Acquaintance

(Middle of Fifth Year)

After I had finished a class of Potions with Avery, we headed our way up to the infirmary to visit Iris. Who, earlier that day, had been attacked by Myrtle. Filthy Mudblood. Hopefully she's well enough to be discharged from the infirmary and allowed back to the Slytherin common room.

As we reached the door to the miniature hospital, we could hear voices from inside. I find this strange, seeing as how usually all the patients are asleep. Avery walks in first, curious to see who's talking. To our, mostly my, surprise, it is Iris who is talking. She seems to be having a full on conversation with some git on a bed next to hers. The two are so deep into their conversation they don't notice our entry. This doesn't sit well with me. I cough to gain their attention. When Iris looks up her smile brightens, I half attempt a smile back but I'm sure it doesn't look right. Iris notices this and frowns.

"Morty, are you all right?"

"Just peachy, how are you feeling?"

Iris gives me a look but responds none the less,

"Fine, I've just been discharged"

"That's great!"

Avery exclaims, happy at the thought of leaving the infirmary soon. I remember suddenly how much he hates it here and I snort silently.

"Well then, let's go Iris"

I say, now becoming impatient; why hadn't she come to find me once she had been discharged.

"Oh, I'll meet up with you later. I wasn't to finish my conversation with Hector here"

She nods towards the boy next to her. He looks to us and smiles. I sneer back. Iris sees and shoots me a glare while Hector looks the other way.

"Fine"

I bark out, turning on me heel as I do so and walk swiftly out of the place with Avery at my heels. We make our way back to the common room and I am seething. Once alone Avery asks,

"What was that all about?"

I don't answer him, but simply pace along the burning fireplace. After several minutes of silence, Avery takes the hint to drop the question. We wait in the common room for Iris to return. Why does she waste her time talking with some git? From Gryffindor, no less! Over an hour passes before Iris walks into the room. Anyone can tell by her face that she's peeved about something.

"What was all that nonsense about in the infirmary?"

She half yells. Avery, who had been lounging while sorting out wizarding trading cards, took this as a sign for him to vacate the room.

"I hope you mean your own nonsense"

"Morty, you know perfectly well what I mean! Why were you so rude to Hector? He's done nothing towards you and yet you glare at him and give me snarky replies"

"Snarky? I have every right to be snarky when I find my girlfriend getting cozy with another guy!"

"Getting cozy with— You can't be serious! I was just talking to him!"

"Right, why else would you not come to find me as soon as you were discharged if you weren't…getting cozy?"

"Because I was have a conversation! That's it—a conversation!"

"Oh, I'm sure you've been having lots of conversations since you've been in there!"

"I just met him today! He's just and acquaintance. Do you know how paranoid you sound? Do you?"

"I'm not paranoid. And if you two weren't getting cozy, what were you doing?"

"We were talking about Hagrid, okay? Hagrid. We're both friends of his and we were thinking of ways to cheer him up since his dad passed."

Iris was glaring daggers at me. I felt a bit sheepish, but wasn't going to back down,

"Why didn't you just tell me while we were there? Hmm?"

"What, do I have to tell you about every little thing I do now?"

Crap. I've dug myself into a hole now. If I say yes, and part of me wants to, she'll get even angrier. But if I say no, it's like apologizing, which I try not to do.

"That's not what I meant. I just think—"

"Think what, Morty? Think that I'll cheat on you? When I've told you that I love you practically a million times? Fat chance of that"

I don't respond right away. I'm not really sure how to,

"Right…well, I don't know what to say"

"You could start by saying you're sorry"

I snort, but realize she won't let this go 'til I do,

"Sorry…"

I mumble so quietly I wonder if she heard it. Iris smiles at me and comes up to hug me, looking smug,

"Was that so hard?"

I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head,

"Yes"

She laughs at my response and I smile, glad that the fight is behind us.

"Never thought you'd get so riled up over an acquaintance, Morty"

I grunt, making a mental note about remembering to not outwardly hate every new acquaintance Iris makes…fat chance of that.

A/N: I'm baaack, and really bored. I'm super excited though because I just completed the hand written portion of my very own book. Hence, the new updates . Along with completing the second part of that last chapter I will be going down the alphabet for inspiration for these little one shots. Hope you like them and don't be afraid to review, it would be much obliged

Love,

Pastry~