InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "42"

Theodore Nott (forgetme_nott) wrote in hogwarts_dawn,
@ 2021-06-15 19:40:00

Entry tags:

character: roxanne weasley, character: theodore nott

RP: Theo
Who: Theodore Nott (Open to all)
When: Monday, 14 June
Where: Infirmary
What: Research and waiting...

Theo hated waiting and he hated the infirmary. It was nothing but misery and desperation and some small beacon of hope that as time wore on seemed to grow dimmer. It was at the start a flurry of activity, people running here and there and now it seemed to have settle some. The worst of the injuries tended to as best they could be and now they had to wait until the cure was found.

Not that he was complaining. He had it much better than others did. In fact he had barely spoken at all since arriving. Instead his head was stuck in the books, looking for something, anything that would help. Somewhere between the fever heat and chills and cold sweat he slept. If he spent more time listening to staying put and resting that would have surely helped. But he wandered out for his occasional smoke and paced a great deal. McKinnon was annoyed but he had told her to leave it be, being a nuisance came naturally and if pressed he would be a pest. He needed to move about or he'd go mental.

The discomfort was growing and that was harder to ignore. What he had been given was easing the symptoms of pain and discomfort some, but as the hours wore on it grew less and less effective. Still, his wound had been minor. He had time still to be of some help to himself and others.

Sat upon his bed he had papers and books spread all around him. It was frustrating to say the least, and he tossed one book aside for another in anger.

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Theo | Roxanne

dreamtoofar
2021-06-16 12:17 am UTC (link)

She'd always hated the hospital wing. It smelled weird, and always had an unnatural quiet to it that didn't exactly sit well with her constant need for chatter. Between quidditch, prototype WWW products and whatever else, Roxanne had spent her fair share of time here while at school. She hadn't really expected to be back. Certainly not like this.

Glancing across at Scorpius and Albus as she passed, Roxanne wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing that they both looked to be asleep. Pushing down a jolting wave of concern, she made a beeline for the bed further back. Roxanne almost grinned when she got her first glimpse of Theo, surrounded by books and papers. It was reassuring, in a weird way, to see him like that. Although the closer she got the easier it was to see the unnatural feverish sheen on his forehead.

"Hey," she smiled, dumping her bag on the nearby chair and looking for a space on the duvet to sit down on. "I'm supposed to remind you to take it easy."

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

forgetme_nott
2021-06-16 12:43 pm UTC (link)

It was infuriating looking for answers and coming up empty. He liked to consider himself lucky, the sort to always land on his feet. This time though it was proving to be more difficult than he would like. His head was in the books when Roxanne arrived, so much so he had not noticed for a moment. At least until she had spoke.

Theo looked up, offering a small smile and moving over to give her room to sit. "So I've been told, however I don't really have that luxury," he said while closing and putting the book he was looking through aside for the moment.

"I'm glad you came."

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

dreamtoofar
2021-06-16 02:21 pm UTC (link)

"Course I came." Roxanne slid into the empty spot he'd just made, tucking one leg beneath her as she looked around at the papers and books strewn around them. It wasn't looking very sickbed-like in here. At least not in the way she knew it. No chattering relatives, no brightly covered sweets strewn acoss the bleached white covers. Just Theo and his books. Roxanne wrinkled her nose a fraction, turning her dark gaze to examine his profile.

The face which has become familiar to her over the last few weeks was pale and drawn, the usually sturdy line of his jaw pulled tight with some unspoken tension. A few dark strands were stuck to Theo's hairline with what she assumed was a cold sweat. She almost offered up a sharp suggestion that he take a break, but stopped herself. She'd probably be doing just the same.

"What are you looking for?" she asked instead, pulling her eyes away and reaching out for an old, heavy tome with a maroon cover and dusty pages. The pages were tissue-paper thin as she flicked the first few open.

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

forgetme_nott
2021-06-16 06:05 pm UTC (link)

"I wasn't expecting anyone. I don't remember anyone coming to see me when I was sick or hurt before," or dying he thought too but didn't say. This is what people did though he thought as he looked around. It was what was normal, it just wasn't his normal. They came to see, to encourage, to help, to hope. It was all very foreign to him and he knew how very odd and wrong that was. Still it was what he knew. Surrounding himself with books came natural, it was a comfort. People, that was much harder and unknown to him.

Reaching for his cup of tea on the bedside table he took a few sips before placing it back in it's place. He shifted where he sat to turn toward Roxanne, watching her flick through the pages of maroon covered book she had taken to looking through. He sat silent for a few moment, just studying her face and committing it to memory. The silent nuances of expression, the light dusting of freckles on the bridge of her nose and the warmth of her eyes.

"Anything that connects to the those birds. Anything at all, if even anecdotal. Something, anything to push us in the right direction," he said with a reassuring smile. "I'd even take a limerick at this point."

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

dreamtoofar
2021-06-17 10:47 am UTC (link)

"What about your family?" she frowned, her long fingers pausing on the page she was currently skimming. It occured to Roxanne than she didn't actually know that much about Theo's life before they'd arrived here. She knew he'd been at school at the same time as her parents, but apart from that... she got the impression it was quite a world away from the warm, chaotic mayhem that she'd grown up with.

She turned back to the page, only partly taking in the minute print etched onto the paper. At his words, she gave a faint, if not particuarly elegant, snort of laughter.

"There once was a twat of a bird," she smiled, shutting the book with a snap. "Whose firepower was bloody absurd..." Settling the volume in her lap, Roxanne let her head rest against the headboard behind them. Almost of its own accord, her hand reached across, brushing that damp lock of hair away from Theo's forehead. His skin was hot to touch.

"They must have been here before," she said. "That's how it works, right? Is there not a record anywhere? Or the ghosts or the portraits?"

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

forgetme_nott
2021-06-17 07:26 pm UTC (link)

"My family?" He said with laugh. It was a funny joke he thought until he glanced at Roxanne and realized she had been serious. His family was something generally he avoided talking about in any great detail. Although it felt like he should and only fair since he had seen so many of Roxanne's memories from before. Not that fairness made it any more desirable or easy.

"MY mother died when I was four. I was raised by my father who was when I was born already much older than Mr Malfoy is now," he said glancing over at where Lucius lay resting. "He wasn't exactly known for his compassion, sympathy and empathy. He was known for being one of the first Death Eaters and school chum with Tom Riddle. That and a talent for murder and being rather proud of that. He was very zealous about his commitment to Voldemort. He was a raving lunatic most of the time and didn't have a great deal of patience and was very fond of discipline. So no I don't think he'd come to my bedside with words of encouragement. He'd be very displeased by what I did. If he'd have anything to say it would be," he said with a small pause as he searched his memory for his father's words. "Pain and suffering is the forge that smelts iron into steel," he said with a shrug. "He was full of fun adages," he said, "but not affection for his son."

Feeling grateful for the change in topic he smiled at the limerick, his mind too muddled to add to it as he would have liked. With his gaze still lingering over to where Lucius was sleeping, he knew it was true to say that while Lucius almost died saving Draco, his own father would have walked away. It was a harsh reality to be sure, but he had steeled himself from feelings like that long ago. Not that the reality of it didn't still bring him some sense of shame. His eyes brightened at the soft touch of his hair being brushed away from his eyes.

"It is how it's worked so far. They could be here possibly from before written records. With any luck we will find the answers. The ghosts and portraits haven't proved to be very forthcoming in the past."

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

dreamtoofar
2021-06-20 02:20 pm UTC (link)

Roxanne sat, her free hand absently toying with the corner of the book in her lap, listening quietly. It sounded like another world to her. In a way, perhaps it was. It was no secret that, in most ways, the older generations had lived a very different, much harder life than they had. How often had she found the mirrors in her parents' home covered, because her Dad couldn't stand to look at his haunting reflection aging beyond reach of the other Fred? How many stories had she read and overheard? How many lectures? And that was just on their side (the good side, she reminded herself). Merlin knew what went on for those on the other side of history, the footnotes at the bottom of the textbooks.

"That's shit, I'm sorry. I didn't know." She said quietly. Her hand dropped from where it had lingered against Theo's forehead, falling to join the other one. She stared at them thoughtfully, finally tilting her chin and setting her jaw stubbornly. "I think it was brave, helping Mrs Potter like that," she finally decided, in a tone that left little room for argument. "And someone should tell your dickweed Dad that steel has better corrosion resistance, anyway. Who wants to be corroded?"

"I'll ask the Grey Lady later. She's been here longest, poor cow. Even if she gives up a bunch of rubbish, it can't hurt... Is there anything else I can help with?" Roxanne uncurled a little, doing her best to stretch without knocking any of Theo's mobile library off the bed. Dropping her arms back down, she took the second to give him another look, this time not bothering to hide the worried crease that appeared in her brow.

"You could catch a quick kip in the meantime, though? No offence, but you look awful."

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

forgetme_nott
2021-06-21 11:59 am UTC (link)

It was more than he usually said and far less than he could have, but it was enough and he nodded thoughtfully. It was shit. Still that was then and this was now and it was no longer a problem of his. He liked to imagine he had put it all behind him, true or not. "You don't need to feel sorry, it just is what it is," he said and then smiled a little. "Brave?" He laughed a little. "I don't think anyone ever called me that before, but it felt necessary," he said thoughtfully. He hadn't really given his actions much thought in fairness, or how he felt about it. It did feel that way, very necessary. It was as good as he could express it at present. "He is dead. I feel that is good enough."

Asking the portraits couldn't hurt and he appreciated the thought although he was doubtful they would reveal much. It seemed to him at least that the castle, its ghosts and portraits and elves only revealed what they needed to as they needed to and little more. "I'm not sure what any of us can do really, but try anything and everything we can think of."

Noticing the worried look he smiled softly, taking Roxanne's hand. "I've looked better I know," he said in good humor. He had caught a look in the mirror, he knew it was true. "And it's true, I could probably use the rest. Don't worry too much, we'll figure it out."

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

dreamtoofar
2021-06-21 01:27 pm UTC (link)

"Plenty of people don't do things that are necessary," Roxanne shrugged. She wasn't about to change her mind about her assessment of Theo's actions. She also wished that she could say something else about his Dad - it seemed like a thing that deserved more than a two minute discussion. But Theo's tone suggested he wasn't up for digging deep right now, and she wasn't totally convinced their whatever-it-was relationship was the kind that gave her permission to pry.

She nodded, doing a mental run-through of other avenues which might be helpful as his hand slipped into hers. Roxanne had spent the last few days trying to rectify the worst of the damage done at the spa. She knew Scorpius (and Theo, she'd heard) had worked hard on it, and it felt wrong for him to come back to a train wreck. But it wouldn't take too much longer, and there were plenty of hours in the day to try and help.

"Who's worried?" She finally teased, although her words didn't quite match the sudden hitch in her chest. "With you and that work ethic ploughing your way through the library, you'll be out of bed in no time. This one, anyway," she raised an eyebrow. "Lucky for you, I quite like the whole 'delicate flower' thing."

A sudden, bright grin blooming, Roxanne leaned over, pressing her lips to his cheek before swinging her legs off the bed and jumping to her feet. "Are you sure you don't need anything? Sleeping draught? Helpful bonk on the head?"

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Re: Theo | Roxanne

forgetme_nott
2021-06-24 05:47 pm UTC (link)

"That's true. I guess it was brave," he said a little bemused by the idea. Whatever it was that motivated him he had done it and felt reasonable good about his actions. It was act then or watch someone be skewered by a bird. It had been an easy choice to make. He was relieved to see his father had been dropped for now although he suspected it would come up again another time. It was too much to get into all at once. Although talking about it reminded him of his home. That much was a pleasant enough thought. When he was well enough he'd like to venture back to see what remained.

"I think I'll plan a vacation after all this is said and done," he said absentmindedly.

He could only laugh a little. He hoped his work would prove useful in sorting through what needed doing so that Regulus could make the antidote. It felt like if anything he and Peter were at least ruling things out and making the process more streamlined. "Here's hoping." He said with a pleased grin. "When I'm not on death's door I'll come knocking on yours," he said with levity. He knew it was true, it would be one of the first places he'd go so soon as it was all over.

The kiss on his cheek had been welcomed, and he smiled as Roxanne hopped down from his bedside. "If you could see that this delicate flower hasn't wilted in a couple hours, that would be grand," he said with a chuckle. "I don't want to sleep too long."

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