「 BUTTERED TOAST AND FRUITCAKE 」

"I BROUGHT YOU SOME FOOD."

Theo blinked as the light stabbed his eyes. Blaise stood by his bed, pushing away the random pieces of parchment and some sweet wrappers from the bedside table to place a tray on top of it. Theo rolled over under his quilt to squint - buttered toast, some grapes, and a goblet of orange juice.

"Have you eaten?" Theo asked, forgetting for a moment that he was mad at Blaise.

Blaise sat at the foot of his bed and nodded. Theo's eyes were glossy so he rubbed them with his fingers. When he let his hands fall, Blaise was staring intently at him, averting his gaze when their eyes met.

"Are we skipping first period, then?" he asked. A faint smile quirked up the corner of Blaise's lips.

"It's over in twenty minutes or so."

Theo slid off the bed, letting his feet touch the cold stone of the floor. He observed the food on his table, frowning a little. But he didn't say anything and grabbed some of his clothes to go to the bathroom and change. He returned in ten minutes to find Blaise seated at the same spot, twisting his fingers together. He wasn't looking directly at Theo, which was odd because Blaise never seemed to have any problem making eye contact.

The sight of the food caused his stomach to rumble. He sat opposite Blaise and placed the tray between them but didn't touch the food. He studied Blaise - he was now very interested in his shoes.

"You didn't eat," Theo stated. Blaise glanced briefly at him, a look of guilt flashing over his eyes that was gone in an instant.

"What do you mean?"

Theo waved his hand over the toast on the plate - buttered and tantalising. "Are you telling me the Carrows have increased our ration?"

Blaise's brows weaved together. "No, I'm not."

"Then how come I have one whole toast for myself?" Theo countered. "We had to share one apple among three people two days ago; there's no way I would get an entire toast."

Blaise shrugged noncommittally. "The Dumbledore's Army has been quiet for a week. And the Inquisitorial Squad is working productively I'm sure."

But Theo was already shaking his head. "Don't give me that. I'm not dumb. Don't expect me to believe that you ate by yourself in the Great Hall and brought my share back. You would have brought yours too and eaten with me."

Blaise rolled his eyes, scoffing. He leaned against the footboard and said, "Don't flatter yourself."

Theo narrowed his eyes. He fought the urge to stretch out his leg and kick Blaise in the shin. But then he laughed, and Blaise laughed too. There, Theo though, now he should know what I feel like when he reads my mind.

Theo took the toast and carefully ripped it in half. He held one of the halves to Blaise, who stared at it but didn't move to take it. He waved it in front of Blaise's nose, hoping that his hunger would overpower his stubbornness. It worked. With a defeated sigh, Blaise accepted the toast. Instead of eating it, however, he stared at it as though it was a rare object.

And under the current situation, Theo thought, it really was.

All too soon, the plates were empty. The small amount of orange juice in the goblet wasn't enough to moisten their throats, especially as Theo threatened that if Blaise didn't drink half of it, he would spill the entire drink on the floor. Were it not for the jug of water by his bed that the house-elves refilled every night, Theo didn't know how he would have survived.

An unwelcome question popped up in his mind. Were their regular supply of water untouched by the Carrows' new rules because they thought water was essential to live? Or because they weren't aware that every student had their own supply of water in the dormitory?

Theo set the tray back to the table, refusing to think of such things. Now that the food was gone, Blaise was back to twisting his fingers again. Theo watched him, waiting for him to speak, but he never did. In the end, he gave in and said, "Shall we go to class now?"

Blaise leapt to his feet. "Yes," he said. He went around to his bed where both his and Theo's backpacks were. He swung one around his shoulders and tossed the other to Theo, who caught it easily. "Let's go."

Blaise remained a little behind him as they left the dormitory and descended the stairs. Theo thought he felt a strange aura of guilt coming out of Blaise, though why he would be guilty, he couldn't say. He finally decided to ask. "Is this about last night?"

Blaise paused to open the door leading out of the common room. "Is what about last night?"

"How you're acting," Theo gestured toward him. "You seem to be avoiding me."

"Why would I be avoiding you?" Blaise asked in an infuriatingly calm tone. Theo was, once again, overcome by the urge to kick him in the shin.

He tried to think of a response or something to say that would coax some answers out of Blaise. He was interrupted, however, when they reached the end of the dungeons.

"Theo! Hey, how are you?"

It was Seamus. He seemed to have been waiting for him. Upon seeing him, a smile broke over Theo's face and he immediately forgot about persuading Blaise to talk. "I'm good," he answered, hurrying over to him. "What are you doing here?"

Seamus opened his mouth, then closed it again. He shifted from one foot to another, a mask of cautiousness spreading over his face. He gripped the straps of his bag between his fingers, then dropped his hands again. His eyes fluttered over to Blaise once.

"I want to talk to you about something," he said.

In the cold emptiness of the dungeons, Theo could almost hear his heartbeat reverberating off the damp stone walls. He had learned from experience that whenever someone said something like this, the outcome was rarely positive. With a dry mouth, he said, "About what?"

Seamus dropped his gaze. Theo looked over his shoulder to see Blaise standing with his arms crossed, staring at his shoes. He suddenly had the uncomfortable feeling that Blaise knew Seamus was going to be here and what he was going to say. But why?

He turned back to Seamus. "What is it?" he urged.

Seamus's face strained with pressure. Whatever he wanted to say, he didn't seem to want to say it. He grabbed the straps of his backpack again. "Blaise told me. About - about what Alecto Carrow did to you."

A cold dread plunged through Theo's spine before clutching at his heart. He went back a few steps, looking at Blaise who was still very steadfastly observing his shoes. Seamus hurried on as if he was scared Theo would run away.

"He thinks you should talk to McGonagall. And I think so too."

But Theo wasn't interested in what Seamus was saying. He had turned his back on him. He waited for Blaise to meet his eyes, but when he didn't, Theo said, trying his best to keep his voice steady. "Why did you tell him?" he asked.

"Please don't blame him," said Seamus from behind him. "He just wanted -"

"I'm not talking to you," Theo snapped. There was a moment of clarity during which he felt sorry and wanted to turn and apologise, but it was quickly overcome by the intense anger he felt toward Blaise. "I told you that in confidence. Why would you go and babble to someone else?"

Finally, Blaise took his eyes off his shoes. There was something in his gaze that Theo couldn't quite decipher for it wasn't something he often saw in Blaise. "I didn't know how else to convince you to tell someone."

Theo stomped his foot in frustration. "Why is it so fucking important?" he cried. "I don't want to talk about this with anyone, least of all a teacher. I just want to forget about it and move on." His voice rose steadily, bouncing off the walls and echoing back toward them. He glared directly at Blaise. "I told you because I couldn't keep it inside me any longer. All I wanted was some compassion. Not for you to tell the whole school."

Blaise stepped toward him, eyes blazing. "I didn't tell the whole school. I just told Seamus. Please, Theo. Listen to him. Give him a minute."

Angry tears sprung out of his eyes. He opened his mouth to shout some more but a sob ripped his voice away. Seamus was instantly on him, clasping his shoulders and arms and holding his jaws as he spoke calmly in direct contradiction to how Theo had been shouting all along. Theo didn't want to admit it, but the physical contact calmed him a little. "Theo, please let me speak for a minute." He paused to see if Theo wanted to say anything. Then he continued, "I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. I'm sorry I didn't realise it sooner. I should have done something, I should have been able to do something for you."

Theo wiped his face. "You couldn't have known."

Seamus smiled faintly, seemingly pleased that he was back to his normal voice now. "No one deserves to be treated like that. Alecto Carrow is a hateful bitch. She needs to face the consequences of her actions. Can I ask you something?"

Theo nodded.

"Do you think you're the only one she's done this to?"

Theo stilled for a moment. The abruptness of the question took him by surprise, but he stopped to think. Then he shook his head. "No. I'm sure I'm not the first."

"And do you think you'd be the last?"

"No."

Seamus nodded. All through the conversation, he had determinedly kept his hands firmly on Theo's shoulders. He kneaded his arms in a calming back and forth motion. Theo felt himself softening to his touch. He leaned back against the rough stone wall. Seamus touched the side of his face and asked gently, "Imagine if she does this again. To someone younger, far younger. They won't be old enough to understand what is happening to them. They will be terrified and they will be traumatised for life. Theo, if you can put a stop to this, why shouldn't you? I know it won't be easy for you, but you won't be alone. I'll be with you. Blaise will be too. We don't know how much power McGonagall has over the Carrows, but she can talk to Snape, convince him to do something. She will do something, I'm sure of it."

Theo forced himself to think about that night in Alecto Carrow's office. He was terrified and in pain. He was shocked, disoriented, numb. He wouldn't wish an experience like that on anyone.

He looked up at Blaise. He stood opposite them, arms still crossed before him. Then Theo looked back at Seamus. "Okay. I'll go."

Seamus gave a sad little smile. Then he wrapped his arms tightly around Theo's shoulders, pulling him close. He hugged him back, felt tears prickling behind his eyelids again. They pulled away.

Seamus looked at his watch. "We should hurry. I believe she is free and in her office right now."

Theo was stunned. "We're going now?"

"Why wait?" Seamus paused and squeezed his arm reassuringly. "Will you be okay?"

No, I won't.

Theo closed his eyes, fighting off images of Alecto and Amycus's faces as they crowded his mind. "Take your time," he heard Seamus say but his voice seemed distant.

"Yes," he said with far more confidence than he felt. "Let's go."

Seamus entwined their arms to lead him out of the hazy colours of the dungeons and into the brightness of the castle. Theo looked over at Blaise. "Will you come with me?"

Blaise woke as if from a daze. He finally uncrossed his arms and dropped his head in a brief nod. "Of course."

It must have taken them at least ten minutes to reach Professor McGonagall's office, but to Theo, it felt that mere seconds have passed before he found himself facing her door. He stood with Blaise and Seamus on either side of him, offering support he didn't think he deserved. It was funny how neither of them had spoken to each other before - he doubted they even liked each other - but were now united to stand with Theo as he waited to report Alecto Carrow.

Seamus gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "You can do this," he said. "We'll go with you or we'll stay outside - whichever you prefer."

Theo didn't even need to think. "Go with me," he blurted. "Definitely go with me."

He raised his fist, hesitated for a second, and knocked.

McGonagall's voice ordered them to enter.

Theo pushed the door open and they entered as one. Professor McGonagall sat behind her desk, a pile of papers lying haphazardly in front of her. A look of surprise crossed her stern yet tired face as she took in her visitors. "What is it?" she asked.

Theo thought he should say something. Wasn't that exactly why he had come here? He was supposed to tell her something, something of significance. But what?

Seamus stepped closer to him. "It's okay, Theo. Take your time."

Somehow the reassurance did nothing but aggravate the pressure building inside him. Theo moved a few steps closer to the desk. He suddenly remembered what he had to say. But he had already dictated the whole thing to Blaise last night; he wasn't quite looking forward to repeating it so soon.

With a deep breath, Theo closed his eyes and began to speak. He had not spoken more than a few sentences before McGonagall interrupted him. He blinked at her with surprise.

"That's okay, Mr Nott," she said in a gentle voice he had never heard from her before. She took off her glasses and straightened in her high-backed chair. "You don't have to say anything more."

Theo surreptitiously glanced back at Seamus. It wasn't supposed to go like this. McGonagall's sudden interruption had thrown him off-balance. He desperately hoped for Seamus to give him further instructions through telepathy, but Seamus did something even better. He spoke.

"Well, are you going to do something about it?" he demanded. If McGonagall was offended by his tone, she didn't show it. Instead, she crossed her office to stand directly in front of them. She kept her eyes on Theo only as if the other two weren't in the room at all.

"We have received similar reports in the past two weeks," she said.

"You have?" asked Theo.

"I have spoken to the other teachers. We haven't been able to do more than discuss so far. The twins always keep a sharp eye on us and prevent us from holding meetings. But we hope to speak to Severus and that he will take the necessary steps to put a stop this."

Seamus came to stand beside Theo and jutted his chin up. He said resolutely, "So are you just going to hope or actually do something?"

Theo flinched inwardly. No one spoke to McGonagall like that. But surprisingly, she remained unfazed as she finally decided to acknowledge his existence. "I understand your anger, Mr Finnigan," she said in a calm but fierce tone. "But you have to understand that our priority is to stay at Hogwarts and look over you while you go around breaking rules. We do not have the luxury to be rash."

Seamus's jaws worked; he looked like he wanted to argue but in the end, he gave a curt nod and stepped back. McGonagall returned her attention to Theo.

"Mr Nott, I'm sorry that this happened to you," she said in a softer tone. "And I want you to know that it was brave of you to come forward and speak up. It must not have been easy."

She said all of these in a steady, matter-of-fact tone. But the effect they had on Theo was tremendous. He lowered his head and gave a swift nod before turning on his heels to leave the office. His eyes stung with tears. As the door shut behind him, he strode away as far from the place as possible. A few seconds later, he heard two pairs of footsteps following him.

He stopped at a junction between two corridors. The place was deserted so he leaned his forehead on the wall and heaved a few breaths. Seamus took him by the arms and turned him around, before embracing him close, lovingly. Theo assumed this must be what having an older brother would feel like.

Seamus whispered into his ear, "You did well. I'm proud of you."

Then he pulled back and said in a louder voice, "See you around then, Theo." He glanced at Blaise. "Bye, Zabini. Blaise looked surprised to have been addressed and by the time he was able to formulate a response, Seamus was gone.

As he disappeared behind a turn, Theo moved closer to Blaise and gazed into his eyes. "I'm sorry for yelling at you."

Blaise smiled. "It's okay. I would have been angry too if someone had spilt a secret I told them in confidence."

"And for last night. You were right," Theo admitted. "Telling McGonagall was the right thing to do. I shouldn't have been so harsh."

Something unreadable flashed across Blaise's face but before Theo could decide what it was, it was gone. Blaise said, "Come with me." And he started walking.

"Where are we going?" Theo asked as he attempted to keep up with Blaise's long strides.

"I don't know yet."

They took a very long-winded way to the third floor, where Blaise swept aside a heavy tapestry and revealed a large circular hole cut into the wall. He gestured for Theo to get in.

Theo stared doubtfully. It didn't seem to have any opening on the other end - it was too dark. He took his wand, muttered, "Lumos," and climbed into the hole. It was just big enough for him to be able to sit comfortably. Sure enough, there was nothing on the other end - just a sharp jutting of stone.

Blaise climbed in after him with his wand lit up with a dull glow. He let the tapestry fall and the place was immediately plunged into darkness, with just two small balls of light illuminating their faces, casting moving shadows on the rough stone walls around them. When Theo stretched his legs, his feet just touched the opposite wall. Blaise sat to his left, facing him.

"Why are we here?" Theo questioned when they had both settled down. His voice bounced against the walls, creating a large-scale version of what they could experience in the dungeons. Apart from the sound of their bodies shifting against the stone, it was extremely silent, like they were in a completely new world.

"We need to hide," Blaise said simply. Theo was going to ask what he meant but Blaise put his wand between his teeth and started to rummage through his pockets, so he decided to give him the time to find whatever he was looking for. Besides, the light coming directly in front of him made his face glow mysteriously.

Blaise found what he was looking for with a triumphant grin. He held it out for Theo to see. It wasn't anything remarkable - just a small reddish-brown ball. He squinted at it for a minute, trying to understand its secrets. "We are hiding for this tiny thing?"

Blaise extinguished his wand and used an enlargement spell on the ball, causing it to twist and grow bigger, before lighting his wand again. What Theo saw now was something wrapped in brown paper.

With precise hands, his wand still stuck between his teeth, Blaise unwrapped the paper. Out fell four slices of fruitcake. Theo gaped.

Blaise took his wand out of his mouth and stuck it inside the pocket of his shirt. Then he gave two of the slices to Theo, who accepted them disbelievingly. His stomach rumbled at the sight of such a sweet delicacy.

"I'm afraid to ask," he said weakly.

Blaise laughed. "I came across Lavender Brown when I went out this morning to look for Seamus," he explained.

"To snitch on me," said Theo as he took the smallest bite of the cake. "Yes, go on."

"She gave them to me. She said she didn't know either of us, but she knew that Luna would want you to have them." Blaise looked down at the slices in his hand, frowning. "I don't know if she'd want me to have them though."

Theo sent a glare in his direction. "Well, if you're not eating them, neither am I. So don't even try."

Blaise's eyes settled on him for a second before his face broke into a smile. They sat in silence as they slowly finished the cakes.

"Why didn't you give these to me with breakfast?" Theo asked. He didn't want to waste the perfectly good cake by brushing the crumbs off his hands so he resorted to licking his fingers clean instead. Blaise, remarkably, blushed. Despite the insufficient light, Theo saw it clearly - a layer of deep crimson rising up his cheeks.

"I was saving them," he answered.

"What for?"

Blaise moved his legs so their knees touched. "I thought you'd be mad at me for dragging you off to McGonagall," he explained, refusing to meet Theo's eyes. "So I was keeping them as a peace offering."

Theo stared, bewildered. Then he threw his head back in laughter. This caused Blaise's blush to deepen further. "Oh, Blaise," he managed to say between his laughs. He moved as gracefully as he possibly could in this small hole in the wall and sat next to Blaise, so they were both facing the same wall. Theo snuggled close to his best friend and laid his head down over his shoulder.

"You don't need any peace offering."

⋆

well i hate this chapter