Treacherous - Theodore Nott

Chapter One

"Hey Violet, wait up!"

I turn, smiling at my friend's voice. "Astoria! I forgot we have class together. Winter break totally messed with my brain," I laugh.

"Oh it's all good," she responds, a little out of breath, "Anyways I-... ohmygosh. Wait. Did I tell you Lavender Brown and Ron Weasley are dating."

"You're lying," I laugh.

"Nope. Dead serious," my friend answers back.

"Merlin's beard, it's crazy how we see it and they don't. You can tell from a mile away that he and Granger are dying to shag. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if Lavender slipped him a love potion and that's why they're together. There's no way he got with her on his own accord."

"That's what I'm saying!" Astoria answers, giggling.

"Gosh, I can't believe our lives have gotten so boring to the point we've fallen on gossiping about Weasley's love life. We used to be interesting," I sigh as I set my books down.

"I know right," she sighs back, setting her things down next to mine. "I just want something interesting to happen."

We are interrupted by Trelawney's dramatic entrance.

"Hello, my dears. Welcome to class."
Astoria and I give each other a knowing glance.
"Morning Professor," a few of us answer back.

"Today we will be looking into your futures, gazing upon the unknown..."

I quite honestly tune her out after the first few sentences. I'm pretty sure we're repeating the same lessons we did in third year, which as of right now is telling our future in teacups.

For the auror job Astoria and I are after, two years of Divination are unfortunately required. I don't know if our professor was prepared for us this year though, especially after last year with the Umbridge situation.

Astoria nudges me. "Where's Malfoy? He's required to take this class, right?"
I stifle a laugh in response. "It's Malfoy, did you honestly expect him to show up to the first Divination class of the semester? That is, if his mother didn't pull a few strings to get him out of the class completely. You know how he feels about Div-..."

"Something you'd like to share with the class, Violet?" Professor Trelawney interrupts.

"Oh, no... Sorry about that."

"Well in that case, let us have a look into your cup. What do you think it says?"

"Oh well," I flip through my textbook, flustered, "It could mean... wealth is coming my way?"

"Let's check," she answers, smiling.

She squints into the cup turning it ever so slightly. She slowly brings her eyes up to mine and blinks.
Once.
Twice.
Her hands fall to her side, the teacup crasing to the ground.
Her blank stare shifts to horror.
Shaking her head, she blinks away the daze she seemed to be stuck in.

"Class dismissed." She waves her arms and turns dramatically, muttering to herself.

Everyone pauses. I feel the eyes on my back. Until suddenly, everyone is moving, happy to be dismissed early. Slowly, I turn to Astoria.

"What on earth?"

"I'm sure it's nothing. I feel like she does this every year," Astoria responds. "You know how she is."

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Astoria, Blaise, Draco, and I make our way to the common room. Pansy following close behind.

"It's cold in here, is anyone else cold," Pansy starts, looking at Draco and shivering dramatically.

Astoria gives me a mischievous grin, "oh Pansy, here, take my extra cardigan."

This earns her a prolonged look of distaste. "Oh, never mind. I think it was just a draft. I'm not cold anymore," Pansy smiles back.

I look to Draco to see him stifling a laugh.

I start to make a comment about drafts when someone taps my shoulder. I turn and roll my eyes at the sight. The Slytherin head boy.

"Yes?"

"Professor Dumbledore has requested you visit him in his office."

A bit stunned, I stand there blankly for a moment.
"Did he say why?"

He shakes his head and leaves.

"Ooooooh," I hear behind me.

I turn on my heel. "What are you, a first year?" I retort.

"Someone's in trouble," Blaise drags out, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

"Real funny you guys," I responded sarcastically, "I'll see you later."

I leave Draco and Blaise in their fit of laughter, sending a worried look to Astoria.

On my way over, I contemplate what it could be. Maybe news on my family? Dumbledore's always been close with them. But they would've written to me first, not him. But maybe they didn't write, maybe something happened and he heard about it? They're known supporters of the Order of the Phoenix and Death Eaters have been running rampant lately. I hope nothing's happened to them. I don't exactly see eye to eye with the rest of my family, but they've always been supportive and loving no matter what.

It's late so it must be important. I shouldn't even be in the halls right now.

Merlin, if Filch catches me it's over.

I turn the corner. Almost there.

I do love the castle at night. The dimly lit stone halls and the firelight from the torches dancing on the walls. I usually feel at peace in the castle, but right now, the silence is eerie. I arrive at the entrance and groan.

The password.

Of course he didn't think to give me the bloody password.

I stand there, wondering what to do next.
All of a sudden, three boys and a girl hop down the stairs of the office. The one in front nearly running into me in his haste.

"Oh, my bad," he starts.
Our eyes meet. His turn to slits.
"Alpheratz." He says suspiciously.

"No fucking way," I retort, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I just so happen to go here now," he answers, smiling sweetly.

"For the love of everything," I roll my eyes, "This place is going to the dumps. I can't even- You know what? Nevermind. What's the password to the office?"

"If I knew it, I certainly wouldn't tell it to you," he nods and walks off- entourage close behind. The girl cackling behind him.

One of the boys looks back and smiles apologetically.
"It's Lemoncello," he whispers, sneaking a wink.
With a nod of thanks, I go to see whatever the hell it is that Dumbledore wants. While I'm there I may as well ask him about these new students. There's no way he willingly allowed them to enroll. The two I recognized were children of well known death eaters.

One of them being Theodore fucking Nott.