Yule Ball
Yule Ball 1998
They were having another Yule Ball, the first one since the fourth year, however, where the fourth-year one had celebrated the Triwizard Tournament this one was to celebrate the defeat of Voldemort and the eighth-year students.
“Are you sure you want to do this mon âme? Graduation is in a few short months we could always announce it then…” Hermione shot Draco a look that had him putting his hands up in surrender.
Theodore swooped into his boyfriend’s rescue, “I think, what our wonderful boyfriend is trying to say is that we are trapped here for the next few months at least, since Draco and I are still on probation, and we all know this will turn ugly. Do you want to deal with this while trying to study for N.E.W.T.S?”
Hermione growled, “How many times do I have to say yes? I am tired of keeping this a secret and having to sneak around and having to fend off vultures.”
“More like us having to fend them off you…” Draco mumbled not so quietly to himself, as he pulled on his gloves. As Theo crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. Was he trying to get their soulmate upset? Then the lightbulb went off, of course, he was.
Draco was just as nervous about announcing this to the world as he was, the only difference was that Theo had realized weeks ago there was no talking her out of this. Draco ever the Slytherin thought he could distract her long enough for it to be too late. They had been together four years as of tonight, and for being second in class he could be an idiot.
Hermione was always beautiful but tonight’s beauty was one he hadn’t seen in four years. Her emerald green ball gown, the dress practically strapless -since Theo didn’t count the straps around her arms as being practical or helpful in holding the dress up, even if they were pretty- the emerald necklace around her neck and their soul marks on full view. She was going to make quite the statement.
Draco he had seen dressed up in his fancy suit and robes, hair slicked back, at least twice a year since they were children but it always made his heart flutter and he couldn’t help but think about what it would be like undressing them both later that night.
Theo had been nervous all day leading up to this, he knew that people were going to have extremely strong opinions about this, even though it wasn’t their life all because it was the golden girl, and Gryffindor princess, with the sons of two infamous Death Eaters. Still despite that he was excited this was going to be the first time he could publicly hold his soulmates’ hands.
He felt a small hand slide into his larger one and turned to see Hermione smiling at him, “You look…”
“Gorgeous, handsome, like perfection,” He supplied in a teasing voice.
“I was going to say beautiful, but those work too,” She said a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I think we are all ready to go,”
“I don’t think so,” Draco butt in before he grabbed Hermione and pressed his lips against her only briefly before coming over to Theo only instead of it being brief, Draco started fully making out with him.
Theo couldn’t help but smirk, even if Hermione did get to announce their relationship in the way they had all been wanting to for years, Draco was ensuring that they wouldn’t be staying too long, by getting both of them all hot and bothered. It was manipulative in the best way, and Theo knew that Hermione while she would be annoyed later never truly minded when he did something like this. It was just how Draco was.
Eventually, Draco pulled away, “Now we can go,” Draco linked arms so that Hermione was now in the middle with Theo on her right and Draco on her left.
Fourth Year-- Yule Ball-- Abandoned Corridor
Everywhere you looked there was white, they were in the middle of a blizzard and it was piling up higher than even magic could keep up with. It was also freezing out which was why Draco had dragged Theo out away from the warm party and food, and into a much chillier corridor. Though they couldn’t be together publicly that didn’t stop them from being each other’s dirty little secret. However rather than the privacy they had been expecting they instead found a crying…
“Granger?!” Draco called out, as the girl glanced up.
“W-what do you want?” She asked hand on her hips as she tried to put on a brave face but she couldn’t help the tears that rolled down her cheeks or the whimper in her voice. Something about her spoke to him and made him want to protect her, it was a ludicrous feeling that he couldn’t explain.
“What happened?” Theo’s eyebrows raised in surprise at the genuine concern in his boyfriend’s voice. He knew they had both had a crush on her for years at this point but still, Draco rarely showed concern for people to date it had only been for his mother, Theo, himself, and house elves.
“Why, so you can make fun of me? No, thank you,” Hermione’s bottom lip was quivering slightly and Theo had to shake his hand loose from Draco’s as he continued to squeeze his hand tighter.
Draco began to step closer to her, “Seriously Granger what happened?”
“You don’t have to pretend to care, if you are concerned that I’ll tell people about your boyfriend, don’t worry, I won’t.” She shot a glance past Draco towards where Theo was standing.
It was only then that Theo realized she didn’t even know his name. They had never actually been introduced, since Theo tended to hang out in the background of Hogwarts almost like a living ghost. A skill he had learned from living at Nott Manor.
This probably wasn’t the best time to introduce himself but Draco looked seconds away from losing it, and that was the last thing any of them needed.
Stepping forward he stopped about a foot away from her and bent down, “Theodore Nott,” He held his hand out.
She looked at it and then glanced back at his face hesitant, like this was some sort of trick, and he couldn’t blame her for that.
After a moment, he saw a resolve harden and she grasped his hand, “Hermione Granger,” He brought it up to his lips and kissed it. He had already known her name but that didn’t matter. Even in the dim lighting, he could see her cheeks heat, as she blushed.
“Would you mind sharing what a beautiful lady such as yourself is doing out here by herself crying?” He may have been laying the charm on thick but he meant every word. He was the best chance they had at a straight answer since they didn’t have any real history so to speak, unlike Draco.
“It’s nothing, just Ron being a git,” She sniffled and wiped her cheek, “I honestly don’t even know why I’m so upset about it.” A glance back at Draco, and the fire in his stormy eyes, told him he was contemplating the Weasel’s demise, which while Theo agreed with, knew it wasn’t the time or place for it.
Standing up he stuck his hand out to Hermione, which she took and he pulled her up, “While I might not be who you intended to spend tonight with, I would be honored if you privileged me with a dance.”
Hermione glanced back at Draco who was now leaning against the wall watching them. “What about your boyfriend?”
He pulled her closer to him, and leaning close to her ear whispered, “Oh, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind he might get jealous that I’m dancing with you and he’s not.” Before he twirled her around, “Mistro if you please!” Draco rolled his eyes before he took out his wand and cast a canticum arca, a music spell that Draco and he had created.
As they danced it felt like his heart might beat out of his chest. He twirled and dipped her for what felt like a wonderful eternity, though eventually it had to come to an end and he dipped her one last time and handed her off to Draco. As he watched them sway to the music, he couldn’t help but think of how much she reminded him of a goddess. She was gorgeous in her light blue dress, it was the first time he had ever seen her dressed up to such an extreme level. She had always been gorgeous though, even as a bushy-haired, buck-toothed first year.
He had been drawn in by her giant heart. The first time he saw her, was when she had looking for a lost toad on the Hogwarts Express. She had come in only about an hour into their journey, and though he hadn’t said anything it had caught his attention. Whoever this boy was she hadn’t known him very long at all and yet she was going out of her way to help him. It had caught his attention, and he had begun paying closer attention to her. About a week later, she had seen a fellow Gryffindor tormenting a baby snake, and rather than ignore it or even join in, she had jinxed the boy before taking the snake to safety and releasing it.
That kind of selflessness was a very rare trait to find, and it blew him away to see her helping everyone regardless of house, age, or species. It had made him want to be her friend so badly, but that’s how he realized he wasn’t the only one watching her.
He had known Draco since he was a toddler, his mother had been best friends with Narcissa and had insisted on them having playdates with each other at least once a week. Up until she died a year before he came to Hogwarts. In that year he hadn’t seen Draco at all and even while they were at Hogwarts they hadn’t begun hanging out again.
Yet they had both become fascinated with this muggle-born witch with a bleeding heart. It was this fascination, rapidly turning towards obsession, that had given them common ground and allowed them to once again become friends.
Then during third year, their friendship blossomed into more as a soul mark appeared on their skin. While that itself was surprising what was even more so was that both of them had a second mark appear entwined with their original. For Theo had appeared when he had brushed her hand in a crowded hallway, and for Draco it had appeared when the Golden Girl herself had slapped him silly. Their soul marks were their house crests with their initials in the center. It had appeared right about their hearts, Hermione’s soul mark was different though it was of an otter, dragon, and snake all together, with the initials H.J.G.
They knew what this meant solely due to the books that had in their respective manor libraries, and knew that there were no books on the subject at Hogwarts, something they were a bit pleased with because it meant that Hermione wouldn’t know what their crests on her skin meant. As much as they had wanted to tell her they couldn’t yet, since it could put not only their lives in jeopardy but hers as well and it was a risk they weren’t willing to take…yet.
But watching her walk down the stairs and spend the night dancing with another man, had been torture for them, they had wanted nothing more than to punch him, and to make matters worse Draco had been forced to ask Pansy to be his date. The only good thing was Pansy was more interested in Neville and Ginny than Draco, and was more than happier to ditch him the first opportunity she got. It had been their annoyance over everything that had led them to sneak out of the dance in the first place. Though now Theo couldn’t help but wonder if it had been fate that had led them here to this moment.
The Yule dance was beginning to come to an end, and so was their time together. At the sound of hundreds of people beginning to head back to their dorms, Hermione had begun to look around concerned.
“As the clock strikes midnight, the magic of the night ends and Cinderella must hurry back home.” Theo mused out loud catching Hermione’s attention.
“You know Cinderella?” She gave him a curious look.
“Theo over there is big into books, myths, fables, muggle, he fancies it all,” Draco responded for him. His aloof personality is once again present and hiding all hints of adoration he had for the little witch in front of them.
“We can walk you part of the way back if you want to stay out here a few more minutes to avoid the crowds.” Theo offered, hoping to the gods that she would agree.
“Why are you guys being so nice to me?” She had every right to be suspicious if the roles were reversed he would feel the same.
“That’s a question better answered another time. How about tomorrow night at nine sharp, Meet us on the seventh floor, in the corridor across from the Barnabus the Barmy tapestry.”
Hermione thought about it weighing the odds of this being a trap and when Theo was sure she was about to decline, she gave a curt nod in agreement. He thanked Merlin, that she was a curious little thing.
After a few minutes, it got quiet again, and Theo knew their time was up for the moment. They reluctantly escorted her to the staircases, which was as far as they dared. Before watching as she made her way up to Gryffindor Tower. It was hard to know that she was so close yet so far at the same time.
Theo met Draco’s eyes and knew they were thinking the same thing. One day they would shout from the rooftops that she was their witch, but that day wasn’t today.
The next day seemed to crawl on forever, as they waited. They wanted nothing more than to have told her last night what they were to each other, but that hadn’t been the right time, there was a high chance she wouldn’t have believed them anyway. Hell, there was a high chance she wouldn’t even believe them tonight, but after having held her so close last night they couldn’t stand not telling her. So they waited and watched the clock. If anyone noticed them acting strangely they never said a word and pretended that everything was normal.
Then finally a quarter till nine they made their way up to the come-and-go room. To their surprise, they found Hermione sitting on the ground, book in one hand quill in another as a piece of parchment was rolled out in front of her.
They both shot each other a look of surprise, mostly cause they had been sure she would back out, then again she was a Gryffindor, wasn’t she?
“Granger?” Draco called, trying not to startle her.
A strategy that failed, as she jumped in surprise spilling ink all over her outfit, and book. The look she shot them would have made the Basilisk cry for its mom.
“Okay, before you murder us can we head in and have that discussion?” Theo said trying to play peacekeeper.
“Head in where there is nothing in this corridor.” Hermione’s annoyance was obvious. It wasn’t an ideal way to start the conversation, then again there was no good way to start this conversation. Theo made a scooting motion as he walked over to where she was sitting, and Hermione moved farther into the middle of the corridor.
Theo paced and asked for a comfortable and private place to have this conversation. Then watched as the door appeared. He held the door open as Draco and then Hermione stepped through, before taking one last look around and shutting the door.
“Look Granger do you know what these are?”
“Of course I do, I’ve been trying to figure out who they belonged to, but Padfoot wouldn’t bloody tell me. Saying ‘You need to find out on your own kitten’ with his stupid smug smile.”
“Padfoot?”
“Kitten?”
Draco and Theo said at the same time, Draco in confusion, and Theo in laughter, at such a fitting nickname.
“What how do you know what they are, only Pureblood families really have books on these marks anymore?”
“I have access to the Black family library,” She said with a nonchalant shrug, like admitting she had access to one of the most restricted libraries in all of England wasn’t a big deal.
“How in the bloody world can you, of all people, have access to that place? I don’t even have access and I have Black blood flowing in my veins.” Theo couldn’t help but laugh of course Draco would be upset about not having access to yet another library, they were all perfect for each other the lot of them were bookworms. It was a wonderful match.
“You are a Black?” Hermione asked seemingly surprised by this fact.
“Of course, before my mom married, she was cousins to Sirius and Regulus Black.”
“Oh, I am going to murder that giant prat! He knew and he didn’t bother telling me, he is a dead man!” Hermione’s anger was palatable, and her magic was electrifying as it made its angry presence known.
“Not that this isn’t entertaining, but would you care to fill us in on who exactly you are talking about killing right now.”
“Sirius Black! That’s who,” Now Theo was getting concerned.
“Why would you be talking to my cousin, aka, the homicidal mass murderer, like you know him?” Draco asked, slight annoyance and concern creeping into his voice.
“Oh right, you wouldn’t know, would you?” She shook her head.
“Would you please bloody tell us, before we explode or die of old age?” Draco’s harshness made Theo wince. Even after all this time he still wasn’t used to it completely.
“Sirius Black was wrongly imprisoned, it was Peter Pettigrew who was actually the one responsible for not only killing thirteen muggles but also selling the Potters out to Voldemort.” She said it like she was talking about the weather, and it took a minute to sink in.
Then they both unanimously shouted, “WHAT?!”
“It’s not a big deal, I mean out of everything that happened that night that was quite small, really it was when we faced down a werewolf, and that horde of Dementors that things got dangerous.” As much as Theo wanted to talk about this they still needed to have the conversation they had originally planned for.
So taking a deep breath to calm down he started, “Okay we will come back to this discussion since this is far from over,” He shot a look at Draco who had opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it again. Draco may have been in charge in the bedroom but Theo was in charge in public, “Now then let’s get back to the original subject.”
Theo began unbuttoning his shirt, “What are you doing Nott?” He shrugged the shirt off and let it fall to the floor. “You said you know what these are, correct?” He pointed at the marks on his chest.
“Yeah, they are soul marks, they have a soulmate’s house crest and initials.” She said it like she was reciting the words out of a book, and knowing her she had probably memorized it, so he wasn’t far off.
“Yup but in our case, it’s soulmates,” Theo said and waited for it to sink in.
“What do you mean soulmates?! Everything I read said soulmate as in single” Theo let out a sigh trying to find the right words.
Draco had beaten him to the punch, “That’s because triads are rare, and not much is known about them. We are a triad.” Draco pointed to the three of them, “Our marks prove that we have each other’s crests along with this extra one, that we have never seen before. I bet if you took your shirt off we would see our crests on you.”
Hermione made no effort to deny this, instead, she asked, “How long have you known, I was your soulmate?”
“Since the end of last year when you slapped me,” Draco replied.
“Since the beginning of last year.” Theo felt ashamed that he had kept it from her, even if it had been for her protection. He could only hope that she would be able to see that.
“I’ve been trying to find out who these marks belonged to for months, and you knew all this time! Why didn’t you say anything?” She
“Oh and what would we have said, ‘Hey Granger, I know I’ve always been a prat to you but you're my soulmate, and this is Theo you’re his soulmate too. Oh and our fathers might try to kill you if they found out, so keep this a secret, thanks.’ Yeah like that would have gone well.” Theo elbowed Draco.
“Well, anything would have been than keeping it from me! And if it was so dangerous why tell me at all?” She was beginning to yell.
“Because last night broke us, we couldn’t stand seeing Krum touch you, and then we found you crying and we couldn’t stand it anymore, you bloody swot!” Draco shouted back.
They devolved into silence. No one knew what to say next, and while Hermione tried to wrap her head around this, Theo was realizing he didn't have a plan for what to do now that the preverbal cat was out of the bag. Where were they going to go from here, how were they going to make this work, while still keeping it a secret?