A/N:

Okay, but I was inspired largely on this by mine and Bea Writes' latest collaboration One-shot posted over on AO3 of a Theomione Academic Rivals. I had so much fun, I couldn't help but write up this little one-shot based in that universe :3

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it

Summary: Theodore needed to grab a book from the library when he stumbled upon Gryffindor's resident know-it-all and the only one with as good of grades as him. Taking his chance, he introduced himself to the lonely girl, changing both of their lives forever.

Words: 775

Prompts:

Ministry of Magic Discord Group: Who Dunnit?

Suspect: Theodore Nott

Crime Scene: Library

"The MeetCute (or First Impressions)"

Theo knew he shouldn't be there, not with who else was occupying the library. It was late, and almost curfew, but he needed a supplementary text in order to work on his homework during the first Quidditch Match of the season. He wouldn't have time to go before breakfast tomorrow, because the upper years all wanted to appear in the Great Hall at the same time as their team as a sign of solidarity, and after breakfast everyone would troop outside in the miserable October cold to watch their classmates come close to dying while in the air.

It was not something Theodore was interested in watching.

His hesitation upon entering the library, however, was that the Gryffindor Muggleborn know-it-all was seated at one of the tables near the section that he needed. She was annoying to the majority of the school because she inserted herself into other people's conversations without an invitation, and always had to prove herself. How she had made it into Gryffindor, Theo would never know. But he almost wished she had been a Ravenclaw, so it would be more socially acceptable to talk with her.

She looked lonely, something he knew very well until Blaise and Draco had thrust themselves into his life. It was hard being the smartest in the room. He could almost see himself forming a kinship with her, but she had that annoying need to compete with him in class. He would almost consider her a rival, had she not been a complete and utter teacher's pet.

The five minute warning bell for curfew tolled and Theo took a steadying breath. Straightening his spine, Theo smothered his nerves at getting into a possible conversation with Granger and strode towards her and the section he needed.

His steps were confident as he walked past Granger, her nose in a book with print so fine it was illegible from where he stood. Shrugging it off, he grabbed the book he needed and turned to leave.

Theo stopped short a few paces away from the table. Granger hadn't acknowledged him one bit, and he didn't know why that unsettled him. He wasn't that much of a wallflower that he was easily ignorable…was he?

He cleared his throat, but she didn't seem to hear him. He made a face at his own indecision, before he grabbed the back of a chair and sat down at her table. His knee bumped the table on accident, and the movement caught her attention. Granger's head shot up, her eyes bloodshot and red rimmed from what he assumed was the poor lamplight of the library and the small handwriting she was staring at.

"Granger, right?" he asked, despite already fully knowing her name. "It's almost curfew…what are you working on?"

Granger stared at him in surprise for a moment, making Theo fidget in his seat. She stayed silent for a moment too long, and he grew nervous. He stood up to quickly make his exit, banging his knee on accident again, fumbling his book onto the tabletop in his haste.

"I bothered you, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have disturbed you-"

"No, no, it's okay, you just surprised me is all!" Granger reached for his book at the same time as his did, their hands briefly touching and a shock going through them both. The two jumped in surprise as they parted, Theo clutching his book to his chest like a shield as Granger jerked back.

"You're Nott, right? From Slytherin?" Granger asked, pulling her own book closer. Theo nodded in response.

"Yeah, I…" he started to say, but was interrupted by the bell for curfew.

"Oh no, I'm late!" Granger moaned pitifully, rushing to gather her stuff up. Theo noticed that despite her hurry, she still packed her bag with care, making sure her books and parchment weren't rumpled. "It was lovely to formally meet you, Nott!" she stated hurriedly before rushing out. Theo just stared after her, bewildered. He shook his head to center himself before making his way over to Madam Pince to check his book out, getting only a small lecture from her for being out after curfew.

And on his way back to the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons, he pondered the girl that was Hermione Granger. She had such a thirst to prove herself, since she didn't really fit in with her Gryffindor classmates. But underneath that bushy hair and incessant need to be right, there must have been someone brave inside, at least enough for the Sorting Hat to Sort her to the House of Lions. Theo was curious to see how that bravery would show itself.