shades of cool | theo nott

34 || i know

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"𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡-𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙙
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙
𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙"
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Vera arrived at the Zabini Manor with square nails cropped to the nub, painted a delicate nude pink color, no makeup, and dark brunette locks flowing down her back.

She almost cried when she looked at herself in the mirror. At least in the past she would always be forced to do one thing or the other— at the debutante ball, she had pink nails but also her usual black eyeliner and cherry red hair, before her hair was dyed, at least she had her long almond black or dark red nails and her heavy eyeliner and dark lipstick, and when she was forced to wear natural makeup to a dinner party, she at least had her long red nails with hair to match.

She didn't look like herself. It was a shallow reason to get upset but she got mad regardless. Her mother had forced her to change herself to be the perfect daughter in her eyes, and it made her sick to see.

Vera took a deep breath. She could apply her normal makeup at Hogwarts as soon as she left her mother's gaze. Vera was also sure that the nail salon in Hogsmeade would bring her nails back to their previous state rather quickly.

She ran a hand through a lock of her hair. But her hair...

Alma had placed some charm on it that only allowed it to look this chocolate brown color. Even if she dyed it again, even if she Transfigured it, even if she poured bleach on it-- to the outside, it would only look like this.

It was meant to be a rebellious act, one that her mother had just figured out how to reverse. Now, she was paying the price for it.

Vera took another deep breath and tied her hair up into a loose bun that was hanging on the back of her neck. She tucked the loose peices away and out of her face before she wiped her hands on her flare jeans and adjusted her dark red tank top. The girl placed her favorite pair of oversized sunglasses onto her face, pushing them up hautily when they slid down her nose.

"Vera's here!" She heard a voice call and she braced herself for the comments. Alma could steal away a lot of her characteristics, but she wouldn't be able to take Vera's attitude and style.

"Hey," Vera said, hoping it sounded confident as they all entered the drawing room. Pansy's jaw dropped after looking at her plain looking hair. The boys looked around at each other. "What's up?" She asked, hoping again that her voice didn't waver.

It did.

Theo immediately pushed past his friends and enveloped her in a hug as if they hadn't seen each other a week or two ago. Time genuinely ran differently in that household, so she wasn't quite sure. "Are you okay?" He asked her, his voice grazing soft against her ear so that only they could hear it. Like a secret.

Vera could feel a lump in her throat forming at his concern and pushed her sunglasses off of her face, revealing her bare face as she hugged him back. Theo, of course, thought she looked beautiful with or without makeup. He loved when her freckles dotted her nose, when her cheeks would light up pink because of one of his commnets, and when her lips would naturally get dark pink after they'd kissed.

Pansy gave her a sympathetic smile before ushering the boys back into Blaise's room. Vera gave her a watery smile in return, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. Theo's words and Pansy's actions felt like permission to cry and so she did.

It started as tears rolling down her face and soaking into Theo's shirt as she explained what happened and quickly turned into quiet sobs and rushed breathing. Theo rubbed circles into her back comfortingly as she cried, simply being there. He led her to the couch, where they sat.

"Merlin," She huffed out, wiping a tear out of the corner of her eye as she always did when she cried. "I'm not being shallow, I swear."

"I know, I know." He repeated soothingly, his voice calm and deep in her ear. "I know, Veve."

"I just," She choked on another sob. "I don't even feel like myself!" Vera exclaimed, her cries starting up again. "Can you silence the room?" She whispered between sniffing and ragged breaths.

He smiled sofly at her. "I already did. As soon as everyone else left."

She smacked his chest playfully, giving a small laugh. "You're so lucky you can use magic outside of school now." Vera admitted, sniffling.

"August 3rd is coming up," He teased. "You think you'll be able to wait until then?"

"Yeah, I suppose." She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "What a stupid rule."

"Yeah, so stupid." Theodore agreed, a teasing smile on his face after seeing her smile. "The stupidest, even."

They rested on the couch for a few moments more before Vera expelled a deep breath, adequately all cried out. "Well, I have to face them now, don't I?"

"Not if you don't want to." Theo assured, taking her hand delicately like a gentleman. "We can go to my house or go to London or go to Italy again, it's up to you."

She smiled. "It's alright, I think I'll be okay. How do I look?" Vera wondered if her eyes were puffy and if her cheeks were too pink.

"Beautiful." Theo responded without missing a beat. No hesitation from him.

"You're the wrong person to ask." She quipped, laughing as he all but dragged her away from the door. "You twee little flirt."

He scoffed, grinning as she did. "Unfortunately, I reckon anyone else would say the same if they saw you." He sighed dramatically. "I can't keep you to myself."

Vera shook her head, placing her sunglasses over her eyes again, which burned because of her cry session. The girl opened the door, making her way up the stairs to Blaise's room, Theo holding onto her hand and hot on her trail.

Vera paused to hear what they were saying about her after they reached Blaise's door.

"D'you reckon they're shagging as we speak?" Enzo asked, rather crudely. Vera saw him wiggle his eyebrows through the small crack of the door. Draco and Mattheo snorted whilst Blaise stifled a laugh. Enzo yelped as Pansy slapped his arm.

Vera entered the room, as graceful as ever. She crossed her arms as she looked at the sheepish brunette boy. "Nice, Enzo." Vera scoffed, shaking her head.

"Did you, though?" He asked again, all shame leaving his features after getting a glimpse of Theo standing behind her. The brunette boy grinned cattily. "A meloncholic yet fervent sexual tension soon relieved—" Enzo all but sung the words in a deep announcers voice. How did he even know these words?!

"Lorenzo!" Vera yelled. She couldn't stop herself from giggling as the rest of her friends and her boyfriend burst into peals of laughter though.

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a/n:
word count: 1243

idk if this is what u guys were expecting 😭 i always imagined veve going into 6th year with her natural hair color

alma always has something else up her sleeve tho!

love u guys so so so much and pls vote and comment :)