Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 19

Class continued with Professor Flitwick’s lecture on the importance of N.E.W.T.S., how difficult their final Charms exams would be, and the low groans of the students in response. Theo tuned everything out. He instead sat back to ponder all that had happened that morning.

He glanced around the room and saw Parvati’s long, straight, dark hair slide over one shoulder as she tilted her head to take notes on the various charms they would be learning over the upcoming year. He grinned when he remembered her taking his hand after Ancient Runes class, as if it was the most normal action in the world. Happily surprised, he had willed his hands not to shake and his palms not to sweat, and hoped she wouldn’t notice the slight waver to his voice when he asked about them possibly studying together later.

Her pretty blush and the way she wouldn’t look him in the eye, let him know of her own nervousness at her bold action, even as she smiled and answered, her voice strong and sure. Her small show of bravery had relaxed him enough to stop the stutter that had been forming and after taking a calming breath he had gripped her hand a bit tighter and asked her about her new rooms. He didn’t know what he had done that earned him a chance with her; he just hoped he didn’t blow it. He also hoped, if he played his cards right, he could soon have his first girlfriend.

The professor droned on as Theo glanced down a few rows and took notice of Harry and Ginny sitting with Luna, Ron, Hermione, and Parvati all between them. He knew of some of their fight from things he’d heard from them at breakfast, but wondered if they had actually broken up with each other and just hadn’t admitted it out loud. For some reason the thought of it saddened him. He didn’t know why, but he knew they simply fit each other, and he hoped they could get past their misunderstandings. From what he could gather it was just a matter of Ginny needing some time, space and control over her life. He understood that completely. But, he knew Harry didn’t get it. He made a mental note to try and talk to Harry at lunch to see if he could help.

Theo then looked at the back of Hermione’s bent head for a second and her fight with Pansy came back to him. He heard their words again in his head and wondered who Pansy would try to set Hermione up with that would cause such duress. Thinking back over his and Parvati’s revelation the day before he felt badly for Draco, knowing he, too, had heard the fight. Theo made another mental note to talk to Draco and see if he could get him to talk. The night before Draco had disappeared right after Astronomy and not shown up in their room until well after midnight. Theo had heard Draco come up the stairs and go to his room, but he had been too tired to get out of bed and start what could have been a very long conversation. So, he’d rolled over and gone to sleep intending to try before breakfast. But, by the time he’d gotten up and dressed, Draco had been nowhere to be found.

He looked in front of him at the bent blonde head and felt sorry for him. He knew Draco was still reeling from all that had happened in the space of only a few months. He could only imagine everything else the other man was going through; all the school changes, fighting with Blaise, being engaged against his will to Pansy, handling all the other students and their reaction to him, and dealing with whatever it was he was feeling for Hermione. Theo knew it couldn’t have been easy for Draco to hear that Pansy was trying to set Hermione up with someone, and with everything else Draco had to deal with, Theo knew he needed a friend. He just hoped he would be accepted as that friend.

With a sigh Theo turned his head to look at Pansy on his left. Theo watched her for a moment and saw her eyes flicker back and forth between Hermione and Draco as she bit her lip and muttered to herself. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together, even though he was one, and he felt his jaw drop open.

xxxxx

The walk from Charms to Potions was done quietly as the majority of the group trouped down to the dungeons together. Pansy had said a soft goodbye and fled from the room almost before Professor Flitwick had fully opened the door. Parvati and Theo had said goodbye to everyone and headed off to the all-house common room to study, with Luna trailing behind them.