Snakes and Ravens

�Theo?�

�Yeah?�

�Are you sure this is a good idea?�

Theodore Nott looked over at Anthony with a frown creasing his forehead.

�Don�t you want to go?� he asked.

Anthony pressed his lips together, like he always did when thinking hard, and pushed his glasses back up his nose. He shivered slightly as a sudden gust of wind blew his blue and bronze scarf around and ruffled his hair. Theodore watched with something close to reverence as the light brown hair fluttered back down.

�I do,� Anthony said.

�What?� Theodore had lost all train of thought watching Anthony�s hair.

�I do want to go to the Quidditch game.�

�Then, let�s go,� Theodore said.

�But, Theo��

�What?� He was starting to lose some patience. He didn�t want to be late.

�Are you sure it�s okay if we sit together?�

Theodore shrugged. �Sure, it�s okay. Why wouldn�t it? We�re going out, aren�t we?�

Anthony scuffed his shoes on the gravel path and sighed softly.

�We are, only� Is it really, er, safe to sit with the Slytherins?�

Theodore stared. So that�s what this is about�

�Are you really worried about that?�

Anthony looked a little ashamed and smiled sheepishly. �A little.�

Theodore just smiled his widest, most un-Slytherin smile. �You don�t have to. Slytherins like Ravenclaws best. They won�t hurt you. We�re not even playing Ravenclaw today.�

Theodore looked down the path to where Blaise was giving Neville a rather intense parting snog.

�Just be glad you�re not a Gryffindor. Even Blaise isn�t bringing Longbottom to the stands today.�

Anthony snickered, rather uncharacteristically at Neville�s dazed, but blissful expression, as Blaise walked off to the Slytherin stands.

Theodore just smirked. �Even if they do get violent, don�t worry. I�ll protect you.�

He possessively put an arm around Anthony�s waist. The other boy just rolled his eyes.

�Leave the heroics to the Gryffindors, Theo.�

Theodore scoffed. �It�s not Gryffindor heroics, Ant. It�s Slytherin ambition. We take what we want, and we don�t let anyone touch what�s ours. And you are mine.�

To prove his point, he pressed his lips to Anthony�s in a bruising kiss. It was hard, searing, and claiming. Neither boy pulled away until the demand for air separated them.

�Right,� Anthony said breathlessly, �Yours.�

Theodore chuckled smugly.

�That�s right. Maybe I�ll show you again after the game, under the stands.�

Anthony�s eyes brightened, like they did when Madam Pince shelved a new book on the Dark Ages. Then, he tugged Theodore�s arm and half-pulled, half-led him to the entrance for the Slytherin stands.

�How long do the games usually last?� he asked, not having been to many. �Harry should catch the Snitch in less than ten minutes, right?�

Again, Theodore chuckled. �You better say Malfoy from now on, Ant, or even I won�t be able to stop the slaughter.�

Anthony laughed brightly and Theodore�s breath caught at the sound. He only had time for one thought, though, before he was pulled up the steps to the stands.

Merlin, Potter better catch that Snitch fast.