shades of cool | theo nott

7 || revelations

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"𝙖𝙢 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛?"

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It's been a few days since the little sleepover at the Malfoy Manor. Her mother was slightly irritated when she realized she had slept over and even more irritated when she realized that Vera's father was the one who approved it.

However, she left the subject alone when Cissy called her to confirm that the girls slept in a separate room and that Vera was a wonderful guest and she would love to have her over more often.

Obviously, the first bit wasn't true. Vera and Pansy had ended up sleeping on Draco's bed (their entire friend group consisted of pureblood boys raised to act like gentlemen at heart), Theo crashed on one of the couches, Draco on the other, Mattheo was curled up in an armchair, Blaise and Enzo fell asleep on Draco's plush rug (to be fair, it did feel like a cloud) but Enzo left in the middle of the night to sleep in his own bed down the hall.

Point being made, Vera slept in a room with a bunch of teenage boys, one being her boyfriend (albeit fake, the title still stood to the public) and her mother had no way of knowing. Cissy was seriously the best.

Anyway, her mother was speaking mindlessly about the ball coming up and her having to find a reputable match. Vera picked at her salad in front of her, heart beating out of her chest.

After a few moments, the girl finally picked up a few shreds of courage to talk to the woman in front of her who resembled her so much and yet not at all.

"Mother? I have to tell you something." The girl stabbed a piece of drenched lettuce with her fork, looking up across the kitchen island to speak to her mom.

"Vera. If you say anything about not attending the ball, you will not step foot out of this house for the rest of holidays." Before the teenager could even get her protests in, Alma continued, shaking her head vigorously. "I don't care what your father says."

"That's not even what I was going to say!" Vera's voice raised as her frustration did.

"Why is your voice raising?" Her mother asked calmly. "If you're so upset, go cry to Daddy like you always do."

"I'm not crying." Vera said sternly, trying her best to ignore the prick of tears in her eyes.

"Alright." Alma shrugged, crossing her arms as she turned to fully face her. "You have my attention. Just don't cry again."

"I'm not crying." Vera repeated, looking away from her mother's gaze. "About the ball, I don't see it necessary that you find a partner for me."

"This again?" Alma started, anger laced onto her delicate features, the same ones her daughter shared. "What did I say before? Did I not make myself clear?"

"Listen!" Vera said, correcting herself after seeing her mother's eyebrows raise. "Listen, please. I have a boyfriend."

Alma gasped slightly before going silent.

"Mother?" Vera asked, looking concerned.

"Pureblood?" Her mother looked up. The girl nodded.

"Good family, I take it?"

Another nod.

"Do we know them?"

Instead of playing this stupid game of 21 questions with her mom, Vera decided to stop beating around the bush and just tell her.