Return to Hogwarts

Chapter 3: Slytherin Schemes

Theodore groaned as he stretched in bed. It was a lovely Sunday morning and he hoped to do nothing shy of lying about in bed. Eyes still closed, Theodore reached out for the warm body next to his, and buried his face in his wife's neck. He grinned, and began to plant kisses on the exposed skin. The girl stirred, and Theodore couldn't help but smile.

'Good morning, lover,' said Morag as she turned around to face Theodore and kissed his lips. The pair dated over seven years before marrying, not to mention their sexual escapades during and shortly after their time in Hogwarts whilst he had dated Pansy; yet he woke her every morning with kisses and caresses seeking her full attention.

'Good morning, Mrs. Nott,' he responded lazily, his hand snaking around her body to cup a breast. Placing more kisses on her collar, Theodore felt a tapping on his leg. Deciding it had to be Morag's cat Fluffy (Salazar, one would think the woman could pick something more appropriate) he ignored it and continued on the task at hand. Yet it would not go away. Irritated, Theodore sat up and roared in the general direction of the creature: 'WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU – oh.'

Sitting up, Morag looked at the man in confusion. She crawled over to where he sat, and slid an arm around her husband's waist. 'What is it?' looking in the direction he was staring, she held her hand out, smiling as the owl hopped towards her. Gently petting Riddle's head, she untied the letters from its lap. Riffling through the envelopes, she began to tick them off: 'One from your father; he's getting out in a few weeks isn't he? One from Hogwarts. I'm sure that can wait. This one's interesting…' muttering, Morag tore open the envelope, tossing the others to the side, while Theodore fingered his father's letter, looking at it sadly. It would be odd having him in his life again

Ignoring Theodore, Morag scanned the letter in her hand and looked up at her husband. She nudged him with her foot, hoping to catch his attention. When his eyes turned to her, Morag showed him the letter. 'Malfoy wants to see us,' Theodore shrugged, yawning as he crawled out of bed.

Standing a few feet away from the bed he looked down at Morag, before stretching his arms to the sky. Loosening his muscles, Theodore ran his fingers through his short brown hair. 'Last time I took an order from Malfoy, I nearly killed myself tripping down the dungeon steps third year. Why would I care if he commands that we see him?' moving towards the mirror, Theodore smiled as his reflection yet continued to watch her through it as well, 'besides he knows I'm not his lackey.'

Morag looked up at the man, smirking as he groomed in the mirror. Theodore Nott's daily ritual: preening and strutting about in front of the mirror because he felt that he was that sexy. To his credit, at least he was right. 'I know that; he knows that. Really, darling it's bloody obvious by now that you don't take anything from anyone. Besides,' she smirked, 'if you'd let me finish telling you what he wants, you wouldn't be standing there complaining about it.'

Theodore chuckдed at her words, and smiled as she climbed off the bed walking towards him. Reaching him, she wrapped her arms around his torso as she looked into the mirror, and through it, smiled at Theodore. 'Very well, my darling wife,' he grinned and pulled her around so he could place his arms around her waist and kiss her neck, 'what does ickle Dracokins say?'

'He says… we are to meet him tonight at the pub in Knockturn Alley,' said Morag, translating the code on the parchment. Continuing to read, she tilted her head for him to kissing her. '"With the release of the five Death Eaters, we need to assimilate them to our ranks. Father and I are sure that they will help bring our message into the light." He goes on, and on about filthy mudbloods and the like, but we know that already,' she rolled her eyes, 'Draco and his tangents. Anyway… here we go: "we need your insight into the ministry, Theo. I'll reveal more at the meeting; just get here when you receive you owl. Bring the girl too,"' Morag read, shaking her head at the letter before placing it on the vanity. She turned around to face Theo, rested her hands on his chest and kissed his lips. 'So I'm "the girl"?'

Theo grinned and nodded. He pulled her tight against him, ran his fingers through her long brown tresses and kissed her hard on the lips. 'Yes, you are my girl,' letting his hand travel down her body, he squeezed her bare arse and grinned, 'get dressed, woman. We're going.' Morag laughed, gave Theodore a playful shove before rushing off to get dressed, all whilst he watched her walk away.

After what seemed like an eternity of finding something appropriate to wear, and then waiting for Morag to find something that she thought made her arse look small, the pair Apparated to Diagon Alley. Theodore, of course, had made it quite clear that her arse was in fact not even remotely 'huge' but had she listened? No, never did. Women he'd huffed as he watched her change for the umpteenth time. Then again, if they weren't supposed to meet Draco, he would have swept her up between changes, bent her over that vanity chair…

'Theodore Nott! Listen to me while I'm talking to you!' blinking, Theodore focused back on his wife and grinned. She sighed, rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, tugging him towards Knockturn Alley.

'Sorry, thinking of you in bed,' said Theodore grinning, as his wife rolled her eyes, 'What? I never said we'd do anything,' he laughed as she shook her head again. Of course, she didn't believe him. He wouldn't believe himself either.

'Later, Theo, later,' walking down the darker, narrower alleyways, Morag held on to Theodore's hand, grimacing as she spotted a Hag or two. She cringed as a seedy, dirty wizard eyed her. Theodore looked down at the former Ravenclaw and smiled, wrapping an arm around her thin waist. Knockturn Alley was a scary place for some witches and wizards, but for Theodore this was almost a home away from home. Arriving at the appropriate pub, the couple made their way into the dimly lit building. Morag looked around her, trying to gain her bearings and couldn't help but cringe. This place was far worse than any other she'd ever been to. The outside had been bad enough: a blackened, brick building with filthy windows that one couldn't look through and a roof that looked as though it could collapse at any second. The inside, however, felt dirty. Not only were the table, floors and even glasses dirty, but the clientele looked, and smelled as though they hadn't seen water much less soap in months.

Spotting Draco at a table, Theodore directed them toward the man, and sat down on one of the chair. Morag, ever conscious of her designer robes, settled herself on Theodore's lap. Theodore comfortable slid his arms around Morag's waist and nodded a 'hello' at his fellow Slytherin.

Draco sneered as Theodore sat down across from him. He had been watching them since the moment they had walked into the place. He still found it incredibly irritating that the bint had taken Theodore away. The least he could have done was marry someone like Daphne or Pansy, a girl raised to look the other way when her husband took a lover or lovers. Wouldn't tie him down. 'Are you two finished yet?' He spat, looking at the girl in disgust, love was useless when there were far more important things to discuss.

'Sorry, mate,' Theodore sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. 'I can't help myself. So-' Theodore paused before he could ask his question. The waitress had arrived and was standing there, loudly popping her gum as she awaited their order. The woman was of about their age, although she looked far more haggard than anyone Morag knew, raising her nose in the air, she waited for her husband to order. Theodore nodded at the woman, giving her his usual one-over as Morag shifted in his lap. 'A pint; and a martini,' Morag poked him in the stomach, 'in a clean glass, please.'

The woman nodded. 'Oh, an' m'name's Briana,' she slurred before turning on her heel and heading to the bar. Theodore smiled as he watched her leave. She wasn't really beautiful, but she did have a nice arse.

'Nott! I didn't call you down here to look at the waitresses arses,' Draco snapped picking up his pint. He smiled inwardly, happy to see that his old friend had not changed completely; that the old Theo was in there somewhere and the wench hadn't completely killed him. He nearly choked on his drink when he noticed the murderous glance Morag was giving Theodore, who didn't seem to care in the slightest. Clearing his throat, Draco leaned in toward the couple. 'Father and I have decided that it's time.'

Theodore nodded, slightly annoyed. Malfoy was always one to plot, plan and whinge about thing and yet never actually do a bloody thing about it. He couldn't remember how many times he'd talked about riding the world of Potter, written up a plan and it fallen through because he'd left it up to Crabbem Goyle and some 'minion' of his. Of course, Theodore never took orders, and just cooled his heels as he watched Zabini, Greengrass, or Perks fuck it up. 'Is that so? What is it this time? Have Crabbe or Goyle smother Potter in his sleep?' Theodore smirked, giving Morag, who was trying hard not to laugh, a squeeze.

Draco glared at Theodore, an icy, cold look. He didn't know why he bothered including Nott, all he ever did was sit back on his arse and mock him. 'Bloody arse,' he sneered, as Theodore smiled at him. Draco sighed. He knew he needed the cocky arse; he was nearly as intelligent and resourceful as Draco himself, and the Malfoys could use someone like him on the right side. Not to mention that in addition to his renowned escapades with women; Theodore was known for his sadistic side, and was by far the best hit wizard in the ministry. Although, he'd rather marry Parkinson than let Theo know he needed him. 'No, it's serious this time. Father has found his lost followers, and we will complete what he was accomplishing; before Potter destroyed it!' said Draco, pounding his fist on the table in anger. Calming a bit, he settled and lowered his voice: 'Weasley must die.'

Theodore nodded in agreement. The Minister of Magic was becoming a nuisance. Rather than turn against his up bringing and favour those with money and power, like they had hoped, he'd only tried to strengthen relations with muggles and brought even more mudbloods and half-breeds into the ministry. Morag gently rubbed her husband's arm, helping him calm down. She knew how current situations in the wizarding world tended to upset him. Personally, Morag didn't care one way or the other, but if the destruction of the mudbloods and the purification of the wizards would make their world better (as Theodore swore, and Morag knew) then, so be it. 'How exactly do you plan on doing this?' Morag piped up, still running her hand up and down her husband's arm, ho gave her a gentle squeeze of appreciation.

'The reunion,' Draco responded, smiling triumphantly. His smile faded as he noticed the blank looks on the Nott's faces. He sighed: 'did you not receive your invitation? Potter, Weasley and Granger have decided it's time for a reunion.'

'That must have been that letter…' murmured Theodore looking down at his wife., who nodded. Looking back at Draco, he raised a brow, 'very well, why would he be at the reunion, Malfoy? It makes no sense.'

Draco sighed heavily, and gave Theodore his best you are a massive idiot look. Theodore glared back. 'Of course he's not, it's only for our year; but we all know mudblood and Potter are throwing this thing for a reason. I don't, for one minute, think they actually prefer seeing all of us again. They needed to get us all in one place; they know we're dangerous. So, when we are all safely locked away in the castle, with our alibis...' Draco grinned wickedly and Theodore couldn't help but laugh.

Leaning in towards his wife's ear, Theodore whispered: 'go check up on our drinks, love. I've things to discuss with Malfoy.' Morag nodded. She slid off of his lap and walked off to the bar having first kissed her husband's cheek, there were some things that she just preferred not to know. Once she was out of earshot, Theodore leaned in toward the other man. 'How?'

Draco smiled; it was good that his Theo had the upper hand; there was hope yet. He shook his head at the question. 'Not here. It'll wait until we're all together.'

'We? Exactly who is on our side?' Theodore asked, managing to look only slightly puzzled. He knew of no one outside of Pansy, now permanently attached to Montague, and Crabbe and Goyle who would necessarily aid them. Davis had officially renounced them when she'd married that mudblood last year, although as a half-blood, she'd only half-heartedly followed Pans; Theo hadn't heard from Bulstrode in ages, although she still scared the hell out of himl, and therefore he preferred not to. Zabini, now there was a disappointment. He'd diligently followed Draco for ages, and been a friend to Theodore (who really only had two other such friends; his wife and Draco) until recently. He'd barely kept contact since his marriage to that Hufflepuff Sophia Capper in 2000. That left Greengrass and Perks. Perks had been through five different husbands in the past eight years and so Theodore assumed she was far too busy trying find number six; and Greengrass… she was still married to Higgs; a most unhappy match.

'Crabbe, Goyle, Montague and Pans, Higgs, Zabini. They have all agreed. Daph's thinking about it, although she's pregnant again,' he sneered, 'Higgs doesn't want to risk the child, so obviously Daphne's more than happy to help.'

Theodore chuckled darkly. The squabbles between the Higgs' brought plenty of fodder for the gossipmongers; each month either they or their five offspring (for Terrence, who had married Daphne after he exited Azkaban, had ensured that she was pregnant every year since their marriage) managed to create a new scandal that rocked the wizarding elite. He smirked at Malfoy; 'Well then, this is bound to be a reunion no one will ever forget.'