"Mine," he mumbled against her neck whilst placing more kisses. "My best friend. Not Weasley's. Not Labonté's. Mine."
***
Fourth year brings changes in the feelings of Draco Malfoy and Nia Perez for each other: butterflies, jealousy, possessiveness...
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***
Right as Nia was about to fold the paper, she saw it — a smudged smiley face.
Eyebrows scrunched up, she scanned the paper once more, realization dawning upon her. The writing on the parchment paper was untidy, rushed — not like her companion's usual handwriting. She noted two more dots of water.
Nia's eyebrow shot up as she quickly put the letter away.
Was Draco crying?
The chances were slim to none that her blond friend was actually in distress, but her gut told her otherwise.
She rushed to her bag and took out her wand before speeding out of her dorm. However, as soon as she closed the door behind her and turned around, she collided with someone's hard chest. Warm hands landed on her arms as she rubbed her nose, groaning slightly. The brunette gazed up, through bleary eyes, and saw a boy with chestnut brown hair and dark hazel eyes. Cedric Diggory. Her first friend at Hogwarts.
***
"Hmm loyal, yet very smart..."
Nia was nervous. Very nervous. Who knew that getting sorted into a house would be this nerve racking. Well, there were at least hundreds of pairs of eyes on her.
"Friendship, family,... Relationships are something very important to you, aren't they..."
Nia nodded slowly.
"But I sense something else, just like your mother..."
The brunette swallowed as multiple silence beats passed.
"No, I seem to have misjudged. You truly are a... Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table burst in applause. A bright smile spread across her lips. She joined her house family and sat next to a brunet boy who seemed a few years older than her. When she sat down, she thought about her mother... Would she be proud? Her smile faltered. The only one to notice was the third year boy.
"Hi, I'm Cedric," introduced the brunet boy, bumping his elbow against hers. "Cedric Diggory."
"Oh, hi. I'm Nia. Nia Perez."
"Nice to meet you, Nia!"
"The feeling is mutual..."
The brunet frowned. "Um, are you okay?"
"Just a little nervous... I'm not exactly the type that makes friends easily..."
"There's nothing to be nervous about," exclaimed Cedric, crossing his arms on the table. "I'm sure you'll be fine. I would be your friend. You seem like a sweetheart."
He gave her a reassuring smile which calmed Nia's nerves.
