Truth, or Dare?

Chapter 4

"Well, come on then, spill the beans!" Pansy exclaimed, her laughter contagious as she urged me to share every detail of my eventful morning.

"Alright, alright," I chuckled, linking arms with her as we made our way out of the Potions classroom.

"But before we get into the juicy bits of my morning, we're definitely hitting the party tonight, right?" Pansy inquired.

"Absolutely," I confirmed with a nod.

"Great, now spill it," she demanded with a smirk.

"Well... Where do I even begin?"

~

"Pansy, shh!" I hiss, glancing around at the curious stares we were receiving from our fellow students. "Keep your voice down!"

Pansy's eyes widen in shock as she processes the information. "Draco did WHAT?" she exclaims, unable to contain her astonishment. Her voice echoes down the empty hallway, drawing even more attention from passersby.

Feeling my face flush with embarrassment, I quickly pull Pansy aside, hoping to avoid any further public displays. "Yes, he... uh... adjusted my skirt," I admit in a hushed tone, still trying to come to terms with the unexpected encounter myself.

As we stroll through the courtyard, the warm sunlight casting long shadows across the cobblestones, Pansy's words echo in my mind. Why were they so insistent on me attending the party? It was indeed peculiar, considering our usual interactions—or lack thereof.

"I'm not sure," I confess, furrowing my brow in contemplation. "It does seem a bit strange, doesn't it?"

Pansy nods in agreement, her expression mirroring my own sense of unease. "Well, regardless, I suppose we'll find out soon enough," she remarks with a shrug, a determined glint in her eyes.

With a shared glance and a nod, we continue our leisurely walk, the mystery of Draco's sudden interest lingering in the air between us

"I honestly expected you to be upset with me, Pansy," I say, meeting her eyes. "I was worried you'd feel disrespected."

"Oh, honey. I'd be more than happy to see Draco with someone else," Pansy replies with a dismissive wave. "All he's been doing since we decided to break it off is slump around. What I am more concerned about is you."

"What do you mean by that?" I inquire, curious about her perspective.

"Well," Pansy begins, taking my hand and guiding us to a nearby wooden bench in the courtyard. "I'd be furious with him if he led you on and used you for his own amusement. You know he's done such obnoxious things with others."

"Oh, I know. Which is why I don't plan on it leading anywhere, let alone entertain him," I assure her.

"Now, Mattheo on the other hand..." Pansy raises her eyebrows and smirks at me suggestively.

"Absolutely not! He looks at me as though I'm his prey, it's creepy," I protest, shaking my head.

"Creepily attractive," Pansy counters with a laugh, nudging me playfully. "He's got those eyes, you know what I'm talking about."

"Absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Pans," I reply, looking around and laughing.

As we continue our conversation on the bench, our attention is drawn to a group of students sitting nearby. Pansy points out a particular Hufflepuff boy who seems captivated by the surroundings. His warm smile catches our attention, prompting smiles of our own in response.

''Now he's quite the handsome one, don't you think?'' Pansy says waving at the boy.

''Cedric Diggory?'' I ask, smiling.

''He's quite beautiful.''

"I most certainly am, thank you for asking, lovely," a voice interrupts our conversation. The boy's sudden appearance startles both me and Pansy, causing us to jump slightly. We turn our gaze to the newcomer, recognizing him by his ginger hair.

"Merlin, Fred! A warning next time, perhaps?" Pansy whisper-shouts, playfully punching his side.

"I thought we were very clearly talking about me, were we not?" Fred smirks proudly.

"Of course, we were, Fred. You're a gorgeous specimen yourself, right, Pansy?" I laugh.

"Indeed," Pansy replies, rolling her eyes but laughing along.

"Now, what might two beautiful witches be doing this fine morning?" Fred asks, his arm wraps around us, pulling us closer.

"Oh, you know, the usual, talking about the lovely weather we've been blessed with today," Pansy replies sarcastically.

"Ah, yes. The weather does seem quite Diggory today, does it not?" Fred says, releasing us and stretching backward.

I and Pansy freeze for a moment, exchanging amused glances before bursting into giggles.

"Now, now, Weasley. You know you'll always be our number one," Pansy says, ruffling Fred's hair affectionately.

With a smile at their antics, I turn my attention back to the group we were observing earlier. Cedric remains there, immersed in animated conversation and laughter with the others. His hand effortlessly sweeps back his hair, and he reclines leisurely on the grass. Our eyes meet, and he raises an eyebrow in a friendly manner, as if to inquire why I'm staring. I respond with a smile, silently conveying that there's no particular reason. His soft chuckle resonates through the air, and he looks away, his lips grazing his bottom lip in a gesture that's both charming and endearing.

Did he just? Bite his lip?

Noticing the sudden silence from my companions, I turn my head to find Pansy and Fred sitting there, arms crossed, wearing matching smirks directed at me.

"Well? I'm not getting any commentary from you two?" I quip, laughter bubbling up.

"Nothing at all, darling," Pansy replies with feigned innocence, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Absolutely nothing," Fred chimes in, his expression equally innocent, though his wink to Pansy gave him away.

"Right, sure," I chuckle, shaking my head at their antics.

Turning her attention to Fred, Pansy asks, "So, you'll be joining us for the party tonight, won't you?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, princess," Fred replies, rising from the bench. "but duty calls, I'm afraid. See you tonight, loves,'' with a charming smile, Fred heads off to his class, leaving Pansy grinning from ear to ear. I shoot Pansy a playful glare as she watches Fred's departure. She meets my gaze with an innocent shrug.

"He's quite the charmer," she remarks, her tone filled with amusement.

"Right," I laugh, nudging her off the bench.

"Hey!" she protests, laughing.

"Come on, lovebird, time for our next class," I say, offering her a hand up. She takes it, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue.