Consequences

Chapter 5

Hermione got up the next morning earlier than any of her dorm mates, and got dressed for her early morning walk. This morning she was not to be alone; Theo was meeting her. She brushed her teeth and hair and walked down into the empty Gryffindor common room. Only it wasn't empty. Ron was sitting half asleep on a chair, drooling all over a sheet of parchment. Hermione cringed, knowing how protective Ron was. He would go mad if he knew why she was up. He didn't trust Slytherins at all.

Hermione walked as quietly as she could across the common room, but somehow Ron still woke up.

"Hermione?" He asked groggily, when she was level with his chair. His eyes were still gummed together with sleep and his hair was standing on end.

Hermione cringed. "Er, morning Ron, got to go." She began walking briskly towards the portrait hole, but Ron sat up and spoke.

"Where are you going?" His voice was slightly less tired, but he looked suspicious. Hermione paused and turned to look at him; she wasn't about to lie.

"I'm going for a walk, Ronald." But equally she wasn't telling the whole truth.

Ron stared at her for a minute, before frowning. "Who with?" He sounded suspicious, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Hermione sighed, why couldn't he just leave her alone? "Theo, Ronald," she said snappily, before turning again.

"Oh no you are not!" Ron said indignantly, getting up and making a move towards her.,

Hermione snarled, "You cannot tell me what to do, Ron. I am a mature enough adult to make my own decisions, I think I know what-"

"You are not walking alone with no one but an unknown Slytherin for company!" Ron contradicted loudly.

Hermione huffed and crossed her arms across her chest. "Blaise would kill him if he hurt me," she said slightly more calmly.

"Doesn't mean he won't," Ron bit back.

"I am not defenceless, Ronald, I know how to fight and I know what I am doing; you can't stop me!"

"No," Ron said loudly, fists balled. "You are not going," he finished smugly.

Hermione snarled. "Watch me," and with that she stormed out of the common room.

She was spitting mad as she walked through Hogwarts, resentful towards Ron for the way in which he had treated her. Deep down Hermione knew Ron meant well - but the way in which he went about things was blunt and tactless.

She walked up to the front castle door of Hogwarts and checked her watch; she was ten minutes late. Hermione looked back up; Theo was waiting for her looking blank. She jogged up to him and apologised, "Sorry I'm late, I was er- delayed."

Theo nodded knowingly; he didn't say anything but held out an arm, indicating Hermione should lead the way. She smiled and turned right out of the castle, wrapping her coat further around her as the cold wind hit her.

Hermione and Theo walked for ten minutes round the castle's perimeter, neither saying anything, yet the silence was companionable. Theo started to walk down to the bank of the lake a minute later and Hermione followed, sitting down next to him as he perched himself on a rock overlooking the lake. He turned to look at her suddenly and spoke.

"Your friend, what's her name?" His expression was blank, carefully so.

Hermione looked at him for a moment before answering. "Er, which one?"

"She's short, has red hair," Theo clarified.

Hermione answered, "Ginny? Ginevra Weasley. Why do you ask?"

Theo looked at the ground before looking back up to Hermione, smiling shyly. "She's pretty," he replied simply.

Hermione grinned at Theo. "Oh is she? What brought this on?"

Theo blushed ever so shyly. "I saw her at the Gryffindor table with you. She..." he paused, apparently choosing his words. "She was smiling and she looked," he paused again, "pretty," he finished somewhat lamely.

Hermione smiled again, Ginny would be thrilled, she was rather a boy fan. "Want me to introduce you two?" She asked offhandly, glancing sideways at Theo.

He looked round at her and grinned. "Would you?"

"Absolutely, I could set up a time for you two to meet in the library. Ginny needs Potions tutoring a bit, she finds it quite hard; it saves me a job." Hermione shrugged.

Theo, however looked utterly delighted. "That's great, thanks Hermione," he replied, looking delighted.

"Just let me talk to her- drop a few hints and the like. I need to persuade her that you're a good guy-"

"Don't make me come across like a Gryffindor, though," Theo said sharply.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I can't promise anything," she replied sarcastically.

Theo smiled mildly and looked back out at the lake. "What's going on with you and Weasley?" Theo asked suddenly a couple of minutes later.

Hermione sighed. "Ron? God, he's so, so," Hermione struggled to get her words out. "Hot headed, he thinks he's always right. Don't get me wrong; he means well. The thing is, is that he handles a situation head on, he's really blunt, and when anyone gets annoyed about his lack of consideration or subtlety he gets really confused. He's just so tactless."

Hermione took a deep breath and carried on. "Hot headed he may be, but he's really sweet at times and he's such a loyal friend, he cares, he really does." Hermione stopped, knowing what she thought but not really knowing how to express it all.

Theo nodded. "Typical bloody Gryffindor."

Hermione laughed bitterly, "I think you're right there."

Theo nodded and said smugly. "I'm always right."