriend eventually, and hopefully some day your husband?"

"My-my husband!?" she said, shocked, " Theodore, we're 15!"

"When the Magic knows it knows," he said with a shrug, causing her to blush.

Present (May 6, 1998)

She could feel him staring at her. She hadn't realised that he'd stopped pacing, but looked up at him after she couldn't ignore the feeling of his eyes on her.

"Can I help you, Theodore?" she asked.

"I just love you so very much, I can't even believe we're together again," he said softly.

"I love you too, tesoro," she murmured, standing and going to him. "You know, I've been thinking about our Magic. I think you were right. It did know that you were right for me, but even the two of us never feel balanced enough. We need him more than I want to admit."

"I know. Having you gone this whole year was terrible," he said, pulling her into his lap.

"Well we'll never be separated so long again if I have anything to say about it," she said quietly, dropping a kiss on the tip of his nose.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!