𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 — 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭
SUMMARY: Theo Nott didn’t fall in love loudly. It happened in quiet corridors, in soft laughter, in the way she saw things no one else did — including him
Based off of this request
Theodore Nott first noticed you one night after curfew. He was wandering an empty corridor, shadows stretching long under flickering torchlight, when he paused at the sound of soft voices.
There, sitting cross-legged on the cold stone floor, was you — a Ravenclaw girl he didn’t recognize. Hovering in front of you, unusually calm, was Peeves.
The poltergeist — the same one who terrorized students with crude jokes and flying ink pots — was chatting with you like an old friend. You listened intently, nodding with genuine interest, offering a small laugh at something he said.
“That’s not very fair...chaos is supposed to feel like laughter, not loneliness.” You said gently, and Theodore's heart skipped a beat at the sound of you voice.
Then he shook his head slightly. Either you were incredibly foolish or extraordinary to have befriended Peeves. He lingered a moment longer before slipping away, intrigued despite himself.
After that, he began to see you everywhere.
In the Great Hall, you sat with Luna Lovegood, both of you lost in quiet conversation, occasionally including Neville Longbottom. You were a Ravenclaw, clearly — bright eyes, thoughtful expressions.
In classes, his gaze kept drifting to you. You were kind to everyone, even the house-elves you thanked by name. When you made a minor mistake in Potions, even Snape hesitated from his usual cruelty, muttering a correction before turning his ire on Potter instead.
Theo found himself watching more openly.
One afternoon, he slipped into the Forbidden Forest for a smoke. There you were again — feeding a Thestral with such gentle affection it looked like a pet. The creature nuzzled your hand, and you glowed with quiet joy, cooing softly to a small baby Thestral nearby.
Theo realized with a dull thud in his chest that you could see them. You had watched someone die.
His jaw tightened slightly — not in anger, but something quieter he didn’t recognize.
He hesitated, then stepped forward, crushing the cigarette under his boot.
“You know, there’s a high chance that one might bite you.”
You turned at his voice, blinking once. Theo wondered if he looked too intimidating in the dappled light, but you simply smiled and turned back to the creature.
“Only if I give it a reason to.” Your voice was soft, warm.
Theo watched, silent, “They only look frightening if you don’t listen properly,” you said softly. “Most things do.”
Curfew was approaching, so you walked back together. Theo brought up the Peeves incident.
You laughed lightly, a sound that caught him off guard — softer than he expected, and for some reason, he didn’t want it to stop.
“Peeves can be a great conversationalist when you treat him like a person instead of a pest.”
Theo had a hard time believing that, but he didn’t argue.
As you both talked, Theo noticed how you got distracted mid-sentence, watching the way the wind moved the trees, then smiled like you remembered what you were saying.
Over the following days, you grew closer. You asked him whimsical, random questions — about the color of thoughts, or whether ghosts dreamed — that he secretly adored.
“Do you think memories weigh something?” you had asked him once. “Sometimes mine feel heavy.” He had no idea how to respond to that, wondering if his memories ever felt heavy.
You made wishes on shooting stars, on a single eyelash that rested on your cheek, when the clock hit a certain time. You lived like tomorrow wouldn't come, you made him happier, he realized. When he was with you, he'd find that your energy and your happiness were contagious.
He discovered you were incredibly smart, nearly matching him in Dark Arts theory and spellwork, though your kindness made your approach gentler.
One clear night on the Astronomy Tower, you mapped constellations, brow furrowed in concentration. Theo had stopped smoking around you weeks ago; it was worth it.
He leaned against the parapet.
“You're quieter than usual. What do you want to tell me?" You asked, catching him off guard as you glanced at him.
He exhaled sharply, unsure whether to tell you. “I can see Thestrals because, well, I saw my mother...” His fingers curled slightly against the cold stone, like he needed something to ground him.
You paused, lowering your hand. Your gaze softened with understanding.
“That must be painful to carry.”
A moment of silence passed as you looked out at the Black Lake. Then you shifted closer, your shoulder brushing his.
“My dad was an Auror,” you said softly. “When I was just a baby, Death Eaters came. I saw him pass away from the top of the stairs and could do nothing about it.”
You exhaled. “Some pains can’t be forgotten. And that’s okay. You’re allowed to carry them.”
It hit Theo harder than anything had in years. Everyone else told him to let go. You told him it was alright to hold on.
He wanted to kiss you right then, he wanted to hold you close and never let you go.
He didn’t do any of that.
He simply croaked, “Okay,” and stared at the lake with you.
A week later, Theo was heading back from the library when he heard voices in an empty corridor after curfew.
A Ravenclaw boy stood mockingly in front of you, arms crossed.
“I hid Lovegood’s things again. What are you going to do about it?”
You glared, voice steady. “It wasn’t nice. And it’s not funny to keep doing that to her.”
The boy scoffed and stepped closer, lifting his hand toward your face.
Theo was already moving, expression settling into the stoic mask he wore for everyone outside his circle.
The boy noticed him and stepped back quickly, glancing between you.
“Problem?” Theo asked calmly.
The boy faltered, stepping back as he looked between you and Theo.
You didn’t miss a beat. “Where did you hide Luna’s things?”
With Theo there, the boy muttered they were in a broom closet in the Charms corridor before hurrying off.
“You looked really serious just now. Kind of intimidating, actually.”
Theo wanted to stay annoyed at the boy, but your smile made the corner of his mouth lift despite himself.
You walked to the broom closet. You emerged with Luna’s shoes, a hairbrush, and a few odd-looking necklaces.
While walking back, you paused mid-step, watching dust float in the torchlight like it meant something important, and Theodore found his gaze travelling there too.
When you reached the Ravenclaw common room, he didn’t leave.
His hand found the back of your head, gentle but certain. He stepped closer, gaze flickering between your eyes like he was searching — like he wasn’t entirely sure this was real, or that you wouldn’t disappear if he got too close.
His breath hitched, subtle but there.
He leaned in slowly, giving you time to pull away.
Instead, you rose onto your toes — since he was much taller — and met him halfway.
The kiss was soft, warm, and perfect.
As Theo walked back to the Slytherin common room alone, he couldn’t stop the stupid smile spreading across his face, his ears red.
I have no idea if I pulled 'whimsy' off in the right way, praying that I did lol<3
To the anon who asked for this, I hope you like it!
