She whispered

by Lucas Chesterton

  ‘Honestly, Theodora, I do question your judgement in friends sometimes,’ he says and she knows he’s joking but only a little because he has had plenty to say about her befriending a Potter, Slytherin or not.

  ‘You know, I’m starting to question my own judgement as well,’ she grumbles but then sighs in relief when out of the previously blank brick wall comes an entire hoard of Potters. ‘Merlin’s Beard, it’s about time.’

  Mr. Potter is the first one through and she can see how flustered he is as he tries to get the trolley through to the train workers as they continue to load up last minute luggage. He’s followed by Lily, the youngest Potter offspring and her usually plaited auburn hair is replaced with bouncy curls and Thea realizes for the first time that the child is no longer the little girl she remembered.

  She ignores James who comes out third and he’s running with his usual smug expression plastered to his lips as he carries his broom in one hand and his caged owl in the other. She lightens as Albus finally appears, followed quickly by his mother who fusses over something in his hair and he promptly brushes her off like the moody teenager he is and she grins.

  Though based off of James’ peculiar expression as their eyes meet, she thinks maybe it’s a smirk but ignores him as he rushes by her and reaches her hand out to Albus before he gets lost in a sea of Weasleys who are now pouring onto the platform as well.

  ‘Late,’ she scolds. ‘As always.’

  Albus gives her the same look he gave his mother moments ago and she is immediately aware that he wants her to shut up and she does but only because she’s in a hurry. She turns quickly to her father and tells him she’ll write after supper and she doesn’t stop to hug him because she knows it will embarrass them both.

  Grabbing Albus’ hand, she rushes them both towards the train, ignoring his pleas to slow down. Magnus doesn’t thank her either as he bounces slightly in the cage as they run but she’ll apologize later.

  As expected, the train is full and even though the conductor has whistled for last call the corridors are bustling with activity so much so that they have to squeeze through groups of fifth years who frown at her as she passes. If she had a free hand she’d return the favor with extra commentary but she has more important things to focus on. Like getting their compartment which is likely overrun by now.

  Albus fumbles awkwardly and she thinks she hears him say he doesn’t need her to hold his hand but she only tightens her grip as she pulls him through the halls until they’ve reached their usual compartment. She comes to an abrupt halt in front of it and Albus stops short of running into her as he reaches her side and peers in to see what has has her frowning.

  It’s full of first years.

  She gives Albus a knowing glance and he rolls his eyes.

  ‘We don’t have to sit in this compartment. There are other spaces,’ he informs her and she stares at him blankly. ‘I just mean, there is no reason to-‘

  She doesn’t let him finish before interrupting with, ‘Of course we have to sit here. We sit here every year just like every year we make sure the first years know that we are not interested in sharing or making friends.’

  ‘Aren’t we?’

  ‘No,’ she answers him quickly. ‘We most definitely are not. We don’t need friends,’ she reminds him and he sighs.

  ‘Thea, I have friends,’ he contradicts, as defiant as Albus Potter can possibly be and Thea raises and eyebrow.

  ‘Oh? Name one,’ she insists and as he opens his mouth she adds, ‘not including me.’

  He doesn’t finish whatever he was planning on saying as his mouth falls and shifts next to her. She reaches for the door to the compartment and when she starts to slide it open he mutters, ‘Be nice.’ She replies with a gentle elbow to his side and he stumbles.

  ‘Oh, hello,’ she says in mock surprise and the four first years in the compartment return her pleasantry with smiles.

  First years are precious in that way. They’re so wide-eyed and optimistic about everyone and she can tell based on that alone that she’s dealing with a compartment of future Hufflepuffs.

  ‘My name is Theodora Malfoy, sixth year,’ she begins and already the innocent smiles begin to fall, fueling her own as she continues. ‘I thought I’d introduce myself seeing as you’re new and sitting in my usual compartment. Which is fine, of course, we don’t mind sharing. Do we, Al?’

  Albus returns her sugary lie with a roll of his eyes.

  ‘It looks like it’ll be a bit snug, but I’m sure we can make it work. Oh, I do know a few spells that may empty up some space..’ she goes on but she sees the first years already shifting nervously and she knows it’s because of her name and because she’s mentioning spells and they’ve likely heard all about what kinds of spells the Malfoys do.

  One brave first year, perhaps a Gryffindor after all, stands up and pulls on his friend’s shirt.

  ‘Come on Nguyen, let’s go,’ he says and the other three don’t hesitate before following him out the door.

  She ignores their whispers which aren’t really whispers at all as they hurry down the corridor, talking about that awful Malfoy girl who kicked them out of their compartment. She only shrugs, pleased with herself because now their compartment is empty.

  ‘Terrorizing first years already, Malfoy?’ she hears from behind her and her smile fades as she spins around slowly, looking up at James Potter who is towering over her, arms crossed.

  She hates that he’s taller than her. And not taller like Albus is. Albus is tall as well but not so tall that she has to crane her neck as she looks up at him. James knows he is tall and she can see the amusement in her eyes every time he looks down at her.

  Smug bastard.

  ‘I wouldn’t have to terrorize them, Potter, if your family could manage to arrive anywhere on time. I’d be happy to charm your watch there if it would help.’

  He doesn’t like it when she talks about his family because his jaw always twitches and he has to spend a few extra seconds trying to think of what to say. This time is no different as the silence between them grows and she taps her foot impatiently. He only glances momentarily at his watch before returning his glare back on her.

  ‘Well as invigorating as this argument is, I expect we’ll be leaving soon,’ she says and turns to leave and this time he addresses Albus.

  ‘Lucy needs somewhere to sit,’ he informs his younger brother and Thea lets her curiosity get the better of her as she glances over her shoulder at the little red thing that is Lucy Weasley.

  ‘What about your compartment?’ Albus supplies and James shakes his head, pointing to the boys behind him.

  ‘Full up,’ he mutters, giving Albus an insistent look.

  Albus is normally persuaded by such looks which is why Thea always feels obligated to intervene on his behalf. It makes her wonder how he ever became a Slytherin in the first place.

  ‘Did you tell her she’d be sitting with a Malfoy?’ she asks and the girl’s eyes grow wide as she stumbles back into James.

  Albus, quick to recover, adds ‘A nice Malfoy,’ as if it might help, to his younger cousin but she doesn’t budge and Thea only scoffs.

  ‘I’m not that nice,’ she corrects him, noting it sounds a bit like a boast and Albus pinches her gently in the side.

  ‘She has a point there,’ is James’ sardonic quip, barely audible under his breath and she can feel herself rising to the bait.

  But instead of indulging in another chapter of the ongoing verbal disputes that she and James Potter consistently share, she clears her throat and points to the empty seat where Magnus is currently calling home. ‘Come on in, Little Weasley. I won’t bite.’

  Lucy gives her a wary look and stares up at Albus who gives her an encouraging smile that he uses to hid his amusement at Thea’s attempt at ‘sweet’. Lucy does join them, finally, but sits on the opposite side of Magnus who she eyes nervously. The cat flips his tail in response before letting his green eyes close.

  Thea retu
rns her attention to James, then, who is still leaning against the doorway and she can see Sebastian Barbary and Davy Finnigan behind him talking. Despite having settled the dispute at hand, James still stares at her, his brown eyes burning for an argument that she refuses to give him. So instead she smiles.

  ‘Anything else, Potter?’

  It’s enough to break him from whatever haughty response he is preparing and he lets his eyes linger for only a moment longer before they flick over to Albus and he jerks his head in the direction of the corridor.

  ‘Prefect business, little brother. Remember?’

  ‘Oh shit, I forgot!’ Albus curses but then covers his mouth as he realizes they have a younger presence. ‘Shit,’ he says again trying to correct his profanity but it’s too late.

  Lucy sits wide-eyed and Magnus, stirred by Albus’ outburst, jumps from his seat and makes his way over to the child’s lap.

  Thea can only smile.

  James loves the first day of school. It’s his last year and he senses that finality which each passing landmark. His last train ride to school is uneventful as ever and he’s pleased to find out at the feast that he’s made Captain of the house team this year. He promises Head of House, Professor Longbottom, that it won’t interfere with Prefect business.

  He isn’t entirely sure why Professor McGonagall allowed him to keep his Prefect badge, especially after all the mischief he and his mates got into the year before, but he doesn’t question it when it arrives in the mail and instead wears it with pride.

  He’s surprised, however, when Albus receives a 6th year badge, more perhaps to see that he’s eager to accept it. He’s not sure he’s ever seen his brother so interested in anything since befriending a Malfoy. He tries to understand it, why Albus cares for Theodora Malfoy, but he can never really sort it out. He hates that it bothers him so much, but he tells himself he’s just trying to be a good brother. That he’s trying to be protective.

  He’d be less concerned if it were Scorpius.

  Scorpius is Malfoy in name alone, or so he seems. They’ve been in the same classes for nearly seven years and James’ suspicion of the Head Boy dwindles which each passing interaction. He remembers the first time they spoke, standing together just outside the Great Hall, waiting for their sorting ceremony and James could feel the excitement burning through his veins.

  He would be a Gryffindor, of that there was no doubt.

  But Scorpius seemed completely uninterested in following in his father’s footsteps, unlike James. He was anxious, staring at the floor, his fingers ringing his cloak as James laughed with the girl next to him. But even throughout the merriment, James still noticed the boy’s anxiety and despite everything he’d heard of his father’s encounters with Draco Malfoy in school, Scorpius seemed less threatening than he’d imagined. Time only seemed to strengthen that perception and while they never really grew into a steady friendship, a mutual respect overshadowed any of his previous prejudices.

  The same could not be said for Theodora.

  She, unlike her brother, was everything James remembered his father describing as traits of a Malfoy. She was conceited, entitled, and sometimes, though James hated to use the word, a raging bitch, a thorn in his side to put it nicely. But for some reason, his socially awkward brother had fallen into her manipulative hands and no matter what James or his parents said, the younger Potter brother would not be swayed. She was a Malfoy, through and through, and he hated that Albus believed her to be a friend. It bothered him even more that his brother would never tell him why.

  ‘You wouldn’t understand,’ is always his response and each time Albus uttered the words James’ blood would boil. He likes to think he’d be more understanding if the guy was in love with her. But Albus has always insisted that his feelings for her are purely platonic. Even their parents flinch slightly every time she is brought up in conversation and despite their prying, Albus manages to skillfully change the topic and the story of Theodora and Albus always remains a mystery.

  After the welcome feast, he’s busy herding first years to the dormitories when she crosses his path in the corridor. He watches her pass him, plaited brown hair slung over her shoulder and she has the audacity to wink as he catches her eye. He looks away first, trying to focus on corralling the first years up to the common room as she descends back down in the dungeons. He hates that the impulse to look back at her tugs at him, that he shoots one last glance over his shoulder as he starts towards the staircase. He hates more that when he does, she isn’t looking back at him.

  But he doesn’t let her spoil his mood as the first years get settled in and he’s free now to remove his robes and share a drink with his mates up in Davy Finnigan’s dorm. But he must still be scowling because as he sips the firewhiskey straight from the bottle, his friends take note of his distraction.

  ‘Where’s your mind at James?’ Davy snatches the bottle, laughing as he takes a swig. ‘Not having second thoughts about ending things with Val, are we?’

  James forces a laugh, rejoining the conversation as he accios the bottle right out of Davy’s grasp. From the open window in the circular dorm, Sebastian Barbary chuckles as well, his smoke blowing out into the night air as he exhales.

  ‘It’s been months,’ says James, not appreciating the reminder of the breakup that both of his friends disapproved of. ‘We’ve both moved on. Why would I be having second thoughts?’

  ‘Well she certainly has moved on,’ Bas says, his voice hindered slightly by the cigarette in his mouth. ‘I saw her cozying up to Preston on the train.’

  ‘When was that?’ He tries not to sound interested because he really has gotten over Valerie since their breakup last term. But part of him dislikes the fact that it’s Preston Corner of all people that she’s decided to move on with. The guy is a prick on many levels, least of all his obsession with besting James in everything.

  Bas and Davy exchange smirks.

  ‘When you were busy sparring with Malfoy,’ Bas replies and if there’s a topic he’s less interested in than Preston hitting on his ex, it’s Thea Malfoy.

  James’ only response is to roll his eyes but Bas is determined to pry.

  ‘You know she only gets under your skin because you let her,’ he says.

  ‘Thanks, mum,’ scoffs James.

  ‘Maybe if you spent less time trying to get under her skin and more time trying to get under her-‘

  ‘Please, don’t finish that sentence, Davy,’ James says, his frown deepening at the insinuation and he ignores the childish laughter that ensues at the prospect of James and Thea in any sort of compromising position.

  ‘Nah, I doubt she’d be interested anyways,’ Bas interrupts, holding the smoke in his lungs as he speaks and James tries to ignore the comment.

  ‘Oh?’ Davy says, eyebrows raised. ‘How do you mean? You saying bad girl Malfoy is too good for our boy James?’

  ‘Well-,’ Bas says with a shrug and adds, ‘-aside from that.’ James can’t stop the finger that shoots up in response. ‘Seriously though, I think you uh, ain’t her type mate.’

  ‘Do dragons have a type?’ he counters and Davy chokes on the last swig of firewhiskey in the bottle.

  ‘Other lady dragons, perhaps,’ says Bas and there is nothing forced about the laugh that James let’s out at the idea.

  ‘We’re talking about Theodora Malfoy, right?’ Bas nods. ‘No way. Wasn’t she with uh, who was it?’ James stalls despite the fact that he knows for a fact Thea and Alec Zabini were an item not long ago. He’s saved by Davy’s agreeance with Bas.

  ‘No, you know what? Bas is right. I heard about that thing with her and Dom. Though I thought it was just rumors.’

  ‘Her and Dom?’ James questions slowly. ‘Dominique? My cousin? What thing?’

  ‘Oh come off it! Don’t tell me you didn’t know! I heard from Kalyn who found out from Roxy. Spent the entire summer in Majorca snoggin’ on the beach.’

  ‘No, Dom was in Majorca on internship, studying
with Professor Longbottom at the Herbology Institute,’ James says, remembering the trip Dom announced at family dinner before end of term in the spring. ‘N.E.W.T. students only.’

  ‘We’re talking about Thea Malfoy,’ Bas replies. ‘Top marks in Herbology and Potions. She’ll likely be in our classes this year.’

  The idea is still spinning in James’ head. He’s certain he doesn’t remember Dom mentioning anything about Thea over the summer. Then again, he recalls, she barely talks about the trip at all. Even so, he’s disappointed in his cousin’s taste in girls if she somehow found interest in hooking up with a Malfoy.

  ‘I expect that’s where she found that delectable herb you’re hogging?’ Davy says, breaking James’ thoughts and he turns back to see Bas pass what James previously believed was a cigarette to Davy.

  ‘The girl may be ice cold, but she definitely knows how to make some premium herb,’ Bas sputters and it leaves both of James’ friends in fits of laughter that suddenly begin to make sense.

  They’re high, off Malfoy drugs which are banned, though not unlike the firewhiskey currently spinning in his veins.

  ‘You can’t be serious,’ James says, shaking his head and Bas rolls his eyes in response.

  ‘Oh sorry, Mr. Prefect! I didn’t realize we were anti-drug all of a sudden.’

  ‘It’s not that. But come on, Malfoy? You trust anything she gives you and you deserve to be cursed.’

  ‘Jay, come on mate,’ Davy says between fits of giggles. ‘Even I think his whole hate-on you have for her is getting a bit old.’

  ‘Hate-on?’ The choice of words is amusing but still James finds himself on the defensive. ‘I do not have a hate-on for her.’

  There is only laughter.

  James can feel himself getting irritated and once again it’s because of Thea’s meddling in his personal life. Thea stealing his brother, getting his best mates high, fucking his cousin. It’s all too much. He knows he should just let it go but something inside of him can’t.

  The only way to drown out the anger is a second bottle of firewhiskey he steals from the kitchens. He doesn’t bother to use the map in his back pocket as he, Davy and Bas slip through the hidden corridors around the castle until they’ve reached the kitchens.