The Other Babysitter

Draco did not like it, but he had no choice. "I think Theo can take care of Rose," he declared once Hermione and Rose walked out of his bedroom. He had mulled over this decision for the whole night, mentally made some pros and cons, and concluded that the pros outweighed the cons.

As the child busied herself with her toast, the injured auror frowned at him. "As in Theo Nott?" she asked incredulously.

He quickly went to her aid and helped her sit down on the chair beside Rose. For breakfast, he asked Tippy to fix Hermione two pieces of pancakes with maple syrup and orange juice. Years of living with her in Grimmauld Place and other Order hideouts made him knowledgeable of insignificant things. From the way Hermione looked at him, he knew she was surprised he remembered.

Well, how could he not?

"Yes, Theo Nott," he said, sitting on the chair opposite the small family.

She made a face. "He was... quiet," she replied.

The blond snorted. "Trust me, Granger, he's anything but quiet," he said. They weren't really friends during their Hogwarts years; they were mere acquaintances because of their fathers' affiliations. Turned out Theodore Nott did not want the life of a Death Eater like his father did. If it weren't for Nott, he wouldn't have defected at all. He never really voiced it out loud, but he would always be eternally grateful Theo was the braver one and extended a hand.

"He's a... a bully," she lamely added.

Draco looked at her in amusement. "Yes, well, so am I," he replied, gesturing at himself.

"I trust you, Malfoy," she retorted. "Not Nott. Besides, what if he's a... bad influence to my daughter?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "He's my friend," he reasoned. "He defected, too, and had actually accompanied your precious Potter in some of his missions. He's capable and he can take care of Rose." His last sentence was uttered hesitantly, and Hermione caught it.

"Don't you have other people you can leave her to?" she asked, clearly still not buying Theo's capabilities as a competent babysitter.

"Potter's away with the Lestrange case. Tippy is back in the Manor taking care of some stuff," he recounted. "If you haven't noticed right now, Granger, I am not exactly a very sociable person. I only have Nott as my acquaintance."

"Well, what about your other house elves?" she asked with a glare. "I bet there are tons in Malfoy Manor."

He scowled at her sarcasm. "Trust me, Granger, you don't want any of the Malfoy house elves taking care of your daughter," he interjected. Memories of strange playtime with the creatures during his youth resurfaced in his mind and he involuntarily shivered. "I only trust Tippy to take care of Rose, but as I've said, he is gone and that only leaves Theo. Besides, they get along splendidly, don't you, Rose?"

Upon the mention of her name, Rose looked up at Draco with a wide smile on her face. "Yep," she exclaimed, licking on her maple-drenched fingers. Draco smirked; he highly doubted Rose had even understood a word of what they were talking about.

Hermione was still not convinced, but she finally sighed in defeat. "Fine," she grumbled, her right hand gravitating to her injured abdomen. Grimacing, both in pain and disapproval, she continued, "As if I have any other choice."

"Yes, you don't. Unless you want me to bring her over to St. Mungo's." Upon seeing the look on Hermione's face, the blond sighed. Draco then looked at his magical watch. "He'll be here in an hour," he said. "It is best you hurry up with your breakfast so I can bring you to St. Mungo's already."

"Are you going somewhere, Mama?" Rose asked, looking up at her mother.

Hermione slightly paled and refused to meet her daughter's eyes. Draco, noting Hermione's discomfort, spoke up, "We'll be going to the hospital, Rose. I told you, your mother is very, very sick."

"Can I come?" she inquired with a pleading look. "I promise to be a good girl."

"Rose," Draco sternly said. The child looked at him with a pout, as Draco continued, "It will be a busy day and you'll only get bored."

"I can bring Sir Ginger."

He sighed and shook his head. "No, no, Sir Ginger the Stuffed Dragon will be terribly bored and he will get mad at you," he explained. "Do you want him to get mad at you?"

"No!" she exclaimed, aghast. "He's my best friend."

"Exactly," Draco said. "This is why you have to stay here and play with Sir Ginger and your other toys. Sounds good?"

Rose still pouted and fell silent, but finally nodded her head and went back to eating her toasts.

Satisfied, Draco looked back at Hermione, and then frowned. "What?" he asked. She was looking at him strangely, with a mixture of surprise and amusement and something else he could not place his finger upon. When she still did not reply and continued to look at him with that odd expression on her face, he repeated, "What?"

A small smile spread on her face. "Nothing, Malfoy," she said.

He still suspiciously looked at her, and then shifted his gaze on Rose. "Mini Granger," he called. Hermione quirked an eyebrow at the nickname "Theo will come over and look after you, okay? So you have to be a good girl."

"No, not him!" she whined, tugging on her curls in frustration. "I don't like him. He's not nice."

Hermione sent an accusatory glare his way. "I thought you said they get along splendidly?" she interrogated.

Draco flashed his infamous Malfoy smirk. "Yes, well, I exaggerated."

__________

"Are you fucking insane?" Theo hollered as he stumbled out of the fireplace with a murderous look on his face. The expression fell on his face; however, as a stern Hermione Granger greeted him. "What the actual fuck? You are back!"

Hermione lifted an eyebrow and looked at Draco. "I get what you meant when you said he's anything but quiet," she coolly said.

"No bad words, Nott!" Rose scolded from beside Hermione.

The aforementioned man's eyes widened as he looked at Draco, who was the only amused person in the room.

"My... my name is Theo," he lamely retorted, throwing a withering glare towards the toddler.

"You call me 'Mini Granger'," she pointed out with a pout. "Draco calls you that, Nott."

Horrified, Theo looked at his best friend. "How can you trust me with her?" he argued, pointing hysterically at Rose. "I can't even commit with a woman, goddammit, Malfoy. How can you trust me with a child?"

"This isn't a good idea," Hermione murmured for the first time.

"Yes, thank you, exactly," Theo exclaimed, this time pointing at Hermione.

"Will you please shut up?" Draco exploded, and Theo had the decency to obey his command.

After making sure that his best friend had finally calmed down, Draco gestured for him to sit on one of the couches in the living room. Theo opted to sit at the farthest couch from the mother and daughter and resolutely refused to look at their general direction.

"Look, mate, we have no choice," the Malfoy heir finally explained. "I have to take Granger to St. Mungo's and Tippy is in the Manor. The only person who can take care of Rose for today is you."

Theo frowned. "St. Mungo's?" He shot a look at Hermione, askance. "Why?"

As if on cue, Hermione grimaced in pain and tightly clutched her covered injury. The only thing that kept her from making any pained noises was the fact that Rose was beside her, and she didn't want her to worry. A look of understanding dawned on Theo, and with a defeated look he looked at Hermione.

"How bad was it?"

"Very," Draco quickly replied, shooting a furtive glance at Rose. She wasn't her normal self, constantly following her mother around. Although they never explicitly told her how badly her mother was injured, Rose knew that something was terribly wrong, and had been subdued ever since breakfast.

"Fuck," Theo sighed, slumping against the plush couch. "Do I really have a choice?"

"No, Nott, you don't."

The brown-haired man released a huge sigh of defeat and warily glared at the blond. "You owe me, Draco, big time," he warned.

"That's settled then," Draco said, secretly relieved that everything turned out better than expected. "You better get ready, Granger."

Hermione nodded, her face expressionless, and strode towards his bedroom to gather her things. Rose, as predicted, followed her mother into the room.

Once they were gone, Theo grew thunderous once more.

"I'll seriously fuck this up and Granger will kill me," he spat, bordering hysterical. "You know what? I left my will with my house elf. You are a bastard, everybody knows it Malfoy, but I left all my prized possessions into your care because you are the only fucking person I care about."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't be so melodramatic," he retorted. "It's just for a day. Besides" - he gestured at himself - "I managed to keep the child alive for two weeks. You and I both know I am more messed up between the two of us."

"If you consider her near death due to peanut allergy as a job well done, then you really are messed up."

"Be quiet," he hissed, darting a look at his closed bedroom with panic in his eyes.

"So you'd rather I die first than you, eh?" Theo snarled. "Very mature Malfoy. I didn't know you love me so."

Draco released a monumental sigh. "Can you please quit your bloody sarcasms for a while and listen to me?" he snapped. Thankfully, Theo quietened down, but did not drop his glare. "I know this is a huge responsibility, Theo, but Granger really needs to visit St. Mungo's. We cannot delay this until Tippy comes back. Healer Matthews doesn't think it is a good idea."

Theo slowly schooled his emotions until he was staring blankly at Draco. "She's dying, isn't she?" he gravely asked.

"She will be if I don't bring her right now," he growled. "It is curable. But it will at least take a day to remove that blasted curse off her."

Nott fell into silence once more, seemingly deep in contemplation. Finally, he released a deep sigh of defeat. "I expect to get smashed in the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow, Malfoy, and I'm not paying anything."

Draco grateful grinned at Theo, who merely rolled his eyes at the ridiculous look on his face.

"I knew you'd one day ditch me for Granger, you wanker," Theo said.

Color flooded Draco's cheeks but before he was able to retort anything back, Hermione and Rose emerged out from their room.

"I'm ready," the mother announced, right hand once again clutched against her injured abdomen. She threw a piercing stare at Theo, and Draco had to suppress a smirk when he saw his best friend squirm. "Take care of my daughter, Nott."

"Of course, Granger, as you wish," he said, followed by a mocking bow.

"If something happens, I blame you," Hermione said, glaring at Draco this time.

Theo grinned widely. "Don't worry, Granger," he said. "I will blame him, too."

__________

People were staring, and Draco cursed for forgetting to darken the shade of his hair. They were staring more this time because their beloved War Heroine was walking side-by-side with the notorious Ex-Death Eater. 'Blast you, Granger,' he mentally cursed, and quickened his pace just to avoid their uncomfortable stares.

"Malfoy," she called. "Slow down, for Merlin's sake."

He skidded into a halt and sheepishly looked behind. Hermione was pasty, beads of sweat now formed on her forehead. She was panting, too, and Draco felt a little guilty for thinking about his discomfort when the brunette he accompanied was bloody well strong enough to hold herself up despite her unimaginable pain.

"We're almost there, Granger," he reassured. The line for the lift was thankfully short and they were able to arrive in the fourth floor in no time. Healer Matthews, despite being mostly assigned on the third floor, had found the time to accompany them today.

"Healer Matthews," he greeted.

The healer, a little wide-eyed, shook Hermione's hand. He then frowned and peered at her pale complexion. "How are you holding up, Miss Granger?" he calmly asked, his steely eyes surveying her face. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how much pain do you feel now?"

"Err... eleven?" she squeaked.

Draco's eyes widened in shock, "Blimey, Granger, you should have said something!" he exclaimed.

Hermione weakly smiled in reply, before her eyes rolled behind her head. The blond thankfully caught her on time before she fell on the floor.

Healer Matthews ushered him into a small room, where a team of Healers were gathered around.

"Mister Malfoy, this is Healer Johnson," he said, gesturing at the middle-aged man with graying hair. "He is the Head of this Department."

"You need not worry," the healer assured. The others, presumably his assistants, directed Draco to place Hermione on the empty bed at the middle of the room. "We have seen this case already and I assure you, the cure is 95% effective."

Draco frowned. "Only 95%?" he asked.

A condescending look befell upon the healer's face, prompting Draco to scowl. "Why, Mister Malfoy, not all cures are a hundred percent effective," he drawled. "Perhaps, you can wait on the fifth floor? This will be an awfully long procedure."

The blond glared, but he knew he could not do anything.

"I will send someone to alert you if the procedure is done," Healer Matthews said, placing a comforting hand on Draco's shoulder and at the same time throwing a warning glance towards his colleague.

Draco sighed and nodded his head, before striding out of the room.

__________

"Where are we going?"

Theo sighed and glared at the inquisitive child. "Somewhere," he replied snappily. "Come on, be quick."

Rose pouted but obliged. She threw her tiny sweater over her head, and then wore her shoes. She was impossibly slow, and Theo was growing impatient.

"Come on," he repeated, grabbing onto Rose's hand. Without warning, he side-long Apparated them both and arrived outside Leaky Cauldron. The girl was a little green, prompting him to sigh and tightly clutch her wrist.

"Where are we?" she asked after a few minutes. He noted that her nausea had thankfully abated, inquisitive eyes now staring around the unfamiliar buildings. He smirked when she flinched, a car honk blaring loudly mere meters away from them.

"Welcome to Muggle London," Theo gesturing grandly around the busy street of Charing Cross Road.

Rose's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Why are we here?" she asked. Theo already started to walk around, and her tiny legs had to work double time just to catch up with the adult's impossibly long legs.

"This trip was already scheduled ages ago," he explained. "A child like you cannot ruin my plans, so I brought you here with me instead."

When the child did not respond, Theo frowned and looked behind him. He saw Rose a few feet away, her eyes staring widely at one of the Muggle window shops. "Oh for Merlin's sake," he said, jogging towards the distracted child. "If you have not noticed yet, Mini Granger, we are surrounded by a bunch of Muggles. So I can't use magic here when you get lost, do you understand?"

Rose pointed her stubby finger at the window instead of answering. Theo followed where she was pointing at, and saw some multiple black boxes with moving pictures inside. "It's a telly," she said, beaming up at Theo. "Mama lets me watch cartoons back at home. Draco doesn't own one."

Theo snorted. "What do you expect from that Pureblood snob?" he snapped. "Unlike me, I try to immerse myself in all things Muggle. Contrary to popular belief, they are actually a decent bunch."

"Grandma and Grandpa are Muggles," she said with a nod.

"Where are they now?"

Rose shrugged. "Mama said they're having a vacation somewhere," she explained. "Rosie never saw them."

He then remembered Draco said that Granger's parents were still somewhere in Australia, Obliviated by their daughter to protect them from Voldemort and his minions. It was a sad thought, he mused, because even if Hermione Granger was a brilliant spellcaster, there was still no effective and safe way of reversing obliviation without damaging the mind.

"Let's go now," he then said, glancing at his bewitched wristwatch. "I'm already running late."

Rose lifted her small arms and wriggled her fingers. "Up, up, Nott," she demanded. "You're too fast."

"Oh no you don't," he glared darkly. "That might work with Draco, but not to me, Mini Granger."

She pouted petulantly and crossed her arms against her chest. "I'll tell Draco you were bad," she threatened, prompting him to roll his eyes.

"As if that bastard can do anything to me," he grumbled. Being best mates with a moody Draco Malfoy demanded he strengthened his defense. He could throw a mean spell if he was really pissed, and Theo had already learned his lesson and actually practiced some spells to spare himself.

"Then I'll tell Mama you were bad!"

A frown slowly formed on his face. Although Draco was quite powerful, Hermione Granger was another thing entirely. He bloody well knew the Golden Trio would not have lasted without her brains and skills, which was saying something, seeing that the Gryffindor Idiots always found themselves facing unimaginable dangers. Besides, he remembered the state of Draco's nose back in third year after a particular altercation with the brunette, and it was damn nasty. He did not want to take any chances.

Sighing in exasperation, he spat, "Fine." Rose sweetly smiled, lifted her arms once more, and wriggled her fingers. Theo grunted as he pulled her up into his arms. "You sneaky menace. I think you'll do well in Slytherin."

"No, Gryffindor!" she exclaimed with utmost conviction. "Just like Mama and Papa and Uncle Harry."

He rolled his eyes. "Figures," he sighed.

"Where are we going?" she asked once more as Theo started to walk purposively in a particular direction.

He gave her a smirk.

"Why, Mini Granger, I have a date."

__________

He regretted accompanying Granger the moment he stepped into the poor excuse of a tea shop in the fifth floor of St. Mungo's. It was horribly packed, and eyes instantly latched onto his form. Predictably, he mostly got hostile glares, with occasional fearful looks. Thankfully, there was a table crammed at the farthest right of the room with a lanky, weedy man occupying one of the seats. The occupant did not even spare him a glance, and Draco took that as a cue to choose that table instead.

Draco kept his head low until he reached his destination. He could not help but release a sigh of relief when he finally plopped down on one of the unoccupied chairs. Making a face, he realized the place was awfully drafty, which may be the reason why people did not choose that place in the first place. Having lived in the Slytherin dungeons for seven years made him immune to the cold and he did not bother magicking heat for himself.

"A girlfriend, I presume?"

He looked at Weedy with barely concealed surprise. "Excuse me?" he asked. To be honest, he was more surprised the stranger was talking to him.

"The reason for your visit to St. Mungo's," Weedy expounded, lazily drawing circles on the rim of his untouched teacup. "My wife's about to give birth but the Healers kicked me out, those bastards."

Draco was awful with small talk, and could only offer a soft 'Congratulations' to his story.

"So a girlfriend?"

He stared once more. He thought the conversation had ended.

"What?" Weedy asked, lifting a bushy eyebrow.

"Err..." he started, cheeks flaring a little in embarrassment. "N-no, not a girlfriend. Just a... a friend." He made a face at Granger's role in his life. Although they had been through a lot during the Second Wizarding War, he highly doubted Hermione even considered him as one. An acquaintance, yes. An ally, surprisingly. But maybe a 'friend' was being too hopeful.

It was too late to take back his comment because Weedy was now nodding his head. 'I really should stop giving nicknames to strangers,' he thought, slightly amused of his strange habit. He recalled Crooked Teeth and Goatee and how they badly reacted with his nicknames.

"So, how's the life of an ex-Death Eater?"

Draco choked on his own saliva in sheer surprise. His eyes had widened in pure horror, but Weedy merely looked at him in mild amusement. "E-excuse me?"

"All right, I get it, you were an evil boy with a changed heart," he continued with an eye roll. "The war is bloody well done now, innit? I'm honestly bored and I am genuinely curious. You look like a fine chap, anyway - definitely a Malfoy by that weird hair of yours - unless, of course, you decided to hex the living daylights off of me for being a privy idiot."

All he could do was stare.

"So, how's the life of an ex-Death Eater?" he repeated. There was no contempt in his eyes. Like what he had stated, he looked genuinely curious. Draco did not even feel the slightest bit offended.

"Err..." the blond started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tough."

Weedy nodded in understanding. "I bet." He gestured widely around the cramped teashop. "If people look at me like that every day, I would have locked myself in my house and live like a king using my ancestor's riches."

Draco glared, and Weedy sheepishly added, "No offense." Not that he was wrong, really. In fact, what he said was perfectly spot-on and he hated himself for that. Well, that was before Granger and Rose happened. He now found himself out in the open most of the time and had wondered how he was still alive at all.

"War makes people selfish," Weedy continued, now pensively looking at his teacup. "It brings the most inhumane traits out of anyone." He sighed, and then shifted his eyes on Draco. "It must have been tough to be a Pureblood, eh?"

Usually, he would have scoffed at the ridiculous insinuation. Usually, he would have given this good-for-nothing, nosy stranger a piece of his mind. Usually, he would have thoroughly debated how Purebloods were the master race - the best among the rest. But Draco Pureblood Malfoy had gone through a lot, seen a lot, and had come to realize that being brought up to become a Pureblood Supremacist was not a privilege at all.

"Yes."

He quietly looked at the tabletop, trying to block away the whispers around him. 'Look at me now,' he thought with a sneer. Once upon a time, he was a proud boy who strutted around like he owned everything. But now... now he had realized he had done a lot of fucked up things in the past and he could not even do anything to make up for them.

At twenty-five years, he firmly believed he was a failure at life. The only thing he could thank for surviving this cruel, cruel world was his ability to mask his emotions... to not show any signs of fear, embarrassment - guilt. It was damn easier to just accept their accusations than defend himself.

'A failure at life, you arsehole,' he repeated.

Weedy then released an awkward laugh. "Blimey, sorry," he then said with a sheepish grin once more. "Martha always says I talk before I think, so never mind what I said, lad." He then proceeded to look at his wristwatch and swore. "I'm having my first baby and I am bloody late."

He then stood up and bid a brief farewell.

"Wait!"

The stranger looked at him questioningly.

Slowly, the blond offered his head. "The name's Draco Malfoy," he casually said, schooling his emotions. Inside, his heart thudded in fear, embarrassment, and annoyance. This was a spur-of-a-moment. But then, noting the name of a stranger that had been impossibly frank and comforting at the same time earned him a spot in Draco's book.

"I know," Weedy simply said with a smile. "You're awfully famous."

Draco frowned, prompting the other man to laugh. He then tightly grasped Draco's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Thomas Davies, mate."

The blond gave him one of his rarest smiles.

"Pleasure," he said.

Well now, Thomas Davies seemed more fitting for this man than Weedy.

__________

He was tired of witches. Or, more accurately, he was tired of greedy Pureblood bitches that merely put up with him because of the Nott fortune. Most of them were raised as prim and proper princesses, heads filled with Pureblood aristocracy, the latest fashion trend, and the juiciest gossip in the Wizarding World.

Half-bloods and Muggle-borns, although tamer than the aforementioned Purebloods, were either too starry-eyed with the Nott fortune or generally terrified with the Nott name, really.

Theo Nott was at his prime. He bloody well knew he was a blasted womanizer; hell, he worked tooth and nail to earn that title. He used to be a quiet boy, refusing to get too close with the other Slytherins in fear that they might discover he did not believe in any of the Pureblood trash and Voldemort's tyranny. Defecting with Draco Malfoy was the best decision he had ever made, and since then he was a changed man.

There were too many fishes in the sea, too many flavours to try. Which was why it was troubling he was getting tired of the usual magical witches throwing themselves at his feet. He was a persistent guy after all. Much better, he was a Slytherin.

Hence, he thought, that the only logical solution to his predicament was to broaden his... choices.

Unlike stuck-up Pureblood bad boys (ahem, Draco), Theo had ventured into the Muggle world multiple times with an open mind and starry eyes. As the Head of the Nott Household and the official President of the Nott business, he was required to interact with numerous Muggles, most of which had no idea he was actually a wizard. He traveled all over the world, met wonderful Muggle women along the way, and thought it wouldn't be that bad to produce Half-Blood Nott's in the future, his ancestors be damned.

Like his womanizing habit, he too worked hard on proving to the world he was not some Pureblood Supremacist. Draco had been working extra hard, what with his notorious last name and his past misgivings, which was why the world treated Theo far better than his best friend. Still, there were occasional slurs and glares thrown his way. Not that he couldn't handle them, those bastards.

"Are we there yet?" Rose suddenly piped in, bringing his mind back into the present. "I'm hungry."

"Of course," he said, rolling his eyes. "You are the Weasel's spawn after all." He could recall images of a ravenous Ronald Weasley during mealtimes in the Great Hall and had always wondered if their family was so poor, he had to eat as much as he could to have enough stored for the holidays.

They finally arrived in some fancy French restaurant somewhere at the heart of Muggle London. The matron gave him a slight nod and a knowing smirk; the said restaurant was Theo's go-to place when meeting new Muggle ladies. He was such a delightful customer that the manager of the restaurant had given him discounts and free desserts.

He ventured towards the farthest booth in the restaurant, away from prying eyes. It was to his advantage, recalling days of disastrous encounters with a new date and an ex, and it would do him some good if he met the ladies in private.

Thankfully, his date had not yet arrived. Theo slid inside, placing Rose beside him. Glancing at the child, he wondered if it was a good idea to bring the tot after all. He could have left her to the care of his personal house elf, Snooty, but figured Draco would have his head if he found out. But then again, he'd have his head too if he found out he brought Granger's daughter on a date.

Sighing, he looked at his watch and guessed his date would arrive soon.

"Oh. Hello."

Theo's eyes widened. He knew that voice. "Lo-Lovegood?" he gasped, glancing at the newcomer. He expected her eccentric fashion to transcend time and was surprised to see that she was wearing a flattering, red, knee-length dress and strappy, black shoes. The only thing that was purely Loony Lovegood was that ridiculous radish earrings of hers. Her eyes were still unnaturally glassy and wide, as if knowing all the secrets in the world. Her blonde hair was pinned elegantly atop her head, showing off her milky white neck and... 'Holy shite,' Nott thought.

Luna Lovegood was bloody hell pretty.

This was bad.

Her lips turned down a little. "I'm assuming you are Ted Knight," she said, slowly raising an eyebrow at his pseudonym.

Theo blushed and lightly glared. "Yeah, well, wouldn't want to give the Wizarding World a heart-attack when they get wind with the news that Theodore Nott is having dates in Muggle London," he snapped back. "And, Selena Hartness, look who's talking."

Lovegood shrugged and slid down on the booth opposite him. "I like the name 'Selena'," she said, a small, dreamy smile growing on her face. "I thought of giving myself the name 'Heartnice'" - Theo loudly snorted - "but it sounded funny and I thought 'Hartness' sounded nicer and more Muggle."

"Well, that is a first," he sneered. "Loony Lovegood thought something sounds 'funny'."

The witch merely raised an eyebrow. "It's been a long time since I heard that nickname," she confessed, an unreadable expression on her face. "It brings back... memories."

Theo felt a stab of guilt and quickly looked away from her face. He used to be one of those who called her as such. She was one hell of a weird girl and they were insensitive gits. Perhaps, their name-calling had really hurt her despite showing a usually blank, dreamy look.

"I like your earrings."

The tension was quickly broken as Rose spoke up for the first time. Theo slowly glanced back at Luna, who was now smiling prettily at the redhead.

"Thank you," the older of the two replied, fondly touching her right, radish earring. "I like them, too. I made them myself."

Rose's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?" she gasped. "Can I have one too?"

Lovegood chuckled. "Of course," she answered, smile widening when Rose squealed in delight. She then questioningly looked at Nott. "Yours?" she asked, jutting her chin towards the child.

Theo made a face. "Thank Merlin, no," he said with a huge sigh. "Loo... err Selena, meet Rose Weasley" - the child wildly shook her hand in the air - "Rose, meet Selena."

"Oh," the blonde merely said a spark of recognition in her eyes. "Hermione's."

"Yes," Nott said, nodding his head.

Luna cocked her head at the side, blue eyes silently surveying the child. "She looks a lot like Hermione," she pointed out. "But she has Ron's hair color and eyes." A small, sad smile appeared on her face. Theo knew she was close friends with the Golden Trio and wondered what had happened to Luna Lovegood after the War. Come to think of it, he never heard anything from her at all.

"You have abundant wrackspurts around your pretty hair, Rose," Luna airily said, reaching forward to touch one of the child's red curls. "What saddens you?"

Theo rolled his eyes. Apparently, Lovegood's made up creatures never left her vocabulary. But then again, she wouldn't be Luna Lovegood if she stopped believing in wrackspurts and nargles and whatever mumbo-jumbo she believed in.

"You see wrackspurts?" Rose gasped, wildly waving her hand around to dispel the invisible, made-up creatures.

Luna smiled. "You usually need a spectrespecs to see one," she replied, eyes twinkling in delight at Rose's genuine curiosity. "But I've trained myself for years to see them without one."

"Wow," Rose gasped. "Mama said they don't really exist, but I don't believe that!" She continued to wave her hand around, even occasionally hitting the disgruntled Nott. "Sir Ginger always kept the wrackspurts away but... but..." She suddenly became downcast and stopped her thrashing. "I'm worried about Mama. Maybe that's why I have wrackspurts."

Luna questioningly looked at Theo, who sighed and lightly patted the sniffing child behind her back. "Granger's in St. Mungo's because of a pretty nasty curse," he started. Luna's eyes widened the usual twinkle in them gone. "It's treatable," he quickly said, having this weird urge to reassure her, "but it will take hours."

Sadness once again clouded her features. "It's been... years since I saw any of them," she finally confessed after minutes of silence.

"You've been living in the Muggle World," he stated matter-of-factly.

Luna pursed her lips, and then slowly nodded her head.

"Why'd you leave?" he blurted out before he could stop himself.

She was silent for ages, and Theo silently berated his blabbering mouth. And then, Luna sadly smiled and stared straight into his eyes. "Maybe the same reason why you always run away into the Muggle World, Theodore Nott."

His gaze hardened, not knowing how to take her words in. He tried to rack his brain for some reply, to perhaps embarrassingly confess that the Wizarding World was fucking stifling and anything Muggle comforted him, but one waiter already came in to take their orders.

Throughout the whole ordeal (Theo refused to acknowledge this was a date, now that he knew it was with Loony Lovegood), they managed to exchange light conversation. Rose would occasional butt in, recounting her tea parties with her toys and her adventures with Draco Malfoy (which had genuinely surprised Luna). Theo and Luna did not touch on the unspoken curiosities once more - why Luna was living in the Muggle world and why Theo kept on coming back here. Dinner was surprisingly pleasant, and Theo couldn't quell the disappointment when they finally finished their desserts and Luna announced she must go.

"Thank you for the dinner, Ted Knight," she said, complete with that pretty smile and her pretty big eyes and her ridiculous radish earrings. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Selena Heartnice," he said with a smirk.

Instead of getting offended, Luna merely raised an eyebrow. "It's Hartness," she said.

"Heartnice sounds... nice." His smirk turned into a full-blown smile and had to stop himself from staring when she, too, smiled widely.

"It sounds ridiculous," she said, followed by a - blast it all - pretty laugh.

She then looked at Rose, fondness in her eyes. Luna proceeded to remove her radish earrings and hooked them through Rose's ears, much to the surprise of the redhead. "Never stop believing, young Rose," were her parting words, before she walked out of the restaurant.

This time, Theo allowed himself to stare just a little too long.

"I like her," Rose announced, cradling her new set of earrings in awe. "She's nice and pretty and she can see wrackspurts, Nott!"

Theodore Nott had to bite his lips to stop from actually saying that today wasn't so bad at all even though it was a... meal with Luna Lovegood.

__________

"You brought her to one of your bloody dates?!" Draco thundered when he finally brought Hermione home after her exhausting treatment. Said brunette was already resting in one of the guest rooms with her daughter abandoning her usual room and choosing to sleep beside her mother.

"Nothing happened, Malfoy," Theo said, making a show of rolling his eyes. "We just ate. Mini Granger continued being a menace." When Draco continued to glower, he sighed. "Look, the child actually had a good time. I fed her good food and I brought her back alive. Aren't you going to thank me I managed to distract her from her mother's current condition, you ungrateful bastard?"

Draco deflated a little and crossed his arms. "I can't believe you brought her in one of your escapades, Nott," he grumbled still.

Theo grinned widely. "Well, it was a wonderful dinner, so there was no harm done." A dreamy smile appeared on his best friend's face, prompting him to raise a blond eyebrow.

"A wonderful dinner with Lovegood, I assume?" He had to stop himself from smirking when Theo looked genuinely flabbergasted.

"How in the hell -"

"When you went home with Rose wearing those ridiculous earrings, I hazarded a guess," Draco said, smirking triumphantly when Theo blushed and scowled. "I mean, who even wears radishes as earrings?"

"Lovegood," Theo said in defense.

His smirk turned knowing. "So it was that wonderful, eh?" the blond teased, wondering if Theo finally found someone who would tie him down.

"Shut up, Malfoy."

"Hey, come to think of it, I never heard from her after the War," he continued.

Theo sighed. "Apparently, she had been living in the Muggle World ever since," he said, an unreadable expression on his face. "I'm... not sure why, though." He was silent for ages, before finally shaking his head. "Anyway, I've got to go. Mini Granger was a bloody menace."

"Tell me about it," Draco said with a scowl.

As Nott grabbed a pinch of floo powder, he turned his head back. "I expect to get smashed tomorrow, Draco!" he reminded, before shouting his address, and vanishing in a flurry of emerald smoke.