Wholeheartedly

Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott get along better than anyone in the castle. Both incredibly academically driven, avid readers of both muggle and magical literature, lovers of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, overlooked either by their friends or family, and after the war; orphaned. Theo and his father didn’t have what one would call a healthy relationship with one another. His mother died and his father threw himself into becoming one of Voldemort's most loyal followers. Which meant Theo had grown up without his parents and with nothing but his house elf(who he started paying the minute he got word his father died in the final battle.) and the books he grabbed when he snuck off to muggle London, with the help of the wonderful people at flourish and blotts, who had ended up with a soft spot for the boy. Hermione had a much better relationship with her family, when they knew who she was. She had obliviated her mom and dad in hopes to keep them both safe during the war. She should have known that when the Death Eaters knew something then, there was no stopping them. Which meant her beloved parents had been question about a girl they no longer knew and died as confused, innocent muggles.

The summer after the Battle of Hogwarts students in Hermione's year had been granted permission to continue their education for an eighth year, and while she’s grateful to have had an immediate position as an auror, she had been fighting dark wizards and witches since she was eleven, she needed something calmer, which meant she was aiming to work under professor McGonnagall in hopes of becoming a professor. She expected attention due to her part in the war but wasn’t too pleased when it hurt her studies as she met her new professors who were meeting the “Golden Girl” for the first time. That’s when she met Theo, she sat in the library trying to make sense of her half cursive handwriting on her rushed notes that she took after being peppered with questions by curious first years, and he took a seat across from her and slid a stack of papers to her, “you seem very thorough in your note taking, my friends probably thought I was barmy.” She stared at him for a bit then nearly yelled a thank you as he began to read and she set out to study the notes he’d given her. She’d been extremely grateful and they had even become close since then. Several heart to hearts have gotten them to where they are now, two friends sitting in the library having a heart to heart. “I don’t know Theo..I just don’t feel very golden right now.” He looked at her perplexed. “I don’t feel like I’m doing enough to prove I’m smart enough, good enough, I mean yes I fought and aided in winning a war but that was mostly Harry. And I’m not necessarily close with them now, with me being here and them being aurors, I don’t know. I knew I was needed during the war because I solved the problems and knew the most. I wanted people to be impressed, amazed and maybe a bit intimidated by me, if they aren’t then I’m not even that smart, I’ve got to be great or nothing Theo. And now I don't feel great. I feel….” she allowed herself to trail off. Theo was about to start speaking when Madam Pince interrupted him, “it’s almost curfew.” She said and walked away as they finished packing up their bags, Theo turned to a teary eyed Hermione, “H, you’re amazing, you’re not nothing. You are the greatest witch I’ve ever known, and I’m not gonna say ‘greatest muggle born witch, you’re just an amazing witch. The greatest I’ve ever known.” And with that she hugged him and began her walk to the gryffindor tower unaware of a blond who heard her rant. Hermione and Theo had heart to hearts but never like that, she never opened up much, the deepest it’s ever gotten was when she cried in his arms about how much she missed Fred, no one would have known but their relationship that had started during their time starting the DA didn’t go unnoticed by Theo, he had seen them sneaking off together more times than he cared to admit, but that just added to the pain that she was missing her boyfriend.

“So. The Golden Girl is not feeling too golden.” Draco told Theo as he walked into their eighth year dorm. “What-“
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, I happened to be in the library when you and your girlfriend were.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, she’s not really even my type, but YOU'RE not using this as an excuse to torment her. You weren’t even supposed to be there.” Not his girlfriend? Not his type? A girl like her could easily be anyone’s type, he’s barmy. “I wasn’t going to,” Draco looked around, “Theo sit down.” He performed a locking and silencing charm on the door. “I wouldn’t make fun of her for that. Weasel and scar head probably. Never her.” Theo was looking at him as if he was a new person sitting in their shared dorm and not Draco Malfoy. He couldn’t find it in himself to care about Theos reaction to his admission, he just wanted Hermione to know she was golden, she was practically perfect in his mind. “You’re in love with her.” It was a statement not a question. “How long have you been in love with her?” Draco knew the answer, Pansy and Blaise knew the answer but Theo was too busy swooning over George Weasley to notice, Draco distinctly remembered Theo being surly over Hermione and a Weasley, just to find out it was Fred she was sneaking around with and not George, that didn’t help Draco’s mood at all as he found out the girl he loved was running around snogging someone. “Fourth year, I didn’t know it then but the anger and hurt I felt seeing her with Krum and then seeing her crying because of the weasel, it killed me, until the twins showed up.”
“She misses Fred. Whole heartedly, she loves him and it’s killing her that he’s gone.”
“I know.” He really did know. It hurt him to see her walking out from behind a tapestry with swollen red eyes. “I want to make her feel better but I can’t go near her without feeling immensely guilty for the word on her forearm and the fact that someone I’m related to killed her boyfriend.”
“I always thought she liked Ronald. She actually finds the idea of dating him repulsive, but Fred…she’s in love with Fred.” Draco could only look at his shoes. “If you want a chance at bringing back the spark in her eyes and sometimes her hair, love her, not how Fred would, but how he would have wanted to see her be loved, with everything you are, and everything you have to offer, and not galleons or riches…she hates that, love her with your entire being.”
“How do I do that?” Draco couldn’t fathom how to adequately love Hermione Granger and prove to her she’s worthy of being loved. “Start by apologizing.”