Silent love.

The Hufflepuff common room was comfortable enough. It held almost five different couches, all cushioned, tarnished by a brownish color, set around a big, round, low table. They also opened to a spacious chimney that kept them warm at any hour. Above it, a painting of Helga Hufflepuff hung still, watching all her students go by. And although everyone kept saying it was just a painting, Theodore swore he had seen the hazel eyes move around the room on more than one occasion.

The walls were painted with bright yellow tones, along with details in black here and there. There were also wooden chairs and tables, disposed around the room and almost always occupied by someone doing homework, friends chatting or old graders playing Exploding Snap.

However comfortable and spacious it may be, though, it didn't make up for the noise that filled it all the time. It didn't matter which time of day it was, the bloody room was always echoing someone's cheerful squeal or blaring laughter. There wasn't a moment of peace in there, and it annoyed the hell out of him.

He was brought up in a house were silence reigned. His father was a man of few words, and his mother was more talkative, yeah, but she wasn't loud. Her tone was always composed, and she never screamed, not even when she was mad or scolding. But then again, Theodore never gave her reasons to scold him. He was a good kid, although lonely, and followed rules by hand. Whatever his parents asked him to do, he did. He was an avid reader, too, and he rather a book than a noisy toy.

Things did change when he turned nine, and his twin siblings were born. Elizabeth and Alexander where everything he wasn't as a child: loud, weepy and constantly pampered. He loved them, but he was glad when he got to escape the house and go off to Hogwarts, where he was supposed to find silence and comfort right in the Slytherin common room.

But then, he had been selected to Hufflepuff and everything he hoped for went down the drain.

Since the first time he walked into the common room, he had found it too cheerful for him. Already an outcast, he had it easy spending more time on his bed than in the couches. So, his first year wasn't that annoying. As soon as he got out of class, he'd go to the library, where Ms. Bones kept everyone quiet. Then, after dinner, he'd just go into his room and relax while reading whatever he had at hand, or studying.

On his second year, though, he committed a mistake: He made a friend.

It hadn't been on purpose. It all happened when he was at the library, reading Qulsoy Trop's latest book, "Where the silence is heard". Qulsoy was his favorite magician writer, and he never missed a release from the author. He had been too immersed on the reading to notice the little redhead girl spying on him. And when the blonde by her side encouraged her to get up and talk to him, Theo didn't hear a thing. It was only when she cleared her throat that he stopped reading. He looked at her with puzzled eyes and a raised eyebrow.

"You like Qulsoy Trop?"

And just by that short question, Theo was trapped by Molly Weasley II.

With Molly, came Christine and Victoire, though the latter was a Ravenclaw, not a Hufflepuff. But anyway, his friendship with the girls was both the worst and the best thing that had ever happened to him. Best, because he was able to fill a void he didn't know he had; he started to understand why people had friends, and why it was so magic and important.

Worst, because they forced him to spend his time on the loathed common room, like he was in that instant. Only now, he was studying his sixth year on Hogwarts.

He had grown into a tall, well built man, like his father. He had a sharp jawline and thin lips, with small brown eyes and short brown hair. He was one of the best students of their year, closely followed by Victoire Weasley, and had earned his prefect badge last year. And although he had gotten more used to the badger's common room, he still wasn't entirely comfortable, and winced every time someone squealed, or a card exploded.

That day on particular, he was extremely annoyed.

He laid on the couch closest to the fireplace. The room was packed, but he still managed to get through one of the books for his required readings for Herbology. On the couch next to his, Christine sat with her arms closed protectively around a weeping Molly. The redhead had entered just minutes ago, clutching a wrinkled paper tight to her chest. Theo had pretended not to listen, but he was paying close attention to the girl.

"Richard broke up with me!" She had let out as soon as her body touched the old couch. Christine, who had been preparing an essay for History of Magic, left everything aside and went to comfort her friend.

"And he did it over a letter?" The tanned female arched her eyebrow, motioning to the paper Molly held "What an arsehole!"

"Wha- No, no, no! This was just a letter I wrote him," Molly whimpered, her voice sounding teary and unbelieving, "Today was our fourth month anniversary."

"Oh!" Was the only thing Christine said this time. Theo chuckled silently. She wasn't the best comforter at all... but neither was he. Poor Molls, he thought.

"I can't believe it's over…" The redheaded Weasley sighed, defeated, finally letting her back rest on the couch. "I really thought he was the one, you know?"

"I never really liked him. Not since that time he called me fat, remember?" Christine complained, rolling her eyes, playing absently with Molly's hair.

"That was an accident, Chris!" It was time for Theo to roll his eyes. Even with her heart broken by him, Molly was still defending that bloody ex-boyfriend of hers.

He hadn't liked Richard for Molly at all. In fact, when she told him they were dating, he specifically told her it was a bad idea. After all, the guy was a douche, known for his Hogwarts's favorite fuckboy reputation, with no concept of moral or decency at all. And he had, in fact, called Christine fat.

As it always happened, Molly hadn't really heard him. She was too stunned by the fact Richard Lee was giving her attention to care. And he hadn't insisted really, since he didn't want to end up as the bad guy. So, she dated him, spending almost all summer crushed on and obsessed over the pretty blond guy, and then in love with him the first months back to Hogwarts.

He could count with one hand the times Richard had spoke to him. He was only interested in Molly -barely-, and he talked to Chris just cause she started their conversations. Theo didn't try at all, preferring to read or study while they hung out with him.

But there were some things he couldn't ignore during those moments: the infinite jealousy that made his body ache every time he had to endure watching Molly kiss that git. Or the annoyance he felt whenever she left Chris and him just to go on dates to Hogsmeade with Lee. He hated that he was so obsessed with Molly Weasley, that she could make him go to the bloody common room without even complaining. But especially, he couldn't ignore the hatred he felt for himself, for not uttering a word about his feelings.

"Did he at least say why?" Questioned Christine, looking at her with wariness.

"He just said I wasn't the girl for him," She sighed again, "But… I've been thinking… Maybe I'm just not anyone's girl."

How could she say that? How could someone make her believe that she was unworthy of love? That she wasn't special, that no one would ever love her. Anger flood through his veins. As soon as he got out of that room, one blond head would roll off.

"That's not true, Molls. You'll find someone, just give it time…"

"But how many guys have I dated, Chris? A trillion! And not one, not one has ever fallen in love with me" She sounded flustered, and Theo started to put his book down. He'd have to cut more than one head off, apparently, "So maybe I am the problem."

He couldn't help but snort, though, as soon as he gave more thought to her words. When he straightened on the couch and looked at them, he found the girls looking at him with big eyes and arched eyebrows (like Christine) or stunned expressions (like Molly's).

"Maybe you should just stop dating idiots," He determined, looking straight into her eyes.

"Rick wasn't an idiot", Her initial surprise all gone, Molly looked at him defiantly, furrowing her brow.

"Oh, sure. He totally wasn't the boy who drew a dick on Flitwick's blackboard and spent half an hour laughing at his wittiness" Theo countered, arching a brow at her. Next to Molly, Christine had to bite the inside of her cheek, so Molly wouldn't see her smirk.

"That doesn't make him stupid!" She fought back, though her voice lacked conviction. Theo shook his head, "Okay then," Molly started again, slightly annoyed by his attitude "According to you, who should I date? Who's not an idiot, here at Hogwarts?"

"I'm not an idiot, for one. Maybe we should date sometime," The words were out of his mouth before he even had a chance to regret them. He hadn't thought that through, and now he sat with regret, avoiding her piercing eyes, which stared at him with surprise and disbelief.

"Theo…" Molly started, but he shook his head and stood up.

"It was just a joke, Molls" He lied viciously, with the nerve of finally looking straight into her eyes. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I think I'm gonna have an early night. Sleep well."

He didn't want to face the rejection. So, he took his book and walked with short but fast steps towards the door that led to the boys' bedrooms. The silence and solitude of his bed was very much needed in that moment, not the loud and insufferable, stupid common room.

A/N:

Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to let me know what you thought. Also, remember that if you want to get notified every time I upload, you can give the story a follow!

Good night and see you next time!