Despicable Souls

Chapter 10

Hermione awoke in the morning with a groan, her limbs feeling like heavy stone and her head feeling like... like she'd been kicked in the head.

She'd slept well all considering but -

Her eyes flashed open as she remembered why that was and immediately met Theo's curious gaze.

Despite the enlargement of the bed, they were side by side, facing each other, hardly a hand's width apart.

She swallowed hard, searching his face as he did the same, neither wanting to break the tentative peace.

There were specks of golden brown in his forest green eyes one wouldn't be able to see unless they were looking this close. She'd be dreaming about his eyes like some lovesick fool for months.

She noted scars abundantly scattering his face like freckles; the pale lines indicated they were made by magical infliction rather than a scratch that could've been mended within seconds.

What hell has Theo been through? Surely he didn't receive these while training as a Healer... the thought of someone causing her bond any harm sent a sudden flood of fury into her magic.

It was Daria who finally broke the tension, hopping onto Hermione's shoulder with an affectionate growl in her ear.

Theo's eyes comically widened. "Is that... a dragon?"

Hermione sighed, attempting to unclench her jaw while giving Daria a quick scratch under the chin. "Made by magic for the trials in our fourth year," she said, her voice hoarse from yesterday's insanity. "Charlie thought I could use the company."

His eyes hardened slightly at the mention of her other bond but it vanished quickly. "I would like to come back for a few nights," he said carefully, watching her reaction closely. "I can bring more potions after work and help you sleep."

Hermione hesitated. Her instant reaction was to tell him absolutely not, but she hadn't slept that well in ages. She however didn't want to grow dependent on Theo for sleep, no matter how nice the fantasy would be to have this peace nightly.

"Just until Monday," she whispered finally, biting the inside of her cheek.

He nodded stiffly before sitting up, stretching his arms over his head.

The tattoos on his arms and shoulders to across his chest and down to his abdomen had her stomach in knots with a want she still wasn't very familiar with as she blatantly stared.

She quickly closed her mouth in case he saw her drooling. None of her bonds needed the ego boost.

Her breath hitched quietly when he turned and stood. A beautiful Phoenix stretched across his back, its inquisitive eyes life-like. More runes and equations surrounded the majestic beast, and she wondered if they had any personal meaning.

The farther he moved away to ready himself for the day ahead, the more she could feel her injuries.

"Ow," she muttered bemused, reaching for her head.

Theo turned and leaned over with one knee down on the mattress to see the bump on her head, the corners of his eyes crinkled in concerned. "I'll knick a healing stone to bring back as well."

"A healing stone?" she muttered in question.

He gently touched the bump and his magic numbed the pain.

She breathed a quiet sigh in relief.

Theo removed his hand and moved away, looking for his shirt. "Essentially it will be an ice compress for a few days before conducting into heat. You would just put it under your pillow. It doesn't wear off unlike magic."