Persuasive

thirty-four

As I was rushing out of the Slytherin common room wiping my tears, I bumped into a familiar face, Harry Potter.

"Oh, sorry Avalon." he blurted sheepishly as his eyes moved from the ground up to my eyes. He saw my tears and his facial expression quickly softened, looking consoling.

"Are you alright?" he questioned as he laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Yes I'm alright." I fake smiled at him and sniffled. "I haven't talked to you since last Christmas! I can't believe that was third year." I added quickly trying to change the conversation.

"I know, you never put in the effort to talk to me so I guess we just haven't talked since." he shrugged as a smile curled on both sides of his lips.

I was now realizing that the only thing left for me to do was to protect Harry from Tom. I won't let Tom kill Harry, no way. Plus, this was my perfect chance to get Tom jealous.

"You know what, I'd love it if we got to talk more." a grin formed on my lips and he quickly returned it.

"I'd love that too. Why don't you actually come down to the Gryffindor common room with me? Ron and Hermione are there right now, they're helping each other study but we all know who's actually doing the helping." he mocked.

I didn't know what that meant but I laughed along with him anyway.

Now that I think about it, I haven't talked to Hermione in a while. I really want to see what she's been up to.

Harry and I talked for some moments until we finally made our way upstairs towards the Gryffindor common room. I made my way inside, a familiar scent of cookies and vanilla warmed my nostrils. I've forgotten how cozy and delightful the Gryffindor common smells.

Hermione and Ron were seated next to each other on the maroon colored couches in front of the warm fire, and quickly turned their head to the sound of Harry and I's laughter.

"What's she doing here.." Ron mumbled loud enough for me to hear.

Hermione quickly nudged him on the shoulder and a bright smile appeared on her face.

"Avalon! I haven't talked to you in ages." she cheered as she stood from the couch and gave me a welcoming hug. From what I remember, Hermione has always been the type to make you feel at home.

I made my way over to the couches with Hermione's hand in mine, as we sat together leaving Ron and Harry on the other couch.

"We were studying so maybe you could come back another time?" Ron nodded with a displeased look on his face.

Hermione and Harry glared at him with tense and infuriated faces.

"Look Ron, I know you don't like me but there's no reason to be a complete dick towards me." I smiled at him and grabbed a cookie from the tray in front of us.

Ron sighed and crossed his arms, slouching back into the couch. "Alright fine, i'll try to give you a chance but I can't promise the same towards your brother." he huffed.

"Fine with me." I chuckled as I chewed on the cookie.

Ever since I was little, I've learned to give people a chance. Unlike Draco, who assumes all Gryffindors are dreadful for absolutely no reason. They're actually quite nice people if you spend time with them. At least the 'golden trio' are.

We spent some time laughing and chatting about the most random things, until I finally brought the party in the conversation.

"Let's play 'would you fuck them or not' " I smirked as I grabbed another cookie.

They all had shocked looked on their faces and Hermione nudged me on the shoulder.

"No way." Hermione said.

"Lets play." Harry and Ron quickly blurted at the same time.

Hermione's jaw dropped wide open and she playfully rolled her eyes.

"Fine but I'm not playing." Hermione chuckled as she slouched back into the couch.

"Yes you definitely are." I giggled as I pulled her back up.

Ron rubbed his hands together and glared at me. "Avalon." he began as he squinted at me, trying to think of which name to give me first.

I raised my eyebrows at him and returned his glare.

"Would you fuck my boy Harry?" he teased as a slight smirk formed on his face.

I gulped and lingered my eyes back at Harry, who looked anxious and tense.

"Probably not, but who knows." I smirked, trying to ease up the tension.

Ron slapped Harry on the back and they both started chuckling.

"Alright, Hermione." I glared at her next to me.

"Oh my gosh, I'm not doing this." she raised her hands up in surrender and her cheeks started to get red.

"I'll give you an easy one. Would you fuck the new guy, Cedric Diggory?" I raised my eyebrows at her and bit my lip.

"Umm," she mumbled to herself as she cupped her chin, trying to think. I could feel Ron's glare from the side of my head. Wow he makes it obvious how much he fancies Hermione because he's making it clear that hates me just for asking her that question.

"I probably would. He is pretty handsome." she pressed her lips together trying not to smile.

"Handsome? More like come fuck the shit outta me-"

"Avalon!" she interrupted me as she hit me in the arm. She swiftly fixed her posture and thought about who to ask next.

"Avalon, remember that guy in first year you use to talk to all of the time? What was his name?" she mumbled as she tried to remember. "Tom Riddle! That's his name. Would you fuck him?" she pondered as Harry and Ron did a drumroll on the table.

My heart quickly started to pound twice as hard and my body was starting to heat up. My face had gotten red and everybody seemed to notice, so Harry and Ron stopped drum rolling. I didn't want to let him ruin the fun, so I quickly smiled and pretended to think.

"Umm you know what," I mumbled. "I think I'm gonna have to pass." I lied.

A big, fat lie.

"Have you seen him now? He's a hottie, I must say." Hermione leaned back into the couch and couldn't stop blushing.

"Uh, and what about me?" Ron smirked as he tried acting offended.

"You're adorable, Ron." she replied.

"Ouch." Ron snickered as Harry hit him in the back. "You just got friend zoned." Harry whispered.

"Let me go, I haven't gone yet." Harry pouted as he crossed his arms.

We all nodded and lingered our eyes over to Harry. He hesitated before opening his mouth.

"Hermione, would you fuck Draco?"

I fake gagged and Hermione buried her face into her hands.

"Fuck you Harry. That's so gross." I mumbled as I had a disgusted look on my face.

"I do wonder how he'd be in bed..." she mumbled, but Ron quickly threw a pillow at her.

"Alright that's enough." Ron blurted as he kept his eyes on Hermione.

"Yeah I'm leaving after that one." I rolled my eyes and laughed with them.

We continued laughing and playing for hours. I can't believe I actually had a good day today, and out of all people it was with them. They made me forget about everything going on in my life, and for once I'm glad to say I'm actually happy.