In the Shadows of War - Theodore Nott x Y/N

Chapter one

The room was thick with murmurs, shadows clinging to the walls as witches and wizards moved through the dimly lit gathering. Y/N kept to the edges, her eyes scanning every detail, every flicker of movement. She was here under a ruse, slipping in unnoticed among the crowd to gather information for the resistance. Every word, every hushed conversation could carry a piece of intel that might turn the tide of the war—if she could stay hidden long enough to hear it.

But that was before she saw him.

Theodore Nott was a figure carved in cool detachment, standing with his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze scanning the room with practiced indifference. He looked entirely at ease, as if the turmoil of the world outside had little bearing on him. But Y/N knew better. Theo Nott came from a family whose loyalties lay with the darker forces of the wizarding world. His very presence seemed to darken the atmosphere around him, as if he carried the weight of his family's legacy with an elegance that bordered on arrogance.

She narrowed her eyes, her heartbeat quickening with both anger and something unnameable. How could someone look so composed, so aloof, while chaos engulfed everything around them? Before she could stop herself, Y/N found herself moving closer, caught between curiosity and a desire to confront him. Her movements were cautious, calculated, though she kept her wand at her side, just in case.

Theo's eyes flicked toward her, sharp as a blade, catching her off guard. His gaze lingered just a fraction too long, and she felt a shiver run through her, something she immediately pushed aside as irritation.

"Curious about something?" His voice was low, almost mocking, carrying a subtle challenge.

Y/N forced herself to hold his gaze, masking her surprise with a cool expression. "Just wondering what it's like to be a spectator in a war. It must be easy, standing on the sidelines, watching others take the risks."

A flicker of something crossed Theo's face—amusement? Annoyance? He smirked, leaning slightly closer, his voice a quiet murmur. "Be careful what you assume, Y/N. Things aren't always as simple as they seem."

Her breath hitched as he spoke her name, as though he were drawing some invisible line between them. She masked it quickly with a scoff, rolling her eyes. "Spoken like someone with too much to hide. I'm sure you have your secrets, Nott. But trust me, I'm not here for them."

Without waiting for his response, she turned on her heel, disappearing back into the shadows, leaving Theo to watch her retreat with a faint look of curiosity—one he quickly pushed away. She was resistance, a threat to his family's cause. And whatever intrigue she stirred in him was nothing more than a passing thought, quickly dismissed.