Three Broomsticks - August 9th (Later Evening)

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione walked into the Three Broomsticks, Ron right behind her. She looked around until she saw a table to suit them-one towards the center of the room-and walked over to take a seat. She thought briefly about waiting to sit and see if Ron would pull her chair out...he hadn't really gotten himself in trouble lately, so that seemed nearly

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[path_ron]

Ron meandered to his seat and started to sit across the table from her. It seemed only natural if there were just going to be the two of them. They'd planned on inviting Harry, but when they got ready to leave, he was no where to be found. Of course, just has he started to pull the chair out, she patted the one directly beside her. Ron stared at the chair for a moment, then raised an eyebrow at Hermione before sitting beside her.

[naught_common]

Theo hadn't realized it was a Hogsmeade weekend when he'd decided to take a detour on the way back to school. The bookstore had been disappointing. Honeydukes was jammed with giggling third years. Still, he was disinclined to go back to the castle. The three broomsticks was just ahead and his stomache reminded him that he'd not eaten. Shrugging to himself Theo pressed inside and stopped for a moment to let his eyes adjust to the light.

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione put the menu down and sighed. "I think I just want a butterbeer, maybe grab a sandwich. Is that all you want?" Ron appeared distracted, so she took that as a yes. She tried to get Rosmerta's attention, but was failing; Hogsmeade weekends were always crazy for her. She looked around the room, hoping to find some more help, but didn't.

Then she saw an unexpected figure in the doorway, one that she hadn't properly thanked. "Theo!" she called, all pretenses of hiding her friendship with him gone. "Theo, looking for somewhere to sit?" She motioned to their other chair and smiled at him.

[path_ron]

"Theo? Who's Theo?" Ron turned around to see who she was talking to and froze. Nott. He glared at the Slytherin, then looked back at Hermione. Oh sure, the rumors that she'd been seen sitting with him at the Slytherin had found his ears fast enough, but to even imagine that there might have been some truth in it...he never expected that. "You just invited Theodore Nott to sit with us, you do realize this, don't you?"

[naught_common]

"I don't answer to you, Weasley." Theo didn't move back, but his voice lowered to a hiss. "Or to anyone else. I have taught her nothing, nor I have said that I have now, or have ever had, anything to do with any type of arts." Theo sat back, flipping his hair out of his eyes. "As to the topic that seems to bother you most.... why wouldn't she fancy me?" Theo smiled, "I listen to her, I assisted her, and I have other appealing attributes." It might not be wise to bait him, but Theodore had no intention of discussing Draco or the dark arts or the Dark Lord in the middle of a crowd. Tentative friendship was nice, but Theodore was a survivor above all.

[path_ron]

Ron thought about getting up on his feet, and started to, but thought better of it. Nott was a better dueler than he was, he knew that. Ron might be able to punch him out, but what good would that do? Another lecture from Hermione, getting kicked out of The Three Broomsticks, and getting in trouble at school. Not worth it. He settled for flexing his hands.

Admittedly, the Slytherin was right. He hadn't been any of those things for the last few weeks, wasn't sure if he'd ever fallen in the appeal category. He sat back but continued to clench his hands into fists. "Yes...how could her best friend ever compete with Mr. Wonderful that gives her everything she needs?" He tried a smile, but it must've looked incredibly fake. In one fast movement, he reached forward and grabbed Nott's shirt, then realized what he'd done and let go. "It does bother me that she fancies you. It doesn't. It really doesn't." He smoothed out Nott's shirt and shook his head. "Nope, I'm fine with it, yep..."

[naught_common]

Theo's first instinct was to cover Ronald's hand with his and make a comment about not knowing that Ron swung to boys. He didn't really want to engage in fisticuffs. "I also did not say that she fancied me. You did. I have thus far given her nothing but an ear." Theo looked down at the wrinkles in his robe. "Nice to know that you think I'm wonderful though, Weasley. I'm flattered."

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione came back and looked between the two of them. No, she hadn't expected them to behave while she was gone, but it was very hard to tell what had actually happened. Luckily, though, Ron hadn't made a strike. That was at least a good thing. If he had, she was fairly certain he'd be on the floor. After seeing that Ron had moved to her chair, and she wasn't about to ask why, she sat on top of him. "Sorry about that. You two didn't get a whole lot of eating done while I was gone." She took a bite of her sandwich and passed an innocent look between them.

Was it bad that she was amused by this? No, she wasn't harming Theo any, and Ron was pure jealous delight. No, she could freely admit to enjoying it.

[naught_common]

Theo was strangely bothered by the dynamic. The fact that it bothered him intrigued him. "There's an empty classroom in the dungeon. No would expect to find either of you there. I might know a warding spell or two."

[path_ron]

"Might? I find that to be a total and complete surprise. Nott knows a warding spell or two," he blurted without really meaning to. He cleared his throat and scratched at the back of his head. "That is, I meant to say something like that would probably be best."

[naught_common]

Theo found himself smiling. "Or five," he paused, "or thirty. Something else I might be convinced to teach you Weasley." Theo continued smiling as he took the first steps toward the end of town. "Shall we?"

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione rolled her eyes and looped an arm through Theo's left arm and then took Ron's right. "Apparently I need to separate you two. Hard to tell if you're playing or not." She smiled from one to the other, then started to lead them back towards the castle. She tried not to smirk, but she was finding it incredibly difficult.

[naught_common]

For two people who were not in a relationship, they certainly bickered like an old married couple. Theo gestured them both into the room, spoke the spell to light the tourches and closed the door behind them. They were still gauging each other's reaction as Theo put up warding spells and found himself a seat. He had in fact transfigured one of the desks into a chaise and was sitting comfortably before either of them seemed to notice that no one was talking anymore.

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione turned around and saw that Theo had made himself comfortable and proceeded to sit down next to him. She left enough room on the end for Ron, but wasn't about to drag him down next to her. She looked back over at Theo and cleared her throat. "Okay, so now that we're being completely secretive and we've drawn the attention of the entire dungeon, what's so taboo about this spell?"

[naught_common]

Theo looked over at Weasley. "You are correct. Not a subtle bone in her body." He waited a moment for the other boy to sit but when nothing happened he simply went on. "I never said the spell was taboo. It is a simply energy transfer spell. As with many things magical, it is not the use that can be considered by some to be questionable, but the way that it is used."

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione leaned back and bit her lip a little. "Energy transfer...as in life force energy? So you made the pain go away by using up your own energy. That's why you looked so tired..." She forced a rather frizzy mess back behind her ear and rolled the thought over in her mind. "Okay, I can see that it would be dangerous if you were to continue using it until you made yourself pass out or even killed yourself, but most people are smart enough to know when to stop. All forms of magic can drain you."

[naught_common]

Theo moved very close to Ron, whispering the word into his ear. "Let it roll through you, the word, the spell, the energy. Put your hand over wound and push the magic into the wound. Think, and push." Theo stepped back, allowing Ron the room to do as he would.

[path_ron]

Ron nodded and did his best to lock the words into his brain. Proper vowels, the proper vowels were very important. Accent, accent was important, too. Once he'd turned the word around his mind long enough he pocketed his wand and reached out to the gnome. He put his hand on his leg and resisted the urge to pick him up and swing him. Reflexes

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione stared at him, her mouth open a bit. She forgot how good Ron was when he applied himself. His determination made up for so much. Her eyes fell to the gnome's leg, and just how well Ron had closed it up. She smiled warmly and, on a strange impulse, kissed a bead of sweat away from the side of his face. "Well, teacher, did he pass?"

[naught_common]

Theo pushed a chair toward Ron. "He passed. But yes, it gets easier. You weren't healing a person. That takes more energy. Practice, as with everything in magic, makes perfect." Theo was actually fairly impressed. "Perhaps a drink?"