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“There she goes again.” Draco mutters across from him while eating dinner in the great hall. Blaise groans and Pansy gives a low wolf whistle before muttering “She’s damn fine entertainment at the very least.”
Theo groans before he spares you a look over his shoulder. He had once heard about this American actress from the fifties who could go from just another woman on the street to the woman of your dreams whenever she so wanted. She would supposedly draw crowds of adoring people who were vying from a crumb of attention from her within a second. He could see a resemblance in you as you tossed your hair over your shoulder and leaned your head against it. The move was so simple yet instantly drew the elder gryffindor boys attention to you.
Hell you even drew some girls in as well this time.
Theo scoffs as he turns back to his housemates “What do you think she’s after this time?” He asked not so subtly ignoring the show going on behind him by stabbing into his potatoes. Mattheo lets out a loud hum as if thinking (for the record Theo knows that the boy doesn’t have the brain cells to think this hard, which is why they constantly bicker about his house placement. The boy thrives on his instinctual recklessness.) before musing aloud. “Well if the fact she has been keeping eye contact with one of the Weasley twins consistently says anything, probably to get payback on Millicent for that nasty little rumor she’s been spreading around.”
Theo turns around once again and sure enough Mattheo was right. He watched as you stared into George’s eyes for seven seconds before flicking your eyes to his mouth and back to his eyes for only a second before starting the same movements with his twin.
And they ate up every second of it .
“She’ll be my goddamn hero if she pulls it off.” Astoria Greengrass mutters from down the table where she too was now staring at the scene from the gryffindor table. Fred must have said something half funny because you tilted your head back with gorgeous fake laughter that seems to further enchant every person you have under your spell.
Including the very infatuated Fred and George Weasley.
Someone must have said something to remind you of those awful rumors because you stopped laughing and your face fell into the picture perfect image of a sorrow filled maiden. “Oh here she goes!” Pansy whispers excitedly from behind Theo. He can't tear his eyes away from you as he watches your mouth move with a pout tugging at your lips while you play with the end of Fred’s tie. You must be telling them about Bulstrode’s rumors because soon everyone’s face becomes twisted with shock and anger.
George’s hand finds your hand currently not playing with his twin’s tie as he says something that makes your eyes light up and a smile falls onto your face. He can see you whisper a small “Really? For Me?” And the twins give each other the smirk that comes before complete and utter Weasley brand chaos.
With assurances that the two would take care of it, you beam a pretty bright smile at both of them and place a small kiss to the corners of both of their mouths before hopping off the table and giving some excuse to leave your admirers.
Theo watched as you left the great hall with a wave of your fingers to the terrible twins. “No way.” “Oh yes way, my girl is a goddess and her admirers are oh so willing to do as she wishes for a crumb of her affection.” Pansy proudly boasts to the unbelieving Greengrass sister, “do you really think the twins are going to get back at Millie just because she batted her eyelashes at them?” Draco asks with hesitation.
“The question isn’t if they will.” Enzo starts from his place besides Theo where he was reading a book for Ancient Ruins.
“It’s when they will.” Theo finishes the thought as he pushes his dinner away, no longer hungry after the play he just witnessed.
~
It was two days later when Millicent Bulstrode came out of the girls dorm screaming like a banshee.
Why you ask? Oh because her face was covered in zits that seemed to spell out ‘Liar’.
In all capital letters.
Right along with corn yellow and blood red striped hair that looked like it was trying to escape her scalp.
“She’s my hero.” Astoria whispers from the armchair a few feet away from Theo.
“She’s my God.” Another young slytherin girl says from somewhere behind him.
“She’s my Bestfriend.” Pansy boasted from the floor where she’s studying for the Potions quiz they have on Friday.
Theo mumbles something unintelligible as he stands and leaves. Not able to listen to the praise that stems from your name.
~
It took a week for Millicent to look normal again after that but it only took you a day to give the twins a reward that would have them wrapped around your pinky finger should you need their services again.
The bad part? It wasn’t even salacious enough to warrant the gossip currently spreading around about you.
“She kissed them both! On the mouth! I mean sure it was only a peck and it barely lasted a second but it was with both of them!” a young Ravenclaw at the table across from him in the library was loudly whispering to their friends. Theo wanted to bang his head against the table he was trying to study at. Must your antics follow him wherever he go?
“Why does she get to you so bad?” Enzo ask as he writes his transfiguration paper. Theo’s glare turns from the young ravens to his friends so fast it almost gave him a headache. “She doesn’t.” He lies through his teeth, literally through his teeth as his jaw was clenched so hard it hurt to move.
Enzo quill stops at his words and Theo can feel the judgemental gaze upon him as he starts on his own essay. “Oh contraire, she has you more wound up than a spool of wool. What I’m confused about is why.”
Theo huffs as he ponders that exact question. Why did this little brat flirt get him so riled up? He honestly couldn’t tell (yes he could but he didn’t want to think about it, much less talk about it.) but it was starting to get the better of him.
He sighs and rubs his fingers across his forehead before standing. “It’s nothing Enzo, I just don’t care for how long the gossip goes on for. I’m going to go back to the common room to try and actually get this paper done. You coming or staying?” He asks his friend and after looking around the bustling library the other boy nods and starts to pack his stuff away.
As Theo stands there waiting on his friend to finish packing his things he hears a tinkering giggle from a back row of books. Thinking it was some third years exploring their romantic feelings for the first time he decided to ruin someone else’s day so he didn’t feel alone in his misery.
Stepping to the end of the aisle he sucked in a breath to make sure he could make his voice as loud as possible but what he saw knocked the wind from his chest.
“I’m sorry Potter I really can’t, I never have been good at flying a broom.” You said with a sweet smile as you placed several books back onto the shelves. “I can teach you then!” Harry says all bright and earnest, as if his only goal was really to teach you how to properly ride a broom.
Honestly knowing Potter, it probably was. The git loved quidditch more than life.
It was then that your sweet smile turned coy and your voice became honeyed. “Oh? You want to teach me how to ride a broomstick Potter?” Good Merlin how did you do that? He was going to have to look up that actress because it really was a switch with you.
He watched as Potter’s face turned a worrying shade of red as he stammered over his words. You giggled again as you swerved around him and shot back over your shoulder “Let me know when you want to give me those lessons Potter and I’ll see if I’m free.”
Theo was about to turn around so he wasn’t caught spying on your little moment with Potter when something interesting happened.
It happened in slow motion. (Theo will swear this for the rest of his life- it was in slow motion dammit!) You turned around and as you did your smile faded and your eyes became voids of nothing. Your brows tilted down and you let out a long silent breath. You looked exhausted. At least you did until you noticed that Theo was standing there at the end of the aisle.
And there it was, the switch was flipped and you blinded him with your sunshine smile. “Why hello Nott, pleasure it is to see you here. Working on that Transfiguration paper I hope.“ Theo felt his left eyebrow tick up with interest as you came to stand in front of him. Jesus Christ you were in Seventh year, why were you still so damn small? (You weren’t, Theo had hit a growth spurt over the summer he had yet to get used to.)
“Hello Sunshine, yes I was working on my transfiguration paper but decided to leave since the Library is so busy today.” You let out a hum of understanding but before you could begin speaking Theo’s mouth decided to gain a mind of its own. “And I’m glad.”
You give him a look of confusion but Theo couldn’t explain because he was just as confused as you were. “Glad that the library is full? I didn’t realize you were that big of an introvert Nott.” You asked with a teasing note in your voice. Theo felt a smirk place itself on his face without his permission before he leaned down to your eye level and whispered “No I’m glad I could bring you pleasure.” A pause “by being here today that is.”
WHY? Why would he say that?!
Theo was about to have a panic attack over his actions when something very interesting happened.
Theo’s panic attack calmed as you began blushing. And not the “The cold wind is biting my cheeks” or “You just said something funny and I have a huge crush on you” kind of blush either. It was a deep pink “I’m not sure how to handle what you just said “ blush and it was burning down your neck and up your ears now.
And Theo? Theo was mesmerized.
He can’t think of a singular time since you began to become this goddess of flirtation that someone has made you blush like this. Hell, he can’t recall anyone ever making you blush period. He had to see if he could make this happen again.
“Th-Theo wha- good merciful Merlin why would you say that? Here? Where anybody could hear you??” Your voice had gone a bit squeaky and Theo knew he would never forget it. His smirk only grew as he teased “Said what Sunshine? I’m just glad you don’t despise me is all. I don’t think I could handle the terror twins turning my hair gryffindor colors for a week.” You blinked at him trying to find an answer in that sweet little head of yours.
When none appeared you huffed and swept around him mumbling something about never changing. Theo didn’t understand where that was going but knew he shouldn’t push the issue unless he did want to wake up with gryffindor colored hair.
“What did you just do Theo?” Enzo ask him as he returns to the other slytherin boy. “Why do you assume I did anything?” Theo ask as they begin walking to the exit. “Well taking in the fact I just saw a certain Flirt walking pass with a thunderous expression on her face and then adding you walking around that same corner with a Cheshire grin on your face, one comes to the conclusion that you were the one to irritate the poor girl.” Enzo says in that usual bored tone of his.
Theo knew Enzo was trying to make him feel bad but remembering how hot your face had gotten because of his words had put Theo on cloud nine and he refused to leave. He would, however, clue his friend in on why he was up there.
And when he did he received a slap on the back of his head and Enzo walking away while mumbling something about a miscommunication trope.
Hmph, see if Theo ever shares anymore of his great findings with Enzo again.
~
“What did you do?” Pansy growls from above him and he just sighs.
Explaining his “crimes” Theo realizes that no one is on his side.
“You bloody MORON!” Pansy wails as she begins wacking him with one of her magazines.
As he’s trying to defend himself from the dragon that is Pansy Parkinson, he hears Mattheo ask Blaise “Why is he a moron?”
“If you don’t know, you aren’t going to. It’s not any of our stories to tell.”
Well why was it his then???
~
Theo was back in the Library three days later.
It was getting close to curfew but Theo had two more assignments to work on and no attention span to do them.
He had watched you for these past three days, trying to see if he could figure out why he was the problem and not you. You, who had broken the promise first and had forgotten all about him in fourth year when the boys from Bulgaria came in and all but proposed to you. You had promised him that he would be the only one to own your heart but these days it seems anyone could own it,
(You had made the promise when you were eight but Theo had taken it to heart.)
But it seemed the more he looked for you the less he saw of you. You had all but disappeared from his line of sight. This would have been a blessing for Theo a few days ago but now he knew your little secret -the secret you’ve been working overtime to keep hidden.- he couldn’t help but search for you everywhere he went.
The secret? That you hate acting the part of the flirt as much as he hated watching you play it.
At first he thought your exhaustion was just because it was Potter who was taking up your time. Then one day where you hadn’t escaped before catching his eye, he got to watch as you turned away from batting your eyelashes at Stephan Hobhouse - A seventh year Ravenclaw who was loaded with cash and knowledge about magical history. Probably the whole reason you were talking to the git in the first place, if your nap record in Binns was anything to go by. - and your face fell into one that screamed ‘Someone wrap me in a blanket and read me a bedtime story cause I need a NAP.’ Only to be replaced with that insincere expression not two seconds later.
He knew it. You hated the fact that you were seen as this unattainable nymph as much as Theo did. He wanted to run to you and boast he had figured you out but well… he would have to see you to be able to boast wouldn’t he?
Theo sighed and tried to force himself to focus back on his assignments before the Librarian kicked him out. It was then that the gods took pity on him and gifted him with the sound of your voice echoing in the library. “What’s your damage Smith? I said No.” Oh you better not be speaking to who Theo thinks you are. He slams his book close and proceeds to stalk to where he heard your voice come from.
When he reached the back shelves Theo heard a particular grating voice speak to you like you were trash. “Oh come on now. Everyone knows if they show you just enough attention and have something you want that anyone could gain some experience in particular areas. I have money, connections, and notoriety so choose one and let me experience.” Zacharias Smith says as he grabs your hips and shoves you into the shelving hard enough to make the books wobble.
Theo saw red as you pushed him off of you and sneered “Do you believe every rumor you hear? I said no and that’s final Smith. So leave me alone!” Turning away from the egotistic blonde you notice Theo standing there and freeze long enough for Zacharias to grab your wrist and turn you back to him. “I only believe the ones that are-“
“I wouldn’t put faith in your brain Smith. It doesn’t hold enough intelligence to pass Potions with anything above an acceptable, I highly doubt it holds enough to differentiate truth and hope.” Theo sneers lowly as he begins prowling towards you. Once he is within arms reach of you he snatches you to his chest effectively freeing your wrist from Zacharias’. “The lady said No Smith, take it as the out it is and move along.”
Zacharias scoffs before speaking to Theo with a slight waver in his voice. “This is none of your business, Nott. You should be the one who moves along if anything.” Theo hums and pulls you behind him as he steps in Zacharias’s space. He hears you whisper “Theo please” but the anger clouding his mind doesn’t let your voice calm him. “She is my business Smith. Are you going to tell me what to do with my business or do you think your connections and notoriety outweigh mine?”
He’s posturing and he knows it. Theo doesn’t usually pull the family card but he was willing to use his name to make this fucker worth less than the dirt he was made from. Theo leans further into the now shivering man's space and lowered his voice even further. “Now stop putting your hands where they don’t belong and leave her alone. If I hear you have continued to bother her I will put you in your place like someone should have years ago. Now go.”
Theo doesn’t think he’s ever seen a boy run as fast as Zacharias Smith did in that moment. He was surprised the librarian didn’t scream at the boy as he exited.
It was silent between the two of you as Theo tried to calm himself. He honestly thought you had just left. It was when you spoke in a soft, tired voice did Theo finally calm down. “You didn’t have to do that.” Theo feels the anger seep out of his pores with a sigh he feels in his bones. “Yes I did. Every boy in our year knows Smith won’t back down unless forced to. Why do you think most of the girls have a chaperone these days.” You let out a humorless laugh and sigh “Well in any case Thank you. I was- Gods what the fuck.”
Theo turns as you slide down the shelves and put your head on your knees. “What am I even doing Theo? How did this become my life?” Your shoulders were shaking with repressed sobs and the want to boast of his realization died in that second. Seeing you so down hurt Theo’s heart. “Hey now don’t- Oh Sunshine come here.” He coos at you as he sits down next to you and pulls you into his shoulder. He can feel your sobs more than he can hear them as he rubs your back in soothing circles.
He didn’t expect to be holding your hiccuping form when he woke up this morning but here he was. It took a while for you to calm down, long enough for Theo to stop worrying about the librarian and start worrying about Prefects lurking about. He was looking out for said Prefects when you spoke again. “I’m sorry I’ve snotted all over you, I know you’re probably cursing me in your head.”
Theo looks at you and scoffs “Sunshine Please, being your personal tissue for the night is the best thing that could have happened to me, so please don’t worry. There’s no need to thank me for putting that skeeze in his place either, I’d be glad to do so any day of the week. The only question is why was he bothering you in the first place.” You let out a long breath and explained why Zacharias was bothering you.
Theo only had dark terrible thoughts for what he was going to do the twit as you explained what had happened before Theo walked up. Afterwards Theo helped you back to your dorm as far as he could and went to plot on how to get back at Zacharias Smith.
And he knew two tricksters he could count on to help him do so.
~
“Hey boys wait up!” Theo yells out to the terrors.
“Why hello Nott.” “What can we help you with?”
Que one explanation later.
“Oh don’t worry Nott.” “We won’t let this disrespect to our darling sponsor go unanswered.”
“Sponsor?” Theo asks. “Well investor more like it, you don’t really think our wheezies are free to make do you?”
Theo didn’t know what to think any more.
~
The very next day Zacharias Smith was being followed by a swarm of paper birds, howlers charmed to screech compliments that made him look like the egomaniac he was instead of insults, and worst of all, Peeves.
The poltergeist had followed the boy all day claiming the boy had left him a letter of infatuation. Everyone who read it agreed that that was Zacharias Smith’s handwriting. The boy was so ashamed he was constantly walking around red faced. He must know why this was happening because if he was avoiding Peeves like the Plague he was avoiding you like you were Death itself.
Theo chuckled to himself as he watched Peeves chase the idiot up the astronomy towers stairs screaming a Godric awful sonnet. “As much as I hate the twit, I’m not exactly sure he deserves Peeves tormenting him.” You spoke up from the space on the couch next to Theo that he had thought was filled by Draco not even a few seconds earlier. Blinking at you for a few seconds he grounded himself before rebutting. “Oh I’m absolutely positive he deserves Peeves, they can be obnoxious gits together forever.” You hum before whispering “You know what I mean.”
Theo looked at you, really looked at you then. You seemed… relaxed sitting next to him. There was no too bright smile or fluttering eyelashes, it was just you. with your soft smile and sparkling eyes that were staring at him as if waiting for something.
Theo narrows his eyes and places an arm on the back of the couch, fingers barely touching the ends of your hair. He has to suppress the ache of want that fills his chest to touch you as he begins to slowly speak “I suppose I do.” He watches you for a moment, the slight uptick of your lips as you repress a smile, the slight blush of unknown reason, the lowering eyelashes that brush your cheeks. He realizes at this moment why all those people fall to your feet when you flip the switch and prays you don’t do it now. He doesn’t think he could handle having to share your attention right now.
“I just wanted to come over and thank you for stepping in again.” You said before meeting his eyes once more. He gives a small scoff and scoots closer into your space, “Don’t thank me for that, makes it seem like I wouldn’t have done that no matter who was bothering you.” Your blush deepens a small amount and Theo feels a grin start to form on his face. You laugh a small thing before sarcastically saying “Oh are you applying for the white knight position? I have to warn you there’s a lot of other applicants, how are you planning to stand out?”
Theo sucks his teeth and pretends to turn his head from you in mock annoyance but he still watches you. He sees your expression begin to fall as he gives in to his desire and twirls the ends of your hair around his fingers. He lets his gaze find yours again before speaking, “I had hoped owning your heart would give me the privilege to protect it.” He wanted to take the words back as soon as he said them.
Your eyes went wide and brimmed with tears within seconds. The lovely blush faded and left a pale complexion behind. You turned your head and pinched your lips together as you stood from the seat next to him. Theo reached out to grab your hand but you were too quick so he called out “Sunshine wait!” You froze in your spot at the top of the stairs descending down and away from him. You turned to him with anger in your voice as you ask “Must you call me that?”
Theo didn’t know what he could say to fix this issue between you two, hell he didn’t even know what the issue was! So he gave you the only answer he could think of “What else would you have me call you? Mine?” Theo expected a lot of reactions but the one you gave him was the worst one he didn’t even think of.
Tears began falling down your face as you gave him one of your trademark too bright smiles and asked him “Why would you call me that when there are such better options?”
And with that you left Theo standing there grasping at the ghost of an almost.
~
Why would you call me that when there are such better options?
Twelve words that haunted Theo for the next week.
What did you even mean?
He tried to figure it out but eventually he broke down and asked the one person who would know.
“Pansy, I really need your help right now.”
~
Theo was back in the Library. Again.
This time there was no assignment he needed to do to distract him from what he actually wanted to think about. No, there was only you to think about. You and what the actual fuck you have been thinking the past two years.
Pansy had been hesitant to help him at first, for good reason as well (You have been her best friend since you were six for Salazar sake. No matter the differences between the two of you, you both stuck to each other like it was fated.) but after really taking in his disastrous state and pitiful face -and his endless begging- she finally relented.
“Do you remember the quidditch final after party?” She asked him after finding a quiet spot away from listening ears in the common room. Theo rubbed his temple at the emerging headache from just the reminder of that night. “I remember going into the gryffindor common room, being handed a drink or two and then one of the Weasley twins let out some fireworks? That’s all I can remember clearly. Don’t tell me this has something to do with that night, I was plastered!”
Pansy flinched and began rubbing her own temples, “Yes well you didn’t seem that drunk when it happened.” He motioned for her to continue with one of his hands and she sighed while turning to stare out into the depths of the black lake. “I didn’t see it happen but I was the one who found her afterwards. She wasn’t here Theo. She was staring out a window and crying these thick tears but made no sound.”
She took a deep breath and revealed the missing piece of his awful puzzle. “I sat next to her and asked what had happened, I feared the worst of course but she just shook her head. I had to force her to look at me and it was only then did she speak, “It’s nothing important Pans I promise, I should have known my place is all.” I was so lost so I asked her what happened one last time and that’s when she explained it. She had gone searching for you and when she found you she hadn’t realized you were chatting up a girl. She must have interrupted because you blew up on her. You told her to get lost, that you were tired of her latching onto you and blowing any chance of finding a much better option than she ever was.”
Theo was thrown back because there was no way he had said that. “Pansy I would-“ “Never?” she interrupted him and continued with a scoff “ That’s what I said, hell I even called Polyjuice Potion but then she showed me the memory and Theo? It was you. You told her that and while I understand you were plastered and hurt from not winning the cup, you still said something that hit her right in the heart of her insecurities. What made it even worse was the next day Millicent went into the Great Hall with your hickeys all down her neck- the one girl who has made her life a hellscape here at Hogwarts. You walked in like nothing had happened and she fell down a deep spiral after that.”
Theo had regretted making out with Millie since it happened but to know that was part of the reason you had been so distant with him for years made him sick with anger. “I don’t even remember-“ Pansy holds up a hand to silence him before explaining. “Trust me we all know but she does remember. Also think about this: If she had told you that your biggest insecurity held weight and then proceeded to make out with Diggory to the point of evidence being left behind to only never chase you down to figure out what happened between the two of you, how would you feel?”
Theo’s chest hurt after that question and Pansy had her answer. Placing a hand on his shoulder she gives him a meaningful look as she whispers, “You know what happened now. The question now is what are you going to do about it?”
That is why he’s here, he was looking for you. Theo just hopes that you haven't changed your Sunday schedule in the last two years.
He sent his gratitude to the gods above because sitting in the back corner upstairs was you, nose deep in an ancient runes textbook, alone.
He wanted to cry at the way the sun was caressing your form, almost as if to show Theo ‘here’s the treasure, now come take it.’ He leaned against the nearest shelf to just stare at you for a second and to figure out how to solve this disaster he created.
You must have felt eyes on you because sooner than he was ready for, because you turned your head and looked directly at Theo. Neither of you said anything for a few moments, you just took the other in as the silence watched with bated breath to see who would break first; the boy with something to prove or the girl with a heart to protect. “You look exhausted.”
It was the girl with a heart to protect. She placed her quill down as she leaned back in her chair and placed her chin in an open palm, “Have you been having a hard time sleeping lately?” It was said with mock concern but Theo took the opening for what it was. Stepping closer he began to speak “Yeah I have, My mind has been running wild with possibilities.”
You sucked your teeth as if saying ‘wrong answer’ but Theo kept going. “You see there’s this witch who has been driving me-” “I don’t care about your lackluster love life Theo.” You interrupted him as you stood and walked further into the shelves but Theo gave chase. He wouldn’t lose you because he didn’t run after you again.
Catching up to you he saw the perfect opportunity present itself to him. You reaching for a book that was completely out of reach and therefore held your complete attention.
He slowly made his way behind you and caged you in between his two arms. Your body stiffened as his chest came to lean against your back and his breath tickled the shell of your ear. “Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt someone and run away from them? You asked me a question and I’m trying to answer it so behave and listen won’t you?” Theo heard your breath hitch and knew he had you where he wanted you.
“As I was saying, This witch has been driving me crazy by flirting with everyone but hasn’t given me a speck of attention in - oh I don’t know - two years.” He said the last two words with a slight growl in his voice and the shiver that crawled up your spine made him a little dizzy. “I thought she had grown to hate me for no reason but I’ve recently learned that isn’t the case.” He felt emboldened by your shaky breathing and proceeded to nip your ear before whispering “this ringing any bells Sunshine?”
“I-I— Merlin Theo what do you want me to say here? That I don’t hate you? Well I don’t nor have I ever hated you. Have I been absolutely devastated by you? Yes, but I could never hate you.” Theo sighs into your hair at your words. He wasn’t sure if it was out of relief or frustration but he at least knew he could fix this.
“Sunshine I fear there are some things I need to clear up. Will you allow me to clean up the mess I’ve made?” He says low and steady to make sure you hear every single word, all Theo can hope for is that you listen to him and forgive him. Silence creeps back in and surrounds you both once more. It sits on the edge of its seat, waiting to see if the girl with a heart to protect would grant the boy with something to prove a chance.
Silence turned into tension as you took a deep breath and hissed out “Why should I?”
Theo tensed at that, looking down at you with wide, uncertain eyes as you turned around in his arms. Practically nose to nose with him, you glare up at him with tears threatening to run out of the corners of your eyes as you ask “Why should I allow you to try and explain away the pain you caused me hm?” You scoff and lean away from him, trying to create as much distance as possible. “Because of some silly promise we made when we were children? I hate to break it to you Theo but you broke our promise first when you-“ “Shattered your heart? Yes I know.”
Theo grabs one of your hands in his and brings it to his chest, right over his heart as he confesses “I may not have realized how I did it for far too long but now that I know I can’t let my mistakes keep getting in the way of us.” You furrowed your brows as you stared up at him and for just a second Theo thought that you might be willing to hear him out.
“Us?” You whispered in an astonished voice and Theo felt his shoulder begin to relax. “Yes Sunshine, us. I need-“ “Theo, there is no Us.“ You spat the words with venom as you snatched your hand from his grasp. You escaped from him once again as Theo’s chest began to tighten and ache. He quickly collected himself and jogged to block you from leaving the little alcove of books. “Theo let me pass-“”No. Not until-” “Not until what Theo? I forgive you? Fine! You have been forgiven, now let me go- Oof”
Theo hadn’t planned on pinning you to the shelves but he needed you to listen. “Theodove Nott have you lost your mind?” You ask incredulously but there was really only one answer Theo could give you. “Yes I have, I must have for telling you I didn’t want you around and proved it by not chasing after you when you ran.” The words struck you like lightning as you finally stood still, not saying a word.
Silence crawled over to watch as Theo sighed a deep breath and raised a hand to cup your cheek. Here was the moment that would change everything; The boy trying to prove his heart still belonged to the girl whose defenses were falling from around hers. Looking into your eyes Theo prayed that his words would be enough to bring this gods awful chapter of your lives to a close.
“I was absolutely plastered that night you know? I had drunk my weight in firewhiskey to dull the burn of not winning the quidditch cup. I was chatting up whoever that was to keep my thoughts off of how much all I had wanted was for you to see me as someone worth keeping for my own merits. But then there you were all soft smiles and gentle tugging and I just- I wanted you to leave me to suffer alone. I didn’t want you to see me in the state I was in but instead of just telling you to go away I hurt you. I hurt you the same way I was hurting, hells I hurt you worse.” Leaning in closer to you he could smell your sweet honey shampoo and wanted to cry with how much he missed the scent.
“This isn’t the apology part by the way, I won’t excuse my actions that night but you deserve an explanation.” He whispered and once he got a small nod in return he continued. “I hadn’t even realized it was bloody Millicent I was chatting up. If I had I would have never even given her a nod in acknowledgment. So when the morning came and I had been filled in about that particular part of the night I immediately shut her down. I had given every major gossip spreader the inside scoop about how it really wasn’t me who gave Millicent those hickies but-“”Cillian McDowell.” You finished his sentence softly causing him to chuckle.
“Yeah that’s right, Cillian McDowell, the school's biggest creep. Well he was before he graduated and passed the torch to a certain Poltergeist Paramour.” Theo sighed and leaned his head against yours - not caring how it made his back ache from the height difference. Godric he needed to get some growth potions in you.- “Unfortunately the damage was done and I could tell you didn’t want to speak to me. So instead of doing this” He wagged a finger at the position he had placed the two of you in and got a giggle out of you which caused his heart to nearly burst from his chest. “I let the girl I’ve loved since I was eight get away from me.”
Clasping your hands (Yes both this time, he wasn’t going to keep playing tag okay?) in his, Theo finally began his apology. “I’m so sorry my sweet Sunshine, I should have never spoken to you the way I did and I should have apologized for it so much sooner than I have. I will do whatever it takes for you to forgive me, just say the words and I’ll do it. Please don’t make me go back to watching you from afar, please don’t push me away again, please let me keep your heart safe with me once again.”
Theo and the silence of the library held their breath as your eyes roved over the face of the boy who has done everything he knows to do to prove his heart's desire to the girl with the unguarded heart. It was moments later that you whispered sweet relief into Theo’s heart “All I’ve wanted was for you to apologize and mean it Theo.”
Theo let out a sob of complete and utter relief as he cupped your face in his hands. He listened in sweet satisfaction to your little giggles as he plastered kisses all over your face while speaking gratitude into your skin. It was only when he placed a small peck onto your lips did he stop and back away slightly. Scared he had ruined the moment, he started to lean away from you as you stood there stiff as a board. Apologies flew from his mouth like angered wasp “I’m sorry Oh Salazar I- shit, I didn’t- I wasn’t thinking I’m-“
Wait.
It was in the middle of his rambling that he noticed the blush growing from your cheeks and crawling up your ears. You weren’t looking up at him with anger but shock as one of your hands lifted to your lips to gently touch your lips. “You kissed me.” You whispered and Theo- well, Theo understood instantly that no apology was needed.
“No Sunshine I didn’t kiss you,” Theo teased as he pinched your chin in between his thumb and forefinger. Leaning closer until his lips grazed yours he offered “But if you’d like me to I will.” He only needed to see that pleading in your eyes before sealing his lips with yours for real this time.
Theo thought he knew what it felt like to kiss someone but kissing you? It was a brand new feeling that he was instantly addicted to.
One kiss turned into two which turned into three, four, five. Kissing turned into panting and hushed moans as he let himself get lost in the feeling of you against him. Panting and hushed moans turned into your whines and his groans as he trailed his lips down your neck while sliding a thigh in between yours. He could feel your heat as he pressed his leg against you a little harder, the sound of his name falling out of your mouth on a hitched breath will never leave Theo’s mind. He wanted to hear it again and again and-
“Well it seems you two have finally made up.” Enzo’s bored tone tore through the air like a hot knife. Theo groaned in frustration as you squeaked from under him, He turned his head to glare at his friend over his shoulder and grumbled “Yes and we would like to continue doing so. So if you would please leave that’d be great.”
Enzo rolled his eyes as you patted Theo’s chest to gain his attention. Theo looked down at your adorable form (you know he might hold off on those growth potions, you looked delectable completely covered by him like this.) and cooed “Yes Sunshine? What can I do for you and in what position?” Hearing a disgusted noise from behind him Theo called out “I thought you were leaving mate?”
You laughed and explained “Actually he’s supposed to be here, we were going to go over some materials for Ancient Ruins together for the exam coming up.” Ah, that’s right, Theo had forgotten you two shared the class. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t pout and pretend to be offended. “Are you saying you’re choosing another man over me? Sunshine, did I not apologize enough? Do I need to apologize more?” Theo asked as he leaned down to continue kissing you, not really caring if Enzo stuck around or not, when he felt a hand grab the back of his collar and force him to separate from you.
“You can continue apologizing after we review for our exam Nott. I will not let you drag down the only person in our class who is keeping Granger from getting that top spot. Now go somewhere else for at least three hours or I’ll write Peeves a love letter in your handwriting!” Theo didn’t know how Enzo knew it was him that copied Smith’s handwriting but he wasn’t willing to poke this dragon.
“Okay, okay, fine! I’ve got some business elsewhere to figure out but I will be coming back in three hours to pick her up whether you're finished or not!” Enzo huffed a fine and turned back to where you were setting up for the study session you two were about to have. You must have felt his eyes on you once again because when you looked up you smiled and waved him off.
Theo left the library with a wide smile framed by kiss swollen lips.
And when Mattheo asked about it later, Theo told him that he was sun-kissed.
(“Yes I know how you got tan, I’m asking why you’re smiling like an absolute oaf.”
“You’ll understand when you’re older kid.”
“We’re the same age!”)
~
*Theo’s adventure during your study session*
“So let me get this straight,” Theo says as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “My sweet Sunshine has been donating ten percent of her allowance every month to help you two get your business off the ground and in return she stays safe from being pranked by you and your ilk AND you make sure no one messes with her without repercussions?”
Fred and George look at each other before turning back to the boy in front of them. “Yeah pretty much.” Fred answers before George elaborates “We noticed she was having a hard time so we thought we could sweeten the deal by becoming her hidden bodyguards.”
Theo then asks the question that’s been bugging him since the beginning of this conversation. “Then what about that little scene in the great hall you three put on before Millicent's marvelous makeover?”
“Oh that?” George asks before Fred laughs and lets Theo in on the truth. ”We just like it when pretty girls flirt with us with no real intentions about it going further but then she told us about the rumors and-“ George cuts in then, “Also I’ve had a theory you’ve been madly in love with our darling benefactor for a while now and wanted to prove it to Freddy here.”
Theo couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face at that and confessed “Yeah, been head over heels for her since we were eight and she threw stones at my older cousins until they stopped tormenting me.”
“Spitfire that one.” Fred says approvingly and George nods in agreement. “Is that all then Nott?” Theo shook his head, “couple more things; just how much is she giving you and-“ Theo peeks around to make sure no one who shouldn’t hear this does before offering “Can I get in on this deal? I don’t need guards, mind you, but having you two to trick any wannabe suitors would be amazing.”
The twins give him matching grins before Fred offers “we can’t tell you how much she offers but we’d be happy to work out a deal with you.”
Theo shrugs “I can live with that so long as Zacharias Smith doesn’t have another peaceful day while he lives at Hogwarts.” The twins stretch out their hands and suddenly Zacharias Smith gets a cold chill up his spine in the middle of potions.
~