It was almost two weeks into the summer and Harry Potter was going mad. He had read all of his school books from first year to third year and could do most of the spells wandlessly and wordlessly. His exercise only amused him for a short while. With Harry competing in fights every other night and being overworked with chores and beatings during the day he didn't have much time to wander through the darkened back rodes of the country as he did now. On either side of his glades of dry golden grass shone silver under the waning moon. There were no streetlights, no light at all but that of the old plantation-style townhouses almost a full mile away.
"Potter?" Harry spun around and trained his wand on the owner of the voice only to see a tall blond boy wearing wizarding robes. Fancy ones at that. Pureblood or half-blood hen, Harry concluded. Muggleborns mostly chose to wear muggle clothes when they were out of school and most couldn't afford robes like that anyways.
"...you?" Harry raised an eyebrow. He looked relatively the same age as Harry and he looked quite similar. Maybe a Ravenclaw?
"Nott, Theo Nott," His face was cool, unaffected if not a bit wary.
"Then who are ya?" Harry joked cocking his head. The boy, Notts, eyebrows pinched imperceptibly.
"It was a joke, Nott," Harry grinned. The kid stared at him then snorted.
"It was, uh, it was good," He lied. Harry grinned wider and shook his head.
"No it wasn't," He said knowingly," Do you go to Hogwarts?" Harry asked curiously.
"Yeah, but I'm a Slytherin so perhaps it's better you've never heard of me," Nott said offhandedly.
"Slytherin, huh?" Harry mused," You don't hang out with Malfoys crowd and that's good enough for me. We kinda don't like each other," Harry explained ruefully. Nott laughed and ran long tapered fingers through his shoulder-length straight blond hair.
"No shit, Potter," He smirked.
"What are you doing out here?" Harry asked. Nott gave Harry a blank look.
"Taking over the Ministry," The Slytherin snarked. Harry chortled," I live close to here, near the falls," He explained.
"Me too," Harry admitted," I come out here sometimes to think, you know?" Nott nodded his head. They began to walk down the lit path in silence. The Slytherin's presence was oddly welcome. Harry still pulled his beanie down over his head though.
"Cassiopeias my favorite," Nott murmmered. Harry glanced over at the boy then up at the velvet void.
"You can't see him now but Sirius is my favorite," Harry told him softly.
"The dog-star?" Nott exclaimed quietly. Harry smirked.
"Mmhm," Harry hummed. Nott had questions in his pale blue eyes but Harry wasn't up to answering them.
"Does Granger really read twenty books a day?" Nott asked. the question shocked a laugh out of Harry who looked the Slytherin's too innocent face. It was wiped clean of expression of course but Harry saw his lip quirk.
"Of course not! She still needs time to be to tell everyone what she's read," Harry teased," Does Malfoy hog the mirrors?"
"Of course not!" Nott laughed," He brought his own," Harrys laughter was loud and incredulous.
"Yeah, the vain git," Harry giggled. Their breath came out in white clouds.
"Whats Gryffindor like?" Nott asked.
"Like fireworks. Loud, bright, fun, and the chance of getting your head blown off is always present," Harry told him. Nott laughed softly and pulled out a cigarette. He lit it with the tip of his finger. Brilliant.
"Whats Slytherin like?" Harry asked. Nott blew out a circular gust of smoke.
"Quiet, brilliant, glamourous with a constant knife to the throat," Nott smirked at him cool and collected. They stayed quiet as Nott smoked. His black robes danced around his ankles. The Taste of Nott's magic was interesting. It was sweet like blood oranges and thick and cloying like the cigarette smoke with a small tangible trace of steel laced throughout.
"Sleep well?" Harry said sarcastically.
"Never," Nott retorted.
"This was kinda nice," Harry said cautiously. Nott glanced down at him then turned towards the Cassiopeia.
"Yeah," He said nonchalantly with a subtle air of nervousness," Something that should be done again?"
After that night, Harry went to see Nott whenever he could which was about three times a week and never in the daytime. They talked about school, teachers, their favorite subjects. Harry told Nott about his adventures with his friends.
"A basilisk? A fucking basilisk was roaming the halls?" Nott asked softly menacing. Harry knew, if his voice got soft and sweet it meant someone was getting hurt. Or at least Nott wanted someone to get hurt. Harry nodded with a smirk.
"Yup," Harry confirmed.
"And you killed it?" Nott looked up and down his meager 4'9 frame. Harry bristled.
"With a sword!" Harry bragged with a sharp-toothed grin.
"Really?"
"Yeah, look here," Harry instructed pulling up his sleeve to show the Slytherin a large Harrynovel shaped opal-colored scar. Nott raised his hand to it and touched it softly before stopping.
"Does it hurt?" He asked softly. Harry shook his head.
"I can't feel pain in the top part of my arm. I can't feel anything," Harry told him.
"Nerve damage," Nott said factually. Harry hummed. Nott's fingertips went lower. The basilisk bite was far from the only scar on his arm.
"Are these from your 'battles too?" Nott asked. Harry snatched his arm away and tugged down his sleeve.
"Not of the same sort," Harry dismissed. Nott watched him with careful eyes. Harry saw him take in his bandaged knuckles, the shiner on his cheek, the scar on her neck, and finally the infamy lightning bolt scar that slashed through his face.
"I'm sorry," Nott apologized insincerely. Harrys shoulders slumped as he let out a deep breath.
"Please don't strain yourself, " Harry rolled his eyes. He looked up at the Slytherin boy. His ash-blond hair was in a 'man bun' on the top of his head but small pieces of hair floated gracefully into his face and were promptly tucked behind Nott's ears. Harry kinda wished he'd leave them.
"There are no other documented Wizarding homes around here," Nott told him cautiously," I checked,"
"Of course you did," Harry snorted," And I don't live with wizards," Harry admitted.
"You live with muggles," Nott stated. Harry nodded.
"Filthy animals," Nott spat. Harry spun around to glare at him.
"Don't you use me like that, Nott," Harry growled," I refuse to be the reason for your blind prejudice!"
"So you're going to tell me that muggles didn't do that to you," Nott demanded.
"A wizard did this to me!" Harry hissed and pointed to the disfiguring scar on his face. Nott pressed his lips together. Harry's eyes were still glaring into the side of his face. All of a sudden Harry tore off his beany. Bright red locks fell around his face.
"You- oh!" Nott breathed. Poppy red curls floated around his face and tickled his chin. Harry looked up at his newfound confidant with glittering eyes and red cheeks flushed from the cold and the blazing heat of his fury.
"I will not be the reason, Nott," Harrys voice shook. Harry pulled his sleeves over his hands then crossed his arms against his chest. Harry looked up and away from Notts stupid face. Harry turned on a heel to go.
"Wait," Nott commanded and grabbed him by his shoulders. Harry hissed and pushed his hands away, "Listen!"
"Why the fuck should I listen to you?" Harry laughed humorlessly," Gonna tell your little Death Eater friends that Harry Potter gets the shit kicked out of him by some muggles? That it? Huh? HUH! Answer me!" Harry yelled. Harry curled his lip at the boy.
Nott flexed his hands frustratingly before tucking them in his pockets," I'm sorry, Harry. I- I didn't mean it that way. I was angry," Nott apologized stiffly," And I don't like seeing you hurt. And you're ALWAYS hurt! You're always hurt," He whispered, his eyes became heated.
"Muggles aren't Filthy," Harry insisted but his heart wasn't in it. He knew Nott could tell from how his eyes started to glow like light over a frozen lake and the sweet quirk of his lips. Manipulative bastard.
"Not all, just some. Like yours. They suck," Theo said factually making Harry laugh breathlessly. They smiled at each other. Harry knew he was being handled but he hoped to eventually make Nott change his mind about muggles and muggle-borns
.
"I need to go," Harry said softly. Nott's smile fell but he nodded stiffly.
"Oh," He tried to say casually," Tomorrow then?" he asked.
"I don't know," Harry admitted," It's... not something I can control but I'll be back. I promise," said Harry.
"I believe you," Nott told him. It was as much of the truth as it was a threat. Harry smiled as saluted him with two fingers before turning to walk away. He felt Theo Nott's eyes burning into his back. They never left.