The Hunted: A Theo Nott Short Story

Prologue

Rose

"We have to make sure we have everything. We won't be able to come back for twelve days once we're settled." I explained, packing the last bit of my gear in my pack. "Are you sure you'll be alright while I'm gone?" I turned around to my mother who was standing in the doorway. She waved her hand dismissing my question which made my best friend laugh.

"I'll be fine! It'll be nice to have the house to myself for once. Your father is off to a research project on his own and I could use the silence for a bit." She assured me. "Plus, I trust Blaise to keep you safe. Isn't that right?"

"Of course, Rosalena." He smiled his bright smile at her as she left my doorway and then turned to me. "Twelve days in the forbidden forest is crazy, you know? Why is our team doing this again?"

Our Ministry research team has been selected to take samples of the forbidden forest, monitor certain plant's growth, and take notes on any new magical species in there. We would camp for almost two weeks then report back to the Ministry with our results. There have been reports of an existing hex on the forest. Something the Dark Lord put there during the war. It was turning the soil toxic but no one knew how.

"Where are we meeting the others?" I asked, throwing my pack on my back and handing Blaise his.

"Lovegood is meeting us at the stopping point with Longbottom. Charlie Weasley isn't able to leave the dragon reserve until tomorrow morning. Pansy, Astoria, and Oliver will meet us at our portkey spot." He knew he was leaving someone out on purpose. Blaise knew I didn't get along with the unsaid name.

Maybe 'didn't get along' isn't the right term for it. He just didn't speak to anyone most of the time. Apart from Blaise, any time he said something was usually to tell you that you're wrong. He was always challenging me, picking apart my ideas like I was crazy for having them in the first place. Others didn't seem like they crossed his radar when they spoke their minds. It was my stupidity that he cared so much about taunting.

I raised my eyebrow at him. He knew it wouldn't fly over my head so he let out a sigh and mumbled. "Theo will be with Lovegood and Longbottom at our stopping point." I rolled my eyes but shook out the feeling it gave me. "We should be going." He said, following me out of the door.

Once out of my house, we took our brooms to our destination. I've always felt at peace flying. Maybe because playing Quidditch made me overcome my fear quickly. I was the only girl that played for Ravenclaw but Ginny Weasley gave me the courage to try out in the first place.
The wind whipped around my face as I inhaled the sweet scent of morning dew in the air. I was about to sit with my thoughts for a bit up here. Blaise led the way as I trailed closely behind but I knew he could feel my hesitance. The forest was hexed but beyond that, it was full of a darker magic. You could smell it in the air if you were close enough, a foul metallic scent clinging to the air.

As we drew closer to the open field, I could see three of our teammates. We circled before we landed, Blaise's landing a bit better than mine. "'Bout time!" Oliver hollered. "Yeah, we were beginning to think you trolls weren't coming." Pansy laughed. I hated her in school but ever since working together well, she grew on me. I suspected she grew on Charlie too, he just wouldn't admit it. You could practically feel the sexual tension. They bickered all the time considering they were so different and he was older but I saw the way they looked at each other when the other wasn't looking.

"Bugger off! We're only a few minutes late. Blaise said, wrapping an arm around Astoria. "Astoria, why so quiet?" He questioned. She said nothing but we all knew it was her divorce. She had been torn apart by her family, going against their wishes. She was married off right after school to some old wealthy man. He treated her so poorly so she left. She's been staying with Blaise and Astoria ever since. Oliver was the one that helped her leave the night her husband had too much to drink. The bruises faded after a few weeks but she never really came back to herself.

"Right, everyone, it's time to go." Oliver pulled out the portkey. "Grab on and hold tight to your packs. Can't afford to lose anything."

We grabbed onto each other and our packs tightly. The spinning was never something someone would get used to. I wanted to vomit but I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. Everyone's landing was rough and we all stumbled to the ground.

I rolled in the dirt, coughing as the wind was knocked from me. The key sent us right to our stopping point so it wasn't a surprise when I rolled into someone's legs. The expensive shoes dug into my side and when I finally looked up, I was met with a burning gaze. His smirk was smug and I already wanted to smack it off. "Couldn't stick the landing, ma fleur?" I didn't even know what he called me but it was probably some insult in German or French. He was fluent in both.

He moved his feet and expected his shoes but didn't help me up. Stepping over me he greeted Blaise and Pansy. "Ass." I muttered. I heard Astoria chuckle but she masked her laughter quickly. I wiped the dirt off my jeans and adjusted my boobs back in my bra.

I looked around the camp and saw everything was set up mostly. There were only four tents which didn't bother me considering I figured we would pair up anyways. "Rose, I've missed you." A sweet voice said from behind me. I smiled at Luna and embraced her small body. "I've set up the tents myself and assigned everyone their partner." She added.

"Partners? You mean like a roommate." I questioned, looking at the others. They all looked like they knew something I didn't and Theo didn't even try to hide his smug grin.

"The Ministry thought we'd do better if we worked with someone within our field." She was speaking like I knew what she was talking about. I can say with certainty that I did not. If this was true, I knew where this was going. I just didn't want to believe it.

"Don't be mad." I heard Blaise say as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "Luna and I are working on studying the new creatures here. Astoria and Oliver are taking samples of the toxic soil. Charlie and Pansy will be making sure the hex hasn't bothered the already known creatures." I was shaking my head as I felt my anger bubble under the surface. "You and Theo will be working to figure out what the hex is exactly."

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

I could do this. It was for my job. There was no reason for us to talk unless we figured something out and even then, we could just compare notes. "Is that a problem, Rose?" Theo asked from Blaise's side.

I raised my chin and stepped towards him. The smell of firewood and cinnamon filled my senses and my vision became a little hazy. I could see the muscle in his jaw ripple under the skin and I had the odd thought of what it would be like to touch it. "No problem at all." I said, my voice was almost a whisper but not quite.

This was going to be my personal hell and Theodore Nott was my very own devil.

A/N: So excited for this suspenseful and steamy Theo Short Story! This will have 12 chapters for the 12 days. Epilogue is still being debated but I will update everyone once I've decided. My cast list should be up within the hour. Everyone is being Fancasted so no character will be the same as the movies.

Thoughts? Hopes? Predictions?