subconscious spirits

“Now do write, Theodore,” Aunt Adaline remarked, smoothing down his robes, worry wrinkling her forehead.

“I will, Aunt Adaline” Theo responded dutifully, a ghost of a smile gracing his lips, as Adaline began checking his bag again ‘just in case’. The fuss was a tad unnecessary, he was technically an adult after all, but it was nice to have someone older care about him for once.

Theo reached for the floo powder by the fireplace, ready for King's Cross Station, when suddenly a hand overlapped his. He jumped, turning to see Aunt Adaline’s concerned face staring up at him. 

“Are you sure about this, Theodore?” she asked tentatively.

“I know, with your father's.. situation..people might make things difficult for you”

Theo sighed. She was right, people would make his life hard back at Hogwarts. They all take one look at him and their heads scream ‘deatheater!’, regardless of the facts, regardless of what they don't know. But regardless of any of that, Theo would be returning to Hogwarts. He had to, he needed to finish his education, and a chance was being offered to him, so he was certainly going to take it.

“It's what needs to be done,” he responded. “Besides, many of my friends are returning also, I'll be quite alright” Theo assured her, but the knowing look in his eye said what neither of them wanted to address out loud.

I've survived worse.

“Goodbye Theodore” she smiled sadly.

“Goodbye Aunt Adaline” he remarked as he stepped into the fireplace and was whisked away to the station, bracing himself for both the impact and the year ahead.

Theo kept his head down and hood up as he hopped onto the train and quickly made his way to the cabin he and the other Slytherins in his year had shared since second year. Not all of them were returning, but a surprisingly substantial amount did. Education was important to them, after all.

Once he reached their usual cabin, he knocked swiftly on the door, hoping someone had gotten there before home. Thankfully, the door slid aside to reveal the grinning face of his best friend, Blaise zabini.

“Theo! come on in” he smiled at him, all Italian charm and white teeth. “Look who's here guys”

The resounding chorus of “Theo!” s and warm words of greeting were enough to already lift his spirits for the coming year. Even if he had nothing, he always had his friends.

“Hey guys,” he said, taking a seat next to Pansy after storing away his trunk. “How is everyone keeping?”

This prompted Daphne to launch into a tirade about how her mother refused to let her sit in on this month's wizengamot meeting because it was ‘too serious’ and how unfair it was, and before long, life was back to normal, but there was a tension hanging over them no one wanted to address to spoil the mood, but alas, needs must.

“Anyone heard anything about how they're going to run this whole Eighth year thing?” Tracey questioned, absentmindedly painting her nails.

“I heard we aren't staying in the dungeon anymore,” Blaise chipped in, “something about a lack of room”

“I wonder if they'll resort us” Pansy remarked. 

“Well I'd certainly go back in to Slytherin, I don't know about you lot” Draco responded. 

“Even if we do get resorted elsewhere, no one is going to be happy to see us here” daphne interjected, blunt as always.

“I know, but at least we have each other right?” Tracy said, attempting to lighten the mood by playing up the sappy tone, causing embarrassed giggles from the group.

“I heard we can apply for mentorships under teachers because we really are of working age. I shall certainly try for the arithmancy one” Draco continued.

“Theo, you should try for potions” Blaise nudged him.

“I could,” Theo mused. He was quite good at potions. His father had insisted. The chatter surrounding him abruptly came to a halt as the train started to slow, pulling into their home away from home, and for the final time, they were returning to Hogwarts.

After they had been transported to the castle itself, Theo stood petting the thestral next to him (which evidently many more people could see now), as Professor McGonagall gathered the eighth years into a group behind the tiny looking first years who were staring round in awe as Professor Flitwick was clearly giving them the welcoming speech. His attention was drawn back as McGonagall cleared her throat to address them.

“Hello Eighth year's” she began in her Scottish lilt. “I shall keep it short as we are behind schedule. Thank you for all making the choice to return to Hogwarts this year. We know that in no way can it make up for the past year or two, but we hope that you can enjoy your final year, and learn plenty in a safe environment. Now, the logistics. The reason you are here rather than the hall, as many of you have probably assumed, is that you will be resorted”

At this revelation, many objections could be heard, namely from the Gryffindor and to Theo's surprise, Hufflepuff groups.

“This is not due to the lack of dormitories, that, we can easily fix, it is simply due to the fact you are no longer registered students, and all students must have a house. There has been a tower designated in the rebuilding for returning eighth years that I shall show you to after the sorting, which I do believe has just finished for the first years. Let's make this a good year, everyone.” she finished, before turning and striding into the great hall, the gaggle of eighteen year olds following her hurriedly.

Theo wasn't concerned about his sorting. The only other house he had even come close to was ravenclaw, and the hat had quickly ruled that out too, as Theo did not want knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but so he could protect himself and succeed. This time was no different, straight to slytherin for him. Majority of his classmates remained the same thus far, barring Terry Boot's move to Hufflepuff.

Theo suddenly felt everyone straighten up around him, causing him to rezero his attention on the sorting. Harry Potter had stepped up to be sorted. Theo almost turned his head back away, was there even a point in watching? Harry Potter was the most Gryffindor person to ever exist, without a doubt he would return to his old house.

 But Theo couldnt tear his eyes away. Something about the veiled concern in those electric green eyes, the way his scarred hands twisted in his lap as he sat down told him to keep watching. So watch he did. And watch. Because this was starting to take a while. Murmurs started to spread throughout the great hall. Harry Potter, a hat stall? Theo focused on his face, and to him it appeared Harry was arguing with the hat mentally, furiously, before all of a sudden he slumped in the seat, resigned. And not seconds later did the hat loudly call out SLYTHERIN.

The hall erupted into confusion, yells for Harry to give it another go and shouts questioning the hat's abilities rang round the room, all as the boy in question slinked down from the stage to quietly join his friend Hermione Granger at the back of the Eighth year group.

 Interesting, Theo mused, tuning out Draco's horrified exclamations beside him. Very interesting indeed.

Once the sorting had concluded, with no further surprises, Professor McGonagall appeared, and led them to their new home, a tower that apparently the magic of the castle had provided knowing that space was needed.

“Whilst you are not in separate houses,” she began, “This is quite a large space, and the castle has decided you shall be housed in rooms of two, within your house, beside others of your house so you may share a small house common room, with the rest of the tower filled as a communal space, with study rooms, for some reason a kitchen and general places to hang out. As you are adults, I cannot enforce a curfew, but I simply ask that you do not roam outside this tower after normal curfew hours. I shall discuss other changes and opportunities with you all tomorrow as it is late and I'm sure you're all tired. Goodnight” McGonagall said, closing the door behind her.

Chatter broke out amongst the group as people split off in search of their rooms

“I think Slytherin’s this way Theo” Blaise called, walking off with Draco in tow. Theo did hope he'd get paired with Blaise, he was a true friend to him. He was scanning the name plaques on the door when he finally found his own name, and he froze instantly. There was no way. No chance. Just his luck. 

“Hey theo, who are you wit-” Blaise started.

“Oh.” he let out, as the both stood and stared at the nameplate reading: Theodore Nott and Harry Potter