The first week of Hogwarts was especially chaotic for the first years, as getting to and from classes was quite a learning curve. The numerous staircases around the castle would often change positions, doors would sometimes not open and subjects in portraits would move to other paintings.
The Slytherin dormitory was located in the very depths of Hogwarts dungeon, so Theodore Nott and his fellow Slytherin first years had to almost always travel a fair way to reach their classrooms.
As for the class work itself, Theodore was relieved to find that he was somewhat ahead of most others in all subjects. Since his mother's death, Theodore had spent much time alone in his room reading, greatly increasing his intelligence. Class theory was almost a breeze, however wand control was going to take some time for even Theodore to get right.
After Transfiguration class on Tuesday afternoon, Slytherin first years were given the rest of the day off, to prepare for Astronomy at midnight. Draco Malfoy came up to Theodore after class. "Vince, Greg and I are going to the grounds to throw a quaffle around with the Slytherin chasers," he said, "Want to come Theo?" "No thanks," replied Theodore, "I'm going to go study in the library." Draco looked disappointed, but shrugged his shoulders, "Suit yourself," he said, and then wandered off.
Theodore stared after him for a moment. He knew Draco probably meant well. Although perhaps his true motive was to recruit Theo as a lackey in his little gang. Either way it did not matter, Theodore had lost all social desires since his mother's death, and solidarity was something he wanted to embrace for his entire school life. He did enjoy his personal musings of those around him, as he had taken great interest in the other first years at the sorting ceremony. However actual interaction with anyone was something Theodore ultimately wanted to avoid.
He returned to the common room to drop off his class books and then headed for the library, located on the third floor.
Arriving there, Theodore was admitted by Madam Pince the librarian and ventured in. The library was an enormous labyrinth of many rooms all lined with shelves as high as the ceiling, stacked with countless books. The entrance area had numerous reading desks occupied by older students deep in study. Theodore walked past them and down the endless bookshelves, picking up random books that caught his interest. He turned down one, then another. Then suddenly he saw something that made him freeze. Just ahead, pouring through a large book was a young girl Theodore knew. Hermione Granger, the quirky Gryffindor girl that had for some strange reason especially caught Theodore's attention during the sorting ceremony.
She looked up as he approached, "Oh, hello," she said, noticing that Theodore was staring at her. She seemed a little apprehensive and Theodore guessed it was because he was a Slytherin, and it was well known that their respective houses were rivals. "Hi," Theodore gave blankly as he motioned to walk passed her. "You're Theodore Nott aren't you?" she asked quite boldly just as Theodore was passing her. Theodore paused and looked at Granger. Her brown eyes were somehow unsettling to his normally unshakeable nerves as they stared warily at him. He managed to keep his composure though and respond. "That's right, Granger isn't it?" he said softly. She nodded and let a slight smile. "I haven't seen any other first years come to the library, have you come to study?" she asked. "Yes I have," Theodore replied, "I have Astronomy tonight so I thought I'd prepare a little," He began to continue walking along, but Granger kept speaking. " I think everyone should be reading as much as they can, I couldn't believe I was the only Gryffindor who had read all the text books before even coming to Hogwarts, I do not want to take any chances with my magical education." She stopped suddenly feeling like she was saying too much. Theodore smiled. After initially being guarded with him, it was clear that she was a proud, talkative person, who took herself very seriously. Her sudden pause in conversation was perhaps due to her recalling she was talking to a Slytherin boy. "So you're in Slytherin," she said, "How are you finding it?" "Fine," Theodore replied quickly. There was an awkward silence and then Theodore simply began walking away. "Bye," Granger called, Theodore turned back and gave a pleasant smile. Once he was out of her sight he quickly scurried away. What was a matter with him?! For sure he was a loner, but he had always interacted with people in a confident and terse manor. Never feeling shy or awkward. What was it about Granger that unsettled him?
The following afternoon Theodore found himself drawn to the library once again. He entered, picked up a book and sat down at a studying table. He opened the book and began skimming through it. Theodore kept looking around, wondering if he would see Granger, when suddenly she appeared walking towards him with a massive pile of books in her arms. She had evidently seen Theodore before he had seen her because she smiled, came up to him and sat beside him. "I was hoping to find you here," she said rather excitedly. "I was wondering if I could hear all about your Astronomy session last night, since I have it tonight, have a look at some of these books I got, do you think I will need to know all of this information?" She spoke so fast that it was rather amusing to Theodore. "You certainly won't need to know anything in these text books really," Theodore explained. "All we really did last night was learn how to properly work the telescopes and take a few minor notes about the night sky." To Theodore's surprise this seemed to disappoint Granger. "Well I was hoping to learn all about the moons of Saturn, but I guess that will be later on," she said.
Theodore simply nodded, he felt a little uncomfortable having someone sit with him, but at the same time this girl was fascinating. A person that seemed to be at least near him in intelligence was not something Theodore encountered very often. "Do you read often in your spare time," she asked him. "Yes, I greatly enjoy reading, obviously you do as well," replied Theodore, not used to divulging much about himself, but finding he couldn't resist doing so. "Yes, I've always loved reading muggle books, then when I found out I was a witch I couldn't wait to get my hands on as many magical books as I could," she said happily. This suddenly struck a bad cord with Theodore. "Wait, why did you not know you were a witch?" he asked, although the answer was suddenly quite obvious to him. "It's because I come from a muggle family, apparently its quite common…" she trailed off as she saw Theodore's expression.
Now that he knew Granger was a muggle born Theodore felt even more unsettled about sitting with her. If his father knew he was associating with muggle-borns he would be livid. Admittedly Theodore had never actually met a muggle or a muggle born before, so a true assessment on his part had never been made. However his father had told him many times how inferior muggles were to witches and wizards, and any wizard born from a muggle would have tainted blood. Muggles proper place was beneath wizards, and mudbloods were a disgrace to the magical race, was what his father always told him. Theodore had often contemplated his father's words. Why did his father have such a hatred imbedded in him? It was the same with all of the Dark Lords followers. Draco, Vincent and Gregory had all seemed to fall to their father's belief on the matter. Would Theodore as well?
"Um, apparently it's quite common for wizards or witches to be born into a muggle family," Granger eventually said. She gave Theodore a sidelong look and opened a book. After another second she began to get up to leave. "That must have been difficult for you," Theodore said as quickly and politely as possible. "Leaving one world and joining another you didn't… know you were part of."
Granger sat back down and smiled. "Not really, I was actually ever so pleased when I got my letter, I mean Hogwarts is the best school of witchcraft and wizardry and to think I would be receiving my magical education from here was so exciting," she said, the tone in her voice returning to the calmness of before. "I imagine you come from a wizarding family, is that right?" she asked him. "Yes, of course," Theodore replied a little amused. "Well you probably wouldn't have read many muggle books then," she said, as she reached for a book at the bottom of her pile and handed it to Theodore. It was a short novel with a simple green cover. The title was a strange word that Theodore had never heard of. "That's 'The Hobbit' one of my favourite books growing up, written by an English muggle, I think you'll find that its quite imaginative," she explained excitedly. "Well without magic, muggles would be forced to use their imagination often I would assume," said Theodore. He held the book and examined it. Was he really going to read a book by a muggle? "Anyway read it and tell me what you think," Granger said cheerfully. Theodore hesitated, "ok I will," he said finally.
The two talked more about classes and how they were finding it so far. Granger asked Theodore many questions, but somehow it seemed she was doing all the talking. "Do you think we will start flying lessons next week?" was one question. "Most likely," Theodore replied. "That is one class I am dreading, I don't see how you can prepare yourself for flying on a broom, if only you could learn from a book, I just hope I catch on quick enough," Granger bemoaned. "I noticed on our timetable that the Gryffindors and Slytherins only have one class together," she added slowly. "Yes, Potions Friday morning," Theodore confirmed. "Well I was thinking, perhaps… perhaps it would be best if we didn't sit with each other in class, you know with the whole Slytherin, Gryffindor rivalry thing, people would definitely talk." Theodore was amused that Granger seemed to be worried about offending him with this sentiment. "I wholeheartedly agree," he said. "But we could still meet and talk here," Granger said optimistically.
Theodore wondered if this was getting a little too friendly, it was one thing to stop and talk with someone, something else entirely to actually plan to do it. He hadn't forgotten his personal vow to not make friends while he was at Hogwarts. Letting people come close to your heart would always lead to pain, as he had felt so much when his mother passed. "I just realised I have to go," Theodore said as politely as possible, and he got up to leave, "Oh, ok well I'll see you later, enjoy the book," Granger said sweetly, her smile she gave made a strange tingle in Theodore's chest. "Thanks, see you," he said and hurried off.
Theodore's mind was racing. The Granger girl had made him so confused about his personal vow. Suddenly Theodore got a shock, as he was leaving the library he nearly walked right into Tracy Davis and Lilah Moon, two exceptionally attractive Slytherin girls in his year level. "Sorry girls," Theodore said, a little embarrassed. "Who were you with just now," asked Tracey, a girl Theodore had deduced was especially perceptive. "Nobody," Theodore said smiling calmly, completely regaining his composure, and he walked off before the two could say anymore.
That night, Theodore stayed up late reading 'The Hobbit'. To his surprise he found himself enjoying it very much and could not put it down until he'd finished it. In the bed next to him Blaise Zabini lay struggling to fall asleep. "What you reading Nott?" he asked in a low voice, for Draco, Gregory and Vincent were all fast asleep. "Book on astronomy," Theodore replied nonchalantly. "Tracey told me you were sitting with a Gryfindor girl in the library today, is that true?" Blaise asked, his tone disapproving. "Tracey likes to exaggerate evidently," replied Theodore. "The Gryffindor was sitting down at the study table just as I was leaving it, I may have said a word to her that was it." Theodore's confident tone was so convincing that Blaise seemed to instantly believe him. Eventually Blaise fell asleep, leaving Theodore with his book. Once he'd finished, he put it on his bedside table and gave an invisible grin.
The following afternoon was Thursday, and Theodore didn't finish his Herbology class until well past four o'clock. He rushed to the library afterwards hoping to catch Granger and return her book. When he got there he did find her, but she was talking to two Ravenclaw boys. The aloof Kevin Entwhistle and the cheerful Stephen Cornfoot. Theodore quickly hid behind a bookcase and peered back at them. The boys seemed a little apprehensive as Granger seemed to be dominating the conversation between them. Suddenly Entwhistle and Cornfoot left, and Granger was on her own. Theodore approached her, "You have a unique way of making acquaintances," he said as he came up to her. Granger turned around, and smiled when she saw him. "Ravenclaw boys, both bookish like us. So did you read the book I gave you?" she asked. "Yes, and I must admit I did enjoy it," Theodore said as he handed the book back to Granger. She smiled, "Muggles may surprise you, the more you get to know them," she said. Theodore smiled back at her, though something felt very uneasy in his mind. "I'll see you tomorrow in Potions," she said as she left. Theodore contemplated seeing Granger with the other first years around. The idea of it made him feel insecure, hopefully Granger would fulfil her promise and interact with him as little as possible.
The following morning started like any other. Theodore got up early and went for breakfast in the Great Hall. Hurriedly he finished his toast, before darting down to the dungeons to await the start of his Potions class. He was feeling anxious for a number of reasons. He felt that perhaps Potions would be his favourite class, so he wanted to learn as quickly as he could, particularly because the head of Slytherin was the professor. His apprehension was multiplied by the fact that this was the only class Slytherin and Gryffindor first years would have together. The rivalry between the two houses could cause some interesting friction. On top of all this, it would be Theodore's only class with Granger, which was probably weighing most on Theodore's mind.
Outside of the classroom Theodore realised he was the first person there, even before the professor. He sat down in the corridor and patiently waited. Soon enough Professor Snape came gliding up the hallway, he gave a quick, stern glance at Theodore before entering the classroom without saying anything. Theodore hoped Snape would prove to be a worthy professor, certainly on first appearances he cut an impressive figure that demanded respect.
Theodore entered the classroom and sat at the very back. Slowly all the other first year Slytherin and Gryffindor students entered as well and took their places. Snape sat calmly at the front desk ignoring them until they were all seated. Theodore watched as Granger strode into the class and sat at the very front, she didn't even look at Theodore, which for some reason discomforted him.
He looked around at all the students and noticed certain cliques had begun to form. At the table just in front of him Tracey Davis and Lilah Moon sat on either side of Blaise Zabini, who seemed quite happy with the attention from the two attractive girls. On the table in front of them sat Draco, Vincent and Gregory, the three of them looking smug and confident. At the very front sat the three remaining Slytherin girls, Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson. On the other half of the room sat the Gryffindors. At the back table across from Theodore, Jessica Spinks and Amanda Rivers sat close together, seemingly eager to stay separated from the rest of the class. In front of them, Parvati Patil sat with Lavender Brown, then came Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom. While at the very front sat Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and Granger. Finnigan and Thomas were a cheery duo, and seemed quite amused at Granger next to them, she was taking everything very seriously. Theodore couldn't help but envy them since they were sitting next to her, though he didn't understand why.
Snape began reading the class role, and upon reaching Harry Potter's name he paused. "Ah yes, Harry Potter. Our new celebrity," he said sardonically. At this Draco sniggered. It seemed to Theodore that Draco and Potter were beginning to have a rivalry fitting for the two most famous boys from Slytherin and Gryffindor. However what intrigued Theodore even more was the fact that Snape almost seemed to strangely begrudge Potter. Indeed, after the role was called Snape immediately began to taunt Potter. Grilling him hard with tough questions on Potions no first year could possibly have memorised. Well, none except perhaps Granger. During Snape's interrogation of Potter she had her hand eagerly raised, desperate to answer the questions in Potter's place, eventually even standing up out of her chair. "Sit down," Snape snapped at her, before mocking Potter a little more. Granger sat down looking incredibly embarrassed and Theodore sympathised with her.
The class then officially began, with Snape placing them all into pairs and instructing them to concoct a simple potion. Theodore was partnered with Tracey and the two worked quite well together. "Fairly straight forward," Tracey said, as she applied the final touches to their mixture. "Yes, easy enough," Theodore replied and Tracey gave him a quick smile. Theodore glanced over at Granger. She was paired with Thomas and she was ensuring that he performed every step correctly. Her bossy tones could be heard throughout the classroom.
"Attention class," Snape suddenly declared. "I'd like you all to have a look at how Malfoy and Crabbe have perfectly stewed their horned slugs." The students didn't have much time to glance over at Draco, because at that exact moment acid green smoke filled the classroom along with a loud hissing sound. Theodore glanced over and realised Longbottom and Finnigan's cauldron had completely melted and was spreading across the floor like molten lava. "My shoes!" screamed Granger. The acid had got to her and Thomas and was incinerating their boots. They both jumped up onto their stools and the rest of the class followed suit, except for the foolish Longbottom. The potion had drenched him causing large red cysts to spring up all over his arms. Snape stormed over enraged at the incompetent lad. After the professor berated young Longbottom he turned around and reprimanded Potter, blaming him for Longbottom's error. Theodore pondered Snape's actions. He definitely seemed to have a personal grudge against Potter for some reason. Theodore had heard rumours that Snape was in fact a former Death Eater himself, although his father refused to discuss it. Perhaps Snape was angry at Potter for his role in the Dark Lord's downfall.
Once the acid had settled down Finnigan left with Longbottom, taking him to the hospital wing, while Snape demanded Potter and Weasley clean up the mess. "Ensure that you all are better prepared for the next lesson," Snape instructed the rest of the class, "Dismissed!" The students all scampered out of classroom. Theodore took his time leaving, hopefully to catch a little word with Granger. He noticed that Thomas had stayed to voluntarily help Potter and Weasley clean up the melted cauldron, while Granger was walking towards the door. She stopped briefly before exiting the classroom and turned towards Theodore. Even though this was what Theodore had wanted a strange instinct inside of him made him turn away. Perhaps his mind had recalled his personal vow of not wanting to make friends and had forced him to look away, but he knew he actually wanted that little acknowledgement from Granger. Theodore turned back to smile at her, but it was too late, she had already left.