Chapter Text
"Theodore, stop it!" Aurelia Malfoy yelled furiously, Harry taken aback at the commanding force that, for once, was not glaring back at him. It was strange to see her lash out at her own house, Crabbe and Goyle being the exceptions because they were her henchmen and failed most of the time. This...was different, and it made Harry straighten his back for some reason. As if he himself had to yell out "yes, Madame Malfoy" like the two buffoons on a regular Tuesday.
Theodore Nott smirked back at Aurelia however, the kind that spoke venom and arrogance, but not the one Aurelia had that Harry was so used to hearing. It was the same one that he recalled last year when Theodore refused to apologize for shouting Mudblood at Hermione, laughing maniacally in the process.
“What, Malfoy? Don’t tell you have a soft spot for these ridiculous beasts! After all, this big oaf of a teacher said this thing isn’t dangerous, so why shouldn't I poke around and have a little fun!” his laugh echoed through the forest, a hyena who found the perfect joke. The others at Slytherin cackled with Theodore, except Crabbe and Goyle, who crossed their arms and stared down the rather tall, lanky boy for even trying to offend the girl with the fine silver-blonde hair. Pansy and Daphne also weren’t laughing and even looked to Hermione and Ron, who shrugged, unsure what to do.
“Regardless of what you think of this big oaf, he is our instructor, and as Slytherins, we ought to be respectful of those who teach us.”
Harry’s ears perked at the indirect defense of Hagrid, and after a glance at his tall, bearded friend, he seemed to swallow a tear of joy at being respected by Aurelia of all people. It was like watching change unfold in real time. The kind that, for once, he felt happy was occurring.
Theodore shook his head, ignoring the words of his classmate, sticking his tongue out, followed by more laughter. “Seriously, Malfoy? You of all people dictating what we Slytherin should be? Ha! A jester we have here, everyone!” He clapped his hands madly. “You're even beginning to sound like that Mudblood over there.”
Ron and Neville had to hold down Hermione as she heard the comment, fist clenched. Nott enjoyed himself at that moment, Harry saw, yet he noticed how Aurelia wasn't backing down.
As Nott arrogantly approached Buckbeak, the poor creature sensed its danger and felt threatened by the young man. Its wings extended and began to flap rapidly, trying to shoo away its intruder, but Theodore didn’t care. He continued to approach it, mocking it as he went along. Hermione and Ron were shouting at it to stop, and Harry even felt his body approach him, a hand clenched tightly into a fist.
It was then that it happened.
Buckbeak couldn’t handle Theodore and proceeded to lift itself with its hind legs. His expression quickly changed; he muttered “oh shit” and quickly moved to the side to avoid being hit. However, the creature didn’t detect the movement of the one it wanted to attack and slashed at Aurelia instead. She fell to the floor, whimpering loudly as her robe had been torn, wincing profusely at the pain. The crowd behind them quickly dispersed, both Slytherin and Gryffindor in shock at what had transpired.
Hermione and Ron went to Hagrid to calm down the creature, while Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles to get ready to fight Theodore, who simply lay there and laughed manically as he did.
“Ha! Poor Malfoy! Still have a soft spot for that poor creature? Now that you’re all on the ground with such a pathetic look on your face?”
Harry, who ran to Aurelia to check if she was alright, overheard the sentence uttered by Theodore. He didn’t know what had come over him, but he stood up immediately. Everyone was fixated on Harry now, moving past Crabbe and Goyle, who were ready to defend their boss, confused at his silence. He kept marching towards Theodore now, who then took a look at Harry, smirking.
“Oh? Harry Potter? What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re so worried about Ma-”
Harry didn’t let him finish the sentence. Hell, he didn’t want him to say another word at all. There was always something about Theodore Nott that made Harry seethe with rage. He clenched his fist so tight that when it connected to Theodore’s jawline, he felt a small crack or two in his own fingers. It didn’t matter to him, because once the punch connected, he sent the poor Slytherin boy flying near the tree that stood next to Hagrid. Everyone was completely shocked at the sight, and whispers began to murmur through the scene, but Harry didn’t care. A burning feeling that teetered between love and rage fueled him, clouding his vision as he felt himself breathing heavily with anger, his green eyes looking down at Theodore.
“Don’t think you’ll get away with this next time, Nott. Malfoy’s father won’t be the only thing you’ll hear from.” Harry’s voice felt as though there was a slithering feel, a snake-like hiss that somehow, in this moment, was like Voldemort had possessed him. Whether it happened or not, it didn’t matter because afterwards came McGonagall and Snape to assess the situation, wondering what had transpired; their words blurred in his ears except for his name, uttered by Snape in his usual disappointed tone, holding Aurelia gently in his arms to take to the infirmary. Harry sighed and obliged, already aware of what was to occur.
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Harry for most of the time he spent walking with Snape and McGonagall to the infirmary was nothing more than a back-and-forth interrogation and compliments about Harry’s actions. Rightfully so, as each was the headmaster of the parties involved. Snape, though as stoic and unbothered as his face always was, cared for Aurelia and McGonagall wasn’t going to let Harry off the hook entirely, but was somewhat proud for stepping up in the defence of the poor injured girl.
Despite their best efforts, Harry still ended up getting detention followed by thirty points off of Gryffindor for hitting a student, but he really didn’t mind the punishment. All that lingered in his brain was making sure Aurelia was okay, and he even admitted to himself feeling a strange tingle in his heart just feeling sorry for her current well-being. It's one thing to stand up for the people he cared about.
With Ron and Hermione, and anyone in Gryffindor, for that matter, it was obvious, even more so with how much they had gone through during the first two years alone. Even Crabbe and Goyle, he’d taken a soft spot, and if anyone were to have magically mess with Cedar Diggory, it would also be the same as well. Yet with Aurelia, it felt different. A sensation no matter what sort of spell in his bandwheel he used to decipher it, nothing can short of a potential answer.
“Potter.”
A female voice called out to him, and he then remembered where he was, looking to his left. He was at the infirmary, Madame Pomfrey towards the back mixing up the latest medical brew while Harry was sitting with Aurelia, whose silver eyes stared at him with both her usual pompous attitude and slight concern, which caught Harry off guard.
He still wasn’t used to seeing this side of Aurelia, even after all they had been through the previous year. From her figuring him and Ron out with the Polyjuice potion, to wagging it over their heads to do her bidding, or else she would tell Snape.
Her quick wit about the basilisk’s fang and stabbing Tom Riddle’s journal while running away from the menacing creature, her worst fear coming to life. The sneer at the end of that year, followed by a defeated look when both of their houses tied due to their efforts. It was unfamiliar territory, but he can't complain so long as Aurelia wasn't as bad as she was before.
“Potter.” Her voice was more distinct, the commanding tone that often insinuated that she wanted something. Harry straightened himself up.
“Yeah?” He quickly asked.
“Professors Snape and McGonagall clued me in on what happened during the forest, but I wanted to know. Did you punch Theodore because of what he did?”
“If they clued you in, why are you asking, Miss Forehead? Harry snickered back.
“Because I want to hear it from you, Four Eyes.” she glared at him with equal snarkiness. Harry smiled, happy about the exchange, albeit briefly.
“Yes, I did. What of it? Are you going to yell at me for snapping at your own house? Going to tell your father about it too?”
“No.”
Harry raised an eyebrow. “Huh?” Was what was uttered in his mouth. He expected a witty comeback in return, often was the case. A bickering for minutes on end, but stopped his tracks immensely.
“I actually want to…hmmm…thank you.” Her words were soft and low, which made Harry blink. He wasn't sure if he heard the words right, and he leaned in closer to her to get a better idea.
“What did you say again? You wanted to what?”
Aurelia’s silvery eyes peered at him. “You heard what I said.”
“No, no, I don't think so. You should speak up.”
“Potter, I will not repeat myself.”
“I mean, in this case, you might as well.” He chuckled.
“You really want to humor yourself right now, huh? Fine, have it your way. ” Aurelia huffed, instinctively trying to cross her arms, but felt the pain as soon as she realized. Harry snorted for a moment, and she gazed back in annoyance. He calmed himself down.
“I will.” Harry got up now from where he stood, but before he left, he took a lasting glance at Aurelia, arm in cast and her face completely fixated on whatever scheme he was planning on doing now. There was none, of course, as the more he saw the soft Slytherin girl with the complexion she had on her face, the silver eyes piercing through his emerald green, he sighed and smiled at her genuinely.