Phases (editing)

eight

AN-  chapter songs: Girl of my dreams by guti and Mount everest by labrinth

8th October 1995

Waxing Gibbous

My eyes felt heavy with exhaustion as the soles of our shoes crushed the grass below. I shouldn't feel this dreadful before a date, especially one with Grant Page. My face was an annoying weight. Hermione insisted on doing my makeup as Ginny sat nearby, chatting about Grant. Envy filled the dorm as the other's overheard, but all I could think about at that moment was the Amortentia. Grant Page, to my knowledge, didn't resemble the scent.

"Grant Page," Hermione said with pride as she hooked an arm through mine, "quite exciting in my opinion."

I continued looking down the path to Hogsmeade. "Yeah, it is," I reassured, but it was me that needed convincing. Not her. If she was so interested in this union, why doesn't she date him? She should be the one on this date, not me.

We were ahead of the three boys. Talking quidditch I assume, reminding me that the only substantial conversation I've heard between the boys has been about the sport.

The walk was short. Consisted mostly of Hermione's mindless stream of consciousness. The Three Broomsticks grew as we followed further down the cobbled road, but to my surprise, there was a figure near it. Theo. This just has to be a common trait between Slytherins. Lurking must be a prerequisite for the sorting hat.

Harry reached for the door greeting Theo as he passed him. I let the group walk ahead, and Hermione looked back at me with a confused expression when she realized I was making no effort towards the door.

"I'll be just a moment," I said with a reassuring smile. My hands slid into the pockets of my jacket. Grant held the door open letting the rest ahead of him.

"I'll have a butterbeer waiting for you when you're done." He followed with a kind expression. Then nodded to Theo as a greeting.

"With ginger if possible." I requested with a smile of gratitude. Hermione managed to hook me on the ginger in butterbeer last term. Theo laughed as he took a second meaning to my request.

He returned the smile and vanished behind the door. I watched it set back into the frame. Silencing the space surrounding me.

"What game are you playing at?" Theo's voice trailed beside me. I turned to face him, and he placed a roll of tobacco in the corner of his mouth, lighting it with a wave of his hand.

I closed the majority of the space between us, to stand next to him. "I haven't been." I rebut.

"Really? Because the common room talk begs to differ." His expression was tight.

"Which would consist of?"

"What's the deal with you and that bloke?" He motioned his head towards The Three Broomsticks with a short temper. A complete one-eighty from the Theo I last spoke to.

"Who's asking?" I fold my arms together.

He doesn't answer. Instead, he inhales the smoke and blows it above our heads.

"Look," I spoke and Theo looked back down at me, "I've been as much of a saint towards him as he'd allow. I don't know if it's friendship or a game to him, but I'm not a pawn." A huff left my nostrils in defeat. "Grant is nice and doesn't act like that with me."

He shrugged, "It's a matter of a rock and a hard place, Aspen." He looked ahead to the building across the cobblestone.

"It's self-inflicted." I hang my head and my eyes follow. "If it mattered that much to him he'd try harder and make some much-needed changes in strategy." I roll my shoulders back and raise my head.