oXo
A Foreign Affair
A Theo Nott Romance
Chapter 4
"This is so stupid," Lessie murmured under her breath as she viciously turned the page in her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. "Ow!" While taking her frustrations out on her textbook, her textbook decided to fight back by giving her a paper cut.
"Problem, Miss Aragòn?" Umbridge asked from the front of the class. The class, that hummed with light chatter as students completed their written assignment, quieted as all eyes turned to Lessie.
"No, Professor, just a paper cut," said Lessie as she stuck her finger in her mouth to staunch the bleeding.
Umbridge smiled sweetly at Lessie and Lessie returned the smile until Umbridge finally looked away.
"Hag," Lessie murmured. Theo snickered beside her. Lessie rolled her eyes.
"This isn't learning, Theo, you know it isn't!" Lessie glanced up to make sure Umbridge didn't overhear as the classroom buzzed with conversation once more.
"Really," asked Theo. "Reading a textbook, answering scenario based questions isn't learning?"
"Your sarcasm isn't endearing today, Theodore," Lessie retorted as she wiped her hand on her grey pleated skirt beneath her Hogwarts robe.
"But it is every other day," asked Theo, genuinely surprised.
"No." Lessie glanced at Theo and quickly looked away, summoning her mother's instruction to always save face when faced with surprise or difficulty.
Things between Lessie and Theo had changed since Friday when Theo gave her that look and told her she had cinnamon eyes and took a step closer to her…and she took a step back.
The weekend was strange as Theo seldom made an appearance, and whenever he did, Lessie went in the other direction. However, as Monday and Potions class rolled around, they took their customary seats besides each other, and again in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Now Theo Nott was watching her in his careful way with his Pacific blue eyes and Lessie squirmed. She took up her quill and turned the page of her text, much more carefully this time. "I just mean, these creatures we're learning about are Pygmy Puffs compared to what's out there…who's out there."
"And you've faced creatures worse than the fearsome Pygmy?"
"During my third year I met a banshee, and then there are boys bigger than you that you have to fight off." Lessie laughed, she missed Theo's hand tighten on his quill.
"Class dismissed," Umbridge declared and Theo slammed his textbook shut.
"Wow, okay, maybe Pygmy Puffs are the stuff of nightmares," said Lessie as Theo exhaled a breath while jerkily packing his fancy messenger bag. "Theo, stop." She reached out and touched his forearm, and Theo's quick, jerky movements ceased.
"Were you ever hurt?" asked Theo, unable to look into her eyes.
"By the banshee? No, my friends and I survived that one, but we're the reason students aren't allowed into the Darkling Woods anymore. Oops."
"Not what I meant," said Theo through clenched teeth.
"The boys…" Lessie's smile faltered briefly. "No one touches me without my permission. Ever."
"Good."
Lessie shivered as Theo stood and swung his bag over his shoulder. Still not meeting her eyes, she watched as he gave her a swift nod and stalked out of the classroom.
"What got his knickers in a bunch," asked Blaise as he took Theo's vacant place beside Lessie. She rolled her eyes.
"I'm not sure," she lied, as she packed her bags. She had a feeling it had something to do with her mentioning her not so romantic encounters.
"He often gets like this," said Draco, bluntly but not unkindly. It reminded her that Draco seemed to view Theo as an equal compared to all his other Slytherin buddies. "Don't mind him. He'll be willing to talk one minute and moody the next, he'll get over it."
Though it seemed Draco didn't mean to be rude, something about his comment bothered her. These boys were supposed to be Theo's friends. She wondered if they'd ever bothered to check in with him when he "got into a mood". Instead, she sighed and left the classroom with the other Slytherins.
"Lessie!"
Lessie turned to see Hermione, Ron, and Harry waiting outside of the classroom for her.
"You're making friends with the wrong crowd, Aragòn," Draco sneered when she turned to walk in their direction.
"I'll catch up later," Lessie said, and broke away from the Slytherins that gave her judgmental looks.
Ron scowled at the lot of Slytherins. "Pricks." He spat.
"Lessie, this is Harry Potter," Hermione smiled and introduced the two, "Harry Potter, this is Lessie Aragòn."
Harry Potter, with jet black hair and bright green eyes beneath his round glasses offered Lessie a smile. She bit back a smile, Harry Potter was not who she imagined when she thought of the boy wizard who faced the Dark Lord. He was rather...nerdy in appearance.
"I was wondering when I'd get to meet the famous Harry Potter," said Lessie, holding out her hand. Harry took it, in a surprisingly shy grip.
"And, er, it's good to meet you, Lessie," said Harry with a smile. "The famous exchange student."
Lessie smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not interested in your autograph or anything, I just…" she trailed off, uncertain of how to explain why she wanted to meet him.
"This is only a quick introduction before the next class," Hermione jumped in, catching Lessie's eye. "We're going to study in the library later tonight if you want to join us."
"We are?" both Harry and Ron answered in unison, and Hermione gave them a look that instantly silenced them.
"Sounds like a plan," said Lessie.
"Great! See you at nine," said Hermione as the group parted ways for their next class.
X
At exactly 9:07 P.M., leisurely late, Lessie arrived at the library where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were waiting at the front door. Seeing that she had arrived alone, Hermione nodded approvingly.
"Change of plans," said Hermione, "we're going to study somewhere else."
"Let's do it," Lessie agreed without hesitation and followed the trio to their new location.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron led Lessie from the first floor library all the way up to the fourth floor and up several flights of stairs. All the while, Lessie heart hammered with excitement—this was the first time she got to explore Hogwarts outside of her path from the Slytherin common room to her classes and the Great Hall.
Finally, the group of four stepped into a large room behind what appeared to be a large clock—Lessie registered it as the clock tower that was visible from the main courtyard. She watched as Ron helped Hermione close the great wooden door that they had pushed open and Hermione used a spell to lock the door.
Lessie took a moment to walk around the clock tower and to the balcony that overlooked the rolling hills beyond Hogwarts. It was breathtaking.
Finally Lessie turned to join the trio as they settled down on the wooden floor.
"You know, this kind of looks like you brought me to this secluded place to kill me," said Lessie, glancing at the three.
"That's not a bad idea," Ron said to Harry. "I mean, not to her, but if we brought Malfoy up here…"
"Ronald!" Hermione admonished, her tone bossy, as the boys shared a laugh. "We're here because this is a safe and private place to talk! Lessie, tell Harry what you told me."
Harry, who sat across from Lessie turned his full attention on her. Lessie took a deep breath and launched into her story about finding out she was chosen to pilot the Exchange program between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts. She told him that she was truly interested in learning about the famous Hogwarts School. She finally told him that many people in America believed Harry about Voldemort's return.
Harry stilled at that part, and Lessie regarded the boy her age. She had seen pictures of him, of course, as his image had traveled even to the American wizarding newspapers. Harry was a couple of inches taller than her, and fairly skinny with ridiculously messy hair—he looked as though he couldn't harm a fly, let alone the most powerful dark wizard of the century. But there was something in Harry's face, she thought, a sheer determination and bravery that told her he was a force to take seriously.
"Harry, how much of the truth do you want?" Lessie finally asked.
"All of it," answered Harry without hesitation, his green eyes unwavering.
"I've done my research," said Lessie, "and at Ilvermorny a handful of us have followed the news carefully. Umbridge, that crazy old woman, is feeding the students here lies and setting students up for failure because…" she took a breath. "Harry, a war is in the horizon, and I'm afraid it can't be stopped. And Umbridge is preparing you—us—for failure. When the war comes, no one will be able to stand a chance at protecting themselves with these ridiculous spells we're reading about. I'm not quite sure how, but I do know that I want to help you however I can. You aren't alone, Harry. There's a school somewhere across the Atlantic Ocean with others who want to support you too."
Her words hung in the air as Harry gained a far away look in his eyes as he stared out at the night sky.
Ron and Hermione shared a look. Ron clapped Harry's shoulder and squeezed it in the brotherly way boys often do.
"Harry," Hermione started. "Lessie's right. That foul woman is setting us all up for failure. If…If You-Know-Who were to attack tomorrow, none of us would survive."
"I know that, Hermione," Harry snapped a bit too sharply. He winced at his tone. "Sorry," he said. He then glanced at his best friends and Lessie. "What am I supposed to do, then? Start an army?"
"You've faced Vol—You-Know-Who," said Lessie. "You know the spells that many don't."
"I used expelliarmus," Harry laughed bitterly. "That's hardly a spell worth writing home about."
"Of course it is," said Lessie. "It saved your life, didn't it?"
"Harry, raise an army, that's it!" All eyes turned to Hermione. "Harry, you should teach us. You have experience, you can perform a patronus—"
"You can do a full patronus?!" Lessie's eyebrows raised high into her hairline.
Maybe it was something in her eyes, but Harry was bothered to pull out his wand. "Expecto Patronum."
A silver light burst form his wand, followed by a beautiful stag. The stag pranced around the room before it disappeared.
"I've only been able to perform noncorpreal ones," said Lessie, traces on envy in her voice. She then smiled. "I think Hermione's on to something. Umbridge isn't teaching the students anything. So, why don't you take over?"
X
It was well past curfew by the time Lessie returned to the Slyherin Common Room. However, Ron, Hermione, and Harry walked her back to the Slytherin dungeons—Hermione and Ron using their prefect influence when they ran into Filch who regarded them suspiciously.
Once back in the cold Common Room, Lessie paused when she saw a solitary figure sitting in the sunken leather couch by the fire, fully concentrated on a book.
"I haven't seen you since Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Lessie, sitting beside Theo at the other send of the couch. She drew her knees up and tucked her legs under her. Finally, Theo pulled his eyes away from the book to regard Lessie. She glanced at the large ticking clock above the fireplace and frowned at the time.
"Are you having trouble sleeping again," she asked.
Theo's beautiful blue eyes still had the dreamy, far away look that one has when they're still visualizing of whatever they're reading. His brown hair that was usually slicked to the side was undone and messy, air-dried after his shower. This time, he wore a grey V-neck t-shirt and his soft black pajama bottoms. From where she sat, Lessie could smell his body wash—bergamot and spice.
"It's not that late," Theo finally murmured. The clock revealed it was one in the morning. It was most definitely late.
Lessie leaned forward to see what he was reading. As she did so, her heavy black hair that hung over her shoulder swung forward too, brushing against Theo's bare arm. She didn't notice him inhale suddenly as she unknowingly touched him.
"World religions, huh?" Lessie glanced up and smiled at Theo before pulling away. "Light reading?"
Theo frowned slightly and closed his book, as though caught in a private act. Carefully, he put his book aside and stretched his arm out over the back of the couch to watch his friend.
"I finally got to meet Harry Potter today," said Lessie. "He's nice—hey now, don't be mean." She caught Theo's unhappy scowl. She quickly learned from Draco that there was an unspoken hatred between Harry Potter and all of Slytherin, however, Theo seemed to keep away from that kind of thing, but his facial expression made Lessie second guess that belief.
"Was Potter everything you dreamed he'd be," asked Theo, his voice bitter.
"Like I said, he's nice—Theo, what's wrong? Why are you being weird?" Lessie frowned as her heart rate began to speed up.
"I'm not—"
"You are! You British people are all so passive, just say what you mean, please!" Generally, she tried to avoid stereotypes of a people group as a whole, but she missed the bluntness of her closest friends back home.
Theo's regal face was impassive. "Whatever you do, Alessandra, please don't be part of the Potter fan club. It's really annoying, and I'd rather my friends not be reduced to love-struck idiots around "the Chosen One"."
"Love-struck…? Theo, absolutely not!" Lessie laughed out loud, and quickly put a hand over her mouth, she didn't want to wake the rest of the dormitories. "I didn't meet him because I had some crush on him. I wanted to meet him because I've read so much about him!"
Theo opened his mouth once and then closed it, he seemed to consider Lessie's response. She then quirked a dark eyebrow at him. "Hey, you said friends. Theodore Nott, the boy with acquaintances only, are we friends?"
After a moment, he responded, "Someone has to be your friend here."
"Again, you know exactly what to say to make a person feel warm and fuzzy inside." Lessie narrowed her eyes and shook her head at the boy, still she smiled as she pushed at his arm on the back of the couch. Her move made the solitary boy laugh, and she wanted to capture the moment.
She liked it best when Theo smiled—his eyes crinkled in the corners, and his teeth that seemed a bit too big for his mouth showed, as his smile was both open and shy all at once, so unlike the rest of the Slytherin house, where all conversation seemed to be back-handed insults.
Lessie stretched out her arm and rested it against the back of the couch too, her fingers mere centimeters from Theo's. She scooted further into the soft leather seat and rested her head against the couch's backrest too. "You make being here easier, Theo. I'm really glad we're friends."
For a minute, they both stared at each other, neither of them moved, except for their breathing and occasional blinking.
"You are a loud, cheeky, and bold American, Alessandra. You say exactly what is on your mind, and you are incredibly passionate. It's refreshing."
Lessie smiled faintly, but his kind words made her sad. His opinion of her wanted to make her cry—not because it hurt her feelings, but because it was everything she couldn't be with her family.
"Did I say something to make you sad?" Theo noticed. Lessie put on a smile and shook her head.
"Theo, are an ostentatious and arrogant Brit. You do exactly as you please, and you are incredibly smart and thoughtful when you want to be. You're the refreshing one."
"Alessandra." Theo's voice was thick, and something in his tone made her listen carefully. "You don't have to pretend in front of me. You're a lot like me in the sense that, as much as you hate it, you know how to behave in public. You know how to answer questions and how much information to share or hide, and that game bores you. If you don't want to, we don't have to play that game around each other."
Lessie moved her fingers forward first, gently the tips of her fingers touched Theo's. "You talk as if you know me," she said.
"I'd like to know you," said Theo. "Beyond what I see in class or amongst other Slytherins."
"And you will," Lessie promised, pulling her fingers away from the solitary boy. "We're friends, right?"
Theo trained his intense gaze on her. "Of course we're friends, Alessandra."
Something about his stare was her undoing—it made her want to trust him, tell him every fear, failure, hope, and wish. Lessie shook her head, she had overheard the boys in Slytherin talk about her not too long ago—a girl to take to sleep with and then send home. She wasn't interested. She had hoped Theo was different, but she could never be too careful…
Finally, Lessie jumped to her feet and picked up her book bag she had left on the ground beside her. Before she left, she briefly stood in front of Theo. Carefully, she reached out a hand to touch one his brown locks of hair that curled above his ear before she pulled away, leaving them both breathless.
Author's Note:
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