𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝐹𝒾𝒻𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

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The boy stumbled when the unexpected force jumped onto his back, but quick to react, he grabbed the girl under her knees, standing tall as they both adjusted. Seeing her head pop in at the side of his eye, he knocked his head with hers, grinning wide, "Someday I am letting you drop."

Wrapping her arms more firmly around him, she rested her chin on her own arm, tilting her head to rest against his, "As if," her hair picked up in a breeze, a few pieces getting into the boy's face. Brushing them back behind her, she watched as they neared the forest, "Where are we going?"

"Just wanted to spend some time walking around; only two more months and all."

Her grin grew, her excited little hum tickling against the both of them; she lifted her head off his, "Two more months and then a whole new life for us. Think we will end up in the same house?"

He thought it over for a moment, his almost silver-like eyes shooting up, watching the trees dance; ultimately, he shook his head, smile falling, "Nah," he didn't even see her lips turn into a pout when he bounced her, attempting to bring back a smile, "But it will be good for us to not be attached at the hip all the time."

He knocked their heads together again, just holding there as they… well, he continued their walk. Moments later, he rolled his shoulders, "Necklace is digging into my back."

Pulling it out from between them, the girl held a little dragon pendant between her fingers, holding it out enough that the boy caught quick sight of it. A fawn sort of look fell over him, but he mentioned nothing as she kept staring at it. "If separation is so good, why didn't you go off to school two years ago?"

He almost seemed offended at that, his voice exasperated, "Hogwarts without you? Neither of us would have survived all those months apart. And imagine how boring it would be." He squeezed her knees, "It's you and me forever. Even in different houses and with different friends, we will always have each other to turn back to. Always be just a quick walk away when needed."

She dropped the pendant, letting it hit his shoulder, tightening her hold, "Can you promise that?"

"One of them is a French school, right?"

"Looking for another French girl to kiss, Val?"

"Hey, speaking from experience, they do it best."

Iris pulled from her daze, blinking a few times as she looked away from the notice.

TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

The Delegations From Beauxbatons And Durmstrang Will Be Arriving At 6 O’Clock On Friday The 30th Of October. Lessons Will End An Hour Early. Students Will Return Their Bags And Books To Their Dormitories And Assemble In Front Of The Castle To Greet Our Guests Before The Welcoming Feast.

The girls started their way up the stairs in the Entrance Hall, Iris taking up the back of the group as she took a moment to erase away the memories that had resurfaced. Taking one last look at the notice…she just shook her head. Avoiding everything behind her as she continued ahead.

So she caught up with her friends, "Durmstrang is up in the north. Find a lot of the burly types over there. Just if you ever wanted to explore your type more, Valeria."

At the lead of the group with Tracey, Valeria looked back briefly with a pout, "At this point, I am open to anyone who isn't completely straight. Honestly, how am I ever supposed to find love in this world?"

Sally-Ann looked back to Iris, the two shared a look, and before the Cheshire-like grins could even form, Jane butted in, nudging Sally and shooting Iris a firm glare, "Lots of new people to meet; any of us could meet someone special who changes everything this year."

But as good as Jane's redirection was, Sally-Ann was better, "Or discover that someone special was there all along."

Iris nodded, always ready to play back up, "Maybe right behind you even."

The two girls snickered as Jane discreetly got on Sally-Ann's other side, not without comment, however, "Speaking of which, just since we are on the topic of special being already right in front of you," she sweetly smiled as she could feel Iris's gaze already shifted to her again, "Iris what about you and Theodore?"

Tracey was the first to look back in shock as they reached the second flight of stairs, "Iris and Theo, what?"

Iris raised an eyebrow, smiling at Jane, "Yeah, Iris and Theo, what?"

Jane's smile dropped a fraction in shock, "I can't be the only one—"

"Wait, no, Jane is right. You did say you would marry him once he was taller." And just like that, Iris had been turned on by Sally.

A horrible betrayal that did finally bring a mock reaction out of Iris in deep and overwhelming sadness, "And I thought we were on the same side." Still, she couldn't pretend to be serious for long as she smiled again, "And perhaps all of you suffer from memory loss, but we were talking about Roger from 101 Dalmatians that night."

The light bulbs in both Tracey and Valeria's heads turned on, both girls laughing as they finally caught on. And quickly, Valeria had turned on Iris, "Well, either way, you and Theodore do have moments."

And Tracey was lost again, "Moments?"

"Lots of moments. Just watch them for all of two seconds. When we get to lunch, it will click."

Iris just shook her head as they left the Entrance Hall and immediately left into the chamber just before the Great Hall. The whole conversation, just the thought of "moments," was so beyond her that she couldn't even take any of the teasings seriously. "I vote Sally-Ann is next in line to be teased about her relationship with Theo. Let him have his moment with everyone."

Valeria snorted as she pushed through the Great Hall doors, "Yeah, the moment he and Sally get on a first-name basis, we can switch to her instead."

Sally smiled smugly, "Which will be never. It seems Nott and Iris are forever, then."

That thread of conversation ended there. Iris split to walk to her side of the table while the girls all went their way. They still conversed from across but had effortlessly shifted to a more public-appropriate topic as they neared Theodore Nott himself. The teasing was right back on Jane as Sally and Iris poked at her for thinking Star Wars was a real thing that had happened.

Plopping into her seat beside Theodore, Iris grabbed an already-buttered piece of bread from his plate. Practically leaning a head on his shoulder, she looked at what he was doing… ignoring when Tracey seemed to finally click what "moments" meant.

She read the letter first, skimming it as she bit into her bread, an eyebrow-raising when she was about mid-way through. An action that was caught by her equally nosy roommates, all of them just as curious about the late letter Theodore had in one hand… and even more curious about what he was staring at in the other.

The anticipation could have killed them as they watched Iris' eyes drag to the hand with the thing they could not see. And Sally especially was ready to burst when Iris commented, "What happened to there would be no pushing from him?"

Theodore dropped his letter to the side, taking the object into his left hand before slipping it onto his right ring finger, finally allowing it to display to the world. It was a ring… and Jane was the only one to get it immediately as she cringed back. But to the other three… they just saw a ring. A beautifully made one. A black with the most stunning sapphires adorning it, small details they couldn't quite make out but just knew meant it was expertly crafted.

A ring… that had Jane cringing, Theodore looking rather stiff, and Iris frowning as she reached to study it.

Everyone was so distracted that Theodore had gotten away with sneaking a look at Iris when her hands took his, against his own will, of course… a new habit he wasn't sure about. Her fingers traced over the gems.… But the slip-up on his part would be corrected when Tracey asked, "What'd you get that for?"

"Family ring. Birthday present from Father for tomorrow, I suppose." So just a ring… Valeria, Sally-Ann, and Tracey were still a bit lost on why this ring was any sort of deal.

Iris dropped his hand, lifting her head from his shoulder as she gave him a pointed look, "Yeah, and with it, a heavy implication on what he wants." When Theodore didn't move to say anything else, Iris turned to the confused girls, "Jewelry like that… rings and even extended to my family necklace you saw a few days ago, or even—" Iris abruptly ended her own sentence, continuing on like it was nothing,

"While they are family pieces, they also double as gifts to give to someone you want to show is important to you. Sometimes maybe, for a short period of time, as basic as a show of them always being under your protection… but ultimately, family pieces end up with someone you love…. Someone you intend to marry, want to show as yours."

It seemed to be clicking in their heads when Jane cut in, frowning, "Here in Europe, with the high society pureblood families, boys don't typically get their rings until they are sixteen. And they are primarily used to solidify engagements."

Iris cut back in, "And Theo here doesn't turn sixteen for another year. So it seems dinners with the Yaxley's are going well, and Theo is expected—"

"But until he outright tells me and threatens my inheritance or to disown me… nothing has to happen. Because a hint is not a demand." His gaze was sharp, going to Iris first before looking to Jane and the others.

Iris backed down at that, taking another bite out of her bread. And Jane relaxed a bit, the worry lines that had developed at least falling away…. Only to come back when she groaned, "Merlin, all my parent's letters will just be about that ring now."

Tracey patted her head sympathetically, "The whole high society life seems exhausting."

"If it gets me a ring like that, though. Sign me up for the next rich bachelor."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

And when the only person to come up with an argument was Sally-Ann… well yeah, maybe there was truth to it.

~~~~~~

"Want to skip?"

There was probably one time a year when Iris could ask that question and not just get an eye roll from Theodore Nott. And that happened to be the one day a year he seemed to want to do nothing more than spend it hiding away… his birthday.

He should have seen it coming when she joined him in the Common Room early in the morning, not dressed for classes. And yet he was still shocked when the words flew out of her… and still needed a moment to think it over. Just because he wouldn't roll his eyes… doesn't mean skipping still isn't a blasphemous idea to him.

But as he thought about how many Happy Birthdays' he had gotten the year prior, Theodore ultimately sighed, "Let me go change first."

And that is how they ended up in the Forbidden Forest for the second year in a row, following a river upstream. Iris's feet were bare as she danced along, jumping from rocks to the damp ground to even, at times, the bitter water. Her shoes were in the capable grip of Theodore's hand, following behind at an acceptable distance from the running water.

Her attention was everywhere but behind, always looking to the next thing and then the next thing and then the next. The fish she swore she saw rush by to the funny bird she heard before she found up in the tree. Her attention shifted rapidly and never returned to anything twice… except for one exception, her companion.

The two hadn't spoken since leaving the castle, leaving the space between them to be filled with nothing but the steady roar of the water, the whisper of the trees, and the gossip of the birds.

And that should have been fine… but as she looked back to him one more time, seeing him just staring ahead as he had been the whole time, she finally broke the oath of silence she had not agreed to, "You've been so quiet."

And finally, Theodore's eyes had shifted somewhere, straight to Iris with a very sarcastic eyebrow raise, "Just enjoying nature as you so graciously taught me to last year."

Iris rolled her eyes, jumping off her rock and pausing, turning to Theodore fully as he caught up, "You've been so quiet for a while now," when he reached her, she joined at his side. Matching his pace, she quickly knocked on his head, "Up there. When we are alone, at least. Don't think much of anything that isn't reading or starting to think something then cutting yourself off."

The ground was barren where they were approaching, devoid of anything but the trees. Deprived of the breath of life from the faint memory of the sun. The canopy of leaves above suffocating the world below from light. It was dark and cold. But… the river had calmed, steady and gentle. So quiet. So safe. So calm.

Iris started swinging her arms, needing something to do with her hands now that she had to walk like a normal person, and Theodore looked away, back to just staring ahead, "And how is that different?"

"Because you narrate your life, Theo. You are one of those wordy thinkers that always has something to say up there." She watched him from the corner of her eye, "Have to really try to shut up like you have been; reminds me of before our fight last year. Working to keep yourself from slipping out whatever the hell is bothering you now by just shutting off. It's annoying."

It was aggressive, blunt. And the faintest bit rude. So it got a worthy response.

"Sorry for not wanting my every thought to be known to you," his eyes rolled, "Wonder how long before I catch you digging in further like you just do with everyone else. Lucky to have you respect my privacy this long, I suppose."

It was aggressive, bitter. And the faintest bit hurtful. So it got a worthy response.

A flinch, one that was hardly there… but the way her tone dropped was enough to make it known, "I wouldn't break your trust like that."

Later Theodore would reminisce about how his heart squeezed and kick himself for how he just once again remained quiet… proving that Iris was spot on… Theodore was hiding something. But in that moment, he found it much more vital to keep staring forward.

But despite the spontaneous burst of tension between the two teens, the river remained calm… maybe just a gentle sign to copy its example. One Iris took, her eyes watching the quiet movement of the water, "I'm not used to not knowing things. Especially with important people… I want to be open with you… but you are never really open with me… and I just wish you were more open with me, would just allow me to know you. Or at least go back to calling me an idiot in your head so I can know something about what is going on in there."

He blinked… maybe a bit surprised by that response. A surprise that pulled his eyes back to her met only with the sight of her dark mess of a head of hair. She refused to look at him, just watching the water off to the side. Her arms had stopped swinging, instead playing with one of her rings. Her ramblings from somewhere almost… vulnerable.

Theodore looked back ahead, everything ahead the same as it looked to him the whole way. Trees and rocks and dirt and water. He didn't find as much simple wonder in the little details that always seemed to captivate Iris. To her, every trip outside was fascinating. The trees and rocks and dirt and water, so much more in her world…. A lot of things meant so much more in her world.

"Then ask. Learn things as if your only option is to ask and hope there is enough trust that you get an answer."

Trust… it wasn't just trust that was needed. Many people could trust and still be missing something more vital to share parts of their souls.

"And you'll answer?"

"If I feel comfortable enough answering."

And that was it. Comfort. Comfort not just in the person, knowing you can read them your soul and trust they care for it delicately. But also in feeling comfortable enough to dig so deep into yourself that you pull out the darkest parts. Comfortable enough just in the moment to know you can share without hurting yourself more.

Trust could be stable… comfort could fluctuate in the most unpredictable ways.

And Iris could understand that better than most.

This is probably why, in a rare moment, she had hesitated… knowing deeply how easily the wrong thing at the wrong time can set off an explosion of emotions. But glancing over to Theodore, she asked, "Do you miss your mother?"

"No."

And with that, the tension had broken, Iris's lips quipping at the so Theodore-like response. Saying what only needed to be said. She shook her head, dropping her hands as they returned to swinging, "Is it really that simple?"

Theodore just shrugged, pulling his jacket closer when a chill blew over them, "Hard to miss someone you never knew."

Iris stepped closer to him, so casually brushing against him, in her mind, just combating the cold… so casually. To him, it was a bit more… something he had to force his body to not react to. Fighting his head from spelling out his newfound condition straight to her, fighting the red that crawled up his neck, fighting the way he almost froze in place. All involuntary reactions that he wanted no part of feeling.

"Do you ever wonder how she could have changed your life?"

He would so ironically find himself thanking Iris for her need to keep talking, hitting him with question after question as she tried to pull as much as she could out of him and his blunt responses. Helping him, unbeknownst to her, fight through his own troubles and keep his mind clear of stray thoughts… full circle kind of moment.

"A few times." The wind passed, allowing Iris to step away, allowing Theodore to untighten his shoulders from their tight hold.

Iris returned to the water's edge, her bare feet back to dancing and jumping along, eyes back to taking in every small thing she could find. Now with another task to satisfy her, rattling off question after question, "Do you think she would have been more nurturing?"

To most, the point would have gotten across after question two. But on and on, Iris would go, with small questions. One at a time to really cover each and every thing in its own time. So many small questions… but big to her. Normally a person's whole mind was hers to explore at will, without asking permission, and without the watering down of the one answering. So in order to match that knowledge of a person she could possess, she had to ask all the questions.

And in the end, no amount of questions would ever be enough. She would spend a lifetime picking apart every piece of Theodore one at a time and still have more to know. But it was a task she was more than willing to conquer…

And as he shifted his eyes to her once and once only for the rest of that walk… he would spend a lifetime answering her questions. One single thought towards his friend that he didn't attempt to cut off.

And she smiled when she caught it.

~~~~~~

On October 30th, just as expected, every student in Hogwarts could be found in front of Hogwarts, waiting for the arrival of the other schools.

Most were excited, professors struggling to herd them into their house lines. Others were apathetic… more ready to just get on with dinner already. Iris Blackwell… well… she showed up.

Showing up at 6 o'clock seemed silly. By the end of October, the sun begins to set just before 6. So there the entire school was, in the bitter breeze of the fall air, watching the sunset together. Everyone is excited to see how the other schools would join them at Hogwarts… but their sight grew limited by the minute. But in the excitement of it all, no one thought much of how little they would be seeing if the schools showed up just fifteen minutes after six. They just continued to dart their eyes all around, hoping to catch sight of movement.

Their friends were lined up by Sally-Ann, Jane, Valeria, Tracey, Theodore, and then Iris at the end. The girls at the front of their section of the line all rambled to one another, but their eyes were all locked forward, no one turning to one another to properly share their theories. Tracey most definitely had no clue what Sally-Ann was saying.

Theodore was bored, with nothing on his mind as he watched the sun fall further and further behind the mountains. Inattentive to everything. One of the students was just ready to be done with it all, a perfect book and his armchair by the fireplace waiting for him to return.

Iris… Iris was there physically. But to say she was looking at anything would be only in the technical sense of where her eyes were glued to Theodore's head. Looking straight ahead, she was about eye level with the bottom half of his head. She fiddled with one of her rings, spinning it absently… mentally, there were no hints as to where she was.

As professors finally managed to herd their students, the movement settled. Things are not quieter, but feeling much less chaotic. Quiet wouldn't come until—

The doors behind the lines of students creaked open. Startling many as they shot around, maybe a bit of adrenaline shooting through their brains as they fooled themselves into thinking the schools had arrived in some strange way. Others were calmer, just simply curious by the doors. Iris Blackwell… well, she didn't move.

And to two parties, a quick and collective disappointment would wash over them when they were just met with the cheerful glint in the eyes of Albus Dumbledore. Neither the one their over-excited minds wanted to see nor the one that would bring this waiting to a quick end.

Dumbledore started walking down the middle of the two centermost lines. Most had already looked away. But those who didn't, they would be glad they didn't… spotting something very curious behind Dumbledore. And Iris Blackwell… she finally moved, sending one look over her shoulder before her face drained of color.

The whispers broke out immediately, attracting back every pair of eyes that had strayed. Sally-Ann was the loudest, "Someone tell me he is a student."

And that… that is when an overwhelming dread filled Iris, her hand shooting forward to grip Theodore's shirt. Something he would fail to react to as he, too, stared down the newest face on Hogwarts grounds.

He was him… Iris had been so close so many times now. So close to hearing him in the World Cup stadium. So close to seeing him as they stood on opposite ends of a burned patch of land. So close to being in the same room as him in Hogsmeade. Two of those times, she had almost made the connection for herself. Once, she could have run straight into him if the universe permitted. But each time they had been denied… life pushed them away again and again.

But this time… he was right there. Every detail of his face only feet away as he walked down the steps. Set in stone, so much colder than the boy she laughed with years ago, the childish joys stripped away so he could be the professional. He was bigger and taller, forced to grow up, grow into someone so much older than the boy she knew years ago. He was dressed in a suit… something he once had to be forced into but now seemed to fit into so easily… forced to act, dress… be so much older than he was.

He was so different… but at the same time… there was a familiarity. Something in the way he walked with so much purpose, something in the way his head moved side to side, unabashedly, taking in every face… something in every move he made. He was different and yet so familiar… and that's how she knew even before she caught sight of his true defining feature.

That's why when she watched him grow closer, her eyes still locked on him, she gripped Theodore tighter, tugging him. Making him drag his eyes down to Iris's frozen state and then back up to the boy who would, in just moments, look their way. And tensing, Theodore was quick, shifting himself as best he could to hide Iris Blackwell from Ryker Peverell's silver stare.

They would hold for far too long for Theodore's comfort. Burning into him as he did his best to match that empty stare he was being met with. Giving away nothing. Giving no sign to the girl he was hiding. And when those silver eyes finally dragged away… Theodore would breathe, shifting away from Iris as he cleared his own worries.

Iris wouldn't let go, though, and she would do the exact opposite of relax, her jaw tight as she watched him put more and more distance between them. No longer behind her… her past had just walked right by.

"Can you promise that?"

He glanced back at her, taking in her narrowed eyes; he smiled at them, "I'll promise more even. You have me for life, Iris. I will always be there when you need me. You are always the one who will come first."

Her grin was… sweet, lovesick, his words overwhelming to her young mind, the red forming on her cheeks unwelcome, so she closed her eyes, breathing a puff of air as she attempted to settle, "And I can promise too. You have me for life. I will never keep a secret or lie to you. You are always allowed at my side."

What a cruel world it was… allowing such innocence to die like that… promises shattered into pieces.