I stare out the window waiting for class to end. Professor Bins was talking about the first of many Ogre wars. I felt a little bad for not paying attention since that’s what everyone else was doing, but I already knew every answer to the questions he was asking. I couldn’t pay attention even if I wanted to, my mind was somewhere else. Somewhere it went often. I wasn’t just staring aimlessly out the window, I was staring at something in particular. The Care of Magical Creatures class.
Someone elbowed me, I looked at the front of the class right as Bins’ eyes landed on me.
“Ah miss Avery, Would you like to come up and fill the dates in?” he gestured to the board. There were now five different Ogre wars written on the board, last time I checked there was only one.
I looked around the room, everyone was hunching over in their seats, still avoiding eye contact with Bins’ as if he might change his mind and pick someone else. I looked back up, he wanted me to write the dates of which the wars occurred. I would have declined if he wasn’t staring at me with such hopeful eyes. I reluctantly pushed off the table, chair sliding back, and stood up.
“Of course, Professor.”
I walked up to the board and picked up a small piece of chalk. I was familiar with all of the wars. Easy enough. I wrote them down one by one, not even having to think about them for more than 5 seconds. I set the chalk down and turned around; everyone was back to looking bored again.
“Well done miss Avery!” Professor Bins clapped his hands together.
“Thank you Professor.” I smiled and walked back to my seat. Right as I sat down I smacked my deskmate in the head.
“Ouch.” Cedric mumbled, hand going to rub the back of his head, “bloody hell, Vanna.”
“Don’t ‘bloody hell’ me, you set me up.” I said, rolling my eyes, sitting down.
“Sorry, but you’re the only one who would have known that shit.” he said, gesturing towards the board. “If anything it’s a compliment.” he offered me a smirk to which I rolled my eyes again.
I looked back out the window, but as I suspected, the class was gone.
Eventually the bell rang, ending the last class of the day. Today was Friday so a lot of my fellow fifth years had few classes today. It was early afternoon and I was bolting to the courtyard, hoping to catch my friends.
I smiled once I saw them, entering the courtyard at the other end, the same time as me. Blaise smiles at me as we get closer.
“Hey V.” he called out. I turned to Theo and smiled but he didn’t return it, his eyes were on the ground and hands in his pockets. He walked right by, while the rest of them stopped in front of me.
I frowned, “What’s wrong with him?” I asked.
“Oh, he’s just stuck up on something Weasley said to him.” Blaise replied.
“How was your day Vanna?” Adrian came up to me and put his arm around my neck.
“It was okay.” I tried smiling but it dropped a second later. I turned my head to see if Theo was still there but he was gone.
“He’s fine V, don’t worry.” Adrian said, pulling on my yellow tie.
How was I supposed to do that? Me and Theo have been dating for more than four months now, and he just walked by me like I wasn’t there. I turn to Draco who is now talking with Blaise.
“What did Weasley say to him?” I asked, looking at the three of them, causing Adrian's arm to drop.
“We didn’t hear.” Blaise said.
“Yea he wouldn’t say anything, didn’t talk to the entire class.” Draco said, looking down at me.
“Rare moment.” Adrian said laughing. Blaise joined in on the laughter.
Draco rolled his eyes at them. “I’m sure he’s fine.” I nodded, but I disagreed. If I know Theo like I think I do, he is in fact, not fine.
“I’ll see you guys around.” Draco patted my head before walking away.
I let out a big sigh just as thunder rumbled in the distance. I jumped a little and looked up. The sky was grey and dark. I turned around and started walking the way Theo did.
I went through corridor after corridor, until I decided to look at one last place. I didn’t bother looking in the Slytherin common room because it would be too crowded for him. He liked to be secluded from everyone when he was upset. It didn’t happen often though, he was good at not letting things get to him, but every once in a while something would. I’m not surprised it was Weasley, he’s a prick to all the Slytherins, especially Theo because we’re dating. I wouldn’t say that I’m friends with him, or any of the Gryffindors, not anymore.
Ever since I started hanging out with Slytherins, and eventually starting dating Theo, they stopped talking to me. Which I was completely fine with, I’m glad I got to see their true colors, even if it took three years.
When I arrived at the top of the Astronomy tower, my assumption was proven true when I saw a familiar bag at the top of the stairs. It was where we had our first date. I smiled when I saw the little keychain I put on there before we were together. It’s a yellow and green string twirled together, I thought it was stupid, it was just left over string from a project in Divination but he insisted that it stays on his bag forever.
I walked out to the balcony where he was sitting with his legs dangling over the edge. I could tell he knew I was there, so I sat down next to him quietly. I looked over at him but he kept his eyes glued on the mountains that surround the castle.
“Hi.” I say looking away, in hopes that he’ll want to talk.
There is a long pause before he says anything, “Hey.” His voice was plain, no emotion that I could detect.
I sighed silently. “What’s wrong Theo?” I asked, out of the corner of my eye I saw him shake his head.
I scooted closer to him and picked up his hand, I laced our fingers together and put them in my lap. He didn’t react to it, his fingers were unmoving on my thigh.
“Please talk to me.” I tried again. His fingers twitched but that was the only reaction I got. I look down at our hands. I start thinking of things Ron could have said to make him like this.
I had no doubt it was about us. We got a lot of ‘hate’ for it, but it was mostly from Gryffindor. We both thought Slytherin would make their opinions known, but they were actually accepting. I know Gryffindor tries to keep quiet around me, but I hear things every once in a while. Ron made sure everyone knew what he thought no matter what house, year, it didn’t matter. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw don’t have any issues with it either.
“Fucking Weasel.” Theo finally said quietly. I rub my thumb up and down against his hand.
“Everything that comes out of his mouth is bullshit, you know that.” I say. “He’s just being a prick, trying to get a rise out of you.” I add.
“It’s working,” he mumbled. My brows came together.
“What did he say?” I asked, I was curious about what got to him.
He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, but I sat there patiently, waiting until he was ready to talk. He had a hard time talking about his feelings, but if we take it one step at a time he gets there eventually.
“That you-” he paused, biting the inside of his cheek, I could see his jaw clenching.
“That you… settled for me.” he said quietly, almost as though he was embarrassed.
“That you settled for me, and that you thought it would be ‘fun’ to date a snake.” he started playing with the ring on his right hand. My brows met again.
“And you believed that?” I asked. He stayed quiet so I went on.
“You’re kidding right? I didn’t ‘settle’ for you , I’ve been crazy about you since second year Theo.” I said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, because I thought I made that pretty clear when I worked up the courage to ask him out. He finally laced his fingers with mine.
“And yeah, it is fun, and I did ask you out because I thought you were fun, amongst other reasons.” I elbowed him playfully, he cracked a smile.
I looked up at him, “And I’m still crazy about you.” I said softly.
He finally looked over at me.
“I still don’t understand how you believed him.” I teased.
“Oh shut up.” he smirked, leaning down towards me. I met him half way in a kiss. It was short and sweet.
He pulled away just enough to be able to talk, “I’m crazy about you too.” He whispered. I smiled and put my free hand on the back of his neck, pulling him back in for another kiss.