In response to a prompt by Anonymous in the SecretHistoryofNott collection. Prompt: Ballroom dancing in an empty room & "I burned all our bridges - not knowing that love knows how to swim." ― Laura Chouette

Story Summary: Theo Nott and Draco Malfoy struggle with their breakup after Theo is thrust into a betrothal of his father's choosing.

Tags:

Relationship: Draco Malfoy/Theodore Nott

Characters:

Theodore Nott Draco Malfoy

Additional Tags: Smut, Drama & Romance, Gay Theodore Nott, Bottom Draco Malfoy, Gay Draco Malfoy, Gay Sex, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering

A/N: Hey, if you like this and my other works, make sure to check me out on twitter! sarahfhickman is my handle

I Won't Risk It

Theodore Nott was bent over his caldron, measuring out the bat spleens as the puffer-fish eyes next to him simmered on a low heat for another twenty-three seconds. The chime above the door sounded as someone entered his apothecary, though he didn't hear his shop clerk call out any greeting. He rolled his, Sabrina was probably out back snogging her boyfriend–he had seen the boy hanging around when he'd poked his head out earlier.

His wand buzzed and Theo snapped his fingers, extinguishing the flames under the smaller cauldron before quickly adding the eyes to the potion he was brewing.

Truth be told, Theo had no idea what he was making, just that hopefully by the time he was done it would resemble an antidote for some of the darker curses that his father had invented. Of course, he would be testing all these out on himself before sending them to St. Mungo's, as his father was still terrorizing the entirety of Wizarding Europe. Somehow–in other words a corrupt ministry–even with his extensive war crimes and the evidence mounted against him, Thoros Nott had escaped Azkaban. Again.

The chime above the door sounded again as Theo pushed his geometric framed glasses up his nose and just as before, he didn't hear Sabrina say anything. Forget a snog, the witch was probably being shagged senseless. Theo let out a heavy sigh as someone began obnoxiously dinging the counter bell, but he couldn't be bothered to check on the patrons. Truly his only concern as of late was his experimentation and pushing the limits of magic.

He was about to add the unicorn hair in three, two– "THEO, I KNOW YOU'RE BACK THERE!" The hair slipped from his fingers and the potion in the cauldron shifted from a deep red to an inky black, not the result he was going for.

"Fuck," Theo muttered waving his wand and putting a stais charm over his work. It was close to being ruined, but Theo thought he might be able to save it. He blew a curl out of his face before turning towards the doorway, his stomach twisting with anticipation before he stepped out to where he'd heard the voice calling for him.

He walked down the short hall towards his shop, looking around the bare walls as he went. Grudgingly, Theo accepted that he more than likely wouldn't be able to get out of his shop without his lover–correction, ex-lover–noticing. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Theo took his reading glasses off his face and perched them on the top of his head before strolling out the last entryway. He twirled his Hornbeam wand between his fingers–a nervous tick that he'd had since he was first given his wand at nine–as he stood on the sales floor of his shop.

"Draco," Theo greeted the pale blonde man in front of him, squaring his shoulders to try and not seem so nervous.

Draco stood ramrod straight, his beautiful steel grey eyes narrowed, not breaking eye contact. He was a good head taller than Theo and being a professional Quidditch player had kept Draco fit in the six years since they'd left Hogwarts. Today he was wearing his usual black on black robes, making his alabaster skin seem to glow in the candlelight.

In all honesty, the man was so tall, broad, and gorgeous that just looking at his shoulders used to be enough to make Theo jump into his arms. However, that hadn't been the case in months. Not since, well–

"You can't marry her. Please, Theo. You can't marry that Rosier girl." Draco's grey eyes were pleading with him, and Theo could only let out a sigh before running his hand through his hair. His fingers ran into his glasses, tangling his nose piece into his curls as he let out a curse as a few strands were pulled from his head.

"We can run, Theo. We don't have to let our fathers dictate our lives anymore." His pale calloused hand reached towards him, but Theo shook his head and pinched his nose instead. The rejection hurt them both, but surely, he had to see reason.

"How many times do we have to have this discussion, Draco? You know we can't just run." Theo turned away from his ex, unable to look him in the eyes as he again reiterated just what they had to do, as if they hadn't been having this conversation for the last two months.

"You aren't my prince and I'm not your knight who's going to ride up and save you. If we run, Thoros will kill you. He won't think twice on ending your life to punish me and then imperious me and force me to marry and rape that little French witch to have himself a new heir. I've told you before, I will not put your life at risk, Draco. It's just not going to happen." Theo choked down a sob, his back still facing Draco, as Theo found himself unable to face his love again.

There was nothing to be done about it. In six months' time, Theo would be marrying Minette Rosier at her family's vineyard in the south of France. The dress robes were being fitted, the floral arrangements decided, the menu tasted, everything was well underway. Only problem was, the person who he'd be bonded to by the end of the ceremony.

No, the person he wanted to marry was standing behind him, begging Theo to run away with him.

"If my mother hadn't cursed my father to be barren after her death, he would have killed me by now too. I'm not willing to risk your life, Draco. We were foolish silly boys with childish fantasies thinking we could be together." Theo could feel the warmth from Draco's body as he stepped closer to him, a shutter rolled through him, and tears were pricking at his eyes. "I'm going to marry Minette, Draco. She's a very sweet witch and we'll live a content life together. But most importantly, you'll be alive."

"I can't let you do this, Theo." Draco's voice cracked, but Theo couldn't face or comfort his love. His resolve would break, and he had to hold steady. "Please, you're breaking my heart." He could feel the cool touch of Draco through his lab robes as the blonde reached out to him. "We can figure this out, together."

"You need to go, Draco." Theo said, pulling his arm out of Draco's grasp. Theo's occlumency shields fell into place, blocking out the flood of emotions threatening to bubble up. That was the last thing that Theo needed to deal with right now. It was one thing to cry his eyes out into a glass of wine by himself, it was another to do so in front of the man who owned his entire heart.

"Theo, please–" The desperation in Draco's voice almost broke him, but Theo held strong, walking back down the hall towards his office. He shut and warded the door so that Draco couldn't follow him and just before the silencing charm took hold, the sounds of Draco's sobs could be heard and Theo felt his soul break, just a little bit more.