ivy | theo nott

It was finally, finally Thursday, which were typically Grace's favorite days of the week. Well, her favorite evenings. Thursdays meant that she only had to make it through three more classes until the weekend, and she found that once Friday hit, she hardly even minded sitting through Divination and Herbology.

"Abbot!" A new voice rang through the hallway as the sun began it's decent towards the tree line of the forest through the tall windows, painting the sky and the hallways in a bright orange.

Grace turned to face the two matching grins of the Weasley twins, ignoring the jerk of her stomach at the thought of her and Theo's conversation the week before. She would likely never know which boy had intended to ask her to the ball last year, or what she would have said if one of them had...

"Hi." She answered, hoping they couldn't pick up how nervous her voice sounded, even to her.

"Hi?" George repeated, his voice teasing. "That's all we get?"

"You've been hanging with the serpents so much, we weren't sure we were even allowed to talk to you anymore." Fred grinned, Grace rolling her eyes as they continued down the hallway together.

"What can I help you with?" She asked, searching between their faces. For a split second, she wondered if one of them wasn't in fact here to ask her out, or what she would even say if that were to happen while she was secretly engaged to Draco Malfoy. The thought had never occurred to her, as the situation had seemed so unlikely.

"Well, we just finished a new product..." Fred started, slowly, sounding much less confident than he had seconds before.

"It's a new candy." George clarified, "Going to be a big seller."

"Alright..." She nodded, remembering the signs that had been plastered around the castle at the start of term asking for volunteers to test their products before Umbridge had torn each one from the walls in a matter of hours.

"Well, we've been having people try them all day... Free samples, if you will." Fred held out a small box, half filled with chocolate looking truffles.

"Mhm, and what will they do to me?" Grace replied, knowingly.

"Oh, Abbot, live a little! They're harmless!"

"Yeah, we don't want to tell you exactly what they do, you know... power of suggestion."

"Want to make sure they actually work right!"

"But they wear off in half an hour, swear."

"Not painful?" She asked, the boys shaking their heads in sync. "Nothing permanent?" Another shake. "Am I going to hate you afterwards?"

"Oh, as if you could hate us." Fred smirked, pushing the box closer to her hands until she finally accepted defeat, pulling a truffle from the box and biting into half. It was actually delicious, and for a few seconds, she wondered if it truly was just a harmless sweet before the walls around her began to shift.

"Oh, what the hell-" She mumbled, shutting her eyes for a few seconds, though when she opened them again, the entire castle appeared to be upside down.

"Is it upside down?" One of the twins asked, though Grace was hardly listening, mostly focused on the nausea rising in her stomach.

"No shit." She muttered, dropping onto the bench behind her and leaning her head against the wall. "I asked if I was going to hate you, assholes."

"Do you?"

"Starting to!"

"Oh, come on, Abbott... It's a little funny, right?"

"Maybe if it wasn't happening to me." She grumbled. "Cant you go back to picking on the first and second years?"

"We're not very particular."

"Yeah, anyone who crosses our path will do."

She felt one of them drop to her side on the bench, though her eyes were still pressed shut.

"Are you really alright? It should honestly be twenty... maybe thirty minutes. Want us to stay with you?"

"No, I want you to go far, far away, before I can open my eyes again and jinx you into next week."

"Yeah, I don't doubt it, Abbott." She was pretty sure it was George who was beside her, though she couldn't be sure, and she didn't really care at this point.

"I'll give you a clear shot once your vision clears up." Fred teased, his fingers landing on her head and ruffling up her hair easily before George stood again. "Thanks for testing-"

"Go!" She groaned, the perkiness in the twin's voice was beginning to irritate her more with every second, and she sighed in relief as she heard their footsteps fade down the hallway.

She wasn't sure how long it had been, though every few minutes she wrapped her fingers around the edge of the stone bench beneath her, peeking through her eyelashes, only to groan in frustration at the sight of the overturned hallway.

"Gracie?" The familiar voice echoed through the corridor, though Grace didn't dare try to open her eyes again, even as the familiar scent of cigarettes drew closer, soft fingertips brushing along her cheek as he lifted her face towards his. "Hey, are you alright?"

"Mhm." She hummed, "I'll be fine."

"What happened?" She wasn't sure she had ever heard his voice like this, sounding so worried. It might have almost been sweet, if the unpleasant waves of nausea weren't still ripping through her stomach. "Why won't you look at me?"

"Just dizzy." She admitted, pulling her face from his grasp and returning to rest it on the cool, stone wall once again. "Bloody Weasley twins... I tested one of their chocolates and it flipped the whole room upside down... They said it would-"

"What?" Theo's voice was no longer worried, no longer sweet sounding. She nearly forced her eyes open again just to make sure he hadn't already stormed off.

"It's alright. They told me it wouldn't last over half an hour-"

"And then they left you here, alone?" His voice was practically a growl now, and Grace reached forward, her fingers feeling around through the air until the finally met Theo's, pulling him closer.

"I told them to leave me alone, because they were bloody annoying. They offered to stay. Calm down, Theodore."

She sounded quite bossy, though he was hardly listening to her voice anymore, his eyes latched onto her fingers laced through his own. He paused for a second, keeping his fingers loose in case she wanted to drop his hand, and took a seat beside her.

"I'm going to kill them. Both of them." He grumbled, watching her hair spill down her shoulders and onto the stone walls. "Bloody assholes."

"Theo, it's fine. They're just having fun. Can't you ever relax?" She mumbled, finally dropping his hand and returning it to her eyes in an effort to block out more of the light sinking in from the windows above them.

"I'm very relaxed." He lied, running his tongue over his lips quickly before reaching for her shoulders, pulling her gently towards him and burying her face into his chest. "Alright... I'm sorry. No more talk of murder... until you're feeling better."

"Gee, thanks." She sighed into his sweater, rubbing along her forehead with two fingers.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" He asked, softly, unsure how she was feeling.

"Don't want to move." She answered, quietly.

"I'll carry you."

He barely made out the laughter into his chest, "Don't be ridiculous. It's three more flights up."

"I'm aware of Ravenclaw Tower's location, believe it or not."

"Much to my dismay." She bit back, her eyes blinking open for only a second as he scooped her into his arms, standing from the bench with ease. "Theo! I said no!" She whined, forcing her eyes shut again and turning back into his chest.

"I actually didn't hear a no. I heard 'don't be ridiculous.' And I'm hardly ever ridiculous."

"You're a menace! Put me down!"

"I will." He grinned, though she couldn't see it. "Three flights of stairs from here."

"I can't stand you." She grumbled, "And you reek of cigarettes again."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, that's so." She gave him her best shot at imitating his voice, which earned her a deep laugh which she could practically feel vibrating through his chest.

➺

"Let's go, let's go!" Daphne squealed, pulling Grace along the corridor among the swarm of students making their way out towards the Quidditch Pitch. "I'm so lucky Draco forced you into our lives, no one else will ever watch the matches with me!"

"Same." Grace agreed, thinking of Terry and Leah who were both likely still asleep upstairs, enjoying their free Saturday. "But I really think we can slow down, because I don't mind missing the first few minutes." She teased, looking down at Daphne's boots, which she was sure had never been worn out doors, judging by the way they practically glistened in the morning light.

"Oh, you know the best part is when they all file out and try to show off." Daphne grinned, "And we've got to make sure the boys behave."

"Maybe you do." Grace agreed, as they finally reached the pitch. "They're scared of you."

"They'll be scared of you too, eventually. I'll train you." She led Grace up the stands, painted in green and yellow, though there was a harsh gap of students near the center, as if none of the students were willing to sit with the opposing house. "You want to sit high up or near the front? I think you can see the game better up there, but it is a bit windy."

"We can sit wherever you want." Grace replied, truthfully not caring. She was fairly certain she would be able to see Draco just the same as every other game she had attended, seeing as he was the only blonde and there were only two players per game circling the edges of the pitch.

"I think Draco's excited you're here." Daphne muttered, not quietly enough for Grace's liking, as they took their seats near the top of the stands. "He was all flustered at breakfast. I could tell."

"Daph..." Grace shook her head, focusing her attention to the field as the players emerged from the locker rooms. "Pre-game nerves. It wasn't about me."

"No, he's a cocky little shit. He's never nervous before games." Daphne assured her, though her attention was now focused on the boys as she joined in with the crowd in a cheer. "Why won't you just let me be happy for you two? I think you're really cute, and I can tell he cares about you... I catch him sometimes in class, staring."

"Daphne!" Grace could no longer ignore the heat painting her cheeks as she turned towards the silver haired girl beside her. "Keep your voice down."

"Alright, alright. I forgot." She mumbled, the crowd going silent as Madam Hooch spoke with the captains who leaned forward, Montague clearly attempting to crush the new Hufflepuff captain's fingers in his. "God, Graham really gets finer and finer every term..."

"Which one..." Grace murmured, scanning over the players as they rose on their brooms.

"Oh, Grace, come on! Just because you're off the market-" She trailed off at Grace's stern look. "The captain. There. Montague." Daphne pointed at the player already weaving through the Hufflepuff players with ease, though as Grace nodded, her eyes had already trailed over to Malfoy. He had floated up towards the top of the stands, away from the crowds, his eyes scanning quickly around the pitch, leaning forward slightly on his broom, ready to take off at any moment.

"Atta boy, Nott!" Someone from the crowd screamed, and Grace eyes searched for only a second before spotting the familiar brown curls. Theo raced down the pitch, the quaffle tucked beneath one arm, before he seemed to drop through the air just as the Hufflepuff captain soared forward, missing the quaffle by a few inches.

"Good God..." Grace's heart had fallen slightly when Theo had, though her lips pulled into a smile now as he continued forward.

"Theo's bloody good on a broom." Daphne assured her, both of their eyes following the chaser for a moment more as the quaffle sank easily through an unguarded hoop, the Hufflepuff keeper soaring over a second too late.

"Terrifying." Grace muttered, earning a laugh from Daphne as the game resumed. Hufflepuff was giving the Slytherin a run for their money, the score neck and neck with every goal, and even from her distance, Grace could see the stress growing on Draco's face as he searched for the snitch.

"Grace!" Daphne whispered, her hands grabbing for both of hers. "It's right there."

"Now you learn to whisper." Grace joked.

"He doesn't notice it." Daphne groaned only a second too soon. It seemed that Draco had spotted the snitch and moved all in the same moment, soaring upwards towards the gray clouds above where the snitch hovered, the hufflepuff seeker no where in sight.

"He's got it! He's got it!" Daphne called out, jumping to her feet moments before Draco closed his fingers around the golden ball, a roar erupting from the stands around the girls. "There we go, Malfoy!" She screamed, cupping both hands over her mouth, as if the seeker would have been able to hear them from his height.

Everyone slowly began to file down the stairs as the players descended to the muddy pitch, chatter overtaking the stadium now and mixing with the cheers as the boys all grinned, some clapping hands as Draco threw the snitch into the air in his fist.

Grace and Daphne let the row ahead of them out first, stepping slowly down the bleachers, Grace's eyes still locked onto the pitch, onto the bright blonde below. He wore a lopsided grin, nodding along to whatever Warrington and Pucey were talking about before she watched the smile slip from his face, a scowl rising to replace it, his eyes narrowing at Pucey.

Grace felt as if she had hardly blinked before Theo was there, broom practically buried in the mud at his feet as he lunged for Pucey, his fist colliding with the tall boy's jaw as they both fell to the ground.

"Daphne!" Grace pointed, stepping faster down each bleacher, though she knew it was no use. Even as Daphne's eyes latched onto the scene, Draco and Enzo were already pulling Theo off from Pucey, Warrington and Montague linking their hands beneath Adrian's arms to pull him from the mud and keep him from Theo.

"-enough!" Grace could barely pick out Montague's words from the roar of the crowd around her. "-an amazing win," and, "-over a bloody girl!"

"Non parlare mai più di lei, accidenti!" Theo spat, Enzo patting his shoulder roughly to pull his attention from the older boy, only dropping his hold on Theo when he reached for his broom at last, shaking some of the mud back to the ground before stomping towards the locker room.

Grace and Daphne finally reached the ground, hardly noticing the way their boots sank into the wet dirt as they finally reached Draco and Enzo.

"What the hell was that?" Daphne gestured towards Theo's retreating form, and Grace's eyes searched over Draco's face. The scowl was still etched onto his lips so deep, she worried it might be permanent, and his eyes flickered over her face quickly before turning back to Daphne.

"Nothing." He muttered, turning towards the locker room and starting after the rest of the team.

"Enz?" Daphne reached forward, pulling Enzo's attention back towards her, though Grace watched as his eyes flashed nervously between his friends and the girls.

"I'll... tell you later." He promised, offering them half a shrug. "Having a party... well... I think we're still having a party. Close game, huh?"

"Yeah, you did great." Daphne nudged his shoulder easily, and his smile eased into a full out grin.

"Watching me, Greengrass?" He smirked and Grace bit back a laugh.

"How could anyone not?" She teased. "Go get cleaned up, you're all insane, rolling around in the mud."

"I didn't roll!" He argued, though taking her advice and starting towards the lockers as well.

"Come on, then... we'll go get the party started... or at least the drinking." Daphne sighed, dramatically, linking her arm into Grace's and leading her through the uneven dirt back up to the castle.

"You think Enzo will actually tell us?" Grace asked quietly, though there was no longer anyone around.

"He won't be able to stop himself." Daphne chuckled, "Slytherin's biggest gossip, that boy."

"Mmm... second biggest." Grace teased, laughter tumbling from her lips at Daphne's face as they rushed into the warmth of the school, at least for a moment, before slipping deeper into the frozen dungeons.

➺

At last, as the team finally returned to a full roar of applause from their housemates, the Slytherin Common room no longer felt like an igloo. Grace was thankful still that she had the foresight to wear her softest sweater, and that the inside of her boots were double lined, though she was sure that her third drink Daphne had thrust into her grip was owed some of the thanks.

"Alright, Berkshire." Daphne called, Enzo spinning towards the familiar voice at once, nodding goodbye to the boys he'd been speaking with and hurrying to her side. "Fess up."

"Okay, yes. I've been in love with you since first year and I truly believe one day you're going to realize you're mad for me too-" He trailed off, pearly teeth flashing through a grin as Daphne reached out to slap him, barely missing as he stepped backwards.

"About the fight today, for Salazar's sake."

"Oh, Daph... just let it go, you know we can't control Nott 24/7." Enzo answered, though he wouldn't meet Grace's eyes.

"You promised you would tell us!" Daphne whined, pulling the boys hand into hers, his brown eyes sinking down to her perfectly manicured nails.

"Daph..." He muttered, jaw clicking into place as he met her eyes. "Alright... I just... I don't want to say it to Grace."

"What? Why?" Grace asked, her words syncing up almost perfectly with Daphne's.

"Because it was really foul and... I mean, look at her sweet little face!" Enzo pushed his lips into an over-dramatic pout and reached out to squeeze Grace's left cheek.

"Stop that!" Grace pulled back out of his reach, rubbing her cheek and scanning around the room, thankful that nobody seemed to have noticed the three of them.

"Well, give me a hint then." Daphne ordered, watching as Enzo looked between the girls, raising one arm to nervously scratch at the back of his neck.

"It was... sexually implicative." He widened his eyes as Daphne groaned.

"Well then, maybe you should have let Nott finish him off."

"No." Draco's voice appeared behind them, his arm circling around Grace's waist to pull her into his side. "What did we talk about, Berkshire?"

His mouth was void of the kind of smile Grace would have expected to find him with, considering they were at a party to celebrate his Quidditch win.

"I didn't say anything!" Enzo threw his hands up in mock surrender.

"The Gryffindor's have already lost their Quidditch privileges, and we'll be next if Nott can't keep his bloody head straight."

"Hooch did say anymore fighting and they'd both be off the team." Enzo muttered, finishing off the drink in his hand.

"Yeah, so maybe it's worth it." Theo's voice rang through the group, Grace jumping slightly from her spot beneath Draco's arm, meeting the green eyes staring down at her from behind their circle.

"Maybe it wouldn't be. Down two chasers in one go? Can't you just meditate or something?" Malfoy grumbled.

"Just because you were fine to just stand there and listen to him say that-"

"Here, Enz... I need another drink, you coming?" Daphne cut in, her voice purposely loud as Theo's trailed off, and Enzo followed the blonde happily through the crowd, glancing down at his empty glass.

Draco pulled his gaze from Theo, glancing down to Grace at his side. "Are you cold?"

She felt her eyebrows pinch together as she looked up. "No, why?"

"Swear?" A smile was finally tugging at his lips as he pulled her over towards the crowded couches near the fireplace, "You're always cold down here."

She crossed her arms over her chest as they walked, finding a spot near the edge of the couch beside Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle that was admittedly far too small for the two of them.

"No, I'm fine." She nodded, letting Draco sit first and perching herself on the arm rest.

"Fine, or warm?" He asked, watching the corners of her mouth turn into a smile. "That's what I thought." He reached for the hem of his sweater, pulling it over his head and passing it to her.

"Draco Malfoy, what will people think?" She hissed, teasing, and enjoying the chuckle it earned her as she slipped his sweater over her head.

"That I might actually like you? Disgusting."

She let her gaze linger on his smile for a few more seconds before scanning through the room, searching for Daphne and Enzo, her eyes landing once again on the dark green ones where Theo was leaning against the wall, jaw set into a scowl as he swirled his drink aimlessly before turning and heading up the stairs towards his dormitory.