Chapter 6
THEO
The snow has finally melted, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. Today's game is Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff but it did not particularly capture his attention, as he chose to spend the afternoon in the library working on his charms essay. In a quiet corner of the library, he saw Granger looking through a book about magical creatures. He watched as she quickly scan throughout the pages of the old dusty book.
"Granger," He acknowledged Granger with a nod.
"Oh, hullo Theo." Her eyes were still glued on the book she's reading, it was The Most Macabre Monstrosities a book he had checked out from the library weeks ago.
"What are you looking for?" He asked.
"I've been trying to figure out what's in that chamber for weeks, it's definitely a snake, but I can't figure out what kind." She seems frustrated with everything.
"Hey, hey it doesn't have to be you to figure all this out okay?" Theo looked into Hermione's eyes hands rested on her. "I mean your my friend, well, best friend even and I'll see what I can find. Alright?
"Thanks Theo," she smiled.
Hermione glanced at her wristwatch and then looked back at him. "Uhm, Theo, I'm really sorry, but I have to go. Harry's match is starting soon, and I promised I would go watch." She added.
"You don't even like quidditch." Theo whispered, enough for Hermione to hear.
"I don't, but he's my friend, and I promise that I'll support him. She smiled, "See you around Theo."
⋆˙⟡
Theo was browsing a different section of the library, it was more secluded, students barely go within this area. As he scans the book he had read something that seems all to familiar, something that he thought is in the Nott family archives.
Basilisks are enormous poisoned-fanged serpents. Unlike other snakes, the Basilisk is unique in its ability to kill with its gaze alone. Looking into the eye of the Basilisk will cause instantaneous death, however, even catching a glance of it in a reflection will cause Petrification, or total paralysis. Created by hatching a chicken egg under a toad, Basilisk breeding was banned in the medieval age due to the danger they posed. Basilisks are loyal to wizards that speak Parseltounge, a rare gift shared usually by dark wizards.
"This must be it." He whispered to himself.
Theo hurried outside in search of Hermione, hoping to share what he had discovered. However, she was nowhere to be seen. The Quidditch match had been canceled due to another attack, and Oliver Wood was in a rage, shouting at McGonagall about the cancellation of the bloody Quidditch match.
"You can't cancel Quidditch!" Theo overheard Wood exclaim to McGonagall. "It's not like we'll get bloody petrified midair!" He continued furiously as he stormed along the hall.
"Silence, Wood. I'll have a word with you later," she said firmly. McGonagall then turned to Potter and Weasley. The two exchanged a quick glance before suddenly sprinting out.
A prefect found him wandering and escorted him to the entrance of his common room. Standing perfectly still in front of the wall, he muttered the password, "Toujours Pur." The pathway leading inside appeared, and as he walked down the spiral staircase, Theo noticed that everyone, including his friends, was already inside.
"Why's everyone here?" he asked, as he walked over to his group. He noticed that it's been only half past one and yet everyone is indoors.
"Someone has been attacked again," Blaise said, looking up from the Daily Prophet he's been reading.
Everyone continued on with what they're doing, he spotted Draco in the corner engrossed in writing, perhaps a letter to his father.
"Draco," Theo said, clearing his throat to get the blonde's attention. "Theo," Draco nodded in acknowledgment.
"Have you heard of the news Theo?" Draco looked estatic.
"News? What are you talking about Draco." His tone was low, he was confused as Draco isn't being straight forward.
"The Mudblood has been petrified!" Draco said with a hint of amusement. "Although it would be much better if that swot had just died; it would do everyone a favour," he added with a smirk. Theo reacted quickly, snatching the letter Draco had been writing, tearing it up into peices.
"What's got into you Nott?" Draco furrows his brows.
Theo dragged Draco away from the piercing eyes of the other Slytherins.
"What the bloody hell Nott!"
"Can you stop being a fucking git for just a second!" He had let all his anger out, Draco stood there, shocked, he had never seen Theo so angry.
"People's lives are in fucking danger! Do you think that it's all fun and games huh?" He's breathing drastically increased.
"Is Granger you girlfriend then?" Draco teasingly suggested, "Is this why you're being difficult?" He scoffs.
Theo kept pushing Draco until he hit the wall.
"She is my friend Draco!" He snarled at his friend, "and I will continue to be her friend no matter what the consequences are."
Draco stood in silence, his back agaisnt wall he was frozen still.
"Are you absolutely that bigoted? Do you honestly think everything your father has told you about them is the truth?" He still went on.
"No." Draco finally had the courage to answer back with a scoff.
"Then try, Draco!" Theo, almost practically shouted. "Try to see that she is more than just a muggle-born! Try to see beyond that fucking blood status!" His eyes narrowed as he looked straight into Draco's eyes.
Draco thinked long and hard before finally giving in. "Fine, I'll try. I'll try and see what or who Granger really is beyond her blood status."
"Meet me an hour in the Library."
"Why in Salazar's name?" Draco whined.
"Just meet me there!" Theo slammed the door leaving Draco whose back still pressed against the wall.
⋆˙⟡
DRACO
"Why are we here in the middle of the night Theo?" He hissed as he slides his fingers from book to book.
"I want to check what monster lies in that chamber." Theo whispered, pulling out the book.
"Here." Theo directed his attention to the page about the Basilisk.
"The Basilisk?" Draco pondered as he perused the page.
"Do you think your father might have told you something about it?" Theo moved closer, adjusting the lamp to improve the book's readability.
"The page indicates that Basilisks exhibit loyalty towards Parselmouths, someone like Potter.qqa" Draco was engrosed with the book.
"But he's not Salazar Slytherin's heir." He continued.
"What do you know?" Theo was now carefully reviewing the descriptions of the Basilisk.
"Father mentioned before that the Slytherin heir comes from the Gaunt family, and the Potter is no Gaunt." He explains.
"Okay, but no Slytherins are Parselmouth. So who could it be?" Theo was checking out another book, comparing its verses.
"Hang on," Theo had stopped whatever he was doing. "How did that basilisk manage to move around the school, petrifying people without being seen?"
"The pipes! Theo the Basilisk uses the pipes to travel." He felt europhic to his discovery.
"It only makes sense, have you not noticed how our dorm's built? I mean Salazar Slytherin built it himself!" Draco had written down the answer to their question at the bottom of the page.
"That's bloody, brilliant!" Theo ripped the page up and stuffed it in his pocket.
"I'll meet you back inside the common room, I had to find a way to get this to Potter through Hermione." Theo was clumsily putting the books back in their place; Draco could see he was in a real hurry. He just didn't understand why Theo's going throughout all this trouble for Granger.
Draco left the library much later than Theo. On his way to their common room, he noticed his father has come to Hogwarts and is now being accompanied by Dumbledore heading for the Hospital Wing where Theo had just rush off to.
⋆˙⟡
THEO
Theo's eyes gazed upon Hermione's still body, frozen like a statue. He stifled a tear as he looked at her; she was alive, yet appeared almost as if she's lifeless.
"I hope that Potter is smart enough to figure this out," Theo quietly whispered to himself as he gently placed the crumpled paper into his Gryffindor friend's cupped hand.
As Theo continued to keep watch over Hermione, loud footsteps echoed from the entrance of the hospital wing. Dumbledore entered first, and behind him, to Theo's surprise, was Lucius Malfoy. He wondered anxiously why Lucius Malfoy was there.
"Four, Albus," He spoke in a tense whisper. "Four students have already been petrified."
"We already have a solution for this, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore calmly remarked, not yet noticing that Theo was seated beside the petrified Hermione.
"Are you suggesting that we wait?" Lucius raised his eyebrows, waiting for Dumbledore to answer.
"I say, Lucius-" Dumbledore paused. "You seem to be rather acquainted with Ms. Granger. Is there something I should know?"
"That is none of your concern-" Lucius Malfoy started, all sharp and dismissive.
"Furthermore, the Board of Governors has determined that your continued tenure as Headmaster of Hogwarts is under review in light of the current situation." Lucius stated resolutely, then shifted his gaze to survey the room before his attention turned towards him who is seated beside an incapacitated classmate.
Theo felt Lucius' intense scrutiny. "Theodore?" Lucius called, and Theo slowly stood up as he swallowed nervously, uncertain of what would follow.
"Mr. Nott, why are you here beside Ms. Granger's bed?" Dumbledore asked, eyes boring right through Theo, like he was trying to see into his soul.
"I-uh, Grang—" He appears slightly flustered and possibly intimidated by the headmaster.
"She— well, we—" Theo swallowed hard, attempting to compose himself under the watchful eyes of Dumbledore and Lucius Malfoy.
"We are study partners for Charms class, sir." He finally spoke without stuttering or his voice breaking.
"I figured I'd leave her the notes I took during class." He continues the lie he began. Granger and he are not study partners at all, and it has been some time since they last studied together. Theo hopes the headmaster will be deceived by the lie he just told.
"I understand. Mr. Nott, it is almost curfew. I would suggest you return home promptly." Dumbledore said calmly, then looked back at Lucius Malfoy as Theo scarpered from the Hospital Wing.
Theo strolled through the dungeons, hesitant to return to his dormitory. Wishing for some quiet time alone, he entered the abandoned girls' bathroom where Myrtle lived. There, he hoped to find a peaceful moment of solitude.
"Hello there Theodore," Myrtle giggled, and a shiver ran down his spine as she affectionately rested her head on his arm and then his shoulder.
"You know," Myrtle paused, adjusting her position with a little giggle. "The Granger girl and you bear a striking resemblance." Theo listened quietly, uncertain how to reply to Myrtle's comment.
"Granger and I? Lookalike?" He laughed.
"She's like the spitting image of your mother," Myrtle added, a little mischievously. Theo felt uneasy about the comparison.
"Myrtle—" Theo started, but the ghost suddenly flew into her toilet and vanished.
Theo decided it would be wise to return to the common room before Myrtle's words unsettled him further. He opted to take the long way around, but as luck would have it, he was caught by their head of house.
"Mr. Nott, I have been looking everywhere for you." the head of the house spoke slowly and deliberately.
"In my office, now!" A low growl emanated from him. Theo followed his professor to the office, where he found Narcissa Malfoy already seated.
"Aunt Cissa?" Theo's eyes widened in surprise at seeing her in Snape's office.
"Oh, Theodore," She rose, embracing him warmly. "You're alright." She briefly examined him before releasing him.
"What's happening?" Theo asked, glancing between Snape and Narcissa with a blend of confusion and concern.
"I've been apprised of recent events and have come to assess your and Draco's well-being." Her statement was concise, yet Theo perceived underlying complexities.
"Aunt Cissa, I know there is more that you are not telling me." Theo remarked earnestly and inquisitively.
"Very well, then." She inhaled deeply and gestured for Theo to be seated.
"Your father—" She began, her voice hesitant. "He went a bit mad..." She paused, assessing Theo's response to determine the appropriate course of action.
"He's always been mad, hasn't he?" Theo chuckled softly, attempting to ease the growing tension.
"He discovered an item belonging to your mother." Narcissa gently took Theo's hand, softly rubbing circles on his knuckles. "I was entrusted with delivering this to you upon your coming of age."
Theo did not offer any visible response or reaction.
"However, recent events at Nott Manor necessitate this action." She paused, exhaling audibly.
"It would be beneficial for you to be aware of this."
"What's happening?" Theo asked, his voice tinged with confusion and concern, as he sought clarity from Narcissa and Snape.
"You have a twin sister." Narcissa revealed.
"I have known this for quite some time; mother had informed me about my sister whilst she lay on her death bed." He became increasingly enraged recalling his father's actions during his mother's life-threatening ordeal.
"It is more than that Theodore." Narcissa said.
"What could be more?" He's anger spiked.
"Mother informed me that my twin sister passed away when we were young, so how could there possibly be more to the story?" He went on.
"Because Theodore, that isn't true." She sighed.
"What do you mean?" He furrowed his brows in concentration, attempting to understand the unfolding situation.
"Your younger sister, she is alive." she breathes out.
"In fact, Mr. Nott.," Snape began, "She has been a friend to you this whole time."
"Hermione?" Theo was shocked by the news. "How? She's Muggle-born. How could she be my twin sister? This doesn't make sense at all!"
"Because Mr. Nott, your mother asked me to keep her away from him."
"And you're telling me this now?" Theo rose from his seat, pacing about with his hands in his pockets.
"He knows-" Narcissa said softly. "He has been searching for her."
"Why? Why is my- our father looking for her?"
"I believe you are aware of your father's capabilities." Narcissa said, her elegant composure wavering slightly as she felt a pang of sympathy for her godchildren.
"He's going to punish her because Mother hid her, isn't he?" Theo ceased his pacing, his jaw clenched, knuckles white with tension.
"We're not entirely sure." She admitted it, her sadness evident in her tone.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"So that you can protect—"
Theo interrupted Narcissa; his rising anger became evident.
"Protect her?" he scoffed.
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to do that?" He raised his voice, nearly shouting at the older witch and wizard in front of him.
"She is petrified now, do you know?" Theo paused, letting his words sink in.
"There's nothing I could do," Theo said, all teary-eyed and overwhelmed.
"She will be unpetrified I assure you Mr. Nott," Snape confidently said.
"D-does she know?" Theo's voice cracked. "Does she know I'm her brother?" He regarded the two adults with a look of disappointment as they shook their heads.
"It's best for her not to know as of now." It was Snape that spoke.
"We'll tell her when the time's right."
Theo departed from the Potions Master's office and returned to his dormitory. The week had been incredibly eventful-first, his friend was petrified, and now he had learned that his petrified friend was actually his twin sister, who is being hunted by their mad father.
Theo's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions as he struggled to understand everything. Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, he used the dreamless sleep potion Snape had provided to find some peace.
⋆˙⟡
As weeks transitioned into months, it was the final week of term-the week Hermione's petrification would be reversed. Theo was eager to see her, but Potter and Weasley had been giving him curious glances for several weeks.
He took a seat at the Slytherin table, turning his head towards the entrance. There, he observed her radiant smile before she ran to warmly embrace her closest friends. Theo couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy that Potter and Weasley could greet her so openly, while he, her own brother, was unable to do the same.
"Theodore, you mustn't tell anyone about this." She spoke. "—Not even Draco can know about this," She added, her voice pleading.
"Why can't we have a typical sibling relationship, Aunt?" Theo asked, frustration and sadness evident in his tone.
"You would be risking both your lives, my dear," Narcissa sadly explained. "At least not yet for now-"
Theo continued to watch her, his heart aching as she smiled and laughed with her friends. Snape and Narcissa had cautioned him that she could not know about their true relationship yet, until the time was safe or appropriate. He hoped to develop a closer relationship with her beyond their study sessions in the library, to share moments openly as siblings.
This year has been eventful, and as the term ended, Theo did not sit with Hermione on their way back to London; instead, he sat with Blaise and Pansy.
Upon arriving at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, they were greeted by Narcissa and their house elf, Topsy. Upon entering the Muggle London barrier, Theo observed Hermione to his far left, weeping before a man in a dark suit. His heart ached as he contemplated the reason for his sister's distress.
Approaching cautiously, Theo tried to understand Hermione and the man in the black suit's conversation, hampered by Hermione's weeping. As he drew nearer, a knot of worry formed in his stomach, unsure of Hermione's reaction given their complex relationship.
"Please accept my deepest condolences." He overheard the man's statement.
"Aunt Cissa," his voice was filled with worry as he watch her.
"Come along Theodore, remember what I've told you." She said pulling him away from his twin sister.
"But-" he tries to protest.
Narcissa turned and faced him. "This isn't the right time or place for this." She hissed.
"She—"
"No, Theo. We'll all be in danger if you choose to be irrational about this!" Narcissa scolded him.
"I– I understand Aunt Cissa." He surrendered.
"Now come along, Draco and your Uncle Lucius are waiting for us by the floo."