Chapter 2
October 31st 1991,
『Theo's POV』
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Theo sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, a book seemingly too advanced for a first-year resting on his lap. Gryffindors chatted loudly as they walked past; he frowned upon hearing Weasley speak unkindly of Hermione. He looked for her among the Gryffindors, his gaze finding her. Hermione had intentionally bumped into Potter, and he noticed the tears on her face. Theo tried to get her attention.
"Granger!" he called out, but she did not appear to hear him. She walked past him rather quickly. He attempted to follow her, but he was unable to keep her in sight.
As evening arrived, everyone assembled in the Great Hall. Theo found his seat facing the Gryffindor table. His eyes surveyed the long table, but Hermione was nowhere to be found. He observed that Potter and Weasley were engaged in a pleasant conversation, seemingly unbotheres with the events that has transpired earlier. Theo poked around his food, still not eating, his gaze stillmaining on the Gryffindor table.
He was becoming increasingly concerned about her. He understood that he should maintain some distance from Granger given her Muggle-born status, but he found himself captivated by the time they spent together. He felt an inexplicable connection to her, as if they had known each other previously. His attention returned to his table when Draco Malfoy called him.
"Nott! Why the bloody hell are you staring at the Gryffindor table?" Malfoy scowled.
"I wasn't staring," he stammered, returning to his food.
"You obviously are." He indicated. By now, those within range can hear their conversation, and the attention is now on him.
"Don't be bloody ridiculous Draco—" He paused for a moment to collect every thought he had before speaking again.
"Besides it's your job to be obssessed with Potter not mine," He says dimissively. "And I'm better than that," he adds as he stabs his steak before shoving it into his mouth.
It was the right call to set aside what he feels right now otherwise his father would be most displeased to learn of this friendship with a Muggle-born would have dire consequences if Ignatius Nott should of discover it.
The feast is almost over, yet Granger is nowhere to be seen. He grabs some sweets and an apple from the table shoving them down into his pockets. The door opens, and Professor Quirrell is there., looking frantic as he runs down the Great Hall, screaming, bloody trolls.
"Trolls!" His voice shrilled throughout the Great Hall, he ran- more like jogged through the aisle and merely halted when their scaredy Professor reached the end of the four tables.
"Th-there's t-trolls in the d-dungeons!" He stutter as he breathes excessively heavy.
"I thought you all should know," he said dramitcally, before fainting.
'What an oaf he is, the fact he teaches defense and this is how he had reacted?' Theo scoffs at his own thoughts.
Everyone stood in a panic, there were screaming from left and right. Even the face Draco made had made him snort as he throws the cupcake he was holding right at Goyle's face.
'A troll inside the castle? 'Hermione!' Theo's eyes widen as he thought of her
"She doesn't know," He quietly muttered to himself, after overhearing from Longbottom that Hermione had been locked in the girls' bathroom all afternoon. Theo attempted to move through the crowd towards the large doors, but was stopped.
"Everyome Silence!" The resonant sound filled the hall, and everyone was still as soon as Dumbledore spoke through the sonorus.
The prefects guided everyone back to their common room. Theo noticed two Gryffindors quietly leaving the group and decided to discreetly follow them, maintaining a safe distance to remain unseen. Eyes widen as he sees the troll heading toward the girls' bathroom.
A scream was heard from the girls' bathroom, prompting two Gryffindors to quickly enter. He muttered, "Hermione," realizing he couldn't intrude openly, lest those two will dislike her even more further if they ever found out that she's best friends with a Slytherin. Loud footsteps echoed through the hallways, he found an alcove nearby to observe and listen, as well as hide his small body away from everyone who will pass by.
"It's my fault Professor." He overhear her say, of course she'd take the blame. Those two always gets out of trouble. He listened more to what's been happening, after he made sure that Granger is alright and the voices had faded he finally stepped out of the alcove only to find Granger waiting
"Granger?" He didn't expected her to be waiting for him.
"Hello, Theo," she grinned like nothing had happen.
Theo shoved his hands in his pockets realizing the snacks he have knicked from dinner earlier. Theo took out the sweets and the green apple handing it to her.
"I—erm, I noticed that you have skipped dinner and well, you're probably hungry by now so I knick some sweets and apple for you." He quickly turned his head towards a different direction his ear turning bright red.
"That's very thoughtful of you Theo," she smiles pausing just for a bit.
"If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you go in instead?" His eyes widen by the question Granger has just asked, words barely got out from him.
"I— well... I'd want you to have more friends and them seeing you with a Slytherin?" He laughs, "they'll turn their backs on you. You know house predjudice and all."
"That's just utterly ridiculous," she said furrowing her eyebrows. "But, thank you Theo, I greatly appreciate the kindnest you've shown towards me." She smiled as Hermione reach for his hand, squeezing it.
"Why don't I accompany you back to the Gryffindor tower?" He offered her.
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"Toujours Pur," he stated before a barren expanse of stones, revealing a passage to the Slytherin common room.
"Where have you been?" asked Malfoy.
"That's none of your concern, Malfoy." He sneered, walking pass by the poshed prat.
"Have you always been this nosy?" He added as he settles in inside their shared room.
"Mother would be distraught if she ever finds out that her precious godson has been torn into pieces by a troll—" Draco kept rambling on and on, annoying Theo with his monolouges. He frequently mentions Granger, almost daily, which Theo finds upsetting as he feels like a protective older brother towards her and he hates seeing her get upset specially when it comes to Draco.
"—of course I have already written to father regarding this matter." His tone is rather arrogant. His friend was nearly killed by a troll, and his energy had reached its limit, where Draco's voice was just a faded ringing sound.
"It's been a long day Draco." He groans, he covered his face with a pillow to muffle Draco's voice.
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It was Saturday morning, and everyone in the Great Hall is in high spirits; after all, it was the first game of the season, and Slytherin was playing Gryffindor. Many were betting that Potter would fall off his broom in under ten minutes. He looked across the table and saw Granger nudging Potter. He smiled at the thought of Granger, finally having friends within her house.
"Oi, Theo!" Draco nudge him.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" He returned his attention to his friend.
"I asked how long you think Potter will last in the field." He reiterate.
"Dunno, guessing perhaps five?" He shrusgs as he casually eats his toast while reading the Daily Prophet.
The game has not been underway for long, but Potter's broom has already started to malfunction. He caught a glimpse of Granger leaving from the Gryffindor stands, and shortly afterward, their Head of House's cloak caught fire. Where Theo suspects was Granger's doing.
Potter zoomed up, catching up to Terence Higgs, Slytherin's Seeker. Higgs stopped before he collides with the ground while Potter found himself standing on his broom, losing his balance. He appeared to be on the verge of vomiting after his reckless maneuver. A golden ball came out from his mouth, eliciting groans from the Slytherin house took over the stand instead of a loud cheer.
"You've set Snape's robes on fire didn't you?" His arms crossed, leaning his back on the quidditch stands.
Hermione stopped, "he was cursing Harry!" She defended.
"You should've seen the smirk on Quirell's face when Potter's dangling on his broom."
"What?" Her faced looked confused , she was always the brightest of their age yet has always failed to analazye other details.
"Granger," he nods as he joined Draco as they walk back to the castle.
"Why are you talking to Granger?" Draco, not supringly asked.
"Charms Essay." He lied but it was a simple lie that requires no futher explanation.
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The snow had started to stick to the ground, it was getting a lot colder specially in the dugeons, the library was the only place where those two knuckleheads won't go near unless needed, it was his and Hermione's safe place to hangout together.
The table rumbled as Hermione slammed a heavy old looking book filled wih dust.
"Hermione, what exactly are you looking for?" Theo's eyes were fixed on the old book in front of him, slightly coughing as he had inhaled the dust from the book.
"Just been doing a little bit of light reading before winter hols starts." She said.
"Light reading?" He chuckles, shaking his head. "I know you're up to something with those two dunderheads." He raised an eyebrow as he leans back with his arms crossed.
"Besides haven't you got in enough trouble already? Going into the forbidden forest as detention and all, good thing you've got paired with Draco at least." Hermione instead rolled her eyes.
"Are you going home for the winter hols?" Hermione asked, changing the subject.
Theo nodded and replied, "I plan to spend my winter holidays with Draco."
"Malfoy?" She paused her page-turning and raised an eyebrow.
"He's a good mate." He pointed out.
"He seems rather unkind, I'm afraid." Hermione returned to her book. She'd had a few unpleasant encounters with him.
"Give him a chance, he's an alright bloke once you get to know him better, besides you are changing up the topic. Now, what are you three up to, huh?" He leaned more.
"You're not going to stop pestering me with these question are you?" Her eyes were glued to the contents of the book.
"Nope, never."He smirked, earning him an eyeroll from her.
"Fine, I'm looking for information about Nicholas Flammel." She huffed.
"If you have any information regarding him do tell otherwise stop talking too much and finish your essay for Potions!"
"I think I've heard of him, Flammel." Theo started, he saw Hermione's interest piqued.
"He's an alchemist and the known creator of the Philospher's stone." He said.
"The Philosopher's stone?" He watched Hermione's eyebrows furrowing with her growing curiosity.
"I felt like I've read it somewhere before." Hermione was still flipping through the pages scanning every word that is in there.
"Have you ever had those chocolate frogs? It comes with collectable cards you see."
"No, I haven't but Ron and Harry have hundreds of those." Her face grew even more curious with a mixed of confused looked.
"You might want to read what's written on the back of Dumbledore's card." He mentioned this before returning to his essay, which he has been working on for ages.
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A glimpse of the curly haired witch could be seen from the corner of his eyes leaving the platform. He wacthed her as she disappears after she collided with wall connecting the muggle and magical world
"Children." The blonde elegant witch greeted them.
"Aunt Cissa, I'm pleased to see you." Theo greeted her.
"You both must be exhausted, I'll have Dobby and Pip apparate your luggages back to the Manor and the three of us will use the floo powder.
The three of them walked towards the nearest floo station and flooed to a town near Malfoy Manor. He has spent almost all of his entire childhood in this very manor, he was raised like a Malfoy even, his very own father despise him and refuse to care for him after the tragic death of his mother.
Draco asked, "Theo, might I ask why you seem to be looking at Granger so often?"
Topsy interrupted before Theo could respond. "Young master Draco, Mister Theo. " Topsy greeted.
"Mistress says that Topsy should tell you both that tea has been served and that the mistress is waiting for you two in the sun room." The house elf, before vanishing, said.
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"Ah, boys how wonderful of you to come and join me for tea." Aunt Cissa gently placed her teacup on the small table before her.
"Do tell how your first term went, I have received numerous letters from Draco, and he frequently mention someone called Granger?" She glanced at Draco, who seemed reluctant to face his mother.
"Well she is called Hermione, she is also very clever Aunt Cissa!" Theo sang praises as he tells Narcissa everything about Hermione.
"Tiny detail you have left dear Theodore," Draco sneered. "Granger is a mudblood, you should be ashamed of yourself!"
"Draco!" Narcissa shrilled, it was new, his Aunt Cissa never shouts or shrills, Bella was the one who always does it. The mad person in the Black Family, Narcissa was kind, gentle, elegant and had never done what Bella did.
"You do not say that vile word in front of hear do you understand?" Aunt Cissa said calmly.
"Yes mother," Draco mumbled, his gaze cast downward, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"And I do not want to hear you say that word ever again, understood?" She spoke calmly, yet with an underlying air of authority.
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The end of term has come, it was finals week and he had been dragged by Hermione to the library for hours every single day for the past ten weeks, revising notes and practing spells.
"I am glad that our finals is over." Hermione, who is now more relaxed has finally strecteched her arm as she finishes the extra credit that she had asked for.
"I always thought that the end of year exams are scary," she added.
"Scary?" Theo chuckles.
"Well— no I thought that they'll make us do something crazy." She went on and on, "turns out it was just normal, and Professor McGonagall's anti-cheating spell was utterly brilliant."
The thing with his bestfriend is that when she is nervous about something she tends to ramble a lot. Which makes him uneasy, he doesn't want her to get hurt.
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"What in Salazar's name happened Hermione?" He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her before she could even go inside the Great Hall.
"I— uh, fell?" A lie, it was a complete lie.
"I know you are lying Hermione."
"Fine," she gave up, letting out a heavy sigh before she tells.
"Harry, Ron and I have went after Snape." She started.
"Snape?" Theo was in disbelief.
"Let me finish will you?" She snaps at him, " we thought Snape was trying to steal the stone for Voldemort, turns out it was Quirell all along!"
"Quirrell? Isn't he too sacred to be doing all that?" He motions his finger.
Hermione, did nothing but rolled her eyes. "Do keep up will you?" She snaps her fingers right in front of his face.
"Anyway I think you should join your house for the end of feast, I'll wait for Harry to arrive he's been released from the hospital wing earlier today." She gave a smile and walked away.
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Everyone cheered Gryffindor's triumph while the Slytherins sulk as the house cup was supposed to be theirs.
"Oi stop sulking Draco," Theo nudge over the slicked blonde haired boy beside him.
"You'll get Potter if you trained hard enough for the quidditch tryouts next year." He tries to cheer his best mate.
"You have to help me with practicing over summer."
"Of course, I won't be going hone either way unleds father has asked me too." He scoffs as he talks about his father.
"Which I highly doubt he will, the man loathes me."
"Well at least we'll have a good summer then." Theo nods agreeing.