All the Little Secrets| D.M. (18+)

Chapter 14

"Are you sure you want to let him in? I mean he's a Slytherin and you know how Hermione feels about them. Can't be trusted." Exie declared, spraying bits of pumpkin pastie on my new sweater.

I wiped the crumbs from my clothes. 

"You know I can hear you?" Theo said, rolling his eyes. 

Exie gave him a wry smile and glanced back at me expecting a reply. I started fumbling around the aisles of Honeydukes, looking for cauldron cakes. I was trying to buy some time to collect my thoughts. Honestly, I wasn't sure that I could trust Theo but what other choice did I have? I couldn't have him going back to the Slytherin dorms and telling Draco everything but I sure as hell didn't want him around my friends. I was conflicted and Luna could tell, I could feel her eyes examining my face. The group followed me through the store, still awaiting my reply.

"You know, I think it would be wonderful to have Theo join us, as long as he vows to keep the DA a secret." Luna chimed.

Exie, Theo, and I whipped our heads in Luna's direction. She just stood there smiling with her hands full of chocolate frogs. 

"You really think Mione will allow it?" Exie replied with her mouth still full. 

"I mean Harry did say the DA was for helping  those that were interested in learning, so Hermione has to abide by that." I finally blurted out. 

Exie shrugged her shoulders and continued to chew on her food. I finally found the cauldron cakes and grabbed at least seven. Theo looked at me with concern.

"What? I eat when I'm nervous." I sneered.

"Oh, I can see that." He replied sarcastically. 

Luna and Exie burst into laughter at Theo's retort which helped ease the tension in my body. As soon as I began to relax the four of us collected some more snacks, paid for them at the front with the clerk, and began the trek back to Hogwarts. The entire walk back Theo conversed with Exie and Luna as if he'd known them forever. If strangers had seen the four of us strolling down the streets together they'd have thought we were all best mates. If Theo was a rat he was extremely good at hiding it, making him all the more dangerous. 

***

Exie, Luna, and I had spent most of the day trying to figure out how to convince Hermione that Theo could be trusted enough to join the DA. We had decided that it would be best to approach the subject during dinner.

 It was almost time to put our plan into action but as the three of us approached the Gryffindor table I noticed Harry wasn't there. I searched for his face amongst his housemates but he was definitely missing.  I'm not sure if it was my guilt at betraying him or the image of his angry face leaving the pub after speaking to Cho but Harry not being at dinner made my whole body shiver. 

Something's wrong.

As I continued to look around the dining hall for Harry, Luna and Exie plopped down next to Hermione. They began talking to her about adding another member to the DA. Hermione looked hesitant but allowed them to plead their case. 

"I think we should let Theo join. I mean he's not like the other Slytherins, he really doesn't fit in with them at all, isn't that right Prue?" Exie whined while Luna nodded along.

"Huh? Oh uh yeah. Hey, Hermione where's Harry?" The anxiety I felt from his absence was consuming my thoughts. 

"He's in the library with Ron doing some research for potions class. They're way behind so I gave a list of books they could check out." 

A sigh of relief escaped my body. I hadn't even noticed that Ron was missing too but it all made sense now, I knew I could relax. The girls all looked at me with concern but then a smirk danced across Hermione's face. She quickly glanced down at her plate before opening her mouth to speak again.