A/N: Hello, people-who-still-follow-this-story & new-readers, I'm back with another chapter!
I hope everyone is doing alright with recent events and is staying safe at home, if possible. Please remember that we're all facing this Virus together and so no one is alone even if it seems like that sometimes.
As predicted I don't do well with self-implemented schedules and therefore am struggling to keep up with this semester, but hey, enough about me.
Thanks for everyone who followed and favourited and reviewed, I hope you enjoy this chapter ^^
Chapter 7- Betrayal?
In the blink of an eye, Theo found himself on the fourth day of school, and already, he was loaded with a huge amount of schoolwork and studying to do.
He barely had any time to play in the common room like most of the Gryffindors seemed to do, and when he ventured to ask one of them how he had the time to play he found out that mostly everyone endeavoured to just do whatever assignment they have for the next day and postpone the others to the last day. Also, no one else seemed to do readings before each and every lesson, apparently they thought that if reading the chapters was important they'd get them in an assignment.
Theo got the logic, but he was afraid he'd fall behind if he tried it.
The only person that Theo took pleasure in knowing shared the same problems was his friend, Dan, who thankfully ended up being his roommate too.
They both were walking down to the common room on Thursday night since tomorrow would be Friday and they'd have a whole weekend to prepare for the second week, they figured they might just as well join the fun and try to make new friends.
As soon as Theo stepped into the common room, his other housemate, Finn, waved at him.
"Theo! come, join us, we need a fourth player!"
Theo looked at Dan, confirming he noticed Finn too, and they both went there together.
"Oh, it's only a game of four. Sorry, Daniel," muttered Finn when he saw that Dan joined them as well.
"It's alright, I don't mind watching," said Daniel casually, as he seated himself on a nearby couch.
Theo looked between them, not sure if he should leave his friend considering they came here to enjoy their time together, but at the same time, he didn't want to disappoint Finn and tell him that he won't be their fourth player.
Finn seemed to be a good roommate, aside from his overly loud voice and the fact that he stays awake too late and still succeeds on waking up relatively early, subsequently waking everyone up with him.
"How about we play a game of five," Theo suggested.
"I really wanted to play this game though," Finn answered quickly.
"But we are five people now..." Theo tried again.
"I don't know... he said he was okay with watching," replied Finn.
"I am!" shouted Dan.
Theo looked back at his friend, he did look quite indifferent to the fact that they'd be playing without him, but he knew for a fact that people don't necessarily show what they're feeling inside. And if he took his mother's advise and tried to put himself in Dan's shoes, he'd be a little upset that they chose to play without him.
He looked back at the other guys. Other than Finn, there was Nathan who Theo knew from Transfiguration class and another dark boy that Theo didn't know properly yet, only that he was a fellow first year. They were both looking at Theo, waiting for him to make a decision so they can finally enjoy the game.
"It's like we are excluding him," Theo reasoned desperately.
"We're not, he just came last," Finn defended.
"He didn't, he came with me!" his voice was louder than he meant it to be, but he was really desperate to prove his point.
The fact that everyone else, Dan included, had not seen what's wrong with the situation really bothered him, he just couldn't stand the unfairness.
Am I making too much deal out of nothing?
But then he remembered that he has to stand for what's right in his eyes, even if everyone else doesn't see it that way.
The fact that these words came from a war hero, only enhanced the meaning of them.
Searching his mind for a reasonable approach, Theo decided to first confirm his suspicion and then act on it.
"How about I watch and he joins the game?"
"No! I think you're pretty good at it, I want you to be on my team," Finn was getting more and more defensive with each word.
"Actually, I'm not very good at cards, Dan is probably better than me," said Theo, looking at Dan, silently begging his friend not to contradict.
"Not to brag or anything but, statistically speaking, my winning rate is pretty high," Dan said smirking.
He really should be a Ravenclaw...
"I still don't want you on my team," Finn finally said.
Aha! So there is more to it than I initially thought.
"Why not?" asked Theo.
"I have my reasons."
Theo was confused, he had his suspicions confirmed but he still didn't know what to do about it. It actually made it worse because, unlike what he thought in the beginning, it wasn't just that he would be joining a game and leaving his friend behind, but apparently, he would be choosing a friend over the other.
He was perplexed on what to do or say, he really didn't want to have to choose, they both were good to him, and he didn't want to start losing friends on the first week of school instead of gaining some.
"Alright, Finn, what's the matter?" he asked, he really didn't have the patience to let it go on forever and wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"What do you mean?" Finn asked innocently.
"You clearly don't want Daniel to join the game, don't flatter me with excuses," Theo said.
"Well, so what if I don't?" Finn asked hotly.
"What do you have against him?"
Finn didn't speak, but it was clear that he was internally fighting whether to just blurt it out or keep it to himself, he was one of those people who wear their feelings on their face, as his father says.
"We barely even talk to each other," said Dan, helplessly, apparently finally noticing that something was up.
"I don't need to talk to you." this time, Finn targeted Dan directly.
"But why ?" Theo intervened.
He needed to know what was up with his new housemates, and once he knew he'll try to fix it.
Finn didn't answer, he moved his gaze to the wall.
"Oh, he's mad because he sees Dan hanging out with Slytherins," said Nathan dramatically, who Theo completely forgot was there with the other boy.
So what if he does? What's wrong with hanging out with other houses ? are we supposed to be enemies?
"I don't hang out with Slytherins, I only hang out with my friends in Slytherin, there is a difference," Dan defended himself, which was unnecessarily in Theo's opinion since neither of those was a crime.
"Why should it matter to you who Daniel befriends? Is it because they are from another house ?" he finally asked.
"Oh? I couldn't care less if he hangs out with Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws!" Finn blurted out.
"Why does it matter if they are Slytherins then?" asked Daniel, finally participating in uncovering the truth, instead of trying to defend himself from pointless accusations.
Finn didn't say anything again, he just continued to look at the wall.
"I think it's because of the wide-known rivalry between our houses, you know, older housemates always talk about how they are going to kick Slythern's arse this year," explained Nathan, Theo could swear the boy barely contained rolling his eyes at his friend's stupidity, it was like he was already tired of all the drama and wanted to finally get rid of it.
"That's hardly a reason," said the black boy, when everyone looked at him, he hesitated and added," not that I know anything about that, it's just not reasonable to hate Slytherins and anyone they hang out with just because of house rivalry."
"It's not just that!" defended Finn, finally looking at them.
"What else is it then ?" Theo asked.
"You really don't know ?" Finn asked looking at every one of them.
Theo just looked at him in confusion, along with everyone else.
"Blimey, it's like as if you've never read history books! don't you know how almost everyone in Slytherin is evil."
"You can't judge a whole house based on one or two—" started Daniel but he was interrupted.
"—most of them were death eaters! They joined Voldermort and tried to take down the school!"
"That's many years ago! those Slytherins weren't even born back then." Nathan said.
"They're related to them! related to those evil monsters that killed innocents! Besides, I'm certain they'd create a new evil club in the coming years and most of them would join it. It's just in their nature, to be evil."
All of them were shocked at how angry Finn was, it was obvious how personally he took this matter.
"I've never seen anyone so judgmental, you're not even a seer to predict things like—" Daniel started.
"—hold on" This time Theo interrupted what he was sure to be a long lecture, "you're distancing yourself from Daniel because he hangs out with some Slytherins but at the same time, you don't care that my father is the head of that house?" he asked, half expecting Finn to declare that he forgot about that and that he doesn't want to be Theo's friend either.
"Well Snape is one of the exceptions, we've all read books of what great his part was at the war. He even received an award for it" Finn explained.
"Order of Merlin - First Class," Nathan added, nodding.
"Books? as in there are more than one ?" Theo asked, somewhat surprised. He did know about his parents' part in defeating the darkest wizard of all time, but he never thought of how wide their fame for it was, he never thought they'd be almost as famous as Uncle Harry. That people would read books about them.
"Sure, there is! there are even books that only focus on his part."
Theo continued to stare, he felt dumb that he never thought to ask his parents for such books.
He almost asked if there are books about his mother too, but quickly stopped himself. They probably don't know who his mother is and he wanted it to stay that way, especially because he was avoiding questions about his parents' marriage.
"Are you saying you didn't read them?" asked Daniel this time.
Looking around him, they all seemed to look at him strangely, as if he grew a second head.
"I don't know... I never thought to read books about the war, my parents just told me about it," he said, hoping they'd leave the subject.
"Shocking mate, if my father was the hero your father was, I'd sure as hell read every book that mentions him," said Nathan.
"I guess I should start searching for some..." he said absentmindedly.
"I'll lend you some" suggested Daniel, and Theo offered him a smile.
"Hold on, we are changing the subject..." said the boy who Theo still didn't know the name of, apparently not caring that much about the subject of war and his father's part in it or not fully understanding it. Either way, Theo was thankful for the distraction.
"Right, Finn, can't you see how your logic doesn't make sense..." Theo said, trying to be patient in getting his point across.
"Yeah, mate, things change, I mean, if Slytherin was indeed an evil house, the people who rule Hogwarts wouldn't keep it around, would they?" Nathan said.
"And I don't think my father would like to be the head of an evil house," Theo couldn't help but add since he now knew how Finn respected his father, he figured it was a safe card to play.
"And If they are all evil, do you think the world would stand for that long? I mean with the number of Slytherins spread around the wizarding world, they'd sure have already ruined it, dark lord to lead them or not." Dan added smartly.
"Merlin himself was a Slytherin, mate," Nathan said.
"Yeah and he is the greatest wizard of all times!" added Theo.
Finn's gaze moved between each one of them, still somewhat unsure.
"I know I'm probably not being rational," he said, "it's just, I know how much my family suffered in that war, and how many close people my parents lost, and the people who are responsible for this... they were all Slytherins, you know."
"We know, Finn, but being in a certain house doesn't define what you are!" said Dan.
"It's just wrong to assume things about people before you get to talk to them personally." said the nameless boy.
"I guess you're right," Finn sighed, " my parents would probably say the same," he added looking up "I'm sorry Daniel, I guess I was mean to you for no reason," he said genuinely.
"It's alright, Finn," Dan said, chuckling nervously," Don't worry I'll give you good reasons to hate me in the future," he added.
They all laughed at that, happy that the tension was finally over.
"So now that's out of the way, can we finally play a game that includes five people?" asked Theo.
"I really wanted to play that game though.." Finn said apprehensively, though he had just apologized to someone, he was still brave enough to state his preference.
Theo didn't think he'd do the same were he in his place.
"I tell you what, you play one match, and I take the place of whoever losses," Dan suggested.
"Sounds fair," the other boys said.
Yes... that's fair.
On Friday morning, Theo found himself enjoying his breakfast with his newfound friends. The five of them were all crowded together in the middle of Gryffindor's table, participating in the various conversations that took place between students eager to finish their class day and enjoy their first weekend.
Michael, which Theo found was the name of the fifth member of their group, was busy showing Dan and Finn- who seemed to be friends now- a muggle magazine which was advertising electronics, describing what each object does and how it all works without magic.
That was another thing Theo found during their long night yesterday, that while Michael was muggle-born Dan and Finn were as magical as they come, though not purebloods, their family consisted of a long line of wizards that they were completely detached from the muggle world.
Theo and Nathan had the benefit of being surrounded and aware of both worlds, so naturally, they were less excited about the magazine.
It was clear, however, that Michael was excited to share his knowledge now that he finally had the advantage, what with being surrounded by wizards in a school he knew nothing about a month ago.
Theo looked at the staff table and saw that his father was busy chatting with the headmistress. He never had another private conversation with him after his birthday, and though he liked having his father here, he never sought him out or tried to talk to him outside of class. He rationalized that he didn't do that because his father must be as busy as him with the start of term and that he didn't want anyone to think that he was seeking some favouritism from his father, not that he'd receive it if he did.
Frankly, he didn't have a specific reason for why he was acting the way he is towards his father, perhaps he was waiting for the man to approach him himself. But he kept having this feeling of guilt whenever his father looked at him.
Does he think I don't want to talk to him?
Unconsciously, he pushed his left sleeve up his arm, displaying the new gift he received for his birthday.
It was one of the things he really liked looking at in his father's study, a Lunascope, combined with a watch. He knew it was probably something adults or elderly people wore, but his father managed to get him a version that goes well with teenage fashion, it was even in his favourite colour, blue.
He really liked this gift and regretted not being able to tell his father so, but he hoped that seeing him wearing it would be enough.
Moving his gaze from the head table, his eyes flickered upon a girl that was smiling at him, when his eyes finally focused on her, he discovered it was the girl he met at the train with her older sister, Elizabeth, he smiled shyly and awkwardly waved at her. She was sorted into Ravenclaw, which they shared few classes with, but he hoped he'll get to talk to her soon.
His ears caught into the conversation of his friends which seemed to have steered from the objects in the magazine.
"Yeah, they have sweet shops in Hogsmeade," said Nathan.
"it's a town near Hogwarts," Dan explained.
"Oh, Awesome!" said Michael, looking relieved.
"We're not allowed to go there until Third-year, though," added Nathan, smirking.
Michael immediately looked crestfallen, like someone took his favourite toy and tossed it out the window.
"How do you know all of that? you seem to know everything about Hogwarts" asked Dan.
Theo had to agree. From the conversations, he had with his friends, he came to the conclusion that Nathan was the source of knowledge for information about the school and its rules.
"My brother told me all these stuff, he's a seventh-year Hufflepuff," explained Nathan, nodding his head toward the Hufflepuff table, though with the number of students there, not one of them seemed to figure out which one was his brother.
"I thought you were the eldest in your family," said Finn, looking surprised.
"I am, he's my half brother, lives with his mother," explained Nathan, casually.
"Half brother ?" asked Theo.
"Yeah, my father was married to another woman before he married my mother and had me and my sister," he said, waving at one of the Hufflepuffs when he caught his eyes.
"Are you guys close?" asked Daniel.
"I guess, I mean, he's still my brother, though I thought he hated me for the longest time," said Nathan looking back at them.
"Hated you? why?" pressured Finn.
Nathan looked as if he regretted giving too much information, and hesitated whether he should give more.
When everyone looked at him, clearly anticipating an answer, he sighed and replied.
"Don't tell anyone, but I think it's because he thought I took our father from him.."
"Took your father?" asked Michael, incredulously.
The way they were all leaning in on the table now, forming a circle in the middle of the Gryffindor table, probably gave the impression that they were up to something, perhaps making some mischievous plans to prank someone, though the truth was far from it.
"Yeah, well, my father doesn't live with them anymore, Sam comes and visit from time to time, but it's not like living with his father."
"Yeah, I guess I can see where he's coming from," said Dan.
"He used to hate me for it, because I'm always with Dad, but I guess once he finally realized that it's not really my fault, we became friends."
"How's it like, though? having a half brother?" asked Michael.
"Uhmm, I wouldn't say it's like having a full sibling because I don't see him as much, but now that we're both at Hogwarts, It's cool, It's like having a close friend you never thought you had."
"And how's it with him and your father?" Theo asked what he hoped to be a normal question.
"I don't know, Dad treats him the same as he treats me, though he lets him get away with lots of things. Sam, however, always gets himself in troubles, and he always talks to Dad as if he's done something bad"
"Done something bad?" Finn asked, curiously.
Nathan looked both ways, and then leaned closer, "as if he betrayed him," he replied.
His answer went straight into Theo's head, as his eyes widened and the wheels inside his brain started moving.
Is that what he feels toward his own father? betrayal? because he left them?
Is that why he has these strange feelings every time he talks to him?
He reflected on Nathan's tale and wondered how he'd feel if he was to have a half brother as well, would he feel the same feelings Sam felt? Would he blame his half brother because he took his father away?
No, he'd feel worse!
Theo closed his eyes and fought to rid himself of these thoughts, it was bad enough as it is! no need to make it worse.
His brain, however, thought it was completely okay to bring images of his mother with another man, casually talking to someone who's sitting on his father's favourite chair in their sitting room, a stepfather.
He forcefully shook his head as his thoughts went so far as to suggest both of his parents having different partners with different children, and he and his sister would spend the rest of their days being tossed from one household into the other.
He opened his eyes and immediately directed his gaze at his father, who seemed to be glaring at him.
I'm not the one with different partners!
He only realized that he was glaring too when his father raised an eyebrow at him. He quickly moved his gaze and stood to take his leave.
"Where are you going? we still have fifteen minutes until Charms," said Daniel as soon as he started walking.
"I forgot something in our dorms, " Theo lied, "I'll see you in class!" he said as he made to leave.
He ran out of the great hall and made his way outside.
He needed a walk in fresh air to clear his head before Charms.
Bloody Ministry.
Bloody rules.
Bloody long hallways.
Bloody people going this way and the other.
Trudging gracefully across the hallways, Severus kept enchanting curses at everything that crossed his mind.
Why was there always a reason for him to visit this wretched place? How many times does he have to come here to register that he is indeed magical and everything he touches or uses is as well?
Bloody files.
How Hermione put up with walking those hallways every day was beyond him.
Speaking of which, since he was here he may as well get her signature on Theo's papers, searching his robes for the intended papers, he made a turn to the law enforcement department's offices.
He knew the way without having to look at the nameplates.
As he walked past desks, familiar faces nodded at him, he didn't know their names but knew them from his visits to Hermione's office ever so often.
Which as he contemplated, made him doubt his decision to come here.
He knew why he is here... because he needed her signature on a trivial paper concerning Theodore's 'early' enrollment in Hogwarts, his logical side immediately supplied.
But why come here? his traitorous side, who always seemed to question his actions, asked. Why come to her working place and make her coworkers get the wrong idea that you're just coming to check on your wife. Why when you could have easily owled the papers?
Because I'm here anyway? his brain replied, innocently.
That's a bloody fat pregnant-with-triplets lie, he knew he'd visit Hermione as soon as he decided to go to the ministry, hence why he brought the required papers with him, and if he was being honest, he chose to come this specific day because he knew she'd be here.
The truth stared at him straight in the eye, as if to disdain him. He was fluttering like an old fool trying to find some sort of familiarity in his life, and coming to Hermione's office, walking as if he owned the place, seeking his wife, was familiar.
He thought staying at Hogwarts would make it easier. Back before the war, the school never failed to take his time and distract him from what a disaster his life used to be, but apparently, it's been too long since the dark lord's fall that he forgot how much of his time in Hogwarts he spent taking care of things outside of the school curriculum.
The school does get a bit boring, dare he say, when you don't have a war to prepare for.
The first week was barely over and he couldn't wait to get out, even if it was to visit the bloody ministry.
As he reached the door to her office, Severus steeled himself.
Once he'd enter, he knew, she'd come up with hundreds of conclusions of why he's there, so he'd better get the point fast lest she gets ideas.
With that in mind, he raised his hand to the door, his poor excuses at the tip of his tongue, waiting to come out as soon as he saw the familiar face of his ex-wife, only to be interrupted.
"Professor, Ms Snape is rather occupied at the moment, shall I inform her of your arrival?"
Without trying to hide his disdain, he turned his head to glare at the lady that works at the desk and sneered at her. How did that simple-minded empty-headed ministry-slave female creature not register that he didn't talk to her for a reason?
After moments of staring the young lady down, conveying just how much he thought of her unwanted interruption, he sighed and put his hand down.
No need to make a scene, use that time to prepare yourself and sort the papers you pocketed in your robes to take care of in this very day.
This side of him seemed pretty useful, Severus thought, he needed to be in charge more.
"No need to inform her, I'll wait." he hissed at the lady, who seemed unaffected.
He headed to one of the free benches across from the office door.
He was still settling down when another lady came rushing to the same door he just left, before she gave any indication to knock, however, she looked at the lady on the counter.
"Is Johnny still inside?" she asked.
"Yes, and Mr Snape is waiting for them to finish, is it urgent or can I help you ?"
"Oh yes, please, Johnny takes ages..." the other lady said approaching the counter.
Meanwhile, from his place, on one of the benches, Severus was glaring daggers at the office door.
Bloody 'Johnny'.
Bloody Johnny Indeed! I remember one of you asked about him and who he is in one of the chapters, well... if you're still following, I guess you'll have to find out with Severus ^^.
Please be so kind as to leave a review! ت