To a Better End

Chapter 6

May 17th 2003

When Malfoy arrived at Nott Manor on Saturday morning, he walked in on Hermione and Theo, silently studying and attempting to compile a long list of potentially pivotal events to analyse. He immediately took residence on one of the empty chairs before grabbing a stack of notes that had been waiting for him from the week prior.

Theo was scribbling furiously until his quill snapped. He groaned in frustration.

"Goldy, do you-"

Without missing a beat, Hermione had already levitated a spare quill over to him before he could finish his question. Hermione heard shifting from Malfoy and could feel his eyes burning holes into her head.

"Malfoy?"

After a pause, he said, "Are you two shagging again?"

"No." Theo and Hermione answered simultaneously.

Hermione returned to her list of events, categorising which needed to remain consistent and which could afford to be changed. She made it her goal to save whoever she could. Whether they survived their own timeline or if she had to jump them from to the future and fake a death.

Malfoy had come up with a list of his own... travel items.

"Have you figured out how much we'll be needing to pull from our vaults, Malfoy?"

"You don't need to worry about that," he responded quickly, without looking up from his notes.

"Well, money doesn't just come out of thin air. Does it? I think I do need to worry about it. I need to know how much to withdraw."

Malfoy huffed, setting his parchment down. "You don't need to worry, because you won't be spending a single sickle."

She relaxed her writing hand, her brows furrowing at him. "Sorry, what?"

Theo laughed, removing his reading glasses and leaning forward to emphasise his words.

"We're loaded, babe. Funding this entire endeavour won't even put a dent in our vaults."

With widened eyes, she sat back in her chair, utterly dumbfounded. It was no secret that the pair of them possessed enormous wealth, but she would have never expected them to fund their cause without any contribution from her. She pressed her lips into a thin line as she assessed both boys, searching for the words to express her shock and gratitude at their generosity.

"Uh... Thank you both."

"Sure thing, love," Theo chirped.

They sat, buried in their books and notes, until lunch hour. Theo approached Hermione, subtly leaning into her from behind.

"Time for lunch, Goldy," he whispered. His hot breath at the shell of her ear sent a chill down her spine.

When she looked up from her pages of information, she noticed that Malfoy was already standing in the doorway, waiting. Hermione stood and walked over to the door, with Theo trailing closely behind. Like it was second nature, Theo placed his hand on her lower back as he walked with her. Hermione, while comforted by the hand, knew it would not go unnoticed.

Malfoy pointed at Theo, releasing a sharp laugh. "Ha! I knew it! You are shagging!"

Damnit.

Hermione expelled a sigh, while Theo chuckled in response. The bastard.

"What can I say, mate? Old habits die hard."

Theo pulled Hermione against his side, while he wrapped an arm around her and nuzzled his head into her neck. She couldn't help the giggle that came out, but still tried to put some space between them.