quiet feelings | T.N · Y/n story by @salazaraiyanna

The Great Hall hummed with the low murmur of a hundred conversations, the clink of cutlery on plates, and the rustle of parchment. Sunlight streamed through the enchanted ceiling, painting the long Slytherin table in shifting, watery light.

Daphne Greengrass

without looking up from her meticulously annotated copy of Advanced Potion-Making** You’ve been staring at that blank parchment for ten minutes, Theo. Either write something or vanish it. The suspense is killing me.

Theodore Nott

his voice low, almost lost in the hall’s noise Daphne.

Daphne’s quill paused. She glanced up, taking in his unusually serious expression, the slight tension in his jaw. She closed her book with a soft thump.

Daphne Greengrass

Okay. What is it?

Theodore Nott

leans forward slightly, lowering his voice further You’re y/n’s best friend.

Daphne Greengrass

a faint, knowing smile touches her lips I am.

Theodore Nott

Can I ask you something?

Daphne Greengrass

You just did. But go on.

Theodore Nott

Is y/n dating anyone?

Daphne’s smile faded. She studied him for a long moment, her grey eyes assessing. She shook her head once, decisively.

Daphne Greengrass

No.

Theodore Nott

a flicker of relief passes through his eyes, quickly replaced by confusion Then why isn’t she?

Daphne let out a slow, quiet breath. Her gaze drifted toward the massive oak doors of the Great Hall, as if checking for y/n’s arrival. When the entrance remained clear, she turned back to him, her expression softening into something more solemn.

Daphne Greengrass

She falls in love too easily.

Theodore went very still.

Daphne Greengrass

Every guy she ever let in… it didn’t matter. Smart, stupid, kind, a bastard. If she cared, she cared completely. She loved too deeply for people who didn’t know how to love her back.

Daphne’s fingers traced the embossed title on her book cover.

Daphne Greengrass

Some used her. Some were just… toxic. They’d take everything she gave and never think to refill the cup. Eventually, she decided it wasn’t worth the cost anymore.

Theodore Nott

So she gave up.

Daphne Greengrass

nods She gave up on the idea that love was safe.

For a long moment, the only sound was the distant roar of laughter from the Gryffindor table. Theodore’s eyes were dark, unreadable. He wasn’t looking at Daphne anymore. He was looking at nothing at all.

Daphne Greengrass

leans forward, her voice dropping to a whisper If you’re really asking me this, Theo… if you really want to win her over? Show her you’re different. Make her believe it could be safe again.

Theodore Nott

finally meets her gaze, his voice rough How?

Daphne Greengrass gave him a soft, knowing smile. It wasn’t a happy smile. It was the smile of someone handing over a fragile, precious secret.