The Lovegood Gala

Hallway

2004


"Theo!"

Theo looked up from his conversation with Ernie, head tilted in confusion.

"Hermione." He echoed back in the same tone and cadence as she'd said his name.

She realized that though she had a goal in mind, she did not exactly have a plan. She faltered momentarily until she put on a fake smile.

"Draco wants to ask you about something," She said, "I guess he's been looking for you for a good part of an hour."

Theo frowned, scanning the dining room.

"Oh, blimey, is it about the wards? I told him that the Beauxbatons way was better, even if I know he prefers Durmstrangian." Theo rolled his eyes, standing up.

"He's somewhere in the back. I swear I just saw him," Hermione said, knowing full well that Draco was with Luna right now out in the gardens, rubbing elbows with the sort of people that could cough up a lot of money. Luna had been dreading this part of the Gala for months. She was enchanting but sometimes rubbed people the wrong way, and even she knew that.

Theo shrugged, motioning out of the ballroom, "Lead the way."

Hermione tried to keep her hammering heart steady as she led Theo through the throngs of socializing people. She felt like Orpheus, refusing to look back to see if Theo was still there, not that she was afraid he wouldn't be, but afraid that if she looked back, her eagerness would be obvious and everyone would know what was happening. If she kept her face forward and jaw locked, why would anyone think of anything amiss?

The hallways were less crowded. Most of the party was happening in the ballroom. Apart from a few patrons passing through to go in and outside to get a bit of fresh air, everyone was transitory. Very few attendees were hiding out for long periods of time in the hallway.

She turned a corner, and as soon as they were out of the main view, Theo was crowding up to Hermione, pushing her into one of the alcoves, plush with velvet curtains surrounding it to keep the curio on display out of prying eyes if the Scamanders didn't wish it to be seen. With a forceful tug, Theo closed the curtain in on them, moving the table with the item out of their way.

There was hardly any space for one person, much less two, and Hermione was suddenly aware of how little personal space she had. The last time she'd been so up close and personal with Theo was when they'd kissed.

"What's really going on, Granger?" Theo asked, arms crossed, voice hard to decipher. She couldn't tell if he was angry or calculating.

"What do you mean? You're the one who strongarmed me in here!"

Though this was not totally different from what Hermione had hoped to find, it was different if she wasn't the one in charge of it.

"Hermione, you are many things, but a decent liar has never been one of them," Theo said with a snort, "Far too much of a Gryffindor. The rest of the table likely believed you, but we both know where Draco is right now. I'm also privy to his schedule."

Hermione swallowed hard, having not thought of that possibility, which seemed so clear now.

"You went along with it." She pointed out, eyebrows raised.

"Curiosity killed the kneazle," Theo shrugged, "So…what exactly was your plan, Hermione?" He asked, voice soft and breathless, "Lure me into a vacant room?"

"I-," Hermione began, only noticing now how he'd taken two steps forward, enough so that his forearm rested on the wall above her, enclosing her so close she could almost hear his heart beating too. And it was beating just as fast as hers.

"Paparazzi know that this is how they get the best scoop. Would we have made the front cover of Witch Weekly on Monday, hmm?" Theo asked, the pad of his finger pressing against her lips, remaining just a moment before pulling it away, leaving Hermione's lips half-parted, aching for more.

She felt her legs quiver as the lower parts of her stomach flickered with a warm fire, a desperate need.

"Don't lie; I'll know," Theo said, leaning in, his warm breath tickling her ear.

"Yes," Hermione whispered, almost pained, "Yes…that was what this was about." She swallowed hard, summoning all her strength, and stared Theo right in the eye, "You want me. I want you. It seems like a rather easy equation, does it not?"

Theo blinked, as though genuinely surprised by her forwardness. Hermione was not known for being sexually forward, though she was known for being generally forward in other ways.

"I suppose it does," He gave a short laugh, "Is that what you were trying to figure out at dinner? The likelihood I'd agree?"

She licked her lips, "Perhaps," She whispered quietly, "I hedge my bets on things I know I'll win," She added a tad arrogantly.

Theo looked like he wanted to say something else, but before he could, she leaned up and pulled Theo down to meet her lips, hands on his cheeks, just as she had a few weeks prior, but this time there was no timidness or unsureness in her kiss.

And Theo took far less time to respond than he had the last time.

"Oh, dirty Granger," Theo groaned against her lips, "We're going to be the talk of England, you know?"

"If we get caught, that is," Hermione replied, a bit annoyed, "And you're talking isn't helping."

He laughed as he nipped down her neck and Hermione let out a squeak of half-surprise, half-desire.

"Now who can't keep quiet?" He teased.

"Apparently your lips need more to do," Hermione said, guiding his chin up by her finger, back to her lips. She melted into it, and she couldn't remember the last time she felt this alive by kissing anyone. Certainly never with Ron. She should feel horrible; they'd only broken up such a short time ago, and he was probably wallowing and upset, she was out getting her next tail.

But why shouldn't she?

Why should she wail like a banshee about a breakup she wasn't even really that sad about, or stay chate like a nun until…until, when? Until Ron got over it and dated someone else? Until she was old and gray?

Theo's hands untied the halter neck around her neck, so expertly and quickly she didn't realize what was happening until he was tugging the front of the dress down.

"No bra?" He asked, as her nipples stood up in the cool air.

"The dress didn't really allow it," She breathed, "Backless."

"Fucking gorgeous," Theo mumbled, moving Hermione around like a puppet. He pushed her long dress up enough to crack her legs open, shoving one of his thighs between hers, and one of his hands began to play with her breast. Hermione mewled in pleasure as he began his ministrations, rubbing against his leg. She was so turned on it was insane. She didn't know that fire could be so all-consuming, so desperate.

She turned, able to see the flashes of people moving past the gap in the curtain, about to tell Theo they should really throw up some spells or a ward. They were two bright magical people; there was no reason they should be caught in the middle of such a union.

"Will I be equally lucky with your underwear?" Theo asked, nose pressed to her collarbone.

"Unfortunately no; I didn't think I'd be here for this purpose tonight," Hermione answered honestly, whispering against his hair.

"Pity, but easily remedied," Theo simply stated, digging his fingers between her legs. Hermione squirmed as he slid a finger down her slit, finding her clit and rubbing in soft, agonizing circles.

"The…Theo…" She whispered, bucking against his finger, "Oh…Merlin!"

"I thought you were the one scolding me for making noise," Theo clucked his tongue, "For shame, Granger."

"You're…making it…hard…" She whined. He gave a cheeky grin, taking one of her hands and pressing it to the tented fabric of his pants.

"That's not the only thing," He said, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Classy, Theo," She huffed but did not take her hand away when he lifted his. Instead, she experimented with feeling him. Though it wasn't a complete confirmation, he did feel quite large. Enough so that her cheeks flushed at the thought of having sex with him, and her thighs clenched.

Theo slipped two fingers inside of her and she bit his lip to keep from crying out.

Theo pulled back, and she saw his pupils blown out, and his cheeks equally flushed with want. He licked his lips, his tongue flickering out across the bottom one, and Hermione almost buckled at the sight of it.

"Now, try to keep quiet, Granger," Theo instructed. Just as she was beginning to question what he meant, Theo dropped to his knees. Hermione stood, speechless, as Theo pushed her legs apart farther, and then pushed her dress up nearly to her stomach. She was about to stop him, until he licked the fabric of her underwear in one long swipe, right where all her sensitive skin was, and she gasped out loud.

She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth.

Theo was playing fucking dirty with her.

He teased her through her underwear for a few moments, eliciting a few more traitorous whimpers from behind her lips, before he used his teeth to tug them down her legs.

"What are you-," Hermione whispered but Theo looked up from underneath the fabric of her dress, a wicked smile on his face.

"Oh, come now, I doubt you're that buttoned up," He whispered huskily.

"No, but-,"

All her protests were silence as he let her dress fall over his head, one of his hands reaching up to her breasts, the other diving inside of her as his tongue licked circles.

"Oh, Merlin!" Hermione gasped, her hands digging into his hair, as she pressed herself against the wall, begging that she would not collapse in on herself. She took one hand away to bite into her palm, extremely aware of the people passing by. Not many, but still a few.

She wondered…what would they say if they knew, just feet from them, the Golden Gryffindor Hermione Granger was getting eaten out by a Slytherin?

The excitement of the thrill of almost getting caught made her body shiver. She liked this, she realized. She enjoyed the anticipation and nervousness that mingled with the utmost pleasure Theo was giving to her, never pausing his ministrations.

She had never felt such a deep, rolling passion before. It crashed over her in the way she'd always heard it did; a quiet roar that rolled and rolled until it felt like a mighty ocean tsunami breaking through her.

She bit down hard as she came, legs pressing on either side of Theo's head and threatening to give out altogether. Theo must have sensed this, for he grasped her thighs with his hands and held her against the wall, mercilessly as he continued, letting her ride out the best orgasm she'd ever had in her life.

"Bloody fucking hippogriffs," Hermione swore as he leaned back on his haunches, wiping his lips at the edges with the pads of his thumb. She felt like jelly and tingled all over. She wasn't sure she could manage to move from this very precarious position, positive she'd just crumble to the ground if she tried.

She pressed her lips together, wanting more, "And you now?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Theo, to her great shock, gave a shrug.

"I'm just fine," He said.

"But…" Hermione felt like the pieces were suddenly not fitting. A Slytherin would never give such pleasure away and expect nothing in return. She was sure of his motives, up until this very moment. Why wouldn't he grasp the chance to take her against the wall of this alcove, use her for his own pleasure; such pleasure that Hermione, right now, wouldn't ever think of saying 'no'.

"I had quite a good time too, don't worry," Theo said, kissing her so sinfully that she whimpered, leaning forward for more.

"But-," She inhaled sharply, confused and at a crossroads. She had thought she'd been so clever, so elated to figure Theo out. But she was back to square one again, utterly flummoxed.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Theo asked simply.

"Are you kidding?" Hermione laughed humorlessly, "That was…" She struggled for a word, usually not so inarticulate, though her brain was a bit fuzzy right now, "I've never…not like that."

Theo looked gobsmacked, "You've never done oral?" He asked, frowning deeply.

"I've given," Hermione admitted, face turning bright red, "But I haven't…Ron didn't…he wasn't a fan…" She whispered quietly.

"A waste of a man," Theo said, "That only takes and never gives. Plus," His tongue flicked out over his lips, "He has no idea what he's missing. You're delectable, Granger."

"Stop it," Hermione whispered, embarrassed by his praise, "You're just saying that to get in my pants. For real."

Theo rolled his shoulders, "And if I am?"

Always leave them wanting more.

Of course that was it. This was a tease; a preview of the main course. Why let the fun run out so fast, Hermione figured? Why not stretch it out, bringing her to the edge each time, making her come back to him time and time again?

It was so Slytherin, but at that moment, Hermione knew this was all she'd think about for days to come.

She wouldn't be able to help herself.

"We must be returning," Hermione finally said, "Before we are caught by a picture or someone or…we should just get back."

"Yes, Luna deserves to have you by her side. It's a big day." Theo said with a warm smile.

Hermione wasn't sure what to do; shake this hand? Clap his shoulder? Thank him?

She opted for a single nod, still feeling terribly awkward. As she was about to slip out, one hand tugging up her dress, Theo pulled her back, just for a moment.

"I still have your books, you know?" He whispered in her ear, "You'll have to pick them up in person."

"Can't you just floo them to me?" She asked, aggravated.

"Where would be the fun in that?" Theo asked, biting the skin underneath her ear gently, sending another shiver down her spine, another spike of want driving into her stomach.

Then, he released her, slipping away first.

She stayed in the alcove a long while, gathering herself and fixing her dress and her makeup.

By the time she returned to the dining room, Theo had already given his regards and left.

"Theo really hates galas, you know?" Luna said to Hermione's shocked face, "So really, you can't expect much more."