A Short Story Is A Love Affair

“He’s just so hard to read, Mione. Do you think he likes me? He never gives anything away.” Harry waffled on as Hermione leaned on her hand, feeling like her brain was leaking out of her ear. Harry’s crush on Theo was the bane of her existence. Theo’s intentions were really quite obvious, even if Harry remained oblivious, but Hermione had had enough of being the one to hear about it. 

“Why don’t you just ask? They’re here, I’m sure you’ve noticed.” She smirked, glancing over at the table across the bar. 

“I’ve noticed you noticing. I’d almost say you were jealous.” Harry pointed out.

“There’s nothing to be jealous of, Harry.” She replied, barely even convincing herself, never mind anyone else. Her blood boiled every time Astoria draped herself across Malfoy. She was stunningly beautiful and richer than Hermione could ever hope to be. A few more reasons why her crush on the man was incredibly stupid.

“I’ll talk to Theo if you talk to Malfoy.” He said with a grin.

“Seriously? A bet with me is all it’ll take?” She raised an eyebrow, and he leant back against the booth, crossing his arms. 

“Well, eventually. Maybe after another drink. Or three.” He backtracked, and she smiled, chuckling at his nonsense. 

“This colour really suits you, you know.” Astoria simpered as she stroked his chest. His plain white shirt was nothing special, but she was determined to get him to go home with her. She was pretty enough, but there was somebody else across the room that blew her out of the water so completely that she might as well have not been in the room at all for all Draco knew. He forced a smile onto his face as Astoria extracted herself from her lap and disappeared to dance with her sister and one of the Patil’s. He still hadn’t worked out the difference. 

“Oh thank the gods. I was about to throw up.” Pansy said, taking a long drink of wine. “She gets worse. You shouldn’t encourage her.” 

“I haven’t said a word in over an hour. I really couldn’t be doing less, Parks.” He replied. 

“Fucking look at him. Having the audacity to look like that.” Theo muttered over the rim of his glass, watching Potter with a heated look that they’d all come to be familiar with. 

“Just go over to them! For Salazar’s sake!” Pansy exclaimed.

“How about it, Drake? You can distract Granger for me.” Theo waggled his eyebrows and Draco huffed. “Come on, we both know you want to.” 

“Piss off, Theo.” He said, allowing himself a glance at Potter and Granger. Gods, she was wearing green. That really wasn’t fair. 

“I’m going over with or without you. I have to know where she got that dress.” Pansy grinned.

“Three more drinks and I’ll do it.” Draco said, glancing sidelong at Granger and seeing that she was looking right back at him.

“A pleasure doing business with you, sir.” Theo smirked.