The Web Of Love

The brunette impatiently tapped her fingers on the counter as she waited for the water to boil. Voices were coming from the living room, and they only made happy half of her. She was glad that Charlie could spend time with her uncle for a little while, and she liked spending time with him too, but not when she knew she was going to get a lecture. She never liked being lectured, and that hasn't changed. And it didn't matter at all that she deserved it this time.

The kettle clicked, signaling that the water was boiling, so she poured some mint tea before walking back to the living room with the mug.

"There you go," she said with a small smile, handing Theo the mug. "I think it's time for an afternoon nap, champ," she announced to Charlie, who was too busy showing the toys to their visitor that he hadn't really been listening to her, so she rummaged through his hair to get his attention.

"I'm not sleepy," Charlie immediately protested, yawning as he did so, causing both adults to laugh.

"I know you don't want to go to sleep with Theo here, but there's nothing you can do about it," Hermione stated, knowing full well what this was about.

“What about this, Charlie? I promise that when you wake up I'll still be here and we'll play together. Would that be okay?" suggested Theodore, as he had nothing to do today anyway and would like to spend more time with the little Zabini.

Charlie nodded tiredly and reached out for his mom to take him in her arms. Hermione was touched, as she always was, and lifted him off the ground. With a small smile, she looked at their visitor and went with Charlie to the room where she put him to bed, kissed him on the forehead, and returned to Theodore in the living room.

Sighing, she sat down on the couch, which Theo had already moved to. He knew a part of her was relieved to have someone to talk to about it, but that was only one small part. "Then let's get this over with," she muttered reluctantly.

Theodore gave her a scrutinizing look. He did not know what to say. On the one hand, there was the situation with Draco, which he didn't really want to talk about, but he had to, and on the other hand, there was the situation with Blaise, which he wanted to talk about but couldn't. If someone had told him back then at school that he would find himself in the middle of all this, he would never have believed him and would have laughed at that person, even if it wasn't in his nature.

"What is it with you men that you never make it easy for me?" Hermione breathed as he remained silent. "Listen, I meant what I said last time. Nothing has happened between us since then, but I don't know if it's good or not," she admitted a little reluctantly.

"How come?" Theo asked in surprise, trying not to jump to any conclusions. He was almost certain that Hermione's feelings couldn't have changed so quickly.

The brunette took a ragged breath. "How could I put it... He came up with this crazy idea that we should be together. As a couple. Which, of course, I refuse, and I've told him that several times," she confided in him and glanced at him.

Honestly? Although she didn't want to deal with it and she definitely didn't want a lecture, she would like to get it all out of the way. Theodore was an expert on Draco Malfoy's behavior, and maybe if she confided in him he would help her. Because she wanted to have peace. Did she really want that much?

"And what does he say?"

Hermione shrugged. "That is the thing, I just don't know, because sometimes he seems to accept that we'll just be friends, but then... Theo, I don't know what to think about it, he's acting really weird, like it's not even him. It scares me because I have no idea what he will come up with next. And I know I got myself into it. I take full responsibility for that and I'm truly sorry if I somehow let him know that there could be more to it, but I'm tired of it. Everything makes me so tired. Draco, everyone's talking about how Blaise and I should get back together, Ginny and her matchmaking. Sure, even now it hurts that Blaise and I divorced, but I finally got to the stage where I feel solid ground under my feet again, and all this is just draining my energy unnecessarily."

"You know me, you know that I keep everything to myself, but there are times I need to say what I know. The night Draco and I argued, he said exactly what you're describing. He hinted that there might be more between you two. He didn't care about what I was telling him. For a moment I felt like we were back at school. He didn't care at all what effect it would have on Blaise. I don't think I've ever been as angry as I was that night in my life," he told her in a calm voice, though just the memory made his blood boil.

"Yeah, he's the one who knows how to make others angry," said the brunette, trying not to judge the blond too harshly, but she wasn't very successful. She had already had a few conversations with him, and his indifference to Blaise hurt her the most.

"I'd like him to go to France with me, but I doubt I'll be able to convince him," he sighed.

"I probably shouldn't ask you this because it doesn't concern you, but what are we going to do?"

"Truly? I haven't the slightest idea. It's going to be hell if it gets out, but I'm starting to think that maybe that would solve a lot of things."

Hermione was quite startled by his statement. “Promise me you won't tell Blaise!” she blurted out urgently.

Theo gave her a look. "I wouldn't do such a thing," he said a little offended. "I thought we thought better of each other."

"Well, I doubt you can think too highly of me at the moment," she muttered sheepishly.

"Hermione, we haven't spent much time together, but we are quite similar. I admit you slipped up, but who doesn't? We are not perfect. And well, I'm not happy about what you and Draco did, but you're adults. In the end, I have no right to tell you what you should do, which I don't realize most of the time," he laughed. “One mistake doesn't make you a bad person and I know you have a good heart. And I really appreciate you made Blaise happy, even if it didn't last forever. I don't know how yet, but we will fix everything. I'm going to stay here for quite some time." 

"Thank you, Theo, for everything," she said with a small smile and gave him a short hug. "And while you're here, I'll give you something," she blurted out suddenly, standing up from the couch so she could take an envelope from the library and hand it to Theodore. "Invitation to Charlie's birthday."

"Oh, I'm honored," he laughed, opening the envelope to read the invitation. "I'll be staying here until the party, hopefully, Daphne will be joining me soon."

"And how are you doing in Paris? Don't you think you'd come back to London?" Hermione asked, trying to find out more about Theo and not just talking about herself.

It was strange. Even though she had been rather worried about Theo's visit at first, she was now glad for it because she felt somehow lighter.