[forty two]

"I warned you, I really did." Theo shrugged as he and Hermione stood over their groaning friends in the common room.

"Harry, Ron, McGonagall will really kill you if you don't make it to her test." Hermione sighed

"You don't think we know that?" Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes

"Can you please just ?" Elena groaned "Emphasis on ."

"Ronald, tell your girl to stop being rude." Celine huffed, struggling to sit up "And Theodore, no need to be so loud."

"We brewed everyone a hang-over potion. Have a glass before coming down." Theo sighed, handing Celine one

"Ron, wake up." Hermione sighed, shaking Ron's arm gently

"'Mione, no." He muttered

"Please."

"."

Before Hermione could try shaking him again, Blaise had already whopped a pillow on Ron's head "! Bloody hell!"

"You all are way too noisy for the morning." Blaise snapped, clearly unhappy to be woken.

"First of all, who decided to have a chugging challenge last night?" Hermione raised her brows "And whose pride couldn't take the blow of getting beaten? I'm looking at you, Parkinson."

"Shut up." Pansy groaned "The pounding of my head is loud enough without you adding to it."

"All of you just get up. If you're not in your respective classes, we're not making excuses." Theo rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag from the chair "We'll see you at breakfast...or not."

"I'm gonna go wash my hair." Celine cringed

Hermione and Theo gave their friends one last look of exasperation, before leaving their room to descend to the Great Hall for breakfast "Think they'll make it?"

"Honestly?" Theo asked "Yeah."

Hermione chuckled

The Great Hall was already busy when they got there. Theo decided to sit with Hermione on the Gryffindor table "So, Draco's coming back today?" He asked as he filled his plate with grilled cheese

"Yes, though I'm not sure what time." Hermione shrugged, doing the same. It made Theo smile. "So, erm, how are you and Celine? Any progress on that?" She cleared her throat

Theo slightly flinched, as if doused with cold water "We're navigating through things still. It's quite difficult to go from being best friends to something romantic."

"Difficult? I hope you're not forcing yourself to fancy her. Cel deserves more than that." Hermione looked at him pointedly

Theo shook his head "Of course not. I do, I fancy her, truly... It's just... Complicated isn't my thing, you know?"

"You're saying Cel is ?" Hermione raised a brow, now she felt protective over her girl friend

Theo shook his head again "Of course not! I meant... I ..." He sighed

Hermione glanced at her watch, then at Theo's distressed face "We have an hour until class. Tower?"

Theo looked up at her immediately "?"

Hermione nodded

"You're not scared of flying?"

"I made it last time, didn't I?"

"Okay," Theo said "but we're bringing our food."

"Of course." Hermione grinned, summoning a doggy bag for both their sandwiches and a flask for their juice.

"Quickly now, Hermy."

"Patience is a virtue, Teddy."

"Hey!" Blaise's voice called from the doorway

The pair glanced at him, then at each other with a grin "Lose him?" Hermione smirked

"I told you we think the same." Theo grinned, and the next second they were running away from Blaise, towards the courtyard's direction.

"Blaise yelled, making several heads turn to his direction

Hermione and Theo cackled with laughter "Why are we even running away?" Hermione giggled

"Because it's fun, Hermione." Theo laughed as he summoned his humble Nimbus 2001 "Ready?"

"Just make sure I don't fall." Hermione huffed

"Don't I always?" Theo smiled, though his words seemed to hold a different meaning behind them. Without another word, Hermione hopped onto Theo's broom. She let him wound his arms around her, keeping her secure on the broom so as not to let her fall, like he promised.

Hermione felt the breath catch in her throat as the winds blew against her face. She barely had the chance to scream as Theo landed them on the tower gently "No way we're already here." Hermione stated, her eyes still desperately shut tight

"We are. This broom's quite fast, too, you know?" Theo chuckled "It's not just Draco's new broom that can fly in unbelievable speeds."

Hermione opened her eyes slowly, allowing Theo to help her off the still-hovering broom. She tossed Theo their packed sandwiches as she leaned over the ledge and marveled at the view. This was something she'll never get used too, and also something she'll forever be grateful to Theodore for showing her.

"So, you were saying? About Celine?" Hermione prompted

Theo sighed as he came to stand next to her "It just scares me, you know?"

Hermione allowed herself to smile "It's to scare you, Theo."

Theo sighed "Go on, hit me with your sentimental words of wisdom."

"You're scared because you know that committing to Celine will make you feel things, do things that you've never done before." Hermione said "You're still trying to convince me you're an option, Theo. I'm a brilliant witch. Nothing gets past me."

Theo smiled at her sadly "Draco won't appreciate the fact that I've been doing that whilst he's gone. I actually can't believe myself either."

"It's your fight or flight response. I understand."

"It's just that things with you are always so easy, Hermione. It's like I don't even have to try. We think the same, we act alike. There's no way either of us would end up hating each other one day." Theo shrugged

Hermione took his hand and squeezed it "But Theo, that is what love should feel like. It scare you. Love is supposed to make you fight and take risks like you've never done before. Love will make you hate each other one day and then realize you were just being stupid the next. Love is , Theo. It's a constant choice you have to make despite whatever else is happening in your lives." She said "What you see with me? That's companionship, friendship, co-existence. That's love. You're attracted to me because it's , and because you don't have to be afraid of losing me."

"Hermione." Theo sighed

"Committing to Celine scares you because she is somebody you don't want to lose. You're afraid that changing what you have now will lead to you two breaking up one day, and that you. But see, Theo? That's what keeps you on your toes. That is what's going to make you try to be a better man everyday. Love is , not complacent." Hermione smiled "Celine is your best friend. You've known each other since childhood. It's understandable that you're afraid of losing her, of changing what you have and of showing her another side of you that she hasn't seen before. Your fear of losing her and disappointing her is what makes your feelings real, Theo. Don't run away from something because it's new and difficult. You're better than that. I you are."