Theodore Nott is a silent boy. He's always trying to blend in and making other people forget that he exist. His father detest him. Her mother life is lost because of him. He's unwanted.
Being a Hufflepuff is a surprise for him. The hat laugh at him when he beg it to put him in Slytherin. "You won't last a day." it said, refusing him.
But Theo is afraid. He's afraid of his father reaction. Would he be mad enough to beat him? Theo feel his body shaking when he took place in the Hufflepuff table. He took a seat almost in the end of the table, far away from the other student. He's silently cursing his life.
Then Harry Potter came. He take a seat beside him. Theo is bewildered. He wonder why Potter would want to sit near him. The Death Eater son. Maybe Potter is ignorant.
But Potter is not. Potter managed to charm every other first year on their house. He and the Swan girl get everyone on their team. They are the picture of perfect harmony.
Theo doesn't care about it. He just want to survive his school day. And hopefully his father would forget about him too.
But wishing it and living it is a totally different thing. Damn this life. Maybe, he would get a better after life?
***
Harry, Iris and Draco have a different memory later on, on how they came across Theo. They do remember feeling shocked upon seeing a group of older students kicking something or someone in a dark corridor.
Harry, who never experienced this event in Hogwarts before is dumbfounded.
Iris react fast, she flicked her wand at the group, making invinsible barrier between them and what they are kicking.
"What the bloody hell is happen here?" Draco nearly scream.
The group stilled. They're shock at getting caught. They take a look with each other before sprint off, leaving their victim behind.
"The hell." Draco peered, he spot the yellow green emblem, "Is that a Hufflepuff?"
After Iris lowered the barrier they rush over.
"Theo?" Draco kneel near the boy, "you look like shit."
Theodore Nott, their fellow first year spot some bruise on his face, "I've been better, you know."
Harry help to steady Theo, " What happen?"
"Nothing." Theo dogde Harry off. Brushed some dust from his robes. Cringed inwardly.
"You're getting the shit beat out of you." Draco said.
"Yeah? And you?" Theo ask back, "Aren't you too?"
Harry and Iris exchange glance. Draco "fall the broom" excuse are cheap. That's why they insist accompany him to the hospital wing. What happen to this two is example on how cruel kids can be.
"Let's go shall we?" Iris said, grabbing Theo, "your bruise can't heal itself can it?" she steer him to the hospital wing.
"Did you want to grab my hand too, Drake?" Harry offer Draco his hand in a gentlemanly manner.
"Sod off." Draco walk on his own, "And don't call me that."
"What? Drake? Drake. Drake. Drake." Harry follow Draco, "I like it."
Madam Pomfrey looked suspicious at them when she's treating Draco and Theo, who fall from broom and fall from the stairs respectively.
She did not haggle them thought. She just told them to stay the night for observation. So Harry and Iris leave Draco and Theo to the matron capable hand.
***