Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, not even a small part! :D
The two friends glanced nervously at each other. It had been a month since his father was arrested and they have been busy with their own problems. It wasn't like he visited either of them for such a long time either so they decided it was time they met.
Nervously, the tall blond boy knocked the door. Slowly, the door creak open a tiny bit and suddenly, a wand poked out in between. "Who are you?" A soft tensed voice asked. They shared another glance. It was definitely a female's voice which was rather familiar in fact but why in the world was there a random female who tried to kill visitors in Theo's house?
"Draco and Blaise," The dark boy replied. "Where is Theo and, who are you?"
The mystery girl snorted in a rather unladylike manner. "Such a typical answer, Zabini. I see you haven't change a bit. I shouldn't really be that surprise that you don't remember me but really, Malfoy? What do you want anyway?"
Draco, who hadn't have the slightest trace of idea who she was raised an eyebrow at the mystery girl who hadn't appeared which made the scene look strange having a boy raising an eyebrow at a wand which wasn't quavering at all or leaving their faces any time soon. "We're visiting our friend. Is that a crime?"
There was a pause which the girl took to contemplate her answer. Finally, she replied in a low voice. "No, no it isn't. Taking so long to finally visit your friend after he have just been orphaned is. And don't even pretend. Malfoy, your trial ended three weeks ago. Your father's ended two weeks ago. Zabini mother's trial ended two weeks ago too. None of them got into Azkaban. And I know you've been busy flirting with a certain Greengrass too, Malfoy."
Draco cheeks were tinged with pink as she mentioned his connection with Astoria. Not many people knew about their relationship yet so this person must have known them at Hogwarts. Before he could retort back about her poking noses into other people's business, the door swung open furiously and in the doorway stood...
Daphne Greengrass? She was never really close to Theo and this caused raised eyebrows from both boys... until they saw how furious she was. "You two have the cheek to come back here after two whole weeks of not visiting your friend, close friend too! Do you even know what he is going through?" Honestly, although both boys were rather close to her in school, neither had seen her so angry before.
"AND," she added. "So much for being your (she jabbed Blaise's chest) ex-girlfriend and your (she jabbed Draco this time) future sister-in-law. And don't even lie that you weren't going to propose because I heard you asking your mother how you should do it."
Draco's cheek got even pinker, if possible, but he managed a comeback this time. "We're no longer students and you're still eavesdropping? You didn't change much yourself."
"Except the fact that you got much angrier," Blaise mumbled under his breath, getting a well aimed kick. Draco sniggered.
Daphne, although she was still pissed off by both of them, managed a smile and both noticed it was a very tired one once she dropped the anger. Her whole body sagged with fatigue and she became even thinner than before (she was always rather slim). They shared another glance to which she mumbled, "I saw that."
She ignore it and led them up the stairs. What was wrong with their friend that he couldn't come down and welcome them in himself? As they reached the end of the stairs, Daphne turned around. "Look, I know I shouldn't have kept it from you but I thought you guys were going to come soon and see for yourself (she glared at both of them again) so I didn't send a letter. It's okay now, he's asleep but normally..."
"I can hear you," a soft voice, barely audible passed through the door and the two friends watched amazed as Daphne's face transformed into the most beautiful genuine full smile they've seen so far as she dashed into the room. As they walked in, they saw Daphne wrapping Theodore Nott in an embrace.
"You're okay!" she exclaimed in delight. "This is the first time in days!"
Theo gave her a weak smile. "Improvement?" She nodded immediately. Theo sighed as he stood up. All the other three Slytherins' noted that his legs wobbled a little before he managed to get up. "I'll go get tea for you." He nodded at his friends, gracing them with a smile that they later discovered they probably didn't deserve.
"So... what's up with him?" Blaise asked.
Daphne sighed. Her smile have been depressed by her obvious tiredness she didn't bother to hide now that the initial moment of joy have passed. Now that they were close enough, they saw things that you wouldn't normally find on Daphne Greengrass who was rather vain back in school. Her hair was in a mess. She wasn't wearing a single touch of make-up. Her eye bags were rather deep. Even the clothes she wore was rather crumpled.
"Daphne," Blaise said in awe. "What happened to you?"
She didn't reply his question. "Theo's father got sent to Azkaban, you know." Draco shifted his weight from one foot to another in discomfort. Okay, he got it. They were in the wrong. Did she really have to make them feel so guilty. She didn't stop there though, feeding them information they should've known before her.
"His father didn't just get sent to Azkaban. They decided to give him the Dementor's kiss. They made Theo watch it." She practically hissed the last part of the sentence. "Then he came back and when I visited him he was all..." Her voice broke like she didn't want to finish that sentence, didn't want to believe it. But as she looked up bravely and opened her mouth to tell them, they heard a loud crash. It was followed by the sound of someone falling on to the fall.
Before either Draco or Blaise could react, Daphne have already bounded down the stairs into the kitchen where the sound came from. Shrugging, they followed her down the staircase. Their jaws drop open as they took in the sight.
The tea that Theo was going to bring for them have been spilled all over the place and the to cups were broken. He was sitting on the floor where he crashed, his eyes glazed over with fear and horror as he stared into space. Daphne had ignored all the broken utensils and spilled drink and walked right over to him, slowly lifting him up.
He leaned heavily on her and she stumbled a little before she helped him back up the stairs. They caught him murmuring about his father. "They were empty, his eyes were empty, Daphne. He just ate and sleep and he's just heartless. He kills anyone on sight. He tried to kill me, Daph. He... he's gone. Just poofed into the air and..."
Daphne bit her lips to refrain herself from pointing out that he was always heartless and he tortured Theo before so trying to kill him wasn't such a surprise to her. She just supported him, nodding and comforting him but they could see her mind whirling that he was too unworthy of
him to think about. After about fifteen minutes, she finally comforted him back to sleep, but not even a peaceful one as he tossed and turned around, clearly stressed out.
When she returned to his friends, they were both rendered speechless. Of all things they expected, this was definitely not it. Theo was always strongest among them all. But of course, he also loved the most, even his father which led to this downfall. They sat in silence as they recalled the old Theo, the one that they knew.
Daphne broke the silence. "They could've killed his father. He could bury him and get over with it but they let him watch because they knew it was torture. They believed he was involved in Dark Arts but he doesn't have the Dark Mark so they cannot arrest him.
Draco snorted and Blaise sniggered. The image of Theo dealing with Dark Arts was just strange. Only when Blaise finished sniggering did he reply, "And they said we're evil. They hurt innocent as much as we do!" They noted that her lips twitched upwards a little.
"Daphne?" Draco said and she turned to face him. "Go home. We'll take turns to care for him, alright? You're right, we should've been more responsible friends. We'll call you when it's your turn. You need to rest!" Blaise nodded in agreement. She glared at them for a while before she nodded, giving in with yet another sigh.
She raised her wand to disapparate when Draco pulled her back. "Tell Astoria I won't be able to make it for the date on Wednesday. I'll owl her soon." Eyebrows shot up for a few second before she nodded and successfully cracked a small smile before she left.