Shadow of the Prophecy

Ch.6 - It's Nothing Short of True Romance, Or Am I Just Making A Mess?

Theodore Sallow

December of his 6th Year

Theo's father always strikes when he least expects it. He should have known better than to drop his guard.

He is walking the greenhouses with Helena, showing her the venomous tentacula and the proper way to approach the dangerous plant, when his father's screech owl flies through an open roof panel and drops a letter at his feet. For a moment, all he can do is stare, and then Helena is bending down to retrieve it for him.

"Simon Sallow," She reads the sender's information, and her eyes catch his in concern. "Your father?"

Theo can only nod, hand outstretched for the letter. Best get it over with. He flicks open the seal with the tip of his fingernail and pulls its contents from the envelope. At least his father has spared him the humiliation of opening a howler in front of Helena.

Helena comes to his side and rests a hand on the upper arm of his robe supportively. Her eyes remain steadfastly fixed on his face to allow him to read the contents in relative privacy.

"Is it about what happened with your brother?" Her voice is hushed, and he can feel in the way her hand tightens in the fabric of his robe that her concern is giving over to anxiety on his behalf.

After she had healed the more serious of his injuries following Slytherin's match against Gryffindor, Helena had carefully broached the subject of his relationship with Solomon. When he had explained, he had told her only the truth.

It was important to Solomon to follow in their father's footsteps in all aspects; any less was dishonorable. Theo, who had little love for his father or his legacy, often fell short of what Solomon would consider honorable. This fact, coupled with their father's obvious preference for Solomon's personality and obedience, had caused a rift between the two from an early age. Solomon held belief that his being born as anything but Simon's heir was a great injustice, and one that Theo was somehow responsible for. It had the potential for violence between the two of them at times; with Solomon so quick to anger and Theo so unwilling to back down. As his brother's elder and at his sister's behest, Theo had tried to be level-headed about the affair and take the high road. He would do his best to avoid situations that could lead to his brother's anger and sought situations that would diffuse it.The same could not be said of Solomon, however, who would look for every and any excuse or reason to criticize Theo's decisions and visage.

Helena had not seemed happy with the information.This had proved to be so when a few days later the Gryffindor common room entrance had been sabotaged to bar Solomon specifically from entering - or so he had heard from Rowland Oakes.

Theo had chosen not to interfere in that bit of mischief. If any silver lining could be gleaned from Solomon's attempt to harm Helena, it was his marked absence of interaction with Theo after his beating. He had no present desire to make amends and return to old patterns just yet.

"I don't know," Theo answers honestly, finishing the letter. "I suppose I shall see. It is a summons to return home at once."

Helena makes a small sound. "And will you be returning?"

He smiles softly at her. Truly, he does not deserve her friendship. "It is only for a week, barring the time it takes to travel."

Helena visibly relaxes, and then she is tensing again, eyes wide with alarm. "But your birthday is in two days, is it not?"

Had he told her that? He couldn't remember. It is possible that it had come up when they were observing the stars on the night of her own.

Her words turn hopeful. "Perhaps they mean to celebrate with you?"