Most days Hermione usually felt a sense of comfort and safety in her normal routine—her days were filled with classes, dinners, laughter, and just simple life. She could once more enjoy evenings spent with a book in front of a fireplace, lunch and gossip with her friends, study sessions in the library, and most importantly, she was able to appreciate all those small things fully, because there was a time in her life when she wasn't sure she would ever have a chance to do any of them again.

That evening, Hannah Abbott, the current Head Girl who Hermione was somewhat friendly with mainly through Neville, asked her to cover her tonight's duties, claiming that she had come down with something.

Hermione suspected that it had more to do with a certain Gryffindor than a cold.

While technically against the rules, Hermione rationalized that covering for Hannah wouldn't cause any harm and the worst that could happen was a minor reprimand if someone found out. After all, would she really be punished for trying to help her colleagues? She could tell it was a lame excuse, but Hannah was practically begging and she couldn't find it in herself to tell her no. She had offered Hannah to find a Prefect to take over for tonight, but Hannah said she didn't trust anyone to handle this matter with the same level of seriousness as Hermione would, and Hermione would lie if she said that didn't sway her decision.

That was how Hermione ended up in the company of Theodore Nott, after Hannah had instructed her to meet up with the Head Boy in the library to "discuss a certain problem that needed resolving" (you know, the kind of problems that we help with, was all the explanation she was provided).

Hermione wished she had asked for details of said problem that needed resolving, as she sat at the table with her hands in her hair and a Slytherin on her side, who found the whole situation amusing.

"Why am I here?" Hermione mused to herself, deflated, invoking another round of laughter from Nott. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself by watching her reactions that came with every new revelation of his explanation of the issue.

The issue presented: some First-year students were spooked by rumors spread by older schoolmates about a 'bad guy' within the school grounds. The situation had escalated due to some of the students—Slytherins, of course—who deliberately fed the young kids the most frightening stories they had heard, which had left more than a few of them in a pretty panicky state.

Though Hermione should have suspected who the villain of the stories was, she was leaning more towards the idea that it was all made up rather than being about a real person.

The person in question: Draco Malfoy.

"Why are you here?" Nott—Theo asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

"I was just trying to be a good friend and a helpful student," Hermione stated matter of factly.

Theo snickered and she wished she had said no to Hannah.

Hermione didn't mind Theo's presence. She knew little about him, except that he had close ties with Malfoy and his entourage, and came from a family of Death Eaters. This alone hadn't boded well for collaboration, but after exchanging a few hesitant words, they got down to business and Hermione eventually discovered that he was not the worst person to be around. She almost dared to say he was a pleasant company.

No, Theodore Nott wasn't the issue here.

"Well, then," he reminded her with an impish smile. "I can't wait to see how helpful you'll be with this matter."

Hermione blinked. She tried searching all parts of her mind to find any reasons in favor of Malfoy not being a 'bad guy'. As no valid argument was made and she stumbled over her words, it only added to Theo's growing amusement, which wasn't helpful to anybody.

"I think we should go over the definition of a 'bad guy', so there are no misunderstandings and go from there," she finally said.

Theo chuckled lightly at that, but then he shook it off and grew more serious.

"Granger," he started. "Your feelings towards Malfoy are clear and I would be an idiot to think otherwise. Hell, this is the first time we've ever spoken and there is no love lost between us for obvious reasons."

Hermione couldn't argue.

"But, fuck, Malfoy's my mate and all the shit that's being dunked on him as if he is the prime and sole reason for what happened in the past is fucking bullshit," he continued. "And I'm not going to sit here and tell you that he had it easy with—"

Theo took a breath to compose himself. Hermione was watching him silently, stunned by his fierce loyalty to his friend, even when that friend was Malfoy. She valued that kind of devotion.

He looked at her, more calm and collected now. "Draco made his choices, but it's outright cruel to add fuel to his already ablaze life."

Hermione felt a sudden shimmer of anger ignite within her at what she was hearing and the irony of it. She wanted to scream that neither he nor Malfoy nor any other pure-blooded asshole had ever shown her a shred of sympathy when her life was being set on fire with all the slurs about her Muggle-born status, or the constant sneers and insults, or the undermining of her abilities as a witch because of who she was, so why should she care?

Then she noticed his raised eyebrow, a subtle flicker of amusement in his eyes, and it hit her.

"Are you trying to exploit my kindness?"

"I am," he admitted, unabashed. "How am I doing?"

Hermione was too taken aback by his frank, deadpanned response to feel insulted.

"A bit dramatic, I'd say," she sighed. "Why can't you sort this out with Hannah next time?"

A muscle twitched in Theo's jaw. "Hannah fucking Abbott bailed," he seethed.

"I've been hassling her about it for weeks, but that prissy Hufflepuff wants no part in fixing this problem, as if it isn't her damn duty," Theo's voice dripped with venom as he spoke. "I told her that tonight we're either getting it sorted out or else I'll hex her."

Hermione threw him an affronted look.

Instead of lecturing him that maybe threatening people to hex them wasn't the best approach, she asked. "Why haven't you talked to those kids yourself, then?"

"I've tried," he said with a grimace. "I'm a Slytherin and it's not like my reputation is pristine. They're almost as afraid of me as they are of him."

According to Theo, there was no evidence that Malfoy was actively doing anything to scare anyone, but the rumors going around were enough to unnerve not only the kids, but also their parents. Several had sent letters to the Headmistress expressing concern for their children's safety and questioning the kind of students that attended the school. Theo explained that if the situation continued, he was worried that anxious parents would no longer be placated by the Headmistress' reassurance that no harm was being done to their children and would start withdrawing them from school. He feared it could have an impact on Malfoy's fate at Hogwarts.

Hermione felt conflicted. Malfoy had always been an absolute prat and she was torn between her disdain for him and her empathetic side that felt sorry for the situation he had been put in. Most of all, she was concerned for the well-being of the young pupils and didn't want them to be afraid and feel unsafe at their own school.

So, it wasn't that she didn't want to help. She just wasn't sure she could.

She had had enough encounters with Malfoy to form a strong negative opinion about him and his behavior—how was she supposed to tell those kids that he wasn't such a bad person and make them believe her when she didn't believe it herself?

Theo, who had been watching her internal struggle, finally decided to speak out.

"I'm not going to plead with you. You don't care and I don't need you to," he stood up. "I just need you to come with me and talk to those kids. As much as it pains me to say it, you're the Golden girl and even they know what that means. I trust your words can affect them, even if you don't mean them."

Hermione shifted under his intent gaze. "And if it doesn't work?"

Theo shrugged. "Either way, I'll be in your debt."