~4~
Draco was taunting Granger and Weasley again. Potter wasn't around-something to do with a missing permission slip, from what Pansy was gossiping about. All the better for Draco, Vincent knew.
It was cold out, snow up to his ankles, but he didn't really mind. They'd planned to stay in the Three Broomsticks the entire time. That was, until Gregory mentioned seeing Weasley without Potter. Vincent was warm enough for this, Butterbeer setting in his stomach and soft mittens on his hands. He hardly ever participated in the actual taunting anyway. All he had to do was make sure a Hex wasn't thrown Draco's way.
They had followed Granger and Weasley to the Shrieking Shack. It was creepy there, but if Draco was there, so was Vincent. He thought that the insults Draco handed out that time around were good, if a little short of what the blond normally did. They caused the future couple - even Vincent could see it - to turn beet red and splutter. In anger or embarrassment, Vincent couldn't tell. He was never that good at reading people, not like Draco or Blaise.
Everything was going fine, great even. The smirk that Vincent loved seeing seemed to be stuck on Draco's face. And then a snowball hit him. Vincent hadn't seen either if the Gryffindors throw it. He moved closer to Draco, on edge and wanting to run but not willing to unless the blond did too.
It was frightening when things started moving on their own and Vincent could've sworn he had felt someone brush his back. Maybe even seen Potter's face, if for a moment. He was sure Draco saw it too.
The blond turned and ran. Only then did Vincent move, the Gryffindors ringing laughter following behind them. Draco would be angry that later, but at least he hadn't gotten hurt.