The Girl Who Lied || Draco Malfoy

Valentine's Day

February 14, 1996

Theo stood across from her, their wands raised at one another. They both panted from the exertion, Theo's left arm swollen and Hyacinth's forehead bleeding. "So, I have a confession to make."

Hyacinth raised an eyebrow at Theo. He was bold if he was willing to confess with her wand pointed at his throat. "What did you do?"

"We're going on a double date today."

Hyacinth shot a string of hexes at him that he dodged; they agreed to only use spells that they could heal, but that didn't mean they had to avoid spells that caused pain. "With who?"

"Draco and Pansy."

One of her hexes met her target, bypassing Theo's shields. It was a spell that caused leg cramps, as petty as that was, but it was satisfying watching him fall to his knees. "Draco and Pansy?"

"This is rude, Hyacinth, make it stop," Theo asked calmly as he messaged his calves.

"Draco and Pansy?!"

"Pansy asked me and I panicked, okay!" Theo sighed as he stretched out both legs with a little wince. He knew he'd have to work out the cramp without her aid. He should be lucky she didn't crucio him.

It would make the story more believable, Tom mused.

The past month went by in a busy blur. Between OWL classes, Prefect duties, Occlumency, Quidditch practice, morning runs, and dueling with Theo she didn't have a moment to her thoughts. It was best that way. She also meditated each night, as part of the Occlumency practice Snape gave her but also as part of the grueling animagi training. The more talents she possessed, the better chance she had at success.

In addition to all that, she was 'dating' Theo. They never even confirmed the assumptions, but they always returned to the Common Room sweaty, tired, and holding hands. There weren't many explanations, and boy was Hyacinth tired of the lewd comments Tracey would make.

"Oh la la," Tracey said as Hyacinth marched back into her dorm to get ready for the double date. "A morning shag on Valentine's Day? How romantic."

While Tracey was one of the many that avoided Hyacinth in public, particularly after that series of 'pranks' (attacks) that were pulled, Hyacinth knew deep down that Tracey would always be on her side. No matter what, Tracey would be there.

Particularly if there meant annoying the shit out of Hyacinth.

"Oh, kinky," Tracey pointed at the cut on her forehead. "I always thought Theo was into that BDSM stuff."

"I hate you for saying that. Heal it for me?"

"Say you love me."

"Fine, I love you. Heal it for me?"

Hyacinth slipped into a pale pink dress that she bought from Madam Malkin's that summer during their school shopping trip. The sheer skirt fabric flitted down to her ankles, a soft black coat thrown over the sleeveless straps to keep her warm in the February weather. She twisted her hair out of her face and pinned the waves back, throwing on a few standard beauty charms that the other girls liked to wear in place of makeup. At the last moment she tucked the folded invisibility cloak into her purse, too paranoid to leave it behind.

Hyacinth loaded up in a carriage with Theo, Draco, and Pansy Parkinson, petting the thestral absentmindedly as they passed it. Pansy was practically on Draco's lap and Draco looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. Hyacinth felt much of the same but held Theo's cold hand anyway.

"Happy Valentine's Day, love," Theo mumbled, squeezing her hand. They never did this - they never pretended. They just acted as they always did around each other and let the others make their own assumptions. It was never an act until now.