𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃 ━━ THEODORE NOTT.

I

I sat on my bed, staring at the wall, thinking about my brother, Harry.

Over the summer break, he claimed that Voldemort was back and killed Hufflepuff's sweetheart Cedric Diggory. I believed him, of course. I know Harry wouldn't lie about something like that. 

I felt terrible for him, not only did he have to duel Voldemort, but everyone was calling him a liar and publicly humiliating him. He's asked me to back him up multiple times, but I couldn't do it. I just hoped the truth would unveil soon and lessen at Hogwarts.

"Are you alright, Lexi?" Hermione asked, sitting down on the bed, the weight of us making the bed sink to the floor even more. Hermione and I were best friends. We'd always been there for each other when Harry wasn't. It was us girls against Harry and Ron.

When Ron and Harry made fun of her during our first year, I made friends with her. I apologised for my brother's behaviour, explaining it was Ron rubbing off on him. After that, we started studying and spending time with each other when we could. Something that still happens.

I smiled, turning to face her. "Yeah, I'm just thinking about You-Know-Who." His being back was so scary, considering he killed my parents. "It'll be alright, Lexi; I know Dumbledore will ensure it."

"Dumbledore can't control everything, unfortunately." It was sad, but it was the truth. He may be powerful, but he was old, and everyone knew that. Hermione just gave me a sad smile, knowing I was right.

⧱⧰⧱

"Nott" I ignored them. "Nott" I ignored them again. "Nott!" Draco exclaimed for a final time. I became annoyed at him for breaking my attention on her. 

"What?"

"What were you looking at? We've been calling your name for like a minute," Zabini laughed, looking around to see what or who I was looking at.

"No one- I mean nothing, sorry," I quickly corrected, catching my slip. Draco raised his eyebrow suspiciously, following where my eyesight was previously.

Blaze smirked, looked at Draco, who was also smirking, and then both looked towards me. I could feel myself going bright red. 

I heard Draco scoff once he had realised where I was looking.

"C'mon mate, Alexis Potter? She's hot sure, but she's Potter's sister. Are your standards that low?"

I bit the inside of my cheeks, stopping myself from running my mouth and loudly cussing him out. 

How dare he disrespect her. 

"I have very good standards, thank you very much." I defended. 

"Doesn't seem like it, mate. Not only is she a Potter, but she's just like Granger, a know-it-all."

How dare they both.

"She's nothing like Granger. She's much prettier and knows how to hold her tongue." I defended her again. I would defend her. Against the world, if I must, and it doesn't matter who I piss off.

"And not only that, but she is also much kinder than Granger and doesn't only pride herself on knowledge. She prides herself on other things too." I defended her again. I could see Malfoy and Zabini looking at each other, clearly shocked at how defensive I got.

It's understandable I guess, I'd had never spoken to them that way before, let alone ever having defended someone like that before. 

I returned my attention back to her, admiring her once again. I smiled at how beautiful she was, giggling away with her friends, despite slouching. 

She would make the perfect wife. What? Why would I think that? Get it together, Theo; she doesn't return the affection.

I frowned when she started to get up and leave, standing on her tippy toes to reach up to the overhead compartment area, and grabbing her backpack. I smiled to myself at her clear height disadvantage to reach up high. 

I should've gone over there and gotten it down for her; I scolded myself.

I was upset she was leaving, I wouldn't have the distraction of my two best mates yapping away about muggle-borns and such. I never exactly held the same prejudices that I was raised to have.

"Lads, I've got this Prefect's meeting to go to. Granger and Weasley will be there, so I assume your little crush is going to keep her pathetic brother company, Theo." Draco said, standing up. 

I smiled at what he said. So that's where Lexi was going.

"Yeah, don't jizz your pants, mate. You can't go and join their conversation now can you." 

I frowned once again, Draco ruining my mood again.

"Yeah, but I'm allowed to go walk past and have a quick look." I smiled to myself. I heard my two mates scoff at what I said.