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And In A Life Like This…
Chapter Two:
…It's Hard
Theodore had rarely known himself shy. Quiet, yes. Assenting, yes. But shy? Never.
So when it came to making friends at Hogwarts, even from Day One, Theo had never imagined it could be hard. But thought and reality would turn out to be two very different things.
He had, of course, never taken into account just how well known he was, even on sight. He could never deny that he looked like his father's skinnier twin. So, when entering Platform 9 and ¾ with Knobb, Theo was surprised to see many faces turn away in disgust at the sight of him.
Gathering his things and bidding the small figure of Knobb a slow goodbye, Theodore boarded the train alone. It wasn't long, however, before people found him. It was in the form of a drawling blond boy and his two goons.
"Father told me he saw you. Said he was surprised you weren't with your father. But then, he's probably busy isn't he? Still, too busy for your first day at Hogwarts? Too bad. My parents are never too busy for me." He took the seat across from Theodore and pointed to a blond-haired couple who the many faces were also eyeing suspiciously. "Still, I'm sure he'll be pleased when you get sorted into Slytherin. That's where your heading I'm sure. Father says it's a disgrace to be anywhere else. I think I'd leave if they made me into a Hufflepuff!" He gave a cold laugh and then continued on with his rant, but Theodore had already zoned out on the pompous boy that would later draw breath only long enough to introduce himself as Draco Malfoy.
What Theodore would give to become anything other than a Slytherin, even the idiots inside the walls of the Hufflepuff house seemed like a nice alternative. But Theo's path in houses had been laid out for him. His parents had been Slytherins, his aunt and uncle had been Slytherins, and even his cousin Jon, now in his 5th year, was a Slytherin. So, it seemed, Theodore was destined to fit that mould as well.
Well I can't ever really believe
No one was sent to get me
And I feel like I'm being erased
No one got left here
I'm all alone
No one was sent to get me
I'm all alone
No one got left here
Theodore's fears for the Sorting where lost the moment Draco Malfoy found someone more interesting to terrorize. It came in the form of Harry Potter, who was rumoured to be in the compartment 3 down. So Draco and goons disappeared, and didn't return. Theo, to his pleasure, was left to read for the rest of the journey, his cousin Jon, a Prefect, popping in only once to make sure he was getting along okay. He seemed genuinely disappointed when Theo mentioned that Malfoy had left and not come back before warning Theo that, whether he liked it or not, he would be wise to stay on the good side of someone like Draco Malfoy.
When it came time to leave the train Theodore's fears suddenly began to return. And, before he even realized it, he was standing with the other first year students just waiting to be Sorted.
The Sorting Hat had barely touched Malfoy's head before screaming out the name of the serpent house as if it hurt it, but others would not be Sorted so quickly. In fact, the brunette girl ahead of Theodore seemed to sit there forever before the wide brim split and announced that Noelle Moon was, in fact, a Ravenclaw at heart. Then, suddenly, the light of the Great Hall was gone as the hat slid over Theo's own face.
"A good mind." A tiny voice whispered in Theodore's ear, and only his composure stopping Theo from looking around foolishly. "Dark spots, oh so many dark spots. Amerita… Rook? She was your mother. Oh, she was fine with a wand. The smartest witch in Slytherin history. And you have her brains I see. But your father's passion. And his anger. No preferences? Okay then, it'll have to be… SLYTHERIN!"
The last word echoed around the Great Hall and Theo pulled the hat off to see Draco Malfoy applauding heartily. Theo, however, just felt sick.
I can't breathe when I see
The pictures sent without you
I feel like i've been erased
No one got left here
A week into his stay at Hogwarts, Theo sat in the cold Slytherin commonroom reading his copy of 'Standard Book of Spells' when a loud Crack! forced him to sit up straighter. There, a huddled mass in the middle of the commonroom floor was Knobb, shaking from head to toe.
"Knobb, what are…?" But he stopped as Knobb ran at him and grabbed his leg.
It turned out that Alexander, sick of having no control over the house-elf and unable to dismiss him under Theodore's orders to Knobb, he had taken to beating the creature into submission.
Just as Theodore was about to order Knobb to go back and use some of his house-elf magic on the old tyrant, Professor Snape entered the commonroom. "Nott. Professor Dumbledore tells me you have to see him about you el…" Snape stopped, having just seen Knobb. He, clearly, hadn't believed Dumbledore when told about the new resident in the Slytherin commonroom. Once composing himself Snape managed to lead Theo and Knobb to the Headmaster's office, casting a surprised look at the aging headmaster as he closed the door behind him.
Once Snape had left, Dumbledore, looking over his half-moon spectacles, had offered Theo and Knobb a seat. Knobb eventually sat when Theo ordered him to, but not before giving Dumbledore a cold and untrusting look.
"I hear you have elf trouble." Dumbledore said softly. Knobb looked scandalized, but Theo spoke over him, explaining the situation with Knobb and his father.
"Then, maybe he should stay here." Dumbledore suggested. He cast the still glowering elf a brilliant smile. "Only while you're here of course, this way he can keep his promise to your mother and look out for you." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and while Theo wondered how Dumbledore knew about Knobb's promise to the dying Amerita, he did not seem at all surprised that he knew. Dumbledore's genius had preceded him, even within the Nott Estate.
Theo, giving Dumbledore a small smile, turned to Knobb. "Okay. Knobb, you know the deal. Go work in the Hogwarts kitchen." The elf gave Theo only a small bow, but a much larger smile before disappearing with that same resounding Crack!
"Thank you Professor, Knobb will like it down there." Theodore stood, but then Dumbledore spoke again.
"I don't think that Knobb is the only one that wants to get out of the Nott Estate." He said mysteriously.
Theodore cast his eyes down upon the old man, but Dumbledore did not look up. "Anytime you need to talk to me Mr. Nott, you know what the password is."
At this Dumbledore fell silent and Theo took it as his cue to leave. As he watched the gargoyle jump back in to place, Theo realized what the crazy old man had actually said. What he actually knew.
It seemed that he knew that Theodore no longer wanted to be a Nott.
But I'm fine
No one got left here
Well I'm fine
If it's fine then stay
But I'm fine