The House of Emerald Serpents | Theodore Nott

24- We're not friends

In order to get his mind off of everything, Theo wanted to go out and do something. He asked Draco if he wanted to go out for a drink but Draco was preoccupied with Astoria.

He decided to find Elaine to see what she was up to. She was sat at her desk doing some homework when he walked in. He smiled lightly at her, her face focused on her work. 

"Hey you," he says knocking lightly on the open door. 

"Oh hi, sorry I was working on the potions essay. You ok?"

"I'm fine, I just want to get out and do something. Do you want to come to Hogsmeade with me?" 

"I guess I should get out for a little while too".

"I'll meet you downstairs in a few?"

"Sure Theo." 

Theo put his time turner back on, he didn't like leaving it around the house. He grabbed his jacket and a hat and went downstairs to wait for Elaine. 

It was a week before Christmas so it was snowing out. Elaine walked down in boots and her jacket, putting a Slytherin hat on her head.

"You look cute," Theo says casually.

Elaine's face turns bright red, which only makes Theo smile. 

When they get to Hogsmeade, Elaine goes straight to Honey dukes, Theo wandering in behind her. They pick out some Christmas treats for the house and a few other things for themselves. Then they went to the three broomsticks to get some food. 

 "I like it being just the two of us," Elaine admits. 

"So do I, you have a calming presence. None of our other friends have that,"

Elaine wanted to know if Theo really thought of her as just a friend or more but she didn't want to come straight out and ask. 

"Do you think Ralph would like it if I got a present for him?" Theo asks.

Elaine chuckles, "I'm sure he would love it, you know he adores you".

"I adore him too, he's a great kid."

"I can't wait until he actually get's into Hogwarts I wonder what house he'll be in". 

"Yeah, I wonder," Theo says excitedly. 

Theo already knew he would be in Ralphs and Elaine's life for a while, after seeing the future. That fact made him genuinely happy. He almost wanted to just tell Elaine but he wanted things to happen naturally. 

While they were talking there was some commotion by the entrance. When Theo and Elaine turn around they see Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley. The four of them sat two tables away from Theo and Elaine. 

Hermione waves when she makes eye contact with Elaine. The two of them had never been friends but they ended up saving each others lives during the battle at Hogwarts. Neither one of them forgot that, so they felt connected in some small way. 

"I haven't seen them since it all happened," Theo mumbles. 

Truth was Theo was still pretty self-conscious about how much his father was involved with Voldemort. Elaine's was too but it wasn't really public knowledge. He felt guilty, especially him being a death eater in the past too, not that it was his choice but he felt it didn't matter. 

"I know, they tend to keep to themselves now," Elaine says quietly.

"Kind of like us". 

Elaine nods, knowing he was right, the whole group didn't talk to anyone outside of the house. She thought maybe they did need more friends.