Hogwarts: A Home

Chapter 5 | Nott & the Swot

May 23, 1998

"Auror Shacklebolt," Theo greeted respectfully as he entered the former Arithmancy classroom, now serving as the office for the council member who had summoned him.

"Ahhh, Mr. Nott. Yes, do come in. Sit, please. Tea?" Kingsley Shacklebolt offered.

"I'm quite alright," Theo declined, settling into the lone chair across from him. He anticipated that this meeting was about his assigned role. Being paired with Hermione Granger had come as a surprise. It had thrilled him immensely to have witnessed her fury, her outburst. Not that he enjoyed that she had such a visceral reaction to their impending partnership, but rather because her subsequent embarrassment had finally given him the feeling of an edge up on her.

"Mr. Nott, as you may have seen from the assignment posting, I have chosen you for a special research project. Miss Granger will be leading the project, and your role is to assist her in any capacity she requires."

Ahhhh, okay, so not exactly equals.

There goes that edge up.

Theo did not comment as the unsettling feeling of unspoken words lingered between them. As expected, Auror Shacklebolt proceeded with the conversation. "This research will be highly classified. Any information that Hermione Granger shares with you must remain strictly between the two of you and the council. Do I make myself clear?" Theo nodded his acknowledgment. "Now, I could have you submit to a secrecy charm that would alert the council to any indiscretion, however, I want this to be a fresh start for you, an opportunity to prove yourself an ally to The Order. So I think we might continue on good faith. Yes?"

"I appreciate the opportunity," Theo replied politely despite wanting to rage at the blatant judgement. Theo could no more decide who is father was than he could tell a hippogriff to piss off and live to tell the tale. Theo was willing to do just about anything to distance himself from the odious figure that was his father. It was an injustice that they shared a name.

"Right then." Auror Shacklebolt nodded, seemingly perceptive to the undercurrent of Theo's distaste for the tone of this conversation. "You will report directly to Hermione. She will keep me and the council apprised of your partnership and the status of your research. Should any problems arise, however, please feel free to see me. You can find her in the library, where both of you will be working from Madam Pince's former office."

Theo acknowledged the dismissal, rising from his seat and extending his hand. He schooled his expression into a polite pure-blood smile, accompanied by a slight nod—a muscle memory that he'd had, quite literally, beaten into him as a child.

"Mr. Nott..." Theo paused at the door, his hand still on the handle. He turned to face Auror Shacklebolt, his expression guarded. "You are a very talented wizard; clearly intelligent, an excellent duelist and potioneer, and evidently capable of complex charmwork. We were very impressed with your skills during the evaluations last week."

"Thank you, Auror Shacklebolt."

"You can be many things, young man. I hope very much that you prove you are not your father's son."

Theo stiffened, his jaw tightening as all those pure-blood mannerisms flew out the window at the outright mention of his father. "That man is no father," he replied sharply, bitterly.

Auror Shacklebolt nodded gently before turning his attention back to the scrolls littering his desk, signaling the end of their conversation.

Theo moved briskly through the corridors, needing to blow off some steam before heading to the library. He set off towards Gryffindor tower. He wasn't exactly sure what his plan was but this anger was building up inside him and he needed a healthy release to keep from imploding. Any mention of his father made his blood boil. The suggestion that he might turn out to be the same? Absolute fury.