THE BOY I ONCE REMEMBERED ▸ [ D. M A L F O Y ]

nine

It had taken me approximately forty-three minutes to finally reach the comfort of my bed. No matter how much I wanted to sleep, the astonishing number of 'congratulations!', random back pats, and close-call crowd surfing pleads had kept me out of my dorm for way longer than I'd wished.

I was almost scared to leave my room again the next morning. Unfortunately for me, it was Saturday, which meant that most people would still be around (and not in classes). I groaned into my pillow, wishing the sun's starky rays would go away forever so I could fall back asleep.

Instead of traveling back to the wonderful beach-filled dream I was having, I forced myself awake and struggled out of bed. I shrugged on a maroon-colored jumper and a black skirt, grabbing my wand as I walked out the door. Though I was still in a state of shock and my brain was much too foggy to even try and comprehend the events of last night, I knew the first step was to go to the library and figure something out.

"Adelaine! Morning, I was just wondering if you'd like to-"

"Busy, sorry," I mumbled politely with a small smile, careful to avoid any path with unnecessary clusters of students as I made my way into the hall. It looks like I'd be taking the long way to the library today.

For some reason, doing so didn't hold nearly as much comfort as it usually did.

A chorus of giggled erupted from a pair of second years standing in the corner ahead of me as I met their eyes. I looked down them to see two large buttons pinned to their chest.

NOTT'S A WHORE, IT'S DIGGORY'S WAR was written boldly across the yellow-tinted pins, obnoxiously flashing back and forth with FUCK POTTER, DIGGORY'S HOTTER.

"Merlin help me." I muttered as I walked up to the girls, "Where'd you get those."

One, a short redhead with dark-rimmed glasses, answered with a snort, "Some of the Slytherins were passing them out."

I rolled my eyes, "Points for rhyming, at least. I could've thought of something more clever." I motioned for her pin, "May I?"

She nodded, clasping it off and putting it in my hand.

I swiveled on my heel, changing my direction without bothering to say thanks. If two girls would willingly wear something that had to do with slut-shaming, then I wouldn't bother to show any sort of respect for it. Honestly, how internalized can your misogyny be?

But it wasn't their fault. No, it was the little pug-faced brat and the platinum blond she'd parasite-d herself onto. I continued towards the library, trying my best to push thoughts of them out of my head. I had better things to worry about.

_____________________________________

Apparently the universe had different plans for me.

Just before the library entrance was Pansy Parkinson, a famously annoying Slytherin that I'd hated even before first year. Pansy was seated on the stone wall next to the entrance doors, happily holding a basket full of the same buttons I held in my hand. Another Slytherin, a bigger girl named Millicent Bulstrode was standing next to her. To my surprise, their ferret-faced housemate was nowhere to be found.

"Merlin help me," I said under my breath, continuing to walk in the hopes that they didn't-

"Well, look who it is!"

Yeah. A little late for that.

"Well, Nott, how did you like our little buttons?" Pansy squealed, hopping off the wall to stand in front of me.

"Nice work. Though, I think you spelled 'fuck' wrong"

Pansy widened her eyes and looked down to scan the buttons. When she noticed she hadn't she looked back up again, eyebrows crossed.