Hermione/Theo
He wasn’t even sure how she got there, an arrangement with the manor’s matriarch no doubt. There was little denied to a war heroine like her. His dragon-leather boots made a soft crunch in the snow as he approached slowly trying to keep from startling her. Her hair whipped around her face, momentarily exposing the pink of her cheeks and nose. The rest of her was wrapped in a burgundy coat and scarf.
“What was he really like?” Her voice was soft but introspective.
He wasn’t surprised by her curiosity. She was curious about everything.
“He was intelligent. Not unlike yourself. Loyal. Dutiful.” She looked back.
A glisten lined in her eyes like she might cry. Like the thought of it lingered on the precipice. She let out a small huff carrying a clump of her unruly curls off her forehead, finally exposing her full gaze. Theo felt like he could say anything to her, he was just never given the chance to.
“He was a boy murdered by his father’s ambition long before he was murdered in the war.” He offered. It was as close to the truth as he could manage.
She pat his gravestone twice but left her hand resting on the stone.
By the time he crossed the small space her fingers were numb. “Merlin, your hands are cold, Granger.”
“Hmm,” she looked up dazed.
He took them abruptly up to his mouth and blew on them in a conscious effort to move her blood, rubbing his hands over her freezing fingers. She didn’t speak, just stared at him stunned.
“It’s Christmas Eve, don’t you have anywhere to be tonight?”
“Don’t you?”
Neither moved, and in the interim snow fell between them. They stood there long enough for the white to accumulate covering the tops of their wool hats. Dusting over her nose and his long eyelashes.
“Would you allow me to escort you to a pub? It’s not Three Broomsticks, but I know a place nearby in Wiltshire.”
“A Muggle pub?” Her eyebrows shot up.
“A Muggle pub.” He confirmed, finally allowing a small smile to pass over his face.
“Fine, but I’ll cover the first round, Nott.” She didn’t pull her hand away. It was a small gesture of trust. An opening. An invitation.
Theo would’ve acted on less.