~Blaise Zabini~

After picking up Theo and convincing Draco to show up, Blaise was ready for a night spent with his oldest friends. It had been months since he had seen Theo and even longer with Draco. He was looking forward to reconnecting with his old mates.

The room was jam-packed as they stepped through the floo. The music was blaring as they made their way through the crowd. He had heard Spellbound was playing, and it seemed everyone else had too.

"Well, this was your idea. Where do you want to start?" He looked up to his left at Theo, still cursing the day he grew taller than him. He surveyed the dance floor before setting his sights on the bar seat up against the far wall. He pushed his shoulder against Theo and glanced in the direction of the bar.

"You grab us a table and I'll grab drinks. Want anything?" Theo looked apprehensive as he glanced at the crowd around them.

"Just a butterbeer for me, thanks." With a nod of the head, Blaise made his way through a sea of people. A few people noticed him as he passed by. Recognition filled their eyes before he quickly passed them. He would normally soak up the extra attention, but he had missed his friends. He didn't want his job to take even more time away from his personal life.

The bar was just as crowded. He made his way to the shortest line behind the shortest girl. He caught the bartender's attention above her head and leaned around her to order his drinks. He took a step back but was jostled back into the girl. He shot a dark look at the group behind him before he looked back at the girl, ready to apologize.

Looking down, he realized who was in front of him, and he let out a low whistle. She slowly turned to him, one brow perfectly arched. Her face held an open expression until she realized who she was looking at.

"Shit, Granger, who knew that's what you were hiding under your robes." The statement is purely for her benefit. Of course, he and his friends had known. Having spent three years fixated on the girl, they all knew more than what was strictly appropriate.

She let out a huff, spit at his last name, and turned back towards her drinks. He slid up next to her, leaning against the bar. He hadn't seen her in five years and was regretting that fact after seeing how well she had grown into herself. He could tell just by how she spoke to the bartender. Gone was the girl who turned the prettiest shade of red when he teased her. Before him stood a woman who had just flirted her way into two free drinks.

His slow perusal came to an end as she started to walk away. He quickly grabbed his drinks and threw down a few sickles before following her through the crowd. She pushed past the dancing bodies, leaving an easy trail to follow. He took several long strides to catch up with her. When he did, he threw one arm over her shoulder and smirked down at her.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the concept, Zabini, but I'll remind you just in case you've forgotten. If a girl ignores you and then walks away as quickly as possible, she definitely doesn't want you to follow her." She rolled her eyes before shaking free of his arm.

"Come on, Granger. We should catch up, have a drink together." He lifted the drink in his hand and gestured to the table where Theo was sitting.

"I doubt we have much to catch up on. You seem the same as you've always been." She replied with a note of disdain. Blaise felt his brows draw up at her rejection. She turned her back and walked away before he could offer a response. His eyes were still tracking her as she disappeared into the crowd. He felt more than just his attitude perk up as he watched the sway of her hips.

~Theo Nott~

"You'll never guess who I just ran into." Theo should have known something was up when Blaise had returned to the table grinning like a loon. Theo quirked a brow while reaching for his drink. "You're little girlfriend." Blaise was still grinning as Theo set his drink down with a frown. He wasn't seeing anyone and hadn't been for months. Blaise seemed ready to burst as he continued, "Oi, how do you forget a bird like Hermione Granger?" He was smirking as he finished the question. Theo felt himself freeze as he heard the name.

He hadn't heard her name in years. If anyone had asked, he would say he hadn't thought of her in that long, too. But Blaise would know better. He wouldn't fall for that lie. In reality, Theo thought about Hermione Granger more than he should. They hadn't actually talked in years, but he still thought of her often. His gaze quickly swept across the room before he turned back to Blaise, who was still smirking.

"Not as easy to rile up as when we were kids, but still just as fiery." He was still smirking as he stared Theo down. Theo knew what he was doing, but chose to ignore him. He shrugged before taking another drink. He should have asked for something stronger. But even with the distance that had grown between them, Blaise still knew him. He scoffed as his attention turned to the dance floor.

Theo knew Blaise didn't buy his nonchalant attitude, but Hermione Granger was a sore spot for him. She probably always would be. After the way he and his friends had acted towards her, he was surprised she had even talked to Blaise.

"Well, I've heard you still haven't given the Catapults an answer yet." Blaise turned back to him, ready to change the conversation, and Theo was glad for it. Even if he didn't have an answer. He gave his friend a grateful smile before downing the rest of his drink.

"They want me back as a starting Keeper, but I didn't train at all this summer and I've already missed two months of the season." He let out a sigh as he set his bottle down. "I don't know. I still have my father's vaults to go through. Maybe I'll just take up his Wizengamot seat." Blaise was frowning at him when he finally looked up. He had expected it, but the disappointment in his eyes still hurt.

"Theo, you love quidditch. It doesn't matter if you didn't train this summer, you're still the best Keeper the Catapults have had in the past two decades." Theo knew Blaise would try to convince him to keep at quidditch. He just didn't know if he was doing it for Theo or for himself. "You didn't spend two years proving yourself in the reserve leagues just to quit after two seasons." He had a point, but his heart just wasn't in it anymore. He still loved quidditch, but he felt unfulfilled.

"I only joined the Slytherin team because you and Draco practically begged me too. And I only joined the league because I knew it would piss off my father," Blaise made to interpret, but Theo kept on, "Don't get me wrong, I love quidditch, but I never needed it like you did. Like Draco did." Blaise was still frowning, but he looked resigned now. "And hey, my schedule is going to be wide open now." Theo caught his eyes and gave him a small smile. Blaise returned it before turning his attention back towards the dance floor. His gaze stopped looking intent. Theo found himself drawn to the same spot.

She was different, but so very much the same. Theo felt a breath whoosh out of him. Blaise turned back to him with a smirk.

"Wide open, you say?"