Chapter 5
Theo POV
Theo bloody hates being in hospitals, muggle and magical alike. The painful memories of his mother here when he was young, the debilitating memories of what continued in his life long after her death.
Once they arrived, Draco took some convincing to let her down onto the hospital bed, glaring eyes at all the nurses as Harry tried to reassure him of his well trusted connections. When they began healing her wounds, Draco was obviously aggravated, wincing anytime a slight whimper escaped Tori’s lips. Finally they were now just finishing bandaging her up, he excused himself to the office next door to make a flu call, leaving Theo to deal with Harry and Hermione leaning over Tori with worrying creases in both of their brows. Both of them managed to hold back the circus of Weasley and company, to Theo’s amazement. Harry and Draco also collectively agreed not to bring in a mind healer, wordlessly understanding something Theo felt too overwhelmed to even begin to try and insert himself into even if every urge inside him pleas for answers.
When the nurses begin to pack up their tools, a stumbling footstep comes up to the room door, stammering into the room is non-other than the prat Cormac McLaggen in his light blue scrubs and a wildly curious look in his eyes. Theo finds himself holding back a smirk once he hears the rooms collective annoyed sigh, nurses included, before the blond rushes to fix his hair and uniform.
“We don’t need a mind healer, McLaggen. The doctor should have told you that.” Potter’s voice was stern, professional, but undertones of frustration as ‘Mione glares at the prat. Which is enough for Theo to feel obligated to take a step in front of him as he tries to move closer still.
“Perhaps the Golden boy wasn’t loud enough.” Theo spits, crossing his arms in front of him and watching the prat’s expression finally leave the hospital bed to move gaze right back.
“I don’t take orders from death eaters, Nott.”
“You should be taking orders from your boss, McLaggen.” ‘Mione’s voice was less gentle than Theo was used to, and he finds himself allowing his smirk to lift the corner of his mouth. Quickly snapping him out of it, he hears the familiar clacking of Draco’s shoes walking towards the door, when he enters the room he slips in quietly like a snake behind McLaggen who has barely heard him enter.
“What the fuck?” Cormac curses as he turns around in shock, trying his best to keep a strong stance in front of his former classmate. “What the fuck are you doing here, Death Eater scum!”
“Malfoy is welcome, McLaggen… your services are not.” Potter spits back before a dark swirl of magic consumes the room, the air rushing around them like a storm as a dark cloud pushes violently from Tori’s bed to stopping only inches away from Mclaggen’s face. The prat takes an alarmed step back, his eyes wide on the witch as she stands sternly between both men as the dark magic continues to seep into the room, almost suffocating them.
Theo desperately looks to Draco but was not soothed by the malicious grin across his friend’s face, almost smug but definitely proud look in his eyes as his hand rests on her back. “Mate… Not the time.” Theo warns aloud to him, and his blink snaps him back into the present. Draco’s hand moves slowly on her back as he moves close to whisper into her ear, and Theo watches as the dark energy sinks back into Tori before she leans into him with an exasperated sigh.
Another interruption with the swoosh of the flu in the next room, then a few scattered steps before they start to move towards the door. Two gentle knocks before the squeal of the door as it opens slowly, and an older slender man with messy hair and tiny glasses enters the room nervously.
“Ah, Mr. Malfoy.” The smaller gentleman unwravels his hands from gripping together in front of his chest to shake Draco’s hand. “Draco sir, please.” Draco courteously nods and offers the man a hand before guiding him to Tori’s side. “As you can see, Tori’s emergency contact has come to relieve her from this hospitals care.”
Cormac’s eyes jerk around from person to person, confusion landing once he looks to the man. “Mr… Scamander? It says on her file-“ He moves freakishly through the pages to find the correct sheet, like a proper twat. “It says her contact is your brother? Theseus?”
“Yes well as of a few years ago, Theseus has come under my care, please do update your files accordingly.” Newt’s voice lacks confidence, and Theo can see the contention building in McLaggen’s eyes as he tries to take a step towards them.
Things happened very quickly after that single step, a slight hitch of Tori’s breath as Cormac’s hand just slightly touches her arm with a last plea to allow him to study her mind, but his words barely escaped before a loud thud mixed with his harsh grunt as he hits the wall behind him. Draco’s wand twisting in his tight grip as the magic pushes harder on the prats lifted body on the wall. Theo grips for Hermione behind him as he watches his friend’s eyes narrow viciously, before finally blinking rapidly and lowering his arm once Newt’s hand rests on his forearm.
“Well, now that we’ve covered all that, we will be on our way. Good day.” His low voice striking in the silence, as they all surround Tori in formation before walking to the flu.
Theo finds himself understanding why even the Golden War heroes have a hard time trusting the system, if only Theo knew back when he was young just how cautious things were on the other side… things may have been different.
Andromeda’s home felt like a toned-down version of the burro… muted, the flu leading into an oversized living area in the center of the large estate. Theo watches as the skittish older gentleman moves the stray hairs out of Tori’s face before leading her over to Harry’s side, Draco seemingly follows every step closely before being stopped cautiously by the man turning to him. “I’m afraid I cannot stay…” Newt’s soft voice whispers to Draco as they walk towards the other side of the room.
“Malfoy knows Newt Scamander?” Hermione’s sweet voice appears to Theo’s side as he feels her fingers lock with his. “You think Tori would trust the ministry with his safe housing after his Azkaban stay? Or when His father escaped the same year of his release?” Theo teases the beautiful witch, bringing her hand to his lips while turning to face her. “You go with Potter and get Tori set up, absolutely under no circumstances is anyone to try Legilimency on her… I’ve got to figure out this.”
“Keep me updated?” Her voice sung through Theo’s chest.
“Of course, you do the same.” Theo smiles to her lovingly, kissing her hand a few more times before leaning to kiss her on the cheek and making his way towards the now completed conversation between Draco and Newt.
“I’ll call in a few days, Rolf will drop off Luna when they return from their trip!” Newt waves to Draco before stepping back through the flu, and Draco’s face remains still as stone until the man’s figure swirls away in a burst of green. Draco’s jaw sets harshly as he clenches his fists at his sides, turning on his heal to stride right past Theo and follow to where Andromeda is most likely helping the others set up a space for Tori. Theo stops his friend with a light grip on his arm once he steps past him, passively raising his hands when Draco’s eyes shoot into him like a burning pitchfork. “Hold on mate, give them a moment...”
“They’ve had their bloody moment.” Draco’s voice remains low but his words hold nothing but anger laced throughout them.
“Dray, I need you to calm-“
“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down.” Draco’s voice echoes in the room now, familiar to the tone he used to use when the two of them had a mission with the other Death Eaters… and Theo very much didn’t like that.
“Don’t speak to me like I don’t understand.” Theo throws his arm down, staring back at his friend with matching fire. “This group doesn’t do well with secrets anymore, Draco. You cannot sit there pissy and bruty and expect them not to have questions and concerns. We are all here to help her.”
Draco’s eyes softened slightly just before he held them shut with a deep breath, opening them to reveal the familiar silver sheen over his iris’. He was Occluding.
“Fine.” He spits, gesturing for Theo to lead as he refuses to make eye contact again.
“No no no.” Theo starts. “Tell me about this mysterious rune so I know where to redirect ‘Mione’s attention.”
“I already know what rune it is.” Draco’s voice was forcefully calm; Theo could tell by the hard swallow in his throat.
“Care to share with the class?”
“Not particularly.”
“Mate… I’m going to have to warn you, Potter won’t accept that answer.” Theo rolls his eyes at his friend, finally walking toward the others.
Draco steps to kneel in front of Tori’s sitting figure on a lounge chair, gently placing a hand over hers before slowly moving her hair back from the side of her neck the rune sits and tips her head to the side carefully to be visible to the others. “It’s a power rune.”
Harry peaks interest in this, lifting from his chair quickly and moving over to them. “What advantage does he get from giving her more power?”
“That’s not what it’s for.” Draco’s hand lingers softly on her jaw before standing up to face all of them. “Ritualistically, its tearing through her self-restrictions, pulling forward the energy she’s been suppressing.”
Hermione turns to Theo wide eyed. “He’s ripping away her restraint. Altering it?”
Theo feels a shiver crawl down his spine, watching everyone around him fall into a strange silence of resolve.
