Always : Theodore Nott

Chapter 61

Curses flew all around him in various shades and colours. Theodore Nott flinched as he remembered the pain of the Cruciatus curse as it whizzed past him, a streak of angry red. He dodged numerous spells, casting out other spells he knew to resemble the Unforgiveables. The red and green signatures were unmistakable, but he knew nobody would notice his cruciatus curses were disguised as stinging hexes. That trick has taken him some time to master over the previous weeks. He knew it would come in handy sooner or later.

His eyes scanned the hectic scene unfolding before him. Searching. Always searching. If he could just lay eyes on her........

His line of sight was suddenly dragged to those directly below him. He knew Remus Lupin, he had taught him Defence Against the Dark Arts. He was one of Nott's favourite professors. What was more interesting was the Potter replica alongside him, who was constantly watching another "Potter" some thirty feet away.

From him time on the quidditch pitch he knew it was one of the Weasleys as he watched them weave and navigate the chaos with ease. He didn't like them, but they were good at quidditch. Not that any of that mattered now. Quidditch. Hogwarts. None of it mattered anymore.

The only thing that mattered was her-

As though his thoughts had summoned her, he watched as Aurora flew into view. She cast multiple spells that he knew many death eaters would not recover from easily. But the way she flew......it didn't look like Aurora. He had watched her play quidditch many times. Her usual expertise was not evident now. Even the way she was casting spells and throwing hexes. One at a time, in one direction and always the direction her wand was pointed. Aurora could wandlessly cast multiple spells. It didn't make sense. Unless she was hiding how truly powerful her magic is.

Before he could observe any further, an angry orange light appeared from the wand of Dolohov. It streamed through the chaos until it hit Potter beside her. He screamed, clutching his head. Theo watched as Aurora turned toward him. Dragging his eyes back to.....

No.

NO.

It was like watching in slow motion. He saw the words being spoken on Dolohov's lips. Then the green light appeared, beginning at the tip of his wand before finally hurdling towards Aurora. He dove straight for her.

The wind screamed into his ears, his heart rate accompanying the sound with a thundering boom. 

But it was no use.

He was too late.

It hit her square in the back as she flew amidst the chaos. One moment she was flying the next she had gone utterly still. Seconds that felt like hours passed before she was falling from her broom.

Before he could blink, Theo was barrelling towards the ground after her. If he could just reach her in time. If he could just get to her. Hold her. He could feel his heart inside his chest slowly threatening to tear in two. With each second it pounded louder, and louder inside his ears.

That was of course until he was nearly knocked off his broom. He looked up only to find Hagrid speeding off, away from the battle overhead, another Potter in the compartment of his motorcycle, flanked by Alastor Moody.

Seven death eaters trailed them seconds later, easily spotting them. But they didn't get within fifteen feet of Hagrid or the Potter beside him. Moody hardly raised his wand.

Didn't raise a hand actually.

He just hexed seven death eaters wandlessly and sent them plummeting to the ground.

A pang of sheer relief coursed through him like a bolt of lightening. He knew of only one individual who could utilise wandless magic in such a manner. Before anyone could look, he raced down towards where her body had fallen.