Hermione sat there in shock. She had expected some nefarious plan about getting back at Pansy to come from his mouth, not... this. Her mind tried to play catch up with the unanticipated turn. How had he found out? Who else had he told? Why had he decided to confront her?
He pulled back to make eye contact with her again, his tall frame made his shoulders hunch forward as he watched her face for involuntary giveaways. Slowly the gears in her head started spinning again and both her eyebrows rose up in mock surprise. "Wh... What are you talking about?"
"That's right. I know all about how you've gotten into his head. I also know that someone from your precious Dumbledore's Army put you up to it. And I am here to tell you that your little plan is not going to work..." Nott said, his eyes narrowing further into a glare with each sentence spoken.
She used her amusement at how off-base he was to add confidence into what would have been a nervous laugh. "Are both you and Parkinson certifiable? I do not have time to entertain your absurd stories tonight. Everyone knows that there is no love lost between Malfoy and I. Now give me back my book..."
"Oh come off it, Granger. You are not the only one in this whole school who pays attention. Don't think for a second that the two of you not being able to be in the same room without eye fucking each other has gone completely unnoticed." Theodore said, keeping his voice down but pulling away enough that he was no longer invading her personal space.
"Honestly Nott... I think you have lost it. Should I run and get Pomfrey for you?" She asked with mock concern coloring her tone.
His jaw clenched in annoyance at her pitiful attempt at evasiveness. "I am not kidding. Either cut the shit or I am going to go to Snape with my concerns."
"Why should I care if you go to Snape with some fantastical conspiracy theory? Go right ahead... I am positive both he and Malfoy will respond kindly when they find out the drivel that is spewing from your mouth." She challenged after getting her voice to work around the sudden lump that had lodged itself in her throat.
For the first time since his approach she saw a flicker of doubt navigate his features. The threat of what could happen if he ended up being wrong was enough for him to second guess himself. A small mercy on another day that was turning into an episode of The Twilight Zone. He ground his teeth together for a moment before shaking his head. "I do not believe you..."
"Well then... Let's go. Right now. Would you like to stop and pick up your asshole friend first to save time? Or should we let Snape summon him?" Hermione questioned, hoping he wouldn't call her on the bluff. She did not look up at him as she put the unorganized pile of papers into her bag. The action giving her the time to gather her chaotic thoughts again. There had to be some way out of the corner she had gotten herself in…
After she got everything but the book that was still under his palm inside, she stood up and faced him. Silently she gestured for him to hand it over and waited for his response.
He stood there and stared down at her. The fact that he was trying to decipher the way she had countered his move was written all over his face. She decided to offer him an easy out... "There is always the option of forgetting this ever happened too..."
Momentary relief was quickly replaced with a cocky grin when his eyes flickered behind her. "That will not be necessary."
Her heartbeat soared but she refused to look to find out what had changed his demeanor. "And why not?"
"Because my proof has just arrived." He sneered.
There was a horrific moment that passed where she thought Draco had shown up, despite her warnings of Harry watching him, but the signs of another person's arrival never materialized. She didn't break her gaze from the boy until she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.
Reluctantly she let her eyes flicker down to the small origami butterfly that landed near Theodore's hand. Of course he would send her a note right at that moment... In the most ostentatious hallmark Draco fashion that he could have picked. She let out a shaky breath as she closed her eyes, forcing the scream that fought to escape to stay burning in her chest.
"Would you still like to go to Snape? Or would you prefer to hear me out?" He asked condescendingly.
"It... It is almost curfew and I have rounds. I... I can't do this... Tonight." She answered before she opened her eyes and stared at his hand instead of his face. He still hadn't reached for the note that had unfolded itself into a normal looking piece of scrap parchment.
"Where is all that bravado now? Hmmm? I think you can make the time. Especially if you want whatever is said in this to be kept private..." He said, finally moving from his claimed perch on the book to indicate the note with his finger. He slowly slid the paper to the edge of the table before pinching it between his thumb and forefinger.
She watched as what could be damning evidence disappeared into a pocket hidden in his robes. Slowly her eyes found their way up to his and she nodded. "Alright... Do you know about the secrets the broom closet in the Divination wing has to offer?"
The annoyed roll of his eyes was answer enough.
"I will be at the other end at midnight. That is the best that I can do. If there is anything that tonight has taught me... I need to keep up appearances better and I have responsibilities that need to be attended to. Unless, of course, you still want to involve Snape and Draco..."
"I do not think there will be a need for that. I am sure you will show off your superior intellect and listen to what I have to say." Nott told her. The confident cockiness that had disappeared when she had tried calling his bluff was back in the set of his shoulders.
She rolled her eyes but quickly reached over and grabbed her book before throwing it in with the rest of her things. She sent a glare in his direction as a way to confirm his irksome assumption and turned to stalk off. Her thoughts stayed focused on keeping her breaths moving in and out of her lungs. The last thing she needed was to give the boy any more indications to how badly he had her rattled.
He called out tauntingly as she fled. "See you soon..."
-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-
As she slipped under the tapestry she tried to rearrange her features into a neutral expression, but the muscles in her face refused to turn from the scowl of contempt for the boy she had to meet.
Most of her time on patrol was spent arguing with herself about if she should clue Draco in. Ultimately her curiosity on why Theodore had chosen to come to her before anyone else drove her to keep silent. The same consequences were on the line with or without any answers... And she had a miniscule chance of getting him to agree that hurting Draco in the process of… whatever it was he wanted would be a bad choice. So she had decided to go it alone.
As soon as she was confident that the fabric had fallen snuggly back into place she cast Lumos and the tall profile of Nott was illuminated. She raised an eyebrow as she took in his relaxed stance. He leaned against the wall in a poor replication of how Draco lounged about. Once again the errant thought of some kind of cockiness lessons being how the Slytherin boys perfected their confidence ran through her head.
His eyes ran up and down her body and the all too familiar feeling of being contaminated slid over her skin. Her hand actually trembled as she lowered it to her side but oddly her voice stayed steady. "Say whatever it is that you want to say."
"Cut right to the chase, why don't you?" He jibed teasingly.
"I do not enjoy the games you seem to like to play. I would much rather get this over with..." She told him.
"You are not a very good double agent if you don't fancy a game or two. "
"Probably because I am not..."
"Fucking hell... You cannot expect me to believe that you, Hermione Granger, would willingly speak to Draco civilly without there being some kind of ulterior motive. Not after your history..." He interrupted while raking her with another head to toe appraisal. "The only reason that I can even entertain as a probability is- you are doing it for your little ragtag group of misfits. It's no secret that you have no issues delving into some very morally offensive territory for them."
"Well you just have it all figured out, don't you."
"No. I don't have everything figured out. Hence why I am here, but I do plan to stop you."
"Stop me from what exactly?" She asked, unable to keep the smirk of amusement from her lips.
"This is not funny, bitch. The game you are playing is a matter of life and death for many more people than you can possibly imagine. Tell me what you did to him so that I can reverse it. Are you slipping him Amortentia? Is he Imperiused? Out with it..." He glared over at her as his already deep voice dropped in volume, becoming gravely with the rise of his anger.
"I don't know what to say... You wouldn't believe the truth. I barely do..." She whispered before biting down on her bottom lip to keep herself from saying anything more. The way his glower held her made goosebumps break out across her arms. His reminder of what was at stake did not help either.
Theodore moved so that he towered over her. "That is it? That is all you are going to give me? Forgive me if I call bullshit... I refuse to believe the suggestion that Draco Malfoy would ever freely lower himself to fraternize with the likes of rubbish."
"I told you that you wouldn't believe me and yes as unfathomable as it is... We are both consenting participants in... Whatever messed up thing there is going on between us. The fact that you would even think that I would engage in what would be, at the very least, sexual assault is insulting. I know I am dirt but that is just... Repulsive." She hissed from between her teeth. Struggling to control her own anger by the end of her short rant.
He had the audacity to actually look sheepish before he shook his head and the hard look was back. "The accusation isn't any more insulting than the hits you are trying to deliver to my intelligence Granger. Tell me the truth."
"I am! Go and ask your friend! I can't understand why you came to me instead of him in the first place!"
"Good Gods, Girl! I am not that stupid! I do not have a death wish..."
They both stood there in silence as the implications of his thoughtless words sunk in.
She glared at him for a moment before extinguishing her wand. Her anger had slipped into outright rage and she didn't trust herself to keep in control of her magic. She turned to leave but stopped and looked back in his direction, barely able to make out his shape in the darkness. "If you never intended to go to Snape or Draco, why go through these lengths to try and get answers from me?"
"I needed to know you weren't fucking around with him. He can be a sadistic bastard sometimes but he doesn't deserve to be played like that. Especially now..."
"I know that..." She said, narrowing her eyes into another glare. Wanting so badly to be able to slap him for the defamatory remarks against her character.
"Good... And just so we are clear. If you do hurt him... Or I find out you lied to me here tonight... I will Avada you myself." Theodore threatened before stepping up to her back and slipping Draco's note into her hand.
Hermione instantly clasped it in her fist and let out a relieved sigh. "Did you read it?"
"Of course I did..." He pulled away from her and started down the corridor.
"You are an overconfident loathsome asshole..." She spit after him.
"Born and raised baby." His voice rang out from the darkness followed by a hollow chuckle and mumbled affirmation. "Born and raised..."
A shiver nailed her to the spot as she listened to his footsteps retreat. Her mind wanted her to rebel against the sudden feeling of pity that sprang up in her stomach for the wizard...