To a Better End

Chapter 7

May 18th 2003

After succumbing to their mutual need for each other, Theo and Hermione fell asleep on her bed, limbs intertwined. They floo'd back to Theo's manor separately. When Hermione arrived, the two men were already seated in the parlour, pouring their minds into more research. Hermione noticed the chest of Time-Turners was out on the table again. They put the untested ones away out of concern for the damage they could cause. It was curious that they would bring them back out.

She also noticed books that were not there the previous day. As Hermione picked one up, blowing dust off of it, she noted its worn edges as she looked over at Malfoy and Theo. Neither of them caught her glance, too engulfed in their own tomes. There was no title on the worn book she held. After carefully opening it to the first page, she noticed it was no ordinary book; it was a handwritten journal of sorts, and a very old one at that.

The scratches on the page were difficult to make out, but the drawings were clear.

Time-Turners. Page after page, diagrams of different Time-Turners. Some were familiar to her, others weren't. Looking over to the chest of Time-Turners, she locked eyes with one that matched the page she was on.

Hermione reached into the chest, and carefully retrieved it. She laid it down against the drawing, finding it exactly to scale. It quickly dawned on her just how old the Time-Turners were. She'd previously overlooked the scratches on the metal and glass, only now finding them much more apparent. Finding a vacant seat, she sat back and let out a large exhale.

Just as she considered sharing her findings with the boys, she realised the books they held were nearly identical to the one she held. It seemed she wasn't the first to put the pieces together.

"Who brought these over?"

"Me," Malfoy spoke up, his eyes remaining glued to the journal in his hands.

"Where did you get them?"

While tapping his nose twice with his index finger, he offered her a one word response, one she should have expected, really. "Unspeakable."

Hermione hummed a response, grimacing at his secretiveness. She began studying through the journal, straining her eyes to make out the old and almost illegible notes. The penmanship was ghastly, likely made by a man in a rush. They sat in near silence for hours. The only sounds were the soft flutters of the brittle pages and their even albeit sporadically impatient breathing. She caught Draco scowling at pages from time to time; it seemed he was also having trouble reading the spider scribbles in his chosen journal.

They worked well past lunch, with Theo being the only person to notice. While on a hunt for some cheese and crackers to hold them over, Malfoy broke the stillness in the room.

"He doesn't want to forget it, you know?"

"Sorry?"

"Theo. He doesn't want to forget any of it. That's why we're doing this. These are the original research journals. We're going to place this house under a time stasis of sorts."

"I'm sorry," Hermione blinked. "I'm still catching up on the fact that Theo thinks it's acceptable to discuss our love life with people."

"I'm not 'people,' Granger. I'm his best friend. He shares plenty with me." He leaned back in his chair wearing a cool expression.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. Just as she was about to ask for clarification on how much Theo had shared, the infuriating blabbermouth brunette sauntered back in with a tray of food. Transferring her gaze to him, she narrowed her eyes before huffing audibly and returning to her reading.