THC: Round 5

House: Ravenclaw

Class subject: Herbology

Story Category: drabble

Prompt(s): [character] Theodore Nott

Word count: 721

Notes: Probably does not follow cannon 100% there were a lot of things that we don't know about the Nott's that I filled in.

Whispering of Secrets

It's not like Theo wanted to be in the stupid "Slug Club" but the fact that he wasn't invited because of his father made him want to laugh. As if Theo had a choice in who his father was. On top of that, Theo knew the truth behind what Slughorn did. His father spilled about it one night when he was a child, drunk off his ass and still mourning the death of Theo's mother. He wondered if Slughorn knew that he knew. If he could see it in Theo's eyes during class when he stared at his professor, trying to dissect what on Earth made him do it.

Theo didn't choose his family, but Slughorn chose to give Voldemort the tools he needed to drag this war out.

"It's ridiculous, is what it is," Draco whined. "We're two of his best students."

"Frankly, I don't care," Theo said, looking up from his homework.

"He loved our fathers, but now he sucks up to nobodies like Potter and his crew."

Theo could see the worry etched onto Draco's face. He knew that his friend was only complaining so he could think about something else other than the task he had been given.

Theo knew a lot of things people thought he didn't.

"Let the nobodies have their fun for now." Theo reached over to push Draco's head in the direction of his work. "It won't last very long."

"I hate when you get cryptic," Draco sighed, picking up his quill to start on his Potions homework, which had started his rant.

"You hate a lot of things."

"I'd like for one day to go by where you don't psychoanalyze me, Theo."

Theo wished for that as well, but all he knew was watching people from the sidelines and analyzing their actions.

Draco came up with the "genius" idea to crash the Slug Club's Christmas party. Theodore really didn't want to go, but knew that Draco would do something dumb if he decided not to tag along.

Theo watched the room while sipping his drink. Blaise was off trying to get some Ravenclaw girl to dance with him. Draco had wandered off somewhere with a promise to come back soon. Theo hoped he wouldn't regret not following the blond.

Potter and his crew were standing around awkwardly - not that Theo expected much else from them. The Lovegood girl was swaying next to Harry as the "Chosen One's" eyes darted between people. Theo held his ground when their eyes met. The Gryffindor raised an eyebrow and gave Theo a once-over before whispering something to his date and making his way towards Theo.

"Where's Malfoy?" Harry asked once he reached Theo. A small part of Theo was glad that his father got caught at the Ministry last summer. But he also resented Harry for taking the only family he had left.

"Why should I know?" Theodore shrugged as he studied Harry.

"He's the reason you guys snuck in," Harry said as he glanced around the room.

"I don't keep all my friends at an arm's-length, Potter," Theo scoffed. "I don't need Draco here to be able to survive."

"I'm perfectly capable of being on my own," Harry turned on his heels and walked away.

Theodore knew what it was like to grow up seemingly alone in a huge house. He had heard snippets of Harry's home life, and didn't wish it for himself. But, no, Harry Potter was not capable of being on his own, and with good reason.

Theo returned to an empty house when summer break arrived. He had dismissed all of their House-elves the summer before. The school year had ended in chaos, and Theodore had no idea what was waiting around the corner.

Deep down inside of him, he wished Potter luck in defeating Voldemort. He had never been too fond of the Dark Lord – he didn't imagine many were, except for maybe Bellatrix. The first war had taken his mother from him, and this one took his father. Theo was tired of being alone. Tired of being able to see ghosts when he closed his eyes. Tired of knowing everyone's secrets, because they told him knowing he had no one else to tell.

He hoped he'd be able to rest someday, maybe, without everyone's consciousnesses whispering to him.