m&mwp.

For August Bingo on the Ministry of Magic Discord.


When Alicia drops onto the couch in the Gryffindor common room, muscles aching after a particularly grueling Quidditch practice, she feels in great danger of slipping into a nap. It's a risky move in the common room, where cheeky first years (or, even worse, the Weasley twins) might find her sleeping form. The last time it happened, she'd woken up with red and gold striped hair. A great display of house spirit, but not a look that she hopes to recreate any time soon.

And so, in a desperate attempt to stay awake, Alicia looks over at Dean Thomas who, in his usual fashion, is scratching away at a scrapbook with his quill.

"What are you working on?" She leans against the arm of the couch and cranes her neck towards him in an effort to catch a glimpse of the parchment. "Who's that?"

But much to her dismay, Dean tilts the drawing away from her. At her frown, he taps the side of his nose with the feathered end of his quill.

"Oh, don't be like that," she whines. "Just a quick look. Come on."

"Not a chance."

But because the curiosity is simply too much for her, she deftly flicks her wand at the pages and spells them towards her. The parchment is in her hands before Dean has even thought about snatching them back mid-air. Alicia's gleeful laugh, however, is quickly replaced with a shocked gasp as she recognises the girl in the drawing.

"Oh." Alicia's eyes grow wide. "Dean, it's really good. She'll love it."

"I wasn't planning on showing her," he replies, his voice sharp. "Can you give it back?"

"Why not?"

"I wasn't planning on showing anybody," he says pointedly.

"But she'd like it."

"It's private."

The realisation hits her like a freight train. All of a sudden, it seems obvious. The way he'd drawn her determined smile, the focus in her eyes, her hair whipped back by the wind… Dean draws Angelina as if he fancies her. Because, Alicia realises, he does fancy her.

"Oh," Alicia says. "Well, you should definitely show her. Seriously. She'd like it."

The look on Dean's face tells her that he is not convinced.

"It's just that if someone was drawing me like that," Alicia says softly, "I'd want to know."

And although he doesn't respond, Alicia is sure she sees his expression shift. But before she can continue on her crusade to convince him, the portrait door swings open and Angelina, the twins, and Lee step through.

"Just think about it," Alicia whispers.

Angelica makes a beeline for her, immediately linking their arms and dragging her towards the girls' dormitories. As she allows herself to be led away by her friend, Alicia casts a fleeting glance back at Dean. When he looks up, his eyes catching hers, she grins.

He has definitely been convinced.