THEODORE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO think twice to know where Ophelia was. The Astronomy tower. It was so obvious. Ever since he'd run into her there twice, he knew it was no coincidence. That was her spot.

Blaise had come to him as soon as Ophelia stormed out of the dungeons, telling him every single detail that had passed between her and the Weasley girl.

It had taken Blaise ten whole minutes to calm him down. Theodore had gone wild, absolutely feral when he first heard what happened, entirely off his rocker. Someone had hurt her. His girl.

Instantly, Theodore strode to the Astronomy tower, without even caring or thinking about what Draco would do if he knew Theodore's feelings for Ophelia never left, but only grew stronger instead.

His heart was thundering in his chest as blood pounded through his ears. He ran up the winding staircase of the Astronomy tower, despite the fact that he was breathless and wanted to stop to take a break.

Until he saw her. 

She looked so goddamn beautiful in that dress— in Slytherin colors. 

Her beauty rivaled those of the stars.

If Theodore was given the choice to look at the night sky, or her, he'd always pick her. Always. She was more beautiful than any star, and more radiant than the moon.

She was the ethereal combination of heaven on earth. She was too good, too pure for this earth.

His heart shattered when he saw her, shaking with tears as she hugged her knees, crouched against the wall in the cold air.

She didn't deserve this.

Theodore slowly sat down on the wooden floor next to her before pulling her into his arms and stroking her hair, hopefully trying to get her to calm down.

She flinched. Then she realized it was him.

She tried to push him away. 

But he only held her tighter.

"Leave me alone," She sobbed, squirming and trying to twist away from him. "GO AWAY!"

Theo only held her tighter, slowly stroking her back until she gave up fighting him and sobbed into his shoulder.

"Let it all out, Ophelia," he murmured. 

She seemed to find solace in pinching his arm repeatedly as she sobbed, one hand clinging to him tightly, the other one pinching and scratching his arm.

He fought to hide his laugh. She was so adorable when she was aggressive. 

She thought she was actually hurting him.

No, Ophelia was actually tickling Theodore with her pinches, and the Nott heir was trying so hard not to laugh.

"You're hurting me," he gritted his teeth as he said this, trying to fight off his laughter. It would pass for an angry voice.

"Good," she sniffled. "You deserve it."

In his mind, Theodore was having a full conversation with her.

He was saying words he would never dare to say to her face.

Oh, my sweet innocent Ophelia.

If only you knew these little pinches of yours are as painful as a mosquito bite.

As for me deserving it— well, I don't deny it. But I deserve more than these little pinches. 

Has anyone told you how cute you look when you're holding a grudge? The sight of you in tears is killing me. But the combination of your teary gaze, your tiny sniffles and your annoyed tone is enough to leave me breathless. Even when you are crying you are beautiful. It makes me want to kiss the shit out of you. 

But I don't want to steal another kiss.

So I'll just wait.

Even if it takes forever.

Theodore only snapped out of his mental monologue when Ophelia shifted in his arms. When Theodore noticed she had stopped crying, he allowed her to pull away.

Ophelia looked at the tiny red marks she'd made on his arm from pinching him, looking satisfied.

"It hurts," Theodore remarked monotonously, rubbing it, trying to pretend he was in pain.

"Good," she crossed her arms and wiped her tears, sniffling.

Theodore decided not to say anything else. He knew that if he said something offensive, he'd hurt her more, and he couldn't do that. Not when she was already hurting.

And if he said something nice, his entire façade would crumble.

So he stayed silent.

And so did she.

She had stopped crying, and was covering her body with her arms, looking up at the stars with her tear-filled silverish blue eyes.

Theodore didn't look at the stars.

He looked at her.

Because to him, she was brighter than the whole sky.

He watched the tears dry off her cheeks, and he watched the reflection of the moon in her silverish blue eyes .

He watched her face light up as she caught sight of a shooting star. 

He watched her cross her fingers, close her eyes and make a wish.

When she opened her eyes, she looked at him, and that was the moment he knew she was fine.

The way she looked at him. Merlin. 

The wind was knocked out of his lungs with that one glance.

Fucking hell. 

Don't look at me like that.

I can't look away. 

Don't look at me like that.

You're driving me crazy, Ophelia.

My heart.... It's.... flying.

Stop. Don't look at me like that.

Theodore gulped, looking away from her quickly, his heart beating erratically fast.

Ophelia's gaze still hadn't left him. She was scrutinizing him with her eyes narrowed, wondering what on earth had possessed him to act nice towards her.

"Are you okay?" Theodore finally asked, his voice dry and breathless. He hoped she wouldn't sense the undertone in his voice.

"Just fine," she replied coolly, without sparing him a single glance. 

Fuck. Ouch. Pain. My heart. Make it stop.

"What happened?" Theodore asked, trying to make conversation, even though he knew exactly what had happened.

"Why do you care?" Ophelia finally turned to face him. "Why does it bother you?" Her voice was slightly high pitched, her tone was accusatory, and at that moment, she looked every bit the ice princess that Hogwarts had made her to be.

Theodore shrugged, swallowing thickly. 

"I don't care," he said after a few seconds of silence, before adding, "And it doesn't bother me." His voice was rough as he responded, like he was convincing himself instead of her.

Lies. It bothers me so much.

But I can't tell you.

"Then why did you ask?" Ophelia challenged, her greyish blue eyes suddenly flashing brighter for a millisecond. 

It took Theo's breath away. The way her eyes blazed when she looked at him. Despite the fact that she was angry at him, it still made him want to grab her and smother her face with kisses.

It took him a few seconds to come up with the perfect answer. "Just... thought you might have wanted to talk, or rant..."

Ophelia then let out a sarcastic laugh, a mock concerned expression on her face.

"Oh?" she asked dryly, her voice lacking complete emotion. 

This is why they call her ice princess.

She laughed sarcastically again. "Oh, now suddenly you want me to rant?"

"If it helps you, why not?" Theodore added.

"When have you ever cared about what helps me, Nott?" Ophelia asked, her whole body facing his.

Since you were three. 

Since I saw you for the first time.

Since forever.

Theodore shrugged. "I don't," he muttered. "I was just trying to help..."

"Well, I don't need your help!" Ophelia snapped, her eyes watering again. "Okay? I need you to stay away from me, to stop kissing me, to stop messing with my feelings, to... to stop showing up every time I need someone," she whimpered the last words, tears suddenly spilling down her cheeks. "I... I need you to stop calling me by my name and comforting me, okay?" she said loudly, through her tears.

Fuck.

I'm gone. Done for.

This girl's got me wrapped around her finger and she doesn't even know it.

I'm yours. 

I'll do anything, just... Please, don't show me those tears. 

I can't resist them.

Theodore felt his heart stop. 

Her words were like a punch to his gut.

Her words were like an eviction from his home, from his sanctuary.

No. No, you don't know what you're asking of me.

Please, no.

Anything but this.

"No," he muttered, running a hand through his messy brown hair.

"I'm sorry, what?" Ophelia's piercing gaze was boring into his own dark blue eyes.

The moment he looked into her eyes, he knew he was a goner. He couldn't look away.

Don't look at me like that.

Please, I can't resist those eyes.

I can't. Those eyes make me want to set myself on fire just so you could watch me burn for you.

Don't. Fucking. Look. At. Me. With. Those. Fucking. Eyes.

But Ophelia couldn't read his mind. Her innocent, hurt greyish blue eyes looked deep into his, tears clinging to her lashes and spilling down her cheeks and onto her dress, drying a few seconds after they touched her skin.

He couldn't resist her.

Not now, not ever.

He swallowed thickly. 

And then, his mouth betrayed his heart, his brain temporarily disbanded from how her eyes captivated him.

"Fine," he said hoarsely. "Okay."

The weight of his words sunk in almost immediately.

What have I done?

Please, I take it back.

His chest tightened. The next thing he knew was that she was standing up, and smoothening her dress down before looking at him with her tearful gaze. "Thank you."

And then, she left.

She left him alone in the Astronomy tower, where he could wallow in his own miserableness. 

Alone.

He was crouched against the wall, hugging his knees as his eyes watered, and he allowed himself to cry.

To weep, to give his misery to the stars that watched him above.

Theodore had never felt pain like this before.

It was one thing for Draco to tell him to stay away from Ophelia.

But it was completely different when Ophelia practically begged him to stay away from her.

Is it possible for your heart to break more than once?

Is it possible for your whole world to walk away from you?

Is it possible for the pain to stop?

Because Theodore was going through the emotional pain. But it was nothing compared to the other half of his heart telling him that this is what would make her happy.

Was it selfish? Absolutely not. It was the most unselfish thing he had ever done.

Theodore was selfish. But when it came to her, he'd gladly give up everything and live like a poor man.

So he sacrificed his love for her to make her happy.

Because Theodore was her mirrorball.

He'd break himself a million times into a million pieces just to let her shine, so she could see herself.

I need you.

But you don't need me back.

I want you.

But you don't want me back.

I love you...

You don't love me back.

{ hey guys! so i know ginny weasley wasn't actually mean in the books. trust me, i know everything about the books. but just gonna point out that she is a weasley. it is possible for her to treat malfoys this way. ron always said really horrible things, fred and george always insulted malfoy in the books... y'know... you get it. anyway, this is also a work of fanfiction.
hope you guys are okay, and please, please, please, if any of you are going through any mental health issues pm me and we can talk. i don't judge.
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{ DEC 14. 2023 }