Don't Take It Personal...

Don't take it personal...

Parings... Theodore Nott x slytherin!reader

Trope... academic rivals to lovers

Warnings... swearing

Summary... Theodore Nott and Y/n have had rivalry to gain the highest grade in Potions for years but when someone gets hurt maybe it's gone too far...

Y/n L/n prided herself on two things: her impeccable grades and her unflappable demeanor. As a Slytherin, she knew the importance of maintaining a composed and strategic front, and she had mastered it to perfection. Except, of course, when it came to Theodore Nott.

Theodore was an enigma, a quiet presence that somehow always managed to get under her skin. He was brilliant, annoyingly so, and the only one who could rival her in Potions. Professor Slughorn often praised their concoctions, hinting at an unspoken rivalry that everyone in Slytherin House was aware of.

Y/n’s competitive spirit was fueled by Theodore’s relentless determination to outdo her. It wasn’t just about the grades; it was about proving herself, about being the best. Every potion she brewed was meticulously crafted, every essay on potion-making filled with insightful analysis and innovative ideas. Yet, no matter how hard she worked, Theodore was always there, a step ahead or right beside her, matching her effort for effort.

One evening, the common room was unusually quiet. Y/n was hunched over her Potions textbook, quill scratching furiously across the parchment. She hadn’t noticed the hours slipping away, the candles burning lower and lower. She hadn’t even noticed her own body’s protests, the gnawing hunger in her stomach because she just had to skip lunch and dinner and the dizzying exhaustion that clouded her vision as her body practically begged for rest.

It was Theodore who noticed. He had been watching her from a distance, his own books spread out in front of him but his attention clearly divided. He saw the way her hands trembled slightly, the way her head dipped closer to the table with each passing minute.

“Y/n” he called softly, but she didn’t respond. She was too engrossed in her work, too caught up in the need to perfect her latest potion theory.

“Y/n!” His voice was sharper this time, cutting through the haze of her concentration. She looked up, eyes glassy with fatigue.

“What, Nott?” she snapped, the sharpness in her voice a stark contrast to her usual calm demeanor.

“You need to eat something. You’ve been at this for hours,” he said, a note of concern creeping into his voice.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her vision swam as she tried to focus on him.

“No, you’re not,” he argued, standing up and crossing the room to her side. “You’re going to make yourself sick if you keep this up.”

She opened her mouth to retort, but the words didn’t come. Instead, the room tilted violently, and before she knew it, she was falling, darkness closing in around her.

The next thing Y/n knew, she was lying on a couch in the common room, a soft blanket draped over her. She blinked, trying to piece together what had happened. The room was dimly lit, and she could make out Theodore’s silhouette sitting nearby, a worried expression etched on his face.

“What happened?” she mumbled, her voice weak.

“You passed out,” Theodore said bluntly. “You haven’t been taking care of yourself, Y/n. This fucked up competition that we have… it’s not worth your health.”

Y/n tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced her back down. She closed her eyes, frustration boiling inside her. “I can’t just give up, Theodore. I have to be the best.”

“Why?” he asked, his tone softer now. “Why is it so important to you?”

“Because…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “Because it’s who I am. It’s all I have. We are both well aware of the customs that purebloods have and the expectations my parents have for me to secure a suitable match. This is for me because nothing ever is.”

Theodore sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Y/n, I never saw you as competition.”

His words took a moment to register. She stared at him, confusion mingling with exhaustion. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve always admired you, respected you. But I didn’t push myself to outdo you because I saw you as an obstacle. I did it because…” He trailed off, looking almost embarrassed. “Because it was the only way I could get your attention.”

Y/n’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“I’ve liked you for a long time, Y/n,” Theodore admitted, his cheeks tinged with color. “But you were always so focused, so distant. Competing with you was the only way I could think of to get you to notice me and prove myself to you.”

She was silent, processing his words. The idea that Theodore had been trying to impress her, to earn her attention, was both shocking and oddly touching. She had always seen their rivalry as a battle, it had never occurred to her that it was his way of reaching out to her.

“Theodore, I…” She paused, uncertain of what to say. “I never knew.”

“Of course not,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t exactly make it obvious.”

She managed a weak smile in return. “You certainly have a unique way of showing it.”

He chuckled, the tension in the room easing slightly. “I’m sorry if I pushed you too hard. I never wanted to see you hurt. And if it means you’ll take better care of yourself, I’ll back off. I don’t need to compete with you to care about you.”

Y/n felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. For the first time, she saw him not as her rival, but as someone who genuinely cared about her. It was a strange, yet comforting realization.

“You don’t have to back off,” she said softly. “Just… maybe we can find a better way to do this. A way that doesn’t involve me collapsing from exhaustion.”

Theodore’s expression brightened. “I’d like that.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the competitive edge between them replaced by something warmer, something more understanding. Y/n knew it wouldn’t be easy to change the dynamic that had defined their relationship for so long, but she was willing to try. For Theodore, and for herself.

As the days passed, their rivalry transformed into a partnership. They studied together, sharing insights and helping each other improve. Their mutual respect grew, and so did their affection. Theodore’s confession had opened a door that Y/n hadn’t even realized was there, and she was grateful for it.

One evening, as they sat together in the common room, Y/n looked over at Theodore, a smile playing on her lips. “You know, I think we make a pretty good team.”

He smiled back, his eyes warm. “I think so too.”

And in that moment, Y/n realized that she didn’t need to be the best to be happy. She just needed to be with someone who understood her, who cared about her, and who made her feel like she was enough, just as she was. Theodore had given her that, and she was determined to never take it for granted.

A/n... Please let me know what you think because I crave validation 😭

Also requests are openn

ever since i was a little girl i knew i wanted to be weird and strange and silly

Sometimes it's hard to face reality

Parings... Lorenzo Berkshire x reader

Warning... swearing, angst

Trope.... arranged marriage au

Summary... Y/n and Lorenzo are betrothed. Y/n is trying to make their marriage an easier one but Lorenzo is stubborn and ends up hurting her feelings.

Y/n had always known that her family had traditional values. Coming from an old, pure-blood Slytherin lineage, she had expected certain things. But when her parents told her about the arranged marriage with Lorenzo Berkshire, a boy in her year, she was taken aback. She knew Lorenzo; everyone did. He was handsome, with sharp features softened by a rare, genuine smile. Yet he was a bit pompus, and maybe a little bit of a flirt though, he seemed to be a good guy.

Lorenzo, on the other hand, was less than pleased when his parents told him about the arrangement. He had plans for his life that didn’t include being tethered to someone he barely knew at thirteen. Despite his frustrations, he kept his feelings to himself, determined not to be unkind to Y/n, who he knew was innocent in all this.

Y/n, determined to make the best of the situation, started by trying to befriend Lorenzo. She baked him his favorite pastries, pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts, hoping they would break the ice. She attended all his Quidditch games, cheering louder than anyone else when he caught the Snitch or made a brilliant play that distracted the other teams seeker.

Lorenzo, though appreciative of her efforts, found them overwhelming. He didn’t want to hurt her, so he tried to gently distance himself, thanking her politely but avoiding deeper interaction. Y/n, however, was persistent. She saw beyond his aloof exterior and noticed the kind glances, the quiet acts of consideration he thought she didn’t see and how he'd get his friends to make sure she was okay with their unfavorable situation.

One evening, after a particularly grueling Quidditch practice, Lorenzo found Isabella waiting for him outside the common room with a freshly baked batch of chocolate cauldron cakes. His patience, already worn thin by the day’s exertions, snapped.

“Y/n, can you just leave me alone for once?” he blurted out. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I don’t need your constant attention or your baking or even this stupid fucking engagement. Just… stop.”

Y/ns face fell. She hadn’t expected such harshness from him. “I’m sorry, Lorenzo. I just wanted to make things better for us. I never asked for this either but at least I am trying. ”

“Well, you’re not making anything. You’re just making it worse,” he retorted, immediately regretting his words as he saw the hurt in her eyes.

She fled, tears blurring her vision, and didn’t hear his half-hearted apology. That night, her friends comforted her, encouraging her to spend time with others and not waste her affections on someone who didn’t appreciate them instead they argued that they weren't engaged yet and she hade just as much freedom as he did.

Over the next few weeks, Y/n took her friends’ advice to heart. She started spending more time with her classmates, including a kind Ravenclaw named Anthony. They studied together, laughed together, and she found herself enjoying his company.

Lorenzo noticed. The absence of her unwavering support felt like a missing piece in his life. He missed her baked treats, her cheers at his Quidditch games, and most of all, her warm presence. He watched her with Ethan, jealousy gnawing at him. It dawned on him that he had been incredibly foolish. Though his friends didn't spare him their opinions on the situation either.

Determined to make amends, Lorenzo began his quest for forgiveness. He started by going to her her favorite study spots claiming to have just bumped into her, offering small gestures of goodwill. He brought her books she had mentioned wanting to read, offered to help her with Potions assignments, and even baked for her, despite his lack of culinary skills.

Y/n was wary at first, hurt by his earlier rejection. But Lorenzo’s persistence was hard to ignore. He apologized earnestly, admitting his fear and confusion about their betrothal.

“I was scared, Y/n. I thought pushing you away would make it easier, but I was wrong. I miss you. I miss us, whatever we could be. Please, give me another chance let me show you that we could be happy together,” he pleaded one evening by the lake.

Y/n looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. She hesitated before nodding slowly. “Alright, Lorenzo. But it’s not going to be easy. You hurt me.”

“I know, and I’ll spend however long it takes to make it up to you,” he vowed.

From that moment, they started anew. Lorenzo made an effort to show her he cared, not just through grand gestures but in the small, everyday moments. He listened to her, supported her, and showed genuine interest in her life. She attended his Quidditch matches, never missing out on the chanec to cheer for him ,and study sessions became talking for hours on end, building a friendship that grew into something more.

As the months passed, their bond deepened. Y/n saw the kind, caring and sometimes mischievous side of Lorenzo he had kept hidden from everyone else, while Lorenzo admired Y/n’s resilience and warmth. Their arranged marriage no longer felt like a burden but a promise of a future built on mutual respect and growing affection.

By their seventh year, Y/n and Lorenzo were inseparable. They had navigated the complexities of their betrothal, turning an arrangement into a relationship built on trust and love. Their friends welcomed the couple wholeheartedly and their parents had no concerns as they were close to securing a suitable match for their children.

in another universe, the day lasts just a little bit longer and i can stay by your side for just a moment more.

Lando Norris

The very first night