TBOTBN II: Outside Influences

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe and all the characters are property of J.K. Rowling and whomever else has a finger in the huge franchise. I do not. I make no money nor do I claim any ownership of the people, places, and things (unless I make them up as we go). It is only to have some fun do I write this story, in hopes of some entertainment.


Warning: This chapter contains scenes with course language, violence and mature content. Reader discretion is advised.

Theodore dropped his books onto the worktable and pulled out the chair to sit down. He swiveled around and winked at Blaise, who was seated behind him. She smiled lightly in return.

"So tell me again why you dragged me to class so early?" Theodore asked Blaise. Advanced Potions wasn't his favourite class. He could do without all the constricting rules. He wanted to experiment, to mix and match and see what he could come up with. Working with a recipe that you couldn't stray from was rather dull.

Blaise sighed regally. "You know perfectly well why I wished to leave the common room quickly." She looked around the empty classroom nervously as she pulled a little vial of powder from an inside pocket, along with a small mirror. The light glinted off the tiny mirror that she placed on the table, and as she unscrewed the vial with shaky hands, Blaise tapped out a bit of the powder. With a thin straw, she inhaled the powder and sniffed loudly. She tapped her nose a few times and with her eyes shut tight, felt the waves of uncertainty and claustrophobia dissipate. She sighed in satisfaction and looked at Theodore with a contented expression.

"That's going to kill you one of these days," he said simply before turning around.

Blaise reached forward and put her hands on his shoulders. "You know me better than that, my dear. It helps take the edge off."

"You're taking more and more of that to 'take the edge off' Zabini," Theodore stated gruffly. He turned to look at her with narrowed eyes. "And aren't you supposed to smoke heroin? Or inject it?

Blaise shook her head in amusement. "Well it's obvious you know nothing about opium. Besides, do I have time to turn this into a liquid, get a syringe and mar this perfect skin? I could have smoked it of course, but Professor Snape would be able to smell it. My options are limited I'm afraid."

Theodore looked balefully at Blaise. She wore an amused grin, her eyes slightly glassy. Pursing her lips, Blaise kept her eyes locked with Theodore's as she recapped the vial and placed it back into her pocket. Her cheeks were reddened, and she seemed to be out of breath, as if she had just run around the castle. Theodore clenched his jaw tightly closed.

The few Ravenclaw students entered the room then and Theodore threw his attention to Lisa Turpin, allowing his concern for his friend to be overshadowed for the moment. Blaise pouted as she was ignored. Lisa sat down next to Theodore and the couple shared a quick kiss.

"Do you have to do that in class?" Anthony exclaimed loudly, causing the handful of students to look at the display of affection.

Lisa blushed lightly and drew away, causing Anthony to smile and Theodore to scowl. "Afraid you might learn something new, Goldstein?" Theodore inquired icily. Theodore moved closer to Lisa, and eyeing Anthony angrily, whispered, "I do believe he's jealous, luv. I better not hear about any indecent proposals from him."

Lisa turned to face Theodore and looked him levelly in the eye. Her lips rose in a dazzling smile. "It sounds to me like you're the one who's jealous, Teddy." She put her hand on his thigh and squeezed lightly. "You have nothing to worry about. I'm only interested in you."

With smoldering eyes, Theodore smirked. He leaned forward to take Lisa's lips in another heated kiss, but was interrupted as the rest of the class strode in, followed closely by Professor Snape.

Severus Snape swept up to the blackboard and flipped it over, the instructions for that lesson's project on the other side. The Potions Professor levelled his hard stare on the students and looked down his hawkish nose. "This calming draught is incredibly delicate. It takes precise measures of your ingredients. One slight deviation from the recipe will be catastrophic." Snape let a cold smile climb his lips. He turned his dark eyes to Theodore. "You will be testing your draught on your partners, so I suggest you pay attention."

Theodore opened his eyes wide and turned his gaze to Lisa. The young woman returned his gaze, but she wore a soft, loving expression. It was like she trusted Theodore implicitly. Theodore shook his head. "Silly bint," he thought. "I'm going to get her hurt one of these days." He whimpered at the thought, the sound so low in his belly that he could only feel it. Theodore closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could sure use some calming draught now.

A loud piercing shriek erupted all around them. It seemed to be coming from everywhere in the classroom at once. Theodore clamped his hands over his ears and saw the other students do the same. He looked to Snape and the Professor had his wand in hand and flew to the door. He swept it aside in time to see a blinding flash of light erupt within the halls. As quickly as he had opened the door, Snape slammed it shut, the sound overwhelmed by the shrieking alarm. Snape flicked his wand at the door, magic binding the door locked before he swirled his wrist and mercifully the alarm ceased.

Professor Snape hastened to the ingredients closet and flung open the door. "Quickly, everyone through here."

"What's going on?" Harry Potter asked even as he winced in pain. His hand was pressed tightly to his forehead, the other held onto his wand. Seeing this, Theodore snatched up his own wand.

"Hogwarts is under attack," Snape commented dryly. "Now, for once Mister Potter, do as you are told and get through here before the Death Eaters break through that door."

Some of the girls screamed then as the class jumped to their collective feet and scrambled to the storage closet. Harry Potter held back, Hermione Granger pleading with him to go. Snape glided over to him and grabbed the front of his robe and drew him up to face him. Theodore watched in awe as Snape snarled in the teen's face and roughly shove him towards the rest of the class. "Now go!" he yelled, more to Harry then to Theodore, but the sandy haired teen could tell that he was meant in that order as well.

Theodore didn't look back as he dashed through the door and found the other students huddled at the back of the room that was much larger than it seemed. There were shelves arranged much like a library but held vials and jars of everything imaginable that could be used in mixing potions. Lisa flung herself into Theodore's arms and he held her tight.

“Worried, Turpin?” Theodore asked with a little amusement. His body reacted to her closeness and he felt his cock twitching in his pants. Lisa felt it too and looked up at him with shock. Shrugging his shoulders, Theodore covered her mouth with his. “You have nothing to fear. We’re safe in here. Snape wouldn’t…”

“I’ve heard Professor Snape is a… is a Death Eater,” Lisa whispered quickly, her voice an octave higher, sounding shrill in her fear. “Maybe he just locked us in here to make it easier to capture us.”

Theodore looked down at his frightened girlfriend. “Don’t be absurd. Dumbledore wouldn’t have a known Death Eater on staff. And even if he was forced to, like last year when Umbridge was here, he would make sure that we would never be alone with him.”

Lisa nodded lightly, but Theodore didn’t think she was convinced. He wanted to reassure her but couldn’t think of anything to say that would make her believe that they would be all right. Instead, he just pulled her into a tight embrace and held her close. She rested her head on his chest, and Theodore hoped the beating of his heart under her ear would remind her that as long as they were together everything would be fine. Theodore almost believed it himself.

Theodore looked around the gathered students. His mouth dropped open as he noticed Draco tap the wall with his wand. The rock and mortar slid and flowed like water, opening a small hole that would allow them to escape if need be. Or for someone to slip in. What was Draco Malfoy up to? Even more surprising was Draco stepping aside to allow Potter and Granger to slip out, although it looked like he didn’t want the girl to go.

“I thought Draco didn’t like Harry,” Lisa whispered from Theodore’s chest.

“He doesn’t.”

“Then why would he help him get out?”

Theodore stared at the disappearing students. Once they were gone he looked down into Lisa’s curious eyes. He shook his head in wonder. She was so smart, yet so naïve. “He wants Potter to go out there. Chances are the stupid sod could get himself killed.” Looking back to the hole, Theodore cursed under his breath and moved quickly. Lisa was left standing alone slightly shaken from her boyfriend’s sudden movement.

There was a loud scream from outside that made some of the other students flinch in fright. Theodore wondered who was screaming, friend or foe? He worried that it might be friend. He worried that his father was out there looking for him. Blaise moved to the little hole in the wall and peered through. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand.

Seeing his friend so close to the opening, Theodore grabbed her arm. "What do you think you're doing, Zabini?" he whispered in an unsteady voice. Looking into her bloodshot eyes, he knew that she was more stoned than usual.

With a quivering voice and shaking hands, Blaise pried herself free from Theodore's grip. Her giggle sounded manic as she looked around the room in agitation. "I'm following Potter and his little friend," she stated excitedly. "If they can leave and have some excitement, so can I. No sense those Gryffindors have all the fun."

"Fun?" Theodore exclaimed. "Are you barking mad girl? If you go out there, you could get yourself killed. Especially in the state you're in."

Blaise puffed out her chest regally. "I'll have you know I'm in the best shape. I feel wonderful.” She reached up and ran her fingers through her friend’s sand coloured hair. A dreamy smile raised her lips and she giggled lightly.

Theodore snapped his fingers in front of Blaise’s face quickly. Her surprised blink would have made him laugh if not for the situation. “You have no reflexes, Zabini,” Theodore said angrily. “You’re in no condition to leave here. Take a seat in the corner and let that damn drug run its course. I want you back to your senses.”

Blaise giggled. “I love it when you’re demanding.” She looked around the hole again and then turned back to Theodore with a look of concern. “Kamal and Daphne are out there somewhere. Maybe we can save them.”

“Chances are,” Theodore stated slowly. It was like he was talking to a small child. “They are in a little room much like this one. The other teachers wouldn’t let anything happen to them.”

Blaise looked at him with a calculated stare. “I hope you are correct. I would hate to think that anything could happen to them while we sat here and did nothing.”

Theodore grabbed her elbow and pulled her away from the hole. He was thankful the shouts and blasts of magic were not close by, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Lisa clutched Theodore’s arm as he pulled Blaise along. Roughly shoving his friend against the wall, he told her to sit down. Slowly, Blaise sank to the floor and drew her knees up to her chest. She looked angrily up at Theodore but her eyelids seemed to become heavy and she closed her eyes.

“What’s wrong with her?” Lisa asked as she and her boyfriend sat down beside Blaise. Lisa pulled Theodore’s arm across her shoulders and snuggled close to him, her head on his chest. Her eyes went back to Blaise and she watched as the strawberry blonde’s arm fell to the floor with a thud.

“Nothing,” Theodore answered quickly. Lisa locked her eyes on him scathingly and swatted his chest with her hand in annoyance. Theodore rolled his eyes. “It’s none of your business, Turpin. Let it drop.”

“No. If she’s sick or something we should tell Professor Snape.”

“If you haven’t noticed, Snape is not in here with us. He’s out there conspiring with the dark wizards or whatever else is attacking the school to be concerned with an ill student.” Lisa gasped in horror at Theodore’s story, making him chuckle lightly. “You’re too easy. Don’t worry about Snape, and don’t worry about Zabini. She’s just high.”

“What?” Lisa exclaimed.

Theodore clamped his hand over her mouth and looked angrily into her eyes. “Quiet. The whole school does not need to know about this. I shouldn’t have even told you.” Staring hard into Lisa’s eyes, Theodore warned, “You better not tell anyone about this, Turpin. Not one word. Do I make myself clear?”

Lisa searched her boyfriend’s eyes and saw a menacing sparkle. Nodding slowly, she answered, “Alright Teddy. I won’t tell.”

Relief washed over him and he bent forward and kissed Lisa. “Good girl.”

Theodore felt guilty for betraying Blaise’s confidence. When you only had a handful of friends, trust was an important element to the friendship. He looked over to Blaise and sighed. Taking heroin was not something he approved of, but he knew how she got around crowds. It was surprising when she seemed very relaxed at the start of this year. At the Sorting Feasts of the past, the aristocratic girl had always been on edge, tense and drawn. Two years before, she had suffered from such an anxiety attack that she had fainted. Madam Pomfrey diagnosed her with Agoraphobia and gave her a calming drought. The drought had had morphine in it.

Blaise stood up suddenly and strode to the hole in the wall. Theodore cursed Draco for not closing the opening. The young witch looked over her shoulder and caught Theodore’s eye. Her eyes flashed with mischief in the dim light as she stepped through the hole and disappeared.

“Damn!” Theodore muttered as he stood up quickly. “Zabini went out. I’m going after her.”
Lisa looked over to the hole and gasped. She clutched at Theodore. “Don’t go! Tell the Professor. Please.”

Theodore yanked his arm free from Lisa’s grasp. “There is no one to tell. I will not allow her to wander the halls in her condition. She could get hurt.” Theodore didn’t want to argue with Lisa at the moment. Every second he delayed let Blaise get closer and closer to potential danger.

He stepped to the hole and a strong hand with long fingers grabbed his arm. “Where do you think you’re going, Nott?” Draco asked haughtily.

“Get off,” Theodore hissed as he wrenched his arm free. Draco’s grip was strong and his fingers bit into Theodore’s arm as he pulled away. “Why stop me and not Zabini you bloody bastard? What is wrong with you?”

His pale grey eyes widened at Theodore’s revelation and Draco looked out the hole in alarm. “I didn’t see her go.” Theodore shook his head in anger. Draco peered out the opening and turned guilt ridden eyes back to Theodore before he could school his expression to his usual sneer.

Theodore cursed under his breath. How could Blaise be so stupid? As if taking the drug wasn't bad enough, now she was going on a fool's errand that could get her killed. Theodore felt a wave of panic bubble in his belly at the thought of Blaise being hurt. He couldn't imagine his life without her. She was his best friend at Hogwarts. His best friend anywhere really. Narrowing his eyes as he stared out the opening, Theodore drew on his resolve and stepped through.

"Theodore!" Lisa cried out quietly. She ran to the opening and grabbed his robes. "Where do you think you're going?"

The sandy haired teen looked at his girlfriend. He saw the worry in her eyes. It made him feel good to know that someone could miss him if he were gone. The knowledge softened his reply. "I'm going after Zabini. She slipped out and the state she's in she could get hurt." Theodore grabbed Lisa by the back of the head and with a handful of her hair, drew her forward for a fevered kiss. "Wait here for me."

Lisa looked back over her shoulder worriedly. "No Theodore Nott. I will not wait here for you. I'm coming too. I told you I would look after you and I mean to do just that." Pushing Theodore back, Lisa climbed through the hole and glared up at him. Her jaw was set and, with her hands on her hips, she challenged him silently to try to make her stay behind.

Trying a different tactic, Theodore reasoned, "You said you would look after me from my father. The school is being overrun by a horde of evil wizards. Do you really think you can protect me from all of them?"

Lisa stepped close and put her arms around him. Looking up into his eyes, Lisa smiled shyly. "I can try. I'm not letting you go alone. I wouldn't be able to live if anything ever happened to you."

Theodore wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her up. Their lips met in a wet kiss. It always amazed Theodore how sweet and free Lisa was with her affection for him now. How she curved against his body and how she clung to him in the dark. He didn't want to let her go, but he knew if he wanted to stop Blaise before she was hurt or worse, he would have to.

"Okay then," Theodore said huskily. He shook himself for a moment, ridding the too warm images about Lisa from his mind. "I know where she might be heading. She's worried about El Sayeed and Greengrass, so she should be heading for the Ancient Runes class." Lisa nodded and the two teens set off out of the dungeons.

The shouts and buzz of magic was quiet around them, having moved upwards to the main floors of the castle. Theodore shook his head in disgust. If the attack was all about Potter, the culprits didn't do their homework very well. The potions classroom should have been overrun. Snape may have been able to cast a binding spell around the door but under an assault by several wizards, the wards would have been defeated within moments. That meant Snape had either led them on to less populated areas of Hogwarts, or he knew that Potter would try to butt in and the Professor and his cohorts were lying in wait for the meddlesome Gryffindor. He couldn't believe Snape was evil though. Sure the man was insufferable, obnoxious and most of all, very intimidating, but that was just a carefully built reputation to keep the students in line. Theodore believed the Potions Master just didn't like anyone.

The two teens crept along the corridor of the dungeon, keeping to the wall, making them less noticeable in case anyone was about. Their hands were clasped together and Theodore was a tad angry that his hand was sweating. He didn't like Lisa to know he was nervous. It made him feel weak.

Theodore came to a halt as they reached a junction in the hallway. Carefully, he peered around the corner and then, giving Lisa’s hand a squeeze, set off. He didn’t want to take any chances while Lisa was with him. Normally he wouldn’t have even stopped. There was no commotion close to them, so no real reason to be so cautious. Was it just a male tendency to act all tough and protective when a girl was with you? The young man was beginning to think so. If El Sayeed had been the one to take off, he probably wouldn’t have jumped to go after the Turk. Theodore shook his head again, both to try to clear his mind and keep it on the task at hand, and also in derision. He was being way to careful. He would have caught up to Zabini by now if he had been alone.

“Come on,” Theodore said gruffly, giving Lisa’s arm a harsh yank as he picked up his pace. “Let’s get a move on.”

“Ow! Theodore, stop. Don’t pull so hard,” Lisa complained in a strained whisper as she was dragged behind her boyfriend. She pulled her hand free of his and looked angrily up at him.

Theodore turned and stalked back to face the girl. She took an involuntary step back but kept her eyes locked to his, only flinching when his hands gripped her shoulders tightly. “We need to move faster,” he hissed. “If you don’t think you can handle that, get back to the damn Potions room.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes, her lips pouting in frustration. “Well let’s hurry it up then,” she shot back and set off down the hall ahead of Theodore.

They came to a set of stairs leading up to the main floor of the castle. Shouts and bursts of magic were louder and threatened to spill down into the dungeons as the two teens listened. Theodore looked over his shoulder at Lisa. She smiled reassuringly up at him, but the fear in her eyes was evident. He leaned forward and put his lips to her ear. "You can turn back, luv," he whispered. "This is your last chance." The tall weedy wizard hoped she would opt to go back. He was afraid that she would get hurt. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to protect her. He hated the red hot knot in his gut that told him to keep the girl from harm. It told him to take her back to safety and make sure she didn't get herself killed.

Lisa shook her head. "I’m staying with you," she whispered back. They squeezed hands for a moment, the unspoken reassurance to each other only slightly comforting. Theodore knew that they should be moving faster. Blaise was up there somewhere, in the midst of all that chaos.

It was frightening how bold He Who Must Not Be Named was becoming. Not only was he attacking muggles as was his wont, but he also had killed several wizarding families. Attacking Hogwarts was his boldest move yet. Everyone knew he was back, but this was letting everyone know that he was back with a vengeance. Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore were the only things the Dark Wizard was really afraid of, that could threaten his rise to power. To invade the school like this was to say that he feared nothing.

The sounds seemed to grow louder as Theodore and Lisa stood rooted at the bottom of the stairs. The lights and flashes brightened the way, but made the air electric. Theodore could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. The sensation ran up and down his spine and made him shiver.

Slowly they crept up the stairs. The flashes and explosions of magic brightened the hallways like so many fireworks exploding all around them. The strobing effect of the light made it look like time stood still. They didn't so much as move, as they progressed within still frames, pictures that didn't move. The air was filled with the stench of smoke and of ash. He didn't know what had burned and he didn't want to know. The thought of what could be made him cringe slightly. The air around them smelled charred and decayed and whatever it was that burned was beyond recognition now.

Finally able to look over the top stair and into the corridor, the two teens looked on in wonder as Professors Flitwick and Sinistra stood back to back and flung magic at the half dozen hooded wizards that surrounded them. The two teachers were faring well, holding off the attacks, but Theodore knew the teachers wouldn't be able to last much longer against the odds against them.

There was also no way the two students could move on either. If they climbed any higher on the stairs, the Death Eaters would surely see them. Theodore looked down at Lisa. She was staring intently and fearfully at her head of house fighting for his life. Her wand was in her hand and the faint glow of magic sparked from her body.

"Turpin," Theodore said warningly. "Don't even think it. Don't even think of trying to help them. It wouldn't do any good."

Lisa turned pooling eyes to her boyfriend. "He's going to be killed if we don't do something."

Theodore felt the tug in his gut as he stared into his girlfriend's pained eyes. She was right. The teachers would be killed if they didn't intervene, but it mattered little to Theodore. There would always be someone to replace the teachers if they fell to the death eaters. Who could replace Lisa if she was caught in the crossfire? Who could replace Blaise if he didn't find her? Anger surged through him at the thought. There was no one.

Theodore grabbed Lisa's shoulders and shook her roughly. "We came here to find Zabini. We don't have time to fight the teacher’s battles."

"If we don't, they could die!"

Theodore stared into Lisa's eyes and saw the pain and need in them. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if they let Flitwick and Sinistra die. Theodore closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again Lisa was looking at him, pleading with him to help. He knew he couldn't say no. Holding his wand tightly in his hand, he nodded slightly to his girlfriend and turned back up the stairs, ready to do what he knew was foolish and dangerous.

Relief washed over him as he saw Professor Flitwick cast his magic over the suits of armour that lined the corridor. He watched in awe as the statues began to move, the creaking sound of metal grinding against metal overpowering the explosions of magical energy. The dark wizards were oblivious to the movement around them, intent on their seeming victory over the faculty of Hogwarts. It wasn't until one of their number fell that they realized their peril.

"Oh my goodness," Lisa breathed as she watched the statues raise their swords and lash out at the intruders. Even though she cringed at the sight of the first wizard being impaled onto the long blade of a charmed statue, the young witch couldn't take her eyes off the melee. Magic flashed anew as desperation took hold of the once smug wizards, but proved useless as their beams of light did nothing more than bounce off the gleaming armour. The odds now in the teacher's favour, Professors Flitwick and Sinistra began to overpower the evil wizards. Although relieved that her teachers appeared to be winning, the young witch was horrified by the brutal attacks. She flung herself into Theodore's arms and clutched him tightly.

Theodore held Lisa tightly. It felt good to be able to hold her in the face of such things. He knew the sight of such violence would haunt her. He wondered if one of those masked wizards was his father. His face twisted into a scowl as he hoped that the dead death eater was the man who had killed his mother. "This is the kind of life he wants for me," Theodore thought bitterly. "His only son. That bastard."

Tilting Lisa's chin, Theodore locked eyes with his girlfriend. "We need to get moving." As Lisa nodded her agreement with tearful eyes, Theodore pulled her slowly and carefully up the stairs. It was still dangerous to draw attention to themselves.

The two students crept around the fight, the two teachers now immobilizing the remaining intruders. It was a good thing the foyer was so large that they could get by unnoticed. Theodore didn’t like the look of the charmed suits of armour. They surrounded the wizards and appeared to be looking for a cause to strike out. Theodore assumed that the diminutive Charms Professor had charmed the armour to lash out at any violent actions. The sandy haired teen hoped their movements went unnoticed by the animated statues. It wouldn't be good to be captured by anyone, either teacher or intruder.

They dashed down a corridor, letting out held breaths to be passed the fight. Lisa was visibly shaken. "I've never seen anything like it. My gosh Theodore, why are they doing this?"

Theodore looked harshly at the girl. "I could always ask my father," he replied curtly. When Lisa cringed at his angry words, Theodore felt his anger rise in his stomach, bubble and burst like boiling water. “How the Hell should I know why they are doing this? It’s probably some attempt to show the world that they mean business, that they are ready to drive us all into slavery or worse.”

“I vote for worse.”

Theodore and Lisa whirled around to see a hooded figure behind them. He grabbed Lisa around the waist and hauled her against his chest. The young witch let out a panicked shriek that was cut off when the death eater put his large hand over her mouth.