starstruck || hannah abbott

14 || oh, theodore

Leaving Snape's office together and still hand in hand, both Slytherins headed back to the Common Room to relax. Ana wanted nothing more than a nap as her anxiety was overwhelming her.

Halfway to the Common Room, Anastasia collapsed against the wall of the corridor and Theodore sat beside her. It had taken all of her energy not to break in front of Snape, but now that she was away from him and with someone who cared for her mental well-being, she could let it all out.

Theodore rubbed circles on the back of her hand soothingly as Anastasia focused her remaining energy on slowing her breathing. It was difficult for him to see her like this as he was never quite sure what would happen this time. Would she cry? Would she hyperventilate? Would she pass out? Or even worse, would all three events occur? That aside, he cared deeply for her in a brotherly sort of way. Knowing she preferred girls romantically helped him wake up and focus on loving himself before going for a relationship. He stayed and would continue to stay through any and all of Ana's lowest moments. She trusted him enough to be vulnerable in front of him and he respected that.

Time passed slowly and Ana felt herself being able to control her breathing more steady. Her heart beat rhythmically and the knot in her chest had subsided. She squeezed Theo's hand to signal she was doing better and he helped her stand back up. Together, they made it to the Common Room safely.

Days passed by slowly and classes dragged with the upcoming O. W. L.'s that scared Ana. She needed to pass with high marks.

Though one day, a set of sixth year twins in Gryffindor were caught trying to prank Professor Umbridge. She was not having it and tried to expel them, but before that could happen, they left the school with plans to open a joke shop in Diagon Alley. The Weasley's were something else.

Theo tried to distract Ana from worrying so much by taking her to the championship Quidditch match or joke about the Gryffindor incident, but Ana remained more nervous than ever before. She truthfully appreciated Theo in more ways than ever. He was her best friend, after all.

The two Slytherins studied day in and day out as the impending examinations drew nearer and nearer. The library became more of a second home to the both of them.

Ana and Theo quizzed each other over the meanings of tea leaves, proper ways to care for magical creatures, constellation formations, ingredients for the final potion they would be expected to brew, and the spells as well as the effects that Headmistress Umbridge refused to let them actually practice.

During Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Grubbly-Plank thought that the students ought to have a lesson on Thestrals. She lectured briefly on what they were, where they came from, and who all could see them. When the mention of only those who had seen death could see these winged skeletal horses, Theodore grew very uncomfortable.

"Ana, I think I'm going to duck out of class early," he whispered in her ear as they headed for the Forbidden Forest.

"Will you be all right?" Anastasia's voice was laced with concern.

"Yeah, it's just. . ." Theodore's own voice seemed to fail him in this moment.

Ana looked at him carefully. It was never like him to skip class. She took his arm in hers and comforted him as best as she could.

When the class reached the forest, Theo was shifting his wait from foot to foot. It was evident he was quite nervous about something, though Ana had no idea what.

Professor Grubbly-Plank led the students to a remote area of the forest where these creatures, apparently, roamed freely. She gestured to an empty clearing and told the class that the Thestral's were standing right there. Anastasia stared apprehensively at her professor. There was absolutely nothing in front of the class. Had Grubbly-Plank cracked?

It was in that moment of Ana's contemplation of this empty clearing that Theo abruptly turned around and ran like a Seeker after the Snitch for the castle. She started after him, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

"Let him go, Miss Dorhn, he needs time," Professor Grubbly-Plank stated ominously.

"Time for what, Professor?" She inquired.

Instead of answering the brunette, the Care of Magical Creatures professor simply turned back around and continued to rattle off facts about the supposed beings in this empty clearing.

Anastasia couldn't take it anymore. While the class was wrapped up in the lecture, she snuck off to get back to the castle. It went a lot smoother than she thought it would go, and before she knew it, Ana found herself entering the castle and descending into the dungeons. She muttered the password and stumbled into the Common Room.

Theo was no where to be found and Ana paced nervously in front of the fireplace. Green flames flickered and danced as though mirroring her current state of mind. It was very plausible that he was hiding in his dormitory like at the beginning of the year when Harry Potter had ran his idiot mouth during Defense Against The Dark Arts class.

Anastasia sat down on one of the black leather couches and watched the fire dance. He had left Umbridge's class because Potted had brought up something pertaining to his family. His family were known Death Eaters and his mother had passed away when Theo was just a boy. Professor Grubbly-Plank mentioned that the Thestrals could only be seen by people who have seen death.

The fifteen year old girl sat bolt up right and gasped audibly.

Theodore Nott must have, somehow, witnessed his own mother's death when he was little. That would explain his unease during class today and why Professor Grubbly-Plank said he needed some alone time.