Solving the Nott

Chapter 1|

Shit, shit, shit! I'm fucking late. The boy shot up from his bed and summoned his clothes. He waved his wand and they were on, damn, he thought. I barely have time to clean my fucking teeth! The wizard threw on his tie and flooed to the Ministry of Magic. He rushed into the meeting room, his chestnut hair sticking up and his tie still undone. The wizards and witches stared as he walked in swiftly and sat in his chair, hoping not to be noticed by his boss.

"Nott, your late," a man the same age as him told him.

"So I've noticed, Potter," Theodore Nott sneered.

"Well then, why don't you join the group discussion. We were talking about the sudden disappearances and killings that are occurring. Have any idea of what's causing it?" Harry Potter asked.

"No, I just bloody got here," Theodore drawled.

"Then, listen up, Nott. We've got lots to discuss," Harry told him.

Theo groaned and sat up straight in his chair. He picked up his parchment and quill, rolling his eyes.

Harry eyed him and began to speak, "As you all know, there have been multiple disappearances in the Wizarding world, as well as muggle killings. Does anyone want to share ideas?"

Hermione Granger's hand shot up and Harry called on her with his lips quirking upwards, "Hermione, what do you think?"

Hermione smiled and stood up next to Harry, "Well, I thought that perhaps, Death Eaters we're trying to get back at Harry for killing V-Voldemort. Now, we need to figure out who is trying to do this."

Theo shifted uncomfortably and listened as Harry Potter commended the know-it-all for her idea. "I will now put my best investigative Aurors on the job, Hermione you will be working with Theodore Nott on this case while the other Aurors work on the other cases. Now everyone, get started!"

Granger. Bloody Granger! He had to work with the know-it-all. Great! Theo watched her walk of to him smiling, she put out a hand. "Hermione, Hermione Granger."

"I know," Theo said, annoyed, passing down her hand.

Hermione looked slightly put out, "I just wanted a new start, Nott," she said, frowning. "Not everyone is unforgiving."

Theodore looked at her curiously, he knew that he slightly bullied her. Not as much as Draco, though. He barely even talked to her at Hogwarts. "Most people are, especially when it comes to an ex-death eater." Theo was about to walked away when she grabbed his hand.

"Wait, can we be friends?" Hermione asked, hopefully.

Friends . . . Her words echoed in his head. Who would want to be friends with him? "Why," He asked. "Why are you being so nice to me? After all that I've done, why would you want to be friends with me, Granger?"

Hermione hesitated, "Why wouldn't I? I already told you, I'm willing to forgive you Theodore." She walked in front of him and grabbed his shoulders, "Don't you understand? I'm trying to be your friend, why are you turning this down?"

Theo lifted his gaze and said, "Who said I was turning it down, Granger?"

She smiled and said, "Brilliant! Ready to work?"

Theo rolled his eyes, "Bloody hell, Granger! We barely got out of the fucking meeting!"

"Call me, Hermione. We need to get to work straight away, Theodore! This is a serious job!" Hermione scolded.

"Fine, woman! But, who said you could call me Theodore?" He said, smirking.

She blushed and spluttered, "Oh, well, I just—"

"I'm joking, Granger. Lighten up. Although, if you wish to call me by my first name, call me Theo, I hate the name Theodore, it reminds me of—," he said, trailing off. Why was he about to tell her that?

"Oh, well okay, Theo," she said smiling. "But, you have to call me Hermione."

"Not a chance, Granger." Theo said, then walked away, smirking.

Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered, "Well, I guess there's, no 'follow me' or anything."
________________________________

"So Granger, tell me about yourself," Theodore drawled, kicking his feet up onto his desk.

"Well, what exactly would you like to know, Nott?" Hermione asked, politely.

"Doesn't matter to me, anything sweetheart. We need to know each other if we're going to be working on a big case together," Theo said, smirking.

Hermione was rather surprised at how professional he was acting, "Sweetheart?" She scrunched her nose up.

"No way in hell am I calling you by your first name, Granger. Nicknames work for me, names, not really. Just go with it," he joked.

Hermione rolled her eyes, Slytherins. "Well, my favourite colour is green, and you."

Theodore was smirking, "Green, eh? How very Slytherin of you. Not red, Granger? That's the first."

Hermione looked as if she had a flashback, "No," she responded quickly and a bit too forcefully.

Theo looked a bit taken aback, "Sorry," she said in a small voice, "it reminds me of blood." Hermione's eyes glassed over, "The blood in the war."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to—" Theo started.

"No, no! This isn't your fault, what's your favourite colour?" Hermione asked, a small smile on her face.

Theo smirked once again, "Green of course. What Slytherin wouldn't like green?"

Hermione scoffed, "Of course. Why did I even ask?"

Theo smirked, "Favourite class?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Ancient Runes, of course! Ever read my section in Hogwarts a History?"

He scoffed, "You! You have a chapter, in Hogwarts a History?"

Hermione laughed, "Of course I do!"

"I guess I didn't fancy reading up on you, Potty and Weasel! I can't blame myself for not!" Theo said.

"Hey, those are my best friends! Just so you know, you have a section also! Everyone in the war does!" Hermione exclaimed.

Theo's eyes widened, "What? I've got to bloody see this! I'm in fucking, Hogwarts a History!"

Theo ran over to the fireplace in his office, only the higher ranking Ministry workers had these. He immediately cast a spell and said, "Malfoy Manor!" Draco Malfoy's head popped into the fireplace.

"Yes, Theodore? What do I owe to this lovely intrusion?" Draco said, annoyed.

"I'm in bloody Hogwarts a History, Draco!" Theo shouted.

"I know. What's the big fuss? I'm in it too, so is Blaise. I mean we're in a bunch of books about our families," Draco said in a monotone.

"But it's Hogwarts a History! Don't you understand how exciting that is?" Theo said.

"No. Goodbye, my dearest bookworm friend," Draco said, his head disappearing.

Hermione had watched the whole thing, amused, she was choking back her laughter. Theo turned to her, "Something funny, darling?"

"You Slytherins are so full of yourselves, you know that right?" Hermione said.

"I know, it's a gift. I've got a few other gifts like my strikingly good looks and rather great brains," Theo said, running his hand through his hair.

"Someone doesn't need an ego booster," Hermione muttered.

Theo looked smug, "What was that, Granger? You think I'm dashing too? Why thank you! I would have to agree!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You should cut down your ego just a bit," she said, motioning with her hands.

"Never," he responded.