A/N Hello, Thank you for choosing to read this. It was a challenge given to me to write a story about a non main or non canon character from Harry Potter. I choose Theodore Nott. This is a romance style story with some drama and angst. The pairings planned are, TN/DG, DM/AG, BZ/TD, EM/SP, GG/MB, PP/OC, OC/OC.
In this story you will encounter mature content, that content being, sex, child abuse and torture, along with language. I will place warnings before the chapters that contain content I feel you should be given a heads up about.
Since this is only my second story ever, I was unsure what my writing style would be until it developed on the screen. The story goes back and forth between Theo Nott's past and his present. I have tried to make it as clear as I could when you are reading about his past to avoid confusion. His past helps to form the man he becomes and is important to the story. The further into the story you get, the more questions will be answered and the more about the characters you will understand. You won't know the answer to the 'why' questions right away, but I promise each chapter whether it is past or present gets you a little closer to those answers.
So once again, thank you for giving Theo a try. He is excited that you want to know a little more about him. He knows his past will not be easy to read, but it was a story he needed to share.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. This story will follow the original, but is not completely canon.
Story progress, updated: June 30, 2019
Chapters 1 through 4 fully edited.
Chapters 5 through 26 are fully betaed.
Chapters 27 through epilogue have only been proofed.
Chapter 1: Lost Angel
18 years ago;
The hospital smelled funny, and Theodore didn't like the very bright lights. He sat in the corner of the room, in a chair much too large for his four year old frame. He Clutched tightly to his blanket, as he listened to his mum, and dad talk softly. Mommy had been sick for a while now, although she had only been in the hospital for the last few weeks. Theodore's dad had not let him come with him to visit mum, until today. He slowly looked around the room, at the flashing lights, and magical monitors displaying all the important information for the healers. He would come to hate hospitals later in life, never understanding today was the reason why.
His father finally stood, called Theodore over to him, and lifted him up so he could sit beside his mother. His mum tried to sit up as best she could, but the movement made her cough. Her dark hair that used to be so thick and shinny, had thinned and looked stringy. Her dark eyes, once vibrant and full of life, looked dull and weak.
Theodore had always heard people tell his mother, "He's got your eyes Claudette, and his father's chin."
Theodore gave his mum a hug and didn't want to let go, when his father told him he was holding her to tightly. "Theodore, let go! Your mother is weak and you need to be strong for her."
His mother pleaded with her husband that it was fine. "Theo, just let me hold him. He is not hurting me." Theodore Sr. gave up and went to take his son's place in the chair.
Theodore sat with his mother, while she read him his favorite story, one his father hated. A muggle story, about a French girl and a prince who had turned into a beast of some kind. His mother's voice got weaker and weaker with every word, but Theodore could have read it to her from memory, so he didn't mind. He loved being with mommy after all this time. His father had been so distant lately, never around, and when he was, he was always so angry. The four year old didn't understand what was going on, he had learned to stay out of his father's way, when they were at the Manor. Today, however, daddy didn't seem angry. He seemed sad, which scared Theodore even more.
The story had gotten to the part, where the French girl tried to run away, but wolves had over come her, when mommy suddenly dropped the book. Everything happened so quickly. Theodore's father grabbed him, put him on the floor, and screamed for healers to get in there. Daddy's voice was scary, the way it sounded when he yelled at the men who managed the Nott family factories. Healers flooded into the room, and Theodore had to move back to keep from being trampled. No one seemed to notice him standing there. People shouted, wands were out doing magic, lights were flashing, and alarms kept making that terrible noise, that let you know something was wrong. Theodore's father's voice got louder and more panicked with every word the older Nott shouted. Theodore cryed, and tried to hide under the small side table, by the chair both he and his father had occupied earlier. He held even tighter to his blanket and cried louder as the noise in the room got louder.
Eventually, there was no noise, aside from Theodore's sobs under the table. The healers turned off the monitors, and left the room. His father stood, his back to him, facing mommy with his face in his hands. After a few minutes, Theodore scampered out from under the table, and stood behind his father and tryed to get his attention. His governess, Clair came into the room and took Theodore's hand to take him home.
"NO!" His father's voice rang out. "Bring him over here. He needs to see." Clair slowly lead the toddler over to his father and tried to assure him it was alright. Mommy was at peace.
Nott Sr. grabbed Clair by the wrist, "Do not fill my son's head with lies and fluff! He is a Pure-Blood wizard and a Nott! He can handle the truth!"
Theodore's father then pushed him toward the bed, and told him to look at his mother and remember what death looked like. Theodore started to cry again and hid his face in his blanket. Nott Sr. grabbed the blanket from him, threw it to Clair, and told her to get rid of it.
"It is time he grew up and started acting like the Pure-Blood he is." He then picked up the book, and threw that at Clair as well, instructing her to burn it. "His mother is gone, I will have no more of that damnable Muggle crap in my home."
xXXx
Theo threw his arm over his eyes to block out the sunlight, coming through the curtains of the Muggle London hotel room in which he was staying. The phone on the night stand beside the bed, was ringing with his wake up call. He picked up the receiver and slammed it down. He loved certain Muggle things, like telephones. He thought of them as ingenious and simple. He knew however, most of the people in the world he had to reenter today, would look down on things, like the mobile phone he kept in his pocket. He had spent the better part of the last three years in Muggle parts of the states; things like having an owl bring him mail, would have looked odd.
Theo looked over at the buxom brunette, laying on her stomach beside him. He rolled over and pulled her closer to him, and nuzzled his face in her hair. "I am not the one who has to be up this early." The brunette told him. "Let me sleep."
"You know I have a meeting in two hours, Anna." He started kissing her neck.
Anna replied pushing him away, "Then go take a shower Theo, and let me sleep."
Theo groaned and climbed out of the bed. He had met Anna somewhere in Dallas, Texas. She had become one of his closet friends. She was wild and loved traveling around with him. She claimed she was not ready to settle down, and being a witch, made it so easy to just go anywhere. She had always wanted to see Europe, and Theo's misfortune, of returning to England, gave her a chance. The two had tried dating for while, but Anna just couldn't tie herself to only one man, and honestly, Theo's heart remained in the past. So they shared a friendship, that included certain, 'benefits'. But that would be ending this morning, once he left the hotel. Theo had only been back to the wizard world of London twice in the last three years. Once, to attend the trial of his best mate, Draco, and the other time to attend the trial of his other mate, Greg. He had expected the former to be thrown in Azkaban, and the key lost at sea. But somehow, Draco had managed to avoid doing time. Greg, had not been so lucky.
He turned on the shower, and waited for it to get hot. He ran through the plans for the day in his head. At 9am, he had to met with the law office to have the family factories signed over to him. At 11am, was the Funeral arrangements. He still didn't know what he would do when he got there. It was no secret that he and his father had had a falling out when he was fifteen, and now at twenty-two he felt no more love for the man, than he did back then. He steped into the shower and stood, letting the hot water run over his shoulders, relaxing him.
He heard Anna in the bathroom, "Are you going to join me?"
"I may, if you behave yourself." Anna opened the curtain and smiled.
"Who, me?" Theo, reached over and pulled her into the shower with him.
Anna giggled and threw her arms around his neck, but jumped back. "Damn, why do you always have the water so hot?"
"Oh, you know, to warm up my cold heart." Theo pulled her back into his arms.
"I was only teasing you last night, you don't have a cold heart." Anna pulled away to wet her hair. "It's positively frozen."
Theo smacked her butt, "If you would stay with me, than maybe it would thaw out a little."
Anna turned to face him, "Oh no, Mr. Nott. We have already been through this, you have to grow up in the next few hours, and become the head of the Nott family, and of the Nott factories. I get to stay unruly and enjoy as many British men as I can find. We will run across each other again, one day, I promise."
Theo pouted, "Fine, if this is to be goodbye, I want my kiss."
"Maybe, one last kiss..." Theo already had her pushed up against the shower wall and cut her off with his mouth.
xXXx
18 years ago;
Theodore stood in the Nott Manor grand entrance hall, and fidgeted with his tie. Clair had told him to wait there, while she went to get her wrap she had left in her room. Daddy had been even angrier, since the hospital, than he had been in the preceding weeks. Theodore just missed his mommy, and didn't understand why so many people were in their garden. Every one who walked by, had cooed over how cute he looked, and how grown up. Funny, how a tiny suit made people think a four year old was grown up. All Theodore wanted to do was cry, rip the stupid tie off, and go hide in his room. Finally, Clair returned with her wrap. She bent down to fix his tie, and kiss him on the cheek.
"How are you doing, little love?" She asked, picking him up. Theodore laid his head on her shoulder, and shrugged.
His father came in to the hall just then, and gave Clair a dirty look. "Put him down! He will walk in on his own accord."
"Sir, he is only four, and this is all a little overwhelming, don't you think?" Clair asked the older Nott.
"No. I do not. His mother is gone, he will walk in like a Prue-Blood, and honor her properly." He took Theodore from her, and stood him on his feet. Theodore started to cry, and turned to get Clair to pick him back up.
"Would you like me to walk in with him behind you?" Clair asked while Theodore pulled on her dress and she tried to stop him.
"Theodore, stop crying!" His father grabbed his hand. "No, he will walk in with me. Please go see if it's time." Clair nodded, and walked toward the door, leading to the gardens.
Theodore Sr. bent down to his son's level, and smoothed his suit coat, and straightened his tie. "Son, you mother wouldn't want you crying right now. You need to stand up straight, and walk in with me."
Little Theodore continued to cry, "I want mommy."
"She is not here. Stop this now! Stand up, and take my hand!"
"Yelling at the boy, may not be the best way to calm him down." Nott Sr, turned to see his friend, Lucius Malfoy, standing behind him. Lucius offered his hand, "Sorry to be tardy Theo, our boy was also being," he paused a moment, "impossible." Nott Sr. shook Malfoy's hand. The Malfoy's then swept passed them, and into the garden, to find seats.
Nott Sr. turned to his son, "Now you have embarrassed me." He let go of Theodore's hand, and lifted his arm as if to strike him.
Clair stepped between the Nott males, "Sir, it is time." She then turned to the younger Nott, "Theodore, dry your tears now, Daddy needs you to be stronger than he is right now. Can you be strong for me, just for a little while?" Theodore nodded, and wiped his eyes. His father gave Clair a thankful nod, took his son's hand, and together they walked into the garden toward the casket.
xXXx
Theo hated wearing a suit. He found them restrictive, because he felt he couldn't be himself, while wearing one. He had to admit the pants were more roomy than the Muggle jeans he preferred, still he hated a suit. He sat in the Ministry of Magic Legal Department lobby, waiting for the Company lawyers to call him. He kept tugging at the blue tie, Anna had picked out for him. He was just going to dress like he always had, but she had insisted that he needed to, 'look the part'. So here he was, ridiculous shoes, dark grey pants and suit coat, light grey dress shirt, and blue tie. He had refused the vest and cuff links.
After what had seemed forever, a plump witch sitting behind a desk finally, looked up, "Mr. Nott, they are ready for you now."
Theo stood and went through the door for which he was instructed. Inside the room, was a long conference table that could sit twenty people. Mr. Prince, who had been handling the family factories, while Nott Sr. sat in Azkaban for his part during the second war, was the first person to stand and greet him. "Nott Jr., glad to see you again. Sorry, it couldn't be for more happy reasons."
Theo considered the man's hand for a moment. He briefly shook it, and then walked past him, toward the lawyers. "It is only unhappy for you Mr. Prince, as your services will no longer be required. I personally am glad the asshole is dead." Theo set his brief case on the table and look at his Lawyers, "Let's get this over with, shall we."
Theo had not seen either of these two men, since the day his father had been sentenced to life in Azkaban. Theo only nineteen at the time, was deemed not ready to take over for his father. Mr. Prince had been placed in charge of the Nott factories, until Theo's twenty-fifth birthday or Nott Sr.'s death, whichever came first.
Mr. Miller, who Theo always called 'Lawyer Number One', because he was the only one who ever talked, stood to shake his client's hand. "Mr. Nott. Good to see you. We have several documents that will need your attention, then Mr. Hubbard and I can complete the transfer."
Theo shook the man's hand, "Do get on with it then."
They went over how the transfer would work. Theo, along with the lawyers, would need to visit each of the factories during the course of the week, to meet with the managers. There were several papers that needed to be signed by both Theo, and the managers, to complete the transfer in leadership. The paper work being done in the office today, would be sent to the bank, transferring authority of the accounts from Mr. Prince to Theo. It would also be putting everything from the factories to Nott Manor in Theodore Jr.'s name.
Before the last papers were signed, Mr. Prince made a plea for his position. "Mr. Nott, I am not sure how you expect to take over, since you have had nothing to do with the business for the last three years. You have been out of the country, spending your allowance at your leisure, and have shown little interest in the goings' on of your father's businesses. I would be happy to stay on board and run the factories for you, while you get use to living has a Wizard and an English man again."
Theo gave Mr. Prince that famous crooked Nott smile, making him look more like his father than he liked. "Mr. Prince, although I may not have been here, following you around like a puppy, I assure you, I kept up on the goings' on of my family's businesses. As for my father, I have no interest in discussing that son of bitch and his misuse of power. He was a greedy, uncaring, self centered bastard, who's only interest was being on top, despite how he got there. I see many of his qualities in you. Perhaps, that is why you were chosen to run things, until now."
Mr. Prince signed the last papers, than stood to leave the room. "Mark my words, little boy, the day will come when you will wish you had kept me on." With that he stalked from the room.
Theo thought of going after him, to retort. But to be honest, and as much as he hated it, being in this room with these men, did remind him of the little boy he had been running away from for the last five years.
xXXx
17 years ago;
Theodore sat in his room, stared at the door and wondered when his father would come in to say goodnight. Clair normally put him to bed after reading a story, but she had the night off. After a few minutes, the five year old climbed out of bed, and grabbed the story book off the table in his room. He went to his fathers bedroom first, but his dad was not in there. Theodore figured he must still be in the study, since that is where his father spent most of his time.
Theodore pushed the heavy doors of the study open and saw his father seated at the desk. His father looked up, "Where are you suppose to be, young man?"
Theodore stopped in his tracks, "In bed, Sir."
"Than why are you in my study?" His father looked pointedly at him.
"I haven't had a story yet."
"Clair has the day off: you will have to sleep without a story." Nott Sr. went back to his work. It was a couple of minutes before he realized Theodore had not left the room. "Why are you still standing there?"
Theodore took a couple steps forward and held up the book, "Would you read me a story, please?"
Nott Sr. looked taken aback. He had never read his son a story, than again, come to think of it, he had never put his son to bed. Whenever Clair had a night off, Claudette had been there. Clair had not had a night off, since Claudette had passed, and against what he really wanted, he had finally given in to the woman, and granted her one night. Now, his five year old, held up a book, and asked him to read to him. Suddenly, Theodore Sr. was very nervous. His first reaction would have been to yell at the boy, but in all honesty, the child had done nothing wrong, aside from getting out bed. Now, he and Theodore Jr., were locked in what seemed like a stare down, to see whose resolve was stronger.
Sr. pushed himself away from the desk, he had decided to give it a try. He towered over the little boy, as he walked over to him and took the book. "Fine, one short story, and then it is off to bed. Do you understand?"
Theodore nodded yes, while his father went to the grey couch in his study, and sat down. Theodore climbed up on the couch, then tried to climb onto his father's lap. Sr. pushed him back, "What are you doing?"
"I wanted to sit on your lap, the way I would mommy's" Theodore looked up at his father, his dark eyes reminded the man of his wife's eye's. Nott Sr. suddenly stood quickly, and put the book on the coffee table, "Go to bed, Theodore."
"But, what about the story?"
"I said, go to bed, NOW!" The man's voice echoed in the room.
Theodore scrambled off the couch, and ran for the stairs, as tears ran down his face. As he got to the stairs, he heard his father voice crack, when he yelled, "Do not get out of that bed again!"
xXXx
Theo walked in the funeral home, removing the tie and putting it in his pocket. His father didn't deserve respect as far as Theo was concerned. He was greeted by Mr. Wood, who ran the place. Theo was surprised how much the older man looked like his son Oliver. Then again, perhaps it was the fact that the man was wearing his son's Quidditch jersey. Mr. Wood explained, he would be on his way to the match after their appointment. "I hope my being ready for the game is not offensive in anyway." He told Theo, while shaking the younger man's hand.
"Not at all. I would prefer a more causal dress myself, but I just came from my lawyers' office." Theo explained.
Mr. Wood smiled, "Hope you got everything in order. My office is right this way." He led him to a small office, covered in pictures of caskets and fabric swatches, and pamphlets that explained everything, from menus for meals after the services, to plot pricing. "Perhaps, we should start with a casket. His plot has already been purchased right beside your mother's." Mr. Wood handed him a list of types of caskets and their cost.
Theo looked over it quickly. "Do you have it listed what type he had for my mother?"
Mr. Wood picked up his wand, and waved it at his filing cabinet. "I think, I still have her records." A file drawer opened, and the file came out. Mr. Wood grabbed it from the air, opening it up. "Ah, yes, it is right here, Mahogany with green silk."
"Just give him whatever he got for my mother." Theo laid the list back on the desk.
"Alright. Are you wanting a viewing before the services?"
"There will be no services." Theo said, looking around the room.
"Sir?"
Theo snapped his head back to the man, "I spoke in English, did I not?"
"Yes, but you may wish later that you had done so. Are you sure?" Mr. Wood said with a concerned note to his voice. "I can put together something small and tasteful. We don't have to do anything as grand as your mother's."
"I have already said, there will be no services. Who would come, Mr. Wood? You? The families who were devastated by the war? Harry Potter? Perhaps, all his Death Eater friends?" Theo stood up, putting his hands on the man's desk and looking down at him. "Ah, no they can't, they are all in Azkaban, where they belong! Just put the bastard in the casket, wearing whatever he has on, and put him in the ground!" Theo turned to walk out.
Mr. Wood cleared his throat, causing Theo to turn around. "I almost forgot to pay you, sorry." Theo reached into his pocket for his gold.
"It's not that, Sir. I knew you wouldn't forget that." Mr. Wood hesitated. "It's just that Azkaban sent him over, without clothes."
Theo blanched, "I see. I will have something sent over." Theo paid the man, and headed to his family's Manor. The last place in the world he wanted to go.
A/N So that is the beginning, what did you think? Let me know if it was to difficult to keep track between the past and the present. Since you read Chapter one, why not try chapter two, you really get to know more about Theo in that chapter. Thank you for reading.