They landed in a small living room. Albus looked around and grimaced when he saw the state of the place.

It was a mess: clothes thrown around, empty beer bottles, and firewhiskey all around the table in front of a couch covered in blankets bunched up. The room smelled of stale alcohol and old food.

"Mr. Nott, you know you are a wizard, right? Just a flick of a wand could get this place cleaned up," Albus said to the man.

"Let me worry about that, kid. Alright? Just take a seat; I'll get us a drink. I'm sure I can find a clean glass somewhere around here, and please never call me Mr. Nott again; just Nott is fine," Nott mumbled as he moved around the room.

He cleared a place off the couch for Albus. Albus sat and bounced his knee in nervousness.

He looked the man over. Had this man dated his aunt,why had he never heard of him? Oh yeah, because everyone seems to have secrets he thought bitterly. Maybe the man just had a crush on her.

He saw the man grab two glasses, and Albus frowned as he wiped them clean with his shirt. Why didn't he just use magic?

He saw him pouring a small amount of fire whiskey into each glass. He reached forward to hand Albus the glass; Albus took it, and Nott sat across from him.

He saw Nott biting his lip.

"Alright. So what do you want to know?" Nott said.

"How did it start? When were they together? Why doesn't anyone know about him? Did they love each other? How do you and my aunt know but no one else? What promises did they make? Were they going to run away together?" Albus asked quickly.

"Salazar, kid, just take a breath. I don't know everything. Draco never told me when it started. Yes, Draco… he loved your father; I guess your father loved him. I found out in fourth year. It was shortly after the first task of the tournament. Do you know what that is?" Nott asked.

Albus nodded. He had heard the stories about the Triwizard Tournament for years.

"Okay…" Nott trailed off as he began his story.

1994 = fourth year. Yule Ball .

Theo Nott frowned as he watched Viktor Krum pick up Hermione Granger and twirl her around the dance floor.

She looked so beautiful tonight; well, she always looked beautiful, but tonight she was radiant and soft.

He wished he had the courage to say something, anything to her. Every time Draco insulted her or called her a mudblood, a rage filled him, along with a sense of shame because he just stood there and never said a word, laughing right along with his friends. He didn't deserve her; even thinking about her was dangerous, but he couldn't help it.

She was so brilliant; she had a fire in her, and Theo wanted so badly to be burned by her.

He turned away from the couple dancing and rolled his eyes when he saw Draco following after Potter.

Great, now he had to go stop a fight that surely was about to happen. Draco had already received detention for the stunt he pulled last week; he clenched his fists, remembering the stunt that had caused Hermione to be hit by a spell.

Theo followed behind them, knowing if he didn't get the two away from each other, it would only lead to trouble. He saw Potter go into a small classroom off to the side, hidden away. He watched as Draco looked around and went in after him.

Weird, Theo thought as he approached the door. He cast a sound-enhancing spell over the door.

"Come on, Potter, I said I was sorry," he heard Draco pleading. Theo widened his eyes at the sound of his desperate voice, the use of the word 'sorry.'

"I told you… I told you if you called her that again, we were done. I meant that, Malfoy," Potter snapped out with venom.

"I know! It was an accident! It just slipped out. Well, I mean I wasn't thinking straight, and look, I'm sorry about the badges too. I just was pissed! Then Rita was writing about you two… I just got jealous, alright?" Draco snapped out.

"I told you before, me and Hermione are just friends; she is like a sister to me. Look, I can't keep doing this! These tasks are already taking up my time; I don't…"

"Please, Potter… I… I don't want this to be over. I'll do whatever you say, okay? I won't get jealous anymore; I'll never say the word again. I promise… just… this means so much to me… you mean so much to me," he heard Draco reply in a broken voice.

Theo didn't know what to think. Draco and Potter? There was no way; this was a prank. They hated each other. Theo listened as he heard footsteps, then the sound of a desk scraping the floor.

"Let me show you just how much you mean to me," he heard Draco say.

He felt bile rise when he heard the sound of wet kissing, followed by Potter moaning.

Theo slammed the door open. He watched as Potter pushed Draco away fast, the look of shame on his face, while Draco's face filled with heartbreak at the reaction Potter had made.

"Theo, I can—" Draco tried to say.

"What the actual fuck, Draco? Potter? Potter? Have you lost your damn mind?!" Theo roared.

"I have to go," Potter mumbled quickly as he moved and ran from the room, Draco's eyes filling with tears.

Theo turned, waved his wand, and shut the door behind him before sneering at the door and turning back to his friend.

"What is going on? You hate each other… he is a fucking prick!" Theo snarled.

Draco's eyes filled with anger, and he clenched his fist.

"Fuck you! You don't know anything about him! We… we care about each other. We do… he does… we just… we don't want people to know. Please, Theo, you can't tell anyone, and don't act like you are so fucking innocent either. I know all about your little crush on the…"

Theo moved quickly and grabbed Draco by his dress shirt, slamming him against the wall. Draco made a choked noise when his back hit the wall. Theo glared, grabbed his wand, and shoved it under Draco's throat.

"Call her that word again, and I'll make it so you won't be having any more fun with your little boy toy," Theo snarled into his friend's face.

"I wasn't… I promise… I was going to say 'muggleborn,' alright? I… don't believe any of that shit… truly, I don't. I felt terrible that I said it again and did that to her… I know… I know how much she means to you… I've seen the way you look at her; Potter means the same to me," Draco pleaded with him.

"Draco… he just ran from the room because he was caught with you! He is just using you…" Theo didn't get to finish his sentence before Draco shoved him away.

"He isn't! I promise! I know him, and he wouldn't do that. Look, you know being gay… our world won't accept it," Draco said.

"You think he ran from the room because he was caught kissing a man?!!! He ran from the room because he was caught kissing you!!!" Theo roared.

Draco's eyes filled with tears and he shook his head quickly.

"No… look, it's a long story… I just, please, Theo, this is real; I just know it. Promise you won't tell anyone," Draco pleaded.

Theo's eyes softened as he looked his friend over. He could tell from the desperation in Draco's eyes that he was in love with Potter. He felt stupid for not catching on sooner, but he was sure Potter didn't feel the same. If he did, it wasn't as deeply as Draco felt.

He knew where this would lead in the end, but he knew his words wouldn't matter. Draco was only going to do what he wanted.

"He is going to break your heart, Draco. This is a dangerous game… you know…" Theo stopped himself from speaking the unspoken truth.

Draco and Theo both knew something big was coming; both their fathers had been having late-night meetings lately. Draco and Theo had tried listening in, but the house elves would always catch them, shooing them away.

"I'll be safe… I've been practicing my Occlumency. My walls will be strong; I just know it," Draco said.

Theo knew he needed to be strong as well, especially with a certain muggleborn consuming his thoughts.

Theo took a breath and clapped his friend on the shoulder. Draco smiled at him sheepishly. He knew Draco was made of tough stuff, that he wasn't easily broken. Theo knew something dark was coming. He would just have to look after him and make sure he was safe.

"I won't say anything, but this tournament will be the least of that git's worries if he hurts you; I promise you that," Theo said as he squeezed his shoulder.

Theo opened the door, and he and Draco stepped out. Theo widened his eyes when he heard crying, then he saw Hermione Granger running past, going toward a stairway with tears streaming down her face.

He saw Draco bite his lip, then he nudged Theo on the shoulder, nodding toward the direction she had run down.

"Go check on her," Draco said.

Theo shook his head quickly; no, he couldn't.

"What would I even say? She probably hates me; I'm sure of it. Hell, she probably doesn't even know I exist," Theo mumbled.

"Theo, you won't know until you try. She's upset, and would you rather she be comforted by Weasley or you?" Draco said.

Theo snorted and rolled his eyes.

"Weasley is probably the one who made her cry. What would I even say?" Theo asked.

"I'm sure you will think of something. I'm gonna head off to bed. Send a note to Potter that he doesn't have to worry about you, right? You won't say anything," Draco asked.

"No, but don't get your hopes up. He may end it; I mean, if he knows I know, he probably won't trust that I won't tell," Theo said.

"Don't worry; I can convince him," Draco said with a wink.

"Gross," Theo mumbled and walked away toward the stairwell.

He heard Draco laughing as he walked down the steps.

Present

Nott abruptly stopped talking and took a breath.

"So yeah, I caught them after the ball," Nott mumbled.

Albus wanted to know what happened next.

"So did you go check on her?" Albus asked.

Nott grimaced and took a deep breath. He had a bit of sadness in his eyes, but also longing.

"We are here to talk about Draco and your father, not me, alright?" Nott mumbled as he grabbed the bottle of fire whisky and chugged it.

"Fine, whatever. Ok, I'm guessing they stayed together after you caught them. How were they able to keep it a secret for so long? Didn't... couldn't he... you know... read minds? And I know... my dad had like a piece of him or something in him... I dunno, how did he never find out? Also, why would Draco... you know, get his... mark?" Albus whispered.

That was the biggest thing Albus couldn't understand. If his father was with this man, if they were in love, how come he followed the man who wanted his dad dead?

Nott smiled at him sadly.

Nott opened his mouth to respond but was cut off when his father stag burst brightly into the room.

"Albus, where are you? I'm getting worried! You didn't write a note; your mum says you aren't with her at the Burrow. I checked Rose's, you aren't there. You need to get home now; we have to have a serious talk, young man," his dad's voice said, and by the sound of it, he was pissed.

Nott snorted, and Albus sneered at him.

"Sounds like someone is in trouble; better run along. I still can't believe he named you after that old crock," Nott mumbled as he stood.

Albus bit his lip. He still had so many questions. He needed to know the whole story.

"Can I come back tomorrow? You can tell me more? I don't have a lot of time left before I go back to Hogwarts. I need it all," Albus stopped talking.

He wouldn't tell this man that Draco's ghost was stuck at Hogwarts, that he didn't know he was dead, that he was still there waiting on his father. He knew it would hurt Nott; he didn't want to do that.

"I told you, I don't really know all that much, and I don't think you want to hear about all the nice things your father and Draco got up to, unless you are into that sort of thing," Nott said.

Albus frowned and shook his head. He didn't want that, but surely Nott knew other things. He wanted to know the full story; he also wanted to know what had happened between him and his aunt.

If they truly were together as well, what happened?

"I can…. The letter…. For my aunt… I can still give it to her…. if you want," Albus said as he stood up, grabbing his wand.

His face fell when he saw Nott shaking his head.

"Ok…. Well, not yet. I'll tell you more tomorrow, then…. I don't know….. it's not a good idea, Theo…. She probably never wants to hear from you again…." Nott mumbled to himself as he grabbed the fire whiskey again and chugged it deeply. He saw the man make a pained face.

"You can come by after 12; we can meet at the pub…. after that, you….. just leave me alone, alright?" Nott told him.

Albus felt a sadness wash over him; he was bothering this man, making him talk about his friend who had died…. He looked around the room again.

Did losing his friend bring his life to this? Was he never able to move on? Albus didn't think it was just his friend dying that turned his life into this….. he was sure it was someone else, someone Albus knew very well, that had caused this man this broken life.

"Ok…." Albus gripped his wand and was about to apparate away when Nott stopped him.

"Is she happy? I mean….. Weasley takes care of her, right?" Nott asked, with tears gleaming.

Albus bit his lip. His aunt seemed happy, but so did his father. Was she living a fake life as well?

"Maybe you should ask her…" Albus suggested.

Nott's face filled with guilt, and he shook his head.

"See you tomorrow, kid," Nott said as he moved away and fell heavily onto the couch, throwing his arm over his face.

Albus smiled sadly and apparated home. He landed in his room and felt panic when he heard yelling.

He ran out of his room, heading towards the stairs. He looked over the railing and saw his dad and Aunt Hermione; she had the journal in her hands.

She must have been coming to bring it back, caught by his father….. Albus's eyes widened when he saw the tie clutched in his father's hand.

His dad must have found it in his room; shit. That's why he had called him home.

"I told you to stay out of it, Hermione! You need to stop acting like you are so innocent, like you don't have your own secrets as well! Come on, let's go tell Ron all about Theodore fucking Nott," he heard his father yell.

"Don't bring him into this! That isn't the same thing, and you know it," his aunt screamed back.

"Oh, really!? It's not the same thing! You hid your relationship just like I did! You lost the love of your life, just like I fucking did; at least yours isn't dead. Honesty, Hermione, if it wasn't for you, Draco would still be alive," his father yelled out.

He heard his aunt make a hurt gasp, her eyes filling with tears.

"Fuck you, Harry," his aunt cried out. She threw the journal at him and turned towards their fireplace. His father tried to stop her, but she shook him off. She grabbed the powder, threw it in, and left.

He saw his father turn quickly around, running his fingers through his hair, pulling at the strands hard. He let out a choked sob and fell to the ground, still gripping the tie tightly in his hands.

His eyes filled with tears as he watched his father, the man he loved and looked up to so much, who he had just wanted to know better, wanted to understand more, break down onto the floor.

He had never seen his father like this. Was this all his fault? Why did he bring Draco up? Why did he take his father's things? Would he ever trust him again?

Albus walked slowly down the stairs; he walked softly until he was close to his father. He bent down and wrapped his arms around his dad.

"It's okay, Dad, I'm sorry…. I'll never bring him up again…. I promise… I'm sorry I took the tie and the journal. Please, Dad…. Everything is going to be okay," Albus said as he comforted his father, tears falling fast.

His father grabbed him, and they both stood up together; he clutched onto his father. He felt his father take a deep breath and pull away; he softly put his hand on his cheek. He looked at Albus sadly.

"I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to see me like this. Let's just put these things away, alright? We should get dinner started; your mum and sister will be back soon. I'm not mad, I promise," his father said with a sad smile.

Albus gave a sad nod, reached for the journal, and handed it to his father. He watched his father gather both, heading towards the portrait. He opened it up and whispered the spell, and he watched his father place the items back in the safe.

He nodded for Albus to head into the kitchen, saying he was going to change the spell. Albus smiled but felt a sadness. He didn't trust him anymore.

Albus really couldn't blame him, but it still hurt. Plus, he was still going to Nott's and learn more about Draco, so he was right not to trust him.