Harry had been at Hogwarts for less than a week when he was summoned to the headmaster's office.

The message had arrived during breakfast, a simple note delivered by a school owl.

"Harry Potter, the Headmaster wishes to speak with you. Come to his office after your morning classes."

There was no reason given, no explanation. Just a summons.

Theo, reading over Harry's shoulder, frowned. "That's strange."

Harry hummed. "You think?"

Draco glanced at the note. "He didn't even tell you how to get to his office? Typical. Gryffindors never think about details."

"I'll find it," Harry said dismissively, but Theo was still frowning.

Snape caught them whispering as he passed by, and his eyes landed on the note in Harry's hand. His lip curled slightly, but instead of a sneer, there was something else—disapproval.

"Be careful what you say to him, Potter," Snape murmured under his breath as he walked by.

Harry blinked. That was… unexpected.

Theo's frown deepened.

The stone gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office leapt aside the moment Harry approached, as if it had been expecting him. The spiral staircase carried him upward, and then he was at the door.

"Come in," Dumbledore's voice called before Harry even knocked.

Harry stepped inside, immediately taking in everything. The whirring silver instruments, the towering bookshelves, the way Fawkes the phoenix watched him with sharp, knowing eyes. And, of course, Dumbledore himself, seated behind his desk, eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses.

"Ah, Harry," he said warmly. "Please, sit."

Harry didn't.

"I prefer to stand," he said smoothly, folding his arms.

Dumbledore chuckled, as if Harry had done something amusing rather than directly defied him. "As you wish."

Silence stretched between them. Dumbledore watched him with a gaze that most people would mistake for kindness. Harry wasn't fooled. There was something too assessing about it, something too… expectant.

"You've adjusted well to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "I must admit, I was surprised when you were sorted into Slytherin."

Harry smirked. "Why? Did you already have a Gryffindor dorm ready for me?"

Dumbledore blinked, the only sign of surprise he allowed himself. "I simply thought you would follow in your parents' footsteps."

Harry tilted his head. "And yet, you didn't seem surprised before the Sorting. Almost like you expected something else entirely."

Dumbledore's twinkle dimmed ever so slightly.

Harry smiled, sharp and knowing.

For the first time, it was Dumbledore who looked away first.

"I only wish to ensure you are happy here, Harry."

Harry's smirk didn't waver. "I'm quite happy in Slytherin, actually."

Dumbledore sighed, as if deeply disappointed. "That house is… ambitious."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "And you say that like it's a bad thing."

Dumbledore chuckled, but it sounded forced. "Of course not." He studied Harry for a long moment. "I only hope you make the right friends."

Ah. There it is.

Harry had been waiting for something like this.

Dumbledore hadn't summoned him to check on his well-being. He'd summoned him to influence him. To guide him toward the right choices. The right people.

And, most importantly, away from Slytherin.

Harry smiled, all false sweetness. "I think I'll manage, sir."

Dumbledore watched him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Very well. That will be all, Harry. My door is always open."

Harry didn't say anything as he left.

The moment he stepped back into the Slytherin common room, Theo was waiting.

"What did he want?" Theo's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Harry flopped onto the couch, stretching out lazily. "Oh, just a friendly chat about my future."

Theo's expression darkened. "He wants something from you."

Harry smirked. "Obviously."

Draco leaned forward. "And?"

Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully. "He doesn't like that I'm in Slytherin. He tried to be subtle, but it was obvious. He expected me to be… different."

Theo sat down beside him, closer than necessary. "He's trying to manipulate you."

Harry looked at him, amused. "I know that."

Theo's fingers curled against his knee. "Then don't go to him alone again."

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And what are you going to do? Escort me everywhere?"

Theo met his gaze, and for the first time, Harry saw something unspoken there.

Yes.

Harry blinked. Then he grinned, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous."

Theo smirked. "And you're reckless."

Before Harry could reply, the common room door swung open, and Snape strode in. His dark eyes immediately found Harry.

"Potter," he said sharply. "My office. Now."

Harry groaned. "Merlin, what now?"

Theo didn't like it. He didn't like that Dumbledore was suddenly so interested in Harry. He didn't like that Snape was too.

And most of all, he didn't like that Harry was treating all of this like a game.

Because as far as Theo was concerned…

Harry was his.

Theo watched as Harry disappeared through the common room door, following Snape toward his office. His fingers drummed against his knee, his thoughts dark.

Something wasn't right.

Dumbledore summoning Harry so soon after his Sorting? Snape demanding a private conversation right after? No, this wasn't normal.

Harry, of course, acted like it was all a joke. Like he wasn't at the center of something far bigger than himself.

Theo wasn't amused.

Pansy, who had been watching him closely, sighed. "You're brooding again."

Draco smirked. "He does that a lot these days. Wonder why?"

Theo shot them both a look. "He shouldn't have gone alone."

Blaise leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Harry's not stupid. He knows Dumbledore's playing a game."

"That doesn't mean he knows the rules yet," Theo muttered.

The others exchanged glances, but no one said anything.

Because they all knew the truth.

Theo Nott wasn't just watching Harry Potter.

He was protecting him.

And that was dangerous.

Snape's office was dimly lit, the shelves lined with jars of strange ingredients, some floating in thick, murky liquid. The scent of crushed herbs and something vaguely metallic lingered in the air.

Harry strolled in like he owned the place, glancing around with mild curiosity.

Snape, standing behind his desk, gave him a flat look. "Sit, Potter."

Harry smirked. "Not a fan of small talk, sir?"

Snape's lip twitched, but he didn't rise to the bait. "I assume you know why you're here."

Harry shrugged. "You tell me."

Snape studied him for a long moment before speaking. "The Headmaster has taken a sudden interest in you."

Harry leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, I noticed."

Snape's eyes narrowed slightly, as if reevaluating him. "You are… aware of his intentions?"

Harry tilted his head, pretending to think. "Well, let's see—he expected me to be in Gryffindor, wasn't happy when I wasn't, and tried to subtly nudge me toward the 'right' path." He smirked. "Not exactly hard to figure out."

Snape stared at him.

Then, to Harry's complete shock, he let out a quiet hmm of approval.

"I see," Snape murmured. "Perhaps there is hope for you after all."

Harry grinned. "Wow. Is that the closest thing to a compliment I'm going to get?"

Snape's expression darkened. "Do not push your luck, Potter."

Harry snickered.

Then Snape leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "Listen carefully. Dumbledore does not do things without reason. If he has taken interest in you, it is because he believes you have a role to play."

Harry's smirk faded slightly. "…A role?"

Snape's gaze was sharp. "You are not a normal student. You are Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived. And that title means more to him than you do."

Harry frowned.

He didn't like that.

Didn't like the idea that, to Dumbledore, he was just… a symbol. A tool.

Snape seemed to read his thoughts. "Be cautious, Potter."

Harry exhaled, then gave a slow nod. "Noted."

Snape studied him for a moment longer before waving a hand dismissively. "You may go."

Harry stood, making his way to the door.

Then, just before stepping out, he paused.

"…Why do you care?"

Snape's fingers twitched slightly, as if surprised by the question.

Then his expression hardened. "Because your mother would have."

Harry didn't know what to say to that.

So he said nothing.

And left.

The moment Harry reentered the common room, Theo was there, standing by the fireplace.

Harry sighed dramatically. "Merlin, is everyone obsessed with me today?"

Theo ignored the joke. "What did he want?"

Harry smirked. "A heart-to-heart, obviously."

Theo's jaw tightened. "Harry."

Harry rolled his eyes but relented. "Snape warned me about Dumbledore. Said he's interested in me because he thinks I have a 'role' to play."

Theo's expression darkened.

Of course.

Of course Dumbledore saw Harry as something to use.

Theo had suspected it from the start, but hearing it confirmed made his blood boil.

He took a step closer, voice low. "Then don't trust him."

Harry arched an eyebrow. "Oh? And who should I trust?"

Theo didn't hesitate.

"Me."

Harry blinked.

Something about the way Theo said it—calm, unwavering, completely certain—made Harry pause.

He expected a smirk, a joke, something to lighten the moment.

But Theo just looked at him, waiting.

Harry tilted his head, studying him. "You're serious."

Theo's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Aren't I always?"

Harry let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous."

Theo's smirk widened. "And you're reckless."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You and Snape should start a club."

Theo only chuckled, but there was something possessive in his gaze, something quiet and dangerous.

Dumbledore wanted to use Harry.

Snape wanted to warn him.

But Theo?

Theo would protect him.

Whether Harry realized it or not.