Theodore Alastor Nott (ex_notty38) wrote in tempus_fugit, @ 2008-07-31 23:42:00 |
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Draco stood at the corner in front of a small pub off Diagon Alley. Dress sharply in pale grey robes, he cut a dashing figure against the black brick wall. Still, it was in vague disinterest that he noted the mix of adoration and disgust that seemed to be the only choice among witches who passed him.
Like any of you would interest me at all.
He sighed, waiting for Theodore. While his friend had agreed to lunch, Draco began to wonder if he'd been delayed again. It would figure, of course, that after not seeing each other for years, something would come up to block them. Refusing to be dismayed, he shifted slightly, his white-blond hair nearly shining in the sun as he looked for his friend.
Theodore hadn't been delayed exactly, just forgetful. As he was filing out paperwork at the Ministry he just happened to glance up to see that his lunch with Draco would be starting in less than five minutes. The first emotion that streak through Theodore was of anger. He absolutely hated to be late to anything. It had always been one of his prides, to be punctual to every meeting, work day and appointment (personal or not). Taking only a moment to tidy himself, Theodore finally left for the pub. Luckily it wasn't too far away and luckily he was a wizard and was able to rely on his abilities to get him somewhere faster than most people.
As he turned the corner on Diagon Alley toward the pub, he was quite taken by surprise to see Draco waiting for him outside. It was nice of him to do so, anyway. If Theodore had been the one waiting, however, he would've just went straight inside to secure a decent table. Fixing a pleasant look on his face, Theodore walked briskly across the street to join his fellow Slytherin.
"Draco," he said from about three yards away from the other man, "Good to see you, so sorry I'm a bit late, the time flies." Theodore stuck out his hand for the other to shake. He couldn't help but notice that Draco was dressed extremely well and felt that he looked very glum in comparison. It seemed that all he ever got to wear nowadays were his black Ministry robes.
Draco had deliberately chosen to wait outside, as opposed to inside. Not that he wasn't completely distinctive, but after this absence, and given how busy Theodore was these days, he felt it would make a statement about how strongly Draco wanted to improve their friendship. They'd never been distant exactly, but Draco had been a ring leader, and Theodore had never fallen in step. The dynamics were always skewed somewhat because of that. However, now, Theodore was in the Ministry, and Draco was a free-lancing curse breaker. How quickly does the wheel move.
"Theodore," he smiled, then took the other man's hand, shaking it twice firmly. "It happens to the best of us," he dismissed. As he released the shake, he turned smoothly towards the door. "I did inform them we would be dining, so a table should be waiting for us."
He noticed the black Ministry robes with barely a flicker in his eyes. They stood for so much of what he wanted and hated that he knew he'd end up next to Longbottom's parents in St Mungo's if he wasn't careful. Still, he allowed enough of a notice to comment blandly, "Work's busy enough to drive you round the twist hm?"
It certainly did make a statement, but not necessarily the one that Draco wanted to make. Theodore's first thought that was perhaps Draco was irritated by his tardiness and had decided to wait outside for a few minutes before leaving. Not that Theodore blamed him because if the situation had been reversed he would've been a bit on edge waiting for someone for so long. However, Draco didn't seem to look too bothered and Theodore shrugged off his feelings about being late as he shook Draco's hand.
"Brilliant," Theodore said and headed toward the door, one hand shoved into his robes. He really expected nothing less from Draco Malfoy. Always a step ahead, it seemed, in some ways. As far as their friendship was concerned, Theodore had never really resigned himself to being under the leadership of Draco because he knew that he had just as much of a right to be in his position. The difference between the two was that Theodore was perfectly fine being a bit of an independent loner. His mother had always taught him that it was better to stay in the background because sometimes being unnoticed wasn't a bad thing. Theodore hardly believed that he was unnoticed, but he definitely found perks in not being as connected to the Malfoy family as some others. For instance, it was much easier for him to slip out of the son of a Death Eater's mindset.
"Today wasn't that bad, to be honest. I just got a bit involved with some paperwork and lost track of time," he smoothed a hand over the front of his robes and smirked, "I'm afraid that they aren't the best looking garment in the world, but it comes with enough authority to make up for it." It was unlike him to brag, but it was clearly more playful than anything else. "How are you today?"
Draco nodded to the host who bowed slightly and led them to a corner booth. "I'm well. Thank you." The move of a hand over Ministry robes was not missed by Draco. However, he actively ignored it. Authority, indeed. He wondered if Theodore knew he'd attempted to get a Ministry job. The thought that he might have intentionally bragged with full knowledge would destroy the mood of the day already. Given that, he forced it away.
"I've been working towards the gala and running my own business." Nothing like a good spin. Though Draco was well used to it. Sometimes he wondered if he could be honest at all. "I decided that there were career possibilities that did not include my groveling before the Ministry. You and I don't have quite the same experiences, and history you may have escaped, some of us have not."
Given everything, that was far more honest than he would normally contemplate being. "So, I've a curse breaking business that does very well without being overly busy. I find the seat of true power now no longer lies within the Ministry. However," he waved a hand slightly, "I take it you've been enjoying yourself there? Found your niche, have you?"
No, Theodore wasn't aware that Draco had tried for a Ministry job. If he had known, he wouldn't have bragged quite as much. Every word Draco said after 'groveling before the Ministry' had Theodore rolling his eyes on the inside. Obviously Draco had been a bit threatened by his remark or else he wouldn't be putting down Theodore's choice of career so much. Instead of letting it bother him, Theodore shrugged it off as just how Draco is. He was used to being superior to everyone around him and that didn't necessarily bother Theodore.
"I do look forward to the gala," Theodore said after he had taken a seat and adjusted himself into a comfortable position. His forearms were braced against the side of the table and his hands were clasped together in a thoughtful manner. Deliberately avoiding what Draco had said regarding their histories, Theodore then continued to say, "I suppose that is saying a lot seeing as how I used to dread those type of things while I was younger, but Mum always wanted me to attend." Mostly he wanted to put himself out there again and let people know that he hadn't turned into some sort of Ministry hermit. He did have a life and he did want to get to know people again.
His eyebrows knit together briefly while he thought about Draco's questions, "I wouldn't say I enjoy it as much yet. I'm very low on the rung of Hit-Wizards. We get to do most of the grunt work, which mostly includes paperwork. I think that I will come to enjoy it when I get to experience the field work a bit more." He grinned briefly, "So tell me more about this curse-breaking business of yours? Do you do any freelance work for Gringotts?" His father had been a curse-breaker at one point during his lifetime and while Theodore may have thought about going into that career path at one time, now he associated cursing-breaking with how much of a bastard his father was and that hardly made the profession look appealing.
Draco was surprised that Theodore was looking forward to the gala. He'd always seemed to hide in the shadows. Or perhaps that was simply Draco's perception. It wasn't that he thought less of the man for it. Nor was it that Draco himself was an extrovert. He was simply raised to pretend. However, none of that mattered. Apparently Theodore was interested in opening up, or giving the illusion of having done so.
"I do recall you attempting to avoid detection," he smirked, teasing the other man. Draco had always gone into hiding right before an event as hiding after never seemed to be an option and hiding during, well, that simply wasn't done.
"Oh, I have done a little for Gringotts, but most of my work is more privately based. I tend to go on personal recommendations and referrals." He didn't bother to add that such requirements would necessarily keep the clientele relatively small, and more importantly, already aware of precisely who was being employed. Or at least they were willing to employ whoever would get the job done, and Draco was gaining a reputation for it. Not necessarily quickly, but he was never in this to actually make his fortune, simply to replenish it and not sit at home feeling every inch the failure he so often viewed himself to be.
It was certainly understandable how Draco may think Theodore hid in the shadows. He wasn't the type of man to want to be the center of attention for anything. That was slowly changing in his professional world. "It wasn't very hard to avoid being noticed when there were so many shadows being cast by others," Theodore commented with a smirk at the other man. Whether or not Draco took this as a compliment was entirely up to him.
"My father used to be a curse-breaker, did you know?" Theodore said, feeling a bit stiff over actually mentioning his father in a conversation. Most people knew the type of person Victor Nott had been while he was alive and Theodore would bet any amount of money that the Malfoy family knew all his family's dirty little secrets. After his mother's death, it was hard to hide anything and it had come as a surprise to find that not many people dared to even suggest that Victor Nott had anything to do with his wife's death. Perhaps other people were just as scared of the older man as Theodore had been. "He used to say that Gringotts was some of the toughest and most deadly vaults to wade through. I think he did do some private work, but I doubt any of them paid as well." He shrugged, "Not that I know much about curse-breaking."