~ Rated M, read at your own discretion!

EPILOGUE: KATIE & THEO

"Hey love, I'm going to head out early," Katie poked her head into Hermione's office.

"Oooh! Hot date?" Hermione asked as she noticed Katie's ensemble. She was wearing a form fitting black dress that came just halfway down her thighs with a teasing v neckline.

"Too much?" She asked, brushing her hands down her front.

"No, you look perfect," Hermione smiled. The dress was a perfect mix of elegant and classy, but sensual. She'd bet she was headed to a first date.

It was the first time since the whole Greyback debacle that Katie felt comfortable going out by herself. It took her a while to get back to her normal self after everything; she'd so felt like the scared young witch from the war when Greyback was after them.

Before Katie could turn to leave, another head poked into the room.

"Hi love," someone said sheepishly.

"Draco," Hermione greeted in surprise. "What happened? I thought I was meeting you at home? Weren't you supposed to be on mission?"

"I was," Draco edged carefully. "Oh Bell," he broke off, just noticing the other witch in Hermione's office.

"Draco," she nodded in amusement. He looked like a puppy who'd broken something, and she almost wanted to stick around to see what would happen.

"I should head out," Katie sighed, knowing better than to be nosy.

"No wait," Draco said suddenly, glancing down at her outfit with disapproving eyes. "Aren't you working tonight?"

"I'm leaving early," Katie said carefully, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Actually..." he hedged in an uncharacteristically nervous manner.

"Out with it, Malfoy," Katie rolled her eyes.

"Theo got a bit banged up on our mission, I was hoping you might see to him," he grimaced.

"What?" Katie blanched.

Before he could answer, she was already out of the room, racing down the halls towards the trauma ward. It had been months since Greyback was hauled away to prison, and in that time she'd only seen Theo in passing when Draco would come by for Hermione. Every interaction had been brief but baited moments that eventually amounted to nothing. Hermione shot Draco a wry but concerned glance as she too followed after Katie.

When they got to the ward, there was a whole school of nurses and trainees worriedly crowding the injured curse breaker.

"Theo!" Katie cried when she saw him.

He was still conscious- nowhere near as bad as Draco when he'd been brought in after his werewolf attack. But he still looked like he'd been pulled through a wringer; he cradled his arm near his body, the appendage twisted at an unnatural angle and the flesh on it grated like cheese. The mere fact that he was still standing was a blessing.

The others immediately shuffled out of the way as Katie and Hermione made their way over, relieved to have their senior healers on site.

"What happened?"

"Oh, Katie," Theo grimaced. "No big deal, just a small mishap with a manticore."

"What?"

She finally made it to him, pulling his head up with a finger under his chin so she could get a clear look at his pupils. Theo finally looked at Katie, freezing as he took her in. His gaze drifted over her little black dress and stiletto pumps, his eyes shuttering at the sight. However, she was already in Healer mode. The dilation of his pupils didn't reassure her one bit. She took his spare hand, using her own to hold up his mangled one.

"Squeeze my hand as hard as you can," she instructed. She received a firm grip from him, but she knew he was capable of much more force. It was likely the venom from the manticore was already tearing through his system.

"Oh Merlin," Hermione exclaimed as she got to them.

"He's been stabbed by the manticore's spikes," Katie told Hermione worriedly.

"You're in for a long night Theo..." Hermione cringed.

"Get a private room ready, and someone call for an antivenin specialist," Katie said to the interns authoritatively.

"Katie, this will take hours," Hermione said quietly. "I don't mind taking this so you can head out."

Katie paused at her friend's offer. She felt Theo's hands tightening on hers suddenly, drawing her gaze back to him. She glimpsed the displeasure in his eyes before he forced himself to loosen his hold, ready to pull back so she could go about her night. But as she stood there, her hands already covered in Theo's blood, she didn't think she could bring herself to leave.

"It's alright," Katie shook her head. "Manticore attacks are tricky, I'd prefer we both work on him together."

Hermione nodded, both of them shuffling Theo into a room with Draco trailing behind them.

"I'll be fine," Theo insisted wearily. "I'm tougher than I look."

Hit by a sudden wave of dizziness, he teetered over unstably before Katie barely managed to catch him.

"Shit," he mumbled against her hair. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," she assured him. "Hermione- we need some antivenin now."

"Right, I'll go get it myself," she dashed off.

Katie walked Theo over to the bed, gently pushing him back to sit on it. He shook his head trying to clear his vision and looked back up at Katie sadly.

"Oh Katie," he looked at her guiltily. "I'm so sorry."

She glanced down at herself. Her dress was now stained with his blood, one of his red hand prints circling her arm.

"It's fine," she insisted, guiding him to lie down. "The venom is spreading too fast if you're already dizzy. I'm going to put a weak stasis charm on you to slow it down."

"You look so beautiful," he murmured deliriously. "I wouldn't mind going out to this."

In the remote corners of her mind, she was shocked that Theo was being so candid. He was always so suave- seeing him be so blunt was a rarity.

"You're not dying," she said firmly. "Not today. But really- a manticore attack? What the bloody hell were you doing?"

"Yeah Theo," Draco called out dryly from his corner of the room. "Funny how you never got injured on your missions until you met Katie."

"Oye, you try taking down a maniac's wards while a manticore charges at you," he grumbled.

Katie studiously ignored Malfoy's comment, not wanting to think about the snake hole that might open.

Hermione was back soon, and both healers worked diligently to treat Theo- Hermione taking care of the antivenin dosages as Katie worked on healing his shredded arm. They worked for about an hour before they'd done all they could do.

"You can go home," Hermione told Draco. "We're going to need to keep him over night so he can get more dosages of the antivenin. Get some sleep- come back in the morning."

"You don't mind?" He asked her gently, drawing her into his arms. He truly looked exhausted.

"It's my job, Draco," she smiled. "You've done yours, now let me do mine."

Once Draco had left, Katie lingered in the room. Theo was knocked out cold from the potions, and it was unlikely he'd wake for hours.

"You should get some rest too," Hermione told Katie. "It's your night off."

Katie glanced at her watch. She'd missed her date.

"I honestly could've taken care of this so you could've gone on your date," Hermione said softly, watching Katie.

"I know," she said quietly, looking back to Theo's still form. "It just... didn't feel right leaving."

~o~o~o~

2 Months Later...
~ Draco & Hermione's Wedding

Katie had already taken her seat at the intimate wedding ceremony while some of the guests were still getting seated. George had been good company for her since they were friends back at Hogwarts. But even with the happy occasion, Katie's hands twisted anxiously in her lap. The seat next to her remained empty, and seeing everyone else who was already here, she had a good guess who was meant to be there.

She hadn't seen Theodore Nott since that night he got attacked by a manticore. She'd gone back early the next morning, hoping to check in with him, but he'd already been long gone. Hermione had said he insisted on finishing his antivenin dosages at home. And she hadn't seen him since. Not when Draco came by the hospital, not at dinners with Draco and Hermione. She hadn't been able to make it to their engagement party since she'd had to cover a last minute emergency shift, but at the rate they were going, she suspected if she were there he wouldn't have been for some reason or another.

Katie snapped out of her thoughts as everyone took their seats. She felt more than saw someone rush into the seat next to her, breathing quickly. His scent hit her before anything else- a deep cologne of rosewood and amber. She glanced to the side, her breath catching at the sight of his unbuttoned collar, cuffed sleeves, and slightly messy hair.

"In a rush?" She said lightly.

"Perhaps." Katie could hear the smirk in his voice.

Draco and Hermione passed them as they made their way to Kingsley, who'd agreed to oversee their vows.

"Are you here alone?" Theo asked her curiously.

"Just for the ceremony," Katie nodded. "You?"

"Yeah," he said after a slight pause.

"I haven't seen you since the manticore attack," she said bluntly, surprising even herself.

"I didn't think you'd want to see me," Theo simply said with an undertone of uncertainty.

She turned to look at him, a question in her eyes, and he reflected back a thousand of his own.

"We're gathered today for the wedding and binding of Miss Hermione Jean Granger and Mr. Draco Lucius Malfoy..."

Katie's eyes swung back to the front. They were doing binding vows? The mere idea gave her chills of anticipation and anxiety. While being able to witness such a bond was an honor given how rare they were these days, the idea of being bound so completely to any other person was terrifying.

She, along with every other person in the room, watched in awed silence as they recited their personal vows to each other, all of it building up to the ancient vows. The moment they sealed their fates, a powerful wave of magic swept through the entire room like a literal breeze passing them by. Katie shivered abruptly as she felt the magic wash over her, closing her eyes to the pure love and intensity of it. Theo, who'd been leaned back casually in his chair, stiffened as he felt the wave hit him, crashing into him with more force than a stupefy. The magic sent his blood rushing straight to his head, the sound of it pounding in his ears.

The entire room held their breath for a few moments alongside the newly married couple, trying to adjust to the magic. The happy couple had pulled each other into a passionate kiss, but Theo caught Katie's eye, the both of them looking to each other with baited uncertainty.

But before either of them could say anything, the ceremony was over and people were rising to their feet to congratulate the couple.

~o~

Katie had lost track of Theo since the ceremony. Once again.

Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Merlin knew they had a complicated enough history as it was.

"Can I get you a drink?" Her date asked from beside her.

She looked at him, snapping out of her thoughts. "That would be great, thank you."

Anthony Goldstein. They'd gone on a few dates in the last month. She knew him from Hogwarts, and he'd been a gentleman so far. He seemed interested in actually getting to know her rather than jumping right into bed. She wasn't too surprised- he was a Ravenclaw, after all. But that made him the perfect person to invite to the reception as her date. He knew other people there besides her, which made him one of the options least likely to get awkward.

She felt a familiar scent of rosewood and amber wash over her as a tall figure came up beside her.

"May I have this dance?" Theo murmured silkily, his hand outstretched like the perfect gentleman.

She met his gaze, a spark of excitement going through her at the mischief in his emerald eyes. As she placed his hand into his, he bowed over it, brushing his lips over her knuckles with a soft smirk.

He led her to the dance floor, smoothly pulling her close as the orchestra started the next waltz.

"You look exquisite," he said, his mouth brushing past her ear.

Katie shivered slightly as his hand dipped to her lower back, his fingers splaying across the expanse of her bare back. The satin dress she wore was a deep forest green- almost black- that hugged her bodice like a second skin. The thin straps crisscrossed across her entire back, leaving her sun-kissed skin bare and on display. As they danced, the expanse of her right leg peeped out from the daring slit up the side of the fluttering skirt.

"You clean up pretty nicely yourself," she observed his now crisp attire. He'd put on a classic black suit over his dress shirt, the item perfectly tailored to his form. His hair was collected in a clean style that didn't look gelled.

"We haven't danced like this since the Remembrance Ball," he recalled as he pulled her closer, barely two inches between them now, their legs interweaved as he led her across the dance floor.

"I recall Cormac needing to come save me that day," she said with a light laugh.

"I know," his eyes darkened with faux annoyance. "He didn't let us finish our dance."

Before she could reply, he dipped her low, turning her world upside down. His hand slid smoothly up her revealed leg as he held her securely. She barely caught a glimpse of Hermione and Draco watching them with smug smiles before he brought her back up, catching her against his chest. Her breath came in soft pants against his lips as she looked up at him with anticipation.

"You're here with someone else," he merely said, smoothly continuing their waltz without missing a beat.

"Anthony Goldstein," she nodded in a daze.

"He can't make you happy." He stated with absolute certainty.

Even thought she had a resonating feeling that he was right, she couldn't help but be annoyed. Who was he to make that assumption? He hadn't been in her life in months, and years before that! He'd merely been a burning streak across the otherwise boring and typical line of dates and boyfriends- short-lived, but absolutely brilliant.

"How would you know who can make me happy," she looked away from him, the annoyance creeping into her tone.

His hold on her tightened, and she looked back to see guilt flood his face.

"I suppose I'd be the last person who'd ever deserve that chance from you." He nodded resolutely.

"Why did you never visit me? Or write?" She asked bluntly. "Not after Greyback, not even after the manticore."

"I didn't think you'd want me to," he admitted softly, looking at her in askance. "Rightfully so; I know I must remind you of some terrible memories."

"I forgave you for that," she pointed out.

"I know," he murmured gratefully. "But that doesn't mean you'd want me near you on a daily basis. You didn't seem happy with our arrangement at the manor."

Katie rolled her eyes. "I wasn't happy with it because I didn't like to be in hiding from a deranged killer, not because I didn't want to be around you. Did you know Draco watched Hermione get tortured in Malfoy Manor? They found their way past it."

"Do you?" He watched her carefully, his eyes flickering from her eyes to her lips. "Want me?" He clarified, his voice breaking on that last bit.

"I did, yes," she admitted honestly.

"You know who could keep you happy?" He asked suddenly, his eyes quirking in amusement. "Someone who excites you, someone who gets your pulse racing," he pulled her flush against his chest and she was sure he could feel her thundering heart. "Someone... who could keep you on your toes."

Before she could even formulate a thought, he's lifted her into the air, and for a moment she felt breathless and completely carefree. A small giggle left her before he brought her back down. Instead of placing her in front of him, he allowed her to slide down the length of him, holding her eyes the entire time.

They watched each other, his gaze heated while hers were wide and hopeful, each of them waiting for the other to make a move.

"Katie," a voice abruptly interrupted.

Anthony stood beside them, awkwardly waiting there with two drinks in his hands. The air was stiff around them as he glanced back and forth between Theo and Katie uncertainly. And all of a sudden, Katie felt horrible. Anthony didn't deserve this. She'd brought him as her date, after all.

"Anthony!" She tore herself out of Theo's embrace. "Thanks for the drink. Sorry about that, Nott and I were just catching up after a while..."

Theo felt himself deflate as Katie rushed to make excuses. He dipped his head in both greeting and goodbye as he excused himself from the couple. So much for wanting his company. Theo walked straight towards Malfoy Manor from the reception being held in the gardens, snatching up a tumbler of amber liquor on the way.

Katie watched distractedly as he left the party, her eyes following him with disappointment. So close. Hermione's words suddenly came back to her- about how Draco and her kept out of each other's way for years, and even months after he was bitten. When it came down to it, all it took was some honesty to get things sorted between them.

~o~

Theo made his way down the magnificent foyer of the manor, nursing his drink. Though he was sure he'd need many more by the end of the night.

He cursed himself for getting his hopes up. Why would Katie ever want him when she actually had options? The one man left alive who'd literally let her get tortured when all she'd done was help others.

He heard the approach of clicking footsteps. He sighed, downing the rest of his drink in one gulp, his throat working to take it down. It was probably some random bird who saw him leave and followed him in the hopes of a wedding hook up. Then again, maybe that was exactly what he needed.

He turned, shocked to the core to see the witch plaguing his thoughts standing a few strides away, her hair cascading around her face and shoulders in loose waves- a picture of perfection. She watched him, and though she was but a few strides away, the foyer that separated them felt worlds apart.

"You left. Again." Katie's eyes flashed in frustration.

"It didn't seem like you wanted me there," he told her pointedly.

Katie sighed, knowing his guilt over his past with her would always keep him from just going for what he wanted. She knew if she wanted something to happen, she'd have to take the first step.

And so she did.

"Well I do," she said firmly, taking a step closer. "I did want you there. I wanted you to come visit me- and not because you got attacked by a bloody manticore. I want you to care- even when there's no murdering lunatic after me. I want more dances with you. I want-"

Katie closed her eyes, sighing as she shook her head with a wry smile. She looked back up, meeting his astonished gaze with no filters or masks.

"I want you."

The softness of her voice as she finished her confession pierced right through to his carefully walled heart, and the open need in her gaze went straight to his groin. He gulped, his jaw tensed from his efforts to restrain himself from walking right up to her and taking her.

She took one step closer.

"Stop-" he commanded in a hoarse voice. "If we do this, you need to know I'm not about to spend one night in your bed and just let you go," he warned.

Katie raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Well then, you'd best keep me on my toes."

Before she could take another step, Theo was in front of her in a heartbeat, pulling her to him as he sealed his mouth over hers. Her hands immediately flew into his soft locks, craving to mess it up again. He took from her in deep, drugging kisses, pulling her flush against him as his fingers clenched around the supple curves of her hips.

Without warning, he grabbed her by the thighs, picking her up. She immediately took his cue, wrapping her long, toned legs around his waist as he carried her over to a nearby vanity that was sparsely decorated. Setting her down on the edge, he pushed himself into the cradle of her legs, drawing a needy whimper from her. He groaned against her neck when she began rubbing up against him, seeking out any sort of friction.

Picking her up once again, he led her down a discrete hall. As much as he wanted her, he didn't want anyone walking up on them. His goals to get them to the guest room he knew was in that wing flew right of out his mind when Katie began nibbling on his neck in exploration.

"Katie," he warned her, tugging on her hair slightly.

"Mmm..." Without ceasing her ministrations, she rolled her hips against his.

He low growl escaped his throat, and that was her only warning before he spun them, slamming her against the darkened wall of the corridor. His hands found her wrists, pulling them up taught, pinning them above her head. She gasped as his head dove to her neck, the sensation of his tongue and teeth in tandem with the erection pressed against her heated core making her shiver violently. He pulled a particularly loud whimper from her, breaking his haze as he looked up at her in concern.

Worry flooded his eyes as he realized exactly what he was doing. He'd always been a fierce lover, but given their past, he should be anything but. She deserved gentle kisses, slow exploration, and trust.

But Katie was having none of it. With an impatient huff, she pulled her right back with a firm grasp on his tie, bringing him down for a kiss that had her burning hotter than lava.

"I know what you're thinking," she panted against his lips when she tore away. "Don't."

He released her legs, letting her slide to the floor as she leaned back against the wall. "But-"

"I'm not a piece of porcelain," Katie looked up at him. "I don't want to be treated delicately, especially not by you. At least now."

"You deserve better than some hard fuck," he shook his head. "This is more than that."

"It can be both," she insisted. "And it's because I already trust you that I can say that."

Theo gazed at her intensely, a few well-placed prods away from losing all semblance of control. He reached down, intertwining their hands before leading her to the bedroom he knew to be at the end of the hall. If they continued anything else, they'd never make it to the room before he was in her.

He'd led her into the dimly lit room, and turned to her once more as the door shut behind them.

"Are you sure?" He wasn't sure if he could live with himself if he took things too far, even if by accident. Not with her- not again.

Katie merely walked him backwards until he hit the bed, sitting down. Her hands reached for his trousers, making quick work of the buckle. She reached under her dress to withdraw her wand from a hostler around her thigh, easily vanishing her own undergarment as she tossed the wand aside.

"I know what I want," Katie whispered against his lips as she climbed atop his lap, her core coming to rest over his now exposed erection. "Trust me to be honest about it."

He watched her with heated eyes as she smoothly, and effortlessly slid down on him, groaning at the liquid heat surrounding him. His hands flew to her hips, clenching them so hard he feared leaving bruises.

"And what exactly do you want, love?"

"I want you," she licked her lips as she rose over him a tiny bit only to grind back down. "To show me take me exactly how you want me. No holding back."

"Are you sure you know what you're asking for?" He snapped his hips against her once warningly, drawing a shuddering moan from her.

"I trust you."

His eyes darkened, letting the words wash over him. He'd never realized how freeing they'd be.

His lips quirked up in a very Slytherin smirk- slightly dark, yet all the more alluring- before he flipped her onto her back, his lips devouring her as he surged into her heated core. He held himself still, savoring the feel of her. He reached under her, pulling the straps of her dress loose, relishing the view as her dress pooled around her waist. Her golden skin broke out into gooseflesh under his gaze.

She reached for his coat, and he assisted her, shucking off the extra layers. Her mouth parted in pleasure at the sight of him. Theodore Nott, from what she could remember of Hogwarts, was a rather lanky boy. But the man on before her- on top of her- in her, had filled out rather nicely. But when she made to glide her hands down his bare, muscled torso, he caught her arms, pinning them above her head once again.

"Theo-"

Before she could finish her thought, he'd lowered his head, his hot mouth finding one of her exposed breasts.

"Oh," she gasped, her upper body rising off the bed.

He picked up his pace, pulling out of her with more speed only to surge back in with building force. He set a relentless pace, quickly driving her up a dangerous peak as she could feel nothing but him, his tongue, his teeth, his hands.

"You want all of me, do you?" He growled, finding his way up her neck. "You think you can take all of me?"

"Oh please, yes," she whimpered as his hands drifted down her waist to hold her hips in place to receive his thrusts. Her now freed hands came to rest atop his as she let him take her- just like she'd wanted. Her peak rammed into her with a force that she hadn't anticipated, a strangled whimper escaping her as her muscles clamped around him possessively.

"Fuck," Theo groaned, awed that she'd already come so quickly. He held her through her orgasm, slowing down to let her ride it through. As her shivers calmed, he gathered her up in his arms as he sat up on his knees.

"You're perfect," he whispered, thrusting up into her as her arms wound around his neck. "Merlin knows I'll never deserve you, but by Salazar I swear to keep you happy."

She smiled as she kissed him slowly, reassuringly, filling in all his insecurities with the way she openly offered her body to him.

"I know," she said simply.

"Come with me," he urged, his thrusts growing frantic as his hand found the pearl at the juncture of her legs.

"I'm close," she whispered, shocked that she was just as ready to fly off the edge of oblivion with him.

He tilted her hips back, his thrusts hitting her front wall at a new angle that made something inside her feel ready to fling herself off a cliff.

"T-Theo-" she stammered, her eyes watering from the intensity of the pleasure she could feel raging up on her.

"That's it love, let go," he groaned, surging into her so hard she knew she'd be deliciously sore in the morning. "Come with me."

When his hand reached between their bodies to stroke her once more, Katie came with a small soundless 'oh,' her entire body tensing around him as she felt the waves of pleasure pulling her under with drowning force. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she slid back down the bed, forcing him to move back over her.

"Shit," he groaned, caught off guard by the strength with which she clamped down around him, the sensation of her pulses sending him over the edge.

He made to move off her, but she pulled him down, preferring the feel of his body on hers.

"You're incredible," he said in a satisfied rumble.

Katie laughed in amusement. "And you have a tough first act to follow."

He laughed in surprise, rolling them until she was sprawled atop him. "Give me a few minutes, and you'll get your second act, witch" he pinched her hip. "And then a third, and a fourth. I have a feeling this is going to be a long show."

"Thank lord for that!" Katie laughed in relief.

~o~o~o~

~ 4 Weeks Later

The lot of them were gathered for one of their regular lunches. For the first time in months, all of them were in a content position in their relationships. Theo and Katie had been dating since the wedding, going at it like teenagers who'd discovered hormones for the first time. And true to his word, Theo certainly kept Katie on her toes- both in the bedroom and out. Ginny and Harry recently celebrated their anniversary, and they were both blissfully married even after their first child. Draco and Hermione had returned from their honeymoon not long ago, and the couple seemed well settled despite their young marriage.

"We have news we wanted to share with you," Hermione said with a shy but excited smile.

"No way," Ginny said immediately, her eyes widening in excitement for her friend.

Katie seeing her reaction, immediately caught onto her line of thought. "Really?" She cried happily.

Hermione nodded vigorously, her eyes tearing up from the building happiness.

Harry and Theo tilted their heads at Draco, completely confused and entirely lost.

"She's pregnant," he caught the boys up with a smug grin.

"Congrats mate," Theo toasted.

"Finally, we get a playmate for James!" Harry said gleefully. "Can you imagine? A Malfoy and Potter friends since childhood? It only took us an entire generation to fix our past mistakes."

They all raised their glasses, toasting the happy couple. Draco and Hermione honed in on Katie and Theo as they took a sip.

"We want you to be the godparents," Hermione told them.

Katie choked on her elf wine, staring at them in surprise.

"You want us," Katie gestured to them.

"As in both of us," Theo clarified.

"To be your child's godparents-"

"Together?" He finished incredulously.

"Hey, Potter made us godparents before we were even together," Draco shrugged unsympathetically. "You got lucky."

"But you got married not long after that!" Katie insisted.

Hermione smirked in a way that eerily reminded her of Draco himself. "Exactly."

THE END

~o~o~o~

So it's over folks! For real this time, unfortunately.

Thanks for joining me on this journey.
I hope you had as much fun as I did!

~ silverstorme