Chapter 6

CW: Discussion of Food/Appetites

"I suspected I would find you here, Granger," Theo smiled, sitting the picnic basket next to her stacks of reading material.

She looked up at him in annoyance. "Nott, what are you going here?"

He leaned against the table on one elbow and sighed, "You missed lunch."

"I don't see how that is any of your business," Hermione growled.

Such a fierce little lioness, but she was certainly unused to anyone taking care of her.

"Granger, the whole wizarding world owes you. I can't simply let you waste away to nothing."

"And you can't bring food in here anyway, because it's a library, in case that missed your notice." Her voice was scornful and Theo loved it. He wanted her to try to put him in his place, she'd fail, but he'd enjoy every attempt.

"Actually Madam Pince is as concerned about your eating as I am," Theo smiled trying to put her at ease, trying to keep a hold on his Veela pheromones. He could soothe her just a little, make her feel more calm, but he didn't want her going glassy eyed with lust.

Theo didn't think she was ready for that. He needed to take his time with her, as much as possible anyway. He wasn't particularly keen on dying, but he still wanted her to choose him, not just the Veela.

Hermione scoffed, but opened the basket and pulled out a sandwich and thermos of tea.

"Where did you find a muggle thermos?"

"Is that what it is?" Theo smiled, answering her question with a question. "Enjoy your lunch, Granger. I will see you later."

He could feel her eyes on him as he left the library. Madam Pince was hiding a grin behind a book at her desk, and Theo thought that the librarian would be an excellent accomplice in the wooing of one Hermione Granger.

...

Ancient Runes was followed by Astronomy and both classes had Theodore Nott in them. He opened the doors for her, he pulled out her chair in Ancient Runes. He offered to carry her book bag which earned him a glare.

Malfoy was in both of those classes as well. In contrast to all the years that Hermione had ever known him, now he was quiet and subdued. She kept expecting him to insult her hair or make some degrading comment. He just listened to the lectures and took notes. His hair was longer than she'd seen it before and it suited him. He frequently ran his hands through it so it looked a little messy, but in a ridiculous French model messy not messy like Harry.

Occasionally Hermione thought that Malfoy was only doodling in the margins. She couldn't help herself and had managed to sneak a peek during astronomy and what she had thought were doodles were actually an elaborately drawn star map. Malfoy looked up and caught her looking at his work. He raised an eyebrow at her and she blushed and turned away, embarrassed to be caught looking.

...

Astronomy was released before dinner and later in the term they'd have to return for night laboratories after dinner, making Wednesday a nightmarish schedule for Draco and Theo. They were the only Slytherins in Advanced Ancient Runes and only Blaise and Millie were in Advanced Astronomy. The Ravenclaws were in all three classes of course, and Hermione Granger. She already looked exhausted and the term had barely started, Draco knew he was. He had drawn a constellation map that included all his family names for four generations in order to stay awake in Astronomy.

Thank Salazar that he had dropped Care of Magical Creatures which was tomorrow morning, so he could get some sleep.

The way that Theo had been watching him all afternoon made Draco think that he might not be allowed to sleep until it was much later tonight. Although, in no way was he complaining. Submitting to Theo, being so lost in pleasure that everything else drifted away, that was bliss. It was an escape better than occlumency and Draco craved it.

A few students ahead of him a familiar bushy head stopped outside the Great Hall doors for a minute, forcing the crowd to flow around her, and Draco thought she was going to walk in the opposite direction. Her body was so tense.

"Granger, are you going back to your dorm room? I can always bring you dinner," offered Theo, his breath skating over Draco's neck as he spoke.

She stiffened and turned, glaring at Theo. "I do not need you to feed me," she bit out.

Theo leaned closer to her and the tension between them made Draco's cock ache. "Prove it then Granger or I swear to you, I will make sure you eat somehow."

She stomped off into the Great Hall and towards the Gryffindor table. Theo's laughter did not die down until she had gotten too far from them to hear it.

Draco couldn't help but notice that she sat with the first and second years rather than the seventh and eighth years again. Only Longbottom seemed concerned about it too, his eyes looking down the length of the table at Granger worried.

Draco's eyes kept flitting to her during their meal. Theo had to have noticed, but he must have meant what he said about wanting her too, because he didn't go cold as ice or any of his other jealous tells.

Draco pursed his lips again wondering why on earth Granger was eating with the infants. Theo's lips at Draco's ear whispered, "We will find out what's going on Draco. Something is going on with our witch."

"She isn't ours yet." Draco whispered back.

"Only a matter of time, my dragon." Theo smiled that sensual smile that made Draco's stomach do flips and he stared down at his plate missing Daphne and Blaise's speculative glances.

...

Weaslette made a terrible Head Girl. She was selfish and vain, obsessed with her own importance. She didn't help firsties or look out for others, but she did delegate well. She had the prefects on their knees for her, which would have been attractive to Slytherin men like Blaise, if she hadn't been so garish. Her speech was crass, her intellect poor and her dower funds sure to be non-existent. At least that's what Blaise told Theo over a fire whiskey in front of the eighth year common room fireplace.

Theo had already sent Draco to bed with directions to get himself naked and prepare for him. Theo could feel the anticipation through the bond.

So Blaise and Theo were alone although Blaise had cast a privacy charm for good measure. It wasn't as though they trusted their fellow eighth years very much, or at all really.

"So Ginevra is off the table in the marriage considerations," Theo mused, "Who else has your eye?"

"There's Daph." Blaise topped off his glass.

"She's a nightmare and would be a terrible wife," Theo pointed out. "And if Greg doesn't have a signed contract with Millie before September is done, I'll eat my favourite hat."

"Good for them honestly, but Millie was never in the running for me," Blaise continued, "Tracy and McMillan are in negotiations already. He's given her earrings and she's wearing them daily."

"Brash, but effective." Theo had to take his hat off to the girl.

"He can't keep his eyes off them on her." Blaise laughed. "I've considered Pansy as she wasn't indifferent to me in the past, but these days I might as well be the wall for the amount of attention that she gives me."

Theo made a thoughtful sound, but didn't comment, sipping his fire whiskey and wondering what the hell was up with the Slytherin Princess these days.

"So Pansy isn't entirely off the table, but she isn't high on the list either. No Hufflepuffs of interest obviously. The Patil twins have the breeding necessary, but I can't tell them apart so I have no idea which I'd prefer. I did like Lavender and might have offered for her; she was pretty, clever and came with excellent family connections. My seventh year Liaison gone to waste."

"You didn't actually?" Theo asked, surprised.

"Of course not, but she was one hell of a kisser." Blaise sighed, "I do think I may rather fancy blondes. Which keeps Daphne on the table."

"There's Lovegood. Her father owns the Quibbler and despite how far fetched it is, the readership isn't small. One would expect her husband might take over such an enterprise. And do you remember that little dress she wore for Slughorn's party."

Blaise mused to himself. "Her skin was flawless like milk."

"She never broke under torture either," Theo pointed out, "That's a quality your mother would like to see you have in a wife. And I'm almost positive she'd be able to do a full bonding ritual for the wedding."

"I'll speak with her a bit. I don't think I have to any degree that matters. We'll see if there is any energy between us. I'm not going to stop looking around though I may need to expand the search to Beauxbatons, as now I have an in because Astoria is there. I wonder if she would be up for some matchmaking." Blaise leaned back, crossing his leg over his knee, "And of course Chang moved out of the country. And obviously Granger is out."

"And why is that Blaise?" Theo attempted to keep the rage out of his tone. Hermione was his.

"Theo, you took her a picnic lunch today. You and Draco were both staring at her and we both know Lucius would never allow that so it must be you," Blaise rolled his eyes, "You fancy her. And she's not a bad choice, not a great one, but you have a benefit most of us don't."

Theo raised an eyebrow while he stood to head to bed.

"You can marry to please yourself. The rest of us have parents we need to please."

Blaise nodded to his friend and then stared thoughtfully at the crackling fire long after Theo had disappeared.

...