April / 24 / 24

Chapter Ten

Theo's POV

Luxury of time. We are teenagers and yet we have to think this way. It makes me sick. I already hate how limited my time is at school doing tedious school work assignments, talking to fellow classmates and haunting alcoves for those few precious moments of peaceful serenity.

The normal break from reality I had from home to school life is slipping like sand through an hourglass. Worrying over translations and calculations and knowing the dirty gossip between the houses used to be such a relief. Now a bittersweet memory.

Now I have to watch every movement from housemates to teachers: trying to see who else is watching each other's movements to report back to their keeper. Having to have information to report back, and to make sure it was useful; because if it wasn't there would be repercussions. The violence is unavoidable, but now there is almost a sick game between the parents of my friend group and who can be the most deranged regarding how they correct their heirs for not delivering.

Years I have had my father punish me for subpar grades, and weak so-called associates he would call my friends along with my innate ability to be disinterested in preparing for succession. The scars that littered my body hidden by fine robes were almost comparable to stars.

Yet across a simple wooden table a sister ready to take on the evils that exist outside these stone walls. Her eye's in the sun rays that showed through the windows into this library set them on fire. She took the venom spat at her and coated her blade with it.

I was ready for the Dark Lord to take command. I was ready to follow tradition. I was ready.

And now, I am without a doubt, completely unprepared.

Watching Potter leave I couldn't help the twist of jealousy. Will I ever have the opportunity to be like that with her? Will I ever get to have the comfort of communicating seamlessly with just a glance? Will there be time?

"You said your family is willing to defect? Should I ask if our father would switch sides as well?"

I couldn't even think of a response before I started to laugh.

Draco elbowed me in the side before he spoke up, "Lord Nott would never defect. He is too deeply rooted to have power and control, he would wet himself if my parents position in rank became available to him."

Hermionie had the grace to flinch at what Draco said, "Noted. Then I think the best course of action is to arrange someone from the order-"

"No. The order is not a group my family would trust to keep their interests safe, a meeting would never happen there."

"Well. How do you expect them to have any sort of credit for not being associated with Voldermort when this is all said and done?"

Sparks of ice and fire flashed between the two: both very domineering personalities with two very different ideas on how we go forward.

Draco had the grace to sit straighter in the chair before he brought himself as close as he could to the table.

"I have requested my father to attend the next match and that is when I plan to reveal this-" he gestured between myself and Hermione, "information. Somewhere safe and out of peoples curious ears.

Theo has practically been raised as my brother, similar to the bond you share with Potter. My family needs to be brought up to speed and only then will I even think about putting your name on their mind.

I don't think you understand the gravity of this situation, Granger. My home is crawling with vermin. Blood crazed wizards, mangey wolves and rats. The Dark Lord sits at the head of the Malfoy Table. If he were to catch a whiff of disloyalty there would be blood."

The silence was heavy and thick, but every word spoken was just reverberating.

With a loud sigh, Hermione leaned back in her chair, "Fair point Malfoy." she smirked and let out a small chuckle, "To think, this is the first time I am eagerly awaiting a quidditch game." She laughed a little more.

I turned to Draco, he had a lifted brow and smirk but he didn't break his graze from her.

She collected herself once again, her grip on my hand gave a little squeeze before she spoke up again.

"So, aside from the doom and gloom, we do need to establish how we are going to reach out to one another if we need to get in contact.

And for everyone's safety, I don't think we should make a connection between ourselves known to others. It is a risk for everyone."

Finally feeling like I can jump into the conversation, I clear my throat and wait for the two sets of eyes to turn towards me. " I couldn't help but notice how you flinched in your chair before Harry left- I am assuming you already have a nondescript way to communicate..unless that was a total coincidence-" I let my sentence die off as her face completely flushed.

Her free hand tapped at the table and her eyebrows knitted together, she gaped like a fish a couple times before she turned in her chair for a piece of parchment.

"I am very proficient in charms so I cannot tell you and you are just going to have to accept that. But if you do want to do some extra credit research I would suggest you start looking here. It was very helpful for my studies."

Her eyes held mine and I could almost feel the temperature rise with the heat coming off of them: sliding the neatly scribbled note toward myself I let a laugh escape my lips.

"Seaction, row, Arthur, title, chapter and page number. Very detailed notes Granger, I can see how you can best Draco every year. I will take your lead and be very studious in this extra credit assignment."

She shared in the brief retrieve of laughter before she dug back into her bag, "Alight! Enough gloom and doom! I have a couple hours before I have to meet up with the boys again and I have questions!"

I saw Draco from the corner of my eye, and with a simple nod I knew he was going to excuse himself so Hermione and myself can have some time with one another.

Draco's POV

These chairs were miserable to sit in for hours. I honestly don't know how one could sit there for hours on end and not have to go see a masseuse: at least that is what I am going to tell them.

"Theo - Granger. As fun as sitting in a library is, I am going to leave you to it. If this is going to become our meet up spot I am going to suggest some additional spell work to make these chairs tolerable."

I grab the note from Theo and raise an eyebrow at how Granger stiffened, "I will get started on this assignment, and don't fret Granger, we are officially on the same side…at least academically for now."

I avert my eyes to study her note as if it were the only thing I could focus on. As if the elegant script would disappear should I remove my eyes from the parchment. I start off in the general direction that she mentioned, not caring to look over my shoulder to watch how the pair would react to my leaving.

Once I was out of eye sight from that table I found the nearest bookshelf and tucked myself in. A flick of my wand and a notice-me-not charm was casted as I sank to my knees, my hands clutching at my hair as my chest heaved.

Hermione, Golden Girl, Granger. When it was just letters on a paper and smokey remnants of a potion it didn't sink in as hard as it is now.

My best friend has a living breathing family member. He has a sister that is talked about by some of the most deranged psychopaths to have magical blood.

I have to speak to my parents now. Not at this damn match.

Straightening myself back up, I brushed the creases from my rob and slicked back my hair.

Calm and collected. Always calculating.

I found her book and scribbled my name under hers in the check out index card. Once filed I walked with one destination in mind.

The air in these corridors always felt thick and almost moist: as if someone was breathing down your neck. Hairs are always standing on end.

Standing up taller, I raise my fist to the wooden door. A few planks of oak were what stood between myself and a floo call home.

That and one of the most poorly monochromatic dull professors that has ever graced these halls.

To be continued…

Authors note: It has been way too long since posting. I do apologize for the wait. But I do have some slightly good news. Firstly I officially got a new laptop and its only job is to open google docs so hopefully I never have to hard restart another computer.

Secondly, I am getting a beta writer for this series. Someone who is going to be my reminder and editor to get this story finished.

I will have more soon! Thank you all who have been sticking through the painfully slow updates and watching your alerts. I truly appreciate it.

As always, please review!

~KBN