To a Better End

Chapter 46

April 10th 1977

Hermione never thought she would get drunk with Rodolphus and Bellatrix, but they seemed to make a weekly tradition. And much to her dismay, Hermione enjoyed it. It was a break from the men in her home. It was a time to joke and laugh.

Why was the cackle of Bellatrix Lestrange both comforting and terrifying? Or maybe she was terrified by how comforted she was by it.

After the conversation with Abraxas, Hermione began looking a bit closer at Draco. She noticed how he would sit closer to her than to Theo. She noticed that he would look at her hands often and look into her eyes when he spoke to her.

Curious if he was aware of the conversation Abraxas had with her, she watched for hints in his speech and mannerisms. Nothing changed. Draco was the same. Hermione just refused to notice it.

But now...

Now she was seeing it. All of it. She wasn't the only one. Theo had seen it too, and from the way he reacted when he first came to this year, he had seen it for a long time.

Hermione was in their room, getting ready for another family dinner with Walburga. Draco had pulled out his clothes and was getting ready in the living room. There was a light knock on the door, pulling her out of her reverie. She had been fiddling with the zipper on her skirt.

"Come in," she called.

Theo peaked around the door, pretending to shield his eyes. Hermione rolled her eyes and gestured for him to come in. He sauntered in before sitting on the bed with a flop.

"Your zipper is stuck on your shirt," he pointed out.

With an exasperated sigh, she dropped her hands. "Well, that explains the struggles."

"Does it?" He cocked a brow at her.

"What are you implying?" She was tired and already annoyed.

With his eyes off in the distance, searching for the words, he said, "You've been... overthinking would be the right word."

"What have I been overthinking, Theodore Nott."

He licked his lips. "Yum. Love it when you full name me."

"Theo," she warned.

Then he dropped it. The mask of humour. The wall he created to hide behind when he was a kid. The wall that protected him and others. He looked at her seriously, asking lowly, "Hermione, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said automatically. No one asks that question with the intention of knowing the real answer.

"Really?" he pressed.

"Really," she deadpanned back.

Theo took in a deep breath, preparing to shatter her little lie. "Cause you're on your - what is it twentieth assumed identity? Because you rarely hear people call you by your real name. Because you are best friends with Bellatrix. Because you have your very own Horcrux you wear on your hand. Or maybe it's because you've been betrothed to Draco's fake identity and we don't even know how valid that is for your real identities. Honestly, Hermione, you can pick any of those. But you're not fine."

Hermione wanted to argue. She was good at it, honestly. But she was so tired. Sighing in resignation, she walked over to Theo and sat next to him on the bed, stuck zipper and all. Where does she even start?

The words that flew out of her mouth surprised even her. "He's loved me for a while, hasn't he?"

"Longer than you think, Goldy."