Chapter 2
“Ugh. My head.” Hermione groaned as she opened her eyes, taking in her surroundings.
Wherever she was, it was beautiful.
Huge floor to ceiling bookcases lined all the walls but one. The wall directly across from her had a large beautiful fireplace and ornate hearth with windows on either side just as tall as the bookcases lining the rest of the room. In front of the lit fireplace was a large, low table with what looks to be tea and some small sandwiches with fruit. Surrounding the table were elegantly crafted dark wood chairs with plush royal blue cushions and a large matching sofa that she was currently occupying.
Thinking back she tried not to panic and remember what had occurred yesterday to have her waking up in such an unfamiliar place.
It was odd, she didn’t feel like she was in danger. She actually felt quite safe and that in itself was making her uneasy. She remembered talking with Nott at the book-cafe and then… well not much. Mostly emotions, everything else is more of a haze. She remembers a small bit of amusement and then horror, heartbreaking pain and then.. Comfort? Safety? She wasn't sure.
She remembers Theodore asking her something but she can’t quite recall what it was with all the emotions running through her. Then the nauseating feeling of side apparition. After that… nothing.
She's brought out of her thoughts by a light rapping on the door. Before she can answer, it smoothly opens to reveal a tired looking Theodore holding a couple of potion bottles. He stops short when he sees she is awake. He looks relieved to see her, but she can feel the confusion on her face.
“I’m glad you’re awake Granger, I was starting to get worried.” He’s smiling slightly but he mostly looks relieved. “You’ve been asleep for about 16 hours. I was this close to calling St. Mungos and having them send over a Healer. Well if that is something they would still do.” He looks like he’s trying to be lighthearted and teasing but he sounds so genuine it chokes her up a bit.
When was the last time she honestly felt like someone really cared about her well being?
Looking away to blink back tears she clears her throat and looks back at him.
“What happened yesterday? It’s all sort of fuzzy. Where am I, and where is this place?” She asks him rather quickly and instead of looking irritated Theodore relaxes even more.
“Do you remember what happened at the.. Book-Café? I think you called it?” He asks her gently.
She’s quiet for a moment trying to remember. Theo takes that time to move across the room and sets the potion bottles on the table, taking a seat in the chair to her left.
“I remember talking with you a bit, and you gave me some citrus loaf. We were talking about your father and then…. Oh.” Hermione trails off quietly. She remembers now.
She told him about her parents, and had a complete breakdown in the middle of the Café.
“I’m sorry.” She says quietly.
Nott looks at her in confusion. “Granger. Hermione, you have nothing to apologize for. You have been through an obviously terrible loss. You’re allowed to grieve, to feel their loss. You don't have to hold it all in. You're not alone.” He says this with such care and conviction it starts her tears all over again.
Looking away in embarrassment she tries to stop her tears but they just keep falling.
“But I am alone.”
It’s said so quietly that he almost misses it. He gets up and sits down next to her on the sofa. Gently he places his hand on her shoulder and leans down slightly to look her in the eye.
“You will never be alone as long as I am here. Do you understand me? So grieve, let it all out. And when you are done we will have a cuppa and snacks with a pepper up potion. I am not going to let you drown in your sorrow when I can be here to keep you afloat.” He’s so earnest as he speaks to her, it makes her tears fall faster.
“You don’t even know me. But you’ve been so kind. I don’t understand. We aren’t even friends… Why would you do this for me?” She’s bordering on hysterics as she questions him. She doesn't understand how someone that she doesn't even know, someone she has never even spoken a word to in her entire life before today, is holding out a hand to keep her from drowning herself in sorrow.
“Because everyone needs someone. And you look like you need someone to be honest with you and for you to be honest with them. I don’t know why I decided to talk to you in that book-cafe. But it was the best decision I've made in a long time. And we might not be friends yet but i would like to be your friend Hermione. To get to know you." He gives her an exaggeratedly overconfident smirk. "Besides, it would be nice to be able to hold an intelligent conversation with someone every once in a while.” He winks at her.
Hermione lets out a disbelieving and watery laugh, she's still crying but the crushing weight she’s been carrying in her chest isn't quite as heavy as it was earlier. She starts to calm down a little, Theo still has his hand on her shoulder. Reaching up she lays her hand over his.
“Thank you, Theodore.” It's barely above a whisper but he hears it loudly all the same.
He smiles at her gently “I brought you to Nott Manor yesterday, I wanted to give you a bit of privacy but I was worried about you being alone, so I asked you if it was alright if I brought you here. You nodded to me in agreement but you were still very out of it. I apparated us here and right after we landed you passed out. I was worried what you would think if i brought you to one of the bedrooms so i decided against it and brought you to the library instead. You were always happier in a library than anywhere else in school, everyone knew that.” He’s still so gentle as he talks to her but his eyes hold a bit of mischief as he finishes talking.
It brings warmth to her heart that he was so considerate of a stranger. 'Well, a friend.' she muses, he did say he wanted to be friends.
“Here” he says, breaking her out of her thoughts. Holding out a small sandwich on a plate, “You must be hungry, I had a few sandwiches made for us and some tea. We can chat and get to know each other if you would like.” He says it like a statement but she can hear the question in his voice, and the uncertainty.
“Thank you” Hermione replies, taking the offered plate. Clearing her throat “ Let's start over, yeah? My name is Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you.” She says with a small smile.
Theo’s eyes light up and he grins broadly at her. He does a silly awkward kind of bow from the sofa cushion next to her. Earning a small giggle from Hermione. “My name is Theodore Nott. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Granger. Welcome to Nott Manor.” It's a bit exaggerated but it feels right, like maybe she was supposed to end up here. She hasn’t felt this comfortable around another person since her parents died and before that… well since she sent them away to Australia.
Sitting with Theo in his family library is oddly relaxing. They chat about when they were in school as they eat, staying with light topics for now. When they finish eating a little pop sounds off to her right and Hermione turns to see a little house elf. She is dressed very nicely for a house elf.
“Master Theo, can Bipsy get anything for you or our guest?”
“No thank you Miss Bipsy we are okay for now.” He smiles at the little elf.
“Are you sure, Bipsy thinks Master Theo and guest need to eat more. Much too thin I thinks.”
She is very pushy for a house elf Hermione thinks to herself but it's nice to see an elf stand up for what they think.
Theo chuckles and looks at Hermione. “This is Miss Bipsy.”
“Miss Bipsy, this is my friend Hermione Granger.” Hermione turns to look at the house elf and is surprised to see her so happy.
“Oh Master Theo! You didn’t tell Bipsy you were friends with Miss Granger! Miss Granger, it's so very nice to meet you! Bipsy has heard so much about you from Master Theo and how you want to free the house elves! So very kind! So very kind indeed!” Bipsy is bouncing in place as she talks to her, and Hermione isn’t sure what to say.
“Oh I just must make something to celebrate you being here! This manor gets so lonely just the two of us. It's so nice to see Young Master Theo with a friend!” A soft pop and Bipsy is no longer where she was a second ago.
Startled and slightly confused, Hermione turns to look at Theo, he looks vaguely mortified and is blushing from the bottom of his neck to the tips of his ears. He raises a hand and rubs the back of his very pink neck. “ So uhhh, any chance we can forget that entire interaction just happened?” He questions looking away from her.
“Not a chance. I have so many questions.” She replies, amusement and slight confusion coloring her tone.
Theodore clears his throat, “So uhh Miss Bipsy was my mothers elf. My mother freed her when she was young but Bipsy refused to leave her. Said my mother was ‘too kind and what kind of elf would leave such a kind lady.’ So she stayed. When my mother died Bipsy decided to stay with me, still a free elf mind you. She wouldn’t serve my father but she has always been there for me. When we were in school I heard about what you were trying to do for the elves and I found it really admirable, not that I could tell you then. I came home and told Bipsy about it and she was so happy to see there were still kind witches in the world. She's been a fan of yours ever since. And I, uhh I don’t really have a lot of friends, more acquaintances than anything so it's just Bipsy and I here in the manor.” He seems embarrassed as he talks but he speaks of Miss Bipsy so fondly that it brings a smile to her face.
“She seems like a very sweet elf.” Hermione replies.
“You say that now, but just wait until she gets more comfortable around you. She can be very bossy, especially when it comes to your health, so be ready to be hounded by a tiny adorable elf.” He laughs.
“You are nothing like I thought you would be.” Hermione says to Theo. “I feel bad about it now but I always figured you were like the rest of the Slytherins, blood supremacy and all. I’m sorry I made that assumption of you.”
He’s quiet for a moment looking at her with silent appreciation. “That, was very kind of you to say. I wore a mask all through school with most people that saw me. It was the only way to stay alive back then. But now. Now I can do whatever I want. Pureblood society be damned.” He has a serious look on his face but his eyes show excitement at the prospect of freedom from others expectations.
“I think you were correct yesterday Theodore. We are going to get along wonderfully.” Hermione tells him in a very matter of fact sort of tone.
Hermione and Theo sit in the library together in content silence for a few hours, just enjoying each other's company and browsing the books. Theo tells her that once he became Lord of the estate he got rid of all the dark/cursed artifacts and books so she is welcome to pick up any book that strikes her fancy. They are all safe.
After a bit of reading Bipsy pops back in and sets down a tray of cookies and a new pot and tea and pops away. Looking up from her book she looks at Theo. There is something about him that makes her feel safe. Something she hasn’t felt in a long time. It's nothing romantic, but it's like her soul recognizes him and she isn’t sure what the feeling is but it's not unwelcome. He feels like home and that scares her. She has only felt like that with her parents.
She realizes she was staring at him when he softly asks “Do you feel it too?”
It startles her that she knows what he means but she has to make sure. She feels crazy just thinking about it.
“You feel like…” She trails off
“Home” he finishes “Like family that I didn't know I was missing until you were here and the empty gap in my soul was filled.”
“Like a Brother/Like a Sister”
They say at the same time looking at each other. It's almost awkward for a few seconds. But then Theo smirks at her “Oh good i'm not the only one feeling like a loon then.” And she laughs loud and leans back into the sofa they are still sharing.
It’s almost overwhelming all the emotions she's been experiencing since she found herself in Theodore's orbit. He's like the Sun, so bright and filled with life. She's almost jealous, but it's like he brings her out of the shell she found herself in so she can't help but feel grateful to him for even giving her the time of day. He's barely been in her life a full 24 hours but he brings so much happiness and serenity to her life. She almost doesn't know how she went on so long without him. Like they were always meant to be in each other's orbit. Two slides of the same coin.
It's surprising and a bit frightening. Yesterday she was being crushed under the weight of her loss and her life falling apart. Today she cried herself out and made jokes and laughed with someone that was a stranger yesterday but today feels like a long lost brother. It’s all moving so fast but she can’t help feeling that maybe it isn't so bad.
Theo is quiet as he studies Hermione. He feels this pull to be near her, to protect her. It's a little frightening honestly. But this whole situation reminds him of something he once read in a book. Of a feeling like this. Soul mates, he thinks, is what the book called it. There is more than just romantic soul mates. Platonic soul mates, was the other. He thinks about what this might be. This unmistakable connection they have. Like they had been waiting their whole lives for each other. He can’t say he isn’t excited at the prospect, to not be so alone anymore.