Treacherous - Theodore Nott

Chapter Nine

It's Sunday.

I am currently walking to the Great Hall to meet Jack. I hope I'm not too early. Or too late.

Gosh I'm so nervous.

Astoria was right, I haven't been on a date in forever. I think the last person she attempted to set me up with was Draco, funnily enough. Now, I catch her sneaking glances at him.

My shoes click against the stone as I anxiously half skip to our agreed meeting spot. I turn the corner and he's standing in the entryway, holding a bouquet of flowers.

Oh my heart.

Smiling, I loudly sigh so my presence is known. "Hey."

He looks up from his hands and smiles broadly at me, "Hey, you. I saw these and thought of you, so I thought I'd grab them."

My previous worries melt away and I can feel my cheeks heating. I graciously take them and mutter a quick 'thank you' before waving my wand and sending them to my room. They're lovely, but I don't want to carry them around all day.

"I thought we could grab lunch at the Three Broomsticks, then maybe grab some snacks and hang out in my dorm?"

I nod excitedly, "That sounds perfect."

We walk to Hogsmeade, making small talk along the way. We talk about classes and where we want to be after graduation. I forget how dull it is getting to know someone, but he's cute and the conversation never lulls to that awkward silence pause, which I'm grateful for.

The snow is recently gone, but it's still a bit brisk out, so we walk relatively quickly. We make it to the tavern in what I consider to be record time, and choose a booth. He sits across from me, which I like. It makes conversing much easier, and I don't have to worry about him getting any ideas about hand placement.

We order our food with Butterbeers, an essential, and our conversation drifts from family to hobbies. He is an excellent conversationalist.

"I don't know how I lived before this stuff," he says, lifting his Butterbeer to his lips and taking a deep swig.

I nod in agreement, "Oh I know, I get this any chance I can."

"How often do you come to Hogsmeade? I come mostly every weekend and I don't feel like I've really seen you around."

"Well, my friends and I are usually pretty busy, and they're not huge fans of the scene. I can usually only drag one or two visits out once a month, but that's about it," I shrug.

"Ah, and what do you guys normally do for fun?"

"Party, mostly. And Draco has us at the pitch for at least two hours every day practicing, typically longer. But other than that we just hang out in the common room."

As I talk, I notice something flash behind his eyes, but I'm not entirely sure what it is.

"...What?" I question warily.

He looks up at me apologetically. "Well, I don't mean to pry, I just. You and Draco... is that a thing?"

I choke back my sip of Butterbeer with a cough and widen my eyes, pressing my hands against the table. "Oh, Merlin no. Never. Does it seem like it? Like that's a thing?"

"Oh, no I just was curious," he laughs uncomfortably, holding his hands up in a peaceful gesture, "it's okay."

I pray to Merlin that people don't think Draco and I are anything other than friends. I hold back a cringe with a forced smile.

"I didn't mean to pry," he notices my discomfort and offers a smile, "let me make it up to you."

As he speaks, the waitress comes to our table with the check and he offers up money for the both of us, signaling to me to stop pulling my purse out.