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-INSTEAD OF MOPING THE NEXT DAY, ADHARA DECIDED TO JOIN HARRY AND DRACO IN DIAGON ALLEY. No, she was not third wheeling. Pansy had joined them as well, thankfully. Adhara was not in the mood to third wheel a couple.
So, when Draco and Harry shared a kiss, Adhara grimaced in disgust and stood up. She turned to Pansy and asked, "Do you want to join or would you like to third wheel them for the rest of the day?"
Pansy seemed to be thinking the same thing Adhara was, since she stood up immediately and grabbed her purse, looking at her desperately. "Let's leave, please. The couples in here are suffocating me."
Adhara let out a small laugh. She waved at her brother, glared at Harry half-heartedly, and walked out of the pub with Pansy following her.
Diagon Alley wasn't very crowded. It was the middle of summer, so nobody was there shopping for back-to-school essentials, leaving the alley almost empty.
"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," read out Pansy, sharing an excited look with a not-so-excited Adhara. "We have to pay them a visit!"
"A shop where the Weasleys are the owners?" The girl scoffed, but followed her as they stepped into the shop. "I just can't escape from the Weasleys, can I?"
"No, you can't, ickle-Black!" One of the Weasley twins popped up right infront of her with a cheeky grin.
Adhara jumped in her place. She glared at— was it Fred? Or George? She did not know— and rolled her eyes when his grin merely got wider. "Black-Malfoy," she merely corrected, her hands hovering over a shelf of different potions.
"That's a love potion," said the Weasley twin with her, wiggling his eyebrows. "Do you want to steal Hermione from my little brother, ickle-Black?"
Adhara rolled her eyes again at the mention of Ron Weasley, but felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Hermione. "No," she replied and immediately put the potion back in its place. "Which twin are you, again?"
"I'm Fred," he finally said his name with a frown. "How come you don't know who is who?"
She looked at him as if he was dumb. "Why would I?"
Fred Weasley shrugged. His attention was caught when his brother, George Weasley, called for him on the other end of the shop. "Pick something out, ickle-Black. It's on me." He said right before leaving her with a grin.
Adhara finally found Pansy afterwards, who merely asked, "What was that all about?"
"Dunno," shrugged Adhara, motioning towards the door. "Do you want something or shall we leave?"
"Let's leave," replied Pansy, walking to the door with Adhara. She wouldn't tell her that she was so quick to choose leaving because of accidentally catching Hermione and Ron snogging in the other corner of the store.
Thankfully, it seemed like Adhara hadn't noticed, thanks to Fred Weasley.
Maybe that was the reply to Pansy's question, after all.
"Do you think," started Pansy nervously as they walked into the bookstore Adhara loved in the alley.
Adhara shot her a confused look, motioning for her to continue as she searched around the bookshelves.
"Do you think you'll ever get over her? Granger, I mean." Pansy quickly added, as if Adhara had ever fallen in love with anyone else. After the question left her lips, she realized she maybe shouldn't have asked. She wouldn't have liked the answer, anyway.
"No," replied her friend honestly, giving her an apologetic look. She noted the hurt that passed through Pansy's eyes, but did nothing to help. She had no right to. She was the one causing the pain, but if she had a choice, she wouldn't have.
It was not her fault Pansy was in love with her.
Just like how it was not her fault she was in love with Hermione.
Just like how it was not Hermione's fault for snogging Ron in the store she was just in.
Nobody could control what their heart felt. Especially who their heart felt for.
Pansy nodded quietly, merely looking at Adhara, who was picking out some books and paid for them in the cashier. They walked out of the store a minute later.
"For you," said Adhara as she took out a book from the paper bag that had her new books inside.
The other girl looked confused as she accepted the book. She could only manage a weak smile, trying not to show the hurt she was feeling. But she seemed unsuccessful at it. "Thank you," she said instead, putting the book in her purse that was enchanted to be bigger on the inside. "You didn't have to."
"I hope nothing ruins our friendship, Pansy." Adhara replied in return, giving the girl a soft smile. She bit her lip guiltily when Pansy looked away with tears in her eyes. "Hey," said Adhara, putting a finger under the girl's chin to make her look at her. "You're my bestfriend, Pans. I don't want to lose you no matter what. But if you can't handle it, know that I won't blame you—"
"I can handle it," cut in Pansy immediately. She took a step back, which made Adhara's finger leave her chin. It would be hard for her, but she could handle it. She would respect Adhara's feelings for Hermione. After all, Adhara was Pansy's bestfriend, too. "I hope she makes you happy, Ara."
Adhara was about to reply, but the familiar voice behind her made her turn around.
Unfortunately for her heart, Adhara was face-to-face with Hermione.
Hermione stopped talking to Ron, whose hand she was holding. For a moment, she stopped walking as well and made eye contact with the girl right infront of her. However, she didn't say anything. She merely looked away with a swallow and walked away with her boyfriend, leaving her past lover with no words.
Adhara watched Hermione leave with Ron. She let out a shaky breath and said, "I hope he makes her happy, Pansy." instead of replying.
Pansy's shoulders slumped, her suspicions confirmed. Hermione was dating Ron. But Adhara wouldn't look at her, still.
Adhara was too busy looking at the entwined hands of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
