Bad Romance : Theodore Nott

7: Nott Your Business

[victoria's pov]

The first tournament had just been finished as the Aces went around, collecting their bets with a cheer. All of the champions had succeeded in stealing the dragon eggs. When it was Harry's turn, I actually didn't think he was going to make it, afterall, he was just a kid. But he had summoned his broom and it worked wondrously, as he was able to fly off, the dragon's chains breaking in an attempt to kill him.

"Dragon eggs!" Millicent shouted. "Can you believe it?"

"It's unbelievable!" I exclaimed as we made our way down the long stairs on the Gryffindor benches.

Fred and George shake my arms excitedly and shout "We won, we won!"

I laughed as we all stepped onto the damp grass, the wind blew against my cold ears as I heard Fred and George shout, "OI!"

My head whips in the direction they're pointing at. It's a short, bald man with several bets in his hand as shuffle toward him.

"Ludo, you coward!" George shouts as Fred shoots a hex at him, nearly missing. Several parents and students dodge the hex with a cry of surprise but some grin.

"Sorry! We'll be back, heart!" Fred tells me as they sprint off.

McGonagall shouts at the twins as they disappear through the crowd, springing full speed ahead, Ludo Bagman running for the hills. Millicent laughs as she's swept away by Vincent, who's retelling her about Viktor's victory. She nods excitedly as she seems to forget about me, but I don't mind.

"Your ears look like they're going to fall off any second," Theo's voice says from behind me and I see him, bundled warmly as he nears me in the loud crowd. People are shoving and pushing me, making me near him myself as I grin awkwardly.

"Yeah, it's pretty cold for November..."

He removes his scarf as I protest. Ignoring me, he wraps it above my shoulder and around my neck, creating a hood. He pulls it up and presses the scarf against my ears and says, "That should do it."

"Theo!" a woman's voice shouts from the crowd.

The familiar woman approaches, hugging Theo tightly and I realise it's his step-mother.

"Mother, what're you doing here?" he asked.

"To watch the tournament, of course!" she exclaimed. "And not to mention, I only get to see you a bit in the summer and holidays and your father- oh! I remember you!"

She turns to me and back to Theo. Then back at me and back to Theo. Her thin lips curve to a mischievous smile as she says knowingly, "Lovely scarf, Victoria. Looks just like the one I made for Ted!"

"Thank you," I say in response as Theo's face turns a light shade of pink. But perhaps they were already pink from how cold it was.

"I should get going now," she said, giving Theo a sack of galleons. "Your father says hi, but he's waiting for me at the carriage. We'll see you at the next tournament!"

She's about to turn when she faces me and says, "I hope to catch you both next time."

"Catch us-?" I ask but she gets away as Theo shuts his eyes, turning me around with his hands on my arm as we make our way back to the castle.

Even though I hadn't met his father, it was clear he was nothing like his step-mother and perhaps more like his mysterious father.

"Thank you for the scarf," I say once again as we make it into the castle, "Ted."

He sighs and says, "You're not going to stop using that, aren't you?"

"You already know it."

He looks like he wants to ask something and I tell him, "What is it?"