Chapter 8
It was a long talk with the Weasleys and Potter, Theo was exhausted after. But he did feel better. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, having people know about how he grew up and praising the fact that he was a hero despite all he went through with his father and then Voldemort was comforting. It made him feel seen, feel human. He had felt like nothing but a monster for so long before Hermione came into his life that he had almost forgotten what it felt like to not be one. To be comfortable in his own skin. He would have to thank his sister for bringing all of these people into his life.
It was getting late and Molly had insisted that they stay for dinner, so here he was sitting outside with Hermione, Ginny -there's too many Weasleys here just call me Ginny- and Potter. They were out in the family’s garden that was used for not only flowers but growing food too when they heard shouting coming from the house.
Jumping up to stand in front of Hermione in case it was Ron, everyone was still rather surprised when the back door was thrown open and a rather tall redhead came flying out of the house. Dramatically yes, but not aggressive. He was tall, broad shouldered with red hair roguishly tousled to one side showing off his missing ear. His sharp deep golden eyes cut across the garden before pausing for a moment on Theo, then landing on Hermione. A large smile then stretched across his handsome face making Theo’s breath catch for a moment.
Almost everyone relaxed when they realized it was just George and not the practically disowned Weasley they thought it might be. Well everyone but Theodore relaxed, he was still trying to remember how to breathe. He didn’t know what was wrong with himself. He had seen George Weasley before in school and never had this kind of reaction to him. Sure he thought the twins were good looking guys back then but now years later here he was feeling like some kind of hormonal teenager.
While Theo was trying to remember how basic human functions worked, George was rushing across the garden to sweep Hermione into his arms in a bear hug.
“Hermione! I'm so glad you're back! Everyone’s been worried sick, I heard you were spotted in Diagon Alley and if I had had any additional help at the shop I would have run out looking for you! I’m so glad you’re ok!” Setting her down he then turned to the still internally panicked Theo. “And who is this handsome bloke you brought with you hmm?” He asked Hermione, while throwing a wink towards Theo.
Snapping out of his internal freak out, Theo took a hopefully discreet deep breath and gave him his most charming and slightly flirtatious smile. “Theodore Nott, Hermione’s brother. Pleasure to meet you formally Weasley.” Theo responded, holding out his hand to him.
“A snake brave enough to slither into the middle of a Lion’s den? Color me intrigued.” George practically purred at him, taking Theo's hand he stepped closer. “Call me George, Theodore. And the pleasure is all mine.” He lifted Theo’s hand he was still holding and brought it to his lips placing a kiss on his knuckles while looking directly into Theo’s mahogany eyes.
“I’m going to see if Mom needs help with dinner!” Ginny’s voice startled Theo and George out of their own little world they had seemingly created as she rushed past them into the house.
Theo flushed bright red and then turned to look at his sister in bewilderment. But he was greeted to the sight of Hermione’s amused but supportive face and barely muffled giggles. Turning back to George he wasn’t sure what to say. He had always known he was attracted to men, but that was something that never would have flown with his father so he never really gave it too much thought. That and he was just a natural flirt, so no one took his flirting seriously.
“George don’t break my brother please, I just got him.” Hermionie, the saint she is -not-, got George’s slightly overwhelming, but welcome attention off of him.
Smirking, he turned his attention from Theo back to Hermione. “You’re going to have to fill me in on how you went and got yourself a brother, dear Hermione. Especially one as good looking as Theodore here.” He sent another flirtatious wink over his shoulder to Theo who was still a little frozen.
Harry walked up to Theo and threw an arm around his shoulder, turning him back to the house and leading him back inside. “They aren’t all like that, but some of the Weasleys are very forward about how they feel. It's a little intimidating sometimes, especially for people like us. Come on Nott, let's go see if we can help Molly or Arthur with something. You can flirt with George later when you can breathe properly.” Harry’s voice had a slight teasing lit to it.
Looking over at Harry, Theo thought to himself for a moment that maybe he could get along well with him. He didn’t seem like a bad guy, just a bit dense sometimes. And from the implication of it they both had similar childhoods. What better thing to bond over than trauma, he mused to himself.
“Yeah.” He responded to Harry absently. Looking back towards George and his sister he couldn’t help but ask, “Is he actually interested in men or does he just flirt with anyone?” He wouldn’t admit it but he was a little afraid he was just jokingly flirting with him.
“Oh, he likes everyone no matter what they identify as. He just likes people, and YOU are a person Nott.” Harry told him, slightly tightening his arm around his shoulders.
“Thanks Potter.” He told him quietly.
“You can call me Harry you know, we’re family now Nott.”
“Thanks Harry, You can call me Theo.” He smiled slightly at him.
This was nice. Being around so many people that were just kind people. He wasn’t sure how Ron came from this family. But from the sound of it, they weren’t really sure either.
“Molly was saying that she was going to send a letter to both Bill, Fleur, and Charlie. To let them know that Hermione is okay and about you being a part of the family, you’ll have to come back over soon for family dinner. You’ll like them though, Charlie works in Romania as a Dragonologist at a Dragon Sanctuary. And Bill works at Gringotts as a Curse-Breaker with his wife Fleur. The Weasleys are a fun bunch, family dinners are a blast listening to them swap stories about work. Ginny just started working for the Holyhead Harpies as a Chaser, so she has some fun stories too. I think you’ll find that you might just like being here Theo. They are the kindest people I’ve ever met.” He looked over to Theo with a knowing look, “You’ll always be welcome here.”
Dinner had been fun, George kept sending him flirtatious looks all night making Theo feel like he had a permanent blush on his face. It didn't help that everyone kept sending them both knowing looks. Before they left to go home George cornered him and asked to meet up soon and go to lunch, and to tell him that he was always welcome to drop by the joke shop to check it out. To say he was a bit of a flustered mess was an understatement. He was used to being the one flirting with people but it never really went anywhere. To have someone return his interest was both exciting and overwhelming. He wanted to go home and talk to his sister about this. They said their goodbyes with promises of coming back soon and disapperated to the Manor.
After the siblings arrived back at the Manor they were greeted by Bipsy outside.
“I’s be assuming that you both already had dinner. But I’s made a cake to celebrate Mistress Hermione taking the Nott family name!” She told them excitedly. “We’s can celebrate as a family!”
Theo and Hermione looked at each other smiling widely, turning back to Bipsy Hermione reached her hand out to take her’s.
“Yes please Bipsy. I’d love for the three of us to celebrate as a family.”
The next morning saw Theo greeted at the breakfast table with his four letters. Three demanded that they meet up as soon as possible and the other reminding him that George apparently was serious about them meeting up for lunch and a tour of the joke shop leaving him with a pretty blush stained high on his cheeks and the tips of his ears.
Turning to his sister and trying to pretend he was not embarrassingly delighted by George’s letter he asked if she was ok with them having company today. The other three letters he had gotten were from Draco, Pansy, and Blaise asking to meet soon.
“Blaise, Pansy, and Draco want to meet up today to talk. I really don’t feel like we would be able to get privacy in Diagon Alley and I am not comfortable taking you to any of their Manors. Would you be uncomfortable if I invited them here?” He wanted her to be there with him to face his maybe friends but he also wanted to keep her safe and not make her feel unwelcome or unsafe in their home.
“The manor will protect us if something happens right?” It felt like an odd thing to ask but she could almost feel it in her bones that if something went wrong the manor would keep them safe.
“Yes,” He told her, a little surprised. “It will, how did you know?”
Shrugging her shoulders she responded a little unsure, “I just feel like it will protect us.”
A large smile stretched across his face. “It will, it seems like the family magic is already finished converting your magical core. Only a Nott would feel the protective magic woven into the manor.”
“So you still want them to meet me?” She was still a little insecure about how people will react to her once they find out she is now the Heir to the Nott family.
“Of course, if they can’t be kind or at the very least civil to you they are no friends of mine.” He told her firmly.
Smiling at him she nodded her head. “Well then I guess having them here is fine brother. Are you going to open the floo?”
Nodding his head he turned to Bipsy, who was sipping her tea quietly enjoying the feeling of having breakfast with their growing family. “Can you open the floo in the Library back up and bring some tea and snacks please. I imagine once I send the owls back to them they will come through post-haste.”
Snapping her fingers, Bipsy nodded back to him. “It bes done, Master Theo.”
“Thank you.” He responds, summoning a quill and parchment he wrote out three quick letters and went to the perch outside where Hermes is already waiting for him. Sending them off with a quick treat and loving scratches to his favorite bird he returned to the table.
“It will probably be about thirty minutes or so before anyone shows up.” He started off in a serious tone to Hermione. Then he grinned at her slyly “Wanna go gossip in the library before they show up.”
Turning her nose up in a haughty way she replied. “Theodore Nott, you are the Lord of an Ancient and Most Noble House. It is below one such as you to gossip.” Then she slowly returned his sly and downright Slytherin grin. “Of course I want to gossip in the library before they show up. Let’s go!” Laughing she got up from the table and sprinted out of the kitchen towards the Library.
“No running in the manor Mistress Hermione!”
Laughing loudly Theo took off running after his sister towards the library.
“Master Theodore!” He hears Bipsy’s scandalized voice call after him.
Laughing as he ran he saw his sister running up the stairs across the hall from him. He couldn’t help but appreciate how far they had come in such a short time. They were getting so comfortable around each other it was like they had been siblings their whole lives.
Reaching the library he smiled fondly at his sister, who he could see was making his cup of tea just how he liked it and setting it next to hers. Because of course with Bipsy’s magic she beat them to the library with tea, even after running through the manor like ill mannered children instead of the adult Lord, and Heir they are.
Hearing her brother enter the library she couldn’t help but smirk at him in a haughty manner that he was still amused to see becoming more and more commonplace on her beautiful face.
“Nice of you to finally join me brother dearest.” She sighed loudly and dramatically as she sat back onto the sofa she was occupying, leaving space for him to join her. “Our darling Bipsy has informed me of her denial of sweets and snacks until your guests arrive, to punish us for our unbecoming behavior as Lord and Heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Nott.” Sliding her eyes over to meet his from under her rather dramatically placed hand resting against her forehead. He couldn’t help but laugh at her dramatic but accurate posture. She looked every bit a pureblooded aristocrat as he had been teaching her to be, from her crossed ankles to the set of her shoulders and tilt of her head. Though she was essentially draped over the sofa like some sort of overly dramatic damsel in need of saving.
Smirking back at her he was about to reply when the fireplace lit up and his three guests stepped out of the fireplace with an elegant sort of grace that had been instilled into all of them as children. He could tell by the slightly amused look on their faces that the first thing they saw was his sister’s rather haughty but dramatic look. Apparently she decided to just go with it because the next thing she said as she removed her hand from her face but keeping that very slytherin smirk still on her face was,
“Well it appears we aren’t being punished for too long now does it brother, looks to be your guests have arrived sooner than expected.”
He laughed loudly, startling his guests. Rolling his eyes at his sister he moved to take his seat next to her and addressed the three people standing in front of his fireplace with intrigued and slightly wary looks on their faces. “Please have a seat, Bipsy will be here momentarily with some snacks and more tea.” Turning to his sister he lowered his voice but everyone still heard him. “Bipsy is so going to get you for that, you know she heard you.”
Her smirk turned a bit more devious than it was before. “I’ll just make sure she knows you're the one that corrupted her sweet Mistress Hermione with your devious Slytherin ways. I was such a sweet little lion before you found me.” She told him sweetly in her quiet faux innocent tone,
“Merlin I swear you were sorted into the wrong house sister.” He muttered to her quietly. A soft tinkling of additional teacups being set on the table could be heard.
“Oh I certainly was brother.” She responded just as quietly, taking an elegant sip of her tea.
“Oh I like her, you’re certainly different than you were in school Miss Nott.” Pansy took the opportunity to grab the siblings' attention. Before either could reply Blaise took over.
“Thank you for the invitation Theo, we've all been quite worried about you and were overjoyed at receiving your owl. Though I must say we have a bit of an idea why you disappeared on us. While I don’t blame you-” Blaise was interrupted by Pansy’s irate voice.
“Your still a bloody fucking prat Nott what the hell!” She huffed at him irritably, not quite yelling but close enough. “We've been so worried and we've missed you. Then you go and shut down the floo and won't return our letters. I was almost afraid you died, but you were still listed in the family registry book as alive.”
“I know we had to play the part of good little prejudiced blood purists but you really didn’t think that after everything we had seen and been through during the war we would really believe that in the end. I admit I believed the trash my father was trying to feed me until about the end of third year but I thought you knew us better than that.” Draco finally spoke up looking at Theo with a slightly hurt expression.
“You stopped believing it when Miss Nott here broke your nose.” Blaise told Draco smugly.
A light dusting of pink took residence on Draco’s face. “Shut up Blaise.” Draco ground out between clenched teeth, sneering at his friend.
This caught Theo’s attention and he raised an unimpressed but curious eyebrow at Draco.
Interrupting the scene the boys were causing and trying to save Draco’s chance at not embarrassing himself in front of his preferred witch. Though honestly it probably would help his situation if she let him embarrass himself a little.
“Congratulations are in order for the two of you. I saw in the Family Registry for the Sacred Twenty-eight that you have been named the Nott family Heir Hermione. Congratulations on the addition to your family, the both of you.” Pansy’s tone was polite, but her face and eyes held a sincerity that made Hermione feel like maybe she wasn’t the only one that still had a family but just couldn’t see it.
“Thank you Miss Parkinson.” Hermione replied cordially.
“So none of you believe that blood purist crap at all? No one has a problem with Hermione being the new Nott Heir, being my sister?” Theo looked at them all a little skeptically. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to believe them, but he just didn’t want him or his sister to get hurt.
“No Theo we don't. I never believed in it, but I also wanted to live to see the next morning while we were in school.” Blaise answered him honestly.
“You know what my family magic is about darling, Souls and magical cores are quite intertwined. I have never thought less of someone for their magic or their lack of magic. They are different, yes, but I harbor no ill will towards them myself. But like Blaise said, I also wanted to see the next day while attending school.” Pansy was very blunt as she spoke.
“Like Blaise was so kind to bring up. When Miss Nott so graciously punched me in the face, I started to realize that maybe our magic didn’t equate to strength. So I went to Blaise who is known to come from a neutral family but also someone I could trust. We had many discussions that I learned a lot from. Including that all the bullshit that my father taught me was wrong and disgusting, especially since he was following the mad ramblings of a half-blood anyways. It all must not have meant as much to him as he let on.” Draco shrugged his shoulders dismissively, but he still looked rather tense.
Next to her she could feel her brother let out a relieved breath. He needed this as much as she had needed the Weasleys, she realized.
“You’re not just saying this because she is a pureblood now are you?” Theo sounded guarded but also a little desperate. Like he needed their honest reply and whatever they said balanced how he would react to everything on that one answer.
“I speak for all of us when I tell you this darling.” Pansy said to Theo, gentle but firm. “No Theodore Nott, we are not just saying this because Hermione is no longer considered a muggle-born and is now your sister. We are telling you this because it is the truth and we have missed our friend and we just want him to understand.”
Theo let out a deep breath and sagged into the seat next to her. “I am so happy to hear you say that Pans. I’ve missed all of you too, but I was afraid that you were still into everything they were trying to shove down our throats as children. At first I just didn’t want to hear it but then when Mia came into my life I refused to subject her to any more hate if I could help it. She deserves more than that.” His mahogany eyes cut to Draco sharply as he said the last part, like he was giving him a silent threat. And from the subtle widening of silver eyes, he was sure his threat was received.
They started a more relaxed conversation, pulling Hermione into it as well. But she spent most of the time they were over listening and observing, just like her brother had taught her. She noticed how they all blended so well and fed off of each other. They all genuinely liked being around each other and were honest with their attempts to coerce Hermione into the conversation. It was overall a rather nice visit and she was glad that they all actually got along. She did get caught up into a rather interesting and pleasant conversation with Malfoy about different potions ingredients that she had read about and where they could be found.
It was a few hours later that they all decided it was time to leave, but only with the promise to all do brunch together in two days time and for Theo to not lock the floo and to “Answer you bloody fucking owl post Theodore!” As Pansy so eloquently put it. She could honestly say she was looking forward to getting to know them better. None of them were anything like she remembered. Honestly Pansy kind of reminded her of a slightly more aggressive and aristocratic Ginny, even Malfoy was different and that was the most surprising. He wasn’t rude or nasty to her once and they actually seemed to have a bit in common. She wouldn’t mind hanging out with them all again. The only one she didn’t get that much of a chance to talk to was Blaise.
After they left Theo turned to Hermione and swept her up into a hug.
“Thank you Mia, thank you so much for convincing me to get back in touch with them.”
“I'm glad everything went well Theo. I really really am. How about we do something fun in the gardens and you tell me all about what you like about George. Hmm.” She asked him in a teasing voice, enjoying the pink tinge to his cheeks that was getting darker.
“Sure Mia, as long as you know that once you find someone I am teasing you relentlessly.”
“Yeah okay brother, if I ever find someone you have my permission to tease me.” She told him, rolling her eyes.
“Oh I think you will find someone, and sooner than you think.” He told her with a knowing glint to his eyes.
“I’m not looking for a relationship anytime soon brother. I just left a terrible one, you know that.”
Shrugging at her he responded cryptically. “Love comes when you aren’t looking sister, you never know what could happen.”
“Enough about me Teddy, tell me what you think about George and when you are planning on taking him up on his offer for lunch and a ‘private tour’” She said winking salaciously at him.
“Ugh come on, let's just go for a walk.”
“Hey you said you wanted to gossip earlier and I am getting pretty good at it with everything you've been teaching me. You turned me into this and now you have to deal.” She informed him in a haughty voice.
“So I did, so I did.”
Laughing as they made their way into the garden, Theo couldn’t help but think life was getting good. I just made him a little worried for the bad that he knew would be coming soon. Too much good always led to something bad. It had to balance out somehow, he just hoped whatever it was going to be wouldn’t end in disaster.