Ficlet: "First Impressions" (Theodore/Eloise)

[koreofmyth.livejournal.com]

Title: First Impressions
Pairing: Theodore Nott/Eloise Midgen
Prompt: Just like everyone else
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,248...(I'll be shorter next time, promise!)
Summary: Theo's personality is revealed and we learn of his first encounter with Miss Eloise Midgen
Author's Notes: First chapter of 'Unusually and Exceedingly Peculiar' for my claim at rarepair_shorts. Title is taken from the son 'What is This Feeling?' from the musical Wicked.
Link to Prompt Table: Follow me!

Unusually and Exceedingly Peculiar - Chapter One

 

 

If you didn’t know Theodore Nott, you might think that he was unintelligent. He never spoke up in class, he was always quiet – he didn’t engage in any of the clubs. Why, he must be too stupid to make friends, would be the thought. And after you glanced over Theodore with his narrow nose, unbecoming hair, and slightly protruding teeth, you’d decide that had to be it, and wasn’t it a shame he wasn’t attractive? At least the dumb, handsome ones like Cedric Diggory had a chance…

 

No. That wasn’t it at all, far from the truth in fact, as Theodore (Theo, as he thought of himself) knew. Unintelligent? Hardly. Theo knew that the best way to stay out of trouble, to gain the best control of things, was to remain silent and observe.

 

His grades in Charms or Transfiguration were average at best. If he truly cared, his scores might have been able to top the Know-It-All Granger’s. But Theo didn’t really care for those courses, his father having made sure early on that Theo would be able to take care of himself, and whom he chose when the time came.

 

Theo’s grades in Potions or Astronomy…courses he enjoyed, courses he dissected, well, his grades were exemplary to the say the least. Not many knew of that of course, as anyone aside that wasn’t a Slytherin let their eyes slide over Theo. The Slytherins knew, and with a good tactic, feared and respected him. Theo welcomed that, graciously – it was always nice to have lackeys, but not the kind that followed you around like Malfoy’s did…

 

So, Theo watched and observed – his father taught him that in the few times he shared with his son – and Theo learned more than what his professors taught him. Theo learned about McGonagall’s opinion of the Weasley twins’ pranks (proud, surprisingly) – he learned about Brown and Patil’s latest make-up escapades (Theo would never admit to admit to adding the potion to their toothpaste so that they wouldn’t talk for a week.) He learned about whatever was the ‘Golden Trio’s’ latest escapade (usually involving a strange creature, or tormenting Malfoy) or about the best spell for those matters (which Theo eagerly had looked up after hearing).

 

But, of all things, Theodore found himself sifting through all the conversations of Hogwarts, all the events that happened, and for the first five years tended to watch one thing – rather, one person, but they were the same thing, weren’t they?

 

Theo had first started watching her while in line to be sorted in First Year. He’d already known where he’d go, Slytherin naturally, and had been scanning the table for the best place to sit once he got there. He also was keeping an eye on those being sorted into that house – he wasn’t surprised when Crabbe and Goyle were sorted into Slytherin, or even Bulstrode. Malfoy though…he kept his eye on him, having known him as a child. There was the off-chance the hat would put him in Hufflepuff, Malfoy certainly was wimpy enough…Theo focused more carefully on the sorting when they reached the ‘M’s’, but couldn’t help but tsk in annoyance when Malfoy was immediately put in Slytherin.

 

It was then that McGonagall called out, “Midgen, Eloise!”

 

There was someone right at his elbow, pushing to get past.

 

“Excuse me,” came a girl’s voice, one he would try to decipher for ages after. Theo turned, and it was enough for the girl – brown haired, and with a swarm of zits on her nose - to squeeze past. “That’s me she just called – sorry, excuse me…”

 

And that’s when it happened, the thing that made Theo actually see her rather than notice her in his eye-frame. As the girl – Midgen – pushed past, she tripped over something, probably her own feet. Theo had been in the front of the line in order to get a good view of happenings (He’d learn in a few years that the back of things was the place to be), and had a clear view of Midgen falling face first on the stone floor.

 

As a collective whole, those who could see the brown-haired girl on the floor winced. Theo cocked his head, waiting for her to get up – he was probably next to be sorted if she’d just hurry up – and inwardly he groaned at the scene that was surely to take place. The girl would burst into tears, and the McGonagall woman would have to escort her up to the chair…just like everyone else would.

 

But that wasn’t what happened. No, not at all.

 

Midgen picked herself up, and then set her chin. From the angle Theo was at, he couldn’t tell if she’d burst into tears or not, but she squared her shoulders and marched right up to the stool. McGonagall, before giving her the hat, tried to see if she was alright, but Midgen – whose eyes seemed only a bit shiny – shook her head rapidly, sending her brown hair, unclipped everywhere.

 

A Gryffindor, thought Theo dryly. How noble, that she wouldn’t show the fact that she was hurt, or embarrassed – everyone could see her pink cheeks anyway, see that despite her act she wasn’t alright.

 

So it came as more than a bit of a surprise when the hat immediately shouted, “Hufflepuff!”

 

Theo was barely able to keep his jaw from dropping (he was younger, less capable of hiding his emotions), as Midgen ran towards the cheering ‘Puff table.

 

Even after “Moon” had been called, Theo still was flabbergasted – he was always right about these things; his father said he had an eye for them – Malfoy in Hufflepuff had been a joke, a hope at most. How had that girl ended up in Hufflepuff?

 

His thoughts were on the surface when the Hat fell on his head.

 

“Ah,” said the Hat in a quiet voice. Theo cocked his head yet again. “You’re Tarsus’ boy – it’ll be the same for you in…” Slytherin?

 

“Yes, that – you’ll go far there, if you use your skills wisely. Unless you’d prefer Ravenclaw…?”

 

No!

 

“That’s what I thought,” said the Hat, almost smugly. Theo vaguely thought of crumpling the hat up and throwing it into a corner. The Hat shook, and said hurriedly, “Right – so it’ll be…”

 

Wait, Theo couldn’t help but think – it was rather odd that when normally having his thoughts to himself, this Hat was reading them as easily a book. Why’d you send Midgen to the Puff’s?

 

“Instead of the Gryffindors?” asked the Hat, amusement evident. “She didn’t belong there – but that’s not your business. Yours belongs in…SLYTHERIN!”

 

The Hat was pulled from his head, and Theo, still a bit dazed, calmly walked to the Slytherin table, taking a seat next to Blaise Zabini. The seat was positioned just right so that he could see wispy brown hair and flushed cheeks across the room.

 

From then on, Theo decided as “Potter, Harry” was called – as a side project, as he took over Hogwarts, he’d keep an eye on Midgen. Find out why exactly she didn’t end up as Gryffindor…it wouldn’t take long, Theo thought, nodding to himself. Just a class together, deciding if she was a dunce like everyone else in Hufflepuff …that would be enough.

 

But of course, things didn’t happen that way. Midgen was silent during their first class together, making it so that Theo couldn’t get anything on her.

 

He decided to just continue to watch her, watch her until her understood her completely.

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A/N: Comments and feedback are loved - and if are interested in reading more, feel free to add dein_saeculum

Comments

[hondagirll.livejournal.com]

I really liked this Kore, it was done really well. I love your characteristics of Theo and the way that he watches everything/everyone. And Eloise has some backbone, not crying at the age of eleven like that. I would've HOWLED. Looking forward to the rest.

[koreofmyth.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed this - a bit iffy on the reception as both are extremely rare in fanfiction, but I'm glad you liked it.

And I so would have broken down as well - probably wouldn't even had made it to the chair...Thanks again!

[phil-urich.livejournal.com]

I really like how you’ve set this story up. The Hat scene was interesting as I think this is the first time I’ve ever read about Theodore’s time with the Sorting Hat. I’m looking forward to seeing how far his curiosity takes him with his watching of Eloise

[koreofmyth.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed this so far - Theo's obsession with Eloise will be more delved into during the next chapter.

[chimbomba.livejournal.com]

Yay, a Theo fic! I adore Theo, and I love the way you've begun. I'm curious to see what comes next! :)

[shiiki.livejournal.com]

I had this on my bookmarks for ages, just to check for new chapters. I thought I'd commented before, but evidently I'm more scatter-brained than I thought!

This was fantastic. You managed to get me intrigued by this rare and original ship. You've set the scene brilliantly for more interaction between the two, giving Theo motive and interest to pay attention to Eloise.

I will keep watching to see how this progresses! Nice job!