Chapter Text
Year 4-5
Word spread fast in Slytherin. The Dark Lord had returned. Theodore wanted, however to hear it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. He wasn’t sure, however, if Potter would even give him the time of day. Being the son of a Death Eater, Potter would have no reason to trust him. Regardless, he wanted to try.
Potter had been in the halls near Gryffindor with Granger and Weasley discussing something when Theodore approached. Weasley immediately glared and Granger eyed Theodore suspiciously.
“Potter, a question,” he announced.
“What do you want, Nott,” Potter asked suspiciously.
“Is it really true? Is the Dark Lord back?”
“Yes, he is,” he answered, his eyes narrowed challengingly, “And, your father was there, too, welcoming Voldemort back from the dead.”
Theodore flinched at the name his father never allowed him to say. He spotted Weasley readying to reach for his wand.
“Call off your guard dog, Potter, I’m not here to attack you,” he said, “So, you saw my father, among other Death Eaters…”
“You don’t even deny it?” Weasley called out, hand withdrawing from his wand.
“Ron!” Granger scolded.
“Look, if you’re here to tell me to keep your father’s name out of my mouth, you can forget it, alright?” Potter asserted.
“Why would I want to do that?” Theodore asked with a scoff, and Potter looked confused.
“You don’t seem to care to defend your father,” Granger observed, “Why?”
“There is no defending him. But, thank you. I’ll see you around.”
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He sat before Dumbledore in the Headmaster’s office.
“You requested to speak with me, Mr. Nott?”
“Yes,” Theodore spoke, “I confirmed with Potter that the Dar...that You-Know-Who is back.”
Dumbledore seemed to eye him curiously before answering, “I am aware of this, yes.”
Theodore looked down, recalled the past summer. Who was he to ask for help?
“He will attempt to make me join him?”
A look of understanding and what appeared to be sympathy crossed the Headmaster’s face, “Am I correct to assume this visit is in rebellion to your father’s wishes?”
Theodore nodded.
“You needn’t be ashamed of familial relation, Theodore. You’ve done nothing wrong. Have you?”
No answer. Of course Dumbledore would know Legillimency. Still, the professor maintained his kind smile.
“I won’t press you for answers,” he continued, “If you truly desire to stray from your father’s path, I could help you.”
“Will you?”
“I will discuss this matter with some of my...friends, and come up with a solution,” Dumbledore replied, “Until then, you must return home. At least, for a short time.”
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Return home, the professor instructed. Even for a short period, Theodore was so riddled with anxiety that he remained quiet on ride to King’s Cross, and the port key to the Nott manor. His father greeted him upon his return.
“Theodore,” Theodore Nott Senior, also called Ted, stood and looked at his son with the closest thing to a smile he’d ever worn, “The Dark Lord has returned.”
“Joyous day,” Theodore replied with a bored voice.
Ted sneered and pointed his wand and Theodore braced for what he knew would happen.
“Cut your attitude, boy. This is a serious matter.”
“I understand that, Father,” Theodore growled, “Did you think I was joking when I said I wouldn’t join your death cult?”
“I thought, perhaps, you’d come to your senses. Evidently, I was wrong.”
“Come to my senses? By teaming up on me, five against one? Those are the actions of a coward, Father.”
“Crucio!”
Theodore fell to the ground, biting his tongue to prevent from screaming, as he wouldn’t show pain. He lifted his head and glared at his father.
“Merlin, I hate you!” he growled.
“You are nothing,” Ted spat, “Insignificant…”
“This again? Always the same. Are you afraid of me?”
“Don’t be stupid! How dare you even suggest I could fear my own son! Crucio!”
More pain. Theodore felt blood in his mouth.
“You think pain will control me,” Theodore forced sound from strained vocal chords, “It’s how you treated my mother…”
“Your mother was a blood-traitor. She had what was coming to her.”
“Don’t you DARE say that when you’re the one who killed her!”
Another curse. It almost stopped hurting. Like last time.
“Did you ever love her?” Theodore asked, “Or me?”
“Sentimental garbage,” his father dismissed, “You sound just like her.”
“Good,” his voice cracked, somehow worse than before, “I’m proud to be her son.”
“Be hers, then, because you are no longer mine,” Ted stated, “You are to leave my manor and never come back. Do you understand, Theodore?”
He hated his father, so why did he feel the sting of betrayal at being disowned?
A few moments later…
He stood up after his father left and stumbled out of the manor, (his father’s manor, not his, if it ever was), in sort of a daze. A woman with pink hair apparated in front of him. He stepped back and grabbed his wand.
“Oh, you must be Theodore,” she noted, an upbeat smile.
“W...who’s asking?” his voice shook from the curses.
“Right, getting ahead of myself,” the woman spoke, “I’m Tonks. Dumbledore sent me. Are you alright?”
“Just been disowned by my father,” he said, fake cheerfulness, “Other than that, fine, I guess.”
“Come with me. I’ve got a place for you to stay.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see in a moment, okay?”
Theodore was a bit suspicious, but he had nowhere else to go, so he shrugged and took Tonk’s hand and dissapparated with her.