star shopping ✰ d.m.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

It was Valentine's Day when Arabella, Seamus, and Dean walked the streets of Hogsmeade together for the first time in a long time. However, this time, instead of her usual upbeat mood that she typically had while in Hogsmeade, Arabella was scowling every time she saw a happy couple.

"Ugh. I hate this holiday," she complained. "It's so pointless. It just makes these stupid couples think they can be all over each other in public. It's disgusting."

"Ari, you were literally a part of a stupid couple thinking they can be all over each other in public last year," Dean reminded her.

"Yeah, well... I was young and dumb."

"You were 14."

"Young - and - dumb."

"Okay, okay."

"Erm... guys..." Seamus spoke up, looking at a couple walking their way from up ahead.

"What?" Arabella snapped. She followed his gaze to the couple and found that her heart skipped a beat when she realized who they were: Draco and Pansy. "Oh! How lovely."

Draco and Pansy noticed them too, and kept their eyes glued on Arabella as they walked past each other in opposite directions.

"Would you quit that?" Seamus scolded Arabella, turning her around so that she wasn't watching the two anymore. Pansy had had to do the same with Draco. "Watching him walk around Hogsmeade with another girl is not going to help you get over him."

"I am over him!" Arabella insisted. "It's just that she's not just another girl, she's Pansy freaking Parkinson. He knows I hate her!"

"That's probably why he's with her specifically," Dean pointed out. "To make you jealous."

"I'm not jealous! I'm just... mad."

"Sure. Let's go with that."

"The point is," Seamus said, "this is the exact reaction he wants from you, and Parkinson's probably in on it, too. By getting angry, you're just feeding into it."

Arabella thought for a moment. "Fine, then, I'm not angry. Actually, I'm very happy he's moved on. Wouldn't want him to be obsessed with me forever."

Dean and Seamus exchanged looks behind her back.

The three of them had been just about to walk past Madam Puddifoot's when they had to stop in their tracks in order to avoid running into the person that had just come running out. That person just happened to be Cho, who paid them no mind as she ran down the street, sobbing. No sooner had they lost sight of her than Harry came bursting out as well.

"Oh - hey, guys," he said, obviously trying his best to act casual. "Have you seen Cho?"

"She went that way," Arabella said, nodding in the direction Cho had run off to with a concerned expression. "But to be honest, Harry, she looked like she needed some time alone."

"Right. Well, see you."

"See you."

"What do you think that was about?" Seamus asked as Harry walked away.