The Dark Promise// Theodore Nott

CH 6

"Spill it Cornwell." The seventh-year girls were ganged around her bed, all wondering the same thing. "I have no idea what you are talking about." Olivia said, taking the quill that was behind her ear and jotting a little note on her divination homework. The girls had been on her case ever since she got back to her dorm that night. It seems rumors traveled fast in Hogwarts. Faster than she would expect. It had only been one day since they shared that passionate kiss in the library. Neville wasn't a gossip by no means. He probably told one person, and that person told another, all going downhill from there.

"So, you're calling Neville a liar then? Come on, we both know he's not capable of that." Parvati Patil stated. Olivia sighed, placing her quill on her homework before answering. "Neville did see us in the library, but we were only studying for an advanced potions test. That's it." Parvati smirked, turning to Hermione Granger's bed. The girl was leaning against her bedframe, trying to study herself. "Hermione, don't you have advanced potions with them too? Do you have a test coming up?"

Olivia felt her face grow hot. She had forgotten she had another dormmate in that class. Hermione rose her head, looking annoyed she was being interrupted. "That's exactly what I'm studying for right now. Leave her alone. It's none of your business who she's studying with." The curly haired girl replied. A sense of relief came over Olivia. Hermione must have been overhearing their conversation because they indeed, did not have an advanced potions test coming up. She was grateful to the girl in that moment.

Parvati scoffed, turning toward Olivia again. "I guess it does make sense. Why would a hottie like Nott want to have anything to do with her anyway?" She spat before the rest of the girls dispersed, going back to their own sides of the room. Olivia looked up at Hermione, flashing her a small smile as if to say, 'thank you.' Hermione nodded before going back to her studies.

She didn't let the snide comments get to her. Olivia already knew what people were going to say when she heard a rumor was flying about. Theo was handsome, studious, and mysterious. He was the object of the affection for many girls. Parvati Patil was jealous. That's all there was to it. The girl had barely spoken a sentence to her the whole time they had been in school together and now suddenly, she was on her case. Olivia laughed at that thought. Anything to see that snotty girl writhe.

The next day had not been any better, if anything it was much worse. Advanced potions had been a complete shit show. She felt like a caged animal at the zoo the way she was being gawked at. People would look at Theo, then look at her. Every time she glanced up, people were looking to see if she looked towards his direction. It was making her angry because for one, she did want to look at Theo and two, she couldn't just yell at them. She wanted to say take a picture it would last far much longer, but if she did that, it would be a whole weeks' worth of detention.

Professor Snape turned his back to the class, droning on about how cautious you must be when tweaking an herbicide potion. She leaned her head in her hand, trying not to fall asleep to Snape's monotone voice. Suddenly, something fell into her lap. A small paper crane was fluttering its wings before slowly becoming inanimate again. She looked up, seeing every female in the room had their eyes on her. She turned towards Theodore before he gave a small wave to her.

Theo knew exactly what he was doing. He knew everyone was talking about them, saying they were caught sitting a little too close in the library. He was feeding into it, a sly little smile on his face. Olivia furled her brow, before unwrapping the paper crane. The note only read 'Black Lake. Boathouse. Seven. Wear a sweater.'

Olivia folded the piece of paper and stuffed it into the pocket of her robe, not looking at him again the rest of the period. Was this a date? Was the library a couple of days ago a date? The astronomy tower certainly wasn't a date. Or it didn't seem that way at first. She didn't want to be that girl asking 'What are we?' after kissing a couple of times, but she couldn't help but wonder. Were they dating? If the whole school was saying they were, they might as well be right? She would show up tonight but would play it cool. No need to jump into anything just yet. After all, she shouldn't be dating someone she couldn't fully trust.