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

ten

A/N: BRUH IM SO SORRY ITS BEEN FOREVER SINCE IVE UPDATED:(((( junior year is kicking my butt rn thanks for giving me some processing days. This chapter was written at 4am because I really wanted to get something out, but since it's been so long I'm going to try to write more after classes tomorrow(or I guess today??? 5am tings lmao) but after that I'm going to try and settle into an actual schedule of at least one chapter a week. Again, thanks for being patient<3333

"Proffesor, I've been sent to get Harry and Adelaine. Bagman needs 'em."

Proffesor Flitwick nodded, looking between Harry and I before continuing on with his elemental charms lesson. I made eye contact with Harry from across the room as we both slowly stood and began to follow the seventh year who'd requested us.

Harry and I had gotten slightly closer in the days following the goblet drawing, something I was extremely thankful for. Pretty much everyone except Neville, Luna, and Hermione Granger believed that he and I were placed accidentally. Seamus, while not saying anything outright, always scoffed or rolled his eyes whenever we tried to explain the situation again. I never could tell exactly what reserved Dean was thinking, but it almost always reflected Seamus's opinions at least a little.

The rest of Gryffindor, while supporting the both of us wholeheartedly, refused to believe we didn't do it ourselves. The constant bombarding questions of 'How did you do it?' never seemed to end.

I didn't even want to begin thinking about Cedric, who I hadn't had the chance to properly speak with(though I wasn't sure if that was on purpose or not). We always seemed to be at opposite places at opposite times, so I hadn't been given the chance to say anything. But, from the few glances we'd exchanged, I could tell he was at the very least confused. I didn't blame him, though you'd think a conversation was a pretty simple answer to confusion.

Harry and I could pretty much only talk to one another if we really wanted to be taken seriously. Not necessarily about the tournament(especially since neither of us knew how to prepare), or anything in particular, but the comforting small talk still made me feel not alone.

"What do you reckon we're doing now?" Harry whispered from next to me as we continued down the hall.

I shrugged. "No clue."

"Ah! There are our final champions" A short bald man who I recognized as Ludo Bagman said excitedly, pinching Harry and I's arms as we entered the room. Bagman, from what I had gathered, was the ministry worker that had been stuck with the job of running all tournament-based things. 

Harry and I just smiled awkwardly as Bagman motioned the others to gather around. 

"Now." The man clapped his hands together, "Let's get started on the wand-weighing-"

__________

After a painfully slow two hours had passed, we all were deemed fully capable of participating in the tournament. I didn't know what that meant exactly, as somehow two fourteen year olds were being allowed in a death-pageant, but I suppose I should be honored? That Rita Skeeter woman was certainly treating it as such.

Just a few minutes with the blonde bimbo and I could already tell I disliked her more than Pansy, and that was obviously saying something. The chirpy journalist never seemed to stop talking, and there was something off about the quill she'd been using for the entry interviews. To make things worse, she smelled of a mix between an old bottle of nail polish and off-brand sharpies.

"There there, dear. You can just settle into the seat." She cood, gesturing me in front of her as my turn in the interrogation chair began.

"I have to say, Adelaine. As excited as I was to interview Harry over there, your story is one I cannot wait to dig into."

I raised a brow, "And why is that?"

"Well you're whole reason, of course! For entering." She looked off to the side, waving her hands as if drawing a visualisation, "The Reject Slytherin Who'd do Anything to Get Back in The Sights of Her Heartbroken Parents!" 

My jaw dropped, and I saw Harry stifle a laugh from behind, "Urm- pardon?"

Rita's jaw widened into a tight smile, "I don't blame you, my dear. It's a beautiful story, and after this article is published they'll have no choice but to mend their hearts."

"Mend their hearts?" I snorted, "I don't think they have anything left to mend. And I'm quite happy never being in their sights again, mind you."

Her eyes squinted into a look of pity before glancing down at her paper.

'I just hope they can find it in their hearts to give me another chance. I'm willing to do whatever it takes, after all.' The young Gryffindor said gallantly, an homage to her house's famous traits-

"Whatever it takes? Are you mad, woman? Do you think I'd willingly sign up for this-"

'But making family amends isn't the only reason Nott took such a courageous risk. 'There is, actually, one other person I'm hoping to gain the attention of back through this tournament-'

"I'm not saying any of that! Where are you pulling this from, your arse?-"

A voice cleared from the front of the room, gathering the attention of both I and the annoyingly neon quill that hadn't stopped scribbling since I sat down.

"Ms. Skeeter, do you have everything you need? I think we've taken enough of their time. They should be getting back to class."

The woman jumped up, gathering her pen and paper, "Oh yes! This should give me plenty to work with."

I'll show her something to work with. Maybe I'd take the Weasley's twins offer and be a beta tester for some of their new prank products-

"Adelaine, can I- um. Are you alright?"

Cedric's voice snapped me from my thoughts, "Oh, yeah, totally. Why?"

"You looked a little- very much deep in thought."

I looked up at the Hufflepuff in nervousness, "I'm fine. How are you?"

He shrugged, "Alright. Just wanted to talk. I'm sorry I've been sort of ignoring you, it was a douchey thing to do."

"Yeah, a little bit. Especially seeing as I didn't put my name in."

He paused awkwardly for a moment, as if not knowing what to say.

"I wasn't sure at first." Cedric admitted as we began to walk out, "I thought- well, I don't know what I was thinking. It was just odd, especially right after I had told you I was entering. But I don't see you as the type of person to pull something like that."

I rolled my eyes, "Hearing my name come out of stranger's mouths at least twice a day isn't exactly my idea of fun, you know."

"Yes. And I am sorry for all of that."

I sighed, "It's okay, I suppose. I forgive you."

"Good."

"But only on one condition." I skipped ahead, dramatically turning back to face him.

He raised a brow. 

"Take me out on a date. A proper one, not just elementary-esque meetings between classes."

"You drive a hard bargain." 

I giggled, "I know."

And then the words I'd been waiting on came:

"You've got yourself a deal."