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Chapter Text

“Potter?”

Blinking awake, Harry saw someone standing above him. What an unsettling sight to wake up to, he thought. This rather unpleasant awakening left him with two questions; how the hell did he get himself into this position, and why the hell was this person wearing a green tie? Green ties typically brought sneers and taunts and hexes — not a concerned face. 

After blinking up at them a few more times, they continued speaking. “Are you okay? Can you hear me?” Squinting, Harry tried to figure out any details about the boy, but without his glasses all he could really see was that there was no blond hair. At least Malfoy won’t be able to hex me while I can’t see him clearly. This mystery Slytherin, however, has curly light brown hair and blue? Yeah, blue eyes. Well, at least Harry thinks he does. It’s sort of hard to tell without his glasses and all. 

“Have you seen my glasses?” Harry coughs, “I can’t see a thing.” His glasses are immediately placed in his outstretched hands. “Oh, thanks. Uh, what exactly happened?” Now that he has his glasses, he can actually see the boy in front of him and he was right! He has curly hair and blue eyes. His eyes widen as he scans his surroundings; tall trees covered in spiderwebs that glisten in the full moon’s light, rocks covered in dirt and mud, and the Whomping Willow off to his left. He can feel his heartbeat speeding up with each passing second without a response. Looking back at the boy — Theodore Nott, if he remembers correctly — Harry does the only thing his panic-addled mind will allow; stare at him. He stares long enough that a wrinkle begins to form between Nott’s eyes, so he figures he should ask another pressing question. “And why am I in the forest?” 

He doesn’t get an immediate answer, but he can see Nott working through what to say. Is what happened really that bad? I guess I can try and figure it out myself. It’s a bit more difficult than he expected to try to remember what happened, the only thing he knows that for sure happened is going to Buckbeak’s execution and finding Scabbers in Hagrid’s Hut, but after that it all becomes a bit fuzzy. Images of what he assumes are his memories flash in his mind; a shaggy black dog that looks like it’s been living off scraps for months — Sirius, his mind supplies. Scabbers turning into a man? Stunning Snape with Ron and Hermione. Agreeing to live with Sirius this summer and never having to go to the Dursleys ever again. Professor Lupin transforming into a werewolf right in front of him, followed by an entire horde of dementors that are just itching to suck out his soul. And then finally, finally the hospital wing. How he ended up back in the forest after all of that is a mystery, so he’s really counting on Nott to fill in the blanks.

Still waiting for a response, he winces as a dull ache slowly blooms behind his eyes and a wave of nausea passes through him. I definitely hit my head somehow. Noticing his wince, and with a nod to himself Nott finally responds. “I don’t know why you were in the forest,” well shit. “However, I saw you get thrown into this tree by a Grim. It looked like,” he paused for a second, and Harry saw the slightest narrowing of his eyes, almost as if collecting his thoughts. Or perhaps making sense of them. Eventually, he lets out a puff of air and finishes his explanation. “It looked like it was protecting you from a werewolf.” A few moments pass between them in complete silence where Nott just stares at him as if expecting an explosion of sorts, which to be fair, would have been his reaction had Harry not seen Professor Lupin become a werewolf in front of his eyes.

There really is only one response to this, Harry thinks. Maybe it isn’t the best one since, you know, a Slytherin he barely knows anything about is the one who found him unconscious in the forbidden forest, but it’s the only option he can come up with at the moment. The hat put him in Gryffindor for a reason after all. “Oh. That. Yeah I already know about the werewolf.” Wincing at his lack of tact, he watches as Nott’s eyes slightly widen before he manages to school his expression back into the default Slytherin mask. The only remnant of his surprise that Harry can see is the slight fluttering of his fingers. “If it makes you feel any better it was only Professor Lupin. And the dog is my godfather, Sirius, not a Grim.” Shit! I wasn’t supposed to say that. Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought? Tilting his head, he continued, “I think something is wrong with me because I did not want to say that. Do you think you could just forget about all of it? Say, what were you doing out here anyway? I can’t imagine too many Slytherins would want to help Harry Potter after seeing him get knocked out. Send a hex my way sure, but helping?” he shakes his head. “Doubtful. I think you might be the only one who would’ve helped anyway considering I never see you hovering around Malfoy. You’re probably the only Slytherin with a working brain if I’m being honest. Y’know, 'Mione has been whinging about how you’re the one thing stopping her from the top spot in Ancient Runes. Says that you’re really smart too. Oh! Maybe you could help—”

“Potter, I think you should stop talking.” Rude. He clamps his mouth shut despite Nott’s rude interruption and stares at him again, taking a moment to examine him. He doesn’t look like a typical Slytherin at the moment; no sneer, no unbreakable mask of unflinching indifference, no perfect proper posture. In fact, Theodore Nott seems to be the complete opposite; brows furrowed, eyes wide with that same concerned look in his eyes, freckles standing out against unnaturally pale skin, hands outstretched and still fluttering slightly, almost as if he wants to reach out but isn’t quite sure if he should, crouching in mud and… Blood? That’s my blood, holy shit. Nott’s still talking, something about having a conversation about all of this later, but Harry isn’t listening anymore. He’s only focused on the rapidly growing pool of blood. Of his blood.

“Um, Nott?” he interrupts, glancing at Nott and blinking rapidly, trying to squash down the growing dread from taking root in his chest. He pauses his speech to look at Harry, who gestures to the puddle of blood. “I think one of us is bleeding out.” A pause. “And I think perhaps you were right about the talking thing. I can’t seem to stop the words from flowing through my brain and out of my mouth. It seems my filter has stopped. Maybe… Now hear me out on this one okay — maybe the blood loss has something to do with it. Because that is a lot of blood and I just don’t see how that can be good for me.” Finally risking a glance at the puddle of blood, all the color drains out of Nott’s face, and he just stares back and forth between Harry and the puddle, which — rude, he could use an answer right about now! Looking down, he notices where the blood is coming from. His left leg. From a bite. Potentially a werewolf bite. 

Another beat passes before some color seeps back into Nott’s face with his brows drawn together. If he keeps doing that he’ll get a permanent wrinkle. A laugh bubbles up out of Harry at the thought, quiet at first, but quickly descending into full belly laughs that he can’t quite stop. A few moments later his fun was interrupted by a weary sigh. “Alright Potter. I have a plan.” About time one of us does. “I do not know any healing charms well enough to perform them on you, especially without disinfecting the bite properly since I have no clue if it was from the werewolf or the Grim, so I am going to tightly wrap my cloak around your leg where the bleeding is coming from. Then I am going to help you up and we will walk to the hospital wing as fast as you can. Okay?” After receiving an affirmative nod he immediately begins to wrap his leg.

“Ow! Merlin that— agh bloody hell! Jesus, you didn’t tell me it would hurt that much!” Harry scowls at Nott, less effectively than he’d like considering he seems to be ignoring him at the moment, but the thought still counts. With one last tug on the makeshift bandage, Nott presses a ring into Harry’s thigh and mutters something under his breath, instantly causing a numbing sensation to spread through his leg. I need to get one of those things. Dusting his hands on his cloak, Nott stands and holds his hand out for him to take. Harry takes it and after a few seconds of struggling to stand himself, he lets Nott help and manages to stay upright. Nott has positioned himself so he has one arm wrapped around Harry’s waist, and the other holding onto the hand Harry has draped across his shoulders. He glances at Nott and feels a flush bloom across his face when he realizes just how close they are — his nose would brush against his cheek if he was any closer for Merlin’s sake!

“Now the hard part.” That wasn’t the hard part?  “You have to walk without passing out. I do not think I could carry you all the way without a levitation charm, but I am not confident enough in my ability for the charm to hold long enough, so we are going to do this the hard way. Try to keep talking, but do try not to babble about anything you do not want me to know. I will not ask any questions while we walk. I will, however, be asking questions once you are in a normal state. Come on, we should start walking now before the werewolf and Grim come back.” With that, they begin the slow, painful journey back to the castle.

The trek to the hospital wing is extremely difficult to say the least. He tripped a few times before they even got to Hagrid’s, but the real problems started when they reached the stairs. His leg went completely numb about halfway to the castle, so the stairs took them twice as long as they should have since he had to hop up each one. Which brings them to their next obstacle; the moving staircases. These, Harry thinks, are the worst part of the entire castle. By far. So far he has managed to hop onto every single vanishing step they’ve encountered. His only saving grace is Nott’s quick reflexes. His reflexes, however, cannot always be perfect. 

About halfway to the hospital wing Harry mistimed his hop and missed a step — not even a vanishing step — causing the both of them to stumble into each other. Harry lost his balance resulting in him resting all his weight on Nott, which caused them both to fall down the stairs they had just walked up. Luckily they only lost a few steps worth of progress. A sharp intake of breath by his side had him looking at Nott, who had a grimace on his face and looked like he had something to say, but decided against it. Standing, they repositioned themselves and continued the painful journey to the hospital wing, somehow at an even slower pace than before. 

By the time they reached the last step Harry began feeling a bit light-headed, so he can only be thankful when he turns the corner to see the doors to the hospital wing. He thinks he blabbed at least two more secrets that he didn’t want to — the cupboard and the fact he was almost sorted into Slytherin — but at least Nott stuck to his word and didn’t ask any questions. The only acknowledgement of him being heard at all was when Nott squeezed his hand with a sharp intake of breath.

By the time they reached the doors Harry was actually being dragged, resting all of his weight on Nott again as a fresh wave of nausea swept over him. Looking around the room for Madam Pomfrey they saw she was in her office. It took her a moment to notice them, but once she did she hurried over to them, speaking so quickly Harry was having trouble keeping up. “How on earth did this happen Mr. Potter! You were just in that bed next to Mr. Weasley! And where has Miss Granger gone! I leave you three alone for one minute! I swear…” She continues fussing over him, something about getting into as much trouble as your father Mr. Potter!, but Harry has to tune her out. All he can focus on besides the throbbing in his head is the fact that, according to Madam Pomfrey, he was just in here. In the hospital wing. Next to Ron. With Hermione. Except that clearly cannot be true considering he’s currently bloody bleeding out from a bite wound! 

Oh Merlin! The bite! The potential werewolf bite on his leg, currently the cause of his blood loss and humiliation and secret spewing nonsense! He can’t possibly go back to the Dursley’s house if he becomes a werewolf! They would actually kick him out this time. Especially after what he did to Aunt Marge last summer. There is not a single chance that Aunt Petunia would allow a werewolf in her house, considering she barely allows him in her house. Hopefully we can clear Sirius’s name before I need to go back. Would his friends still stick by his side? He can’t remember what their reactions were to Professor Lupin, but hopefully this wouldn’t change anything between them. They have been through too much together to let him potentially being a werewolf drive a wedge between them.

“Excuse me?” Harry is startled out of his thoughts as Nott clears his throat to get Madam Pomprey’s attention. “Madam Pomfrey, could we possibly get him back into a bed and treated? He is rather heavy to drag all the way from the woods and up all the moving staircases, and he is quite possibly bleeding out from a bite on his leg. He has lost quite a bit of blood since I found him unconscious, and I don’t exactly know how he got his wound, however it is either from a Grim or a werewolf, so I think it would be imperative to treat his wound rather quickly. It would not be a pleasant day for anyone if Harry Potter died from an untreated werewolf bite. He has been spilling all of his secrets to me — it seems he has lost enough blood for his filter to be nonexistent. His leg stopped moving completely about halfway here, however I did use my ring magic to numb the wound, so that could be the cause of it.” A sharp intake of breath. “Now, will you be levitating him to a bed or would you like me to drag him the last bit?” Harry doesn’t think he has ever heard Nott talk that much, well, ever. He is so thoroughly gobsmacked by it, and the fact that he seemed to be defending Harry — and to Madam Pomfrey no less! — that he doesn’t even make a fuss as he is levitated into his bed. As soon as he’s in the bed she begins assessing his wound and performing a few scans with her wand that he’s never seen before, and immediately gives him a potion. Madam Pomfrey should really put a plaque with my name on this bed. I’m here enough as it is.

“Excuse me? Madam Pomfrey,” she glances at him in between her scans with a small frown on her face, so he figures it’s okay to continue. “Um… do you think we should put my name on this bed?” Another look, this one sharper and more focused. He receives a similar look from Nott as well. “It’s just that, well, I always seem to end up in here so perhaps we should make it known that this is my bed. I’ve only ever used this one so it seems rather fitting that we should add a plaque. Ooh! Maybe we could actually name it after me! That would get the message across rather well I think. Also, I’ve been thinking. I don’t actually know how I got back into the forest. All I remember is going to Buckbeak’s execution with Ron and Hermione, we really wanted to be there for Hagrid you see. He was quite upset about the whole thing. Turns out Scabbers — Ron’s rat — has been in Hagrid’s Hut this whole time! We thought Hermione’s cat had killed him, but he was just hiding.” Madam Pomfrey and Nott share a look this time, but Harry ignores them and continues on.

“It all becomes a bit blurry after that, but apparently Scabbers has been an animagus this whole time because he turned into a man. Which— ugh! Ron let that rat sleep in his bed! Oh! And by the way, Sirius Black — my godfather — didn’t betray my parents. It was Peter Pettigrew, otherwise known as Scabbers. Ron’s rat.” He manages to spit out accompanied by the nastiest glare he can manage. Maybe I should get Ron a new pet? “Professor Lupin and Snape met us in the Shrieking Shack where Sirius — not a Grim by the way — and Peter turned into themselves. But me, Ron, and Hermione stunned Snape before he could get Sirius. Don’t worry, it was for a good reason! He was about to kill Sirius! I couldn’t let that happen after I found someone who could take me away from the Dursleys!” He holds his hands up in a placating gesture and looks between Madam Pomfrey and Nott, taking in their shocked expressions. They both have a similar frown with wide eyes and slightly raised brows. 

“Anyways, the next thing I remember is Professor Lupin turning into a werewolf followed by an entire horde of dementors floating down to me, Hermione, and Sirius. And then finally, finally I woke up here. For my first visit. I still don’t know how I ended up back in the woods. Maybe Hermione knows.” He looks around, then looks at Madam Pomfrey. “Where is she by the way? Wasn’t she with us the first time?” She doesn’t grace him with a response, but the look he receives is the same one she saves to use on Ron when he just won’t stop talking every time he’s visiting Harry. She’s never used it on him before, and he shrinks back a bit feeling slightly chastised.

The quiet stretches for a few awkward moments that have Harry squirming in place before Madam Pomfrey turns to Nott, “I understand what you mean about the blood loss and the lack of filter Mr. Nott. If I remember correctly you asked about an apprenticeship with me for your fourth year, yes?” After receiving an affirming nod, she continues. “Then I suggest you stay and watch the process for checking a potential werewolf bite. It is a bit different from when we are certain a wound is from a werewolf, and it is best taught with real life practice, not from reading a textbook. Were this a normal wound a little dittany, a blood replenisher, and healing charms would suffice. However, we need to first determine if this is, in fact, a werewolf bite.” She takes a moment and looks at Harry. “Hopefully for your sake Mr. Potter it is not. We can determine this by using a charm, watch my wand movement closely. Now it should only be a few minutes until the results.” 

They all collectively hold their breath while waiting for the results in silence. It’s not all that uncomfortable, but It is such a contrast from a moment ago that Harry can’t help it when he starts to feel the roots of his panic taking root again. I could potentially be a werewolf! Maybe Nott was onto something when he just kept him talking; he didn’t have any time to think about it. Before his panic can truly begin to take root the scan completes, and a scroll is deposited into Madam Pomfrey’s waiting hands.

As she begins to read the results she breathes sharply through her nose, followed by a quite sigh of relief. “You are in luck tonight Mr. Potter. It isn’t a werewolf bite. It seems to be from an animagus. While not nearly as life threatening as a werewolf bite, you might have some side effects that we can talk about more in the morning. Nothing too damaging. Now, I am going to give you a dreamless sleeping draught, no arguments Mr. Potter! You are experiencing extreme shock and have lost too much blood for my liking, so to prevent any outbursts such as your last you will be taking it. I will not have any patient of mine feeling discomfort because he refuses to listen! Now, just try to relax whilst I gather potions, I will only be a minute. Mr. Nott, you are welcome to stay and observe if that is okay with Mr. Potter.” With that she walks away leaving him and Nott alone.

A few moments of quiet pass between them before either of them speaks. Harry uses this time to get another look at Nott since the only time he has was when he was still kind of out of it. The potion he was given must have been a calming draught or something to clear his head, because he can actually focus on little details. He also doesn’t want to blurt out every thought he thinks. Nott is sort of slouched in a way Harry doesn’t think he has ever seen a Slytherin slouch before, and he has deep purple bruises under his eyes, his skin is still that same unnaturally pale shade at the moment – probably a side effect from seeing so much blood — and his hands are covered in blood. His leg must have been bleeding worse than he thought. His curls are sticking every which way, some are plastered to his face with sweat, while others have blood streaked throughout them from him running his hands through them.

After a few more moments, the quiet becomes too much for Harry, and it seems like he’ll have to be the one to break it. “I’m sorry for getting so much blood on you.” Nott glances at him but makes no move to speak, so Harry continues. “And that you had to drag me up here. You didn’t have to help at all really, so thank you.” Nott raises an eyebrow as his lips slightly part. “Also, you can stay and watch what Madam Pomfrey does if you want. I don’t mind.” Harry shrugged. That gets him a reaction.

“Are you sure?” He sits up straighter while clasping his hands in his lap, and looks directly at Harry. “I know I would be uncomfortable with someone I have only spoken to once, the first time being today, who I previously thought was an enemy, to watch me be medically treated whilst unconscious. So I understand if you would prefer I leave.” Even covered in sweat and blood Nott looks the definition of ‘Perfect Pureblood Son’ at the moment; sitting perfectly straight with clasped hands, an almost blank look on his face to hide his true feelings, and he’s even wearing a matching brooch and ring set.

“No, really! I don’t mind at all. It’ll be good for your apprentice thingy next year.” He looks to the doors and puffs out a short breath. “And besides, someone will need to be here to explain everything to Hermione whenever she gets back. I’m actually looking forward to being unconscious when she storms in here. She won’t be able to lecture me about always ending up here again.” He flashes a smile at Nott.

“Well in that case I will stay.” He takes a slow breath in through his nose and huffs out a sigh. “However, I do not think Granger will take too kindly to me being the only one in here that can explain what happened.”

Harry furrows his brows and twists his mouth down. “What? Why—” 

“Okay Mr. Potter. Here is the dreamless sleeping draught and another potion that will allow you to wake up in less pain than you should. Now, is Mr. Nott staying or leaving.” She bustles over to them, effectively interrupting Harry’s thoughts. She hands him two potions that he drinks immediately, and he can already feel them starting to take effect. 

After drinking the potions his eyelids start to feel heavy, so he looks over to Madam Pomfrey before he loses consciousness. “He can stay for his apprentice practice, I don’t mind. And so he can explain to 'Mione what happened when she gets back” A slow blink. “Oh! And can you tell Ron that I’ll get him… that I’ll… that…” 

The last thing Harry can see before he succumbs to the darkness is a brisk nod from Madam Pomfrey that shows she heard him, and the same concerned look from the forest from Nott.

Chapter Text

Theodore Nott was having quite possibly the worst day of his life.

And he hasn’t even taken his Defense Against the Dark Arts exam yet.

It began before he went to sleep last night, with Malfoy going on and on about that hippogriff getting executed the next day. Then it was “Potter this” and “Potter that” until Theo had finally had enough and left the common room to sleep. His sleep was plagued with visions of his Mother's death, so he was awake every hour. All he could hope for was an easy morning before he had his DADA exam.

He wasn't that lucky. Breakfast was also a prime time for Malfoy’s dramatics about the hippogriff — Buckbeak, he learned. He would mimic a dying hippogriff whenever Potter, Granger, or Weasley looked towards the Slytherin table. It would have been an alright meal if the only annoyance was Malfoy, but then the morning post arrived and Theo saw his father’s owl swooping through the room and headed straight for him. It seems his bad luck from last night has followed him into today — he only receives letters from his father that deliver unwanted news. The last one was from before Yule break telling him to stay at school for all remaining breaks. He was already planning on doing that, so the reminder that he wasn’t wanted home for the holidays was not needed. Naturally, it was no surprise when this letter was similar. 

Theodore,

I will not be present at the Manor this summer holiday. I will send Millie to retrieve you from the Hogwarts Express. She will be caring for you until you return to your studies.

— Lord Tiberius Nott

At least this year he'll have Millie instead of being left to floo on his own, so he really can’t complain about another summer being on his own. 

His day became marginally less intriguing after breakfast. The only thing he had planned was some last minute studying for the DADA exam, but other than that it was blissfully uneventful. His exam went well aside from the boggart — his Mother's death is a difficult thing to make funny, after all. Blaise takes one look at him as he leaves the exam and tries to talk to him, but Theo shrugs him off. He always prefers to be alone when thinking about Mother. The only thing standing between him and his bed was dinner. All he wants is one dinner without a display of Draco Malfoy Dramatics and then he could go to sleep and be done with today.

Dinner was a surprisingly mellow affair, so Theo decided to take a walk before heading to the dungeons to try and clear away the image of his mother’s death. His favorite place to walk while needing to clear his head is along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. With so many troubling thoughts, he decided to start tackling the easiest one; what would he do this summer? Since Father won't be at the Manor, he could devote a few hours a day to reading through Mother's journals and her favorite books. The floo will most certainly be closed, so no visiting with Blaise, or Daphne, or anyone besides Millie and Opal. Maybe he could convince Opal to bring him to Diagon Alley to meet with his friends once or twice. She does have a soft spot for him.

A scream startles Theo out of his thoughts. He looks around to see if he can find the source and immediately sees someone get thrown into a tree by a Grim and – is that a werewolf? His legs lock and leave him frozen to his spot for a few long seconds before he regains control of his limbs. He doesn't move yet, waiting to see if the person will get up, but they still haven’t. He can only assume that they are unconscious, so he makes his way over to them.

As he gets closer he can start to see details that clue him in on who it could be; glasses on the ground, messy hair, and way too baggy clothes. Theo gasps; Potter. Of course Potter would get thrown into a tree by a Grim.

Theo just stares at him for a moment, giving himself time to think of what he should do. Should he poke him? Perhaps nudge him with his foot until he awakes? Shake him? A howl in the distance startles Theo out of his thoughts back to the present.

Shaking it is then.

He hurries over to Potter — he doesn't run, thank you very much — grabs his shoulder and begins shaking him.

"Potter." Nothing. "Potter wake up." Still nothing. "Potter you cannot be dead right now. Nobody would believe me when I told them I had nothing to do with it. A dead Harry Potter found by a Slytherin can only be bad for me, and worse for you." He shakes him harder. "Potter!" Is he even still breathing? He checks his breath under his nose to find that he is breathing. He lets out a relieved sigh.

"Okay Potter it's time to wake up. I am not dragging you to the hospital wing whilst you are unconscious." Another shake. "Potter?" His eyelids flutter open. Finally. "Are you alright? Do you know what happened? How you ended up in the forest?" Theo sees him squint with a blank, dazed look in his eyes. Oh Salazar, please don't let him have any serious damage. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?” His eyes clear slightly as he looks at Theo.

“Have you seen my glasses?” Potter coughs, “I can’t see a thing.” Theo remembers seeing them on the ground and quickly finds them and puts then in Potter's hands. “Oh, thanks. Uh, what exactly happened?” I don't know. I wanted you to tell me. He looks around the forest and then stares at Theo. And he just stares right back. “And why am I in the forest?” 

Shit. He doesn't remember. Potter is still staring, waiting for an answer he doesn't know how to give. All Theo knows is that there was a werewolf and a Grim, and the Grim threw him into the tree. That's all. And it most certainly isn't a good enough answer for Potter, who winces in what looks like a bout of nausea, so he nods to himself and decides to just tell Potter the minimal information he has.

“I don’t know why you were in the forest. However, I saw you get thrown into this tree by a Grim. It looked like,” he paused for a second to figure the best way to say this without causing a famous Potter Explosion. Letting out a puff of air and nodding to himself he figures the best course of action is to just spit it out. Potter seems like the kind of guy who appreciates bluntness. "It looked like it was protecting you from a werewolf.” A few moments of complete and utter silence pass between the two of them. So far no explosion so that's good.

“Oh. That. Yeah I already know about the werewolf.” What. Theo feels his eyes widen a fraction and knows that his hands have started to flutter. Stupid hands, always betraying my nerves. He can see Potter wince, probably from more pain. “If it makes you feel any better it was only Professor Lupin. And the dog is my godfather, Sirius, not a Grim.” Sirius. As in Sirius Black. He just threw Potter into a tree. Surely that's the most shocking thing Potter will say. However, the day has yet to finish and his bad luck strikes again because Potter is still speaking.

“I think something is wrong with me because I did not want to say that. Do you think you could just forget about all of it? Say, what were you doing out here anyway? I can’t imagine too many Slytherins would want to help Harry Potter after seeing him get knocked out. Send a hex my way sure, but helping?” he shakes his head. “Doubtful. I think you might be the only one who would’ve helped anyway considering I never see you hovering around Malfoy." He is just anything he thinks without any thought. Perhaps he really hit his head. Badly. "You’re probably the only Slytherin with a working brain if I’m being honest. Y’know, 'Mione has been whinging about how you’re the one thing stopping her from the top spot in Ancient Runes. Says that you’re really smart too. Oh! Maybe you could help–”

“Potter, I think you should stop talking.” How many more secrets will I have to keep by the end of this. "You seem to have hit your head on the tree, which has resulted in you just saying whatever you think. Now I will not ask any questions right now," I sure as hell have a lot of them. "but we will be talking about this once you are recovered. I think it would be best if you saw Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible, so we should head—"

“Um, Nott?” Potter interrupts, glancing at Theo and blinking rapidly. Glancing at Potter he can see him pointing to a pool of blood. Holy Odin that's a lot of blood. It reminds him of his Mother's death, and he can feel all the blood drain from his face. “I think one of us is bleeding out.” Obviously it's you, Potter. “And I think perhaps you were right about the talking thing." Clearly. "I can’t seem to stop the words from flowing through my brain and out of my mouth. It seems my filter has stopped. Maybe… Now hear me out on this one okay – maybe the blood loss has something to do with it." Potter looks up at and him and Theo just stares between him and the pool of blood, in disbelief. "Because that is a lot of blood and I just don’t see how that can be good for me.” It better have been the Grim that bit him. The last thing we need is Harry bloody Potter becoming a werewolf.

A plan. I need a plan to get Potter to Pomfrey without bleeding out. Looking at the wound Theo can see that the bite is on his left leg and blood is flowing out at a less than ideal speed. Think of all the reading on becoming a Healer, Theo. No healing charms without disinfecting, so stopping the bleeding is my main priority.

Potter starts laughing, full on laughing, and can't seem to contain himself. Either he's lost more blood than Theo thought, or he's gone mad. “Alright Potter. I have a plan." He waits for him to look up and cease his laughing before continuing. "I do not know any healing charms well enough to perform them on you, especially without disinfecting the bite properly since I have no clue if it was from the werewolf or the Grim, so I am going to tightly wrap my cloak around your leg where the bleeding is coming from. Then I am going to help you up and we will walk to the hospital wing as fast as you can. Okay?” After receiving an affirmative nod he immediately begins to wrap the leg.

“Ow! Merlin that– agh bloody hell! Jesus, you didn’t tell me it would hurt that much!” Theo ignores him and continues to wrap his leg. With one last tug on the makeshift bandage, he presses his Nott Heir ring into Potter's thigh and pushes the magic to numb the pain. "Numb this wound so we can make it to a proper healer." He mutters the words, which aren't exactly necessary, but he likes to imagine his ancestors will help with the exact thing he needs at if he specifically asks.

Dusting his hands on his legs, he stands and holds his hand out to help Potter up. He decides he has to be stubborn, even whilst bleeding out and tries to stand on his own, but he accepts the help after a few seconds of struggling. He has positioned them so he has one arm wrapped around Potter's waist, and the other holding onto the hand he has draped across his shoulders. Now, all he has to do is drag Potter to the hospital wing.

“Now the hard part. You have to walk without passing out. I do not think I could carry you all the way without a levitation charm, but I am not confident enough in my ability for the charm to hold long enough, so we are going to do this the hard way." He glances to the side to make sure Potter is listening before he continues. "Try to keep talking, but do try not to babble about anything you do not want me to know. I will not ask any questions while we walk. I will, however, be asking questions once you are in a normal state." Merlin knows I won't be able to think of anything else if I don't at least get an explanation about Sirius Black being innocent. "Come on, we should start walking now before the werewolf and Grim come back.” With that, they head back to the castle.

The walk to the hospital wing was by far the craziest part of Theo's day, which is saying something considering he saw a werewolf with his own eyes on the Hogwarts grounds. Stairs have quickly become his number one enemy. Potter cannot walk up them to save his life — literally. Which leaves Theo to lifting and practically dragging Potter up the stairs with minimal help from Potter himself. I should have just tested my luck and used the bloody levitation charm. Potter hasn't stopped talking once, and he spills a few more secrets he most certainly did not want Theo to know.

The first major secret is revealed right after they walk off the first movie staircase. Moving staircases. Worst thing in this whole bloody castle. After steadying themselves, Potter starts talking about Slytherins and how "No Slytherin would ever help me. Are you sure you're not a Hufflepuff, Nott?" which might just be the most insulting thing Potter could have said. "Maybe the hat should have just put me in Slytherin instead of convincing it to listen to me." What. Theo inhales sharply and squeezes Potter's hand to get him to stop with all this nonsense, but he either doesn't notice or doesn't care that Theo is about to have a crisis. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Gryffindor and Ron and Hermione and the twins, but sometimes its just too loud. When I see a group of Slytherins they always look like they're a lot quieter and won't ask unwanted questions. I think I would like that a lot."

There is absolutely no way Harry Potter was almost in Slytherin.

When his sorting was almost a hatstall Theo had assumed it was debating between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. It only made sense for The Boy Who Lived to be one of those two houses, potentially Ravenclaw as well. He had never once thought that Potter could have been a Slytherin, not even during the whole Heir of Slytherin nonsense last year. So to hear that the Hat was debating between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and the fact that Potter slightly regrets convincing the Hat to sort him Gryffindor, shocks Theo. How different would his life have been if Potter was a Slytherin? Would they have been friends? Surely not. He refuses to entertain the thought.

About halfway to the Hospital Wing Potter mistimed a jump and they both fell. It wasn't even a vanishing one!. Luckily they only fell a few steps, but Potter landed with his elbow jammed in Theo's ribs. Who would have thought Potter has annoyingly bony elbows. Getting back up on their feet they manage to finish the journey even slower than before.

With only a few staircases to go Potter reveals another secret in his uncontrollable babbling, one which Theo knows he didn't want anyone to know. He starts talking about The Dursleys — and yes, he can hear the capitalization — when he suddenly remembers he has a potential werewolf bite on his leg. And then he freezes on a staircase — a moving staircase no less — to spill his worries to Theo.

"Shit!" he turns and looks at the side of Theo's face. "The Dursleys won't take me back this summer if I'm a werewolf! They barely take me back now! They'll probably stick me back in the cupboard and give my room back to Dudley. They probably won't even give me food either." These Dursleys sound worse than Father. At least he would still provide food. "I need somewhere else to go. But I don't have anywhere else! Sirius is still a wanted man for Merlin's sake! I would go with the Weasley's, but they have so many children already, I don't need to force my way into their house." He takes a deep breath and starts back up the stairs. "Who else could I go with? I mean Hermione is always an option, but would her parents want to have another wizard in their house? I don't think I know anyone else who could take me— Ow!"

Potter tripped. Again.

"Bloody hell I hate these stairs. What was I just talking about?" Not a good sign if his short term memory is gone. "Never mind I don't care." He continues talking about anything he can think of, like the boggart in his DADA exam, and then he starts to sway, leaning his weight entirely on Theo.

Not a good sign at all.

With the hospital wing in sight, Theo moves as quickly as his legs will move to get to Madam Pomfrey. Upon opening the doors he looks for Madam Pomfrey, who happens to be in her office. It takes her a moment to notice them, but once she does she hurries over, speaking so quickly that Theo is having a hard time following. He couldn't imagine the trouble Potter was having.

“How on earth did this happen Mr. Potter! You were just in that bed next to Mr. Weasley! And where has Miss Granger gone! I leave you three alone for one minute! I swear you get into as much — if not more, trouble than your father Mr. Potter. You certainly end up in here more than he ever did.”

Madam Pomfrey is still talking, but Theo can only think about how he has Harry Potter in his arms with a numb leg and potentially some damage to his skull, if all the babbling is any indication. What if the bite is from the werewolf — Professor Lupin, he reminds himself — and Potter is now a werewolf? Surely there are protocols for something like this. He assumes she would want to get him into a bed and be treated as soon as possible with all this bloods dripping onto the tile? Oh Odin there's blood on the floor. Potter has bled so much that it's gone through the robe Theo tied around his leg. Needing to stop the panic creeping into his chest, he figures the best course of action would be interrupting her.

“Excuse me?” After gaining her attention he continues. “Madam Pomfrey, could we possibly get him back into a bed and treated? He is rather heavy to drag all the way from the woods and up all the moving staircases, and he is quite possibly bleeding out from a bite on his leg. He has lost quite a bit of blood since I found him unconscious, and I don’t exactly know how he got his wound, however it is either from a Grim or a werewolf, so I think it would be imperative to treat his wound rather quickly. It would not be a pleasant day for anyone if Harry Potter died from an untreated werewolf bite. He has been spilling all of his secrets to me — it seems he has lost enough blood for his filter to be nonexistent. His leg stopped moving completely about halfway here, however I did use my ring magic to numb the wound, so that could be the cause of it.” He pauses to catch his breath and decide his next course of action. Screw it, I'll be disrespectful. “Now, will you be levitating him to a bed or would you like me to drag him the last bit?” Madam Pomfrey raises a brow at this, but levitates Potter to a bed nonetheless. She feeds him a potion after performing several different medical scans he's never seen before.

"Mr. Nott I believe you got him here just in time. He never takes any potion without a fight, and he is clearly in a state of sever—"

“Excuse me? Madam Pomfrey,” they both glance to Potter to see him already looking at them.

“Um… do you think we should put my name on this bed?” Theo narrows his eyes and looks at him. What on earth did that bite do to him. He's beginning to spew actual nonsense. Potter winces at the look Madam Pomfrey throws his way, but continues on anyway. “It’s just that, well, I always seem to end up in here so perhaps we should make it known that this is my bed. I’ve only ever used this one so it seems rather fitting that we should add a plaque. Ooh! Maybe we could actually name it after me!" Merlin he's finally lost it. The blood loss has affected him. "That would get the message across rather well I think. Also, I’ve been thinking. I don’t actually know how I got back into the forest. All I remember is going to  Buckbeak’s execution with Ron and Hermione, we really wanted to be there for Hagrid you see. He was quite upset about the whole thing. Turns out Scabbers — Ron’s rat — has been in Hagrid’s Hut this whole time! We thought Hermione’s cat had killed him, but he was just hiding.” He and Madam Pomfrey glance at each other, seemingly wondering the same thing; what on earth is Potter saying?

“It all becomes a bit blurry after that, but apparently Scabbers has been an animagus this whole time because he turned into a man. Which— ugh! Ron let that rat sleep in his bed! Oh! And by the way, Sirius Black — my godfather — didn’t betray my parents. It was Peter Pettigrew, otherwise known as Scabbers. Ron’s rat.” His distaste for the rat is evident considering he has the nastiest glare on his face, usually the one reserved for Malfoy. “Professor Lupin and Snape met us in the Shrieking Shack where Sirius — not a Grim by the way — and Peter turned into themselves. But me, Ron, and Hermione stunned Snape before he could get Sirius." Theo jolts from surprise, not from Potter stunning a professor, but from Granger partaking as well. "Don’t worry, it was for a good reason!" He holds up his hands. "He was about to kill Sirius! I couldn’t let that happen after I found someone who could take me away from the Dursleys!” The Dursleys again. Before Theo can think too much about any of that, Potter continues. 

“Anyways, the next thing I remember is Professor Lupin turning into a werewolf followed by an entire horde of dementors floating down to me, Hermione, and Sirius. And then finally, finally I woke up here. For my first visit. I still don’t know how I ended up back in the woods. Maybe Hermione knows.” He looks around for a moment, giving Theo a bit of time to process, well, everything, then looks at Madam Pomfrey, brows furrowed. “Where is she by the way? Wasn’t she with us the first time?” She doesn't respond, but Theo notices she does give him a look that he's never seen before. Thank Merlin that isn't directed at me.

The quiet stretches for a few moments leaving Theo to his thoughts. How on earth is Potter still functioning after going through all of that. Madam Pomfrey looks to him. “I understand what you mean about the blood loss and the lack of filter Mr. Nott. If I remember correctly you asked about an apprenticeship with me for your fourth year, yes?” Nodding in confirmation she continues. “Then I suggest you stay and watch the process for checking a potential werewolf bite. It is a bit different from when we are certain a wound is from a werewolf, and it is best taught with real life practice, not from reading a textbook. Were this a normal wound a little dittany, blood replenisher, and healing charms would suffice. However, we need to first determine if this is, in fact, a werewolf bite.” She takes a moment and looks at Potter with a sigh. “Hopefully for your sake Mr. Potter it is not. We can determine this by using a charm, watch my wand movement closely. Now it should only be a few minutes until the results..” 

After watching Madam Pomfrey perform the charm all they can do is wait. It seems to Theo that they are all holding their breath, a millions thoughts going through each of them. How is Sirius Black innocent? Is Pettigrew really alive and the true traitor? Why was Professor Lupin in the woods with students when he should have had wolfsbane and been somewhere safe? Before he could think about anything too deeply the scan completes, and a scroll is deposited into Madam Pomfrey’s waiting hands.

As she begins to read the results she breathes sharply through her nose, followed by a quiet sigh of relief. “You are in luck tonight Mr. Potter. It isn’t a werewolf bite. It seems to be from an animagus. While not nearly as life threatening as a werewolf bite, you might have some side effects that we can talk about more in the morning." Animagus bites have side affects? "Nothing too damaging. Now, I am going to give you a dreamless sleeping draught, no arguments Mr. Potter! You are experiencing extreme shock and have lost too much blood for my liking, so to prevent any outbursts such as your last you will be taking it. I will not have any patient of mine feeling discomfort because he refuses to listen! Now, just try to relax whilst I gather potions, I will only be a minute." She turns to look at Theo. "Mr. Nott, you are welcome to stay and observe if that is okay with Mr. Potter.” With that she walks away leaving him and Potter alone.

Theo has been waiting for an opportunity like this to arise in hopes that he would get the apprenticeship. However, with everything Potter has revealed tonight, a nagging feeling in the back of Theo's mind is telling him it wouldn't be wise to use it. If it was just the bite, sure, but Potter has talked about things he probably meant to keep to himself forever — Theo understands secrets. He hasn't told anyone about Father after all. However, this will most likely be the only opportunity he'll have to observe Madam Pomfrey in a situation with an animagus bite. He is quite curious about the side effects, but making Potter uncomfortable doesn't sit right with him. I wouldn't want someone who I don't know to watch me be healed while unconscious.

From the edge of his vision he starts to observe Potter to see if he'd even entertain the idea of allowing him to stay. Theo startles inwardly upon seeing Potter already staring at him, with a furrowed brow and pinched lips. He's somehow managed to get blood on his face even though the bite is on his leg, and his clothes seem like they could be rags, all ripped and covered in dirt. How he can see out of his glasses — smudged with a mix of what Theo can only assume is blood, sweat, and dirt, he cannot fathom.

“I’m sorry for getting so much blood on you.” Potter blurts out suddenly, so Theo allows himself a glance in his direction. “And that you had to drag me up here. You didn’t have to help at all really, so thank you.” As if I could leave Harry Potter to die in the forbidden forest. He raises an eyebrow and starts to reply, but Potter doesn't give him a chance. “Also, you can stay and watch what Madam Pomfrey does if you want. I don’t mind.” What.

“Are you sure?” He straightens up, clasps his hands in his lap, and looks directly at Potter. This is quite unexpected. “I know I would be uncomfortable with someone I have only spoken to once, the first time being today, who I previously thought was an enemy, to watch me be medically treated whilst unconscious. So I understand if you would prefer I leave.” He cannot believe that anyone, let alone Potter would be okay with him sitting in on something like this.

“No, really! I don’t mind at all. It’ll be good for your apprentice thingy next year.” Apprenticeship, Potter. He looks to the doors and puffs out a short breath. “And besides, someone will need to be here to explain everything to Hermione whenever she gets back. I’m actually looking forward to being unconscious when she storms in here. She won’t be able to lecture me about always ending up here again.” He looks back to Theo and flashes a smile.

“Well in that case I will stay.” He takes a slow breath in through his nose and huffs out a sigh. “However, I do not think Granger will take too kindly to me being the only one in here that can explain what happened.”

He furrows his brows and twists his mouth down. “What? Why—” 

“Okay Mr. Potter. Here is the dreamless sleeping draught and another potion that will allow you to wake up in less pain than you should. Now, is Mr. Nott staying or leaving.” She bustles over to them, saving Theo from having to explain Hermione Granger's hatred of him to her best friend. Thank Merlin for small mercies.

“He can stay for his apprentice practice, I don’t mind. And so he can explain to 'Mione what happened when she gets back.” A slow blink. “Oh! And can you tell Ron that I’ll get him… that I’ll… that…” 

Potter drinks the potions before giving an answer, like an idiot, so he is asleep before he can finish his request.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about his condition that you noticed on your way here?"

"His short term memory was declining at an alarming speed, he tripped and couldn't remember anything he had just said to me. And when we were almost here I was practically dragging him. I don't know if that is from my heir magic, which I used to numb the wound, or if he was truly beginning to lose all feeling in his leg." He slightly hesitates before adding, "And I apologize for being so rude when we first got here. I was beginning to panic."

"That is quite alright Mr. Nott, anyone would be in a bit of shock. Would you like a calming draught?" He nods, and she summons a vial for him. He drinks it and feels the effects set in, feeling less panicked already.

"Thank you."

"You are quite welcome. I believe his memory loss is connected to shock from everything that happened to him tonight and trauma from hitting his head on that tree. I won't be able to see if he can feel his leg until he wakes, so I believe we should start disinfecting."

Just as Madam Pomfrey was about to begin showing him how to properly disinfect and heal the bite, the doors burst open to reveal a frantic looking Hermione Granger.

“Is Harry here!” Granger practically screeches as she barrels into the room. She has a few cuts on her face, her hair is wild, she's breathing really hard, and has a manic look in her eyes. She scans the room until her eyes settle on Potter and she lets out a relieved sigh. Her eyes snap to Theo and she gets all tense again. “Nott. Why are you here with Harry?”

Before Theo can think of a response, Madam Pomfrey saves him from answering. “Miss Granger, I would appreciate it if you did not just barge right in and disturb my patients, especially since you should be in one of those beds. Mr. Nott brought Mr. Potter here after he found him unconscious in the forest. Do not worry, he will be fine after I finish healing him. As for Mr. Nott, he is staying to observe the healing for a healing apprenticeship." 

“Apprenticeship! What do you mean apprenticeship!” she glares at Theo. “You have to be top of the class at healing now too? Ancient Runes isn't sufficient! I cannot believe– you know what, it doesn't matter right now.” She takes a deep breath and turns to Madam Pomfrey. “Harry was unconscious? What happened? He didn’t get attacked did he?”

“Well, from what Mr. Nott has told me he saw a Grim, which was actually an animagus, throw Mr. Potter into a tree and that is how he became unconscious, however the real issue is the bite on his leg. I will be able—”

“A bite?" she shrieks. "It’s not from Profes— the werewolf, is it?” She glances nervously at Potter and worries her lip. 

“No, the bite was from the animagus, so I will need to get to healing as quickly as possible so we can prevent as many symptoms we possibly can. Now Miss Granger, if you would please go back to the bed I assigned you to, I think a great use of your time would be to rest and think about how to explain how you and Mr. Potter ended up back in the forest. The last thing he remembers is waking up in here, the first time.” She levels Granger her 'Do not argue with me, and. if you do it will not be pleasant' look.

"Of course Madam Pomfrey. I'll just go sit over there." Madam Pomfrey nods as Granger goes to sit on a bed before turning to Theo.

"Now, Mr. Nott, back to disinfecting. We will disinfect and sterilize the wound by applying the Wound-Cleaning potion directly." He nods as she pours the potion to the bite, and it immediately emits a smoke. "The smoking is how we know it is properly disinfecting the wound. Now Essence of Dittany to close the wound. This one will most likely scar. Now if Mr. Potter was awake I would give him a Blood Replenishing Draught, however I will transfer it directly to his stomach."

He watches everything Madam Pomfrey does raptly and commits everything to memory. She heals the cuts on Potter's face with Essence of Dittany and then moves on to his arms, and then finally his legs. Another scan shows that he has a concussion, which explains all the babbling. The whole process takes less than half an hour, so Madame Pomfrey goes to examine Granger and while Theo waits.

Looking at a clock he can see that it's now well after curfew. Blaise and Daphne are most definitely wondering why he isn't back to the common room by now; he never misses curfew.

After healing Granger, Madam Pomfrey returns to Potter's bedside and summons her another chair.

"Miss Granger you are welcome to sit in this chair, you are perfectly healed. I would also like to hear an explanation on how you ended up back in the forest." She nods and hurries over to the chair. Even though she is free from any cuts or bruises, she still looks terrible. Her hair is significantly frizzier than usual with leaves and twigs nestled throughout it, she has evidently not slept in a while if the bags under her eyes indicate anything, and she has dirt everywhere. Her clothes are littered with rips and holes, and yes, even more dirt.

"Well, it's sort of a long story how we ended up in the forest again, and Professor McGonagall said I couldn't tell anyone about it," she sucks in a breath. " although I suppose since Harry knows already, and since I'm giving it back it wouldn't be an issue to tell you. However, I would appreciate it if this information didn't get out." She directed that last bit to Theo with a pointed look.

"Do not worry Granger, I have lots of secrets to keep to myself from the events that transpired tonight. I am sure I can keep another."

"Well, good. Thank you, Nott. Now the main reason we ended up back in the forest was because I have access to a Time-Turner." So many things make so much sense now. "It was originally so I could take every class offered, but tonight after we found out Sirius Black was innocent — and he is innocent by the way — he was about to be given the Dementor's Kiss, so Professor Dumbledore told me to use it to save two lives tonight; Sirius and Buckbeak." Of course Granger and Potter would save the Hippogriff. "So, that's what we did. Well, it's what we tried to do until everything went wrong." Silence stretches between them.

"Well Miss Granger, I can honestly say that I did not expect that, but I am not surprised that you were a student allowed to have a Time-Turner. However, I would like to know how everything went wrong?"

"Did Harry tell you what happened before we used the time turner?"

"Yes." Theo answered. "He told us how Weasley's rat, Scabbers was found at Hagrid's while waiting for the execution of Buckbeak, followed by him turning into Peter Pettigrew. Sirius Black is innocent and also an animagus, not a Grim, and Pettigrew was the betrayer. He then told us how the both of you and Weasley stunned Professor Snape before he could inflict any damage on Black." Granger winces. "The next thing he remembered was Professor Lupin turning into a werewolf, and a horde of Dementors descending upon you, him, and Black. Then he woke up in the hospital wing."

"Oh! Perfect! I don't have to explain what happened. So, after we all woke up in here, Harry and I went back three hours to try and save Buckbeak and then Sirius. Everything was working out quite well at first. We saved Buckbeak from his execution and then waited for all the events from the Shrieking Shack to happen, meaning the revelation of Sirius and Pettigrew. Once we saw Professor Lupin changing again we had to save the us from the past, so we lured him away. I didn't think about how that meant he would go towards us, so we had to run and hide. He found us eventually, but Buckbeak saved us." she inhales deeply, catching her breath. "Then we had to save ourselves and Sirius from the Dementors. We went to the lake and Harry cast his Patronus before they could even start performing the Kiss, which is where everything began to fall apart." She pauses, seemingly to gather her thoughts.

"You see, Harry was supposed to wait until the Dementors started to perform the Kiss and then cast the Patronus, but he couldn't bear the thought of them getting that close to Sirius. So instead of our past selves passing out, they stayed awake. Professor Lupin showed up again, so Sirius had to transform into his animagus form to chase him away from us. I was able to stun myself and Harry before we could run after them so we would still be by the lake to be found. The only problem now was getting Sirius back to the lake."

"How did you manage that Granger? I saw him throw Potter into a tree."

"I'm getting to that Nott. Present time Harry ran off after Sirius and Professor Lupin, and then I never saw him again. I tried to go looking for him, but by then my time was almost up with the Time-Turner and I had to go save Sirius from getting the Kiss in the castle. I found him lying in the forest unconscious, so I levitated him to the lake to be with past me and Harry. I was then able to go to Professor Flitwick's office and free Sirius and send him on his way with Buckbeak. I went back looking for Harry but never found him, so I ran here and hoped that he somehow made his way back. Which he evidently did."

"I have so many questions Granger."

"Well, I'd be happy to answer them for you after some well deserved sleep tomorr—"

"POTTER!"

Professor Snape burst through the doors, robes billowing behind him, quickly followed by Cornelius Fudge and Dumbledore. There is a sort of wild look in his eyes while he yells about how Potter is the reason Sirius Black escaped, and he deserved the Kiss. Now, while Potter did help him escape, he certainly doesn't deserve the Kiss considering he's, you know, innocent.

"Severus! Mr. Potter is asleep recovering! Please refrain from yelling at him, I have other patients that need rest as well." She waves her arm to her other patients, evidently the only one is Weasley.

"Poppy, I can assure you that Potter was behind this." He sneers, but his eyes widen as they settle on Theo. "Mr. Nott, what are you doing up here after curfew. Your are not one to break the rules."

"I summoned him to observe the healing process. I have accepted him as my new apprentice." He raises an eyebrow at this.

"Is that so?" Theo nods. "Then I suppose I shall take your word for it. Headmaster, I will see you in your office."

"Of course Severus, Cornelius and I shall be there shortly. We have much to discuss." With a nod Snape sweeps out of the room just as fast as he entered, dramatic robes and all. Dumbledore turns his attention to Theo. "Mr. Nott, I do believe congratulations are in order. Poppy usually takes the majority of the summer before deciding on the new fourth year apprentice."

"Thank you, sir."

"Miss Granger, everything went well I assume?" She nods. "Lovely! I will be leaving you to heal in peace." With that he and the minister take their leave.

After a few moments of silence Madam Pomfrey speaks. "I do believe that will be enough for today. Mr. Nott, please come back in the morning after you have breakfast so you can have more observation time. I will be going over possible side-effects from the bite, and I believe it will be a good learning opportunity for you." He nods and begins to stand.

"Harry will have side-effects? Are they bad ones?"

"You are welcome to listen in as well Miss Granger, but to answer your question, no. They can be inconvenient but not harmful to him." She nods "And I would like to keep you here overnight as well to monitor your Dementor exposure. Mr. Nott, I shall see you in the morning."

On his way back to the common room thoughts about what he'll tell Daphne and Blaise swirl around his mind. Should he tell them the truth? Obviously not the whole truth, but he could tell them half truths. He'll tell them that he saw someone unconscious at the edge of the forest and it turned out to be Potter, so he made the executive decision to help him back to the castle. That it was Potter made it all the more urgent; no Slytherin can be seen with Potter unconscious without helping. He'll tell them Madam Pomfrey decided to give grant him the apprenticeship early and asked him to stay and observe the healing process. They don't need to know about the bite, or anything else.

The corridors in the dungeon are as they usually are; dark, cold, and quiet. Even the portraits are quiet, which is unusual. Perhaps that should have been the first sign that his bad luck streak is still in effect.

Theo froze when he felt more than four eyes on him upon entering the common room. He expected to see Blaise and Daphne waiting up for him. He did not expect to see the entire house. The only person missing is Professor Snape, for obvious reasons.

Scanning the room he can tell everyone is waiting for him to explain something, probably why he's been out after curfew. They can't possibly know about the events that transpired tonight, he thinks. He looks to Blaise explanation, only to be met with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk. The bastard.

"We've heard from sources that you were seen walking with Potter, Theo. Naturally the whole house wanted to see if it was true." He shrugs. "When you didn't return by curfew people got more curious. We just want to know if our sources were correct, dear Theo." He glares at Blaise, thinking of what his best course of action is. He could explain everything to the whole house even though his explanation was prepared for Blaise and Daphne, and Blaise and Daphne only. Or, he could just stay as close to the truth as possible without really saying anything at all.

"Yes, I was with Potter. He was injured and couldn't walk, so I helped him to the Hospital Wing." There. That should satiate everyone for now at least. They'll all know he isn't saying everything, but they know better than to demand a longer explanation. He starts towards the dorms when he hears a drawling voice call out, stopping him.

"You were gone an awful long time Nott. Why were you with Potter two hours after curfew if you were seen with him before curfew started."

Malfoy. Of course it's Malfoy who asks.

"Madam Pomfrey asked me to stay and observe for my apprenticeship." Multiple people stiffen. Madam Pomfrey rarely accepts someone before Hogwarts letters are sent at the end of the summer. Well, this isn't exactly how he planned everyone finding out, but it'll do.

"Well," he splutters, "that doesn't matter right now! Potter must've been badly injured if you've been gone for two hours. Your covered in mud Nott! Mud! And is that… blood!" Malfoy shrieks.

Theo looks down at himself and sees that he is, in fact, covered in blood and mud.

"Hmm, yes it is blood. I don't know when Potter will recover, it was quite the injury."

"Bad enough for you to essentially carry him!" How Malfoy was sorted into Slytherin without the hat even sitting on his head, he'll never know.

"Yes."

"That's all! You're not going to tell us what happened to him?"

"Hmm." Theo tilts his head and looks directly at Malfoy. "No. I won't"

He ignores all the questioning looks from his housemates and calmly walks towards the dorms.

After all, he is in desperate need of a shower.

When he's finished with his shower he is greeted by Blaise and Daphne waiting for him on his bed, no doubt wanting an actual explanation. He joins them, spells the curtains shut, and activates his privacy wards so the rest of his dormmates won't listen in. They just sit for a moment, looking at each other. Daphne is the first to speak.

"That was quite the exit Theo. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to protect Potter." She shrugs. I suppose I am, in a sense.

"Just his secrets." They both raise their eyebrows at this, and he sighs. "He was unconscious in the forest and when I realized it was him I helped him to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey did accept my apprenticeship, so she wanted me to observe the healing process for some hands on experience."

"That doesn't explain the blood, Theo." Blaise was always too observant for his own good. He tried to evade speaking about the blood. Theo shrugs.

"Yes, well, he got some cuts from the tree he ran into." Close enough to the truth anyways. Blaise raises his eyebrows and Daphne sighs.

"Theo, all that blood did not come from a few cuts from a tree. You know we won't tell anyone what really happened, right?" he winces. He does know that; they've been keeping each other's secrets since first year.

"Of course I do Daph, but it's not mine to tell. He hit his head on the tree and wouldn't stop talking, and I know he wouldn't have said anything to me if he didn't have a concussion. And one of the things he said is the reason I'm covered in blood. I will not reveal one of his secrets before he's ready to do it himself." He looks to his friends to see them having a silent conversation of their own. They always do this, he thinks. It's almost like a weird telepathy between them. Once they come to whatever conclusion they've come to, as they so often do, they look back to Theo. Once again, Dapne is the one to speak.

"Okay Theo, I know you love your secrets. I'll leave this one alone for now. I shall leave you to Blaise now. I will see you both at breakfast." She's gone before Theo can blink.

"Did you at least enjoy your walk before Potter interrupted? I know you were having a hard time after the boggart portion of the exam." Again, too observant for his own good.

"Yes." He lies. It wasn't necessarily a bad walk before he found Potter, but it was to sort through all of the days unpleasantness.

"Hmm." Too bloody perceptive. "I'll let you believe that for now Theo. I think it's time to sleep." He stands and leaves the wards, so Theo deactivates them. Without looking back, he gets into his own bed. "Goodnight, Theo."

"Goodnight, Blaise"

After having such an eventful and taxing day, he decides he should just get some sleep instead of succumbing to his thoughts. He'll get his questions answered soon enough.

Chapter Text

When Harry awoke to the bright lights and white curtains of the hospital wing he was confused for all of ten seconds before his day was ruined. Remembering a Slytherin telling him Sirius Black threw him into a tree effectively knocking him out, and that he also bit his sodding leg had him on the verge of a panic attack — Madam Pomfrey's words, not his — earning him another potion shoved down his throat. Most of the memories are a little fuzzy, because of course he got himself another concussion. What he absolutely knows for sure is that a lot of uncomfortable questions are in his near future. Most of which will come from Theodore Nott, who he oh so graciously spilled half his soul to in his concussed state.

Just wonderful.

Currently, about five minutes after he woke up, five whole minutes of blissful peace, Madam Pomfrey is fussing over him and performing every medical scan Harry knew of, as well as the new ones from last night, and feeding him even more potions while simultaneously explaining everything to Nott for his healer apprenticeship. Letting Nott sit in on this is probably the only thing he did last night that he was fully aware for. Honestly, he's in here enough, someone might as well get something good out of it.

He could see Hermione out of the corner of his eye, hovering by Madam Pomfrey and glaring at Nott. Clearly something is going on there.

She doesn't seem to have any injuries from last night that he can see, so whatever they did to get back into the forest couldn't have been that dangerous. He was just simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He'd love to ask her what happened, but he's still being fussed over while surrounded by a bunch of bloody swots. He'd never get a word out.

After enduring a few more minutes of this, he notices movement in the bed next to him. He risks being told to sit still yet again and looks to see who could be occupying it, only to startle a bit when he sees Ron. With all the commotion of the past fifteen hours it slipped his mind that Ron also stayed the night in the hospital wing. He sits up and looks around the room, eyes practically bulging out of his head when his gaze lands on Harry.

"Blimey Harry! What happened to you?" He looks down to his bandaged leg and remembers that Ron hasn't seen him yet.

"Uh, it's kind of a long story," Harry shrugs, "I don't even fully know what happened, but long story short is that Sirius apparently bit me when he was a dog and I lost a lot of blood. I got another concussion and became sort of loopy, but I don't really remember much of that."

"Should we be talking about Sirius with, y'know?" He gestures to where Nott is standing and frowns.

"Yeah he's fine. I kind of spilled a bunch of secrets to him last night while I was loopy and—"

"Harry! Why would you do that he's a Slytherin! You can't trust him!" Harry winces at Ron's near shout and is suddenly reminded of the dull throb in his skull.

"Ron, please try not to shout, the headache reliever hasn't kicked in yet. Also, I didn't decide to be crazy and say 'Oh! I guess I'll find the nearest Slytherin to spill my secrets to' or something like that. I was unconscious at the edge of the forest and Nott found me. It's a good thing he did too, I lost a lot of blood and he sort of knows what to do in a situation like that. Or at least it seemed like he did, no offense Nott. And he has this cool ring that can numb pain, which is brilliant."

"Well, it's good he found you and all but I still don't trust him." He grumbles, so Harry just shrugs in response and turns towards Nott.

"By the way Nott, where did you get that ring? I kind of want one. I end up in here more than anyone ever should be allowed." The look Harry recieves is the same one from last night while he was out of it; utter disbelief.

"It's my Heir ring."

"Your what?"

"My Heir ring?" Harry shrugs, because what is an Heir ring. "You should have gotten one when you turned eleven."

"Oh, well I didn't." Nott furrows his brows, but before he can respond Madam Pomfrey takes the brief moment of silence to move on to examining Ron.

"Mr. Weasley, I need to check your leg before I can clear you." She glances to Harry and continues. "Once he is cleared I will discuss the side effects of the bite with you Mr. Potter." Ron's eyes go wide and he mouths the words 'side effects' to him.

"That sounds good. And I feel like you can call me Harry by this point, I'm in here like, every other week."

"I believe you're correct Harry, very well." She waves her wand over Ron and nods. "Well Mr. Weasley, it looks like everything is all set, you are free to go."

"But… what about the side effects! Sirius got me too — dragged me by the leg!" He flails his arms and motions toward his leg.

"You only had a broken leg, none of his teeth caused any puncture wounds, so you don't need to worry about any side effects."

"Oh, thank Merlin." He breaths out a sigh of relief. "I wasn't ready to become part dog. No offense Harry."

"Don't worry about it mate."

"Now, side effects. Side effects from animagus bites are unique to the animagus form, and while the side effects are not life threatening, they can be quite annoying sometimes depending on what the form is."

"Annoying how?" If he starts turning into a dog whenever he gets angry or something like that he might just have to kill Sirius himself.

"For starters, since you were bit by a dog animagus you might start liking any meat rarer than usual, which isn't all that terrible, and your appetite could be larger than you're used to. You could also develop sharper eyesight in the dark." That one could actually be useful. "Some of the more severe effects are those that effect your own animagus form, as well as your patronus. I do believe I healed you before any of these could develop, so you shouldn't have to worry."

"Well that doesn't sound too bad at least. I don't know what my patronus form is though, I haven't been able to cast it so I won't know if it's changed or not." Hermione looks at him and sits straighter.

"Actually Harry, you did cast it. Last night after we went back into the forest, you cast it to save Sirius. It was a stag."

She hands him his wand to perform the charm. Everyone seems to be holding their breath, waiting for either a stag or a dog.

"Only one way to find out I guess. Expecto Patronum."

A brilliant stag made of what Harry thinks must be pure magic bursts forth from his wand, galloping around the room. He seems to be looking for danger, huffing when he sees there isn't any. He trots over to Harry, bowing his head. He reaches out to touch the stag and is met with a warm tingling sensation. The rush of pure joy that envelopes him is intoxicating; he doesn't want it to ever stop. It almost feels like what he imagines a hug from his dad would feel like.

Suddenly he knows exactly what his patronus's name is. "Prongs…" he mutters, "He's Prongs." Prongs snorts out a breath and turns to face Nott, looking him up and down before slightly bowing, and disappearing in a silvery mist. Nott gasps and they look at each other, wearing matching shocked expressions.

"Potter, did your patronus just bow to me?"

"Um, yeah. Yeah, I think he did. He must like you I guess." he shrugs, as if he isn't currently rattled from the fact that his patronus is his dad's animagus form. When he touched it, it felt as if it really could've been his dad.

"You don't know how rare that is, do you?" Nott sounds a little breathless to Harry.

"Why? Is it really rare?" Nott's eyes widen and his whole face is transformed from an emotion he's yet to have seen on him; joy.

"Yes! It only happens when—"

"While this is fascinating information Mr. Nott, I do believe it will have to wait to be shared." Harry looks towards the doors at the sound of a voice, Dumbledore standing there, looking like he hasn't had a decent night of rest in months. "Unfortunately, I have some pressing matters I must speak about with Harry. Perhaps you could continue this conversation over a nice lunch? I can have the house elves prepare something and bring it here for you."

"Of course sir." His expression closes off, no trace of joy left behind. Harry doesn't like it very much. He nods and looks directly at Harry. "I will see you at lunch then Potter." He slightly hesitates before leaving, like he has something to say but isn't quite sure how to say it. "I am glad you are alright." Then he's gone, leaving Harry to be questioned by Dumbledore.

Dumbledore looks at him, Ron, and Hermione in silence for a few moments, causing Harry to fear the worst — that Sirius was caught before he could escape.

"How are you feeling, Harry? You were fast asleep when I wished to speak with you last night. I understand you had a far more eventful night than I anticipated." He has a twinkle in his eye that leaves Harry feeling a bit uneasy. 'More eventful' is one way to put it.

"I'm feeling alright, sir." He shrugs, not really caring about the how he's feeling. His only concern at the moment is if Sirius got away.

"I am glad you are feeling well, Harry. Now, I was hoping you could tell me a bit about what happened last night. Sirius having to bite you to protect you from a werewolf was not something I had wished to ever happen, and I do apologize for my part in that, my boy."

"Oh, thanks, but it isn't your fault sir. You didn't know that would happen." He reaches his hand behind his head. "I actually don't really know what happened. Nott told me he saw a werewolf and a grim, so Professor Lupin and Sirius, push me into a tree and not get back up again, but I don't remember anything from when me and Hermione went back to the forest. I was hoping she could tell me how that happened, actually. And if Sirius got away." Hermione startles slightly at being addressed, but recovers quickly, sitting taller and focusing on Harry.

"Oh! Of course. It was all quite simple if you think about it. I have a time-turner, a way to travel into the past, and used it to go back three hours with you Harry." A time-turner. Of course Hermione somehow has a way to time travel. "We were able to save Buckbeak and Sirius, but there were… complications along the way." she smiles at Harry, like it's somehow his fault. What could I have possibly done? "You see, when we saw ourselves and Sirius at the lake with dementors you cast a patronus before we could pass out, so our past selves never collapsed." Ah. "We could have just stunned them and been on our way to save Sirius, but Professor Lupin found us, so Sirius had to transform and chase him off. I stunned our past selves Harry, but you ran off after Sirius."

"Sorry 'Mione." She waves him off.

"It's fine. I will admit that we did have to find a way to get him back to the lake, but I didn't mean for you to just run off by yourself! I tried to look for you, really, but I couldn't find you. My time-turner time was almost up, so I really had to find Sirius. Luckily I found him passed out in the forest, so I just levitated him to the lake. Then I took Buckbeak to Professor Flitwick's office to free the other Sirius, who flew off with Buckbeak. I went back to look for you, to make sure Professor Lupin didn't get to you, but I still couldn't find you! I was sort of panicking a bit and ran all the way here to see if you managed to make it to the infirmary yourself. I got here and you were with Madam Pomfrey and Theodore Nott, so I knew you were at least alive." Harry stares at her for a moment, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that he time traveled.

"Hermione," he begins slowly. "Are you telling me that we time traveled to save Sirius, and I so thoroughly messed up that he had to bite me and throw me into a tree just so I didn't become werewolf food?"

"Well, yes, I suppose I am saying that."

"Brilliant."

"Bloody hell Hermione! I knew something was up with you this year! There's no way someone could take every class, even if it was you. I thought I was going mental when you just kept appearing everywhere."

"Sorry Ron, Professor McGonagall told me I had to keep it a secret, even from the both of you."

"It's alright, I get it."

"So you really saved Sirius Hermione? He's gone now?"

"Yes, him and Buckbeak." She furrows her brows and shoots a concerned look his way. "You really don't recall any part of using the time-turner?"

"No, I only remember being in here the first time, and then most of what happened after Nott found me. Some of that time is kind of fuzzy still though. All I really know is that I had no filter and told him things I'd rather have kept to myself, but other than that, the blood, and his fancy ring I don't really remember much."

"I think, that perhaps over time, some of these events Miss Granger has shared with us may come back to you, Harry. Some may be in dreams, others in visions, and a few may choose to resurface while you're experiencing strong emotions." Harry sees another twinkle in his eyes. "Only time will tell, I'm afraid. Now, I believe congratulations are in order!" Dumbledore claps his hands and mini fireworks appear around the room. "Casting a corporeal patronus is no small feat. You should be very proud of yourself Harry, I know James and Lily would have been over the moon." The thought of his parents being proud of him is always bittersweet, so he banishes the thought and thinks solely of his patronus. "It is very curious as to why it bowed to Mr Nott, I did not anticipate that."

"Thank you, sir." He has to clear his throat before he can continue. "Do you happen to know why he did that? Nott seemed to think it was really rare."

"Mr. Nott would be correct, it is indeed very rare. I think it would be best for him to tell you his thoughts about it over lunch. He seemed rather excited by it." Another twinkle. How many times could his eyes possibly twinkle?

"Oh, okay." He figures he should change topics, if only to see if Dumbledore could manage another twinkle. How many is it by now? Three? Four? "Do you know if Professor Lupin okay?"

"He is as well as he can be after a full moon." No twinkle, damn. "He was resting in his quarters when I spoke to him this morning, looking better than I imagine you are expecting."

"I'm glad. I don't want him to feel terrible about anything, I know he didn't mean it. And Sirius saved me anyway."

"I think he'd appreciate if you told him that yourself, my boy. How is your leg? I hope you're not too upset with some of the side effects. I think I would quite enjoy sharper vision at night." Another Merlin damned twinkle.

"It feels fine, my head has a slight ache still though. I don't think the headache potion is strong enough. And I think I'll be fine with the side effects, as long as I don't get some of the more severe ones Madam Pomfrey was talking about; I'm happy my patronus is still mine though."

"Yes, I would imagine so, patronus' are rather personal bits of magic. Fortunately I think you should be safe from the more severe effects, Harry. Perhaps at lunch you will be able to tell if you have a craving for rarer meat." Harry nods along. His eyes are stating to become heavy, which shouldn't be happening since he just woke up, so he assumes one of the potions Madam Pomfrey gave him caused slight fatigue.

"Would it be possible for me to rest before then?"

"Yes, of course. Why don't we leave you to rest now."

"Thanks, sir." Ron and Hermione tell him they hope he feels better by dinner so they can have meal together, and then before he knows it he's left alone. He just hopes someone will wake him up before Nott gets here for lunch.

When Harry opens his eyes, he is met with two green orbs staring down at him; Dobby. It was so reminiscent of his stay after the bludger incident of doom as he likes to call it, that he almost screamed and fell off the bed. Almost being the key word. Dobby's ears flap as he nods his head.

"Mister Harry Potter sir! Dobby is being told to make sure you are awake for your lunch with Mister Theodore Nott! He should be being here in a few minutes. Dobby will be bringing yous your food when you ask!" It takes Harry a moment to process what Dobby just said, still half asleep.

"Thanks Dobby, and just Harry is fine. What is lunch?"

"Oh, Harry Potter is always too kind to Dobby! Dobby was so happy when you were okay! Lunch is being beef stew today. And Dobby has made treacle tart for dessert." His stomach rumbles at the mention of treacle tart, he doesn't think anything could ever be enough to stop him from eating at least one slice.

"That sounds amazing Dobby, thank you."

"You are welcome Harry Potter! Dobby will be going to prepare the food now. Just call when you and Mister Theodore Nott are wanting it." He vanishes with a pop, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.

Sitting alone in the hospital bed — his hospital bed — Harry comes to the frightening conclusion that this was his first moment alone since he woke in the forest yesterday. Being left on his own left him with one terrifying thought; his life has changed a lot since this time yesterday.

Like, say, for example, his godfather not being a traitorous murderer who wants him dead. Or that Scabbers, of all people or… rats he guesses, is a traitorous murderer. Or, maybe the fact that he could be the proud new owner of nightvision. Just what he wanted, another thing to make him different. At least nightvision is useful. But, hey! At least he finally produced a corporeal patronus! And it was Prongs, the same as his dad, apparently.

He's still having trouble wrapping his mind around the fact that he time traveled. It's a total mind fuck to think about. Like, did he always save himself from the dementors? Or was he only saved because he time traveled? And why didn't they stop Pettigrew from escaping if they had a time-turner? And what exactly happened when he ran from Hermione and then woke up to Nott saving him? And baring his soul to him in his concussed state? He'd rather fight another basilisk than say any of that ever again, truly.

Honestly, Professor Lupin turning into a werewolf might be the least shocking thing to happen.

Speaking of Nott, he walks through the doors at exactly twelve. Theodore Nott. The Slytherin who saved him (with that fancy ring, no less), who he told so many secrets to (why did he have to talk about the Dursleys and almost sorting Slytherin!), who's an apprentice healer (which is apparently a sore subject for Hermione) who he let observe his healing (which he doesn't regret at all), and who Prongs — Prongs! — bows to! Nott seemed to think that was really rare, so Harry figures he should freak out about that, at least a little bit.

He's brought out of his thoughts when Nott sits in the chair beside him. He doesn't say anything at first, so neither does Harry — he's not about to be the one to break the silence.

"How are you feeling, Potter?" Harry blinks. He was not expecting that as his first question of the day, maybe something about his patronus, or his sorting, but not a simple 'how are you feeling, Potter?'

"Oh, fine I guess, all things considered," he shrugs "I took a nap." Nott blinks in at him. "Look, I know you probably have an overabundance of questions for me, but could we save them until we eat some food? I'm starving, and Dobby said he'd deliver it when I asked."

"Dobby?" His eyes light up with recognition.

"Yes, he's a house elf whose kind of obsessed with me." Nott tilts his head.

"Wasn't he a Malfoy elf?"

"Yes. It's kind of a long story."

"Okay, then perhaps you could tell to me sometime."

"Sure. I don't see why not. Dobby!" Dobby pops in directly between him and Nott.

"Mister Harry Potter sir called for Dobby? Is he and Mister Theodore Nott ready for their lunch?"

"Yeah, if it's all ready. And I told you, just Harry is fine, we don't need to be formal. Could you please bring us the stew and leave the dessert for later?"

"Of course Harry Potter! Dobby will be right back!" Well, at least he dropped the 'Mister' and 'Sir'.

"How did you manage to have a Malfoy house elf be loyal to you? I would have thought they ordered all their elves to only obey them. It seems like a thing Lord Malfoy would do."

"It's part of that long story, but basically he kept trying to save my life in very… lets just say unconventional ways last year, and then I tricked Mr. Malfoy into freeing him. He wasn't treated very well there, he's always trying to punish himself. I didn't know he was working here though. He seems happy enough." Which is true. The only time Harry had ever seen Dobby this happy was when Harry got him freed. Dobby pops back into the room with the stew but also a… table?

Yes. A table. It seems that Dobby has taken this lunch thing very seriously. He's somehow found a small round table with snake carvings on the legs, complete with two matching chairs, along with a green and white tablecloth. He's even managed to produce silver plates and utensils, each with a small snake engraving as well. How very Slytherin of him. Not a single Gryffindor color in sight.

"Harry Potter and Mister Theodore Nott are getting a special lunch from Dobby and the other elves. Professor Dumblydore is telling us to make sure you have everything you need. Dobby wanted it to be extra special for Harry Potter and his new friend who saved his life. Dobby is ever so grateful to you Mister Theodore Nott! So Dobby went to get the special table in the kitchens and bring it here! Dobby hopes it is alright." Dobby is looking at him with such hopeful eyes, hoping that Harry likes all he's done, that all Harry can do is thank him.

"It's more than alright Dobby, you didn't have to do all this. Thank you. But, um, I do have one question?"

"Anything for Harry Potter!" He nods so quickly that his ears flop, almost hitting his eyes.

"Why is this the 'special table' and why is it all covered in… well… Slytherin themed things."

"Oh it is being such a wonderful story! The other elves have made sure Dobby could tell it to Harry Potter and friends! The table is being special because it chooses the design for what you want, deep down. It is being themed like the snakes because you and Mister Theodore Nott both wanted it that way." I wanted it to be snake themed? "Dobby and all the other elves also think it it special because Mister James Potter used to eat in the kitchens, and this was his most favorite table! Tilly is saying that he liked to sit here with Miss Lily when she was sad, and he made her all her favorite sweets himself! Tilly is also saying that the table was always half snake and half lion when she saw them." He looks at Harry, with something that Harry thinks could be doubt in his eyes. "Dobby thought Harry Potter would like using something from Miss Lily and Mister James."

"I love it Dobby, thank you, really. This is one of the best things anyone has done for me, like ever." He hesitates before asking, afraid the answer will be no. "Do you think Tilly, or any other elf that knew my parents, would mind telling me about them sometime?"

"Oh! They'd be loving that! Dobby will show you the kitchens tomorrow!" With that, Dobby popped away before he could even think of a response. Harry looks over to Nott, only to see him staring at the table with a curious look in his eyes. Harry clears his throat to get his attention.

"So… should we go and sit at the really cool table and enjoy some stew before the all questioning starts?"

"Yes. I quite enjoy the Hogwarts stew."

They eat in relative silence for a few minutes, neither of them knowing what to say. Because really, what do you say to someone you didn't know yesterday, but who practically saved your life and helped heal you? He focuses on the stew, which is as good, if not better, than usual. True to Madam Pomfrey's word he wishes it were slightly rarer, but it's nothing he can't bear. The silence is becoming much to awkward for his liking, so he figures he'll have to be the one to start conversation.

"So, what's your favorite color?" Nott startles and drops his spoon in the bowl, splattering stew over the table. It vanishes before either of them could grab their wands; must be Dobby.

"My favorite color?" Harry nods and takes another bite, "Periwinkle."

"Periwinkle? That's such a random color. I wasn't expecting that."

"Well, it's a lovely color. What about yours?"

"I like green." He scrunches his nose. "Not Slytherin green though, more like a deep forest green." Nott nods. "What about your favorite class?"

"I like Ancient Runes. You can create so many different runic sequences to make everyday tasks easier, or just to create something fun. I find it endlessly fascinating. I wonder if that's how this table works, a rune sequence." This is the class he shares with Hermione, isn't it? I'll have to ask what the deal is between them sometime.

"That actually sounds pretty cool. I like Defense the mos, at least I'm good at it. I hate Divination, it's a load of bollocks. I probably should've taken something else, but I wanted to be with Ron, and he convinced me to take the easy O class."

"You could probably switch into Ancient Runes if you wanted, I am almost positive McGonagall would let you if you promised to self study over the summer to catch up with the rest of the class. You could even ask if you could have a tutor, it would most likely end up being either Granger or myself. We are the top of our year."

"Really?" He looks away from the stew to look at Nott. "D'you think I should switch?"

"If you wanted to take a class to improve your capabilities in magic, and not a class that is useless to anyone without the sight, then yes." Harry nods. He'll talk to Hermione about it later to see what she thinks too. He's sure she'll agree with Nott, even if they don't seem to get on.

"I'll think about it and talk to McGonagall by the end of the year if I want to change." He has one bite of stew left, and wishes he had thought to ask Dobby for some extra. He'll just have to wait for the treacle tart.

"Good. I think you would do well in there Potter. You show actual skills in Defense, and even Charms. I have no doubt you will succeed in Ancient Runes." Harry felt a heat rise in his cheeks, still not used to people complimenting his skills.

"Thanks. And can you call me Harry? It's just, I feel like we could be sort of friends, or something, and I feel weird saying Nott all the time. And the only people who call me Potter are teachers or people who hate me." Nott blinks and his finger slightly flutter like they did last night. Harry assumes it's some weird pureblood custom that has him acting like this, but Harry doesn't really care about that. At all.

"Very well." He nods to himself. "I can manage to call you Harry if we are to be friends. However, I'd prefer if you called me Theo, not Theodore."

"Alright, I can do that Theo." Nott — no, Theo, — gives him a small smile. Harry doesn't think he's seen him hang around too many people, just one or two Slytherins that are in their Care class, so he thinks this is a big moment for him. After all, Harry doesn't have many friends either.

"Alright Harry," he thinks that sounds much better than Potter, "As you know I accumulated quite a few questions over the past day. I think to start I'll go with an easier question; what did you mean you were almost in Slytherin."

Ah, he really should have expected this as the first question. Personally, Harry would have started with the patronus, but he supposes leaving that for after all the heavy shit is probably for the best.

"Well, it's exactly what I said. The hat told me I'd be great in Slytherin, but I wanted any House except that because my only knowledge of the Houses was that my parents were in Gryffindor, the man who killed them was a Slytherin, and every evil witch or wizard comes from Slytherin. Which was a blatant lie, since everyone knew Sirius was a Gryffindor, even if he isn't the evil one. Anyway, Malfoy was just sorted Slytherin and I did not want to share a dorm with him. He was the first wizard my age I ever met and he was a right prat both times, so I told the hat to put me literally anywhere but Slytherin."

"So you mean to to tell me had it not been for Draco Malfoy, you would have been in Slytherin?" Harry nods.

"Yeah, basically. I might've still argued with the Hat, but I don't think I would have been as against being a Slytherin if he wasn't a git. He reminded me of my cousin Dudley."

"I see." He pauses for a moment before asking his next question. "Anyway, you also said you regret not being in Slytherin. Did you mean that?"

Harry tries to hide his flinch — he doesn't remember saying that. Does he regret not being a Slytherin? Potentially. Sometimes. Maybe? Not too often though! Only when the other Gryffindors are being obnoxious and loud and won't stop asking him questions, even if they mean well. Don't get him wrong, he loves Gryffindor Tower and his fellow Gryffindors, but sometimes he longs for the quietness he sees surrounding the Slytherins. He was used to silence and solitude at the Dursley's, and he's still sort of… adjusting to the exuberance that comes along with being a Gryffindor.

Would he change houses if given the chance? He'd feel awful about leaving his friends for the snake pit, but maybe he'd fit in better? If he were one of them maybe they wouldn't hate him as much? Or maybe they'd hate him more and make his life worse than they already do. He looks at Theo and thinks that maybe they don't all hate him. It's just Malfoy and his cronies that do. They're the only Slytherins that he regularly interacts with, so why would he think the rest of the house would like him if all he'd ever seen was hate? The Hat wanted him there for a reason, so he must fit in with them, at least a little.

"I think I do. I mean, I love Gryffindor and my friends there, but surely the Hat had a point. It told me I would be great in Slytherin and make some real friends there. Seeing as I only really have about four true friends in Gryffindor, maybe it was right about that." He pauses for a moment, debating if he wants to say this next part to Theo or not. "And sometimes I feel… just… so out of place with them. Like, sometimes I get sort of… weird when it gets too loud and most of them get uncomfortable, and things like that. The Slytherins always seem to be quiet, or at least when I see them, so maybe I would've fit in better if I had just sorted there." He suddenly claps, startling Theo, "But! I'll never know, so no use dwelling on it."

"That is true I suppose."

"Okay! Next question." Thankfully he doesn't mention the abrupt change of topic.

"So, Sirius Black really is innocent? And your godfather?"

"Yes to both. I know I sounded kind of crazy last night, but he really is innocent and Pettigrew is alive and the one who betrayed my parents." he nods as if that is enough of an answer. Harry would have wanted more details, but to each their own.

"You probably will not want to answer this one, and you are not required to, but I feel like it needs to be asked anyway." This can only be about the cupboard. "What did you mean when you said the Dursleys will stick you back into the cupboard and withhold access to food? And who exactly are the Dursleys?"

He takes a deep breath to think about how he wants to answer this one. He wasn't planning on ever telling anyone about the Durselys. "Well, the Dursleys are my relatives who I live with, muggles. Aunt Petunia is my mum's sister, so I guess Dumbledore thought that was the best place for me to go. I don't remember what I told you exactly, but they don't exactly… like me very much. Whenever I would do… freakish things they would lock me in my cupboard. That was actually my bedroom until my Hogwarts letter arrived. I didn't even know magic existed until then. Hagrid had to deliver it to me in person because my uncle brought us to an island in the middle of nowhere. As for the withholding food part, they already do that, sort of. It's not so bad, just no food if I do something freaky. But believe me, they can barely stand me as a wizard. If I was a werewolf they'd probably just throw me outside to live like the 'dog I am' or something equally ridiculous, so really everything worked out for the best." he flashes a smile. "I just wish Sirius was free so I didn't have to go back this summer."

"They sound terrible, Harry. No one should have to live like that. My father may not be father of the year, but even he wouldn't stick me in a cupboard. Surely not all muggles are like that?" Harry shakes his head. "Good. Perhaps you could threaten them with your escaped murderer godfather so they treat you better."

"That's actually a decent idea. I'll have to find a way for Sirius to send them a letter though." Maybe Hedwig will be able to find him before schools done? "I have a question for you now."

"Okay, what about?"

"How do I get one of those fancy rings? I know earlier you said it was an Heir ring, and you looked pretty put out that I didn't have one, so," he spreads his hands and wiggles his fingers. "I was hoping you could explain that to me, since I am answering so many of your questions."

"You really should have been in Slytherin Harry." he says shaking his head. "However, I will gladly tell you about Heir rings. Now, your magical guardian should have explained this to you, since you are and Heir to an Ancient House, bu—"

"What's an Ancient House? And I don't have a magical guardian, I don't even know what that is." Theo stares at him for a minute, sort of like he did last night when he told him that he already knew Lupin was a werewolf.

"I see. A magical guardian is and adult witch or wizard who is your guide in the magical world. For people who grew up here it is usually their parents. For muggleborns, or in your case muggle raised, someone is appointed their magical guardian for them. A magical guardian is supposed to keep you informed and knowledgeable on topics pertaining to the magical world, such as Heir rings, as well as making decisions regarding your health and living situation. I, along with most of the wizarding world, had always assumed Dumbledore was your magical guardian considering he always made sure everyone knew you were safe, happy, and healthy with your relatives, but now I can see that I might have been mistaken."

Harry stares ahead, jaw dropped in disbelief. Dumbledore is supposedly my magical guardian? And told everyone I was safe? I didn't even know he existed until I was eleven!

"So let me get this straight. I was supposed to have a magical guardian to keep me informed on the magical world my whole life, who was meant to make sure I was safe, happy, and healthy, and who could decide where I live. I hadn't even known about magic until my Hogwarts letter arrived, and I sure as hell wasn't safe, happy, or healthy. And to make everything worse, everyone has thought Dumbledore was mine my whole life?" Theo nods, Harry leans his head back. "Jesus Christ."

"There is a way to find out who your magical guardian actually is."

"There is? How?"

"Well, it's the same way to get your ring; Gringotts."

"Gringotts?"

"Yes. In order to get your Heir ring you have to prove your identity at Gringotts before you can access it, as well as the rest of your vault. You can ask for a more in depth inheritance test, as opposed to just an identity test, and it should show you all you magical relatives, as well as your magical guardian. It shows a bit more than that as well, but that is the most important part for you." Harry sighs dramatically, draping his arm over his head.

"Sucks to be me I guess."

"Why?"

"I have no way of getting to Gringotts." At Theo's baffled expression he adds. "Dursleys, remember. They won't bring me to Diagon Alley, and I have no other way to get there since Sirius is a fugitive."

"I may be able to help. My father is not going to be at the Manor this summer, so perhaps I could convince my house elf to bring you to Diagon Alley one day. If you were not opposed, I could go to Gringotts with you to help you navigate."

Harry sits up, not expecting such a generous offer from someone he became friends with today. Should he refuse, say it's too much? Who is he kidding? Obviously he's not going to refuse.

"That would be really helpful, thanks Theo. Would it be okay for me to owl you? Since your dad won't be home?"

"Yes, owling is fine. I have a long-eared owl named Frode who can be rather temperamental when delivering to new people, so make sure you have plenty of treats for him for the first few letters."

"I always keep extras for Hedwig — she's picky — so that shouldn't be an issue." He can tell Theo want's to say something, but is hesitating. "You can ask your question you know. The worst thing is that I'll say no."

"If it is not too much trouble, while we are at school could we send letters with each other's owls? Hedwig is very distinguishable, and if she delivers a letter to me it will raise a lot of questions with the other Slytherins. It wouldn't be safe for me if any of them reported back to my father that I have a correspondence going with Harry Potter."

"Yeah, I'm okay with that. I don't want you to be in trouble with your dad because of me. Is it okay if I let my friends know that we're friends now?"

"Yes, as long as you trust they can keep a secret. And thank you."

"No problem. So… what do Heir rings actually do?"

"Each ring is different. The Nott ring can provide minor healing based on request. I've heard rumors that the Potter ring is a fire shield, but I'm not sure how true that is. Each family's magic is different in what it's main goal once was. The Notts were vikings, so they needed quick healing on a battlefield, hence healing magic in the ring. The rings also provide basic protection to the heirs, such as alerting you to poisons in food, resisting compulsions, and providing a basic mental shield. Each ring has a different protection, however some will have two."

"Wow, I wish I'd had one this whole time. Having a mental shield sounds useful, I swear Snape can read my mind sometimes."

"Well, there are rumors hes a legilimens, so essentially he could be a mind reader."

"What's a legilimens?"

"A legilimens is a witch or wizard skilled in the mind arts, particularly entering someone's mind and picking out memories to see. There is a form of mind magic called occlumency, which is a defense against legilimency to protect your mind. I do not not too much about legilimency, but I hope to be proficient in occlumeny by the end of fourth year."

"I think I'll have to learn that as well, I don't want anyone reading my mind. It's kind of creepy. Do you know anyone who could teach me?"

"I could start teaching you next year if you don't mind me entering your mind."

"Really? That'd be brilliant! Right, Dobby! Could you please bring us the dessert?"

"Of course Mister Harry Potter! Dobby will bring it now!"

"Well, at least he didn't say sir this time." He mutters as dobby snaps his fingers and the dessert appears on the table. "Thanks Dobby, it looks delicious."

"Of course! Anything for Harry Potter and his friends." He turns to Theo with a shy smile. "Tilly wanted to make Mister Theodore Nott his favorite sweet, so she made pumpkin tart."

"Tell her thank you please, Dobby. And you can just call me Theo as well, I prefer it over Theodore."

"Dobby will be doing that Mister Theo!" With a pop he's gone.

They eat in silence yet again, only the sound of Madam Pomfrey restocking her potions to break it. Harry idly wonders what he did to deserve all of this, his life spinning out of control so quickly he couldn't have stopped it if he wanted to. He thought finding out that Scabbers is the reason his parents are dead and his apparently innocent godfather would be the biggest change, but no. That would be too simple for a Harry Potter End of Year Catastrophe. It would be just his luck that he's been left in the dark about all things wizard his whole life too.

Did Dumbledore keep everything from him on purpose? Did he want Harry to be ignorant to wizarding culture? And if he did… why? Why wouldn't he just tell Harry he was meant to have a magical guardian? Why did he even place him with the Dursleys to begin with? Surely he has at least one distant Potter relative out there somewhere. He refuses to believe Aunt Petunia is all he has left.

"So… this inheritance test will tell me if I have any relatives alive?"

"Yes. The in depth one I recommend you take provides relatives, different bonds such as godparents, your heirship, a scan of your magical core, and much more. The only difference in taking the tests is in the amount of blood needed; the simple test requires three drops, while the in depth one requires five. If you don't understand anything on the test your account manager should be able to explain anything."

"I have so many questions about, like, half of what you just said, Theo. What on earth is a godparent bond?"

"Oh, well it's sort of self-explanatory. When someone becomes a godparent it can be seen as official in two ways; written or magical. The written way is just that, writing to make it official, no magically binding contracts. The magical way has become less popular, but some families still use it. The godparent will make a vow with the child's parents that will magically bind them to the terms, and if they break them they will lose their magic. If your parents had Sirius make the official vow and it shows up on your test, that could help prove his innocence, giving you a way to leave the Dursleys." Harry feels the edges of something like hope bloom in his chest.

"Are you serious? How quickly can we get to Gringotts? Do I need to make an appointment or can we just pop on by? The sooner Sirius becomes a free man, the sooner I will be a free man."

"Once I get back to the manor I will ask Opal, my house elf, if she is willing to bring us and I will owl you the time. The goblins will most likely see this as an emergency. I am assuming they have been trying to contact you since your eleventh birthday, the day you should have gotten your Heir ring, so an appointment is unnecessary. Especially if you want to keep it hidden what you are doing."

"Thanks Theo, this really means a lot to me." Theo gives him a small smile before they settle into an awkward sort of silence. Again. "You know, earlier you seemed to think my patronus did something really rare and epic, you got really excited about it. Will you tell me about it now?" Theo blinks at the sudden topic change.

"A patronus is the embodiment of your soul, it reflects your very being. They rarely directly interact with someone other than the castor with their own free will. There are few circumstances which allow the patronus to interact with someone else; trusting each other unconditionally, heart bonds, and soulbonds. Soulbonds are exceptionally rare, I do not know when the last recorded one was, however there are rumors of it being a bond with Slytherin." Holy shit!

"So we either trust each other even though we really only met yesterday, have a heart bond — whatever that is, or have an extremely rare not-seen-since-Slytherin soulbond?"

"Yes and no. It cannot be a heart bond. We have not had a bonding ceremony." At Harry's questioning look he clarifies. "A wedding. If I were to make a bet, I would say we have a soulbond." Harry's jaw drops. "If we do, it will most likely show up on your inheritance test."

"So we're soulmates?" Harry blurts, wide-eyed stare at Theo. "I didn't know soulmates were real!"

"Not necessarily a soulmate, but a soulbond. Having a soulmate implies it will always end in a romantic way. A soulbond means our magics and souls are perfectly compatible and become intertwined over time. The souls in a soulbond are destined to find each other in every lifetime, or so the legends say." Theo gets sparkle in his eye as he continues to explain. "Some of the books I've read say that some soulbonds allow for joint magic casting, matching patronus and animagus forms, or even a mental link!" He starts speaking faster and taps his fingers on the table. "Imagine how spectacular it would be if we could speak to each other whenever and wherever we want, no matter how far apart we are!"

Harry looks at Theo, really looks, and sees how much this soulbond means to him.He can see how important rare bits of magic are to him, talking about them have been the only time Harry has seen him even sort of happy, and he can't bring himself to think badly of being bonded to him. He isn't that bad, really. Not like he thought all Slytherins were.

And honestly? Having a soulbond sounds really fucking cool! If they somehow end up with a mental link he'll never be bored again. It's really just having a built in best friend. He smiles at Theo, and relishes in the pure joy he feels, the same, yet slightly different, from when he touched Prongs.

"Well, I think having a soulbond sounds pretty brilliant. It's like having a permanent built in best friend, yeah?" He thinks of Fred and George, and how they always seem to speak in each other's mind. Maybe twins have a mental link of some sort? I'll have to ask them. "Kind of like twins, or something."

"Yes, exactly! We'd be able to examine all sorts of theories on soulbonds and see which ones are fact and which ones are purely myth. This is the sort of thing I read about, wishing would happen to me."

"Welcome to being officially friends with Harry Potter. Nothing normal ever happens to me."

Dobby brought a second round of dessert, saying it was in celebration of them having a soulbond, even if they don't know for sure yet. They eat in silence. Again. However, this time the silence is welcome, filled with anticipation instead of awkwardness. Before Theo leaves, he stops and looks back to Harry.

"If this is a true souldbond, somewhere someone in the stars saw it fit for the two of us to be entwined together forever, Harry."

Walking to the Great Hall was shockingly easy, all things considered. It seems even bites to the thigh are no match for Madam Pomfrey. Harry doesn't sense anything strange at first, not really. In fact, he probably wouldn't have noticed anything at all if not for the portraits whispering.

"There he is!"

"Who?"

"The one that Nott boy dragged through yesterday — Harry Potter."

"Nasty business that. Who goes to the forest on a full moon! Only fools I'll tell you. 's lucky it was only from the mutt and not the wolf!"

Just what I bloody need, Harry thought angrily, portraits gossiping about me where anyone can hear. The gossiping didn't cease once during his walk, in fact the closer he got to the great hall, the louder it got. He paused before entering, already knowing he had to brace himself for all the stares from the gossip hounds… again.

Figuring he should just get it over with he opens the doors. As soon as they creak open the chatter stops, and every gaze turns his way. He freezes for a moment, still not used to their staring, until a bushy head of hair enters his vision.

"Oh Harry! I wasn't sure if you'd be down here for dinner." He looks at Hermione and sees her scan him — like she always does after a hospital stay — with a pinched expression. Her frown eases once she sees the expression on his face, no doubt one of extreme annoyance. "Don't worry about everyone else, they're just gossiping. You know how rumors work here. Apparently some people saw Nott bringing you to the Hospital wing last night, and by the time he got back to his common room it was two hours after curfew. He was covered in blood and mud, and he wouldn't say anything other than the fact that it was 'quite the injury', so naturally everyone has come to some crazy conclusion about what actually happened!" She huffed and stomped toward the table. Harry can see little sparks at the tips of her hair. Weird. "And the portraits aren't helping one bit!"

The sparks were still in her hair when they got to the table, ranting about how 'people should mind their own business' to Ron, who's perfected the art of nodding along while stuffing his face with… something. Harry can't quite tell what he's eating this time. It's sort of squashed. The stares left him once he sat — like always — and conversation picked up once again. He tuned out Hermione to see if he could hear what the rumor mill concocted this time. Surely nothing could be worse than when he was the evil slimy Heir of Slytherin out for blood. The first conversation he picks up is from the Hufflepuff table. Naturally.

"He looks fine to me, Ernie."

"But you don't know that, do you Justin? I heard what the portraits said. Last night was a full moon, Nott brought him in from the forest covered in mud and blood, and then he has to stay in the infirmary for an entire day? I think you know what happened and just don't want to believe it."

Of course Ernie Macmillan would think he was a werewolf now. He was the loudest advocate for him being the Heir of Slytherin, after all.

He starts piling some beef roast and potatoes on his plate. Just like lunch, he wishes the meat were slightly rarer. Not bloody, but definitely not well done.

"Look at his plate, have you ever seen him eat that much meat before? Maybe he really did get… you know… turned into a werewolf!"

"Don't be silly Marietta. You can't listen to the wrackspurts all of the time. They like to tell you lies, after all."

"Nobody asked you for your opinion, Lovegood."

Harry tries to listen closer, but he can't pick out their conversation. I need to find whoever Lovegood is, she seems sensible enough not to believe in rumors. Hermione sends him a disgruntled look when she realizes he hasn't been paying any attention to her. Just as he's about to answer whatever question she asked him, another conversation catches his interest.

"Theo, just tell me what happened!"

"No."

"Theo! What the hell. I know you know, so just tell me! You can't walk into the common room covered in blood and then disappear, probably to Potter all day, and not say anything. I can hear the portraits you know, saying Potter was bitten. Surely even you wouldn't be foolish enough to keep that a secret."

"Malfoy, if you don't stop talking I'll ensure you know the exact reason Flint always flees the room when he sees me enter."

"Threats. You've defaulted to threats to defend Potter, of all people! You cannot be serious Theo."

"No, I'm not Sirius."

Harry snorts, not expecting Theo to make a joke like that at all. Hermione looks at him a little funny, so he quirks an eyebrow at her.

"Harry, I think," she leans closer to him and lowers her voice to a whisper, "I think you got multiple side effects regarding food; having a larger appetite and wanting rarer meat. You've eaten three helpings already, about to start your fourth, without even realizing. And you keep glaring at your plate, which I can only assume is you wishing the meat were rarer."

"Really?" she nods. "Well, you have to look at the positives 'Mione. Maybe eating all this meat will finally give me a growth spurt. And wanting it rarer isn't so bad." he shrugs, adding another serving to his plate.

She coughs to stifle a laugh. "Maybe. Have you had any other side effects present themselves yet?" He shakes his head.

"No, not yet. I'm kind of hoping to get the nightvision though, it sounds kinda helpful."

"I suppose nightvision could be useful. Especially if you keep sneaking out under your cloak at night." He startles; he hadn't told anyone about that.

"How on earth do you know about that. Ron doesn't even know!"

"Wha?" Ron looks up from his food at the mention of his name. "What don't I know?"

"Nothing." Harry says the same time Hermione says,

"That Harry sneaks out with his invisibility cloak almost every night to go for a walk."

"Hermione!"

"Oh, yeah I know he does that. I just don't see any point in stopping him, if he wants to walk I say let him walk. Doesn't effect anyone, does it."

"Well, lets hope he gets this night vision ability so he can continue to avoid detention." Such a Hermione thing to care more about detention than anything else.

"Potter!" Harry groans and has to really refrain from hitting his head on the table. Malfoy. He wouldn't miss an opportunity to humiliate Harry from across the hall. "Is what the portraits are saying true? You were dumb enough to take a stroll in the forest on a full moon? Alone?"

"Why, Malfoy? Wish you were there too?"

"Wha-? No! You didn't answer the question!" He splutters and flails his arms, to Harry's great amusement.

"What question." He tilts his head, purposely dodging the question to get a rise out of him.

"Don't be obtuse Potter, you know what question."

"Do I? Because I heard three, and I'm not sure which one you'd like answered."

"Oh for Merlin's sake Potter! Are you a bloody werewolf or not!"

The room full of students pretending not to listen in to the latest installment of the Potter and Malfoy sage goes silent, all eyes locked onto him and Malfoy.

"No, Malfoy. I'm not a bloody werewolf. Do you really think I'd be here, getting healed by Madam Pomfrey and a student if I was bitten by a werewolf?" He quirks his eyebrow, silently asking if he really is that stupid.

"Well, Theo was covered in mud and blood when he got back, two hours after curfew! How do you explain why he was gone so long if you didn't get bitten?"

"Very simply. I had a concussion and was covered in cuts. I could barely walk on my own, that's why he was covered in blood. Madam Pomfrey was teaching him how to heal, that's why it took two hours. Not everything from the famous Hogwarts Rumor Mill is true, Malfoy."

"Well, what were you even doing out there anyway, it was after—"

"That," he points to Malfoy, "is none of your business." He turns back to his food, ignoring Malfoy's jibes, leaving him to complain to his fellow Slytherins.

"That was brilliant mate! I haven't seen him that worked up since Buckbeak."

"You really shouldn't entertain him Harry, but I will admit it was very entertaining to watch."

"Thanks guys. Why does he even care if Theo was covered in blood? I don't even think they're friends, Theo doesn't even call him Draco."

"Since when d'you call him Theo?" Ron looks up at him with a disbelieving look.

"Um, since we had lunch, I guess. It just felt weird to call him Nott when he's the reason I'm alive basically."

"Does that mean you're friends now?"

He thinks of the potential soulbond, and how Theo said he could tell his friends if he thought they could be trusted. He does trust them! Honest! But he doesn't think Ron will take it too well, and he doesn't really want to have that conversation in front of the entire school. He'll just tell them later, when they can find a minute alone.

"I dunno. It's not like we really know each other well enough to be friends."

"Well I think it'd be lovely if you're willing to befriend a Slytherin Harry, even if it is Nott." As she says his name she stabs a carrot harder than strictly necessary.

"What's your problem with him anyway? He's really not that bad."

"It's not important. Let's just finish eating so we can get back to the common room before a crowd forms to bombard you with questions."

Ron and Harry share a look as they all finish eating; they know better than to upset Hermione when she purposely avoids a topic of conversation.

Everyone stares as they leave the Great Hall, but no one asks any questions. Harry looks to the Slytherin table and catches Theo's eye. He sends him a small smile, which he thinks he can see returned as he turns out of the Great Hall.