Chapter 02 :

Huddled together as the moon brightened the corridor, extending its shadows to cover their dark little corner, Harry and Theodore munched on the Slytherin's last chocolate chip cookies. Sharing his delectable snack was a new experience for the young Nott, who was more used to bully his classmates -particularly Crabbe and Goyle, who were known to always have the good stuff on them- to extort theirs.

"I think, said Harry as he nibbled the fallen crumbs, that I need a friend."

"Don't you already have a pet Weasley and a domesticated Granger ?" Rudely wondered Theodore, making a scornful face at the thought of these two individuals. "What would be the use of searching for another pet when yours are already house-trained ?"

The young Potter raised a judging brow at the scathing description of his friends, but did not comment, choosing to expound on his need instead :

"Yeah, but I'd like a friend to talk about Love with. Except these kind of things make Ron all flustered and Hermione wouldn't know about romance if it punched her in the face... They are the best friends anyone could ask for, but with them it's either Quidditch and chess or homework and books, there is no place for common teenage shenanigans..."

"Ah, they haven't been hit by puberty yet, huh..."

"Sometimes I wonder if it'll ever hit them..."

Theodore observed Harry during a long silent moment. It was the perfect opportunity to realise one of his most secret dreams : befriending Harry Potter. As he was a Slytherin, he never had the chance to talk with the Gryffindor like that before, but he had to admit that it was nice. Potter could bear his sarcasms without being vexed and Theodore could even smile to him without making him faint, which was a big plus in his book. No, really, the chance was too great, he just had to say it :

"If you want I could be your friend ? I won't claim to know anything about Love, but I don't mind sharing my snacks with you when you want to talk about it..."

"Really ?!" Cheered the young Potter with happy tears in his eyes.

"Yes, really."

"Wow, I- I don't know what to say... I didn't expect that... I-if you don't mind me then, I'll gladly accept ! Thank you !"

The green and silver themed boy exulted smugness, magnanimously nodding to the other's words.

"You're welcome" he smiled with that naturally terrifying smile of his.

"Still..." Remarked Harry. "You're really nice for a Slytherin..."

"No, I'm not !" Protested the young Nott with outrage. "I'm pretty much the worst Slyhterin you can currently find in Hogwart !"

"I see... Then, perhaps I misunderstood Slytherins : I wrongly thought you were a nasty bunch of arseholes, when in truth you are all big softies inside."

Just hearing his Out After Curfew comrade talk about Slytherins as softies made Theodore want to puke.

"No, just no" he denied as he gulped down his rancid bile. "There is something fundamentally wrong with your theory : Slytherins are not and will never be nice. It goes against the inherent Laws of Nature... I'm about absolutely positive the Universe itself would break down if that ever happened..."

Harry seemed to think about it for a second, before dubiously shrugging and accepting his new friend's argument :

"Oh... Well, I suppose it just means that you somehow mellowed down, since you're so kind with me..."

None could see it in the darkness of their corner, but the utmost horror on the young Nott's face was such that it could have passed for Munch's renown painting.

I haven't abandonned this story but I rarely write anymore so it doesn't progress. I'll try posting the few chapters I have ready, or at least some of them.

Plew A.E