Starboy

9 April 1996

Starboy,

Have you been to the library recently?

Bookworm

===

"That's subtle enough, but would still help me, right?" Hermione showed the parchment to Ginny. Her friend simply nodded. "I hope he replies," Hermione mumbled.

"Give him time," Ginny smiled.

===

"What the hell is this?" Draco glared at his brunet friend, clutching the copy of The Great Gatsby in his right hand, making his knuckles turn white.

"The book your lover recommended to you," Theo shrugged.

"How would you know that?" Draco seethed, clenching his jaw.

"I read your letters," Theo replied plainly.

"YOU- Ugh, how did it get here?"

"I got it from the library, obviously. Had to force it out of Granger's hands."

"Granger was reading it?" Draco perked up.

"Well, not really, she was just looking at it. Why? You don't think it's her, do you?"

Draco sputtered nervously, "N-no! Ew, not that mudblood! I mean, it could be her, maybe I don't know. I hope not. But, she's kinda hot, no?"

"Of course not," Theo scoffed, "Are you mental? Do I need to check you into St. Mungo's?"

"I just meant since girls are hot when they're mad and she's always mad..."

Suddenly, Comet flew into the room, dropping yet another letter in front of Draco.

He carefully read it, with Theo standing over his shoulder, reading it, too. The single sentence jumped out on the page.

"No..." Theo drawled, "She can't possibly-" Draco screamed into his hands, muffling the sound. "If it makes you feel better, that means she thinks it's me," Theo chuckled.

"Why would that make me feel better? You're an arse! If she thinks I'm you, she'll think I'm an arse," Draco groaned.

"You are an arse," Theo pointed out.

"Not in the letters!"

"So... you like her," Theo thinned his lips in disappointment, "Even though you know she's bloody Granger?"

"I don't know, mate," Draco muttered, smacking his head down onto his desk. "I guess I do. I can't just stop."

Theo sighed, "Fine, write her back. Just say 'yes.' Let her think it's me. I don't give a crap."

Draco eyed his friend skeptically, "Theodore Nott is allowing a mud- muggle-born to like him?"

"I'm not doing it for her. I'm doing it for you, you blithering idiot," Theo gave his friend one last glare before leaving the room.

===

10 April 1996

My dearest Bookworm,

I didn't mean to snatch the book from your hands like that and I'm sorry for calling you the m-word. I just didn't expect it to be you.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think we should keep our conversations limited to these letters. I think your friends would probably castrate me if they found out I was talking to you, and my friends, well, they're not the biggest fans of muggle-borns.

I'm sorry I haven't been writing back. I've been terribly busy studying for my O.W.L.s. I know a lot of people think I'm stupid, so I'd like to improve my grades.

Sincere apologies,

Starboy

===

"GINNY, GINNY, GINNY!" Hermione yelled, waking her friend from her slumber. "Read," she demanded, holding the parchment in front of Ginny's freckled face.

"Starboy is Theodore Nott," Ginny gasped, "Oh my Merlin!"

"This is so strange. Of all people?" Hermione shook her head, holding it in her hands.

"He called you his 'dearest,'" Ginny gushed, a love-struck look in her eyes. "So? Are you going to write back? Or...?"

"I... I don't think I can write to him."

"WHAT? Why not?"

"Why would I? Other than Malfoy, he's the biggest prick to me in the school!"

"But he's different in the letters-"

Hermione looked down at her feet and shook her head disappointedly, "That doesn't change anything."