Unspoken // Theseus Scamander

Chapter Ten - Hogwarts

Word Count: 2,300 words. 

Warnings: None. 

Hogwarts
1904...

I didn't like bullies. I mean, there was every reason to hate them. I had always thought of myself as a person who would stand up for others had they been victim to that kind of hate, but when it came to myself...

"Mudblood," their voices spoke. They never whispered, were never quiet. They knew what they were doing, what they were saying.

That word followed me for the first three years of Hogwarts. I attempted to ignore them. How people told me that I didn't belong there. That I was a Muggle. Someone who didn't deserve to have magic.

The only comfort I had was in Abe. Albus was often gone from the house and I could rarely find the time to talk to him. Abe took ownership of the Hog's Head Inn two years ago and I often found myself taking the trip to Hogsmeade just to see him.

More often than that, I didn't stay in the Gryffindor Common Room, but rather hid in the attics of the Astronomy Tower. No one came up there, giving me the silence that I needed. It was the perfect escape, until it was ruined by a boy.

"Hi," he greeted, pulling me from the book that I had been reading.

I jumped, turning my head quickly to spot the Hufflepuff that had approached. "What do you want?"

Holding up his hands in defence, he shook his head. "Only an introduction."

Moving my body to the side, I looked for the others that would follow him. They always attacked in groups, each one agreeing with the other as they threw cruel slurs at me. He was alone.

"Well, you got it," I told him. "Now leave."

He placed his hands in his pocket, glancing at the exit before taking a step onto the small alcove I sat in. "May I?" he asked, gesturing to the empty ground in front of me. There was enough room for another body.

"No," I put firmly.

The Hufflepuff boy didn't listen, sitting down anyway and piercing me with a smile. "I'm Theseus."

"I said no," I repeated, turning to look at the words of my book. I tried to concentrate, but the casting looks his gave me made that extremely difficult.

"I heard yes," he replied, looking around. "I didn't know this was up here."

"Hence why I picked it," I muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. "If you're going to be mean, just do it already."

His forehead creased. "Why would I be mean?"

Knees bent, I looked at the pages of my book as I answered. "I'm a mudblood. Aren't you going to curse me for it? Tell me that I don't belong here?"

He shook his head gently, a pitiful look on his face. "I – "

"Don't look at me like that," I cut him off.

"Like what?" he asked.

"Like you pity me. Don't pity me."

Nodding, the boy that had introduced himself as Theseus turned to the pile of books I had settled beside me. "Do you want to be a Healer?"

I sent a glance towards the book his was looking at. "It's an option. Are you going to sit there all day or will you leave me alone?"

"I only wish to introduce myself. I am Theseus Scamander, Hufflepuff, fifth year." He gestured to me. "Your turn."