Timeless

Chapter 24

Present Time: May 2003 / Draco's Time: Same as present

Hermione Granger

"Were you planning to leave any of the books behind?" Theo asked when he walked into the library and saw the large pile of books Hermione had set aside.

She blushed and climbed down from the ladder she was currently perched on. "Right, sorry. I'm not taking all of these, I'm just going to decide on three, if that's okay, and I'll bring them back quickly."

Theo shook his head. "Take however many you want, Granger, and bring them back never. It's really fine. It's good to know these are actually getting used rather than collecting dust on the shelf.

"That's sweet of you, Theo, but really, I'd feel too bad. I'll take some as a loan, then be back next week to swap them out for more."

After Hermione had snuck off to the Nott library the last two times she and Draco had been here for drinks, Theo had suggested she just come by later and peruse the library at her leisure. She'd taken him up on the offer instantly and this was already her third trip here since his initial invitation.

"Fine, but you have to promise to stop calling me sweet," he grumbled, but she could tell he was suppressing a smile.

She really liked Theo. He'd initially come off as arrogant and bored with everything and everyone around him, but she'd learned quickly that that was just an act and anytime she was alone with him, he was caring and considerate. She wondered why he closed himself off so much. There was definitely something there, but she needed to get closer to him before trying to bring it up.

She turned back to the pile of books and tried to decide which three she'd bring home this time. Theo's next question cut into her thoughts. "Did you and Draco get over your fight?"

She looked back at Theo, confused. "What?"

"He came around here two nights ago, asking me about Blaise and Daphne and if we were all still friends. Then he said you were fighting, but I told him to just go home and make up, since we all like you better than him anyway."

Hermione laughed as she realized that Theo was referring to past Draco. Draco had time jumped two nights ago. Her Draco had gone to the past and said he'd tried to find her at the café, but she hadn't been there, while his past self had come forward and been very nasty.

He'd tried to kick her out of their flat, then threatened to call the authorities. She'd laughed at that, then he'd had the nerve to hex her. Her leg still hurt from where he'd hit her with a powerful Stinging Jinx.

He proceeded to call her a bitch, to which she'd responded with an uncharacteristic obscenity of her own before disappearing into their bedroom. She'd heard the crack of Apparation a few moments later and hadn't seen him the rest of the night. He must have come here next. She wondered what he'd thought when Theo had said all his friends liked her more. That served him right.

It had hurt, seeing Draco like that, looking at her like she was scum. It was like they were back in school and she was just a useless Mudblood to him. She'd cried for an hour in their room after he'd left, but she knew she'd have to get used to it. When Draco returned back from the past he'd been horrified, then admitted that that was one of the milder fights they'd have.

Theo cleared his throat and she saw he was watching her curiously. She was rubbing the spot on her leg where Draco had hexed her and stopped quickly, then looked back into Theo's kind, dark eyes. "What is it, did he hurt you?" Theo whispered, looking down at the place on her leg where her hands had been.

Tears flooded Hermione's eyes at Theo's unexpected kindness. She dropped her head and tried to regain her composure. She didn't want Theo to get the wrong idea about Draco. "No, he would never. And even though he was a complete arse that night, we've already made up." She took a deep breath and forced a smile on her face. "Thank you for sticking up for me. I'd call you the s-word again, but I don't want to be banned from coming back here."