:D

On Halloween morning, Harry awoke feeling miserable. Everyone was going to go to Hogsmeade, except for him. He hadn't asked Nott if he was going to be there, but he was assuming so. Everyone was gone and Harry decided he should check the library just in case. He was stunned when he saw the Slytherin sitting near the restricted section, a book in hand and his eyes scanning its contents. It was a difficult choice for Harry: should he approach the studious boy who wanted next to nothing to do with him or should he pester him with hopes their connection would grow and they'd stop disliking one another?

In the end, the latter had one out and he approached cautiously, announcing himself with a clearing of his throat.

Theodore didn't even look up. "Shouldn't you be in Hogsmeade with your little friends?"

Heat rose up in Harry's cheeks. "I can't go."

"Why's that?"

"My...guardians...didn't sign my permission slip."

"Didn't or...wouldn't?" The blue was looking at Harry now, no hint of warmth in their depths.

Harry swallowed. "Wouldn't."

Theodore's eyes returned to his book. "Pity."

"Yeah..." Harry took a seat across from the Slytherin, knowing better than to ask because the answer was obviously a 'no'. "So what are you reading?"

"Can't read the title for yourself?"

Harry looked at the title of the book and frowned. "It's in runes."

"Ah, yes." Theodore gave a momentary smile, but the emotion didn't reach his eyes. "You're not smart enough to learn them."

"I just didn't like the class." Harry defenses were rising. "So why aren't you in Hogsmeade?"

"I didn't want to go."

"Why not?"

"What would I do there?"

"I don't know. Go to Honeyduke's or Zonko's or check out the Shrieking Shack."

"I don't really care for sweets and I have no use for a joke shop." Theodore turned a page in his book. "And the Shrieking Shack is just another house really, even if it is haunted. We have plenty of ghosts here in the castle."

"Yeah, but they're not really scary."

"I can't imagine the Shrieking Shack being any scarier. Besides, it's gated off. You can't get very close to it."

"Fine." Harry muttered, folding his arms and leaning back in his chair. "So you're boring, is that what you're saying?"

Theodore's eyes flicked up for a moment. "What would you do down there?"

"Probably exactly what you wouldn't." Harry answered haughtily. "Go to Honeyduke's and Zonko's and check out the Shrieking Shack and maybe visit the Three Broomsticks."

"But you can't go."

"Yeah..." Harry rested his head on the table, ears flat and tail limp. "True...so what are you reading?"

"Learn to read runes and find out."

"Prat."

Theodore's eyebrow flicked up, but he made no reply.

"So did you get to face a boggart in your first lesson with Lupin?"

"We got a boggart, yes." Theodore answered. "But those who got to face it, couldn't beat it."

"Why not?"

"He didn't know how to explain it to Slytherins properly. The other Houses could handle a boggart fine with his explanation, but we're Slytherins. We handle things differently. He gave up the class to Professor Snape and through him we were able to learn."

"Snape." Harry couldn't help spitting the word. "What's with him anyways?"

"He's a Slytherin." Theodore replied as if this was the only logical answer. "You will never understand him, so stop trying."

"Does that hold true for you too?"

"You can learn." Theo's eyes met Harry's again and the ice had thickened. "Well, there's hope for you yet. Of course, being a Gryffindor will always be your handicap."

"Hey, I was almost put in Slytherin." Harry froze, blinking and confused as to why he had just said that. It wasn't something he shared with just anyone and, if he could help it, as few of people knew about it as was possible.

Theodore set down his book and Harry hoped this was a good sign. "Why weren't you?"

Harry swallowed, abruptly nervous. "Er...uh...I asked it not to."

Theo's brow raised.

"Everyone told me dark wizards came from Slytherin." Harry shrugged. "I was new to the wizarding world, so I believed whatever I was told."

"But you don't think any differently now, do you?"

Harry wasn't sure how he thought about it anymore. Theodore Nott wasn't exactly the nicest person Harry had met, but he wasn't cruel. He had a feeling the Slytherin wouldn't try to hurt people and wasn't aiming to become a dark wizard, but...he was a Slytherin and didn't Slytherins aim to be dark? Weren't they fascinated in the Dark Arts? Didn't they all want to be just like Voldemort?

"Well, are you planning to be a dark wizard?"

"It's not exactly a career choice." Theodore picked up his book again and resumed his reading, apparently bored with the conversation once more.

"It was for Voldemort."

He knew he shouldn't have said the name, but he wanted to see the reaction. He wanted to know how much Theodore would flinch or get angry or scared over it. He was absolutely stunned when the boy didn't react physically at all, not even with a twitch of his ears instead calmly saying, "Please, don't say that name."

"I'll make you a deal then." Harry grinned and watched a flash of intrigue cross the Slytherin's eyes. "If you don't say 'M-mudblood' in front of me, I won't say 'Voldemort'."

Theodore narrowed his eyes, but gave the Gryffindor a brief moment of his attention. "Almost Slytherin of you."

This made Harry start, surprised and somewhat bewildered. "Uh...well, is it a deal or not?"

"I guess." Theodore shrugged. "But I make no promises."

"Are you really a third year?" Harry asked, staring at Theodore's calmness and cold exterior. "You don't act like one."

"You mean I'm not acting like you?" Theodore said and then added with a smirk in his eyes. "Like a child?"

"Do you have to insult me every two seconds?"

"You can't count either, can you? It doesn't seem as if you understand the concept of time as well."

"Ugh..." Harry gave an exasperated sigh. "Would you go back to quietly reading already?"

Theodore instantly quieted and Harry glowered at a shelf of books as there wasn't much else to look at. He was surprised when the boy sitting across from him suddenly spoke.

"Did you face the boggart?"

"No." Harry muttered.

"Why not?"

"Lupin wouldn't let me."

"That's understandable."

"What?" Harry gave him a strange look. "Why?"

"You can't figure it out on your own?"

"Well, clearly." Harry rolled his eyes. "Or I wouldn't be asking."

"It was a rhetorical question. You're not supposed to answer it."

Harry gave another sigh, more annoyed than before. "Just answer my question."

"Give me reason."

"You need a reason?" Harry snapped. "What kind of reason?"

"Persuade me." Theodore stated, eyes mingled with amusement and pure enjoyment. "If you can...come up with something I would want in exchange for such information."

"You're really selfish."

"Selfish? You don't know the meaning of that word." Theodore scoffed, ears back. "I'm not selfish."

"No. You're right. You're manipulative, deceptive, and prefer to be alone..." Harry stiffened and then smiled. "If you tell me, I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day."

Theodore's eyes showed only momentary hesitation and then he answered coolly, "He probably assumed it'd take on the form of the Dark Lord and I doubt anyone would really like it if he materialized in the staffroom. People would panic."

Harry frowned. "Oh...but I didn't think about him. I thought about...those..." He stopped, remembering abruptly that this was a Slytherin and the last thing he needed was to give fuel to the fire...but Theodore had already guessed.

"Dementors?"

Harry looked to him, expecting to find amusement, but the boy didn't look amused.

"Few people understand dementors...those who haven't had bad things happen to them in the past can't understand what they do to people...not if their interactions with them are so brief."

"What are they doing to me?" Harry whispered.

"I thought you said you'd leave?"

Harry hesitated. "But...I want to know."

"Then read a book." Theodore waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not your teacher...and I don't have the time nor the patience for idiots."

Wrinkling his face, Harry stood and then sat back down. "Stop calling me an idiot."

"Stop acting like one and you won't get called one."

"We're a pair. You're my particep and I am yours. We should be more civil."

"This is civil. We haven't drawn our wands and offed one another."

"Our civility is terrible."

"Civility is a big word for you. Did you flip through a dictionary before paying your visit?"

"You're a prat."

"You're an idiot."

"You're a stupid Slytherin!"

"That's an oxymoron."

"You're an oxymoron."

"Do you even know what that means?"

Harry thought for a moment and then mumbled. "I always get oxymoron and redundancy mixed up."

"Idiot."

"Shut up."

"For your information, there's a quick solution to your idiocy on the matter of oxymora and redundancy. The "re-" at the beginning of redundancy is a hint towards it repeating as "re-" always indicates repetition. If it's not repeating the same thing then it is an oxymoron."

"Fine. A stupid Slytherin is a redundancy."

"Took you long enough."

"Well, forgive me! I'm not a bookie like you."

"I'm not a bookie."

"You're a bookie."

"I'm intelligent and I don't like idiots."

"Bookie."

"Whatever."

"Bookie."

"You are a child."

"You're the same age as me!"

"I'm older."

"Okay, maybe by a few months...uh...when is your birthday?"

"Se..." Theodore paused and scowled at him. "Why do you want to know?"

"September what?"

"Second." Theodore relented.

"You're older than Hermione."

"I'm the oldest in our year."

"Oh..." Harry frowned, looking at the other. "You must really hate that. I mean, you could have been in the year above us."

"I don't mind being the oldest." Theodore stated. "It's better than being the youngest."

"I guess..." Harry stared at him. "Why do you like to be alone so much?"

"I like to read and this means being alone."

"You've been reading this entire time and I've been here."

"Yes. It's very annoying."

"Prat."

"You really need to learn more insults."

"All you can think of is 'idiot'."

"I could call you a lot of other things, but I know you wouldn't understand any of them."

"That's inadvertently calling me an idiot."

"Inadvertently is an incredibly large word for you." Theodore gave him a wry glance. "You must be so proud. Try not to tinkle on the floor."

"All right." Harry stood. "Come on. We're going outside."

"I'm not." Theodore stated. "You said you were going to leave me alone."

"I lied."

"How un-Gryffindor."

"And?" Harry grabbed the taller boy's wrist. "Let's go."

Harry and Theodore were at the Quidditch pitch, wandering around while the Slytherin looked incredibly bored.

"Don't like the outdoors?" Harry inquired.

"I don't like Quidditch."

"You don't?" Harry was stunned. "But you're a wizard."

"So?" Theodore asked. "That Mud...ugh...Muggle-born you are around all the time...she doesn't care for it either."

"I guess all bookies hate Quidditch."

Theodore sighed. "You do realize that a bookie is someone who takes bets, right?"

"It's someone who likes books."

"Maybe in your personal dictionary."

"Ugh...can you not insult me for a little bit. It's getting exhausting."

"I can understand how. The unintelligent are said to be worn easily from verbal insults, which is usually why they lash out physically."

"You can't be a third year, I swear." Harry grumbled. "So do you still come for the games?"

"No."

"Not even to root for your team?"

"I see no point. It's not as if they'll notice or hear me amongst everyone else and I have more important things to do."

"Reading?"

"The fact you see the attainment and retention of knowledge as unimportant is a clear sign of your own intellect."

"Do you always use big words? You know, I'm sure you're aiming to look intelligent and all, but it really just makes you look like a prat."

"I don't aim to please anyone." Theodore retorted seriously. "Only myself."

"You are selfish then."

"The world is impossible to please. That said then the only endeavor worth striving for is the pleasuring of oneself."

"Being selfish then?"

"There is nothing wrong with it."

"Sure. A lot of other people get hurt. If we're all acting selfishly then there will be people who don't get what they want. They will be the ones who get stepped on by everyone else."

"The world is full of stepping stones; most of them are people."

"That's mean."

"The world is cruel. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot."

"I'm not saying it isn't! I'm saying I'm not going to help make it worse than it already is!"

"You...are the typical Gryffindor." Theodore's eyes were coy again. "You think you're noble by helping the weak and you think you're honorable by striking down the strong. You're just arrogant thinking you can save everyone. You're only selfish to think no enemy can withstand you as long as you do it in the name of justice and righteousness. We Slytherins are smarter. We know when to back down. We're not cowards: we're survivors. If the two of us were thrown on an island together with no means to make an end, you would die and I would live. It's simply how the world works."

"Like hell I'd die." Harry glared at him. "I'd follow you around and figure things out."

"You're an idiot." Theo smiled at him, but it was an empty emotionless smile. "If we were on an island together with no means to make an end, the first thing I'd do is kill you."

Silence came upon them like night overtaking the sun. Harry stared at him, wishing he'd mistaken what he'd heard. Even though Theodore was only pointing out an example, which would never come true (hopefully), Harry felt stings of pain in his chest at hearing it. He looked away, not wanting to see the amusement in Theodore's eyes nor the interest that had sparked at witnessing Harry's reaction.

"You're friends just got back from Hogsmeade." Theodore suddenly said and Harry looked at him. "Good night."

Too exhausted from the mind and word games, Harry just let the Slytherin go as sparks flicked around in his chest.

Hope you enjoyed :D