Chapter 2
Theo and Draco exchanged a look, then looked toward the end of the table to see Granger sitting with the first-years. Almost every other person at the Slytherin table was looking at her too, even the first-years. Granger looked up and made eye contact with a few people, including Draco. Her eyelids fluttered in embarrassment as she looked back down to her food, a deep blush rising on her cheeks.
Draco turned back to Theo. “That was…”
Theo grinned. “Fortuitous.”
Draco raised an eyebrow. “How do you figure that, then?”
“Think about it,” Theo said, rolling his eyes. “Granger is now part of Slytherin. We’ll see her in the common room, possibly every day.”
“And?”
“And,” Theo huffed, “we have an excuse to get close to her now.”
“Why would we want to do that?” Draco asked before taking a sip of water and avoiding Theo’s gaze.
“‘Why would–’ because, babe,” Theo whispered, “I know we both like her, so we should do something about it.”
Draco choked on his water. “What?!”
“I know you like her. I like her too. This is our chance to get to know her and make her like us. ”
Draco just stared at his boyfriend. He looked around to see if anyone was listening. When he was reassured no one was, he turned back to Theo and whispered, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
Theo rolled his eyes and huffed. “Honestly, Draco, don’t play coy. I know you like her.”
“I love you .”
“I know.” Theo gently squeezed Draco’s hand under the table. “But you also fancy Granger. You’ve never been able to hide your thoughts from me, so it’s not hard to tell.”
Draco looked at Theo in astonishment. “When did you get so observant?”
“Excuse you, I’ve always been observant,” Theo said, slightly affronted. “I just don’t typically flaunt that. I’d be a bad Slytherin if I did.”
Draco conceded on that point. He glanced back over his shoulder to where Granger sat. She had curled in on herself as best as one can on a bench at a table.
“Our families and friends wouldn’t like it,” Draco sighed.
“They also wouldn’t like us dating,” Theo pointed out. “We’re already damned, we might as well have fun while we can and do what we want.”
Theo made to get up, presumably to go talk to Granger, but Draco fisted his robe sleeve and yanked him back down.
“Don’t be stupid,” Draco hissed. “Our parents will disown us, if not worse.”
Theo looked at him skeptically. “We’re their only heirs, they wouldn’t disown us, even if they did somehow find out.”
“If you try to interact with her in public, then they’ll definitely find out. All we need is one letter home from a peer and our parents will show up on the doorstep of Hogwarts to pull our arses out of school and transfer us away to a different school–possibly different schools than each other.”
Theo considered Draco’s words for a moment. “Simple! We make contingency plans.” Theo grinned, looking pleased with himself.
“And what kind of contingency plans do you suggest?”
Theo smirked. “I’m already planning them as we speak.”