Chapter 7: Hogsmeade

A.N: Thanks so much for the reviews! They really help get me motivated to update faster so thank you! Hope you enjoy this next chapter.


Astoria turned, livid. Who in the hell thought it necessary to yank her back. She was attempting to make a dramatic exit. She prayed it wasn't a professor or worse, Malfoy.

"Going somewhere Astoria?" She turned to see Theo Nott staring at her with a worried and curious expression. That was certainly not the person she expected.

"Let me go Nott." Astoria yelled, trying to pry her wrist from his grip.

"No. you're clearly upset. It's not the best idea to roam Hogwarts at such a late hour whilst wanting to kill something… or someone." He argued, giving her a pointed look.

Astoria glared at him, "Please let go of me."

"Are you going to run?" He asked.

"No." Astoria replied honestly. Everything had just hit her and she realized how tired she

was. She wasn't so much angry anymore as opposed to exhausted.

Theo seemed to believe her because he let go of her arm, slowly. Astoria then walked over to the wall in the dungeon corridor and slid down it. She sat with her legs crossed, her arms in her lap, leaning against the wall.

"I suppose we woke you then?" She asked quietly, looking at her hands.

Theo sighed and sat on the ground next to her. He sat one leg stretched out, the other bent with one foot flat on the ground. He rested his arm on his knee and ran a hand threw his hair with his other hand.

"Eh, I wasn't asleep." He shrugged.

Astoria didn't say anything for a couple minutes. She didn't know if she wanted to talk. She didn't know if she wanted company. She had no idea what the hell she wanted. All of the sudden Theo seemed to be whistling quietly. The noise rang off the deadly silent corridor. It felt warming almost. She chanced a glance at him and saw him with his eyes closed just bobbing his head around. He seemed completely content. Why couldn't she be that peaceful? Why couldn't she have a relationship like Theo and Daphne and just be happy 24/7? Oh right, because she was starting to have feelings for Draco fucking Malfoy. Wait whoa, feelings? Where did that come from, they only kissed twice. Ugh, everything was so messed up. Astoria brought her knees up to her chest, crossing her arms on top of them and burying her head in them.

"Listen Astoria, Draco's a dick."

Astoria laughed and looked up at him, "You don't say?"

Theo smirked at her, "But I do have to say… I see the way he looks at you. I've been close friends with him for a long time and I've never seen him look at a girl like that before."

"Your point?"

Theo sighed, "My point is that Draco can be a real good guy when he wants to be. I can tell he's confused. He's sorting things out. But I would bet 100,000 galleons that he really does like you. And let me also just say that you could do a lot worse than Draco."

Astoria narrowed her eyes, "Are you fucking bagging on Sebastian too?"

Theo raised his hands in surrender, "Whoa! No I didn't say that. All I'm saying is give Draco a chance. I know you think he doesn't deserve it. But he's never really had a real relationship. It's new to him. Hell, this is my first real relationship and I'm still learning," he stared at the ground, "I'm just hoping I don't fuck it up. That's all guys are ever thinking."

Astoria looked at Theo. He was so different. This was not the same Nott she remembered running around the Slytherin common room cracking witty jokes. Astoria smiled a little. Daphne was certainly lucky. She kinda hoped Daphne stuck with him, he was nice to have around. Though she wouldn't admit that out loud.

"Theo, you're not gonna fuck it up. Maybe screw up a few times, hell yeah. But I've never seen Daphne hold onto a guy this long."

Theo grinned ear to ear, "You called me Theo!"

Astoria rolled her eyes, "Don't get used to it."

Theo shook his head, "Nah, admit it. We're friends now!"

Astoria laughed at his childlike tone, "I never said anything about being friends!" Theo again just shook his head, still smiling, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Astoria sighed and gave in, resting her head on his shoulder. She was too exhausted to fight it.

"You know, if Draco ever pulls crap on you again, I'll punch him for you."

Astoria smiled, "Thanks Theo."

They just sat there, silently, for a couple minutes. Astoria didn't have a brother, but she imagined this is what it felt like. And she had to admit, it felt nice. She liked being able to just sit with a person and not talk about anything; just another comforting presence. However, after a little bit, Theo insisted she go to bed. Again, she couldn't argue considering how tired she was. When they walked back into the common room there was no sign of Draco. Theo hugged her goodnight and both walked off to their separate rooms.

When Astoria laid in bed, she remembered she had to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow, with Sebastian. Eh, she thought. Maybe she could rile Draco up a bit. Show him he wasn't the only one who could have an effect on her. Of course that wasn't true, but that didn't mean she couldn't pretend.


Draco was walking through Hogsmeade with Blaise and Theo. His two friends were arguing over where to go first. Draco honestly didn't give a fuck. His mind was still reliving last night. He hated how much he'd been thinking about Astoria. He hated how confused and angry she made him when she yelled at him. Damn, why do girls always have to be so bloody complicated? He was so sure that if he just backed her up to a wall and snogged her senseless, she'd change her mind about him. But how fucking wrong he was about that. He came to the conclusion that she was gonna take a lot more work than one kiss, or two.

Theo and Blaise seemed to settle on the Three Broomsticks, so the three of them headed in that direction. They sat at a corner, half-circle booth in the back. All three ordered butterbeers and then sat back, relaxing. They had made it through their first week back. Not a huge accomplishment one might think, but that first week is always the hardest. Getting back into a routine is always hard. Or at least, it was for Draco.

"So… Draco. Care to explain what was going on in the common room last night?" Theo asked, his hands put together on the table in a business like fashion.

Draco took a long sip of his butterbeer and then gave him a pointed look, "I don't know Theo. Do you wanna tell me what went on when you left the common room last night?"

Blaise looked between the two of them, utterly confused, "What are you idiots talking about?"

"Draco here decided to get into a heated argument with Astoria Greengrass at an ungodly hour of the night." Theo explained, matter-of-factly.

"Ungodly hour? Theo it was like midnight. Calm down, grandma." Draco scoffed.

"Wait so you did kiss her then?" Blaise asked.

Draco stared, confused, "I never said anything about snogging! We had a fight, so what?"

"Fights between the two of you always end up in snogging." Blaise said, nodding to Draco as he sipped his drink.

"What on earth do you mean 'always'? You weren't even there!" Draco almost yelled.

Blaise and Theo exchanged a look, Blaise then smirked at Draco, "You're not exactly the best at hiding your attraction to Astoria."

"You've both gone mental. I have no 'attraction' to Greengrass." Draco said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms.

Blaise and Theo both laughed. Draco was furious. How could they just assume things about him and Astoria. There wasn't even anything going on, it had only been a damn week! Dammit, he thought, it had only been a week. Just one week, and Astoria was one of the only things on his mind.

"No attraction huh?" Theo smirked, crossing his arms too. He then nodded his head toward the door, "And you're totally fine with that?"

Draco turned his head toward the door and saw Astoria walk in with Doley. He immediately narrowed his eyes, but tried to act nonchalant, "Nope. Doesn't bother me."

"Okay then," Theo smirked, "you won't mind if I do this then." Draco gave Theo a questioning look just as his friend yelled, "Hey Doley!"

Draco glared at his friend and spoke through gritted teeth, "What the fuck are you doing?"

Theo just ignored him, "Hey Doley! Over here!"

Doley looked around the room trying to see who was yelling to him. When he landed on them, he looked anything but happy. Doley just nodded his head and then put a hand on Astoria's back to lead her to a table. Draco risked a glance at Astoria. She didn't look to comfortable with Doley's hand on her back, but she gave him what Draco immediately identifies as a fake smile.

Theo continued to yell toward Doley, "Oi! Why don't you guys come sit with us?"

Blaise smirked at Draco and then yelled toward Doley too, "Yeah mate, why don't you and Greengrass join us!"

Draco could tell Doley had no intention of coming to sit with them. However he saw Astoria wave at them, grab Doley's hand and lead him to their booth. Oh no fucking way. She was going to sit with them? What in the hell was Theo's problem?

"Thank you boys, that'd be nice. Right Sebastian?" Astoria said, coming up to their booth. Doley just put his hands in his pockets and grunted. Astoria slid into one side of the Booth and ended up next to Draco, Doley reluctantly slid in next to her, placing his arm around her shoulder. Draco glared at him, and Draco was happy to see he was not the only one uncomfortable with Doley's attempts at physical contact. Theo's jaw clenched ever so slightly and Astoria herself seemed a little hesitant, but neither said anything.

Blaise apparently decided to break the tension, "So, are you guys enjoying the trip?"

Astoria sat up straight, causing Doley's arm to slip away, "Yeah, but I could really use a butterbeer right about now." She turned to Doley and bat her eyelashes, "Would you be so kind to get me one?"

Doley immediately sprang up to get one from the front. As soon as he left, Draco could see Astoria physically relax. He smirked, "Not enjoying your date, Greengrass?"

She looked him in the eyes for the first time since arriving, "Actually, I'm having a great time. Sebastian is very nice."

"Just nice? Sounds like a keeper." He replied sarcastically, taking a drink of his butterbeer.

"Yes, Malfoy. Some people are capable of having pleasant conversations and just enjoying each other's company." Astoria huffed.

"Wait, so you're on a date with the bloke, and all you've done is have 'pleasant' conversations?" Blaise asked, confused.

Astoria gave him an astounded look, "Yeah Zabini. Not everyone runs off to snog someone on the first date."

"Sounds like a bloody boring first date if you ask me." Draco muttered.

Astoria turned to him, smirking, "Oh right, I forgot you're the expert on first dates seeing as you never get to the second."

Draco slammed his drink on the table and turned to her about to say something when Doley suddenly slid back into the booth, two butterbeers in hand.

"Here ya go Tori." He smiled, giving her her drink.

Draco saw her give him a huge grin, then she kissed his cheek, "Thanks Sebastian."

Draco glared at the two of them. How dare she? It was obvious she was just going out with Doley to make him mad. She just loved to rile him up, didn't she? Draco smirked, well two could play at that game. He slowly, discretely, placed a hand on her thigh. He was careful to make sure no one noticed. Her eyes immediately snapped to him and narrowed. She gave him a look as if to say, don't you dare. But he just acted oblivious and started talking to Blaise. She angrily turned to Doley and continued to flirt with him. This made Draco even more angry and so he slid his hand up a bit more every few minutes. He was getting dangerously high, when she suddenly grabbed his hand to halt it. She was still trying to act as if nothing was happening, in fact she laughed a bit too hard at something Doley said which made him raise an eyebrow. Draco took her hand and laced their fingers together, running his thumb over her palm. She calmed down just a bit, but then shot daggers at him.

"You know Sebastian, I still want to go to Honeydukes. We should head out." With that, Astoria ripped her hand out of Draco's and ushered Doley out of the booth. She quickly waved goodbye to them, glancing back for just a moment. Draco took that time to wink at her. She immediately turned back around, grabbing Doley's arm and walking out.

Draco took a long sip of his butterbeer and sat back. Blaise and Theo were talking about some quidditch thing, but all Draco could think about was how badly he wanted to be the one walking with Astoria on his arm.


A.N: Hope you liked it! As always, please review!