Dandelions

14

Adrian POV

Bagnold had not shown up for breakfast on Friday morning. The girl never missed breakfast before, there had been countless occasions when she had not shown up for lunch and dinner but never breakfast. She was the first one at the breakfast table and would stuff her face with anything within hand's reach. The memory of her tackling Davies to the ground because he reached out for a blueberry muffin sitting on her plate made me laugh.

"Pucey! Your mind is not in the game. Whoever you are thinking of will still be alive after practice, you can go fuck her then. Right now, stop smiling and get the Quaffle." Flint bellowed.

Quidditch practice was rough. Flint did not go easy on any of us. He was determined to defeat Gryffindor this season. Exhausted from Quidditch practice I rushed to the Great Hall for lunch. Bagnold was nowhere to be found. It instantly killed my appetite. My eyes were glued to the entrance, I was worried.

"Adrian, eat something. You look exhausted." Liz filled my plate with roasted chicken legs. I picked one and began to nibble at the edges so that she wouldn't bother me anymore. It was nearing the end of lunch hour and my paranoia increased with each passing second.

George Weasley would know where she is. I tossed the chicken leg back into my plate and headed towards the Gryffindor table. The twins were not sitting together today, Lee Jordan, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet sat between them.

Which one is George?

"Where is Bagnold?" I asked the twin I could get to first.

"Drowning somewhere in a pile of books." He didn't even bother to look up at me. I definitely had got the wrong twin. I moved further down the table towards George. But George Weasley was very busy, he had his tongue shoved down Katie Bell's throat. I patiently waited behind him for them to break for air.

Apparently, air is not a necessity anymore.

Many students had begun to take notice of the new couple. My patience was wearing out. I was on the verge of breaking their kiss but inserting a palm between their lips when the Hufflepuff seeker tapped on George Weasley's shoulder.

"Can I help you?" George glared at the Hufflepuff visibly annoyed.

"Is it over between you and Maya?" He went on to ask. The Hufflepuff was definitely on crack. Katie Bell did not look happy.

"For the millionth time, we are just friends! How many fire whiskey have you had Diggory?"

The Hufflepuff named Diggory was delighted with the news. "Not too many. Do you know where I can find her?" Diggory enquired bringing his face awfully close to George's.

"She was reading a book, sitting under the Whomping Willow." George turned his attention back to Katie.

"Thanks, mate. I will ask her out before bloody McMicken does." Diggory marched out of the Great Hall.

Weasley and Bagnold were always stuck at the hip. The whole school believed that they were dating. George & Bell's public display of affection had made it evident that Bagnold was single. I could feel the rise in competition. But I didn't have to compete with Weasley, which came as a relief.

"What do you want Pucey? Never seen 2 people kiss before?" George eyed me.

"I just came to congratulate you. Nice catch." I winked at George.

What an idiot.

I left in search of Bagnold.

Bagnold was with Granger in the most secluded spot of the library. Both sat in absolute silence with heads buried in thick books. I stared at Bagnold from behind a bookshelf, she looked tired. That bloody fat book must have drained her out. Around dinner time Bagnold finally shut her book and without uttering a word to Granger left the library. I held my breath as she passed me but she was too preoccupied with her thoughts to notice my presence.

"The make-out section is two shelves to the right Pucey," Granger said without taking her head away from her book.

All this while she knew I was here!

There was no point in hiding anymore. I emerged from behind the bookshelves and took a seat beside Granger. "Gross. Who would want to make out in the library?" I rolled my eyes.

"Bagnold would." Granger still had her head buried in her book. She knew exactly what I was up to. Nothing could get past her.

I might as well use her to my advantage. I yanked the book away from Granger and closed it. "Give it to me straight. What are my chances with her?"

"Nil, nada, zero" came her reply. "The girl turned down Wood, you stand no chance."

"You don't know me, Granger. I can be pretty persuasive" I put on my most charming smirk.

"You are smart Pucey. Any kind of romantic advancement and she will send you to the infirmary, you know that better than me. She loathes you." Granger reached out for the book in my hand.

"What should I do?" I pushed her book further away.

Common Granger, give me something to work with...

"What made you think that I would help the school's most notorious playboy secure his next conquest? You will get any other girl Pucey, leave Bagnold alone."

Granger's words made my blood boil. "What the fu..." I cut myself off mid-sentence.

"The know-it-all Granger strikes again! You don't know me; you know absolutely nothing about me. Girls like Pansy and Delphine throw themselves at me. All I do is push them away, and I am tagged as the school's most notorious playboy? Have you ever seen me attempt to flirt with even one of those girls? I fucking spent the last year in the library to earn this prefect's pin, hoping that it would impress Bagnold and give me some time with her. But she refuses to turn up for patrolling duties because she is partnered with me. You won't know how much it hurts Granger. Wait till that hungry Weasley of yours starts spending all his time with another bimbette." I was angry.

"What do you mean by next conquest? I haven't laid a finger on any girl in school. I would highly appreciate it if you do not encourage idle gossip. Don't you dare demean Bagnold by calling her a conquest?" I paused for air. After a couple of deep breaths and I felt my anger subside. "You really get on my nerves, Granger."

Granger looked as calm as a millpond.

"You like her!"

"You are a genius. The most brilliant witch of the era, my ass." I couldn't take it any longer and stood up to leave.

"A wager," Granger whispered.

"What?" I was confused.

"Win a wager. It is the only way you can get her to go out with you any time soon. She is pretty darn competitive. If you win you get only one chance to sweep her off her feet. Now piss off before I hex you." Granger spat.

"Thank you. I told you I am pretty persuasive." I smiled at her.

"There is still a 70% probability of you landing up in the infirmary. I can't wait." Granger buried her head in the book again.