Ten Questions (Harry Potter x Slytherin reader)

Chapter 55

"Your move."

My eyes flicker upwards towards Adrian, eyebrow raised and an impatient expression resting on his face. I look back down at the board and analyze the scene in front of me before carefully dragging my piece across the board. 

"I win," I say at last as I lean back in my seat slightly, grinning.

Adrian purses his lips and dramatically slumps in his chair. A small smile slowly begins to play on my lips. It's always been satisfying besting Adrian in chess. As kids, he would win each game without fail. But as I had grown older and more competitive, his wins became fewer and fewer, which was a massive blow to his inflated ego. Adrian had always been stubborn and could never take a loss easily. But to be fair, neither could I. 

"You're not very fun to play with anymore, you know," Adrian mutters as I rearrange the pieces on the board. A triumphant smirk spreads across my face in response. 

"Well, that's because you're a sore loser," I say pointedly, "and I keep beating you."

Adrian chuckles. "You're not wrong about either of those things, unfortunately."

I pause for a moment and look back up at Adrian, noticing a rare smile on his face. Adrian's eyes meet mine, and his expression quickly shifts, looking concerned.

"Is everything okay?"

I take a long look at him before abruptly shaking my head, returning my attention to the board. A sad smile flickers across my face. "No," I say quickly, "No, it's just... I haven't seen you look like that in a while. Happy, I mean. It's nice."

Adrian studies me for a long moment before nodding to himself. "I suppose you're right," he says awkwardly after a few seconds. He clears his throat. "I didn't realize."

Things are still strange between the two of us. Neither of us acknowledge it, but we're both very aware of the tension and awkwardness that fills the still air. There's a thousand things I want to tell Adrian, but I keep my mouth closed. I can tell there are things he wants to tell me, too, but can't. Without meaning to, my eyes trail down to his left forearm. He instantly catches it, his face saddening for a quick moment before carefully shifting back into his vacant, usual expression. 

"I don't like when you do that," Adrian mutters, scowling as he stares at a point in the floor. 

"Do what?"

"Look at me like that," he growls, sounding frustrated, "like I've done something wrong."

"What do you expect me to look like, Adrian?" I snap, suddenly feeling angry. "Do you want me to look happy?" I stare at him, waiting for a response. When he remains silent, I scoff. "Well, I'm not."

Adrian goes quiet at this, staring at me as his slowly chest heaves up and down. Then, he draws in a deep breath, his body relaxing as he does so. "I understand that this is not easy for you," Adrian says slowly, looking at me cautiously as if I might go off at any moment. "I'm sorry, Y/n, but-"

"When were you going to tell me about Draco?" My voice is soft. I avert my gaze from Adrian's and stare at the table, refusing to make eye contact.

Adrian stops mid sentence and looks at me, shocked. His eyebrows press together as a puzzled look spreads across his face. "You know?"

"Of course I do," I say. Although I am angry, my voice sounds eerily calm as I add, "I'm not an idiot, Adrian."

"I know you're not," Adrian says quickly, frustrated. "I just..." he falters, running a hand through his dark hair, "... didn't think you would find out. We were going to tell you."