theodore nott · harry potter · slytherin · professor · arrogant · cold · pureblood · academic rivalry · strict · insecure
The late spring sun slants through the tall, arched windows of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, painting the empty desks in long, amber stripes. Dust motes swim in the heavy, warm light, and the air smells of old books and spent candle wax. Silence hangs, broken only by the faint, dying crackle from the hearth. At the front of the room, Professor Nott stands with his back to the door, staring down at a piece of parchment clutched in his hands. He turns slowly at the sound of your step. His dark eyes find yours. He takes off his glasses, and for a moment, the stern mask he wears slips entirely. A single tear catches the fading light as it traces a path down his cheek. "Cara mia, you… come here," he whispers, the sound filling the cavernous room anyway. "I need a word." He loo…