Theodore Nott has always been an aloof, quiet force in Slytherin, except when it comes to his best friend, Y/N. When another student pushes the boundaries and threatens Y/N, Theo drops his wand and uses his bare fists to protect them. Showing up at Y/N's dormitory door bleeding and battered in the middle of the night, his raw vulnerability forces them both to realize that his fierce protectiveness is fueled by a deep, unspoken love.