After breakfast, Hermione sent university admissions a quick owl, inquiring about her chances on returning to school. Although she was Hermione Granger, she doubted that they would accept her after she waited this long after her Hogwarts education. Her mind was still as sharp as a tack despite her long stint without human contact or any mental stimulation, and she was up to any test that they would put her through.

Walking back from the Malfoy owlery, she spotted a figure apparate onto the Malfoy grounds before being greeted by Draco and walking inside of the manor.

'Hm, I wonder if that's Theo coming around again.' Hermione pondered. She quickened her pace and waited outside of the glass pane doors until she could see Draco walk into his study. She slipped into the house quietly, and knelt beside his door.

Cursing silently, she realized that Draco would no doubt ward the doors in some complicated fashion if he didn't want Hermione to know what was going on between him and Theo. She didn't want to risk unwarding them and setting off an alarm, so she stalked towards the library and decided she would confront him later.

More than annoyed at her lack of espionage skills, she cracked open a book and turned the possibilities over in her head.

--

"To what do I owe this invitation, Malfoy?" Theo raised his eyebrow inquisitively, knowing full well that Draco had a deep dislike for him.

"Cut the shit, Nott. Hermione told me of your cute little plan to attend university together. I'm not going to warn you again," he paused to breathe deeply, "stay the hell away from her." Draco stepped forward, causing Theo to take a step backwards.

"And you'll do what? She's a lovely witch, Draco. I'd keep my eye out if I were you. I'm probably not the only wizard who would want a chance at that." Theo smirked and folded his arms across his chest, confident that Draco wouldn't try anything in his own home with Hermione there.

Griding his teeth, Draco pushed Theo against one of the bookcases and pulled out his wand, aiming it squarely at his chest.

"Watch it, Nott."

"Ah c'mon Draco, share the wealth with a fellow Slytherin. Merlin knows you're enjoying that petite little witch warming your bed at --"

Theo was cut short as Draco landed a right hook on his jaw, knocking him back against the bookcase and onto the floor. A dozen books crashed around him. Draco quickly lurched him off of the floor by his collar and hoisted him over his desk and onto the floor on the other side. Theo's groans filled the air of the study, but it was still heavily warded. Not a soul could tell what was going on inside those walls.

"You've made a mistake, Draco. I still have support. I still have followers. I don't need to be a Death Eater to know who my allies are." Theo picked himself up and dusted his clothes off. Draco watched as he swiftly exited the manor and slammed the doors behind him.

Sighing deeply, Draco rubbed his knuckles and ran his hands across his face. This was going to get ugly, and he didn't want Hermione to be in the middle of all of it.

"Who was that?" A sweet, feminine voice from his right startled him out of his thought process on how to deal with Theo. "Are you alright?" Hermione came up behind Draco and hugged him tightly. "You look startled."

"I'm fine, just frazzled. It was no one. I'm sorry to have disturbed you." Draco brought Hermione around to his front to engulf her in a tight hug. "Did you owl admissions yet?"

Slightly miffed that he suddenly changed the subject, Hermione nodded against his chest. "I'll let you know when I get a reply. I suppose I should start working on Hogwarts recommendations just in case."

"That's my girl." Draco smiled down at her and gave her a swift kiss to her cheek. "I have some business to attend to in the study. I'm sorry that I'll be busy today."

Hermione shook her head and smiled back at him. "No worries, I have some reading I wanted to finish today anyways. Will you have dinner with me?"

"Of course."

Hermione smiled again, and pressed her lips gently against Draco's. She could tell that something had gone wrong, but didn't know how to support him when he was being secretive. She opted for silent affection until he told her what was going on. When that happened, she would be all ears.

"I'll be in the library." Hermione walked off, back to her book, and back to her tumultuous thoughts. Draco turned on his heel and began to floo various wizards across the country, he wanted to know everything that everyone knew on Theodore Nott.