December 1991
On day four of Theodore Nott's seemingly endless winter break the small boy comfortably lounged in his favorite chair. Breathing in the dusty library scent he smiled, and then with a mighty hand flick he unfurled fresh parchment. That one glorious motion draped the finest paper galleons could buy across his lap, and while gently biting his tongue between his teeth Theo got to work.
From the minute he'd left the train station, Theo had missed his new school friends something awful. On at least three separate occasions he'd stopped himself from writing, but in the end he'd patiently waited a bit to look a little less desperate.
No one will think I'm a loser at four days. Three would have been pushing it, but four is casual. Totally casual.
Most casual guy ever loves four...
Hearing himself spin out a little nutty Theo shook his head, and dipped his fluffiest quill in dark ink. Inside he remained an antsy firecracker, but miraculously the boy took his time composing his message. Clocking in at slightly under thirty minutes, he perfected a deceptively simple correspondence without a smudge of ink; an impeccable letter certainly up to the Nott family standards.
oOoOoOo
Dear Blaise,
How are you? I'm super bored.
Before coming home I didn't realise how loud it was living at Hogwarts. I thought the school was a normal volume, but now it's almost eerie going so long without hearing Peeves calling me, "A little first-year fart face."
Ah, the things you take for granted.
Well, aside from the quiet I AM pleased that father's stocked up on new history books! At four hundred we were clearly running dangerously low (haha) so thanks to his excess I've kept busy over the break researching bloody battle descriptions (the Baron will be so pleased!).
I've had a gruesome good time! You'd honestly be amazed how many Goblin weddings end in decapitations, or doing a dance of Spring (or both).
Can you believe that Christmas is already in a week? What do you think you'll receive?
Sincerely,
Theodore Nott
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott
oOoOoOo
Exactly one day later the Nott family sat together in their stately dining room. Passing around tea, skimming over The Daily Prophet, and munching their breakfast in relative silence until a gentle tap echoed off a window pane. All at once three heads swiveled towards the noise, and when Theo recognized the long-eared owl waiting outside he promptly dropped his scone.
"Father?" Theo spoke up in his most polite voice. "Might I be excused to answer the owl? I know how you despise too many taps at the table."
Setting down his knife and fork, Prometheus Nott shot the feathered intruder a withering glare. Dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin he weighed his options, but as the elder wizard did indeed loathe keeping a bird waiting he begrudgingly nodded his head.
"You may."
Mindful not to scrape the floors, Theo slowly pushed away from the table. Walking to the window the boy felt his parent's inquisitive stare boring into his back; and so instead of rushing forward (like he very badly wanted to) Theo walked with as much dignity as he could muster. Seconds later the owl chewed a treat, Theo held the letter, and after carefully opening up Blaise's response he bit down hard on his lip.
Fighting back a burst of laughter over his friend's thoughtful reply.
Coal.
oOoOoOo
Exactly one hour later Perseus of Macedon took flight. Journeying hours through heavy winds only to knock on a bedroom window, and turn the head of an extraordinarily somber boy. A formerly pouting boy who immediately beamed in amazement at the offered letter. Leaning on the windowsill Blaise read the letter twice, laughing harder each time, and he gave the waiting bird a plump chestnut for his troubles.
Dear Blaise,
You're mental! I can't believe you made your poor owl fly all this way for one word!
Sincerely,
Theodore Nott
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott
oOoOoOo
Attempting to save himself from an early death by boredom Theo went out on the following morning for an "exploration".
Luckily, among the family's ornate hedge maze walls, Theo quickly found natural entertainment. The walk was a riot of color. All shocking pink petals, slashes of crimson berries, and bursting violets out of season, filling his soul with life that drained away so quickly inside the manor. Passing the time in paradise Theo kicked around a fallen orange, and he thrilled to the feel of sunshine on his cheeks with the squish of damp ground beneath his feet. Free from his parent's judgmental airs, Theo's good mood bloomed as magnificently as any other flower in the garden's glow, and soon he grew frisky.
Kicking the orange straight towards the face of a fat cherub sculpture, and sadly for the angelic marble Theo's aim proved true.
With a loud pop the wet gushing smush sent pulp flying, and victorious Theo ran off with an earsplitting battle cry. Declaring himself an enemy against all rotund art he pumped his arms in the air, shrieking like a banshee in the breeze. Running around in circles the boy made quite a mighty raucous before noon; and though Theo's mother heard him from the second floor bath she was drunk enough that he stayed mercifully safe from her scolding.
Celebrating down winding paths Theo felt invisible, powerful even, and with an appetite for destruction he stabbed an attacking rose bush. Thwacking the petals soundly with his wand until suddenly there came an insistent hoot over his shoulder.
"Ah!" Theo screeched.
Whirling around like a tipsy fool, Theo tripped over his own feet. Staggering backwards hand over feet, and with a loud "umph" he sunk halfway into a hedge wall. Between the leaves of his unexpected floral prison Theo cackled, and as the shrubbery shook he waved a leg towards his favorite golden-eyed courier.
Giggling, "Hullo Hannibal!"
The owl blinked, and Theo swore he shook his feathery head in disapproval.
Not ready to give up his good mood the boy lingered in the greenery. Blissfully running down the dignified name of Nott until finally he could get a grip on his giggles, and get free from his ungraceful position. Plucking errant leaves from his hair he winked at the owl. "Now this is just between us two friends. So, absolutely no need to hoot to Blaise about my stumble in the jungle."
Sweetening the deal Theo offered the tired feathery messenger a bit of brownie from his pocket, but after reading the ink smudged note he wished he hadn't.
Dear Theodore,
Hannibal looked a little tubby, so I figured he could use the exercise.
But look at you sending Perseus of Macedon out with only two sentences, and he's so very thin already. Gonna give him a complex…
Sincerely,
Blaise
The Far Less Ancient House of Zabini
oOoOoOo
Over the next few days the two owls earned their keep. Zipping back and forth over murky British skies just for the pleasure of amusing two giddy young wizards trading rapid-fire responses. Though their poor wings might have drooped with exertion the owl's efforts were not lost on either boy, and they enthusiastically complimented their message bearers. Always making sure to keep an assortment of nuts readily available, and between letters the boys looked towards the window far too often.
Dear Blaise,
Nonsense! Perseus thinks the world of himself, and there's nothing I could ever do to convince him otherwise.
Now that I think of it, he's likely part Malfoy. Hmm, perhaps I'll write Draco and inquire if anybody in his family has ever "ruffled some feathers".
Sincerely,
Theodore Nott
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott
oOoOoOo
Dear Theodore,
Please! Please write that letter to Draco!
That would be a hoot (pun so intended).
Since coal is all I'm getting for Christmas this is likely the one true gift I can hope for. So be a pal, and ask a wildly inappropriate question for my pleasure! You know you want to.
Also, do you reckon there's a way to charm a letter to take a picture as it's read?
Sincerely,
Blaise
The Mildly Less Respectable House of Zabini
oOoOoOo
Dear Blaise,
If that charm exists I'll figure it out! Can you imagine Draco's face?
But, back to the whole Christmas coal business...why exactly are you only expecting a lump in your stocking? Have you been bad Blaise? Did you soil the name of Slytherin by actually getting caught?
Warm Regards,
Theodore Nott
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott
oOoOoOo
Dear Theodore,
Warm regards? That's new, but as it's quite cold today I'll take whatever heat I can get.
Yeah, sadly this Christmas is shaping up poorly for your buddy Blaise. All 'cause for some reason mum didn't appreciate my spirited introduction to Future Stepfather Number Four.
I know what you're thinking, but it's hardly my fault this time.
I mean, second day of the break mum sprung this Arsenio Burke fellow on me. Here I thought we were spending the day ice skating together, and then this pompous tosser shows up out of nowhere. A big mustached idiot kissing my mum's hand as he spoke bloody French to her. Said something about her being, "Le chat café au lait."
Now, I wasn't entirely sure what he meant, but it sounded either weird, or sexy, or just racially insensitive enough that I felt compelled to action. The powers that be pushed me to misbehave!
Theo, I swear I had no choice but to squeeze a bit of lime into his warm milk when he wasn't paying attention. And how was I to know he didn't want a mouthful of curdled milk?
Already Warming up Regards,
Blaise
The Slightly Grim House of Zabini
oOoOoOo
Dear Blaise,
You are insane. You are a boy with a death wish, and my hero.
Did he immediately vomit? Merlin, no wonder you're in trouble.
Sending Warmer Regards,
Theo
oOoOoOo
Dear Theodore,
Hey! Where did the fancy signature go? Now how will I know which Noble Ancient House you belong to?
To answer your delicately worded question, yes, Mr. Burke did indeed spew chunks.
And while that weak wizard busied himself puking into his pancakes Mum flew off the broom handle, and locked me in my room! It sucks, because before this stupid imprisonment I'd planned to invite you over. I still would...but you might want to visit when there's more to see.
Though I can say my closet is lovely this time of year.
Long story short-I'm grounded until at least January. However, I do wish that you'll have a better Christmas than I do. At least one of us should thrive, and I guess this year that's you.
Less Warm Regards (it's too hot now),
Blaise
As Theo finished reading his friend's letter he couldn't wipe the smile off from his face, and with extreme care he placed the treasured paper inside a hollowed out book alongside the others. Crawling out from the hiding spot under his bed the boy stretched, and his shoulders unexpectedly felt lighter. For days, a mysterious tight tension had taken up residence nestled between Theo's shoulder blades, and he couldn't remember how it began, but after Blaise's letter everything miraculously relaxed.
"Weird how that feels better." he spoke to no one in particular, rubbing his back as he sat on his bed.
Unbeknownst to the boy, the pinch was all due to an insecure fear manifesting physically. For whatever reason a part of Theo had stubbornly believed that Blaise hadn't invited him over yet, because he didn't actually like him all that much. After all they'd hung out together this theory of course held very little water, but as Slytherin's aren't prone to spilling their gushy feelings Theo naturally suspected ulterior motives. But there, written bold in ink, was finally a logical explanation for their time apart. It turned out that Blaise had wanted him around, and suddenly Christmas didn't feel half as lonely anymore.
Unwilling to keep all the goodwill cheer for himself Theo dove back under his bed.
Grunting as he pulled out a small trunk filled with sweets, and he cleverly wrapped the thinnest pieces inside of a copy of The Daily Prophet. When tied up neatly with ribbon the parcel resembled a normal morning paper, and pleased with his work Theo gave the largest chestnut in the house to Hannibal.
Telling him in a low whisper, "Only give this to Blaise personally, and under no circumstances allow any fussy Frenchmen to have a look. If you succeed there's a whole walnut tree worth of goodies for you."
Though no hoot passed from owl to boy a deal was struck all the same. Without further coaxing the bird took flight, and two days later an already plump owl nearly ate his weight in nuts from the Nott family gardens. Glaring in amusement at an enraged house elf who was under strictest orders to let the bird have his fill.