Amelie sucked in a breath before forcing herself off the bed, and Theo wasn't slow to follow the gesture. 
                          
'' I want to do something.'' Her eyes narrowed in his, '' And I know that you're not going to like this because Draco is still mad at you from last time but—''
                          
'' I'm not taking you to Adrian.'' Teddy shook his head at her, '' Last time was a mistake, and I'm not going to repeat—'' 
                          
'' Then I'll just go by myself.'' 
                          
His eyes widened at her words, his lips parted to argue with her and to convince her not to go anywhere, but he knew that he couldn't. He was never going to change her mind because the only person who seemed to be fitted enough to do so was Draco — and Draco wasn't here. 
                          
She started walking towards the door, opening it, and just as it tended to slam shut behind her, 
                          
'' Wait!'' Theodore yelled as he quickly marched after her — only to be greeted by an amused grin on her face from the other side of the door. 
                          
'' I knew you'd change your mind.'' Her mouth twisted into a bitter smile. 
                          
Theo stared down at her. His teeth began to grit as he circled what they were about to do and the hell he'd live through if Malfoy was to find out about it. He wasn't going to live another day. 
                          
'' If you tell me what Draco did, I'll follow you.'' He rose a brow before knitting them together, and her tickled look fell into a frail one, '' Deal?'' 
                          
Amelie's eyes narrowed, uncertain as to whether she was ready to tumble around the sensitive subject of the blonde boy — but it was Teddy. He knew everything there was to know about her, and knowing this too, wouldn't change anything. 
                          
'' You know how Draco searches my mind to find things?'' Amelie said as they began to walk down the stairs. Theo nodded, his eyes glinted in curiosity, '' Well, when Draco is searching my mind, I can see his too, and I saw something...'' 
                          
She swallowed, '' Something I wasn't supposed to see. I'm not sure how I was able to see it because someone took those memories away, but I read about it, and it said that if the person who originally possessed those memories trusts you. You can, if you're strong-minded enough, see things that have been taken away.'' 
                          
He nodded again as they stepped through the hallway, '' That's what Draco is doing to me. My mother took the memory everyone wants, away, and it's hard to get a piece like that back.''
                          
'' But you got to see his mind, right?'' Theodore questioned her, slightly halting in his steps. 
                          
'' Right.'' 
                          
'' Then how come he can't see yours? I mean, if he trusts you so much that you were able to see things that someone obliviated from his mind, why can't he find your mother in your memories?'' 
                          
Amelie's sight grounded, and her heart ached again. 
                          
She had thought of that too. Why Draco trusted her enough, but she didn't, and the only answer she had to the question that was constantly glued to her mind — was that she knew. She had a sense of him not being honest with her, and she couldn't quite give herself to someone she didn't fully trust. 
                          
'' I guess I didn't trust him.'' Her voice turned low as they both faltered, standing in front of each other on the steps down to the basement. 
                          
'' That's rubbish.'' Theodore nearly snarled at her, '' Amelie, sometimes I feel like all of this kindness goes to your head. How can you say that you don't trust him? You trust him more than anyone.'' 
                          
'' I don't—''
                          
'' Oh, but you do, and there's nothing wrong with that. I can only guess that he did something terrible to make you this upset, but Amelie, don't throw this away.'' 
                          
'' You don't even know what he did?'' Her hands dropped to her sides in defeat, '' He killed my father, Teddy. He killed my father, and then he lied to me about it, all for me to trust him—''
                          
'' Was that the memories he got taken away?'' Theo tried to hide the startling look rising upon him as she nodded, '' Then how can you be mad at him for something he doesn't even remember?'' 
                          
'' Are you really taking his side in this?'' Amelie spoke up, louder this time, and even if she was mad at him, on the horizon to turn utterly upset — he couldn't help but notice how much she'd grown, how she didn't bend at this, how she stood up for her cause and her mind. 
                          
'' I'm not taking any sides, but if Malfoy had a reason for doing something. I think we should trust him. He's not a bad—''
                          
'' He killed my father, Teddy. He slathered him, together with the Dark Lord as if it was nothing, as if he does this every day.'' 
                          
'' What do you expect him to do then? If the Dark Lord was standing next to him, what was he supposed to do? Say no? Refuse? He would've gotten himself killed, Amelie.'' 
                          
Her shoulders sunk in the realization that her best friend was more than right.
                          
'' He did that to get close to me, Teddy. He lied to me, and he used me to get my memories and to find my mother. Draco fooled me.'' 
                          
'' But...'' Theodore gave her a comforting look, '' Didn't he tell you this? I mean, you can't be mad at him when he was honest with you about this, months ago.'' 
                          
'' Don't tell me what I can or can not be—''
                          
'' I'm not, but I'm telling you to look at this from his point of view too. Malfoy has done a lot for us, both you and me and yes, Amelie, my intelligent, beautiful Amelie—'' Theo placed his hands on her shoulders. 
                          
'' Maybe it was different before you two really got to know each other, before he brought you here the first time. Perhaps he had some hidden agenda, but he doesn't anymore. If he trusts you enough to let you see his mind, even the thoughts he can't see himself — he deserves the benefit of the doubt.'' 
                          
'' He never questioned us or the things you do. He trusts you, Amelie, and I think you need to trust him too.'' 
                          
His words struck her soul and left her breathless in front of him, somewhere in all his tells — she knew him to be right. That she should at least let Draco explain himself.
                          
'' But he left, and I don't know where—''
                          
'' He'll be back tomorrow. He said that he didn't want you to have to see him when you were upset, and his father needed him for something.'' 
                          
Her brows furrowed, '' Why would he tell you that?'' 
                          
Theodore shrugged as he smiled, leaning against the corridor wall, '' I guess he knows that I'm the most reasonable of us two.'' 
                          
'' Is that so?'' Amelie could feel a curve upon her lips at the words Teddy was speaking. 
                          
'' I think it is.'' Theodore's spine arched off the wall, his shoulder against hers as he nodded towards the stairs, leading down to the basement, '' Are you sure that you want to do this? You still want to see him?'' 
                          
Her breaths ragged, and her fingers curled into fists as she recalled how Adrian had spoken to her the last time they were down there, but that time — she was alone, and now she had Theodore with her.
                          
'' I am.'' 
                          
_____