oXo

A Foreign Affair

A Theo Nott Romance

Chapter 14

"Lessie, wake up!"

"What is it?" Lessie shot up in bed, groping for her wand. She blinked a couple of times and found herself in her bed in the Slytherin dormitories with Daphne Greengrass standing between the gap of her bed curtains.

Lessie blinked again and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She and Theo got back to Hogwarts late and snuck Erin and Stone into the castle. They had helped them set up camp on the seventh floor, in the secret piano room. After they left the two there for the night, they returned to the common room where Lessie stayed up late, packing her bag for a week at Theo's house by the light of her wand.

"Late night?" Daphne arched one of her perfect eyebrows, her stare equal parts amused and judgmental.

A blush colored Lessie's cheeks at Daphne's insinuation. "You could say that. What's up? Why did you wake me up?"

"Theo asked," shrugged Daphne, already turning to leave the dorm room. For the first time, Lessie noticed Daphne was dressed smartly in pressed black slacks, a light blue sweater that brought our her eyes and a travelling cloak. "I was just on my way out, and he asked to make sure you remembered you agreed to leave early too."

Throwing off her covers, Lessie wordlessly conjured the time charm into the air to check the time—it was seven in the morning. She would be travelling on only four hours of sleep. With a deep sigh, Lessie dispelled the charm by running her hand through it and made her bed.

"Are you leaving for Spring holiday too?"

"Yeah, I'm going to Theo's."

Her back was turned to Daphne as she gathered her things for a shower, but she could feel the sudden change in air as Daphne took that bit of information in.

"Oh," the aristocratic girl said, her voice as thin as ice. Lessie turned in time to see Daphne offer her a tight smile. "I hope you enjoy." Before Lessie could respond, Daphne turned on her heel and quickly left the dorm room—leaving Lessie alone.

A quick shower later, Lessie hurried down the stairs to the common room where Theo sat on the couch in front of the fire read a book. She was amazed by his ability to concentrate on his book while the common room buzzed with students loudly bustling to get away from schoolwork for a week.

Lessie moved passed a few students, offering them smiles and wishing them good breaks in return to get to Theo.

"Sorry I slept in," said Lessie, kissing Theo's cheek as she plopped on the couch beside him. She took in the hurried and excited talks of the students around her and frowned slightly.

"Theo," she said, and he glanced up, creasing down the corner page of his book to save his spot. "Something's…off."

"I think you should come with me." Theo breathed out a heavy sigh before he rose to his feet with Lessie beside him. She searched his eyes for a hint of what she needed to expect, and all she found his solemn blue gaze.

Theo led her out of the Common Room and in the direction of the Great Hall. They paused at the entrance of the Great Hall where students were gathered, speaking in harsh tones. Some glanced up when Theo and Lessie arrived, but thy mostly stuck to their clusters before hurrying away to leave for the holiday.

Lessie glanced at Theo whose gaze was fixed upward where Professor Umbridge's Educational Decrees were nailed for all to see. Lessie counted each one, and there were still seven framed, ridiculous rules.

"There's still seven, Theodore," Lessie murmured. Theo nodded, and she noticed that he cocked his head to the side as if he was listening in on conversations. Expelling a breath, Lessie did the same, thinking dark thoughts about Theo's tendencies for being cryptic.

"…in the infirmary."

"I heard not even Madame Pomfrey can fix Edgecombe's face."

"I can't believe the D.A. is over. I actually learned something…"

Lessie's eyes widened slightly and Theo took her hand, leading her into the Great Hall.

"Breakfast," he said in a pleasant tone, and by the way he squeezed her hand, Lessie knew she saw what he wanted her to see. With a slight frown, she led him to the end of the designated Slytherin table where there were no other students. Still, she glanced around before leaning across the table toward Theo.

"When," Lessie finally asked. The organization was secret, and she had the strong feeling that Theo knew she was part of it, without her saying so since he knew she spent time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione for reasons she wouldn't share.

"Last night," answered Theo as he drank from a cup of pumpkin juice.

"During our date," Lessie murmured out loud as she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice too. She looked at Theo over the edge of her cup as she took a drink and her brown eyes narrowed. He was oddly calm—he was always calm, but something felt off. In a way, he reminded her of her father after he found a person he had spent months tracking.

"Did you have something to do with this?'

"I was with you," answered Theo. "And Erin and Stone."

His answer brought her no comfort. Theo was one of the smartest people Lessie had ever met, and she intended to get to the bottom of this. For now, Lessie's mind was preoccupied with the end of Dumbledore's Army. She wondered where Hermione, Harry, and Ron were now, and she hoped they weren't in trouble.

She drank the pumpkin juice without tasting it; her mind raced with too many questions and suspicions that having an appetite was the last thing on her mind. She put the cup down on the table, more forcefully than she intended, giving up on the idea of breakfast altogether.

Maybe getting away from Hogwarts would give her new perspective. Maybe seeing Theo in his element—in his own home would help him speak more freely about the recent event—was she seeing exactly what he wanted her to see?

"Alessandra?"

Theo's ocean-colored eyes searched her questioningly, and Lessie found it difficult to harbor any dark feelings about him.

"Are we leaving any time soon?" asked Lessie. "I think I need to get away for a while."

"As soon as you're ready, we can leave," answered Theo.

"I packed last night, all we have to worry about are Stone and Erin, and we're home free," said Lessie, rising to her feet.

As she and Theo exited the Great Hall, they crossed paths with Draco, Pansy, and Blaise. Draco's face appeared more smug than usual and he looked incredibly proud of himself.

"What's with the look," asked Lessie, slowing to speak with him. He offered her an arrogant smile, and Lessie refrained from rolling her eyes.

"We caught Potter and his friends last night hosting his illegal club," answered Draco, his chest puffed with pride. He cocked an eyebrow at Lessie, clearly amused. "I can't say that I'm sorry, but I knew how much you liked that prick, his friend, and the mudblood."

Lessie flinched at the blond boy's slander. "They're good people."

Pansy scoffed, "What would you know, Lessie? You've only been at Hogwarts this year, and you're acting like you run the place."

"That's enough, Parkinson."

The group became oddly silent at Theo's command. He didn't need to raise his voice, but it was the calmness of his tone, that wiped the smirk off Draco's face. Pansy frowned and leaned into Draco.

"Theo's right, dear," said Draco, even as he wrapped an arm around the pug-faced girl's shoulder. "No matter how misinformed Lessie might be, she's still our guest and Theo's girlfriend, so play nice."

"Misinformed or not," Lessie cut in, glaring at everyone in the group, even Blaise who watched the exchange, a glint of glee in his dark eyes, "I fight my own battles, and I will determine who I consider good or not." Lessie gave Pansy a look that told the Slytherin girl exactly what Lessie thought of her.

Turning on her heel she strode away from the Slytheirns, not bothering to check if Theo was following her or not, he'd catch up when he was ready, she decided.

X

Two hours later, long after Lessie's temper had cooled and Theo and Lessie had to smuggle Erin and Stone out of Hogwarts, the group of four walked up the cobblestone steps to Theo's front door.

"Wow," Erin breathed and Stone let out an impressed whistle. Even Lessie found herself stunned by the beauty of Theodore Nott's opulent English home.

Theo ducked his head shyly at their reaction. "Welcome home," he muttered as if embarrassed by his wealth.

"His home gives you a run for your money, Less," said Erin; she and Stone had visited Lessie in California during the summer, and they were equally impressed by the place she grew up.

"I think it's bigger than what I have," confirmed Lessie as Theo pushed open the front door and held it open for his guests.

"Father," he called in a loud voice once he closed the door behind him, "we're here!"

There was no response; Lessie, Stone, and Erin exchanged looks.

Theo rubbed the back of his neck. The color on his face from earlier embarrassment had ebbed away. "He's probably in his study. I'll show you the guest rooms, then I'll give you a tour."

From the doorway, there was a view of a wide, grand staircase that led to a second story that sprawled in either direction.

Theo started up the stairs and Lessie, Stone, and Erin followed behind him.

"All of the rooms are up here," said Theo, "then a level above is an attic and a piano room, and down below is my father's study, the kitchen, a seating room, a dining room, a library, a sun room, and below that is a basement."

"Just all that," Stone said, his voice heavy with sarcasm, "just the basics."

"Essentially," Theo answered with the same dryness.

Before they reached the top stair, a small pop halted them. Lessie looked around Theo and found herself face to face with a house elf with large brown eyes and dressed in what looked like a elf-sized servant's outfit.

"Master Theo!" the house-elf exclaimed, and surprisingly, Theo offered a kind smile to the creature.

"Hello, Miss Libby," he answered. Libby smiled in greeting.

"It has been far too long since Master Theo has visited, naughty boy," she waved a finger at him. "Your father will be so please to have a voice outside of his study!"

"But he has yours," answered Theo before he turned and put a hand on Lessie's back.

"Miss Libby, this is my very good friend Alessandra Aragòn, she's visiting from Ilvermorny, the school in North America. These are her friends Erin and Stone, please make them feel welcome."

Libby followed Theo's hand on Lessie's back and narrowed her eyes. Lessie didn't detect any jealousy from the house-elf—the feeling she got from Daphne Greengrass most of the time—but the scrutinizing look of an overprotective female relative.

"Libby sees, Master Theo," Libby said after a moment before she smiled up at Lessie. "She is far prettier than Miss Greengrass and her company looks much nicer than that Mr. Malfoy."

"Miss Libby," Theo said warningly, but Libby scoffed at him, as if she were allowed to make those statements all the time.

"Libby has made sure all of the rooms are clean for Master Theo's friends," she then clapped her small hands together, "and Libby is so excited to make a grand supper for everyone. Libby knows the other house-elves at Hogwarts, and Libby knows the food is very good there, but Master Theo looks much too thin."

"Thank you," said Theo, he smiled when Libby reached out and patted his hand gently before she disappeared with another popping sound.

"Anyway, that's Libby, she's been around as long as I can remember."

"She seems nice," Lessie said.

"She's brutally honest," Theo supplied, he rolled his eyes, but Lessie knew he was fond of Libby. "She thinks she can say anything because she's free. So, this room can be Erin's." They had turned to the left of the staircase, and Theo pushed open the first door on his right. The room, as it turned out was spacious with a large bed and dresser.

"This one can be Stone's." He opened the next door and revealed a similar room, with a different color scheme.

He opened a third door and revealed a third room with yet another color scheme, "and this one will be Alessandra."

"Where's your room," Stone asked, raising a suggestive eyebrow. "Oof!" He doubled over when Lessie smacked his stomach, her face bright red.

"Don't be gross."

"He's not being gross," Erin laughed, "he's being honest." Erin waggled her eyebrows.

"Stop," Lessie demanded, shaking her head, this time, she looked to Theo for help.

"Well," said Theo, his face as red as Lessie's. "I suppose Alessandra's right. I'll leave you three to unpack." Theo nodded at Lessie, Erin, and Stone before he hurried off, muttering something about needing to make sure his room was still there, to a room three doors down.

"English people are strange," Erin muttered when the three were left in the hallway.

"No stranger than we are," answered Lessie. She pushed open her door wider and walked in, depositing her suitcase on the bed. "Now," she said, back out in the hallway so Erin and Stone could hear her from their rooms. "I expect to be filled in on all the news I missed an Ilvermorny."

"We'll get there," Stone promised as he and Erin joined Lessie in her room; Erin shut the door behind her.

The three sat on the edge of Lessie's bed before they all lied back in synchronized motion—as if they hadn't been apart for almost an entire school year. Between Stone and Erin, Lessie felt more home than she had in months.

"Before we get there," Stone continued after a silence, he turned on his side and propped himself up on his elbow so he could look at both girls. "Less, when were you going to tell us you were at Hogwarts in the middle of a war?"

Author's Note:

Your reviews are so encouraging! :)

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