She had a problem. A problem by the name of Theodore Nott.
The two had been friends for years, since they both met on the train in their first year, even after she had been sorted in Ravenclaw rather than Slytherin like him.
But for the last year or so things had shifted between the two. A tension had wrapped itself around the pair of friends, lingering gazes and touches, interactions that toed the line between friendly teasing and flirting.
It was confusing to say the least, because while she had been sure of her feelings for her friend she was unsure of how he felt towards her.
Theo would be borderline flirting with her one moment, being far more touchy than a best friend ought to be and being far more protective, then the next moment he was chatting up a new girl before disappearing into a broom closest or his dorm.
Confused and hurt over what was happening she decided to put up boundaries, close herself off a little, maybe then she'd rid herself of these new found feelings for her best friend.
Though this was all easier said than done.
Walking into the great hall she made her way over to the Slytherin table, but instead of taking her usual seat pressed up against Theos side she sat between Enzo and Pansy, who welcomed her confused smiles but smiles nonetheless.
"Morning." She smiled to the group and they all greeted her back.
Theo had brushed this off, he couldn't expect her to sit beside him for every meal. But he found himself hating the way she had decided not to sit beside him anyway.
When she had finished her breakfast she excused herself from the table, and Theo did too, because they always left together and would walk around together before actually getting to class.
When he was finally beside her he reached for her hand to hold, something they always did, no matter what. But she evaded the touch, clasping her hands together in front of her.
He looked at her confused once again, but shrugged it off, because everyone has their off days.
They talked like they always did, conversation flowing easily between the both of them but Theo couldn't stop his hand from twitching with the need to grasp something, but since she wasn't going to hold his hand he decided standing as close as possible would have to suffice.
This she had allowed, because despite trying with all her might she couldn't deny that she missed his closeness. It was weird not to have him so close, but she had to do this because whenever he was so close she found herself pretending they were dating.
She almost forgot they were only friends a few times, almost because every time someone would say they looked like a "lovely couple" or anything along those lines Theodore would spend the next ten minutes explaining how they were only friends and how he basically saw her as a sister.
In class Theo had scooted his chair as close to her as possible, because that's just what he always did, and then he tried to put his arm around her chair like he always did, but instead of meeting his chair in the middle she stayed put, and instead of leaning back into his arm she sat as straight as possible, making sure her back wouldn't touch his arm. And their thighs that were normally pressed together seemed an ocean apart to him.
Theo frowned once more, even more confused as to what was happening to his best friend.
The rest of the day had went like this. With her avoiding any physical contact that wasn't needed and not flirting back with him, or not doing what she considered flirting back with him. She wasn't sure if Theo even knew he was flirting with her at this point.
After the last class of the day ended they had to split, Theodore went off to Quidditch practice while she had gone with Pansy down to the Slytherin common room.
While the two girls had sat on one of the many sofas in front of one fo the many fireplaces Y/N filled Pansy in on how she had been feeling, and her plan.
Pansy laughed loudly at what Y/N had said, covering her mouth to muffle it slightly, "I-I'm sorry, but is that why he's had this small frown on his face all day?" She asks and the Ravenclaw girl rolls her eyes fondly but nods her head. "You, Y/N L/N, are a mastermind."
"I know." She grinned, shrugging, earning another laugh from Pansy.
As if summoned Theodore showed up, standing behind the couch, "Ladies." He said smoothly as the two girls turned around to face him, though he greeted them both he kept his eyes on the one who was avoiding his touch.
"Hi Theodore." Pansy said with a slight smirk, not missing the way he hadn't taken his eyes off of the Ravenclaw girl once. Though that wasn't anything new. It seemed as though Theo could never quite taker her eyes off the girl, it was a surprise said girl hadn't noticed that.
"Hey Teddy." She smiled up at him, using the nickname for the first time today.
Theo felt something swell in his chest at the sound, he couldn't help it. Like he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face at the word.
He hoped over the back of the couch and slid into the seat right next to the girl. Wrapping one arm around her shoulder and the other around her middle in an effort to pull her impossibly closer to him.
While Pansy tried not to laugh out loud at Y/N flustered and startled face Theo had successfully sat his best friend practically on his lap.
Y/N cleared her throat and peeled Theos hands off her then stood, "Well-" She started, avoiding eye contact with Theo who had such a deep set frown Pansy was sure his face would freeze that way, "I think I'll get going now. I'll see you two at dinner!"
Then she scurried out of the snake pit as fast as she could and up to her own dorm.
Theodore sat there, frozen and confused. "What the fuck." He said, then he turned to Pansy, "D'you know what that was about?"
Pansy, who had a poorly hidden grin on her face, shrugged feigning ignorance. "Nope!" Theo glared at her but her resolve kept up so he huffed in annoyance before storming up to his dorm.
He endured three days of what he now considers his personal hell and it's be a lie if anyone at Hogwarts said they didn't notice.
Actually, it was hard not to notice. Things had changed for Theo, because sometimes Y/N wouldn't even eat at the Slytherin table anymore, and if she did she sat beside Pansy and someone-anyone- other than him. She no longer walked with him to class and he barely sat beside her in class.
Theo would walk to class like he wanted to set the whole castle on fire, and if he saw that his usual seat beside his beloved best friend was taken he'd sit behind them and glare lasers into the back of the poor students head.
And while almost every other student was scarred to even breathe the wrong way around the boy his friends found the entire thing incredibly amusing. Especially since Pansy had filled them all in on Y/N's behalf.
The Ravenclaw girl was sitting outside on the fourth day, enjoying the sun by herself as she sat on a bench and read her new book. The spot had nothing blocking the sun from her, not even clouds.
But then a large shadow came over her. She looked up to see a fuming Theodore with dark circles under his eyes and his normally messy hair was messier than usual, as though he had been tossing and turning all night then running his hand through it countless times.
Seeing him like this was no good. It just made her feel bad for putting a distance between them. Worst part was that it didn't work. She still had feelings for him and she was still longing for something more with him.
She opens her mouth to greet him but doesn't get the chance to get the first syllable out when he interrupts her, "Why've you been avoiding me?" He demands, his voice rougher and raspier than usual.
"I-" she huffed out a breath, she supposed there was no time like the present, and maybe confessing and rejection would help her get over him, "Because I like you Theo, and with you being all touchy then hooking up or flirty with some other girl. It confused me and I thought putting some space between us would help me get over you."
Theo went silent. He didn't know what to say, he didn't want to reject her, but he didn't know if he liked her back. She took his silence as an answer and sucked in a breath.
She had known being rejected would hurt, but she didn't think it would hurt that badly. She smiled up at him and tried her best not to cry. Closing her book she stood, "Nice talking to you Theo." She said before walking away and letting the tears fall.
She didn't go to breakfast the following morning, she didn't go to any classes, or any meals. Theo missed her presence entirely, because even though while she had put distance between the he could still see her, but now she wasn't there.
That night Theo realized something.
He realized he was an oblivious idiot. Because he hadn't treated Y/N as a best friend in years, instead he's been treating her like she was his girlfriend. And he'd seen her as his girlfriend, which was probably why he always thought of her when she wasn't around. Why when he was with another girl it was her he was thinking of, her he found himself wishing he were doing these things to.
Immediately he jumped out of bed, putting on shoes before he ran out of the Slytherin common room and up to Ravenclaw tower.
Answering the riddle with ease he bounded up the stairs to her dorm three at a time. By the time he was at her door he was breathless and red cheeked. He knocked gently and she answered right away.
She frowned looking up at the brown haired boy who lacked a shirt and was only wearing a pair of sweat pants and runner, "Teddy what are you-"
Theo pulled her by the waist and held her flush against him. Leaning down he kissed her, she froze, not sure what to do before she realized she was kissing him back.
uh don't really like this, go lazy with the ending.
