White Rabbit?
Since the epic fall of Voldemort the golden trio went straight into their chosen careers. Each has become successful within the Ministry of Magic. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley partnered together to work as aurors. While Hermione Granger started in the department of creature regulation as a secretary while going to school. Now, she’s graduated, having worked her way up as a solicitor, changing archaic laws.
While the public thought Hermione and Ron would end up together they ultimately decided they wanted different things out of life. So naturally during her years at law school (studying both muggle and magical areas) she dated around but it usually never got past the first few outings. After moving up in the ministry she decided it was time for a somewhat serious relationship. Most of the other students she dated wanted a no strings attached situation, fun, flirty and fast paced. By shrinking her dating pool to employed wizards only, she held higher hopes but they were all too soon crushed. At least by the previous men who took up her time. The so called gentleman quickly proved they were never worth it- her time was precious after all (we only get so much).
That was until a certain Slytherin made his presence known.
It all started when Michael Hann grabbed her waist in the cramped lift she couldn’t hold in the shocked sound of protest that shot out of her vocal pathway. Then suddenly the sounds of protest were coming from behind her as well.
“Oi get yer hands off mi!” His rough Irish accent sounded panicked.
“I just thought you needed a steady hand.” There was a teasing purr in the other man’s voice.
“I ‘on’t need yer hands on mi waist!”
Finally, she shoved the offensive appendages from her body “And neither do I!” She stomped on his foot a bit for good measure as she turned around and met blazing emerald eyes.
Theodore Nott had physically removed the sputtering man from her person, putting her directly in front of him. Jaw flexing as he stared down at her, assessing her features. A flush bloomed under her cheeks as she gave him a slight head nod. Just as the lift doors opened letting everyone out, she let Michael have her worst bat bogey hex. Passing the snotted mess of a man- giggling on her way to her office- she didn’t let herself turn around to see if a certain snake was watching.
Later Nott came by at lunchtime and claiming he owed her a meal. He never worded it as a date so she just took it as colleagues going to lunch. Their conversation flowed easily, usually about their day-to-day and he was up for an in-depth discussion about wizarding laws, he offered her views as a neutral party from the other side. That Saturday morning she got a letter from him requesting help researching an obscure law they had discussed for one of his clients.
From her living room Hermione floo’d directly into the library, as his letter instructed. She decided to wear a large Oxford sweater and her favorite jeans with comfortable trainers. She knew that the private collections of the Sacred 28 were vast but nothing prepared her for Nott Library. One summer she had even gained access to the magical level within The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.- she thought nothing would top that experience.
The room was extraordinary, it was a large round domed room, five stories high. Each level held floor to ceiling bookshelves adorned with sturdy rolling ladders among them. The ground floor had a few shelves that were alternated with large windows. In front of the windows were study desks and in the middle of the room held a large round wooden table and various armchairs around it.
What had truly struck her was the domed ceiling itself.
It was charmed to display a rotating starry sky- as if there was no light pollution.
“I hope you know a good exorcist, because I will be haunting you.” She was starstruck in awe, her shining amber eyes never leaving the constellations.
Theo’s never left her.
They were equally engorging themselves on sites that would be chiseled into their memory.
He had spent many hours layering charms in his boredom, this room was his sanctuary. One of his many ancestors charmed the room against violence, but Tiberius was a patient man, he knew his son couldn’t stay in the stacks forever he would have to emerge and once he did, the hunt was on for the old death eater.
“I think the allotted amount of ghosts for the manor is two… so you’ll have to share it with me..” he said teasingly but if she had looked over at him she would have seen the embers blazing in his emerald irises.
He moved over to the table he had set up with various books on their subject. Dragging herself away from the intricate charm work, she wandered over. Really she was risking a crick in her neck as she was still not quite able to break her gaze from the ceiling.
“What charms did you use, it’s accuracy in the constellations is impeccable. Hogwarts Great Hall has a night sky charm as well but it isn’t the starscape above.”
That’s when she finally looked over at him in his casual cream shirt that had the top two buttons left open and his sleeves rolled up, paired with dark brown linen pants. His eyes were all over her as well, taking in the honey gold in her iris, the full pout of her pink open lips as she was gazing up.
His hand naturally went up to grab the back of his neck. “Honestly the amount of drunken hours shouting charms is embarrassing.” He laughed a bit, recalling memories of being sprawled atop a bookshelf with a bottle of elf wine after a grueling day of studying for the bar exam.
The look of shock and wonder on her face made him burst. He would do anything to keep her looking at him like that; content, happy and surprised.
Theo kept giving her his time making his presence known for the next few weeks, she came to expect the warm pastry and beverage at her desk in the mornings, and at lunch, he would stop by to pick her up. He always let her pick what type of food but insisted he would choose the restaurant and surprisingly they were always out in muggle London.
It was a Thursday at the Thai place they had visited only once before, when they got into their usual lunch debate.
“Nott, as your colleague please allow me to pay, at least every other time we go out so it’s even.” He opened his mouth to offer his rebuttal but she quickly shut it down, “and that’s not even counting the breakfast you bring me NOR the dinners you force me to eat when we are researching in your library.”
Theo set her with a look that left her pinned for a moment. “What if I no longer think of us as merely colleagues.”
“Well then, as your Friend, I absolutely insist I pay for lunch tomorrow!” She grabbed up her coat and purse, ready to leave him behind in her annoyance. Their regular argument made her upset but she was relieved that she had won finally. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, she decided to wait for him outside while he settled the bill.
They walked back to her office in an easy quiet; she was going over notes in her head- distractedly picking at her nails- while Theo was walking tall nodding at people who passed. She immediately threw her coat on the guest chair and dove into her work, scribbling down the articles she needed to pull from the archives.
She missed the way Theo lingered at the door watching her in her most natural state.
Friday morning Hermione woke up early, she didn’t know what he preferred for breakfast but she wanted to make him a treat to show she valued this new friendship. Nervously walking up to what she knew to be his door (only by the gleaming brass nameplate) and knocked lightly.
“Come in.” His voice was curt even through the door.
As soon as he spotted that it was her coming in his face lit up, he stood up quickly and passed a hand through his curls.
“Hermione, Good Morning.” His eyes darted down to the food container in her hands and his smile became one of glee showing a dimple on his right cheek, “Is that for me?”
“Good morning Theo. Yes, it’s customary for me to make my friends their favorite foods and while I’m not sure what yours is YET, I made one of my childhood favorites.” Excitedly handing him the box that was still warm. He opened the lid and the sweet smells of syrup and butter filled the office. “There are no stasis charms on it and you will need a nap-“
Before she even finished he had picked up the fluffy dripping waffle, taco style, and took an obscene bite. His eyes rolled back in his head and the giggle it caused her made him snap his eyes open. He chewed thoroughly and she brought out a cold thermos of chocolate milk she made for him to wash it down.
Her breakfasts from then on came with an accompanying note except for Fridays they were left with a single flower.
Hermione didn’t know what possessed her to save the little blooms but it seemed wrong to carelessly toss them in the trash.
If anyone found them all pressed within the pages of her copy of Alice in Wonderland she would have: A) hexed them for going through her desk. B) said she just liked them... The book itself was a secondhand copy, it was purchased the day before the lift incident. It was still wrapped in tissue paper when the first flower came, and when she opened her desk drawer her thrifting find sat right there on top.
The immediate plan was to spell the flower so it wouldn’t dry up and fade, but Hermione was distracted. The charm was completely forgotten when she found the pages to be annotated, reading all the margins. Losing half a day because she became so absorbed in the perspective inked there in the outlines. The reader was comparing Alice’s time in Wonderland as a metaphor for falling in love.
Hooked, glued, absolutely invested in the annotations. She reread the whole book twice, it was magnetic, she lost that next morning to the well-loved novel too. All while reading and thinking she kept fidgeting with her gift. When Theo knocked for lunch she quickly placed the flower in the book's first chapter. Forcing the purple petals to bleed into the page as she slid it into the closest bookshelf spot behind her.
It was his intention that had her frazzled. Not knowing if he was just a doting friend, she surely was- by other’s standards. The endless spinning of her mind made her overthink everything, but she made herself think logically. Until he made any intentions he had clear, they were just friendly friends. The following weeks were filled with notes, lunches, and flowers. On certain Saturdays, they would spend all hours in various libraries, reading and making notes. Only stopping when he insisted they needed to eat in order to function properly.
“I wish Wixen had food delivery like the muggles do, we couldn’t get a pizza way out here.” She couldn’t help but laugh as he tried tossing his dough again.
“Miss Granger I do say that could be a lucrative investment. Though I enjoy your cooking lessons and the elves are delighted to be expanding their shopping and cleaning up after more than just the dust. Delivery sounds delightful.” He laid their dough flat and began ladling red sauce and adding their toppings.
“The ministry is having a Samhain Ball this year.” His voice was low as he focused on getting the pepperonis in concentric circles.
“Yes, I also received my office-mandated invitation.” She snatched pepperoni right out of the middle and laughed as she stuffed it in her mouth.
“You Witch!!” He huffed playfully before throwing a few more at her which had her jumping up and launching them back at him. His elf had levitated the pizza into the already hot oven as they battled on.
Theo quickly ran out of ammunition and lept on her, pushing Hermione to the wall and she was shrieking with laughter both of them were playful wrestling until Theo quickly had her full body pinned with his and she was only able to manage a wiggle of her hips.
“Hermione, will you be my date to the ball?” His voice was breathless against her forehead.
He didn’t know if it was purely from the exertion or from his nerves of asking her on a proper date finally.
She moved until she was looking up into his face he was more than a full head taller than her and she felt small in his arms. “You want ME to be your date?”
“That would give ample reason as to why I’ve asked you personally.” He laughed a bit and breathed in deeply. It allowed him to gulp down her fresh scent the one he often caught when she was near but he truly was able to savor her in their current predicament.
“You want me to go with you as your date? Or as your friend?” She looked so unsure like she was making her mind up herself which option she preferred and that wouldn’t do for him anymore.
“I want you to be my date, as more than just my friend..” trepidation had never filled Theo’s cadence in her presence, he was always so sure of himself or making light of heavy things breaking them down into their most basic concepts.
He had made himself perfectly clear, Hermione shifted pushing up on her toes and giving him a light kiss on his cheek. “Okay..”
He gave her that same smile he wore when she presented him with his waffles but it was as if it had grown even more buttery as his eyes glowed. “I’m buying your outfit.”
He still had her pinned and began to laugh as she fought against him listing out all the exact reasons he would not be doing that. But by the time he had her calmed down and the pizza was eaten he had her agreeing to him planning their costumes.
Hermione couldn’t remember having as much Fun, yes Pure Fun, as she had with Theodore Nott. He enjoyed many of the same things she did, they worked in the same field so he understood her long hours and bordering obsession when her cases became intricate, their conversations never stalled, their silences never awkward. She felt he was an equal to her, they had a solid foundation of friendship and she wasn’t even nervous when she agreed to be his date for the ball.
That changed when the oversized box was delivered to her office along with one white carnation. She left the office early to get ready and enlisted Lavender to help with her hair. Ever since the Yule ball Lavender had been begging for another chance to play with all of Hermione's curls.
“‘Mione please trust me, it’s a costume party and your curls are a dead giveaway!”
“Yes, a costume ball, not a masquerade! I’ve only attempted to straighten this mane once Lavender Weasley and it absolutely ruined my curl pattern!”
“That was with muggle tools, trust me this time! This is the charm Parkinson uses I watched her do it after practice in the locker room!” And before she could further protest her lovely curls were sleek and straight coming down to her mid-back. Lavender squealed in delight and began braiding certain bits in different designs and adding pearl beads or silver metal hoops and cuffs. After it was deemed a finished product, she thanked Lavender with a pot of her favorite white chicken chili and sent her on her way.
Once she was alone she opened the box to reveal a dazzling ivory and silver dress that was corseted at the top with a high-low skirt. The materials were layered, silks, and fine laces with pointed wispy ends. She quickly pulled it on and used her wand to cinch all the ribbons tightly at her back. The box also held a pair of lace angel wings that slid into a special lining in her corset, and finally a pair of white gladiator sandals that left her flat-footed on the ground. The ties that crisscrossed up her calves almost up to her knees, matched the long lace ribbons in her gowns bindings.
She added a few touches of makeup, silver glitter on the inside of her eye a few swipes of waterproof mascara, and her favorite lipgloss that had a shimmer but wasn’t sticky. She stashed her wand in her bag and quickly assessed the outfit, there were no pockets or sleeves, and the skirt moved so freely. She sighed as she shrugged and tucked the bag into her cleavage. It was most secure in the corset and Hermione began listing the pros and cons of everyday wear for the garment as she made her way to the floo.
Theo owled for her to meet him in his library instead of arriving separately at the venue as she originally planned. When she stepped through she rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile that spread as she took in his red three-piece suit. It was tailored and bedazzled with what she would only assume were real rubies. All of his details were shiny gold as she looked from his buttons- cuff links- to the chains hooked in between his layers- even the toes of his red cowboy boots, all were detailed with filigree and flourish.
“Oi, I thought we would match with our curls at least luv.” He seemed to be taking in her attire as well nodding to himself that it matched what he described to the dressmaker.
Her face must have shown a bit of shock but that was from the pet name lighting her senses not his comment on her hair, he assumed the latter.
“Please don’t smite me in your presence, Angel.” He bowed low with a twirl of his wrist reaching out for her hand.
She only laughed as she grasped his long fingers and was promptly shocked as he snapped up, pulling her in. To her surprise, his breath on her neck was more pleasant than she expected.
“I think we’re missing something.” His voice was low but it was the sensation of words against her skin that had her struck silent.
The act of a man enclosing on her personal space enough to breathe on her always made her uncomfortable, with its heat, and even the smell from unwanted drunken advances.
But Theo’s breath alone had sent awareness down to the marrow in her bones.
He pulled back a bit shaking his wrist where his wand came free, she quickly grabbed his jacket cuff and pulled it up slightly revealing a leather wand holster.
He tilted his head down and laughed with her, their shared joy in the moment of her curiosity was palpable in the air around them. He began muttering under his breath while he pointed at her head she felt a gentle wash of his magic settling on her. Theo then repeated the process on himself revealing a pair of shiny red horns peaking out of his curls.
“Now we’re proper ready to go, shall we?” He wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close while pulling a marble from his pocket.
“We shall.” She said a bit breathlessly before the portkey activated spinning them away together.
The ball was more than she expected from a ministry event, there were charmed decorations and themed finger foods. Everyone was in high spirits in their costumes and they were given many praises as they made their way around Theo made sure to be seen together by everyone on their floor. When Harry spotted her and waved them over she turned to the handsome devil escorting her, expecting some sort of stall or escape to form from his lips but he only smiled at her friend and guided her over with a strong hand to her lower back.
“Very original.” Harry huffed into his glass as they made it over.
“Not so profound yourself, couldn't be bothered to play along, Why are you always so Sirius?” She mocked him lightly.
“No sweets, I believe he’s paying homage to aurors of the past, am I right?” The pet name made her catch her breath, she didn’t usually like terms of endearment but Theo using them when addressing her made her melt.
“No, I am so Sirius. She’s right as always.” Harry laughed and then clapped Theo on the shoulder.
He laughed as well but looked at Hermione because he was missing the inside joke.
“Sirius Black was an auror in the late ’70s, Harry just pulled that out of an old wardrobe.” She tried and failed to keep her voice calm and it had Theo bringing her closer, he was inspecting her face and then glancing at their surroundings trying to find what had thrown her off.
“Let’s get you a drink luv.” She shivered as she stepped away from Harry towards the bar.
“Darling,” Theo moved a strand of hair behind her ear as he peered down into her face. “What’s wrong, you’ve got me worried.”
“Theo!” She turned into him fully, ignoring the bartender, and placed a hand on his cheek smiling at him to reassure himself and her. “Nothing is wrong.”
“Well something is going on with you, I can tell you frazzled. Do you want to leave?” He was getting worried his hands began making a circuit from her hips up her back and shoulder and down her spine.
She leaned into him and closed her eyes a bit, “We haven’t even danced yet.”
“Tell me what’s wrong and we can dance the night away My Angel.” His breath was on her neck again, he was worried for her and he was holding her so close like she would run away if he let go in the slightest.
“Wanker!” The voice shouted from behind Theo who had her separated from the crowd.
“Shite luv, that's Blaise, he’s not a total arse are you alright for a minute while I say hello?”
She swallowed roughly but nodded he looked at her hard but held her close to his side as he turned to face his friends.
Blaise walked up and shook Theo’s hand before calling the bartender back to make drinks. Behind him, the rest of the group had come over as well their faces an array from shocked to impressed as they took in his date.
She met Draco’s distasteful look for only a moment before the taunting started.
“Hermione Granger, wow I didn’t recognize you without your signature rats nest.” Pansy Parkinson was dressed up as a gender bent Merlin in a blue velvet dress which the stars looked to be shining as it hugged her slender frame.
“Well you can all thank your teammate, Lavender, she said she got the straightening charm from you.” Hermione smiled lightly and extended the comment as an olive branch willing to discuss the beauty charm that was applied.
Pansy scoffed “That witch wouldn’t know originality if it bit her in the arse. I’m glad I could assist the world in making you more appealing Granger.”
“Pans, enough!” Theo had stepped between the witches. She noted the habit that he often put himself as a barrier to keep her from harm.
“Can we get some air?” She just tugged at his pinky and he was pulling her out and away from the crowd before she had a next thought.
💭 They both missed the silver gaze that was lock onto them watching with a predators hungers as they exited.
He marched them down and away from the venue until they were in a gazebo. Theo pulled her up onto the railing and stepped in between her thighs cupping her face and holding her so she had a perfect view of him, the moonlight reflecting on his outfit he was at that moment the devil who ensnared an angel but the only thing she needed saving from was her heart.
She didn’t let herself overthink it when she put her hands into his curls and pulled his mouth to hers. She didn’t have any other thoughts besides;
Yes
More
Please
Theo.
She didn’t overthink when she felt the pull of apparation.
She didn’t overthink as they tore apart their costumes.
Her brain finally kicked back on when her bare body met his warm flannel sheets.
“Theo.”
“Yes, luv.”
The keening was involuntary at this point.
“Theo, I don’t want to be friends anymore..”
The speed at which he pulled his still-horned head back to look at her made her giggle just a bit and she reached up and began tracing her fingertips along his striking features.
His strong nose, full eyebrows, the chiseled jaw, she only had one drink but at this point was drunk on him. She leaned up and suckled on his neck right where it met his ear and he groaned, the vibration went through her ribs.
“Will you be mine?” He pulled her away gently tangling his hands in her hair.
“I’ve never really fit anywhere...” she said with a small sad voice.
The blazing in his eyes held her as captive as his full naked body pressing her into his mattress she felt every inch of him, his heartbeat was pounding now against her own.“You fit perfectly right here, with me.”
He descended upon her kissing every inch of her skin, marking her chest neck, and thighs.
Neither were virgins but they had found a site of worship, whispering eternal rites, vowing themselves wholly to each other in that moment.
Hermione let herself feel, she wanted to memorize every brush of skin.
She wanted to drown the in hurricane of feelings.
She let herself be swept away by his currents.
Her big brain was fully forgotten as she reveled in her body.
His mouth was a godsend but his fingers oh his fingers were the devil's work. He made her cum twice before she even knew the purgatory his cock would send her to. He fucked her until she was no longer brain or body.
Waking the next morning to a steady beat and the smell of warm amber she peered her eyes open to find twin emerald flames staring down at her.
“Mia, what happened at the ball?” He was tracing lines along her shoulders but held her gaze.
“You.” Her heart began fluttering at the nickname and she burrowed into his chest.
He furrowed his brows but his body relaxed under her. “Me?”
“Yes, you! You keep calling me by endearments, luv, sweets, darling and then you referred to me as Your angel, and now this!” She wasn’t truly upset and he smirked.
“Well you are My angel..” he said absentmindedly as he looked back to her shoulder. “I’m going to name this one Dina.”
“Dina? Angel of learning and wisdom? Name what?” She tried to turn around but his other hand came up from where it was holding her knee over his hip and holding her head down on his chest.
“Your back has freckles, I’ve connected these and it will now be known as Dina.”
Hermione smirked herself and pressed her lips into his chest allowing her to mark his chest. He sucked in a quick breath and she felt him twitch beneath her leg. When she was satisfied with the first mark she moved to the next letting her body shift so she was on top of him. His eyes twinkled with excitement as he watched her work 3 marks into his waist mimicking Orion’s Belt she pushed herself up and straddled him.
The look on his face had morphed from light-hearted amusement to feral want, she felt him hard against her already wet center. She moved her hips against him eliciting a sharp breath as he sat up and gripped her thighs pushing her down more causing her to gasp.
“I’m going to keep you.”