Legal: I own nothing, just play in J.K. Rowling's sandbox for fun.
A/N: thank you for your continued patience and support, you are the most wonderful readers ever! Xo ~G
Chapter 17
Theo was restless.
He'd joined Blaise, Greg, Daphne and Tracy in the joint common room after supper. It was rare for them to seek out the company of the other houses, preferring the private sanctity of their own common room; however, the allure of time spent away from high energy first years and gossiping middle years was too potent a refuge to pass up.
Blaise and Tracy were engaged in a game of wizards chess, each equally as ruthless and skilled as the other. Greg was watching, sporadically offering advice that was met with civil but resounding rejection, and Daphne was reading her charms textbook.
Having already finished his homework, and uninterested in watching the tedious chess match, Theo found himself glancing around the common room, observing the current occupants.
A group of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs sat together, playing gobstones and exploding snap. No Gryffindors in sight.
'I wonder where Granger's at?' He thought, drumming his fingers absently against his thigh as he clocked her absence.
"Where's Millie tonight?" Blaise moved a pawn, capturing one of Tracy's. The ensuring destruction was glorious.
"Off with Lovegood, I think." Said Daphne. "They're partnered on the term project."
"Draco and Pansy? Where'd they get off to?" Asked Tracy, lifting her head from the game. "I'd have thought they'd have joined us by now."
"Maybe they've picked up where they left off fifth year?" Greg said, a look of distaste gracing his features.
Theo knew Greg had held a torch for Pansy since third year — something no one else appeared to have picked up on — though had smothered his interest in deference to his friendship with Draco.
Blaise snorted, in the elegant way only Zabini could.
"I'd wager they're off together, yes. I would, however, wager that they're not, nor will they ever be, engaged in any romantic or intimately inclined entanglements."
"What makes you say that?" Asked Daphne, lowering her book to her lap. She'd narrowed her eyes and her lips were slightly pursed; she smelled blood.
Theo inwardly rolled his eyes, and caught Blaise's gaze, holding it steadily with his own.
'Don't repeat what we heard…' he thought, willing Blaise to hold his tongue. 'It's not our place.'
Theo needn't have worried. Blaise was the master of discretion — when it suited — and had a propensity to collect clandestine knowledge of other's inclinations and assignations. Those secrets were his currency, and he was a master at the trade, ensuring a comfortable existence for himself at the expense of leveraging others potential unveilings.
Friendship afforded those in his esteem slightly more protection from his inquisitive ruthlessness, but no one escaped his sharp eyes, ability to observe and silvered tongue.
All except Theo.
Blaise had cornered Theo throughout the years, testing him, trying to subtly find threads he could unravel, edges he could pick at, dark corners he could expose and exploit.
He'd found none, and that lack of leverage had forced Blaise to begrudgingly regard Theo as an equal of sorts. It was the cement that bonded their friendship — neither beholden to the other — and one never verbally acknowledged.
"Well well, speaking of the wizard himself." Blaise said, smoothly deflecting by reclining slightly in his seat after moving his rook.
Theo could see Blaise's gaze taking in Draco's swift approach, assessing his mood and likely running scenarios in his mind. He also appeared to have noticed Tracy's capture of his rook, judging by the slight thinning of his full lips.
"Have any of you seen Pansy?" Panted Draco, coming to an abrupt stop beside where Daphne and Theo sat, nestled in the comforts of their plush armchairs.
"No mate, thought she was with you?" Said Greg, his brow furrowing.
Theo took in Draco's windswept appearance, and the broom that was slung over his shoulder.
"Maybe she became bored watching you fly? It's happened before." Said Theo, shrugging.
Draco shook his head.
"No, she ran off because of something Granger said." He raised his hand at the incredulous looks thrown his, then Theo's, way. "Not like that. They were seated together in the stands — civilly — watching Weasley and I fly around. Granger apparently had mentioned something about setting Professor Snape's robes on fire in first year, with Pansy rushing off after that. I…" he looked pained. "I need to find her."
No one questioned why that was; they all knew.
They'd been there.
Instead, shock and incredulity flitted across their face at Draco's retelling of Granger's admission.
Theo made sure to school his features into a mask of bemusement rather than let on his actual fascination. He was reluctant to pull back the curtain and display his addiction to discovering all the pieces of the puzzle that made up one Hermione Granger.
"You were flying with Weasley?" Asked Blaise before anyone else could voice their thoughts. His focus had shifted completely onto Draco, his interest in the chess game apparently pushed aside.
"Did I stutter?" Sniped Draco, clearly at his wits end. Blaise merely raised an eyebrow, waiting.
Draco sighed, then bit out. "We ran into her and Granger on our way to the pitch." He was now almost vibrating with barley restrained impatience. "Weasley had her broom and I was already heading out to fly, so figured I'd challenged her to a scrimmage. Granger and Pansy made up our cheering section."
"Did she wipe the pitch with you?" Asked Blaise, and Theo decided to nip whatever tension was growing between Draco and Blaise in the bud.
"I'll come help look for Pansy." He said, unfolding himself from the chair with a practiced grace, shouldering his bag.
"I'll come too," said Daphne, closing her book. Greg was already standing, hands in his pockets.
"Right. See you two later then," Draco said, nodding towards Tracy and Blaise.
Spinning on his heel he walked swiftly toward the common room entrance, Theo, Daphne and Greg following closely behind.
"Right," directed Theo, upon exiting the room. "Let's split up."
Nodding to Draco, he said, "You and I will search the west part of the castle, starting with the common room—"
"I'd already checked—"
"You may have missed each other unknowingly." Said Theo.
"You two," he waved his hand indicating Greg and Daphne, "search the east side, making your way up the astronomy tower. She's not a fan of owls, so that eliminates the need of checking owlry."
"How will we know if the others have found her?" Asked Greg.
"That's why we've paired up," said Theo, restraining the desire to roll his eyes. "One stays with Pansy, one finds the other group."
Draco began heading toward the dungeons having apparently reached the limits of his patience.
His expensive shoes tapped out a crisp staccato beat against the stone floor. Theo exchanged worried glances with Greg and Daphne before turning and heading after his mate.
"Hold up, Draco." Theo called, relieved when Draco stalled his steps. Catching up, Theo said, "We'll find her. Granger didn't know…"
"I know," said Draco gruffly. "It's just…" He ran a hand down his face, lines of exhaustion and weariness surrounding his eyes.
"We're not even a week into term, and already so much has shifted. It's a bit hard to get the head round at times. I don't know how Pansy's dealing with everything… I mean, we've just begun speaking past the banalities that decorum dictates; finally moving past all the shite of the previous couple years, and finding the footings of our original friendship." Theo noticed the air of weary defeat that settled around Draco like a cloak as he continued. "You know, though, how she keeps everything bottled up until she explodes, and how even when at our best I still had to pry the knowledge out."
Theo appraised his friend, his face grim. "You haven't attempted legillimency have you?"
Draco looked at him, disgust and anger mottling his face at they walked toward the dungeons. "What the fuck type of question is that? No I didn't use legillimency on Pansy, you utter twat. I won't assault someone's mind, especially now that I'm not forced to, and especially that of someone I care about and hold in high esteem. Fuck you for even asking Theodore."
Draco's eyes blazed in anger, and Theo could see the sincerity behind his rage.
"Alright then," said Theo calmly. "I'm sorry my question… missed the mark. It's just, you haven't been exactly upfront or honest in your dealings with any of us over the years…" He broke off as Draco wrenched on his arm, jerking him to a halt.
"Let me say this once and for all, Theodore Uilleam Cyneric Nott. Yes, I fell in with the wrong sort, though pretty fucking difficult to escape when your whole family is indoctrinated to the degree that mine was. Yes, I was responsible for an old man's death, and yes, I've hurt more people than I care to admit and that alone will haunt me forevermore." Draco moved closer to Theo's face, his voice dropping to a lethal steel as he spat, "all that is true, but you do not get to stand there in judgement, or make assignations against my character and still consider yourself my mate. You aren't better than me, just because you escaped from the shackles your father desired you wear. Bloody hell Theo, I thought we cleared this up days ago. Why the continued persecution and interrogations?"
Theo looked hard at Draco. He was panting slightly out of anger and also… regret? Desperation?
'It's like he's purposefully forgetting our childhood.' Theo thought bitterly, memories rising, clamoring to be released; be remembered. 'The chess board was set to play out since we were in nappies; not just in the past few years here at Hogwarts, the demented sod.'
He swiftly curtailed the advance of his thoughts and secured them and his bubbling resentment and anger behind the mental shields no-one knew even existed.
Theo sighed. He ran his hand through his hair.
"You're right, we did. I guess… There's a part of me still waiting for the Draco of yesteryear to return. I don't think I'm better than you." At this, Draco looked haughtily down his pointed nose at him. "I'm realizing… I'm still having difficulties trusting you completely, mate. We have years of history, including the formative years before Hogwarts. Last year was a fucking nightmare to begin dismantling and we're attempting to tear down and rebuild anew but… it's as you said. We cleared the air mere days ago, Draco, but the foundation below that is years forged. We now need time to re-establish those foundations and begin embracing this new world, securing our places in it and forging a stronger, healthier relationship than we had between us in years past."
The two wizards were breathing hard as they stared at each other. Theo could see the corner of Draco's eye twitch, a sign he was thinking. He hoped Draco took to heart everything he was saying.
He'd love to have an actual, proper friendship built on real comradely, not jealousy and pettiness.
Theo'd also have to work through his own shite carried over from their childhood.
"You weren't responsible for Dumbledore's death." A voice behind them said quietly.
The two Slytherins spun round, hands on their holstered wands. Theo's face relaxed as he registered Hermione's presence, but Draco looked haunted at her words.
"You don't know anything Granger." He spat defensively.
"Actually, Malfoy, I know more than you're aware of." She said calmly, an eyebrow raised at his tone.
Theo was entranced by the rosy glow of her cheeks and brightness of her eyes that the autumn air had bestowed upon her. Just looking at her invigorated him as well as any medicinal draught could.
"Hello, Theo," she said with a gentle smile.
"Good evening Hermione," Theo said, his voice escaping deeper than anticipated, admiration and lust making his tone husky.
He saw her shiver slightly before turning her attention back to Draco.
"If you'd like, we can go somewhere more comfortable than a corridor, and I can hopefully relieve you of some of the guilt you're carrying around about Dumbledore's death."
The kindness radiating from her and the softness of her face as she spoke to Draco had Theo wanting to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go.
She was…
Draco was shaking his head, his face conflicted and pained with torn loyalties.
"Normally, I'd be all for learning why someone's death, his especially, wasn't my fault." He said, almost vibrating again from his need to find Pansy. "But I need to find Pansy."
Her face immediately shifted to concern. "You haven't found her yet? What's going on?"
"I can't, it's not my place. I just need… I need to find her." Draco's typically polished demeanor was in tatters. His hair fell in shaggy strands around his temple from multiple meetings with his hand, and his eyes had a glazed look to them, reminiscent of one on the run.
Seconds passed as Hermione appraised Draco steadily, appearing to take his measure.
"Alright then," she said, nodding decisively, apparently coming to some sort of conclusion.
"I can find her sooner than you lot will, especially as you're currently running around the castle half cocked. Follow me."
Spinning round, she started for the stairs without waiting to see if they followed. Theo noticed the staircase she ascended was one that would take them to… Gryffindor tower?
"Granger, where the fuck are you going? She's not going to be in your bloody common room."
"Language Malfoy!" She admonished, pulling up short, and Theo suppressed a snigger at his friend's outraged expression at being chastised. "I know that, but the means to find her is. If you're so opposed, keep looking on your own, but I sensed you want to find her quickly and… discreetly?"
She raised an eyebrow, surprisingly reminiscent of Narcissa Malfoy's signature look and Theo couldn't hold in his mirth at Draco's flinch.
"Draco, shut up and let her lead." Theo chuckled. Draco gave a curt nod of acceptance to Hermione while throwing Theo a two finger salute.
He saw Hermione roll her eyes as a smile tilted her lips as he and Draco fell into step beside her.
The three of them made fast work of the remainder of the staircases before arriving in front of a massive portrait with an extremely large woman filling most of the frame. Her body was stuffed into a rather unflattering dress, and empty wine bottles were haphazardly stacked on a stone wall behind her. Her lips appeared stained, giving direct evidence of the overindulgence.
"This is the Fat Lady." Hermione said, gesturing to the frame and the woman looked down at them suspiciously. "Stand over there if you please," Hermione said over her shoulder to the two Slytherins, indicating they remain a good eight feet away from the portrait.
She turned and whispered something to the robust woman.
The password.
"Quite right," said the Fat Lady, and swung open. Granger disappeared through the portrait hole and Theo made himself comfortable against the chilly stone wall of the corridor in wait.
"Granger had better come through." Said Draco, and Theo found himself studying his friend.
It was a true testament to how concerned Draco was for Pansy that he'd halted his search in favor for whatever Hermione had up her sleeve.
Draco of yesteryear would have just pushed passed Hermione with a rude comment or maybe just hexed her and stepped over her prone body to continue his frantic search.
Theo felt a slight thawing of the walls around his distrust, and clasped his hand upon Draco's shoulder.
"We'll find her, Draco, and Granger—"
"Granger will what?" Asked Hermione with a smirk as she tumbled out of the portrait hole.
"Granger will be right there beside us," Theo finished, his eyes steadfast upon her own.
"So… what I'm about to show you is a secret. Only a few know of its existence and it's origin is personal to Harry." She took a deep breath. Theo thought it was if she was preparing for battle.
"You need to swear a wizard oath you won't broadcast this knowledge to anyone. That what I show you is kept between us." She said, chin set but eyes displaying her hope of easy acquiescence.
"What the fuck Granger?" Said Draco, now clearly at the end of his limit of patience.
"It's not my secret to tell, Malfoy, it's Harry's. But I feel badly that something I said set Pansy off, and your level of concern for her has me feeling even more guilty. I want to help you find Pansy," Hermione said softly, "but I can't betray my best friend's trust without assurances of your discretion."
"I'm in." Theo said automatically, and pledged on his magic his discretion and silence. It was worth it to see the relief and appreciation written plainly on her face as he did.
"Draco?" He said, elbowing his mate, and was thankful that after a muttered curse Draco pledged the same.
"Always bloody Potter," Draco muttered as he finished his oath.
"Right, well… thank you. Now, let me present, the Marauders Map." She brought forward a piece of worn, blank, parchment.
"Are you completely mental?" Shouted Draco. "You—"
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." She said loudly, cutting Draco off and tapping the parchment. Suddenly, scribbles began to form on the previously blank parchment and as Theo leaned in, he saw the lines revealed what looked to be a map, spidering into existence across the inside of the time-worn folds.
Draco gasped and Theo could see little moving… 'are those names?' He thought, puzzled and incredibly intrigued.
"Thats… that's Hogwarts!" Said Draco, awe saturating his words. Hermione nodded, not taking her eyes off what was now clearly a map of the school. Her eyes seemed to be zooming over it.
"There'll be time to ask me questions later. Alone. First, let's find Parkinson. See here?" She pointed to the map where three dots stood. "This is us, you can see our names, and where we are in the castle. Let's find hers."