Theodore Nott had a reputation for being romantically uninterested, and he had absolutely no intention of correcting anyone's assumptions.
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@sleepyhoneyBreakfast at the Slytherin table was, as usual, a full-volume affair.
Draco Malfoy
Honestly, the audacity. Walking in forty minutes late with a venti like it's a personality trait.
Blaise Zabini
doesn't look up from his oatmeal You're just angry he didn't get you one.
Mattheo Riddle
For the last time, it's not a competition. I'm saying a snake would beat a badger. That's just biology.
Tom Riddle
And I'm saying a badger doesn't care about your imaginary ecosystem hierarchy. It would just kill you.
Lorenzo Berkshire
spinning his fork between his fingers I'd pay real money to see either of you fight a badger.
Pansy Parkinson
leans across the table Can we stop talking about rodents before I lose my appetite?
Daphne Greengrass
without looking up from her phone Badgers are mustelids, not rodents.
Pansy Parkinson
Oh, wonderful. Thank you, Professor Greengrass.
Icarus Vale
grinning over his coffee You are all so deeply unwell before ten a.m. It's honestly my favorite part of the day.
Theodore Nott ignored all of them. His fork was halfway to his mouth, eyes fixed on the doors of the Great Hall like he was already planning an exit strategy. The noise rolled over him in familiar, tolerable waves.
Professor McGonagall rose from the staff table. The scrape of her chair cut through the noise like a knife.
Professor McGonagall
Your attention, please.
The hall quieted, though not quickly enough for her liking.
Professor McGonagall
I would like to introduce a new transfer student. She will be joining Slytherin House.
Draco didn't bother looking up. Blaise tilted his head only slightly. Mattheo was too busy whispering something to Tom. Lorenzo had gone back to balancing his spoon on the rim of his glass.
Professor McGonagall
Miss Y/n Nott.
The fork stopped.
Theo's hand didn't move. He didn't look at his friends. He didn't look at McGonagall. He simply sat there, completely and uncharacteristically still, as if someone had pressed pause on the rest of the world.
<Narrator> The noise had been loud, but the absence of it was louder.
She was standing beside McGonagall now. His wife. In the middle of the Great Hall. Wearing a Hogwarts uniform.
Draco Malfoy
slowly turning toward Theo Nott.
Theo didn't respond.
Blaise Zabini
quietly, eyes moving between Theo and the girl Theodore.
Theo's jaw tightened.
Mattheo Riddle
elbowing Tom Did she say Nott?
Tom Riddle
low whistle As in, our Nott?
Lorenzo Berkshire
lighting up like it was his birthday This is the best Monday of my life.
Pansy Parkinson
whispering furiously to Daphne Who is she? Why does she have his name? Why does Theo look like he's seen a ghost?
Daphne Greengrass
eyes narrowed, watching Theo That's not a ghost look. That's a caught look.
Astoria Greengrass
softly He hasn't blinked.
Icarus Vale
leaning back with a slow, delighted smile Oh, this is going to be fun.
McGonagall motioned toward the Slytherin table. The girl began walking.
Theo still hadn't moved. His fork hung suspended, eggs slowly cooling on it, his expression caught somewhere between shock and something far more dangerous.
Draco Malfoy
hissing Theo. Mate. I'm going to need you to say something.