AN: I think this the end of book one? I THINK, i'm not sure. Mostly making it up as I go... Still Foxtrot1702, Naruhina1519, Thank you. As always, you motivate me! The rest of you - Thanks for reading. Fav/Follow/Review
On his knees for who knows how long, his small fingers were aching, down to his wrists.
Clenching the over grimed scrub brush, young Mortimer buffs the wooded floor boards. . . for the eighth time now.
No matter how hard he scrapes the floor, the stains simply refused to come off.
"Have you learned your lesson boy?" A grating loud voice makes Mortimer jump out his skin.
Long thin legs covered by a dull teal dress stood the tall scraggy old woman. Her face hidden underneath a veil of darkness. The windows were shut and shielded by long heavy cardinal curtains. It obscured the whole living room, giving off a chilly effect.
"Yes Nana." Dull intent, he doesn't raise his voice, least she think he was giving her attitude, just enough for her to hear him.
"Good." With her long speckled hand, her sharp nails hold on to a colourful book filled with various drawings. "You see why I had to punish you?" Disgusted, she made a face you could hardly see. "Reading this filth… The only books children should be reading is that of Lord. He who guides us in these sinful times."
Mortimer had been reading Gimms' Fairy Tales. A book he stumbled upon from his walk home. It had been dropped in the middle of the pavement. Intrigued by the cover, he had taken it home and began reading it that very day.
That is until Nana had found it.
"Yes Nana." He repeats.
"Get up from the floor boy." She squawks before handing him thee book. "You will repent."
Taking the book from wrinkled hand, Mortimer watches Nana as she walks towards the fireplace. She grabs a box of matches. Taking a single match, she lights it before tossing it into a set of poorly chopped logs. A sudden harsh blaze illuminates the whole room.
"Come." Nana only needed to say it once.
The small boy, obedient and defiant, moves in the direction of the fire. Book in his arms, he walks at a slow pace. It doesn't take long to reach her. When he does, Mortimer stand at a halt.
"Toss it." Nana commands, indicating over her shoulder to the fire.
Mortimer doesn't move but instead his hands tighten around the hard cover. He hesitates.
A wrong move.
Nana swiftly raises a hand. She doesn't give Mortimer the chance to respond. "Na-"
Smack!
"Sinful boy!" Nana seethes through her teeth. Watching her defying grandson as he stands there, he doesn't try his burning cheek.
Concentrate Black! Clarity and focus is the only chance you have against those would pry you dry.
Hearing the guiding voice, he attempts to throw out the wretched old woman. Blocking her annoying shrilling voice that no longer exists; one that was gone and had no way of returning. The more he thought about her demise the more it became easier to mute, to forget.
The image starts to crack.
Conscious will and determination, Mortimer was soon able to push his way through the sham of a tormented memory.
Blinking, Professor Snape stood in front of him. The curtains around them provided comforting security and away from any suspicious eyes.
"You did well this time." Being honest with him, Snape stepped back, implying that lessons have concluded.
Still, residing in the hospital wing. Over little of the week, and with little to do, he's been learning occlumency. Both Dumbledore and Narcissa, though not discussed, agreed that Mortimer was in need of desperate control. Speeding the lesson, Severus has been silently teaching him.
The first few lessons were the hardest. It normally ended with him angrily frustrated. Teary at every memory that was probed, Mortimer nearly dropped to the floor. Wanting to quit, he had to constantly remind himself that he was doing this for the better. Protection and survival, it was the two ingredients that mattered, the ones that pushed him to the brink.
Mortimer has yet to show his face in class, or to anyone for that matter. The only people that came to visit him was Draco and his other friends. Odd as it was, at some point, Lavender and the Patil twins had shown up with fruit basket in hopes of brightening his day.
Besides learning occlumemcy, he has all but caught up with his school work. Which he didn't mind doing, again, with little to do, it was a welcoming distraction from the goading anecdotes he couldn't get rid of.
"Not single tear." Mortimer hears Snape say. He wasn't sure whether to take it in jest or a compliment.
"Madam Pomfrey says you'll be released tonight." Severus speaks again. "If you are to continue lessons... I suggest you start next week."
"You don't mind?" Mortimer asks, his legs dangling from his bed.
"Whether I do or don't doesn't really matter. I have no say. I would rather spend my time elsewhere and not having to deal with such muttonheaded children who lack learning capabilities."
"Right…" Mortimer peers away from the annoyed professor. "I – Thanks for taking the time Professor."
A grumbling noise was the response he got before Snape opened the curtains wide, he heard the potion master leaving.
Once again he was alone. Well not entirely…
Along with Mortimer, Potter had somehow gotten himself severally injured. He's only recently woken up, a day after Mortimer had. He had watched as Dumbledore had privately spoken to Potter, not sure about what, but he knew it had to be something important. The headmaster doesn't make it his mission to visit every student that goes through the hospital wing.
On the bright side, Potter was placed all the way to the other side from the room, away from Mortimer. Good. He could hard stand the boy, always looking at him as if he were a display. Never minding his own business, he could sometimes hear Potter talking about him in front Granger and Weasley when they visited him. They wondered why Mortimer was there, Granger assumed because of what Seamus had done to him. Weasley believed he was faking the whole thing, for attention, to avoid being humiliated further. But Potter never said anything, never chiming his own thoughts.
Since they were both sharing the same space, they did their best to avoid talking to another. Mortimer had nothing to say to him, but Potter seemed to be wondering a million different things.
Hoping on top of the bed, Mortimer carelessly slumps his head against the pillows. Occupied with many notions, mortimer had somehow found himself feeling rather calm.
Not sure if it was occlumency doing its work or he had simply stopped caring. Regardless, it felt nice to be free, for the moment at least.
Another fresh pair of footsteps begin to make their way into Mortimer's direction. "Mortimer. Wake up! I've brought school work."
Opening one eye, he could see Tracey holding various books. Not far from behind, Daphne came with a box of freshly baked biscuits. "Tracey's mother made these. Apparently she wouldn't stop talking about you. Her mother is just happy to know she's made friends, besides me of course."
"Anyways!" Davis derailed the embarrassing topic. "I know how much you hate missing work and Draco couldn't be here, said he had to send a letter to his mother. So I volunteered."
A small laugh, Mortimer takes sit up to take the books from her hands. "Thanks Tracy."
Daphne comes closer, handing him the box. "Your treats all mighty Lord Black." She teased.
"Please don't." Rolling his eyes, Mortimer shook his head. "I don't know how you deal with it Heiress Greengrass."
"You grow into it." She shrugs her shoulders.
Mortimer was quiet. Her words were very much true, there a lot that needed to be done. If he wants this to work, there couldn't be any mistakes, not anymore.
"Speaking of growing. Your pet has grown quite a bit since you've been gone. Draco's been taking good care of it. Theo's dabbled a bit. As fascinating as it is, I don't think I could ever get near it. Not right now. It's too…" She thinks about it, tapping her chin. "...violent."
"What do you mean?" Tilting his head, he grabs a biscuit and starts eating it.
"Any time we come near it, it starts hissing at us. It never lets us get too close to it. The only person who does is a Draco, but even then, he still has a hard time because the then it tries to run away." Tracey starts scratching her head in confusion. "Strange creature, that one."
All this time worrying about himself, Mortimer has failed to see how Tobey was. Remembering how he acting before, he wondered what caused him to go berserk. He'd ask Draco once he comes and visits.
"Thanks for telling. Well… it was nice seeing you two. But I should probably start working on these." Showing off the task that laid before them, the girls nodded and bid him well.
No use in wasting time, he starts with transfigurations, it was the easiest for him. Turning the pages over for only a few short moments, he feels eyes on him.
Cracking his neck, he searches for the source. Then again, he didn't need to look hard. There was only two people occupying the room, mortimer included. So he wasn't necessarily surprised to see that once again Potter couldn't keep his nose away.
"What do you want?" Mortimer said blandly. Potter's snoopy display didn't deserve a reaction, alternatively, kept it hidden.
Potter at first didn't say anything, only continued his strange staring problem. "What makes you think I want anything?"
"You're staring like you sure want something." Blinking away, Mortimer moves his attention away from him.
Going for another treat, he shoves his hand inside. He grabs, not one, but two. He releases a soft sigh, before hoping off the bed and moving within Potter's bedside.
"Here." Waving the flat bake good in front of his face.
"What is it?" Harry was rather suspicious, he eyes mortimer carefully.
"Poison." Mortimer rolled his. Were his opinions so low that he'd honestly think Mortimer was up to no good? A crazy idea. "What do you think it is Potter? You can't be this stupid."
"You could be trying to get me back for Malfoy." He takes biscuit from his hand before taking a bite.
"His problems aren't mine." Just because they happen to be related doesn't mean they had to share the same beliefs. His cousin was his own person, just Mortimer was his.
"You mean you don't actually hate me?" Potter asked in skepticism, taking another bite, he was pleasantly surprised to find himself enjoying it.
"I don't care enough for that." He confesses, veering over back to his own bed, he hears the gryffindor boy talking.
"Thank you." Potter coughs, clearing his throat. "For the cookie – I mean."
Mortimer merely nods. He goes back and soon begins his unfulfilled assignments.
Potter's eyes on him, the feeling lingered. It causes him to crack his neck again, he does his best to ignore him. As Professor mentioned, he'd only be here for a few hours and then he'd be free again.
"Master! Master! Master!"
Tobey frantically shouts that he starts bumping his head against the glass coop. "You return!"
Mortimer had barely opened the door to his dorm before he started to hear the loud hissings of Tobey – Who refused to lay still, squirming as he knocked himself back and forth.
Tracey was right however. Tobey had grown rather thick and just a wee-bit longer. His scales had always been dark, but had somehow gotten darker. The white rings that ran across his body had expanded as well. Strange, Mortimer has only been gone for nearly a week and already he's missed a few changes.
Head a lot more clearer, by the time he made it towards his little pet, there was a certain desire nagging at him to interrogate the snake.
"I have." A half smile, he said. "Tell me… what happened while I was away." Drawing closer to the cage, his eyes observed the hyped reptile.
Tobey swirls a bit more and after a few seconds he composes himself to answer his master. He was upset."Locked! The humans locked - trapped me. I tried to leave. To reach for you. It was no use master… I failed you."
Mortimer tapped lazily on the glass. "It's not your fault. Besides, there wasn't much for you to do since I was in bed most of the time." Wiggling his index finger, he asks. "What happened to you? You were acting like a complete nutter before I was gone. What did you see?"
Tobey doesn't answer, not as fast as his young master had wanted him to. When tobey didn't make a sound, mortimer had gave the little snake a glare, warning him that his master was growing impatient.
Batting his eyes, his little creature relentlessly responds, words covered in venom, he sounded upset. "Evil. Pure, terrible, bad bad bad, evil. It was running away. It wants to come out – to escape – to hurt. Danger, the air - It was dangerous. Not safe for master."
Curling his lip faintly, his young master stares, pondering, taking in his words into account. He airs out a breath and without much thought, opens the cage door that allowed Tobey to slither right out.
Skimming all the way to his shoulders, Tobey took comfort around Mortimer's warm neck.
Neither said anything. They were both equally as confused as the other. What ever that thing was in the sky didn't matter, not right now. And rather than ponder about it, and break his head trying to solve it, mortimer hides his curiosity and sets it aside for now.
The next day, Mortimer was finishing up with charms. Turning and fixing his parchments and adjusting his books as he went through the busy corridor. He takes the further steps to see if he could catch up with Draco, chances were he would most likely find him inside Potion's class, already seated.
Taking the stairs, he descends towards the dungeons.
Aware that Potions was the next class, he was a lot more calm than he was before. Recalling the time he was here had ended unpleasant, putting it mildly. Mortimer was given enough time recollect himself.
Having discussed it further with aunt cissy – through their letters, she had relented her previous plans. Realising it wasn't wise to take him home, Mortimer was overjoyed to hear he'd be allowed to continue his studies.
It was strange because he doesn't remember much.
He vaguely recalls seeing his aunt – they talked. But not much else was said. What he did know was that in the end, she had conceded, allowing him to keep attending so as long as he takes better care for himself.
Which he's kept for the most part.
With Snape teaching him, and having been practicing, Mortimer has never felt more optimistic.
His hand now resting on the heavy-wooded door, there was a short pause on his part.
Whether he'd be laughed at again or ridiculed, Mortimer was ready for it.
Now was as good a time as any.
The door creak opens, deciding to take route, he heads inside. Class hasn't started but already there were a few students present. Including the trio of gryffindors, Draco's back side came into view. He wasn't far away and only had to walk a few paces to reach him.
He was just about to call his name when Mortimer's own name came from another mouth.
"Black." An awkward accent made his eyes move at the person approaching him.
There was an expectation of emotions when facing the irish boy. Awaiting for rage and embarrassment to force its way to his core.
But the moment never came.
Seamus speed walking from the front of the class to the back, where mortimer was standing. "Hey Black." Waving his hand, he stops right in front of him.
Mortimer offers no words other than choosing to stand there. "Hey –" Seamus fumbles his lips for a bit. "I wanted to sorry for what happened." He could tell that Finnigan was inexplicably uncomfortable. "I didn't think it would turn out that badly."
Odd as it was, Mortimer's demeanor had grown calmer, more guarded. "It's fine – just don't do it again, yeah?" He doesn't give seamus the chance to properly respond but merely walks away.
Draco turns his head to spot his cousin. "Mortimer." He sways his arm, motioning him to come closer. "Theo's partnering with Goyle so you can take his place."
Patting his dear cousin on the back, he shakes his head and let's out a small laugh. "It's ok Draco, really. I feel ok, better than ok."
Draco's small brow rose up in a puzzling expression. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Confirming, he gave Draco an amusing smile and started making his way to his own desk. "I'll be over there if you need me." Mortimer moves away and turns to sit at the very last desk on the right.
Engaged in his task, the change was visibly noticeable. Part of him was thankful that not everyone focused on him. Those that didn't ignore him were bewildered to find the Black heir in an energetic delivery as he worked his way, unhindered throughout the lesson.
It brought him out of his perpetual nervous nature and raised him to be eye-leveling wizard he's been wanting to be for quite some time.
Then Draco was talking, and Theo had to look behind his shoulder, peeping at Mortimer. Even so, he couldn't ignore the strange expressions they were giving off. He'd ask them later.
After a successful day. Mortimer was getting ready for flying lessons.
Madam Hooch was still teaching them how to liftoff and land properly. Half of the students there were still struggling, more specifically, their landing. But other's, like potter, didn't need to participate, but were given small obstacles as a means for practicing. Mortimer didn't particularly enjoy flying, he wasn't opposed to it either. If he were honest, his interests leaned more towards the books he was carrying.
Coming up from the dungeons, Mortimer strolled from the first-floor's corridors and headed towards the training grounds.
He realizes that he's abandoned Draco and Theo, leaving them behind, not bothering to have waited for them. Frankly, the constant bullying he's endured had left Mortimer unable to rely, stipulated against needing any form of assistance.
Growing near herbology's green house, it was there that once again Mortimer found himself pushed to floor.
No need to guess who it was, Mortimer had come to know his bullies.
One of them, an older gryffindor, Anthony Hinton, knew mortimer's schedule well, thus giving the advantage to attack at any moment.
Then there was the Seventh-year Ravenclaw, Phillip Dwyer. A muggleborn, he was the one to have first attacked Mortimer on his first day.
A pureblood, Earl Newmark, was another gryffindor that took enjoyment on picking defenseless boys.
Finally, there was a hufflepuff halfblood, Nick Levin, despite the house he was sorted to, he was probably the most violent out of the bunch. He enjoyed watching Mortimer getting pummeled that you could often here him laughing. But quickly turned angry when he didn't get the reaction he was hoping for.
There was more, but those were the one's that stood out the most. A mutual understanding when it came to Black, they shared something quite special. Gravely, they were effected by Bellatrix Lestrange. At some point, or another, they had lost a mother or a father. Those that didn't die in a raid, or weren't killed on the spot, were only a shell of a person that they use to be.
Yes, they all had a common enemy. Said enemy, laid there. Unfortunately, because Mortimer was the closest thing to getting even with Bellatrix, it was up to him to make up the sins of his crazed mother. It was why this was happening to him now. Why he was being ganged up by a crowd of older boys, waiting to teach him a lesson.
They're no better… Mortimer thought.
"Oh no – Looks like Black has gone and tripped, again." Hinton said satirically, giggling when Mortimer tries lifting himself up from the floor.
Levin, the hufflepuff, snickers alongside the gryffindor. "Here Black, let me help you." He tells Mortimer before driving his leg, aiming his ribs.
Normally, Mortimer would have just played possum until they grew bored. But this time, there was something inside Mortimer. It told him that he didn't need to put up with this, not anymore.
What they were doing wasn't right, that their anger was misguided. Fools blinded by hatred, Mortimer was there only as an outlet, a source to release the repressed anger they had towards his pureblood of a mother.
But he wasn't her. He wasn't anything like her. Mortimer was own person, a being with his own mind. He repeats these thoughts in his head for a while, trying so heard to convince himself. And as time passed on, desperation, a cry for help, he wanted people to know who he really was.
Mortimer didn't move from his position, on the floor, he let's out a small cough that bubbled up out his chest. A common response when being kicked, there was series of hard breathes coming out that made him sound like a rocket ready to blow.
"You're no better…" He whispers, his voice filled with callous, mortimer had not bothered to see their reactions.
"What did you say filthy snake?" One of them growled, while the others stood silently.
Certainly, they weren't expecting Mortimer to respond in words. Considering he had never spoke a word to his tormentors. He had mostly bunked on to silence.
"I…" He stops briefly. His answer felt so foreign to him that even he had hard time believing he was the one that said it. "I said. . . You aren't better. You're just like them – picking on the weak."
The ravenclaw, Dwyer, grabs Mortimer by the helm of his robes. "And who are you to talk Black? Your kind lives off picking on the defenseless. You don't fool me. You and your little friends are just waiting for you-know-who to come and wipe us all out, right? Because we don't fit the criteria of your perfect little world. Don't act so innocent. Like mother, like son."
Without thinking, in reaction, Mortimer balled his hand into a fist, striking the ravenclaw straight to the nose.
The boy yells in pain, causing his fingers to loosen around the robes he was holding. It a matter of seconds, Mortimer's instincts had kicked in. Aware they were going to attack him, he attempts to strike again.
But before he could even raise a hand, he hears one of the them yelling out."Flipendo!"
The incantation leaving the bully's lips pushes Mortimer back against the brick wall. The knockback jinx, as he's heard. Quickly, he tries reaching his wand, tucked underneath his robes.
Unsuccessful, Mortimer hears them once again, this tume uttering. "Levicorpus!"
There was no time to react. Finding himself upside down, Mortimer was being pulled up by his ankles.
Newmark, his wand at hand, lifts him close to the ceiling, chuckling as Mortimer struggles. "I heard snakes can breathe underwater for several minutes… I say we toss this little chit down the lake and see how long he can hold his breath."
Tears of anger leaked through Mortimer's dark eyes. He couldn't recall ever being so close to murdering someone – Not true, but the thought was tempting, very.
"I am nothing like her!" Mortimer shouts. Not caring if he was upside down and certainly not the crowd of students that had just gathered around to watch the show.
They were caught of guard the more Black spoke against them. "I have a mind of my own. I have feelings of my own, and I won't let you think otherwise. You won't make me turn into her, I won't let you. Say what you want! I don't care." Shaking his head furiously, the blood reach up to his neck. "You're suppose to be better than this, better than me… Instead your nothing but the scum death eaters that gang up on a child who had no part in it! You're the blind one's! You're the villains!
"Langlock!" The now collected Ravenclaw boy, Dwyer glares heatedly. Watching as the upside down Mortimer yelps in pain.
As the crowd observes the encounter, some were left in horror. Witnessing as the little boy's body was starting to go limp the more he spent up there.
Unbeknownst to Mortimer, the trio had been watching for quite a while. They were speechless, but Granger seemed happy, going far as to say proud.
Hermione shakes Harry by the shoulders, "Go get Professor McGonagall, quick!"
Shaking his head, Potter grabs Weasley by his back, dragging him away from the crowd. The sounds of Ron debating made her roll her eyes.
Nevertheless, her eyes darted back to Mortimer. A loud gasp, she was more stunned to find Draco and Theo, both of which, had jumped to his defense. Draco had tackled the gryffindor who was holding his cousin upside down.
Soon as he did, the spell had immediately released Mortimer. Though, had caused him to shoot straight down to the floor, landing on his shoulder. There a groan on his part, it matter not, since he found himself baffled by what he was witnessing.
His friend Theo had gone against ravenclaw, the one who glued Mortimer's tongue to the roof of his mouth. Jumping on top of him, he wrapped his arms around Dwyer's neck, inducing a choking effect as Theo refused to let go.
It became a pit of roughhousing boys, going at it like a pack of wolves. Draco bit into the hufflepuff, who then in turn began trying to push and shove the boy off. Theo wasn't haven't much luck either, struggling over the ravenclaw. One of the gryffindors had manage to grab Draco from behind, tossing him above as if he were nothing.
"Stop it! Stop it this instant!" A thunderous shout booming from behind the horde of students. "All of you! Back to your houses."
Professor McGonagall stomped through the mass of children. After giving the command, they have almost immediately began to disperse. Not wanting to risk detention they ran across different directions.
Potter and Weasley were not far from behind the professor. They only stopped once McGonagall halted. "What in blazes is going on? Explain."
Like a flock of seagulls, they squawked and hoot. Openly, talking and yelling over each other. They paid no expense in doing so. Aiming to desperately convince McGonagall, she accepted none of it. "Quiet!"
She eyed them carefully until she spotted Mortimer. Holding his right arm, his eyes were down. Strolling near the boy, she leaned down to inspect his limbs. "Any pain?"
He didn't speak for a good minute, and then. "My shoulder…" he grumbled.
"Explain yourself." She orders.
There was a hiatus. Mortimer was afraid to speak. It wasn't that he was necessarily scared, nor did he wanted to get them in trouble. But part of him understood why they lashed out at him.
Bellatrix was a horrible person who did horrible things in the name of her Lord. It was crazy to think, but they weren't to blame, not entirely.
Maybe he did deserve it, maybe he didn't Mortimer couldn't choose.
His head jumbled with all sort of thoughts, his voice had left his throat, leaving Mortimer unable to respond.
"They were bullying him." Pointing his fingers, Draco began fussing. "They've been going at it since the beginning!"
"Professor! We –"
"It's true." From behind, a small arm was raised. Hermione publicly agreed.
For once, Draco didn't react negatively and Theo simply nodded. Both Harry and Ron stood quietly in the background, shocked expressions overcoming their young faces.
The elder witch wasn't sure whether to believe him or not. So instead, she faces a very still Mortimer. "Is this this true young man."
His eyes look away for a few seconds and only then gave the briefest of nods.
When the gang had attacked, Mortimer had not seen it coming. He was awoken from a surprisingly unworried stroll through the corridors when it happened. Hardly any time was given to him, to think of a solid plan.
Thankfully it was over and McGonagall could see the relief in Mortimer's features. "Right." She said.
Turning over to the older students, she ordered in a stern voice. "You four, with me." Her thumb, she pointed sharply.
"Mr. Malfoy, will you please take Mr. Black here to the hospital wing? See to it, his shoulder gets fixed" As they reluctantly began to move, the Professor talked over them. "I expected better from you, all of you.."
Her voice slowly disappearing as she walks away. With his bullies following her, they give Mortimer one last look, a glare. A glare that conveyed the absolute hatred they had against him. Not him specifically, but the witch he resembled.
"Are you ok?" Mortimer directs his head, seeing Draco stand near him.
"Yeah…" Still holding his shoulder, Mortimer was more surprised to find himself not feeling as bad as the other times.
Whether it was because of the occlumency lessons, or simply because he stopped caring, Mortimer felt at ease for once. Their words still hurt, but the pain in his shoulder out weighed any emotion he was currently feeling.
"Let's get you to the Madam Pomfrey." Draco guided Mortimer to the left side of the corridor that would lead them towards the long hallway.
"Think she'll excuse us from flying classes?" Theo wondered.
"Do you have a broken a shoulder?" Draco asked, holding Mortimer's elbow while his cousin added pressure on his arm.
"No, but mortimer does... That has to count, right?"
The three begin to laugh.
But suddenly Mortimer stops in his trail. Theo and Draco began questioning him. Ignoring them, he ran back towards the trio, specifically Granger.
Before he forgets, there was a sense of appreciation in his tone when he spoke the buck-toothed girl. "Thank you."
He offers her a smile that was later returned. But again, Harry and Ron were simply to overwhelmed and confused to even find the proper reaction. Clearly not accustomed to having a been thanked, especially someone from slytherin.
Once that was done, Mortimer ran back to Draco. Theo couldn't help but smack Black in back. "Ow!"
"You got a broken shoulder and you stopped to thank them?" Spreading his arms in exaggeration, Theo rolled his eyes and began ranting on how much of an idiot Mortimer was for letting those berks get away for such a long time.
Like parents scolding their child. Mortimer regrets ever getting their help the more he listened as Theo and Draco lectured him while they simultaneously walked. Wagging their fingers in shame, a smile formed around his lips.
They cared.
They really did care.
And for that, he gladly lent his ear as they flogged him on his idiocy and the importance of being responsible.
He loved it.