Song Suggestion: Crossfade- "Colors"
To answer a common question: the age difference between Titus and Hermione is nine years. He's twenty-seven right now.
The next chapter will earn a trigger warning. From this point on, the tone of the story will become darker. Final warning to hop on over to ao3 to see story tags. (You can get there easiest by googling my pen name paired with House Pet) This story will eventually become darker than both Brand New World and the Lion and the Lamb, though I consider this story a slow boil to darkness.
A/N: If I don't respond to your reviews, it's not because I don't love them and reread them a thousand times. It's because FFN is stupid about review responses, and I think something is wrong with my private messaging. If it's a common question, I'll try to answer it in my author's notes.
All the kudos to my BAMF beta, MyPrivateInsanity
The Gift of the Universe
Christmas break arrived, and Hermione ran to greet Theo just as he got off the Hogwarts Express. He wrapped his arms tight around her, lifting her in the air and twirling her.
"You're finally taller than me," she teased. He must have grown by four inches at least, making him long and skinny. "It's not much of an accomplishment, but congratulations."
Theo rolled his eyes at her teasing and set her down.
"You and Malfoy have the exact same sense of humour. Maybe that's why he likes you. There's finally someone mean enough for him."
"Of course, he likes me." Hermione gave a little flip of her hair. "Why shouldn't he?"
Titus, still much taller than his younger brother, stepped up behind Theo and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you're going to be home."
Theo stiffened. A strange, dark look crossed his features.
"Don't talk to me."
He shoved off his brother's hand and walked away.
Titus pulled back in confusion. He watched him until Theo walked far enough away, and then he turned his attention to Hermione.
"What was that about?"
Hermione shrugged, but worry grew in her heart. She'd never seen Theo act so angry, especially toward his brother.
They exited the train station in tense silence until they got to the muggle automobile they rented for the trip. Hermione refused to fly, and apparition and floo were restricted around the train stations, so it had always been tradition to drive to and from the nearest authorised floo. Though Titus hated most muggle items, he did seem to enjoy driving their automobiles. Normally, he sped through the city streets, grinning as he wove recklessly through traffic, almost making Hermione wish for a broom ride.
This time he drove at a slower speed. His concern was obvious as he kept glancing in the rearview mirror at his brother in the back glowered beside her. Usually, they spent their time telling stories and jokes and catching up on what they missed while apart from each other, but all of his good cheer at initially seeing her had faded into a seething anger.
"Let's just apparate now that we're far enough away from the station," Theo said. "I don't want to be around you."
"Don't talk to me like that," Titus snapped.
"If I continue, would you curse me?"
"Of course not. Why are you acting like this?"
"Oh, I think you know exactly why I'm acting like this."
Hermione didn't like apparition with its unpleasant pop, feeling as if she'd been ground up and put back together. She preferred floo, if possible, which is why Titus started the habit of driving. They all enjoyed the tradition normally, and Hermione especially enjoyed the brief glance into muggle London, so for Theo to want to deny her that meant something was very wrong.
Hermione reached out and touched Theo's arm. He flinched at the contact.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
He gave a loud, mocking laugh. It sounded odd coming out of his mouth. She'd never seen him in such a bad mood.
"Wouldn't that be a shock for you?" His face softened just a tad. "You don't know who Titus even is. The Butch—"
Titus slammed on the brakes, making them tumble forward into the seat in front of them.
"Theo… I've never laid a hand on you, but if one more word exits your mouth, I'll thrash you."
Hermione paused in shock, wondering what to do. She'd never heard them argue like this, with physical threats.
A few cars honked their horns behind them, but Titus ignored them.
Hermione looked between the two, each glaring as if they might stab one another. Finally, Theo jerked away and pushed open the door, climbing out and slamming it hard behind him. He paced on the side of the street and then, as if he'd just remembered that he was seventeen and could apparate by himself, he lifted his wand and disappeared.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Titus asked in concern. "I stopped harder than I intended."
"I'm fine. Why is he angry?"
Titus sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I don't know."
But he refused to meet her eyes.
Titus took the long way. His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard the veins in his hands and arms raised. They followed the meandering roads in silence, Titus' lips pressed tightly together. Hermione kept her eyes on him, curious about his reaction.
She didn't ask him about the situation again. Not with the ugly mood he displayed.
When he finally stopped their car at the floo location, Titus walked around, opened the door, and helped Hermione out.
"Theo will come around," she said. "Whatever he's upset about doesn't change the fact you're his brother, and he loves you."
He let out a long sigh, releasing some of the tension in his body.
"I hope you're right." He clenched his teeth a moment and glanced away. "I have an idea of what's wrong, and—sometimes my job requires me to make hard decisions, and they aren't for the soft-hearted. Nothing I do is out of cruelty but necessity."
"You don't have to convince me you aren't cruel, Titus."
In response, he gave a small nod, though he still refused to look her in the eye. He ran a stressed hand through his hair, making it stick up a little.
"Alright, it's time to get home. Maybe Theo's cooled off a little."
Theo had not cooled off. In fact, he refused to cool off for days, unwilling to tell Hermione the issue.
"Titus won't allow me to discuss it without him present." He said the last part with undisguised resentment.
Hermione felt like she was in the middle of a war. Titus, silent and brooding. Theo, angry and short-tempered. Neither of them were pleasant company, so she spent her days attempting to help Bitty do chores, much to the little elf's distress. Hermione stopped after she folded her own clothes, almost causing Bitty to iron her fingers.
By the time Christmas Eve arrived, Hermione reached the end of her mental rope. Dinner was a silent battle, the two Notts glaring at each other across the table, the only sounds the clink of glasses and cutlery. Finally, Hermione slammed her fork down so hard Titus popped briefly out of his concentrated fury.
"Alright, enough of this," she said. "Either you two go outside and fight it out physically—which, if you do, go easy on him, Titus—or someone is going to tell me what's going on, because I refuse to tiptoe around either of you."
She looked over at Theo. To her surprise, his eyes looked a little red, as if he might cry.
"Will you tell her, or should I?"
"Theo—" Titus whispered.
"Titus killed Harry's father."
Hermione gasped and dropped the glass of water she'd been holding. It rolled across the table and clattered to the floor. The spilled water steadily dripped off the table's edge as Hermione stared at Titus in shock. A flash of panic crossed his face at her inspection.
"He was in the Order, Hermione. I had—"
"There was no proof of that!" Theo shouted, standing up with a screech of his chair.
"There was enough circumstantial evidence, including recent correspondence with Sirius Black," Titus said. "And he tried to kill me!"
"No, he tried to kill Snape, because he's an evil arse."
"You weren't there. He attempted to fucking Avada me," Titus said in a low voice. "And that's Headmaster Snape to you. I don't care if you loathe him, you'll show him proper respect."
"No, it's Snape," Theo spat the name. "Nothing but a snivelling little reject. Mr. Potter only fought because Snape threatened to take his wife. Any normal bloke would do the same. What would you do if someone marched in here and tried to take Hermione?"
Titus scowled as if just the thought made him violent.
"That's different. It would be within my rights to eviscerate any man who dared try to touch her. But James interfered with an investigation and attacked an auror—"
"James—" Hermione interrupted, trying to place the name. "James Potter?" All the pieces clicked together, remembering Snape's discussion with Titus at the quidditch match. The conversation revealed its dark undertones. Hermione's eyes widened in realisation.
She bit her tongue, wondering what to say. The clock ticked in the background as they stared at each other in tense silence.
"What's going to happen to Harry?" She asked. The words felt like lead.
Theo made a distressed noise at the question, but he quickly swallowed any other reaction.
"Tell her, Titus."
Titus clenched his teeth in what must be frustration or anger. Maybe a suppressed guilt.
"His mother will be going to live with Severus as his breeder. All three children will relocate with her."
Hermione didn't stop her horrified gasp.
"Couldn't she have gone to someone else?"
"Because of her age, only Snape put in for her. Or maybe no one did because it was Snape in the running. He's a formidable wizard." Titus shrugged. "We tried to convince him to compete for a younger one, but he insisted on caring for Lily."
Caring for Lily. What a fucking lie.
"And Harry?" Hermione asked, voice now almost a whisper. Any louder and something inside her would snap.
"He—"
"Snape tried to send him to live with his horrid muggle aunt and uncle," Theo cut in.
"That's distorting the truth." Titus turned his attention to Hermione. "Harry attempted to curse Severus at Hogwarts, and the headmaster thought it prudent to control him with threats so the dumb boy wouldn't get himself arrested, hurt, or killed. He saved his life. Snape loves Lily, Theo. He wouldn't do anything to her son."
Hermione didn't believe him. She remembered Snape's words now, about Lily's oldest son. He'd complained the boy was too much like his father. If he got a chance to get rid of Harry, he might take it.
She did know one thing: what Snape did to Lily was pain, not love.
Theo picked up his plate, still filled with food, and flung it across the table. It missed his target completely, but the intent was clear. Theo's chest rose and fell at a rapid rate, and his glasses slid down his nose.
"That's a fucking lie!" He roared. "Snape's always hated Harry, and now he has to live with the man responsible for the death of his father, because of you."
"James Potter is responsible for his own death."
Theo pointed his wand at his brother in a rage.
"I wouldn't do that, Theo. You can't win against me."
"Maybe I want you to curse me, so you'll finally show Hermione exactly who you are."
Titus' upper lip curled, and he reached in his pocket and set his curved wand next to his spoon on the table.
"Stop being foolish. Why are you even friends with a blood traitor's son?" Titus asked in a cruel voice she'd never heard.
"Because—" Theo's arms shook. Tears slipped free from his eyes, sliding past his glasses. "Because he's my only—and now he won't want to be anymore. Not after you murdered his father, and I don't blame him. Why would anyone want to be my friend after this?"
"Theo—"
"I hate you."
"You don't mean—"
"I mean everything."
"Don't you dare walk—"
"I can't wait to leave the manor, so I never have to see you ever again. You're not my brother anymore."
Titus reared back as if he'd been stuck.
Silence.
Theo gave one last shiver of fury and then turned and stalked out of the room. Hermione watched as Titus sucked in a pained breath and blinked rapidly. Theo wounded him in a deep way, but maybe he deserved it - though Theo shouldn't have said the last bit, even in anger.
Everything inside Hermione revolted at the thoughts inside her. She couldn't imagine being in Lily's place. Because it wasn't just living with him. Titus downplayed the horror. By ministry order, a muggleborn and her wizard must attempt to produce children. She'd need to enter the bed of the man who orchestrated her husband's murder, and no matter what Titus said, it had been planned by Snape. He'd probably taunted James on purpose, knowing the outcome.
"And you?" Titus asked, talking through his teeth. "Do you hate me too today? Go on and speak. I can tell you want to. Don't hold back. You might as well say it all."
Hermione ignored the hateful tone, counting her breaths so she didn't say something she didn't mean.
"Harry was one of Theo's only friends," she attempted to explain.
Titus focused on the opposite wall. He grabbed his wand and repocketed it.
"It's not like I meant to kill James," he bit out. "We found the letters, so we had to investigate. I didn't have a choice, and then Snape showed up unannounced and, in a panic, James tried to curse me. Would you rather I'd died?" He took a deep breath, flaring his nostrils. "Snape meant for him to get arrested, not— It doesn't matter. I can't change what happened. Besides, Theo should be spending more time with wizards with good connections anyway. Maybe this will help him step out of his bubble a little."
Hermione reached down and gripped her fork to give her an anchor to hold onto, so she didn't attempt to stab him.
"That's not how friendship works."
Titus' eyes snapped to hers, narrowing in a sharp anger. The look chilled her as it locked onto her face.
"How would you know?" He hissed with a snarl. "You're judging me for something you don't even understand. You know nothing about real life, Hermione, absolutely nothing, and you never will. Why am I even asking your opinion? You've barely even been outside of this manor. I've given you a lot of freedom—more than any other muggleborn I know—but maybe it's time you start learning your place. You can focus on your books and daydreams and stay the fuck out of my business."
As soon as he was done speaking, he lost his snarl. The ticking clock grew louder in the sudden silence. She felt slapped, as if something was jolted inside her, landing her in a new reality.
"Is that what you really think of me?" She stood up, straightening her skirt. "Tell me—what exactly is my place in this household? I thought it was a position of respect, a position of value. The auror that tried to kidnap me was convinced you see me as a pet. I refused to believe it, but maybe he had a point."
Titus stood up too, eyes widening.
"Sprite—"
"Don't call me that. If I'm nothing but a house pet, then don't pretend I'm anything more."
She began walking away, unwilling to stay a second longer in his presence.
Titus chased after her.
"Stop," he demanded.
She paused her furious exit.
"As my master commands."
She'd never called him "master" in her life. She didn't need to look at Titus to know he flinched at the term.
"Don't say—I didn't mean it." He touched the small of her back, chest nearly pressed against her, breath tickling her neck. She trembled in repressed rage. "Please, look at me. You're not a pet. You're my—of course, I value—"
"Yes."
"What do you mean, yes?"
"The answer to your question," she spat. "I think I do hate you today."
His hand fell from her as she walked out of the room, unwilling to look back.
When she got far enough away, she heard a loud crash as Titus swept the dinner service off the table.
Hermione woke on Christmas morning to a knock on her door. She hesitated, already knowing who it was, but she untangled herself from the sheets and padded over to the door. The cold floor chilled her feet, and she crossed her arms. Despite warming charms, Nott manor was always a bit draughty in the winter.
She opened the door to find Titus staring at her, looking sheepish. Hermione crossed her arms, already on the defensive.
He looked ridiculously handsome in pyjama bottoms and a black undershirt, his dark hair dishevelled from sleep. The sharp angles of his jaw had shadows of dark scruff, and his blue eyes shone bright with hope.
"Theo's refusing to open presents. I just—it's Christmas, Sprite. You can hate me tomorrow, but can we have a cease fire this morning?"
Hermione tapped her fingers in a distracted rhythm against her arm.
The thought of Titus killing James Potter made her stomach turn. However, if Mr. Potter cast the first Avada, how could she fault Titus for defending himself? She hurt for Theo and for Harry, but the loss didn't affect her personally. It was too complicated to sort through.
Her real anger stemmed from his cruel words. What he told her the night before still stung.
Maybe it's time you start learning your place.
Since she'd arrived at Nott manor, she'd never been spoken to like that. She'd always thought it was because Titus never would, but maybe it was because she'd never contradicted him. Not in the serious way she had in defence of Theo.
But, in the end, she didn't want to poison the day with her anger. "Alright," she agreed. "Only for Christmas. You'll have to work much harder for my forgiveness this time."
His broad shoulders sagged in relief.
Hermione followed him to the front sitting room, where they usually set up a tree. Titus once told her muggles associated the day with their mythical God. The old wizarding families called the day Christmas, but the celebration was connected to Yuletide.
Every year they found a giant tree, reaching to the top of the vaulted ceiling, and decorated it with floating candles and glass ornaments enchanted to show different moving pictures of the Nott family. A new glass ball was added every Christmas, showing the highlights of the year. By this point, she was on several, waving and smiling through the fragile orbs. Her first Christmas at the manor, they had several real fairies pinned to the branches—a traditional wizard decoration. But Titus stopped the inhumane custom when she told him it upset her. They'd since replaced them with transfigured replicas.
When she entered the sitting room, magic snow floated down. It vanished as it landed. Bitty did not disappoint with the decorations, hanging icicles in the windows and covering everything with tinsel and shimmer charms.
Titus led her to the tree where he had already organised the presents into piles, ready to be torn into, but she knew Theo's would stay wrapped. At least for now.
"Go on," he said.
She began opening, finding a new perfume from Tabitha and a few new books she'd wanted from Theo, along with an embellished quill he'd made. Titus got her a lovely floor length red cloak.
"Thank you," she said after finishing.
He gave a crooked grin, showing one of his dimples.
"I have one more."
He passed her a small box with a blue bow on top. She looked at it in confusion and then gently unravelled it.
When she opened the velvet box, she gasped. Inside was a beautiful crystal necklace in the shape of a teardrop on a thick black ribbon. It seemed delicate, but she knew it was much sturdier than it looked.
"It's goblin-made," Titus explained. He walked over and helped her clasp it on her neck. It fit snugly around her throat. His calloused fingers brushed against the hair on the back of her neck as he pulled away.
Goblin-made jewellery always held surprise enchantments.
"What does it do?"
He flicked up his wand and the curtains closed, darkening the room. He reached out and tapped the crystal with his hand, and the whole room lit up.
The universe rotated around her. A replica of the moon hovered near her head, and the planets twisted around the glowing sun.
"Wow," Hermione said in awe, realising it wasn't an image, but tangible. She touched a bright star, and then an even smaller distant galaxy. It rested in her hands like a captured firefly. She walked over and spun Venus on the tip of her finger and then traced Cassiopeia, connecting the dots. The solid shapes felt cool under her hands, and they were light as a feather.
Titus watched her amazement with a gentle smile on his face. The shadows of stars crossed his face.
"This is amazing," she said truthfully. Goblin-made jewellery was both expensive and rare. He must have paid a bagful of galleons for it—maybe more than even the first edition of Hogwarts: A History. "Why did you spend so much on me?"
"Didn't I say I'd give you the universe?"
Her heart began pounding under her ribs. The intense way he looked at her was making her a little uncomfortable, and she wasn't sure if she wanted him to continue or not.
"I'm almost embarrassed at what I got you," she admitted.
Hermione had honoured tradition and made him something, but now she wished she'd given him something better than an ugly homemade trinket.
"Nonsense," he said. "I love anything you give me."
"Anything?" Hermione teased.
"I take it back. Not anything. You're mischievous enough you'll test that theory to its breaking point."
He picked up the present from Hermione from his stack, untying the green ribbon. Inside was a braided leather bracelet she'd made. She'd put initials on each strand. One for her, one for Theo, and one for Titus. She wanted one for Tabitha, but four strands made it too bulky. Over the years, she'd made him several things— a bookmark, a wand holder, a decorated journal—but this was the first piece of jewellery she'd given since the Knut necklace she gave Theo.
"I put a protection Rune on the clasp—the Algiz," she said, feeling herself blush. "It's a little stupid, I know, but I thought it might keep you safe while you're working. It's nothing compared to your usual body armour, and I'm not sure if I cast the accompanying charms correctly, but it's—"
"It's perfect." He held it out, along with his wrist. "Can you help me put it on?"
Her nerves bunched under her skin, stomach flip flopping as she walked up. He kept his eyes on her, which she ignored, securing the bracelet in place with fumbling fingers. She kept missing the loops because her hands trembled.
When she finished, she made the mistake of glancing up. Titus' face was close enough she saw the white flecks in his blue eyes.
The stars and planets still danced around them, slowly rotating as if they produced gravitational pull.
"I'm never going to take it off," he whispered. She froze as he leaned over and kissed her cheek, much too close to her lips, and then pulled back. "Don't hate me for too long. What I said was said in anger and wasn't true. I value your opinions more than anyone else. Besides Theo and Tabitha, you're the only person I love. Always remember that."
The air between them tightened. Titus stood much too close, and she felt like he was leaning in again. Hermione stepped back on instinct. They'd had many physical interactions throughout the years—hugs, holding hands, kisses on cheeks— so Hermione didn't understand why she felt so nervous.
Titus looked down at her feet, as she shuffled backward.
His jaw clenched, and he gave a loud sigh.
"Merry Christmas, Sprite."
Titus turned and walked out, looking frustrated, and Hermione reached up and touched the universe at her throat, reeling in confusion.
