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Chapter 11

"You're friends are staring," said Hermione as she pulled the parchments scribbled with their topic ideas out of her satchel.

"Indeed," replied Theo, not caring one iota that his about-face behavior was throwing a pebble into the projected stillness of the Slytherin pond; creating ripples of unease.

He was breaking form, and he knew there would be blowback but at the moment, he'd be arsed to care. For the first time in a long while, he was exactly where he wanted to be, with who he wanted to be with, and he wouldn't let others fears or discomforts sway him.

He'd done that for far too long.

"Just so you're aware, Hermione, your pride is circling," Theo taunted, eyes flashing with sardonic mirth. Hermione's head raised from the parchments she'd been perusing, her eyes connecting with his. At the sight of her eyes flicking infinitesimally down toward his, a hint of a smile tugged the corners of his lips up and Theo felt a tightening in his chest as his breath quickened.

Her ocular caress was as swift as the beat of a hummingbird's wing but the impact hit Theo like a rouge bludger, and he fought the urge to lick his lips to see if he could taste it.

She swiveled her head slightly toward the center of the room before letting out a frustrated gust of breath.

"Oh, honestly." She sighed, as Longbottom approached with the other two returning male Gryffindors flanking slightly behind.

"All right, Hermione?" Asked Longbottom, and though his question was addressed to Granger, Longbottom's eyes remained solely fixed on Theo's.

Theo held his gaze steadily — there was no question of Theo losing in this apparent play for power — though he maintained as benign an expression as possible, despite his desire to laugh in derision at their posturing.

He could respect their unease, and their protectiveness over their own based on previous history with those of his ilk. He even respected their bold approach and the fact that Longbottom didn't stutter or shake in a snake's presence any longer, but addressed Theo as an equal, if not a lesser.

That being said, Theo's incredulity of their behavior was due completely to the witch in front of him. She had survived worse than Theo by a long shot, and if he knew anything at all about her just from his observations from a distance, it was that Hermione Granger detested requiring assistance or rescuing. Especially when offered in situations where she had it well in hand.

Longbottom's mouth twitched at the continued banality of Theo's gaze, but held his ground; his eyes only flickering to Granger when she straightened her shoulders and addressed the three in front of them.

"Neville, Seamus, Dean. Have you met Theodore Nott? We've shared classes over the years though I'm unsure if you've all been properly introduced." She smiled broadly — all glinting teeth and sparkling eyes, a predator's smile — and waved her hand between them.

"Pleasure," Theo said, his manners as ingrained as the anger he felt toward his father and likely as permanent. He tilted his head in acknowledgement, before folding his hands together and resting them on his knee, his facade emanating a nonchalant air of polite expectation.

"Erm, right, ya. Nott. Follower of Malfoy and —"

"Follower of no one," Theo cut in sharply. Longbottom made a noise, which Theo chose to ignore.

"Not bloody likely, with a ruddy Death Eater for a father," said Finnegan, causing the last of their trio to look awkwardly away, scratching his nose.

"And he's a friend of mine, as well as my partner for our term project." Said Hermione, steel threading itself through her words, her predators smile having shifted to one of frozen molten. Finnegan turned mulish at her rebuke and the words 'Ron' and 'Harry' and 'bleedin' mental' were heard in lowered undertones, while Longbottom and the other — Thomas, that was his name — stared at Hermione in wary appeasement.

Hearing the not-so-subtle muttering, Hermione's patience appeared to reach its end.

"Enough Seamus! Thank you for your concern, it's duly noted, and though appreciated, is also not necessary. Whom I befriend is quite frankly none of your concern. Wasn't it you, Dean, that agreed with Professor Mcgonagall about interhouse unity and working with a partner from another house?"

Thomas nodded and smiled at Hermione before reaching forward and extending his hand.

"Dean Thomas." He said with placid congeniality.

"Theodore Nott," replied Theo, shaking Thomas's hand. He repeated the exchange with Longbottom, however; Finnegan resolutely refused to acknowledge him, instead, he stood there, arms crossed and jaw clenched and simmering with righteous anger. Brief tedious small talk was exchanged before Hermione all but outright verbally dismissed her housemates. As the three blokes turned and retreated to their original seats, having had her smooth their their ruffled feathers, Hermione began repacking her school satchel with the parchments she'd just removed.

"I don't think we'll get any work done tonight," said Hermione in answer to his unspoken question at her actions, shooting him an apologetic look as she began clasping her satchel shut. "We are well ahead of schedule though, so postponing our decision a day won't significantly impact our workload."

Theo felt disappointment thread itself through his veins but arranged his face to reflect only his patented neutral facade.

"As you wish," he said, giving her a nod and a soft smile. He made to stand, ready to take his leave, when she forestalled him by placing her hand gently upon his arm.

"I wasn't meaning to imply that I was through spending time with you, Theo." Hermione said, her eyes wide and tentative, and oh, but Theo could drown in those eyes. He paused in his movements and quirked an eyebrow.

"Then what were you suggesting, Hermione?" Theo asked, his tongue almost caressing her name as it fled through his lips.

"It's a lovely evening, fancy a walk around the grounds? It feels suddenly oppressive in the castle, despite… all the restoration efforts." She shrugged, feigning nonchalance but Theo saw through the veneer.

"I find I fancy a walk immensely," said Theo, feeling his eyes crinkle a bit at the corners as he smiled. Lifting her satchel as he rose, he was surprised to find it substantially lighter than he'd anticipated due to the immense book-load he knew was contained within.

"Feather-light charm?" He asked, slinging it onto his shoulder effortlessly.

"Naturally." Replied Hermione, rolling her eyes. "I learned relatively soon that first year that disproportionally balanced and overweighted satchels create the worst backaches. Professor Flitwick taught me this spell my first month; I was proficient in less than an hour." Her face radiated the pride she felt over this accomplishment, seeing as the charm was typically taught during second year.

"Naturally," echoed Theo, and was rewarded with a flash of perfectly sized, perfectly straight teeth, before Hermione gestured toward her satchel.

"I can carry that you know," she said, and made to remove it from where the strap lay across his shoulder. "I don't need assistance."

"Believe me Hermione," said Theo, angling his torso away and chuckling as he began slowly moving toward the entrance of the common room, forcing Hermione to keep pace lest she be left behind. "I know that you, out of any of us, are not in need of assistance. But isn't it — I don't know, nice? — to be relieved of your burden, for even a smidgen of time? Even a burden as mundane and insignificant as this spelled book sac here?"

"Well… yes, I suppose —" Hermione began, as they passed through the joint common room doors and into the deserted corridor. Curfew was approaching, and most students save for the oldest years appeared to have retired to their respective house common rooms.

"Then accept that I've relieved you of your — quite literal — burden; it is no trouble to me at all." He cheeked, and although Hermione grumbled and postured, he noted a slight upward lilt to her lips and a sparkle appear in her eyes.

'I wonder if anyone's ever looked out for her like this, in the simple, benign actions of ones daily routine. Or offered without demanding something of her in return,' thought Theo, resolving to ease her load wherever and however he could without coming across as opportunistic, oppressive or domineering, or even worse; making her feel as if he saw her as weak. He knew those were attributes and attitudes that would send Hermione running faster than a thestral could devour raw meat.

"I'll make you a bargain, Mr. Nott," said Hermione imperiously. "I'll allow you to carry my school sac without protest if —" she broke off and turned to face him, her face a study in mischief and smugness. "You school me in the ways of the Tradtitional Wizarding world; the customs and traditions you're angered at seeing watered down or becoming obsolete…"

Theo stopped walking, and looked at Hermione, his eyes narrowed in consideration. Her thirst for new knowledge didn't shock him, though he was slightly curious about how she'd react to some of the traditions — especially the ones he would love to see abolished — considering how much of a fuss she'd made fourth year over the house elves.

"What?" She asked, appearing confused that Theo had yet to speak. "You did say you wished muggleborns like me would be educated in the traditions by those whose blood in essence bled them. Are you rethinking your position?" Theo noticed she looked slightly crestfallen, and hoped it wasn't solely at possibly being denied this avenue of new information.

"It's not that…" began Theo, "but, well… you can be a tad scary at times Hermione, when you feel a wrong has been committed or someone has been slighted. I'm hesitant to be the target of your wrath, should you feel any of the traditions I wish remained fall into one of those two categories. Or worse, just being the messenger of the rotten customs and inciting a lashing from your sharpened tongue."

They were standing in one of the corridors leading to the entrance hall. Devoid of its usual bustle of students and with the wall sconces candle levels dimmed, the atmosphere was intimate and still.

Hermione had turned her face upward and was scrutinizing him, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. Theo felt his eyes drawn again towards her mouth, and felt himself warm slightly as he wondered how she'd taste, if he were to dip his head.

"I amend my preposition," Hermione said after a beat, nodding her head decisively. Smiling slightly, she continued, "you school me in your traditions and such, and if I disagree with anything you describe, we discuss it rationally, logically and with respect. I won't unilaterally begin a crusade until I understand exactly why you are suggesting something remain and will attempt to remain open-minded. You, Mr. Nott, will in turn open-mindedly listen to my reasons something should become obsolete…"

Theo began to speak but Hermione cut him off.

"As to my sharpened tongue," she murmured, and he saw her eyes flicker for the merest fraction of a second to his mouth before continuing, "I will do my best, to keep it restrained within my mouth."

Her cheeks had reddened slightly, visible even in the candlelight, as she spoke of her tongues location.

"You'll do your best, you say?" Taunted Theo, playfully arching a brow as he tapped his finger against his bottom lip, thumb on jaw, as if contemplating her words.

"I make no promises," said Hermione solemnly though her eyes twinkled.

Theo thought quickly.

"I accept your amendment Miss Granger, though I do have an addition of my own," he said, smiling slightly.

"I'd expect nothing less," said Hermione.

"You accept that I'll carry your book sac whenever, wherever, I please with no protests, and our first lesson in Traditions and Customs will take place during the first Hogsmeade Visit in three weeks, at a location of my choosing." Theo felt suddenly nervous. He hoped — planned — to ask her to their first Hogsmeade visit, though hadn't anticipated it would be on their second day of the school year. He'd wanted her to get to know him better, but this seemed just too good an opportunity to pass up. The Slytherin in him felt combining the outing with her thirst for knowledge was to his advantage.

"Are you… are you asking me out, Theodore Nott?" Hermione said, her honeyed voice losing its laughter, becoming serious… nervous.

"I am," said Theo, willing his voice not to show his own nerves. Thankfully, it came out sounding like he'd gargled rocks, which in his opinion was better than sounding as if he'd swallowed a mouse. He saw Hermione shiver slightly, and hoped it was due to him, and not the slight chill of he evening air.

Holding her gaze, he said boldly, "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me to Hogsmeade, Hermione?"