Just - Theodore Nott

⁂𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐄⁂

Theodore's Pov:
Friday January 12

Aliyah's been ignoring me ever since the locker room incident.

I've been extremely worried for her and Mattheo. After what happened at her manor, the screaming and crying, all of a sudden ignorance, staying in their rooms most of the time, and those cuts she has, merlin I could never forget those. As well as Mattheo's.

I didn't tell anyone about them. Considering I had small scars as well, and I'm really insecure of them. I didn't want to make her feel any worse than she already does.

She looked like she'd been butchered, and it's likely she has others, but she'd obviously deny it as she always does.

I'm simply looking out for her. As her... friend. Friends look out for each other, but I couldn't see why she wouldn't let me.

I figured out a way to get to talk to her again, and hopefully it'll work. During classes, she wouldn't talk, as usual, but part one of my plan was during potions class.

As we worked on the Veritaserum, I purposely moved the ingredients around so that she'd ask where they are. Didn't work.

I also tried getting the wrong ingredients on purpose, but that wasn't working either, she'd just put them on the side.

It's fine, it's fine, I'll just stick with plan two.

I waited until class was over and had lunch, then went early to the Quidditch pitch. Obviously, I saw her already there.

We waited until everyone arrived and started, as per usual, with a few laps around.

I soon caught up with her fast pace and flew next to her, trying some small talk.

"Hey" i smiled. She ignored it.

"Aliyah, please talk to me, you've bern ignoring me the past two days"
"Good, that's my plan and I guess it's working" she said sarcastically

"Aliyah please, this isn't how you would act. Something's happened that's changed you and you wont bother trying to help yourself by simply talking to your friends about it" I sympathized. She simply sped up.

Maledizione, Aaliyah, sarai la mia morte.

I guess I'll just wait until practice is over.

—

As everyone walked out of their locker rooms after showering from long practice, I waited for Aliyah and caught her just as she was about to leave. I stood in front of her door "We need to talk, and there's no getting out of this one" i said as we both went inside.

"What is it?" She grumbled, staring at the ground yet again, as her makeup was no where to be seen on her face, uncovering her cut, soon to be scar.

"Look at me while I talk to you". She raised her head, crossing her arms "yes?"

"Tell me what's been going on" I demanded once more. "Nothing is going on" she denied

"Don't bullshit me, Aliyah, what's been going on with you?" I declared. "I'm not 'bullshitting' you, Theodore!" she argued back, sighing and rubbing her temples.

"Show me". She raised her eyebrows, "excuse me?"
"Aliyah, show me. I can't live like this knowing that someone's hurting you and you're dealing with it in silence. That's not how friendship works with me, so if you don't like it then womp womp, but I'm doing it anyways because believe it or not, i actually care about you. I'm genuinely trying because I don't want you to hurt!" I yelled concernedly.

I sighed, and heard her sniffle. "Call Lorenzo and Mattheo" she gave up, her head down again.

I raised my eyebrows in shock. I quickly texted them and they arrived a few minutes after.

"So, you were saying?" I went back to the topic.

"Mattheo, we have to show them, we have to tell them" Aliyah mumbled. Mattheo nodded softly, "uhm... these are the cuts..."

They both showed us several cuts, and it really was like someone had butchered them.

"Who's been doing this to you?" Lorenzo asked with a broken voice as his eyes glistened.

Aliyah tried taking in a deep breath before saying her next sentence "and this is the worst one" her eyes welled with tears before she and Mattheo lifted their sleeves to show — THE DARK MARK?! CHE CAZZO VERO?

Aliyah broke down sobbing and tears rained from Mattheo's eyes

"The dark mark?... you have the dark mark?" Lorenzo was shocked, immediately going over to comfort Aliyah.

I was stunned, I never would have expected this.

"Mattheo..." I hugged Mattheo as he cried into my shoulder. "Your parents have been abusing you then" Lorenzo cleared out and they both nodded sadly.

Two of my closest friends were getting abused, and I hadn't even noticed.

They were both sobbing, causing Lorenzo and I to tear up a bit as well. I then went to comfort Aliyah, and Lorenzo to comfort Mattheo.

She was having a full on mental breakdown, and I hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry we didn't tell you before" her words broke me

"Hey, hey, there's no need to apologize, we'll help you... we're your friends" I calmed her down as she buried her face in my arms, nodding.

Gosh, Voldemort and Bellatrix really broke them. All physically, mentally and emotionally. Shit parents they are.

"Relax, it's okay... we can keep you safe" I reassured

"How? We literally live with them" Mattheo wiped his eyes. "We'll find a way, we promise." Lorenzo said

"We're going to do everything we can, even if it means involving our parents in it" I added. "No, please, don't tell anybody. They found out we told you this we'll be dead meat and that's not exaggerating" she pleaded.

I sighed "Then we'll find a way. We're not going to let you suffer."

"Thank you guys... for understanding" Mattheo sniffled.

"No need to thank us. If you hadn't told us we would've never known. But because you did, we know how to help you now" Lorenzo acknowledged. "It's you two who had the courage and effort to tell us. We wouldn't want to lose our friends"

—————
1007 wc
This was so short idk why😭😭
Anyways, school is starting again soon and I have exams and studies coming up so I might post like only 2-3 times a week
AND I'M SO EXCITED, SKI SEASON IS SOON
Vote!!
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