Fighting Words
Theo paced around the study, eyes roaming to the large clock on the wall every few moments. Hermione was nothing if not meticulous, especially about letting him know her comings and goings. When she was four hours late returning, he worried about her.
Willa and Luna were on an outing, something about a bowtruckle infestation in the neighboring woods. Luna enjoyed the little creatures and by extension, so did Willa. It seemed to be doing Willa some good to have a calming, childlike presence around.
The floo roared to life and Theo jumped, heart hammering in his chest. Why was he so jumpy?
“HJ?” He let out a sigh of relief, “I was starting to worry.”
Hermione, with her own worried look on her face, unzipped her jacket and gently embraced Theo.
“Everything alright?” He asked, green eyes searching her face. Hermione’s countenance was pallid. She was warm and clammy at the same time.
“Fine,” Hermione’s tone was lofty. “A little tired. Willa is…?”
“Bowtruckle expedition with Luna,” Theo replied, still watching Hermione carefully for any signs of distress. “Are you sure you are feeling alright?”
Her skin started to flush rapidly. “I said I’m fine, Theo.” Hermione said, backing away from him. “Listen,” She started, pausing for a moment. “I probably should have asked you if this was okay with you before I did it, but I signed a lease at the old site of Flourish & Blotts.”
For a moment, Theo said nothing. His heart raced in his chest, his pulse pounded in his head. Why the everloving fuck did she do that? He wanted to ask her, but instead, he took a breath, and looked away from her, towards the window. The garden was wild and overgrown with dangerous plants. The rose bushes looked about the same as they had the last time he had been home, nearly four years ago. The sky was darkening to a dusky purple, like a bruise.
“Why?” Theo whispered, heat burning in his eyes as he looked at her. “Are you planning to stay here?”
Hermione looked away from the intensity of his gaze, “Teddy–,”
“I need to know, now, Hermione.” His voice was stilted. “Are you planning to stay here? Or are we going back to our life in Chicago?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to go back,” Hermione started, “I want to go back desperately. I miss our home, I miss Lake Michigan, I miss how simple it used to be–,”
“So why on earth,” Theo started, hands trembling, “did you just sign a lease for a space in London? In Diagon Alley, of all places?”
“Well, if we do leave,” Hermione worried her lip, honeyed eyes meeting green, “when we leave, I can always hire someone to take over the shop. I was thinking it might be nice to expand when we go back.”
“Do you think we are going to be in London long enough for you to open the shop? Did we not just talk about the possibility that you are in danger – that Willa is in danger?”
“I don’t think Malfoy would hurt her, Teddy—,”
“He broke my nose!” Theo’s voice raised. He had been doing a shoddy job at keeping his temper in check, and he hadn’t meant to raise his voice.
All Theo could think was mine mine mine as he thought of Hermione setting down roots here. Setting down roots in the same city as Draco Malfoy.
The same city where he was moments away from being ruined.
“I can’t believe you didn’t think to consult me!” He cried, “Minister Weasley is moments away from granting a temporary protection to us, we will be able to leave –,”
“I’ve kept her away from him for long enough, Teddy.” Hermione said flatly. “I am not going on the run, I am not subjecting my three year old daughter to that. We have already had this conversation once–.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Theo spat, “He is going to take everything from me.”
“Theo,” Hermione called after him, but it was too late. He had apparated out of the manor.