Hogsmeade
25th March, 2023
After letting almost all the students pass through the exit of Hogwarts for Hogsmeade including Caspian and Ivy, I sneakily emerged into the leftover crowd.
Not after long, Taehyun affiliated in the throng as well.
Keeping an ample distance between us, I led the way to the Hog's Head. I entered into the pub and was soon joined by Taehyun.
This was a tactic to not seem suspicious that we're going somewhere together. "Shall we go to a corner table?" Taehyun suggested. I nodded.
After ordering and paying for two butterbeers, Taehyun carried them and ushered the way to the table farthest from the door.
We settled at the table.
Taehyun pushed a butterbeer across the table, towards me. "What excuse did you give this time?" Taehyun started. "They have no idea that I'm here. I lied that I wasn't feeling well and will just rest in our dorm room." I shrugged.
"They weren't suspicious?" He questioned.
"No. Ivy insisted on staying by my side. I refused. Caspian took my side somehow saying how it was a day for Ivy to enjoy. Though I'm not entirely sure what he meant by that."
Taehyun just smiled for a response.
I take a look around the pub. "This seems to be your go-to-spot for a date, isn't it?" "What do you mea- Delphini?" Taehyun frowned.
I nodded, taking a sip of my butterbeer.
"I told you I have nothing going on with Delphini." Tae protested. I sighed. "Taehyun, I think it's time you tell me who exactly Delphini is. I'm your girlfriend now."
"I..." He seemed hesitant.
"You have two options, either tell me the truth as it is or I'll slip Veritaserum in your drink someday." Truthfully, this whole Delphini thing has been disquieting me ever since we've started going out.
"Y/n... Don't freak out,okay? This is a grave issue." Taehyun warned. "Ugh! Just open up already." I rolled my eyes, leaning on my seat with the butterbeer in my hand, sipping.
"Her full name is Delphini Diggory." Taehyun started. "Diggory? I think I've heard that surname somewhere. Pure-blood, right?" I couldn't recall where I've come across that surname.
"Yes, pure-blood.But what makes the surname unique is... that the surname belongs to the student from Hogwarts that died during the Triwizard Tournament in 1994."
"The spare one killed by The Dark Lord, ain't it?" I said, indifferently.
"Yes, the one who lost his life in the command of He Who Must Not Be Named who had intended to kill Harry Potter. Cedric Diggory." Taehyun sighed out as if Cedric's death made him melancholic.
"They're related?" I asked, unbothered.
"They're cousins." Taehyun replied. "I really don't see how that has made you meet her secretly." I supped some butterbeer.
"My father works at the Ministry. One day, I had to visit him during the holidays at the ministry. That's when I first encountered Cedric's father who is now old was accompanied by his niece, Delphini Diggory were visiting Harry Potter to seek some help about Cedric. The way Cedric's father was almost begging on his knees to Harry Potter while Potter paid no heed to him just compelled me to help them in any and every way I could."
"You're not going to tell me how exactly you're helping them?" I raised a brow, unamused.
"Y/n... I have promised them that I won't apprise this to anyone else." Taehyun sighed out.
"Taehyun, I'm not just anyone. I'm your girlfriend for Merlin's sake!" I slammed the butterbeer on the table, enraged all of a sudden. "Gosh, Y/n, stop being jealous." He snapped.
"Me?" I scoffed as I ran a hand through my hair irked. "Jealous? My arse."
Suddenly I perceived the gentle contact of Taehyun's hand on mine that was on the table. "I swear, I am just friends with Delphini. There's nothing going on. Please trust me. I would never cheat on you."
"As if you'd be alive if you cheat." I tried to hide the fact that a touch from him was enough to make me melt. I couldn't allow him to know what effect he has on me.
"Trust me, okay? After I finish this...uh..work, I will quit meeting Delphini and tell you everything. I don't think anyone would mind then." He gave my hand a fleeting squeeze.
"You better abide by your promise." I replied, acting uninterested. Taehyun flashed a grateful smile.
"Y/N!" A shriek growled from the other side of the pub.
Alarmed, both me and Taehyun abruptly turned to the door. And there stood my worst nightmare. Caspian and Ivy. No, it's not like they are the nightmare. But the fact that they've caught us here on a date is the nightmare.
I hastily pulled away my hand from Taehyun's and jumped up to my feet, still watching the stunned faces of both my friends.
"Caspian! Ivy!" I spontaneously said, as both of them marched forward to us.
"What is this, Y/n?" Ivy demanded. Caspian had already pulled out his wand and pointed it at Taehyun. But Taehyun didn't back away either. He did the same.
"No wait, I can explain." I cried out. "Okay then, explain." Ivy's eyes shot daggers at me and Taehyun. "I...uh..." The truth was that I falling flat to come up with any excuse.
"You. Tosser. What are you doing here with Y/n." Caspian barked at Taehyun. "Be careful what you call people, you hot blooded fool." Taehyun narrowed his eyes at Caspian.
"Guys! Stop! Caspian, lower your wand." I yelped.
"Why should he? Y/n, what is going on?" Ivy snapped. "I uh..." My mind was surfing excuses but the intensity of the situation wasn't helping me find one. I glanced at Taehyun. Is it worth lying? If they're your friends, they'd understand.
"He's my boyfriend." I kept staring at Taehyun.
Ivy gasped. Caspian's mouth flung open. "You're kidding!" He exclaimed. "Im not." I sighed out. "It's been like a month."
"You lied to us!" Caspian cried out. "I didn't!" Oh well, okay, I did. "But you didn't tell us!" Caspian protested.
Ivy gestured with her hand for Caspian to stop. "It doesn't matter if you lied to us or not. Breakup with him." Excuse me? "I won't! Why should I?" I argued.
"Because..." Ivy took in a deep breath. "He's a Ravenclaw half-blood. You're a Slytherin Pure-blood. Stop wasting your time. Breakup with him. You are fully aware that your mother will never acquiesce this relationship."
First of all, I'm not that serious....am I?
"Mother doesn't need to know. She won't know.Who's gonna tell her?" I contended. "I am." Ivy asserted. "You won't!" She's just kidding...right?
"Y/n, I have already warned you about this. This is not possible. You are already acquainted with your fate of marrying into a pure-blood family. This is absurd. Also, I've already said what I will do if you turn out to have anything with him." Ivy sighed out.
"You won't...." She's just trying to scare me,right?
"You left me no choice." Ivy stared right into my eyes. "Him?" She pointed at Taehyun. "Or us?" She gestured at herself and Caspian.
"You can't do this! You guys are the ones who helped me survive all these years of Hogwarts and he... He..." I was in loss of words. I couldn't frame a sentence explaining why I couldn't choose my friends immediately over Taehyun. I just.. didn't want to choose.
I've just been with Taehyun for a brief time. But, why is it so hard to let him go? We're aren't serious...are we?
"So you can't choose?" Ivy questioned. "No." I sternly replied. Ivy started chuckling in a humourless manner. "The fact that you're conflicting over if you should choose 6 years of friendship or a fling is enough. I wish you well! Let's see how your mother will react to this, shall we?"
With one last dry snigger, she turned around abruptly and swept away. While she was turning, I think I caught the sight of a tear in the corner of her eye.
I must've mistaken.
Right?
"I didn't expect this from you, Y/n." Caspian turned to me. "It was Ivy's birthday. But you were so engrossed in this little relationship that you didn't even bother to remember it."
He left as well.
I turn to Taehyun. "I-it was her birthday. Oh yes, how can I- I completely forgot. She's just angry, right? She won't actually break our friendship, right?" For the first time in a while I found myself debilitated.
Taehyun didn't waste another second to hug me by my shoulder, patting me comfortingly.
She's just angry...right?