Despicable Souls

Chapter 11

Theo was gone when Hermione awoke Monday morning.

She wrestled with her feelings as she dressed, already feeling somber with the reality she'd be sleeping alone tonight.

There was something about Theo that made her feel incredibly safe and chased away the nightmares. Knowing she'd be facing them without him created anxiety that hadn't been there before.

She reminded herself being alone was for the best as she quickly pulled her curls into a messy bun, now eager to not be in her room with Theo's lingering scent of clean linen and citrus.

When Hermione opened the door however, she nearly slammed the door shut.

Harry Potter was in the threshold, his first raised as if he'd been about to knock.

Her first observation was his bulging biceps and broad chest which conflicted with the boy she had known that had been starved with a pale sunken face from being on the run and having Voldemort in his head.

Harry's eyes though. There was no mistaking that particular shade of green.

Those familiar eyes widened when meeting her's before he anxiously pushed back his round glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Hermione," he said weakly. "I-"

"Harry," she said flatly despite the squeezing of her heart at seeing her former best friend. "Did you need something?"

His strained smile quickly turned into a grimace, a hand running through his unruly black hair. "I was hoping we could talk."

She pretended to look down at a watch. "I don't have time for talks when I'm forcibly becoming an Auror."

Harry's lips pressed tightly together. "Please?"

Hermione scoffed but took a step back nonetheless.

He moved past her and she watched as he looked around her room with a frown. "Blaise has some explaining to do."

On a first name basis with one of her bonds? Interesting.

She slammed the door shut and crossed her arms, forcing her expression into one of indifference. "Did you come here to talk or to gloat?"

Harry jerked his head back to her, mirroring her stance though his eyes were pleading. "I know you must hate me. It's... it's understandable, really. But I wanted to speak with you before you vanished again."

Her face remained composed, silently planning how to murder George while still managing to use the Abolitionist.

"I'm not sure how you're planning to," he continued on in a rush. "But you're brilliant, so I know you've managed to find a way."

She looked back down at her empty wrist for the time.

"Right, sorry, I... I know you must have left for a reason. I've tried telling them and... and if you need any help getting away, I'm here."

"I don't trust you," she said bluntly, hating the way his face fell. "If that's all..." she trailed off, raising a brow.

A knock at her door made them both twitch but neither moved.

"Any favor you need," he said quietly, glancing to the door. "Tell me. No strings attached. I'll make an unbreakable vow, if that's what you need to trust me."

Her eyes narrowed slightly but still she didn't speak.

Harry's jaw clenched but she had a feeling his frustration wasn't with her. "Right then."

She turned her back to him and went to the door, excepting Zabini on the other side to scold her, however she opened the door to see someone even less expected than Harry.