Chapter Text
It was the start of a new year. The leaves have already begun to fall, and summer was quickly fading away. One thing was still fresh on my mind, and that was the fact that this was going to be my last year at Hogwarts. A place where I had spent half of my life will be a place I would probably never visit again once June rolls around. My thoughts are quickly interrupted by the whistling of the train next to me. I quickly grab my trunks, and frantically get on the train as I wave my family goodbye.
One thing about Hogwarts is that no matter what things never seem to change. That goes for my yearly tardiness when it comes to getting to the train station on time. Every year me and my friends pick a location to wait at, and every year I end up running late one way or another.
I start to walk through the isles of the train looking through each cart to try to find my friends. As I look through the compartments I can't help but smile at the first years chatting amongst themselves laughing, and waving their wands around trying to show each other everything they know, and guess what houses they are going to be sorted into.
Nostalgia hits me again as I collide with something, well more like someone. I look up to see a tall lean boy glaring down at me with a cold expression. This is a sight I was to familiar with, this was Theodore Nott.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t paying attention!” I bashfully say since this wasn’t the first time I have managed to bump into him.
It happens quite a lot really. The first day we met I had managed to bump into him head first, knocking all his books down while the stairs were moving which caused them to all fall in different directions. I remember I spent all day trying to find his books. That’s a moment I have never seemed to live down, especially since it seems that I'm cursed to bump into him no matter what.
Theo doesn’t really react much. I'm assuming he’s used to it by now. He lets out a sigh and looks down at me yet again.
“Your friends are looking for you.” He says quietly as he points towards the direction he came from.
“Oh okay.. thank you.. sorry again..” I say while fidgeting with the handle of my trunk. He glanced at me yet again nodding his head as he walked past me.
I let out the breath I was holding in and quickly made my way towards the direction he was pointing at. I can't Help but think about the whole interaction and how little he always seems to speak when those types of situations happen. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised Theodore Nott has never been the talkative type. At least not with strangers and I wouldn’t call him a friend.
The most I’ve interacted with Theo was when we were partnered up in 4th year for potions and let’s just say we barely passed that assignment due to me always dropping ingredients. It’s insufferable really. Without fail no matter what situation I’m in, if Theodore Nott is around I’m bound to make a fool out of myself one way or another.
“Definitely a curse.” I say out loud as I continue to walk.
I hear a cart door open “what’s definitely a curse?” a familiar smug voice says behind me.
As I turned around my assumption was correct when I saw my long time best friend Ginny Weasley leaning against the cart door in all her Gryffindor glory. I smile ear to ear embracing her.
“Ginny!” I yell practically engulfing her in my arms.
“hey, hey you’re killing me here!” She chuckles as she holds me tight while also playfully trying to pull me away.
Once I finally let go she lets out a dramatic breath as if she got the wind knocked out of her. I chuckle pushing her slightly as we both burst out laughing.
“Where have you been? I thought we agreed to get here early so we wouldn’t have a repeat of last year.”
“well… just like last year I ended up oversleeping and my mum didn’t really wake me up because I told her I would be up, and well.. you know the rest.” I say giving her an apologetic chuckle.
“Well you’re lucky I always keep my promises or else we would have had to share a cart with some poor first years.” Ginny says while re-entering the cart.
As I walk in I see my other two friends Neville Longbottom, and Luna lovegood. Luna is Reading the newest copy of the Quibbler while Neville is sleeping in the corner wearing his classic Gryffindor scarf.
“Of course he’s sleeping.” I say, chuckling as I go to sit down next to him. I couldn’t help but think that he looked pretty cute while asleep.
“What do you expect from an anxious night owl? He was most likely up all night rereading his herbology books." Ginny said while putting my trunk away.
“What took you so long?” Luna asks.
“Long story short, I didn't wake up on time...” I say letting out a sigh as she giggles.
I Look back at Ginny thanking her for putting my things away. She sits down and gives me a slight smirk “of course… but I’m curious, what exactly were you talking about earlier?”
“What are you on about?” I snicker trying to remember what she could possibly be referring to.
“You know your curse?” She says with a smug look on her face.
I can't Help but groan as I dramatically put my face in my hands.
“I am cursed Ginny! And you know exactly what I’m talking about!”
“Let me guess Theodore Nott?” Luna says while cocking her head.
“don’t say his name, you might summon him!” I say practically jumping up, getting a laugh out of Ginny.
“you’re being ridiculous, you know you’re not really cursed right?” Ginny said, crossing her arms.
“And how exactly are you so sure? What if someone happened to hex me into acting like a complete fool in front of him!”
“And why exactly would anyone do that to a first year?”
“Who knows people are constantly doing unnecessary things, for all I know it could have easily been Snape, he hates me.”
Ginny lets out another low chuckle “He hates everyone, besides I’m pretty sure he was too busy trying to be the DADA teacher to care enough about you.”
Luna laughs nodding her head “if anything it was most likely a little creature like the Nargel.”
Ginny grins “yeah definitely more believable than Snape having interest in you while Harry is around.”
I gasp playfully “how dare you! I am quite interesting you know.”
“Yeah sure” she said, chuckling as she glances at Neville who mumbles something under his breath while readjusting himself.
“Oh shoot! sorry Nev..” I whisper as I try not to wake him up.
Ginny lets out a sigh “look all I’m saying is that I don’t think you're really cursed I just think awkward things keep happening to you because you’re an awkward person. Have you ever tried… I don’t know, actually being friends with him?”
I almost blurted out in disbelief but quickly stopped myself as I remembered the sleeping Gryffindor next to me “what?” I say shouting in a whisper.
“Oh you heard me, try to befriend him, maybe the reason you two keep having awkward interactions is because you just don’t know each other well enough.”
“You know she has a point.” Luna said while flipping to the next page of the Quibbler.
“Look, just try to actually talk to him next time you see him.” Ginny said while giving me a reassuring smile.
I nod my head slowly “yeah okay, I’ll try.” I smile at her and glance at Luna who now has her nose deep in the Quibbler.
I hear soft snores coming from my right and turn to see Neville who is practically drooling all over himself. Me and Ginny both burst out laughing and accidentally end up waking Neville.
~~~~
Once out of the train I can’t help but think about what Ginny said. Me and Theodore Nott being friends? No, I couldn’t possibly. Not after all the embarrassing moments I’ve shared with him.
I start to think about seven years worth of “memorable” moments with Theo but quickly snap out of it as the last first year of the night gets sorted into Ravenclaw.
The Ravenclaw table erupts into cheering and I can't help but smile. It’s always fun seeing how excited everyone gets and how happy the first years are about finally getting sorted. It’s a bittersweet moment knowing that this is going to be the last time experiencing it.
I’m not given much time to reminisce as food starts to appear in front of me. Finally I got to eat! I didn’t have time to eat breakfast and have been regretting it all day.
I instantly begin to put food on my plate. Some mash potatoes, chicken, macaron! It’s heaven really. I start to eat as everyone around me breaks off into conversations. Some chat with the first years, others chow down the food like me. There are even some people who have already begun complaining about Snape and he hasn’t even said a word yet.
I chuckle and chat with my housemates and accidentally miss my mouth and drop some mash potatoes all over me. Luckily no one saw and I quickly wiped it off hoping it wouldn't leave a stain. But I end up feeling someone’s eyes on me and quickly look up. My heart sinks and my face goes red. Across the halls I see the familiar cold eyes of Theodore Nott.
If I didn’t know any better I swear I saw him chuckle a little while looking away covering his mouth as if he was trying not to laugh. I Look away too and take a sip of my juice trying to hide my embarrassment.
Of course he just had to see me do that. Merlin, why does he always catch me at my worst? I went back to eating and for the rest of the dinner I tried my best not to look in his direction.
~~~~
The next day I got up feeling groggy. I was definitely not used to waking up this early. I got up and went to take a shower. Better to do it now then having to wait for a long que once my roommates wake up.
Once I got dressed and ready I began to walk towards the great hall. I’d assume I’d see Luna. Neville and Ginny tend to oversleep, actually most Gryffindors tend to do that.
As I’m walking down the halls I look at the paintings on the wall. Most of them are still sleeping but the ones that are awake seem to be having breakfast or coffee. I say goodmorning to those who wanted to have a conversation.
Once I look forward I see a familiar slytherin doing the same. There is Theo having a conversation with a painting. My first thought was to run away. Better to do it now before he realizes I’m around and I end up doing something stupid.
At least that’s what I tend to do whenever I see him. But this is getting ridiculous, Ginny is right I need to at least feel comfortable around him and then maybe this whole “curse” thing will be over with.
I continue my path towards him. I can't help feeling my heart start to race. Why did I always get like this when he’s around? The closer I got the more I was able to hear. Was he arguing with the painting?
“Snobbish boys like you are the reason I’m happy I’m not able to leave this frame!”
“Woah woah calm down! I wouldn’t want you to get your knickers in a twist!” Theo chuckled as he playfully put his hands up. “I was only saying that I feel like your furniture is a bit outdated”
“It is french I’ll have you know it’s worth more then anything you own!”
“I seriously doubt that.” Theo smirks.
The painting storms off with a huff and Theo looks pleased with himself as he turns towards me. I could tell he was caught off guard for a moment but he quickly regained his composer and began to walk towards my direction.
My heart started to race again. It’s now or never I thought. Just say something normal like good morning or wave. Anything that is simple really.
The closer he got the more nervous I felt, so I ended up stuttering over my words “um.. good morning.” I said looking up at him.
I anxiously waited for his reply. I was scared to make eye contact but ended up looking up after he didn’t say anything.
When I met his eyes I could tell I caught him off guard his mouth was slightly parted and he looked at me as if I had horns coming out of my head.
I instantly looked away. This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have listened to Ginny, I just made things more awkward than before. Of course he would react like this. I've never once tried to talk to him. It’s too late to start now.
I was just about ready to run away until I heard him say “morning.”
I looked up at him and he had a slight smirk on his face as if I did something amusing like last night.
I nodded my head and tried my best not to seem nervous. “So what were you and that painting talking about?”
Theo smiles at me and I can feel my face start to burn up. “That was just Agustus, I tend to pick fights with him from time to time.”
Why would he pick fights with a painting? As if he read my mind he answered my question.
“During first year I ended up offending him. I was having a shitty day and was cussing out loud about it. He overheard and hasn’t let me forget about it to this day.”
I couldn’t help but snicker a little. It was funny to think that for seven years he has been enemies with a painting. Theo raises a brow and smirks at me.
“Oh you find it funny?” He said, crossing his arms.
I chuckle a little, “maybe just a bit.” I look up at him. Theo isn’t that intimidating to talk to, he’s honestly surprisingly nice.
Theo opens his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a familiar voice calling out my name. I turned around and saw Neville Longbottom with a pot in hand. It’s the first day of school and he’s already back to work on his mini garden.
“Hey nev.” I said trying to sound cheerful but honestly I wanted to talk to Theo more.
Theo turns to Look at me “Well I should get going, it was nice talking to you. See you around, yeah?” He said with a smile on his face.
I felt my cheeks flush again as I nodded my head “ yeah see you around.”
He turns to leave walking past Neville and giving him a slight nod. Neville Just looks away and quickly walks towards me.
“What was that about? He wasn’t picking on you or anything right?” Neville said, sounding nervous.
“No, no Nev we were just talking.” I said, smiling at him.
Neville still seemed suspicious but nodded his head in understanding. I can understand why he would react like that, for a couple of years Draco and his friends would torment everyone, especially Neville.
I felt kinda guilty now trying to befriend Theo especially after what he and his friends used to do.
“Okay then.” Neville said, trying to change the topic “well I’m surprised to see you up this early.”
“I could say the same to you. But I’m assuming you were at the green house, yeah?” I said, smiling at him.
Neville’s mood quickly brightens as he begins to explain what he has been doing and what the plant in his hand can do. It’s always nice seeing him this happy, I never did understand how people could possibly find him annoying when he's Just so adorable.