"So how's your project going?" I asked Neville.
"Oh, it's fantastic. Y'know Malfoy is actually really smart" he replied.
"That's great Neville" I said. "I wish I had an at least decent partner."
"Yeah, I know" he patted my back sympathetically.
"All she does in Astronomy is file her nails, chew her pumpkin gum, and draw doodles of her marrying Malfoy" I groaned. "It's honestly so annoying. I swear I can hear the pops of her pumpkin gum right now."
Neville sucked a breath between his teeth. "That's tough. I am praying for you."
"So am I" I sighed.
"But, your really good at Astronomy so that should be fine" he said.
"That's true. I have the project almost fully completed."
"Can I tell you something?" Neville said.
"Yeah sure" I said nodding my head.
"I'm so confused right now" he groaned, pulling at his hair.
"What's wrong Nev?"
"It's Blaise" he said.
'Why? Is there something wrong? Did you two get into a fight?"
"No, it's nothing like that. It's just he hasn't asked me to the ball yet and it's in two days" Neville explained.
"Maybe he's just waiting for the right moment" I tried to console him.
"Yeah maybe" Neville said quietly. "Do you think he doesn't want to go with me?"
"Do you think you'd be dating if he didn't want to go with you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the idiotic question.
"No, but what if he's having second thoughts" Neville whined, panicking.
"That's ridiculous" I scoffed. "Blaise is so in love with you."
"Are you sure?" asked Neville.
"I've never been more sure in my life" I smiled. "Look, I have to get going, but if you really think there's an issue than just talk to him."
"Thanks Addy" he waved to me as I walked away to go to the Room of Requirement.
I had a session with none other than Theodore Nott.
I walked silently to the 'office', wondering what Nott could possibly want. I thought back to the time when Neville and Blaise had their first day. It seemed like ages ago when in reality it was only a week ago.
I got into the 'office' a little early to prepare. I wasn't entirely sure if Theo was here for a real session or just wanting to get into my pants.
Theodore Nott strolled into the room, anxiously biting at his nails and muttering things to himself.
"Nott?" I asked concerned. "Are you okay?"
His body was chittering and he biting his nails harshly, they were almost drawing blood.
"Woah, woah Nott" I said grabbing his hand away from his teeth. "What's wrong?"
I looked into his eyes.
They were blood red.
"Are you high?" I asked.
He nodded, bouncing his leg up and down. His eyes were darting all over the place as if he was looking for something.
"Nott look at me" I said, but he didn't look at me.
"Theodore" I said sternly.
His expression showed me that he hadn't been called his full name in a long time. It was like it triggered something.
His body collapsed to the floor. His body began to convulse rapidly He body twitching and jerking on the floor.
I had no idea what to do.
He was having a seizure.
"Oh my god" I breathed. "Oh my god" I knelt down to him.
I had no idea what to do. I grabbed my wand, lifting him in the air.
I needed to get him to Madam Pomfrey quick, but then again I didn't know how much time he had left.
I conjured up a bottle of calming drought in hopes that it would stop his body from seizing. I forced it down is throat as his body started to slowly stop it's shaking, but his hands continued to twitch.
I had to get him to Madam Pomfrey, but he was to heavy to carry so I levitated him as I ran out of the Room of Requirement.
I dashed through the halls, carrying the body as people all around looked at me with disbelief and shock.
I didn't slow down my pace, even when I had gotten tired. I continued to run at full speed to the hospital wing.
I arrived with a crash of the door.
"Madam Pomfrey" I yelled frantically.
She came running toward me with a face of bewilderment. "Set him down right here."
I did as she said. She began to stifle through her cabinet in search of potions and remedies. "What happened?" she asked.
"He had a seizure and I didn't know what to do. I gave him some calming drought and then brought him here" I frantically explained with tears in my eyes.
I didn't know Nott at all, but I definitely didn't want to see him die.
"That calming drought might have just saved his life" Madam Pomfrey sighed, performing a diagnostic spell on Nott who was unconscious, but his fingers were twitching slightly.
She did a spell that stopped the twitching of Nott's fingers and fed him a sleeping draught. "He's going to be okay" she said and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Do you know what could have brought this on?"
I didn't want to expose him, but then again it was detrimental to his life. "He does a lot of drugs so I'm guessing that is what was happening. He was high when he came to me" I explained calmer than I was before.
"Can you say that he is addicted?" asked Madam Pomfrey as she wiped the forehead of Nott's face.
"I would say he's an addict" I nodded my head.
"Oh dear" she whispered to herself, but I heard it. "If he continues this course of action it could have life changing affects on his health and will indefinitely shorten his life span. This was just a warning, if he doesn't stop then these will happen more often until his body cannot handle it anymore" Madam Pomfrey explained with such a fear in her voice.
"Oh god" I said.
I tried to think of an instance where Theodore Nott wasn't high or keeping some form of drug on him. There was none. Ever since the war had been over Nott turned to drugs. I didn't know the reason for it because he had never come to a session until now.
Everything that was going on made me forget that Nott was a death eater during the war. He had fought on the wrong side, until the final battle when many younger death eaters were switching sides, including Draco Malfoy.
That was why no one hated them after the war. Sure there were a few people, but mostly everyone else was accepting of them and had gratitude for them so there wasn't really a reason to turn to drugs, unless there was a missing piece to the puzzle.
"Where did you find him?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
"Um we were having a session and then he just collapsed."
"A session?" she asked curiously.
"Oh yes, erm I do these session. It's kind of like therapy I guess" I explained. "Many students come to me and Nott had a session with me."
"Oh" she nodded, thinking in her mind. "And in these sessions is it possible you can be like some sort of sponsor or counselor?"
"I mean I guess, but I don't really have much experience" I said rubbing my neck awkwardly.
"Do you think it's possible that you could help Mr.Nott with his addiction?"
"Oh" I said popping my eyes wide open. Could I? I mean I would love to help, truly, but I wasn't sure if I was qualified enough.
"I would not be able to send him to a hospital without parental permission and the permission of the Ministry" she explained.
Slowly I nodded my head, "I'll try."
"Thank you very much, I am sure that Mr.Nott and Mrs.Nott would appreciate it. I must inform Professor McGonagall about what has happened. You may stay if you like, he will just be resting" Madam Pomfrey said before scurrying away.
I walked over to the sleeping Theodore Nott, moving the hair off of his forehead. "You know Nott, your an idiot" I said to him even though he couldn't hear me.
"I don't know why you do what you do, but I promise I'll do everything I can to help you. I swear to it" I said.
"Have a nice sleep."
--
I walked into the Great Hall and all eyes had turned to me. It was a no brainer that the gossip would be spread everywhere. I just had no idea what the story was.
I walked over to Ginny, Neville, Luna, and Athena who were sitting at the Ravenclaw table. They all turned to me as I sat down at the table, eager to ask their questions.
"What happened?" asked Athena curiously. "People are saying you were running the halls with Nott's dead body."
"Yeah, people are saying that you killed him" Neville said in a hushed tone.
"Do you really believe that?" I laughed humorlessly.
"Of course not' Ginny shook her head. "We just wanted to know the real story from you."
"So spill" said Athena.
"Where do I start?" I said. "Well Nott had a session with me."
"Really?" asked Neville. "That seems so out of character."
"I know he was acting really weird and then he just started having a seizure" I explained. All of them were extremely intrigued by the story, staring at me with wide eyes.
"Is he okay?" asked Luna.
"He'll be okay" I nodded, reassuring her.
"I should tell Blaise that because he's been worried" said Neville rushing to the Slytherin table.
Neville whispered in Blaise's ear, noticeably calming him down. Blaise gave Neville a thank you kiss which earned some claps from the neighboring tables. Neville came back with a flushed face, looking down at his plate and eating.
I filled my plate up with food, dinner was almost half way over as I ate, ignoring the feeling of eyes burning through me.
"Do you know why he had the seizure?" asked Athena. She was a bit concerned for Nott's wellbeing, but then again everyone should be.
"Most likely his extensive drug use" I said, continuing to eat my food. "Madam Pomfrey said I should continue sessions with Nott to help him."
"I agree with that decision" chimed Luna.
"Honestly" I sighed, "me too."
"Really?" Ginny said giving me a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing like that" I dismissed her. "It's just, I feel bad and I want to help."
"It's a nice thing to do" agreed Neville.
"Yeah it is" agreed Athena.
We all chatted about other things like classes and quidditch, avoiding the topic of Nott. I didn't want other people overhearing and spreading crazy rumors all around the school about me.
