#clueless draco

[drarry88]

Tried something different! My "Veela feather" copy of Soup-pocalypse and The Great Curry Cataclysm

[daddiesdrarryy]

Pansy: You feeling any better after the Quidditch accident yesterday, Draco?

Draco: Yeah, but for now Madame Pomfrey doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose

Pansy: Well there goes your dating life

Harry: …

[blorger]

“Hey,” Potter says. “I really am sorry. I should have realised something was up. It’s just – when you said I was a stuck-up dickhead–” “Self-important dickhead.” The correction is instinctive. “Self-important dickhead,” Potter amends solemnly. “I knew it wasn’t a love potion, and it was just so bloody nice to hear.” He huffs a frustrated sigh. “I should have made sure – shouldn’t have been so spontaneous. I’m really sorry if we did anything you didn’t want to do.” Potter is obviously struggling, his face scrunched up with guilt. Potter is guilty. Given the circumstances, it’s almost laughable. Draco braces himself for one last hit. “Potter,” he says slowly, because Potter is an idiot who needs things spelling out. “I know it’s a struggle for you, but think it through. I literally thought you were a magical manifestation of my fantasies. Everything we did was something I wanted to do.” “Oh.” Potter chews his lip and looks away. Draco takes one last chance to drink him in. The real him. His face is sharper without the glasses. Draco likes it. “You know,” Potter says hesitantly, still not looking at him. “If I cast that charm, I’d probably see you, too.” Draco rolls his eyes. “Shut up,” he mumbles. “I mean it,” Potter insists. He meets Draco’s gaze and there’s that look again – the one that’s so unbelievably him. Except it actually is him. “Do you think I’d’ve gone along with it if I wasn’t into it? Now you’re the one not thinking it through. Do you know how many people try to jump me on a daily basis? If I let all of them fuck me, you’d have definitely heard about it.” Draco scoffs. “You really are self-important.”

from All I Have to Do by @fluxweeed

[lepimobee]

The Stages of Kai Literally Every Other Season

[pontah]

What are your top five drarry headcanons?

this is hard op because i hardly remember what is/isnt canon but some things i like to envision off the top of my head --

- harry is messy and would make a terrible roommate, draco is too when hes's emotionally distraught but insane about dust when he's emotionally constipated

- draco loves jewelry, harry doesn't care for it but a fidget ring or necklace does wonders for him

- harry is touch starved and his favorite spot is under draco's shirt, dracos's favorite spot harry's face

- draco reads fantasy romance novels and gets really into tabletop gaming post hogwarts (im talking that insane shit like warhammer)

- adult jobs i like for them both is professor draco or wandmaker draco and magical creature caretaker harry. alternatively NEET housewife harry <3

[gryfferin-gaybies]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling, Drarry - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter, Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley Characters: Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Original Characters Additional Tags: Pining, Pining Draco Malfoy, Pining Ginny Weasley, Past Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Gay Harry Potter, Gay Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Drarry, Love Confessions, Draco Malfoy In Love, Harry Potter is Bad at Feelings, Confessions, Public Display of Affection, POV Ginny Weasley Summary:

Harry Potter broke up with Ginny because he realized he was gay. As he dates men and explores his newfound sexuality, Ginny and Draco, as his friends, are forced to watch and pretend to be supportive. All of their friends know that Harry and Draco are in love, even Ginny. The only person who doesn't know is Harry. Draco decides he's done waiting for Harry to figure it out on his own.

AKA: Ginny is sad. Harry is clueless. Draco confesses his love.

[loveeari]

harry: what is that sound? draco making ominous cat noise because blaise dared him too: i don't know what your talking about potter ron dead eyed staring him down from across the room: yeah i wonder

[ghostfacd]

𝙄𝙉 𝘼 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙇𝘿 𝙁𝙐𝙇𝙇 𝙊𝙁 𝙈𝙀𝙉, 𝙃𝙀’𝙎 𝘼 𝙂𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙇𝙀𝙈𝘼𝙉

pairing: lorenzo berkshire x fem!slytherin!reader

genre: fluff, sweetheart enzo, brief suggestive content, enzo is a big softie basically

summary: in a world filled with men, there’s lorenzo berkshire, a sweetheart and gentleman

Lorenzo Berkshire was a sweetheart.

Everybody knew that the down to earth Slytherin couldn’t hurt a fly even if he wanted to, and weirdly did not fit the stereotypical mean Slytherin persona despite hanging with Draco and his friends.

In fact, a lot of things that Lorenzo did were out of the ordinary for his crowd of people. Whenever Draco would pull a first year by their backpacks so their bodies would fling back, Lorenzo always muttered an apology after, offering the first year a cookie the next day. It was just who he was; he was a sweet boy, and that often meant he was also very clueless.

Sure, he was smart in his classes, but in everything else? Lorenzo was practically the virgin of all virgins.

“Her eyes are up here Enzo,” Pansy teased, watching as Lorenzo’s eyes finally shifted off your chest to look at Pansy in the eyes.

“Huh?”

“Well I know they’re nice,” you tease further, “but it’s rude to stare, y’know.”

“Oh,” Lorenzo’s eyebrows furrow, clearly confused. He’s either great at playing the dumb role or he genuinely has no idea what you and Pansy are inciting.

“What do you mean?” Lorenzo then moves his hand over to touch the gold colored necklace on your neck. “I was just looking at the new necklace you got. It’s nice.”

Oh. You didn’t think anyone would notice your new necklace. You bought it over the holidays when you went back home with your family, and had just started wearing it now.

“Thanks Enzo,” you say, placing a kiss on his cheek. He pulls back flustered, but he mutters a you’re welcome under his breath.

“LO BOY!” Lorenzo is quickly pulled into a headlock by no other than Draco Malfoy, who seems to find his friend struggling hilariously funny. “Oh what’s wrong Lo? Got your head in a knot?”

“Boys.” You and Pansy mutter, rolling your eyes as you both get up from your seats, heading to the much more quiet Great Hall.

- - -

The next time you see Lorenzo is in your Potions class. He’s on the left of you, and you’re almost falling asleep at the boring lecture of your professor. He always seem to talk more than actually teach how to mix potions.

“Pssst,” Lorenzo mutters to your partner as he hands her a slip of paper. “Be a peach and pass it to Y/N?”

Your partner, who has developed a little crush on Lorenzo only blushes, accepting the piece of paper and tapping you on the shoulder.

“Here,” she says, “it’s from Lorenzo.”

Your eyebrows quirk up, slowly unfolding the crinkled paper.

Your hair is pretty today

You bite your lip, trying to suppress a smile. Lorenzo just knew how to swoon a girl over, didn’t he? He doesn’t even have to try and your knees would still feel weak.

So my hair isn’t pretty on other days?

You scribble down, passing it back to your partner who passes it to Lorenzo.

His eyes grow wide when he reads it, opting to shake his head quickly.

“Not what I meant,” Lorenzo mouths.

“I know,” you mouth back, giving him a smirk. “Thank you Enzo.”

And you both end up more pink than the potions that were made in class that day.

- - -

“What do you even do in your free time?” Theodore asks, poking Lorenzo’s cheek repeatedly to annoy him. “Like read?”

“Like read?” Lorenzo mimics back. “Yes, I read. You should too Teddy, it’d be good for you.”

Theodore rolls his eyes, “I don’t need to read. And don’t call me Teddy.”

When you arrive in the dining hall, Theodore and Lorenzo already make a space for you to sit in between them. Usually, Pansy and Draco would be sitting across from the three of you, but today, they were off doing Godric knows what.

“Pans and Draco not here today?” Lorenzo asks, still focusing on the assignment he was finishing up before dinner ends.

“Nope,” you say, popping the p. “No idea what they’re doing.”

“Oh,” Theodore chuckles, “I have a few ideas.”

That makes the two of you burst out laughing, and Lorenzo finally looks up from his paper.

“What?” He asks. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh Enzo,” Theodore places a hand on his friend’s back, “never change.”

Lorenzo rolls his eyes, shrugging Theodore’s hand off. “Whatever that means.”

When Theodore finally heads off to the Slytherin common room, you and Lorenzo are left alone, the small conversations of the other students surrounds the two of you.

“Working hard on that assignment,” you say quietly to Lorenzo, bringing up your hand to pull a few strings of hair that were poking his eyes.

“Well someone’s gotta be the smart one in our friend group,” he says teasingly.

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m not smart?” Your hands start to wander, coming to each of Lorenzo’s sides to tickle him. He was especially ticklish around his abdomen.

“H-hey! Stop that!” He laughs, pushing your hands away. “Okay okay, we’re both the smart ones.”

“And Pansy,” you add.

“And Pansy.”

- - -

When you walked out to the lake that sat across from the Slytherin common room, you didn’t expect to find Lorenzo feeding the ducks. He was crouching, softly throwing a few pieces of crushed up bread at the ducks that now surrounded him.

“What are you doing Lo?” You ask, walking beside him.

“Not too loud,” Lorenzo says, “you’ll scare them away.”

He continues doing what he does before he runs all out, deciding to finally turn to you and throw an arm around your shoulder. “Evening.”

“Evening Enzo,” you say, pressing a kiss to his cheek. It was out of habit, and you did it regularly, but it didn’t stop Lorenzo from blushing every time it happened.

“I was feeding the ducks,” he explains, although it was pretty clear what he was doing. “I like them, they’re nice and pretty. Draco sometimes throws rocks at them, so it’s kind of my way of apologizing for him.”

You ruffle Lorenzo’s hair slightly, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. “Oh Enzo, you sweetheart.” But he doesn’t hear you, instead, choosing to admire the scenery of the lake.

- - -

“You know what’d be funny?” Mattheo says, already laughing before he could get out the rest of his sentence. “If we pied the girls. Pansy and Y/N.”

Lorenzo’s ears perk up at this, but he keeps quiet. Why was his friends always looking to get into trouble?

“They’d totally kill us,” Theodore comments.

“That’s why we have to do it.”

The boys had already gotten two pies and their plan figured out before Lorenzo could stop them. He watched as they hide it behind their backs, approaching you and Pansy who were both engrossed in your conservation.

“Wait,” Lorenzo mumbles, quickly following his group of friends. When he sees their hand from their back move as they speak to you and Pansy, he steps in front of the two of you, getting hit straight in the face with the two pies.

“Huh..” Lorenzo says, wiping away the whipped cream that was covering his eyes. “Key lime.”

“Enzo,” you say, knowing that this was probably one of Mattheo or Draco’s dumb ideas again. “You guys apologize to Lorenzo right now.”

The three boys sigh defeatedly, muttering a quiet sorry to their brunette friend who’s still wiping the whipped cream from his face.

“Why’d you do that Enzo?” You ask him as the two of you sat down on the grass. You’d finally got all the whipped cream off his face with a towel, and although Enzo won’t admit it, he was kind of grateful he did end up getting pied. After all, a pretty girl was cleaning him up after all, and not just any pretty girl, his close friend.

“Cause you’re too pretty to get pied.” He shrugs, which makes you smirk.

“Too pretty?”

“Well yeah,”

You laugh at Lorenzo’s honesty, and finally, you lean in to give him a kiss on the lips instead of the side of his cheek.

“Did you just-”

“Shh,” you say, grabbing ahold of his hand. “Just let me appreciate you right now. In a world full of just men, you’re a gentleman Enzo.”

And Lorenzo only smiles, knowing he’s finally got the girl of his dreams.

[sativariddle]

PLAN GONE WRONG ꒰ t.n. ꒱

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ navigation. (9.6k+ words)

WARNINGS: insecurity, cheating!george, nipple play, instances of bullying, suffering with body image + struggles, and strong language.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: if you don’t enjoy my content, there’s no need for you to stick around. i’m not responsible for what you choose to engage with.

SUMMARY: after theodore gets into a fake relationship with a ravenclaw to make daphne jealous, he finds himself tangled in something far messier than he anticipated.

theodore nott had it all — the looks, the intelligence, the friends, the money. and when it came to girls, he never faced a challenge. it was always effortless for him. but theodore nott wasn’t seeking heartbreak. i repeat, theodore nott was not looking for heartbreak.

but heartbreak found him anyway.

friday night, just after curfew: he took a walk through the abandoned astronomy tower. he hadn’t been looking for trouble — he wasn’t the type to seek out unnecessary drama.

but as he approached the shadowed figure near the entrance, the unmistakable sound of moans and groans caught his attention.

and then, a voice he knew too well.

daphne greengrass.

something in his chest twisted. it wasn’t like they had sworn undying loyalty to each other — theodore wasn’t naïve. but there had been something there, hadn’t there? some unspoken agreement between them, a mutual understanding that despite their lack of labels, she was his in a way she hadn’t been with anyone else.

apparently, at the obvious looks of it, that was all in his head.

because as he stepped closer, he caught a glimpse of her — pressed up against the stone wall, fingers tangled in the robes of some faceless, nameless guy who sure as hell wasn’t theodore.

for a second, he couldn’t move. couldn’t speak. just stood there, frozen, as something cold and heavy settled in his stomach. before he could stop himself, he cleared his throat.

daphne was startled, her body tensing as she pulled away from her mystery lover. blue eyes going wide with something that looked like guilt — but that couldn’t be right, because daphne greengrass never felt guilty.

"theo -" she started, but he was already turning on his heel, walking away before she could spin some pathetic excuse.

how can he be so clueless? after everything he did for her, you'd think the witch would finally see things clearly and not end up with some random no-life guy.

theodore didn’t go back to the slytherin dorms right away. he ignored all the portraits muttering at him, questioning why he looked so angry. instead, he found himself storming into the common room couches, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.

he was halfway to the fireplace when a familiar voice drawled from the opposite of theodore. "rough night?"

blaise zabini, a spitting image of relaxation, was sprawled across the leather couch, watching theo with an infuriating smirk. on the other side of the room, malfoy sat by the chessboard, silver eyes flicking up with mild interest.

"she cheated on him," pansy parkinson supplied from her spot near the fire, where she was busy painting her nails black. she didn’t even look up. "saw the whole thing."

of course she had — pansy thrived on drama like it was her lifeblood. she was so nosy about his business that, at times, he almost wished the blood curse upon her. though, he always knocked on wood immediately after, just in case.

theo exhaled sharply, dropping into an armchair. "who was he?" he shouldn’t care. he shouldn’t care. he doesn’t care.

"does it matter?" draco arched a bushy brow. "the point is, she played you."

theo’s veiny hands curled into fists. "i don’t care." mattheo absentmindedly tossed a stress ball — stolen from one of his many hookups — between his hands, rolling his eyes every time theodore repeated that he didn’t care.

"right," blaise said. "which is why you look like you want to murder someone."

pansy finally looked up, the sway of her bob barely skimmed her shoulders, sharp gaze scanning theo’s expression. "you want revenge."

it wasn’t a question.

theo didn’t answer, but something must have flickered in his expression, because blaise clapped his hands together, looking positively delighted. "perfect. i have a plan."

from the tone of his voice, you’d think zabini had been waiting his entire life for this moment, his handsome smile curling at the edges with satisfaction.

“blaise, i just found out the girl i’ve been speaking to has been seeing other people behind my back minutes ago. how the fuck do you already have a plan?”

draco leaned back in his chair, smirking like he had been waiting for this moment. he had. “put it this way; we never exactly trusted daphne.”

”- could say… we planned for this,” berkshire added smoothly from his spot, finally speaking up as he tossed pieces of chocolate into the air, catching them with his mouth.

theodore stared at his friends blankly, processing their audacity. it should have pissed him off. but, if he was being honest? he was intrigued.

”…hurry the fuck up.”

blaise’s own grin widened. "we find you a new - fake - girlfriend. someone completely unexpected. someone who will make daphne lose her mind."

theo scoffed. "and who the hell would agree to that?"

no one in their right mind would willingly agree to this — if someone had come up to theodore and asked him to fake date them for revenge, he would’ve given them a strange look and walked away without a second thought.

"simple," blaise said. "we pick someone who has nothing to lose."

the process of choosing someone — anyone — wasn’t as easy as they made it sound. it had to be someone who would make waves, someone no one would expect to be tangled up with theodore nott.

so, the next morning at breakfast in the great hall, the group of six hissing slytherins huddled together.

"not a slytherin," draco decided. "too obvious."

"not a gryffindor," pansy added. "they’re too… annoying."

blaise tapped his chin thoughtfully. "we need someone smart. someone who won’t get clingy but also won’t back out at the first sign of trouble."

"that leaves hufflepuff and ravenclaw," theo muttered. "- hufflepuffs are too soft," pansy cut in. "we need someone with a backbone. someone unexpected."

that’s when blaise’s gaze landed on you.

you were sitting at your usual ravenclaw table, nose buried in a book, oblivious to the chaos unfolding in the world outside your pages. dark hair pulled into a high ponytail, lips pressed into a firm line: nothing like daphne.

blaise smirked and leaned toward theo. "trust me. she’s perfect."

the group of slytherins turned, their gaze following blaise’s eyes until they landed on you. like a pack of snakes hunting a lone eagle, as if they could snare you with nothing but a hiss.

theo wasn’t convinced at all. "her?"

"think about it," lorenzo said smoothly. helping blaise’s case. "she’s not involved in house politics. she doesn’t give a damn about us. and best of all? daphne won’t see it coming."

mattheo hummed, watching you. "she’s kind of… lonely, isn’t she?"

"exactly." blaise grinned. "which makes her interesting."

theo studied you for a long moment. he’d seen you in passing before, always tucked away in corners, watching the world with those sharp, observant eyes. you weren’t the type to seek attention. you weren’t the type to need anyone.

you were stunning, of course, lost in your book, completely unaware of the six slytherins staring at you.

you weren’t daphne. but maybe that’s exactly what the plan needed.

you knew something was wrong the moment blaise zabini dropped into the seat across from you, flashing a grin that balanced precariously between charm and devilishness.

blaise zabini did not sit with you. neither did draco malfoy, who slid into the chair beside him effortlessly, nor pansy parkinson, who leaned over your table as if she were about to offer you an illegal dragon egg. lorenzo berkshire opted for the desk itself, perched on the edge, smirking down at you. mattheo riddle dragged over a random wooden chair and flipped it backward, resting his arms on the backrest as he settled in. and then there was theodore nott — standing behind them all, arms crossed, fingers ghosting over his biceps, his expression carved in boredom, like he’d rather be anywhere but here.

you sighed, snapping your book shut. "no."

blaise’s dark eyes closed and opened — blinked. "you don’t even know what we’re going to say."

"i can guess," you replied dully. "and whatever it is, the answer is no."

"hear us out -"

"i’d really rather not."

who could blame you, honestly? the six of them were bullies — bullies. cruel, ruthless, and known for doing horrible things. so when they all sat down, your first instinct was that you were their next target.

draco sighed dramatically. "we’ve been sent here against our will because theodore is apparently incapable of having a simple conversation with a girl."

over draco’s shoulder, theo shot a glare at the back of his platinum head. “nott, i can feel your ugly eyes boring into the back of my head. cut it out,” malfoy said, not bothering to turn around.

“fuck you. people actually love my eyes, especially the blue,” theo retorted.

“they’re lying. it’s the ugliest color i’ve ever seen,” pansy chimed in. theo shot her a look. “we have the same color eyes, dumbass.”

“no,” pansy replied, blinking dramatically. “yours are ugly blue, mine are pretty blue, and they’ve got a little brown in them. yours are just plain ugly blue.”

the slytherins began bickering among themselves, while you stood there, staring at them, before clearing your throat. you seriously did not have time for this.

the bickering came to an abrupt halt as all eyes turned toward you. theo turned back to his friends, rolling his eyes.

“i could have handled this myself.”

"sure you could, sweetheart," pansy sarcastically grinned. "that’s why you stood outside the library like a lost first year for ten minutes before we had to drag you in."

you raised an eyebrow. "should i be concerned?"

theo clenched his jaw and looked away, which was honestly kind of funny. he was clearly uncomfortable, but that wasn’t your problem.

"look," blaise said, leaning in conspiratorially. "daphne cheated on theo -“

“- we never dated,” theodore replied flatly, as if that somehow helped his situation. “then why the fuck are we here right now?” mattheo shot back, tilting his head up to glare at theodore.

“because we were still something, and i thought she knew that,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration. blaise rolled his eyes, turning in his seat to glare at each and every one of them for cutting him off.

once the group finally shut up, he exhaled sharply and turned back to you, picking up right where he left off. “- we want revenge. and what’s the best way to make an ex lose her mind?”

"i don’t know," you said. "move on with your life?"

theodore made a noise like you had just suggested befriending a dementor. "don’t be stupid." you shot him a glare. if there was one thing a ravenclaw couldn’t stand, it was being called stupid — because that couldn’t be further from the truth. and ravenclaws know the truth — are supposed to know it.

blaise smirked at how easily you were already irritated, but then quickly reminded himself that they had to play nice if they wanted you on board with their plan. forcing a more charming smile, he said, “we want you to pretend to date theo.”

you stared at them.

then laughed. hard. "oh, that’s cute… no."

theo exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “fucking told you,” he muttered before letting out a slow breath through his nose, unfolding his crossed arms. “this is a complete disaster.”

"you’re a disaster," pansy corrected before turning back to you. "we get that this is a little out of nowhere, but think of the opportunities here. you get to hang out with us."

"that’s not the selling point you think it is."

blaise’s grin never wavered. “okay, how about this? you get to make daphne furious, and it’ll piss her off even more since theodore never made things official -“

“- if you weren’t together, then you have no right to be mad -” theodore shot you a scowl, blaise ignored you, continuing to talk. “that’s when he’ll introduce you as his girlfriend, and watching her rage will be objectively fun. plus, you get protection - no one messes with theo’s girlfriend.”

"fake girlfriend."

“so, you’d do it?”

you sighed, rubbing your temples. “definitely - fucking - not.” you could never bring yourself to do something for this group of bullies.

even sitting at the same table had you itching to get up, you had already tried slipping away, your fingers fumbling with your hair in nervous agitation. “and, besides, i’ve been talking to someone…” you continued, your voice softening. “i wouldn’t want to mess it up, especially since i’ve liked him for so long. i don’t want to ruin anything…” you trailed off,.

there was a beat of silence.

"i’m sorry, what?" parkinson screeched.

berkshire’s expression lit up with delight. “oh?” draco curled his lip, clearly irritated by the fact they had been rejected by a ravenclaw. “who?”

you crossed your arms, debating whether to answer. but then you figured, why not?

If they were going to harass you about theodore, you might as well be honest.

"george weasley."

chaos erupted.

“you’re joking.” mattheo looked like he might actually be sick. “ew…” he trailed off, and you shot him a pointed look, catching the sass in his tone.

"a weaslette?" pansy gasped, clutching her chest. "you like a weaslette?"

“weasley.”

“weaslette.”

“weasley.”

theodore spoke. "you have terrible taste."

you shrugged. "he’s funny, he’s kind, and he doesn’t barge into my library time with schemes."

blaise leaned back, shaking his head in amusement. "did not see this plot twist coming."

"you’re all being dramatic," you said. "and the answer is still no." pansy groaned. "come on. we’re offering you the role of a lifetime!"

"i don’t want the role!"

theo looked at you then, sharp, blue eyes scanning your expression like he was trying to figure you out. and then, very quietly, he said, "you really like him?"

“yeah. i do.” for a brief moment, something flickered across his face — his hope fading — and then he turned back to his friends.

"drop it."

draco blinked repeatedly. "excuse me?"

"she said no," theo muttered. "we’re done here."

pansy gaped at him. “are you seriously letting this go?” didn’t he want revenge? didn’t he want to see daphne burning with hate? "it’s a stupid plan anyway," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "find another way to piss off daphne."

you weren’t the jealous type. at least, that’s what you always told yourself. but as you stood there in the courtyard, watching george weasley lean in just a little too close to some hufflepuff girl — smiling at her in that way he smiled at you — jealousy hit you like a bludger to the gut.

it was ridiculous. just yesterday, he had his arms wrapped around your waist, kissing you — no, devouring you — and yet, here he was now, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, laughing at something she said.

the sound of it made your fingers curl into fists.

is this how nott felt when he saw daphne? did he feel that same ache? did the jealousy twist into something that hurt so fucking badly? had he been suffering like this?

nope. you weren’t doing this.

you were so, so so mad.

to think you’d been defending his sorry ass to the slytherins. fuck george. fuck him.

eagles and snakes rarely got along, but once the lion steps into the fire, the eagle and the snake have no choice but to unite and fight.

spinning on your heel, you stormed off, your pulse pounding in your ears.

before you even realized where you were headed, you found yourself marching straight into the slytherin common room — grateful that a second year girl had mumbled the house password just in time, allowing you to slip in before the portrait closed.

you walked right toward the biggest assholes in the school.

blaise, draco, mattheo, lorenzo, and pansy were sprawled across the leather couches, looking like they owned the place (they did), while theodore leaned against the fireplace, staring into the flames like some brooding poet lost in thought.

the second they saw you, blaise sat up, smirking. “to what do we owe this unexpected pleasure?”

you exhaled sharply. this meant lowering your guard. this meant keeping your stubbornness in check. this meant swallowing your pride.

“i’ll do it.”

pansy played dumb. “do what?”

“the fake thing.” you crossed your arms. “i’ll pretend to be theodore’s girlfriend.”

for a second, there was silence.

“oh my god,” pansy gasped, clutching her heart. “it finally happened.” she was absolutely certain you’d never agree. completely convinced that this whole ‘getting back at daphne’ scheme was now a forgotten idea they wouldn’t bother with anymore.

blaise spoke. “what happened to not wanting to mess up that little thing you’ve got going with weaslette?”

you glared at him. “shut up.”

berkshire snorted. “fantastic.” something obviously went wrong. it didn’t take a genius to figure out.

theo, on the other hand, looked at you with mild suspicion. he knew that look. how could he not? he’d had the same one when he’d caught daphne pressed up against a wall, some idiot practically sucking the life out of her. “you’re sure about this?”

no. this was stupid. this was reckless. this was exactly the kind of thing that would blow up in your face.

you squared your shoulders. “yes.”

pansy clapped her hands together. “perfect. but if we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”

you frowned. “what does that mean -”

“makeoverrrrr,” she announced, standing up. her robes swished with the motion, and the excited smirk that played on her pink lips made her look all the more eager.

you took a step back. “absolutely not.”

“oh, absolutely yes,” pansy countered, grabbing your wrist and dragging you toward the girls’ dormitory.

the boys exchanged glances, their interest blossoming at the mention of ‘makeover.’

they leapt to their feet, scrambling to follow the two of you, barely able to contain their amusement as they trailed behind, looking far too entertained.

once everyone had emerged into pansy’s dorm, it was clear it had the chaotic charm of a girl’s haven.

clothes were strewn across the floor, some crumpled, some tossed haphazardly over the furniture. a half open wardrobe displayed a jumble of dresses, skirts, and shiny, sequined tops begging to be worn. on the vanity, papers, makeup, and empty bottles of perfume cluttered the space, and a few framed photos of her and her friends sat crookedly among a mountain of beauty products.

the walls, covered in posters of various dark haired models, all seemed to have a shade of lavender in the lighting.

theo spoke. “is this really necessary?” for the first time, you actually found yourself agreeing with what came out of his mouth.

“shut up, nott. we’re creating a goddess.”

pansy shoved you onto a vanity stool and stood behind you, eyeing your hair with barely concealed horror.

“first things first,” she said, yanking your ponytail out with a single, ruthless tug. you winced as your hair fell over your shoulders.

pansy hummed approvingly. “that’s way better.”

you scowled at her through the mirror. “you could’ve asked nicely.”

“where’s the fun in that?”

blaise, now lounging on her bed, smirked. “i’m enjoying this already.” you wanted to roll your eyes because, of course, he was.

pansy chose to ignore him, rifling through her wardrobe before shoving a pile of clothes into your arms.

“try these on.”

you eyed them. “why do i feel like these have no fabric?” the materials in your hands felt light and flimsy, and panic slowly crept in as you imagined trying them on, only to look absolutely hideous. every time you glanced at yourself in the mirror, it was the same — you hated what you saw. you found yourself angling your body, staring at your stomach, picking apart the parts you so desperately wished you could change.

what if they thought your body wasn’t good enough? what if the clothes made you look awful? you knew you shouldn’t have eaten anything for dinner last night.

“because they don’t.”

fifteen minutes later, you had gone through at least five outfit changes, each one more questionable than the last. the first was a ridiculously short dress that barely covered anything.

you stepped out of the bathroom, arms crossed over your chest. “i feel naked.” the dress was incredibly short, and the neckline was just as revealing, offering no coverage for your chest at all.

draco smirked. “that’s the point.”

theodore had been uncharacteristically quiet, barely glanced at you before muttering, “next.”

the second outfit was a tight leather skirt and a top that required more trust in fabric than you currently possessed.

blaise let out a low whistle. “now we’re talking.”

you dryly responded. “i will strangle you.” theo, again, didn’t react. just gave another, “next.”

the third outfit was… well, you weren’t sure you could even call it an outfit. it was basically a glorified bralette and a pair of shorts that might as well have been underwear.

you stepped out, glaring. “pansy. be. fucking. serious.”

pansy sulked. “fine. we’ll dial it down.”

outfit number four was surprisingly decent — tight jeans, a fitted black top, and a green coat that made you look effortlessly cool.

draco tilted his head. “that’s… not horrible.”

blaise nodded. “it says, ‘i’m hot, i know it, and i don’t need to prove it.’”

theo finally looked at you properly, eyes scanning your outfit. all he said was, “that’ll do.”

you raised an eyebrow. “that’s the best approval i’m going to get?” you had just put on a damn show for these assholes, one outfit after another, parading around in pansy’s clothes.

theo smirked. “obviously.”

pansy clapped her hands. “alright, lesson one of fake dating 101: now that you look the part, it’s time to act the part.”

you slumped in the vanity chair. “what does that even mean?” you knew what it meant but you tried to stall them.

theodore rolled his blue eyes, already seeing right through your act. “it means you need to carry yourself like you actually belong here.”

blaise leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “no more shrinking into the background. no more avoiding eye contact. and for merlin’s sake, no more walking around like a lost library ghost.”

“i do not -“

“you do,” theo interrupted, arms crossed, fingertips ghosting over his biceps.

you narrowed your eyes at him. “well, excuse me for not strutting down the corridors like i own the fucking school.”

“that’s exactly what you need to do,” pansy said, standing up. “confidence is everything. now, let’s start with posture.”

that was the thing — you didn’t have a shred of confidence in you. you’d never had it, not when it came to anything other than studying.

pansy grabbed your shoulders and yanked them back so suddenly you nearly toppled over.

“ow - pansy!”

“straighten your back,” she ordered. “head up. chin slightly tilted, but not too much - you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard.”

mattheo dabbed in. “think of it like this: you’re not looking at people. you’re looking past them. like they’re beneath you.”

you scoffed. “that sounds like how you look at everyone.”

“exactly,” theodore replied, cutting in for mattheo. “glad we’re on the same page.” you rolled your eyes in his direction.

pansy nudged your chin up with two fingers. “perfect. now, when you walk, you don’t rush. you glide.”

lorenzo let out an exaggerated sigh, propping his chin in his palm. “this is going to take forever.”

theo, who had been watching with an unspoken expression, spoke. “stand up.”

you hesitated but obeyed, standing in front of him as he slowly rose to his feet. “alright,” he said, eyes locked onto yours. “walk toward me.”

you furrowed your brows. “that’s it?”

“that’s it.”

you started walking.

immediately, all six slytherins groaned.

“are you serious?” malfoy scoffed. “what is that? a power walk?”

“you look like you’re late for class,” blaise added.

pansy shook her head disapprovingly. “we are fixing - whatever that was.” she stood beside you. “watch and learn.”

then, with the kind of grace only pansy parkinson could pull off, she strolled forward — shoulders back, hips swaying slightly, every step measured and deliberate.

when she reached theo, she tilted her head and smiled up at him, as if he were the most fascinating person in the world. it was so natural, so effortless, that it made you feel small.

a wave of insecurity hit you like a hurricane, and for a second, you wanted to back out of the whole thing. everyone’s eyes were on you now, waiting to see if you would follow her lead.

“see?” she said, batting her lashes. “effortless.”

you crossed your arms. “yeah, well, i don’t naturally look like a goddess.”

pansy winked. “not yet.”

for the next thirty minutes, they had you pacing back and forth across the common room. every time you thought you had it down, someone would find something to correct.

draco was the first to point out that your shoulders were too stiff, while blaise let out exaggerated sighs whenever you dared to glance at the ground. pansy swatted at your arm whenever you fidgeted, and mattheo would grow more tense each time you didn’t do exactly as they asked. meanwhile, lorenzo started chatting with another slytherin nearby, totally oblivious to the chaos unfolding in front of him.

theo, however, just watched. occasionally, he’d mutter a quiet, “again,” forcing you to restart.

by the end of it, your feet ached, and your patience was running thin.

“how is walking this difficult?” you groaned, flopping onto the couch.

theodore chimed. “because you’ve been walking wrong your whole life.”

before you could throw a pillow at him, pansy clapped her hands. “now that we’ve covered walking, let’s move on to behavior.”

blaise beamed. “my favorite.”

you narrowed your eyes. “why do i feel like i’m not going to enjoy this?”

pansy ignored you and continued. “rule number one: confidence isn’t just about how you move. it’s about how you speak, too. no more snapping immediately. no more second guessing yourself.”

here she goes again with the whole ‘confidence’ thing. you wanted to remind her that every time someone disagrees with you, your first instinct is to defend yourself. it’s why you come across as feisty, snappy, and on edge.

but instead, you just bit your tongue.

mattheo leaned back. “and if someone talks to you? you make them work for your attention.”

you frowned. “that sounds exhausting.”

theodore shrugged. “it’s called being desirable.”

“or insufferable.”

“same thing.”

pansy waved a hand. “we need to work on your interactions with theo.” your stomach twisted slightly. “what do you mean?”

she smiled. “darling, if you’re going to be his girlfriend, you need to know how to act like one.”

theo sighed. “this is unnecessary.”

“it’s necessary,” pansy insisted. “what if daphne doesn’t believe any of this because the chemistry is so bad you wouldn’t even be able to convince a first year?”

silence.

yeah, that’s what she thought.

pansy turned back to you. “alright. let’s say you and theo are walking down the corridor. you see weasley. what do you do?”

you clenched your jaw. “i’ll stick my middle finger at him and yell, ‘fuck you -“

the five slytherins groaned in unison, while lorenzo turned away from the random slytherin he’d been talking to, catching the collective sigh of disbelief.

pansy rubbed her eyes. “no. that’s later. you laugh at something theo said, touch his arm, make it look effortless.”

you glanced at theo, who looked as bored as ever. “and what exactly is he saying that’s so funny?”

theodore’s bored expression flickered for a moment before morphing into a slight smirk. “nothing. that’s the point.”

you exhaled sharply. “great.”

“practice,” pansy ordered. “theo, say something. anything.”

theo arched a dark brow at you. “you walk like a baby deer.”

you blinked. “that’s supposed to make me laugh?”

draco grumbled. you are insufferable, he decided. “it’s not about the joke. it’s about the reaction.”

you rolled your eyes but tried again. forcing out a laugh, you reached out, lightly touching theo’s arm. blaise breathed out. “that was painful.” lorenzo nodded in agreement. “i think i cringed into another dimension.”

you shot them both a glare. “you try fake laughing on command.”

pansy sough dramatically. “it’s fine. we’ll work on it.” she turned to theo. “you, mr. tall, and emotionally unavailable, need to at least pretend to be interested in her.”

theo’s lips twitched. “emotionally unavailable?”

“you know i’m right.”

he shook his head but turned back to you. his sharp eyes met yours.

“okay,” he said, voice softer now, more intentional. “let’s try again. one last time.”

you swallowed.

you never really looked into people’s eyes, not really. you barely made eye contact with anyone — it felt so awkward to you, so you’d always find yourself looking around, trying to avoid it when someone tried to hold your gaze.

but you’d never seen eyes like his.

at first glance, they were just blue — bright, captivating blue. but as you stared deeper, into their beautiful depths, you saw something else.

“green,” you muttered breathlessly before you even realized it.

it was theo’s expression that changed, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “what?” he asked, the words slipping from his rosy lips.

you remembered when pansy and draco had told him his eyes were an ugly color back in the library, during that conversation where they tried to convince you to take theodore’s offer of being his fake girlfriend to make daphne jealous.

“your eyes,” you murmured softly. “there’s a ring of green around them.” by the way his expression remained unchanged, you could tell he either hadn’t heard or simply chose to ignore it.

instead, he stepped closer, just enough that you had to tilt your head to look up at him properly. “i’m going to say something, and you’re going to react. not like you’re acting. like you mean it.”

you exhaled sharply.

so, he hadn’t heard? “fine.” you were ready to leave anyway.

theodore’s eyes gleamed. then, in the same casual voice, he said -

“your laugh is terrible, sounds like a dying hyena.”

you let out a real laugh — short and surprised — and smacked his arm lightly.

“oh, fuck you, nott.”

he smirked. “see? that was convincing.”

pretending to be theodore’s girlfriend seemed easy in theory — until the stares that had once passed over you without a second thought now fixated on the two of you. hand in hand, you sat at his table, surrounded by his friends, his touch settling effortlessly at your waist.

daphne was seething, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders as she glared from the end of the table. you could feel the heat of her gaze, the subtle flare of her nose.

george, on the other hand, didn’t look at you — not once. but that was fine. it had to be. because you weren’t finished yet. you were still unraveling, still learning, still becoming.

and the group of slytherins were determined. the training stretched on for weeks — anywhere they could catch you, they did. in the common room, the library, even the great hall. pansy would stop you mid bite to correct your posture, blaise had you repeating ‘effortless’ laughter until it started to sound like a dying cat, and draco would dramatically critique your eye contact as if you were his lead actress and he was the most unsatisfied director in history. mattheo was constantly instructing you on what to say — and more importantly, what not to say. and lorenzo made it his mission to steal your bacon from your plate whenever he got the chance.

and then there was theo.

he never gave long winded critiques like the others. he didn’t smirk and throw in unnecessary jabs like blaise (kind of) or roll his eyes like draco. instead, he watched. observed. and when he spoke, it was always something sharp, something that made you think.

like now.

“you’re too self-aware.”

you looked up from your book, grateful for the brief moment of peace. the slytherins had given you a break — pansy and draco had run off to sabotage a gryffindor’s potion, blaise had found something more entertaining (likely something with luna), and mattheo and lorenzo had disappeared to the kitchens.

you thought you had escaped to the library in peace, but clearly, you were mistaken.

theo had found you anyway. he leaned against the opposite side of the table, fingers brushing over his biceps like he always does, watching you like he was solving a puzzle, like he always does.

you raised a brow. “and that’s… bad?”

“yes.” he pulled out the chair across from you, sitting down like he had nowhere else to be. “every move you make, you’re thinking about it too much. the way you laugh, the way you walk, the way you talk to me.”

you scoffed, closing your book. “well, sorry for not being naturally gifted like daphne.”

theo shook his head. “you don’t have to be daphne. you just have to look like you know you’re wanted.”

you stared at him, a sarcastic laugh escaping your lips. “right. because that’s easy.” the truth was, you didn’t know how to look like you were wanted — no one ever had, not for anything, and certainly not for you. it was easier to avoid them, to keep your distance, than to try and be something you weren’t.

“it is,” he said simply. “if you stop caring so much.”

you huffed, leaning back in your chair. “that’s rich coming from you.” his brow arched. “and what’s that supposed to mean?”

“you act like nothing fazes you,” you said, tilting your head slightly, studying him with narrowed eyes. “like you don’t care about anything. but you do, don’t you?”

of course, he did. you could see it now, even if he hid it behind that calm, indestructible facade. why else would he go through all this trouble, dragging you into this mess, playing this game with daphne? it wasn’t just about her. it was about proving something — maybe to her, maybe to himself. he wanted her to pay, to feel the weight of her own mistakes, and that made him care.

and the worst part? it made him feel weak. vulnerable. and you could tell he hated that more than anything.

you knew it. because you were experiencing the same thing.

a flicker of something crossed his face.

gone in an instant.

“this isn’t about me.”

you rolled your eyes. “it’s exactly about you,” you said, voice dripping.

theodore leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table. “try something for me.”

“that sounds dangerous.”

he ignored you. “when you walk out of this library, don’t look at the ground. don’t think about your steps. just move like you own the place.”

you jeered. “i can’t just flip a switch and suddenly be -“

theo tilted his head, his gaze dragging over you with an intensity that made your skin prickle. it was as if he was reading something beneath the surface, something you weren’t ready to share. you shifted uneasily, feeling small, like a kid again, hyper aware of every inch of your body, the parts you hated, the parts you tried to hide.

the air felt thick, so fucking—

“you’re beautiful, you know.”

silence.

your breath caught in your throat. the words came out so smoothly, so casually, like he was stating a simple fact. like of course you were.

you searched his face for any sign of teasing, but there was none. just something unknown. something quiet.

your pulse skipped.

fuck, why did it do that.

and then, because you refused to let him see how his words rattled you, you forced a smirk. “that was terrible flirting, nott.” it was perfect, though, you thought. you wanted to tell him that, wanted to admit it was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to you, believe it or not.

but you couldn’t — not when he was looking at you like that.

theodore exhaled a small laugh through his nose. “that wasn’t flirting. that was proving a point.”

of course, it wasn’t flirting — he was just testing you. why would theodore nott, easily one of the most handsome people you’d ever (and unfortunately) laid eyes on, call you beautiful?

as if someone like him, or anyone at all, would actually mean it. even the boy you once believed loved you — george — proved you wrong the moment he went behind your back.

theodore leaned back. “see? you’re thinking about it now. about yourself. the way you look. the way i see you.”

you hated that he was right. but why was he so right? why was he able to read you so easily, so effortlessly, like he knew every hidden thought before you even said it?

theodore stood, sliding his hands into his pockets. “just… try it.”

you exhaled, rolling your shoulders back. “fine. but if i trip and embarrass myself, i’m killing you.”

he smirked. “i’ll take my chances.” as he started to turn on his heels, you almost yelled, but before you could, he muttered, “if you ever need help with anything, i’m free whenever.”

with that said, he turned and walked away, leaving you sitting there — annoyed, intrigued, and just a little bit breathless.

you sat alone in the corner of the ravenclaw common room, the letter in your hands trembling slightly. the parchment felt heavier than it should, and yet you could hardly bear to look at the words printed on it. but you had to. you had to face it, even if you didn’t want to.

the letter was from your parents, and it was a disaster.

we can’t even begin to express how disappointed we are with the way you’ve been handling things at hogwarts. this is beyond the point of disappointment, actually — it’s outright failure. it’s one thing for us to hear about your so called ‘struggles,’ but it’s another thing entirely to see the results: your grades are nothing short of pathetic.

we’ve given you everything: the best tutors, the best resources, and access to opportunities most people could only dream of. yet, here you are, barely scraping by. how are you letting this happen? your teachers have reported that you’re barely passing, if even that. how many times do we have to remind you that this is your future at stake? you have no right to waste it.

your lack of effort is shameful. you used to be our pride and joy, the one who had potential. but now? we can’t even recognize the person you’ve become. you’re giving up on your own future. you’re choosing to throw it all away, and for what? you’ve shown us that all your talk about ambition and success is just - talk.

we don’t know what’s more disappointing: the fact that you can’t seem to manage the most basic of subjects or that you don’t even care. if you had any self respect, any ambition, you would have been putting in the work, not coasting by. instead, you’ve become lazy, unfocused, and frankly, unworthy of the opportunities you’ve been given.

do you realize how many people would give anything to be in your position? and yet, here you are, throwing it all away. you’re failing us. you’re failing yourself. you need to get it together, and you need to do it now.

we’re not sure how we can make it any clearer — this is unacceptable. there’s only so much we can do from here, but don’t think for a second that this will go unnoticed. get your act together. if you don’t, don’t bother coming home. we won’t be waiting for you. we expect to see better results when we hear from you next. consider this your final warning.

disappointed,

mother and father.

you were failing your classes at hogwarts. not just one or two, but most of them. potions, charms, transfiguration.

your parents were more than disappointed. they didn’t even bother to sugarcoat it this time. the harsh words cut deeper than any curse could have. - you’ve always been the clever one, the one with potential, - they wrote. - you’ve been given everything - what are you doing with it? - the pressure suffocated you.

every single one of their expectations wrapped around you like a suffocating coil. their disappointment was so real, it was all you could feel. your throat tightened, and a sting behind your eyes blurred your vision.

the tears were there, just waiting to break through. but you didn’t want to cry. you couldn’t. you weren’t allowed to.

you’re nothing but a failure. you have to keep your grades up. you have to be perfect. you weren’t allowed to disappoint them. you wouldn’t be failing if you hadn’t gotten caught up in this stupid plan.

if you weren’t so hurt by what george did, you wouldn’t have done this at all.

but the damage had been done. you’d let yourself get caught up in something that distracted you, that took you away from the one thing you were meant to focus on — your studies.

and now, every time you looked at the grades on your parchment, you saw their voices on the page. you weren’t just failing your classes — you were failing them.

when you and theodore had pretended to be a couple, you thought it would at least make george feel something, make him jealous. but he never seemed to care. the only one who had been affected was daphne — her jealousy was as obvious as the clenching of her jaw whenever you and theodore were near. and yet, that was it. it had all become nothing more than a farce.

a joke.

still, the slytherins continued their lessons: how to act, how to speak, how to dress. what to say and what not to say. they molded you into something that didn’t feel like you, and you couldn’t stop it.

the pressure was crushing, overwhelming, suffocating. every night, you stared at your homework, knowing you should be doing something — anything — but you just couldn’t bring yourself to start.

you slapped a mental ‘later’ on it, telling yourself you’d get to it soon, but soon never came.

by the time you finally mustered enough energy to focus, your eyelids were already too heavy, weighed down by exhaustion, leaving you to drift into a sleep with the work still undone.

you weren’t supposed to be a part of some stupid drama filled plan. you were supposed to be the one who passed your classes, the one who made your parents proud, who got things right for once.

instead, you were drowning in expectations that weren’t your own, and the worst part was — you didn’t know how to get out.

here you were - failing.

the sobs came before you could stop them. you crumpled the letter in your hands, pressing it to your chest as if the parchment itself could hold you together. it didn’t. the tears spilled freely now, hot and unrelenting, rushing down your cheeks as everything inside you cracked.

you were alone. you always had been. never had siblings. never had anyone to lean on. no one to share your struggles with.

hogwarts was supposed to be your escape, a place where you could make your own mark, but all it had brought was failure and loneliness.

then, like a faint whisper in the chaos of your thoughts, you remembered theodore’s words.

‘if you ever need help with anything, i’m free whenever.’

you had never really let anyone in. you didn’t know how to. you didn’t know how to trust, how to reach out to someone when everything inside of you screamed to stay closed off. but right then, in that moment, everything felt too heavy, too overwhelming.

you didn’t care anymore. you needed someone. you couldn’t be this broken by yourself.

your legs carried you before your mind could catch up, moving on their own.

you barely registered the walk from the ravenclaw common room to the slytherin common room, your mouth mumbling the password the slytherins had given you in week three.

you were there in an instant — standing outside theodore nott’s door. theodore nott’s fucking door, the door of the arrogant slytherin who tossed anyone aside without a second thought unless they showed him respect, a cruel boy.

the thought made you want to turn on your heel and leave right then and there, but your heart pounded in your chest, the frantic thumps reverberating in your ears, urging you to stay, to face whatever this was.

you hadn’t even thought about what you were going to say. how could you? you didn’t know how to explain the chaos in your mind, how to put into words the suffocating weight of expectations, the crushing loneliness.

you knocked softly, almost hesitantly.

three minutes went by before the door opened, and there he was. theodore, looking every bit the usual detached, cold version of himself. but something flickered in his eyes when he saw you.

a question. a hint of concern. without a word, he stepped aside, allowing you to enter.

the room was empty, and you didn’t bother asking where the others were. you didn’t really care, though a part of you felt a strange relief that it was just the two of you.

when he spoke, his voice remained steady, but his eyes searched yours, as if trying to piece you together in real time. the usual sharp edge in his tone was absent — replaced by something almost… soft? “what’s wrong?”

you couldn’t say it. not with words.

instead, you let the sobs come again, louder this time. it wasn’t pretty. you didn’t care. you couldn’t control it anymore.

his hands were at your shoulders in an instant, his touch tentative but comforting. but you pushed him away, too much of a mess to be near anyone.

it’s so fucking strange — one minute, you crave someone’s presence, desperate to stop being alone, and then, when it’s actually there, you push it away.

“i don’t - don’t know how to do this, theo,” you managed to choke out between gasps. “i can’t - i’m failing. i’m not good enough. my parents -” you cut yourself off, too afraid to say the rest. too afraid to admit that you’d always been nothing more than a disappointment to them.

theodore didn’t speak for a moment, his gaze softening as he watched you crumble. he didn’t say anything at first. instead, he just watched you, as if giving you the space to fall apart.

he took both of your hands, guiding you to the edge of his bed to sit and collect yourself. when he finally spoke, his voice was soft, carrying such an uncharacteristic rawness that caught you off guard.

“you’re not the only one who feels like that,” he said softly. “i get it. the pressure… from your parents, from everyone around you. it’s… a lot.” his eyes flickered, a brief moment of vulnerability passing through you both. “you’re not alone in this, you know.”

you didn’t know why, but hearing that — hearing him say that — made something inside you crack open a little more.

he wasn’t perfect. you knew that. but maybe, just maybe, he understood.

“my father,” theodore continued, voice lower now, as if sharing a secret he’d buried for too long. “he always told me i wasn’t enough. that i’d never be good enough. that i was too much like my mother. and when i couldn’t live up to his expectations… he would shut me out. he’d… pretend i didn’t exist.” his eyes met yours, and you could see the pain in them, the hidden scars from years of being told he was worthless. “it’s not easy… feeling like you’re nothing more than a disappointment.”

you swallowed hard, your throat aching as his words wrapped around you like a quiet understanding. he wasn’t offering you pity.

“i’m not going to say it gets better, because it fucking doesn’t. but that doesn’t mean you have to be alone.” he was offering you something else — something rare.

he was offering you the truth.

he understood. he knew exactly what you were going through. you weren’t alone anymore. for the first time, you weren’t alone, and it felt so, so good.

both your eyes were still locked on each other, silent, the only sound being the slow exhale theodore let out through his nose.

“golden,” he said suddenly.

your brows furrowed, confusion spreading across your face. “what?” the words slipped out before you could fully process them.

“your eyes,” he continued, his blue eyes — with a hint of green — looking directly into yours. “there’s gold in them.”

it was the same thing you had said to him weeks ago in the common room, assuming he hadn’t heard — assuming it hadn’t mattered enough to linger in his memory.

he was so close now, so so so close that you could feel his breath mingling with yours. just one more move, and your lips would be touching.

up close, he was even more breathtaking — sharp cheekbones, a bottom lip just a bit fuller than the top, a faint flush warming his skin. and those eyes — unfairly beautiful, impossibly enchanting.

he was deep in thought — you could tell by the way his lips parted, as if he were on the verge of speaking.

a thought came to his fogged up mind: had he ever mentioned that gold had always been his favorite color?

he had inched closer, your lips barely grazing — just a breath away, but not quite touching. when he didn’t pull away, you inched closer, closing the gap between you.

your eyes fluttered shut as your parted lips met his, your bottom lip resting between both of his. his nose brushed lightly against your cheek at the angle.

his lips were slightly chapped, but god, he kissed like no one else.

the warmth of his mouth against yours sent a shiver through you, slow and soft at first, as if testing the waters. when he deepened the kiss, hands cupping your face, thumb gently brushing along your cheek — it felt like everything around you had paused, just for that moment.

he pulled away briefly, pecking the corners of your mouth before coming back once more to the center.

his hands were then on your waist, pulling you closer, his touch burning against your skin as if he, too, needed someone. someone to anchor him, someone to remind him that he wasn’t the only one suffering.

you shifted slightly, lifting your hips and swinging your legs gracefully on either side of his waist.

your movements were slow, conscious, as you straddled him at the edge of his bed, feeling the warmth of his body underneath you. the closeness was overwhelming, and for a moment, you paused, your breath mingling with his as you tried to steady yourself.

you start by grinding against him slowly, your hips moving in a circular motion that makes him groan deeply.

he can feel his arousal growing, pressing against you through the thin fabric of his pyjama pants.

his hands slide up your sides, caressing your curves before returning to your hips, encouraging your movements. your teeth sink lightly into his bottom lip as you continue torturing him with your rhythm, alternating between slow teases and quick grinds.

“fuck.” he lets out a strained whimper, his clothe hips bucking slightly beneath you. you can feel how hard he is getting, how much he wants this.

you kept moving against him, both of you still fully clothed, the friction sending shivers down your spine. one hand tangled in the back of his neck, fingers pressing into his skin, while the other gripped his shoulder for balance.

your hips rolled, chasing the intoxicating pressure, and your lips parted as quiet, breathy sounds of satisfaction spilled from your pretty mouth.

theodore effortlessly lifted you off the bed, your legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried you across the room.

with a firm grip of your thighs, he set you down on his desk — the very one he used for homework and late night reading — now repurposed for something entirely different.

your back of your thighs met the chilled wood of his desk, a harsh difference to the warmth of his body pressed in between your thighs. his hands, firm yet obedient, traced their way beneath the fabric of your shirt, pushing it upward with slow thinking, gathering the material just above your chest.

at the sight of no bra, theodore felt his breath catch, his body reacting instinctively.

his lips followed a path of their own, trailing down the column of your throat, lingering at the sensitive dip of your collarbone. each kiss was unhurried, as if he was memorizing you — mapping out every sharp inhale, every shiver, every place his touch set you alight.

and when he finally leaned back, just enough to look at you, his breath heavy against your skin, there was something in the way his eyes roamed — the kind of gaze that made you feel utterly seen, utterly wanted.

is this what it meant to be wanted? to be desired, claimed in a way that left no room for doubt? if so, you were sure you could carry it with you — this feeling, this newfound assurance — walking with the kind of effortless confidence the slytherins held in awe.

because now you knew. now you understood what it meant to be wanted. theodore dipped his head down, his gaze never wavering, locking onto yours with a passion that made your breath hitch.

his lips parted as he took your right breast into his mouth, the heat of his tongue sending a tickling sensation down your spine.

his other hand found your left breast, fingers teasing the hardened nipple — rolling, pinching, tugging just enough to make you arch off the desk, your chest pressing further into his mouth as he hollowed his cheeks, sucking firmly, his tongue flicking over the sensitive bud.

one hand rested at the nape of his neck, fingers lazily threading through his hair, tugging ever so slightly as if grounding yourself in the moment. your other hand clutched the edge of the desk, knuckles paling with the pressure, desperate for something to hold onto.

a quiet whimper slipped past your lips, but he didn’t stop, didn’t ease up — not until his lips finally released you with a soft, wet pop.

without pause, he moved to the other, his mouth just as eager, just as worshipping, like he wanted to memorize every inch of you, like he was starved and you were something he’d been deprived of for far too long.

he looks up at you again, his eyes filled with lust as he switches back and forth between your breasts, his hands and mouth working in team.

he can feel you arching your back further, trying to push more of your flesh into his hands and mouth.

a soft, breathy “mm…” slipped from your parted lips, the sound delicate yet intoxicating. the slow, whiny moans sent a dizzying rush straight to theodore’s already fuzzy head, making his pulse quicken.

he wanted to hear more — needed more. so, with a flicker of curiosity and desire, he decided to try something new.

he pressed himself closer, his hands gripping the backs of your thighs as he spread your legs wider, claiming more space between them. your legs tightened instinctively around his waist, locking him in place.

with a slow touch, his palms skimmed up your torso, cupping your breasts and pushing them together, molding them beneath his fingers as he admired the way they framed against his hold.

his left hand abandoned your creamy skin, bringing his palm up to his mouth, wetting it with his warm saliva.

he releases one of your full breasts, only to push them back together, creating a valley between them. he begins to glide his moist palm slowly up and down your cleavage, creating soft, wet sounds.

he maintains eye contact, watching your reactions - the involuntary shivers, the quickening breaths.

you don’t know why, but you don’t mind the eye contact. normally, it would make you shrink away, but now, it feels like you’re drawn into the depth of his gaze, unable to look away as he toys with you.

“ohh.” breathy whimpers spill from your lips, filling the dorm as theodore quickens the motion of his saliva-slicked palm, gliding over your breast and occasionally rolling his thumb over the sensitive peak.

he watches, entranced, as your nipples grow taut and swollen from the unwavering friction, droplets of his spit clinging to your delicate skin like tiny diamonds.

theodore leans in closely, breathing cool air over your heated nipples, causing them to react with a sharp squeeze.

but then, a wave of overwhelming emotion surged within you — this wasn’t real. this couldn’t possibly be real. he liked daphne, and you liked george.

you had come here thinking it would just be talking — but how could you not want to feel theodore when he looked so godly, so fucking good?

still, that didn’t mean he had to see your body. you hadn’t known theodore as long as you’d known george, and even then, with george, it never went beyond kissing — it never felt right.

but right now? right now, you felt so heated, so dizzy with it.

your parents had just told you to focus, had just screamed through letters for you to do better.

so why were you here?

confusion gnawed at you. why did his mouth resonate with such beauty, making your heart ache with every sound? and how could he look so delicious, cheeks flushed with a delicate rose, lips slightly chapped yet so irresistibly inviting?

it all mashed down on you, suffocating, like a storm you couldn’t outrun.

the closeness, the sudden shift from everything you’d known, the vulnerability that had slipped out — it was too much.

you couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think clearly.

with trembling hands, you pushed away, your heart hammering in your chest, thoughts tumbling over each other like a chaotic wave. “i’m sorry,” you breathed, the words barely escaping your lips, not sure if you were apologizing to him or to yourself. “- i can’t do this.”

it was as if a blanket had been lifted, the haze in your mind dissipating with each blink. clearness crept in, sharp and unrelenting. you swallowed hard.

before theodore could react, you yanked your shirt that had bunched up at your collarbone back down, pushed him away, spun on your heel, and walked out, the door clicking shut behind you.

theodore didn’t shout a protest, nor did he chase after you. instead, he stood there, trying to catch his own breath, his chest rising and falling in a constant rhythm.

you didn’t know where you were thinking. you didn’t know what you were doing. all you knew was that everything felt too much to handle, and you couldn’t stay there with him — not with your head in a mush.

[sadnymi]

「 ✦ How Would The Slytherin boys React After you tell them you’re pregnant:✦ 」

[Mattheo Riddle-Theodore Nott-Lorenzo Berkshire-Draco Malfy-Tom Riddle]

•Mattheo Riddle

1.Silence: You blurt out the news, a nervous flutter in your chest. Mattheo stares at you, processing the information. Don't panic! This is his initial shock absorbing mode.

2. More Silence: You try again. Still, silence. Don't take it personally; his mind is racing a million miles a minute.

3. The Disappearance Act: By evening, Mattheo might be MIA. Don't fret! This is probably him needing some space to grapple with the news. (Don't chase him to Knockturn Alley, though.)

4. Awkward Return: When he finally returns, you launch into a "what-are-we-going-to-do" speech. But wait! He cuts you off...

5. "Hey, it's okay” : Mattheo might surprise you with a calm demeanor. This doesn't mean he isn't nervous, but he's trying to reassure you (and maybe himself).

6. "I want it too." : Prepare for a confession! Mattheo, the king of nonchalance, might admit he wants this, with you. This might be followed by an apology for his earlier silence."Sorry, I was just shocked earlier. Shouldn't have reacted that way."

7. Confusion Reigns: "You're not mad?" you finally manage to ask, a sliver of doubt lingering.He might confess he's clueless about the whole "No," he says, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "It's just... I never thought about this stuff. Family, kids, the whole shebang. But if I'm gonna do it, I want it to be with you."  _Cue the tiny butterflies in your stomach._

8. "But with you.":He might clarify that while the whole baby thing is new, having it with you? That's something he can do.

9. Protectiveness Unleashed: Expect a shift in Mattheo. He might become fiercely protective of you and the little one on the way. (Just don't tell him it's "nesting" if he starts building a barricade around your house.),Mattheo will hover over you, insisting you take prenatal vitamins and threatening to glare down any stranger who bumps into you. It's annoyingly sweet.

10.The (Slight) Freak Out (Because It's Mattheo): Don't get too comfortable yet. There will be moments of panic. Mattheo might blurt out something about not knowing the first thing about raising a kid, or how motorbikes suddenly seem like a terrible idea. Just remind him that you're in this together, crazy as it may be.

•Theodore Nott

1. Reality Check?: Theo might blurt out, "Are you sure?" It's not doubt about your love, but the sheer unexpectedness of it all. Breathe, and calmly confirm with that positive blood test result.

2. Freak-Out Time: Picture a cartoon character with smoke billowing from their ears. That might be Theo, internally freaking out. Don't worry, it's normal (though maybe not that dramatic).

3. Parental Apocalypse?: "Your dad will kill me!" Theo might shriek, envisioning a future father-in-law wielding a shotgun.

4. Waterworks Warning: Tears might well up in your eyes, a mix of emotions swirling. He will put everything beside and try to comfort you.

5. Protective Streak: Expect a dramatic shift. Theo, the notorious rule-breaker, might turn into a fierce protector, ready to shield you from any and all perceived threats.

6. Reassurance Renaissance: He'll rush to your side, muttering reassurances like "Hey, I'm here" and "I'll be here every step of the way." "I might be freaking out internally, but I'm not going anywhere."

7. "We" is the New Word: The "me" might temporarily disappear, replaced by a constant "we." He might start talking about "our baby" and "what we need to do.".

8. Fear is a Two-Way Street: Theo might confess he's scared too. Don't be surprised; fatherhood is a big leap for anyone. Reassure him you're in this together.

9. Facing the Future, Together: Theo might not be known for responsibility, but this news could be a turning point. He might surprise you with his determination to navigate this journey with you.

10.A (Slightly Chaotic) New Chapter: Yes, there will be challenges. But with Theo by your side, even the most chaotic moments of pregnancy and parenthood can turn into an unforgettable adventure (well, maybe not all the diaper changes).

•Lorenzo Berkshire

1. Record Scratch Moment: "Excuse me, what?" Lorenzo might look like a record player with a skipped track. Don't worry, the information overload will clear soon.

2. Baby Talk Confusion: He might blurt out, "Pregnant? Like...with a baby, like a real baby ?"

5. The F-Bomb Symphony: Brace yourself for a chorus of "Oh fuck!" Lorenzo might panic a bit, but hey, at least he acknowledges the reality.

6. Apology Avalanche: Prepare for a barrage of "I'm so sorry for putting a baby on you." It's not guilt-tripping, just Lorenzo's awkward way of expressing concern.

7. Decision Time: He might cut through the tension with a simple, "Okay, what do we do?" Don't be fooled by his bluntness; he's ready to face this together. He might surprise you with a genuine, "I want it. Do you?" Expect a hint of nervousness, but mostly a determination to be a part of this.

8. Family Gathering Fiasco: Prepare for a potential meltdown when it comes to telling your families. He might blurt out, "I'm pregnant!" before you can correct him. Just take a deep breath and handle the announcement yourself later.

9. Overprotective Overload: Expect Lorenzo to morph into your personal bubble wrap. Lifting a box? Forget it. Climbing stairs? Hold on, he's got you. You might need to remind him you're not made of glass .

10. Google Goes Dad Mode: One night, you might catch him researching "how to take care of a pregnant woman" , “ How to be a good dad “ on his phone. Aww, just don’t cry you will freak him out again.

•Draco Malfy

1. Denial is a River in Egypt:  His first response? "You're lying." Don't panic. This is classic Draco, clinging to disbelief. Prepare to show him the pregnancy test, the blood test… anything to pierce his denial bubble.

2."Look Away, Not At It!": He might stubbornly refuse to even glance at the evidence. Don't take it personally; it's his defense mechanism malfunctioning.

3. Accusatory Tirade: Brace yourself for a verbal explosion. He might accuse you of lying, of trapping him, of using his family name. Remember, fear often masquerades as anger in Draco's world.

4. Protection Spells on His Pants?: He might insist he used every protection under the sun. Don't get into a magical contraception debate. Just try to explain accidents happen.

5. The Ejector Seat Option: Draco might bluntly tell you to leave. It's a knee-jerk reaction, not a reflection of his true feelings (hopefully!).

6. Standing Your Ground: Here comes the hard part. You tell him you're keeping the baby, with or without him. This might be the first crack in his emotional armor.

7. A Continent Away From Chaos: Fearing his reaction and the uncertainty of it all, you flee to another country. Girl, we feel you! But remember, you're not alone in this.

8. A Connection You Can't Deny: Despite the fear, you feel a powerful bond with the tiny life growing inside you. This little one deserves a chance, and you vow to protect them.

9. The Redemption Knocks: Two months later, a frantic pounding on your door jolts you awake. You open it to find a desperate Draco, his face etched with worry.

10. A Malfoy Regret-Fest: He confesses he searched everywhere for you, regret gnawing at him. When he learns you fled, the dam breaks. He apologizes profusely, begging you to tell him you kept the baby.

A Second Chance, Malfoy Style:

Relief washes over you as you nod, tears welling up. He wipes them away, muttering, "It's still ours. I'm so sorry. I'll never hurt you or our baby again." A genuine plea hangs in his voice.

“ Do you still love me?“ A shaky nod escapes your lips. He pleads for forgiveness, for a chance to be part of this family he never knew he craved.

This might be the start of a rocky but redemptive journey for both of you. Draco, beneath his icy exterior, might surprise you with his capacity for love and growth. Just remember, keep a communication charm handy – navigating fatherhood with Draco will likely be an… interesting adventure.

•Tom Riddle

1. The Stoic Facade: Don't be surprised if Tom remains eerily calm. His usual mask of control might slip not an inch, leaving you wondering what's going on behind those eyes.

2. Tears: A flood of emotions might be coursing through you, but Tom? His reaction might be a chilling calmness. This doesn't mean he's unfeeling, just that he processes things differently.

3. Misinterpreting Your Distress: Seeing you cry, Tom might jump to a chilling conclusion. "Is having a baby with me that terrifying?" Here comes the part where you clarify.

4. Guilt by Association: A quick "No, no!" will hopefully ease his worry. But then you blurt out your fear – you're both too young.

5. Age is Irrelevant: Tom operates on a different timeline. Age is just a number, and power? That's the real currency. He might say, "It's not about age, it's about power."

6. Power Trip for Three?: Brace yourself for a Tom Riddle monologue about the immense power your child could possess. He might see it as an extension of his own ambitions, a prodigy groomed for greatness.Don't be afraid to voice your anxieties. When you say, "Tom, I don't want my baby to be part of your plans," he might actually listen.

6. A Promise, Riddle-Style: “I promise you, I will keep them safe. I will keep you safe." But remember, Tom's definition of "safe" might not align with yours. Stay frosty.

7. Your Fears Take Center Stage: Tears welling up again? This might be the moment it dawns on Tom that you're not thrilled about the power angle. He might try to reassure you, but...

8. Promises with a Price: Tom doesn't give anything without expecting something in return. Be prepared for him to outline his expectations for your role in his grand plan.

9. A Tug-of-War for the Future: This is where things get interesting. Do you submit to his vision, or do you fight for a different future for your child? The choice is yours.

10. A Dance with Darkness: Having a child with Tom Riddle is a gamble. He might be a captivating presence, but remember, his path is paved with darkness. Are you willing to walk it with him?

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

[itgirldraco]

do you have any fic recs?

yes!! so many!! please check the tags for each!

all time favorites:

way down we go: an absolute classic. werewolf harry, chronically ill utterly miserable draco, post-war in small town america. enemies to lovers slowburn with protective harry and hopelessly gay draco.

in hopes that you may drown: SO much of my art is based on this author's harry and draco. such a lovely fic. post-war, draco raising delphi and absolutely perfecting the stressed yoga mom vibe. harry is instantly smitten.

in our blood: about haunted houses, parenthood and growing to care for each other. I love this one.

you'll still find stone: arranged marriage. draco expects the worst and harry is an absolute sweetheart. angst but so heartwarming. (mind the tags!!)

ANYTHING by corvetteclaire! their blood link and in the mirror series are severely underrated and genuinely took my breath away. some of my favorite writing and plots.

inside grey eyes: so so beautiful. quite dark and yet exceptionally hopeful. all about draco's recovery from a nightmare situation and harry's unending support. (mind the tags!!)

anything by tessa crowley!! an absolute gem in the fandom with an impressive variety of works.

the mirror of ecidyrue series: perfection.

in your arms, rests my world: “You make me feel safe, Potter. You keep me safe.” yeah..yeah. (mind the tags!!)

anything by toxik_angel tbh..one of my favorites is infairitance even though it’s incomplete; fairy draco is a game changer

oxytocin: angst, angst, angst, and so much cuddling. slowburn in the best way possible.

Soup-pocalypse and The Great Curry Cataclysm: i read this some time ago but i remember adoring it.

Diffraction Patterns (I Don't Know How to Forget You): another incredible old read .

everything by beloved @rockingrobin69 !! this is one my favorites ever i never stop thinking about it

fluff/humor:

manlet: PLEASE read this one! so so cute and adorable and hilarious ft sweet giant harry and tiny angry draco and wickedly funny narcissa. will definitely open your eyes to small draco.

screw you: extremely funny and extremely hot.

like a star across my sky: SUCH a good fic! feels like a romcom.

title of their sex tape: as funny as it sounds.

flirt: really sweet. disaster flirty draco and awkward yet charmed harry.

married to a brute (ongoing): genius and hilarious

smut:

it beats me black and blue: absolute perfection. no notes.

let me roll it: so delicious. clueless mess draco and grumpy harry who hates everyone except draco.

his little something: size difference excellence

scenes of surrender: a combination of smut, love, recovery and caretaking

a perfect fit: hung harry and size queen draco

come up for air: veela draco

fawning for you: harry is completely obsessed with draco's videos. very cute, muggle setting.

burning the ground: creature fic

ongoing/other faves:

one elephant at a time (ongoing): i recommend this fic to EVERYONE. genuinely incredible. think yellow wallpaper, jane eyre, crush by richard siken, and the author mentions being inspired by my dark vanessa as well. so essentially a modern romance with a dark gothic backstory. every single sentence in this fic stands out to me. every characterization, every conversation, is just so honest and genuine. also!! draco has a cat called lady di!! and he loves to wear earrings! (mind the tags!!)

within the hollow crown: more of pre-drarry tbh. such an interesting plot!! harry grudgingly cares for an increasingly spiraling draco who is except under close and constant watch by the dark lord-every second of his sixth year. currently has an ongoing sequel.

imperfection (ongoing): another fic by robin! and another of my all time favorites, so so lovingly written and so tragic and lovely and heartbreaking. really digs into draco's psych and his manic mindset and constant spiral BUT there is light at the end of the tunnel and so much love surrounding him even though it's hard for him to see it. (mind the tags!!)

saviour series (ongoing): wouldn't necessarily call this drarry? more of a stockholm syndrome gothic novel type of fic but i recommend it all the same. the writing is truly extraordinary and the pacing is incredible. will leave you breathless. part one is complete. (mind the tags!!)

perspective series (ongoing): the original books with alpha harry, omega draco in gryffindor, and an adorable friendship dynamic between the golden trio and draco. really sweet, and super interesting. no romance as of yet but there are little moments.

tales of the potters: very interesting take on the arranged marriage trope! i recommend all of this author's works; they have a gorgeous way with words and their work really brings harry and draco to life.

the veiled boy (ongoing): one of the most intriguing recent fics i've read. really delves into character dynamics in such a realistic and refreshing way and draco is so endearing in it. every chapter has gorgeous illustrations.

never in extremity: reread this one recently. equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming. (mind the tags!!)

[iamgonnagetyouback]

HEYYY LOVEIEE i got sumn in the trope corners its best friend to lovers with Mattheo riddle im sucker for this trope with him even though its not that common

YOU LIKE ME? I LIKE YOU.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ㅤㅤ●ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ M. RIDDLE

SUMMARY ৎ୭ ever since you met mattheo, you've sworn he was the most oblivious idiot alive. but when nearly headless nick’s deathday party brings jealousy, stolen glances, and one too many lingering touches, you start to wonder—maybe you’re just as clueless as he is

WARNINGS ಇ. jealousy, mutual pining, idiots in love, a bit of angst, lots of fluff, brief insecurity, and mattheo being absolutely insufferable but in a lovable way

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ᡣ𐭩 words.ᐟ 1,259

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ౨ৎㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

The Great Hall was transformed into something otherworldly, the usual golden glow replaced by dim candlelight flickering amidst the mist that curled around your feet. It was Nearly Headless Nick's annual Deathday Party, and the place looked eerily beautiful in a way only Hogwarts could pull off. A perfect fit for an autumn evening, where the crispness of the air mixed with the smell of burning wood from distant fires.

You shifted uncomfortably in your long, emerald green robe, fidgeting with the Slytherin crest on your sleeve, glancing over at Mattheo Riddle, your best friend since first year. His hair was tousled like he’d just stepped off a broomstick, eyes flickering with his usual mischief, but there was something different about him tonight. Maybe it was the way the soft lighting brought out the sharp angles of his jaw or the way his dark eyes seemed to find yours in the crowd every other second.

It was probably nothing, right? You'd been telling yourself that for months, ignoring the warmth that filled your chest whenever he smiled at you. It had to be nothing, because that was Mattheo—your Mattheo, your best friend.

"Oi, Y/N, you okay? You look like you're about to pass out," Theo's voice snapped you out of your thoughts, as he sidled up next to you with Pansy, Blaise, and Draco. Mattheo was a bit farther off, talking with a group of seventh-year girls you didn’t recognize.

You swallowed, trying to ignore the slight twinge of jealousy creeping up your throat. "I'm fine, just… tired." You smiled weakly, but your gaze involuntarily flicked to Mattheo again. His head tipped back in laughter, the sound lost in the murmurs of the ghostly party, but it hit you right in the gut.

Pansy narrowed her eyes at you. “Tired, huh? You’ve been staring at Riddle for the past five minutes, love. What’s really going on?”

You nearly choked on your pumpkin juice. "I—I haven’t been staring," you stammered, but Pansy raised an eyebrow, an all-knowing smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. The others, thankfully, were too busy gossiping about something Blaise had said to notice your flustered state.

Pansy leaned in closer, her voice low. "You know, denial looks awful on you."

You opened your mouth to protest, but her words struck something deep inside. You couldn’t deny that lately, things between you and Mattheo had felt… different. Every touch, every glance seemed to linger just a little too long. But he was your best friend. You couldn’t risk losing that.

Still, a part of you wondered—was he feeling it too? Or were you just seeing things that weren’t there?

"Pans…" you began, hesitating for a second before finally asking, "How did you know you loved Luna?"

Pansy's eyes softened at the mention of her girlfriend, and she smiled fondly. "It was… gradual. Like one day, I woke up and the thought of her just made sense. All the teasing, the butterflies, the little moments—they all came together. It was terrifying, but once I admitted it to myself, it was like the pieces clicked into place. Why do you ask?"

Your heart pounded in your chest as her words sank in. Maybe it was more obvious than you wanted to admit, but you were still afraid—afraid of what it might mean, afraid of what you might lose.

Pansy didn’t push, but she squeezed your hand reassuringly before turning to join the conversation Blaise and Theo were having about the latest Quidditch match. You were left with your thoughts—and the sight of Mattheo getting just a bit too close to that seventh-year girl.

Jealousy flared up in your chest, and you couldn’t stop the frown from pulling at your lips. Why did it bother you so much? He was allowed to talk to whoever he wanted, right? But something in you twisted, bitter and sharp, at the way she leaned in, her hand lightly brushing his arm.

You stormed away, deciding to head toward the refreshment table for some air—or at least as much air as you could get in a room filled with ghosts. You were halfway there when a hand gently grabbed your wrist, pulling you to a stop.

"Hey, what’s wrong?" Mattheo's voice was soft, concerned, and way too close for comfort. He had followed you.

You turned, trying to hide your frustration. "Nothing's wrong, Mattheo. Why would anything be wrong?"

He gave you a look that told you he didn’t buy it for a second. "You looked like you were about to murder someone. Come on, Y/N, talk to me."

You bit your lip, feeling your resolve start to crack under his gaze. This was Mattheo. He always knew when something was off. But this wasn’t something you could just blurt out. How were you supposed to explain to him that watching him flirt with someone else was breaking your heart?

"You looked like you were having fun with… her," you muttered, immediately regretting it. You weren’t supposed to care. You weren’t supposed to be jealous.

Mattheo blinked, caught off guard for a moment, before a slow grin spread across his face. "Wait. Are you jealous?"

Your cheeks flamed, and you yanked your wrist out of his grasp. "I’m not jealous! I just… I—" You couldn’t find the words, too flustered and embarrassed to form a coherent sentence.

But Mattheo was still grinning, stepping closer to you, eyes gleaming in that way that made your heart race. "You are jealous," he teased, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. "Why?"

You wanted to scream. He was so infuriating and so clueless, and yet… Merlin, you loved him.

Before you could stop yourself, you blurted out, "Because I hate seeing you with other girls, okay?"

Mattheo's grin faded, replaced by a look of surprise and confusion. "Y/N…"

You shook your head, cutting him off. "I don't know when it happened, okay? But it did. I like you, Mattheo. And it’s been driving me mad because I thought—well, I don’t know what I thought. But seeing you with someone else… it hurts."

The silence that followed felt suffocating. Your heart was pounding, your hands shaking, and you were already mentally preparing yourself for the worst.

But then, after what felt like an eternity, Mattheo finally spoke, his voice soft but steady. "You idiot."

You blinked, taken aback. "What?"

Mattheo shook his head, a small laugh escaping him as he reached out, cupping your cheek in his hand. "I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you for months. I’m crazy about you, Y/N. I just didn’t want to mess things up between us."

Your heart skipped a beat, and you stared at him, completely stunned. "You… you like me too?"

He grinned again, the warmth in his eyes melting the last of your doubts. "More than you know."

Before you could say anything else, he leaned in, his lips brushing yours in the softest, sweetest kiss. It felt like the world had tilted, like everything had clicked into place, just like Pansy had said. The jealousy, the confusion—it all melted away, leaving only the two of you, finally together.

When you finally pulled away, breathless and smiling, Mattheo rested his forehead against yours. "So, does this mean I don’t have to flirt with seventh-year girls to get your attention anymore?"

You rolled your eyes, laughing softly. "If you ever do that again, I’ll hex you."

He chuckled, pulling you closer, his arms wrapping around you as the autumn air swirled around you both. "Deal."

©iamgonnagetyouback౨ৎ please refrain from copying, translating, or reposting any of my work

[andillneverbethesame]

CASUAL

❥ draco malfoy x reader

❥ warnings; oral sex, implied vaginal sex, not reread — may contain gramatical mistakes

❥ word count; 2,3k

❥ a/n; ik i should be prob writing your ts requests but i've been listening to casual by chappel roan sm lately and got idea for this fic sorry for the second smut not being written. i realized how much i don't like writing it.

you and your dear friend daphne greengrass were seated in the slytherin's common room sofa, doing your potion's homework on the last minute.

"ugh, does snape hate us? this is an awful homework!" daphne complained with her head in her hands.

"i agree," you spoke. "this is taking forever. and i gotta meet draco in-" you checked your watch "-fifteen minutes."

daphne sighed, making you glance at her with a raised eyebrow.

"got a problem, greengrass?"

she stared at you, contemplaining on what she should say. "i think you're a loser that you're still hanging around and let him treat you like that."

daphne didn't like draco before this thing between you two even started, none of your friends did. but they hate him even more, knowing he's wiping the floor with you.

"you don't know how sweet he actually is," you tried to convince her. and a bit yourself, too.

"it's a facade."

in that moment, you could see from the corner of your eye two girls walking past you and eyeing you up and down.

"do you think it's serious between her and malfoy?" asked one the other.

"nah. nott said malfoy told him she's just a girl he bangs on his couch." answered the other.

you froze. this was so humiliating. you could only hope that those were just rumours and draco never said anything like that to theodore. you could ask nott, but you doubt he would tell you if he really heard him say that. him and draco were the best of friends.

you met daphne's look that clearly said, "i told you so."

"oh, fuck off!" you packed your things and left the common room.

draco said to meet him in the library, so that's where you were heading. on your way there, you tried your best to ignore the looks and the whispers of other people. it was a date night, after all. you were determined not to let your mood be ruind by silly things like that.

the library was quiet as always. you always thought draco asked to meet you there because it's such a calm, romantic place. plus, both you and draco loved reading so you'd spent your date time like that. however, daphne suggested a few weeks ago that the reason draco wanted to meet in the library, was the fact that there weren't much people in the evening hours, so no one would see you there. you could only hope that that wasn't the case.

you found him at his usual spot in the right back corner of the library.

but he was not alone.

he was seated at the table while pansy parkinson was sitting on the table with her legs crossed. you could see her fingers slightly lifting up her skirt, revealing her underwear. and the worst thing was: draco was looking. and by the way he smirked and licked his lips, he liked it.

rage filled your entire body but you decided to play it cool. you put on a smile and made your way over to them.

"hey, pansy," you said, still smiling brightly. "didn't expect to see you here. haven't you got a better thing to do than flirting with other girl's man?"

she rolled her eyes and got off the table. she send draco a wink and blew him a kiss before leaving.

you huffed and took a seat opposite to draco. he continued on reading his book, but as if he could feel the daggers you've been sending through his head, he lifted his gaze.

"what?" he asked, acting clueless.

"care to explain why it looked like if i didn't walk in you two would be shagging each other's brains out?"

"we wouldn't." you swore you could see his eyes crinkling. what a fucking liar. "why do you care anyway? are you jealous?"

"yeah, i am!" you admitted. "we are together. you have me. so why do you still cave other's girl attention so badly?"

he snorted. "we're not together."

you froze, feeling humiliated once again. this was so embarassing you wished you had the ability to melt into the ground. but you didn't. all you could do was stare at him for a few seconds before letting a faint "oh" leave your lips. you couldn't help it. tears started to form in the corners of your eyes.

draco saw that. "i'm sorry, baby. i told you no attachment." his arm reached over the table and placed it over yours.

"i know. you're right. i'm sorry," you apologized although you had nothing to apologize for.

draco stood up from his seat and kneeled in front of you. "it's okay, i forgive you. you're someone i couldn't lose." and then, his hands went to the sides of your face and his lips to yours. although, you were deep down still feeling angry. the feeling of his kiss made it vanish.

------------------------------------------------

"oh merlin!"

you were in draco's limousine, your legs were over the boy's shoulders and his head was between your thighs. you gripped his blonde hair. he was truly a master at this. his tongue worked perfectly on you, eating you out as if he was starved and as if he never tasted anything better.

you were sure his fingers would leave a mark from the tight hold on your outer thighs. but you didn't mind. it would be there to remind you of the best head of your life.

his tongue flicked over your clit, sending waves of pleasure through your body each time he touched that one spot that caused you to see heaven. your eyes were rolled to the back of your head as your nails dugged into the skin of his shoulders. you were close to the edge despite it being only five minutes.

your glassy eyes watched him. it was truly a wonderful sight that could alone make you come. and then, his icy blue eyes met yours. and that was all you needed to fall apart under his touch.

when you finally collected yourself and draco wiped his mouth with a napkin he pulled from the back pocket of his pants, you two sat in silence with your head on his shoulder and his arm around your body. this was one of the moments you refused to believe that draco believed it was casual. him kissing the top of your head, his fingers intertwined with yours, him smiling when you drew a heart on the limousine's foggy window-

"would you like to meet my mother?"

-him asking you to meet his mother-

wait. what?

your eyes went wide as you pulled away from his embrace. "what?"

he shrugged. "my mum wants to meet you."

you raised an eyebrow and smiled. "you told your mum about me?" that was surprising. i mean, sure, you told your mum about him too, but that was different. this meant everything to you while it meant very little to nothing to draco.

"no," he shook his head and your smile dropped. "i'd bet all my money it was zabini or nott."

"oh, right. well, if you'd like me to, i'd like to meet your mum."

"great," he nodded. "i think you'd like her. i'm not so sure about my dad but. . ." he didn't finish his sentence and you didn't ask kim, knbowing how the relationship between him and lucius was.

you were about to meet his parents. was it still casual?

---------------------------------------------

you gasped at the sight of the malfoy manor. it was twice bigger than you expected. the gate opened and you two walked in to the property.

"how rich are you?" you asked him, still gaping.

"enough to never have to work for the rest of my life," he replied with a smirk.

"hm, i'd like that."

and then, your mind began on creating fantasies again. you were dumb. but you loved it. you dreamt of you and draco in a year, after you two graduate. you dreamt of living together and it didn't have to be in a manor large like this one. it could be in a room at three broomsticks. it didn't matter as long as you two were together. and then, maybe you two would be something. and he'd show you off to everyone.

you blushed at the thought. these fantasies are fatal.

draco opened the large door to the manor and you two walked in. for some reason, it was a bit colder than the outside air but you could imagine yourself spending time there.

"mother?" draco called out but there was no response. but then, an elf walked into the hallway and the boy asked him, "dobby, where are mother and father?"

"t-they are out, mr malfoy. they are taking care of some business," he replied, his voice shaking.

draco nodded, looking as if he knew what business the elf was talking about. he turned to you and said, "let's go. we'll wait in my room."

he took a hold of your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours, making fireworks explode inside of you.

his room was quite small compared to the other rooms in the manor, but it was very cozy anyway. he had the dark walls covered with posters of his favourite quidditch team and also with pictures. you took your time walking around and exploring. there were countless of photographs with him and his friends, two or three with his mother (zero with his father) and one with. . .

you.

it was a photo of you two on one of slytherin's party, before you started hooking up, you were sitting on the common's room sofa with your arm around him and his hand on your knee. you already fancied him at this point. the look in your eyes as you gazed at him couldn't be missed.

you really did love him.

you turned around, still smiling. you found him sitting on his bed so you took the advantage and began to straddle him. his head hit the matress as his hands gripped your hips. your fingers found its way to his colar, untying his tie.

"what do you say to a little fun before dinner?"

-----

"draco!" female voice echoes through the manor. "we're home! you can come downstairs!"

you two spent the last fifteen minutes in his bed, in silence.

"well, we definitely can't come down looking like this." you both were still naked, not bothering to put on your clothes just yet. your hair were a mess and your lipstick was smudged from the endless making out.

you got up to find your clothes since they were scattered everywhere across the floor.

"have you seen my bra?" you asked draco after you found your panties. you saw him holding it, expecting to give it to you. but instead of that, he send you a wink, turned around and put it in one of his drawer.

a light laugh slip passed your lips. "you dick. that's my favourite one!"

"well," he shrugge, "it's mine now, sorry."

you rolled your eyes and slipped on your maroon dress. this one was a gift from draco for your birthday.

right after that, you grabbed your clutch and walked into the bathroom to fix your appearance.

"a question," you called out to draco.

"yeah?"

"what did you say to your mum?"

"what do you mean?"

"well," you paused to put on your lipstick. "what did you tell her about us and our relationship status?"

he leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms on his chest. "what would i tell her? i didn't tell her anything."

"oh. . . then what. . . are we?"

you heard him sigh. "y/n, why do you expect another answer? we're casual. i told you that at least a hundred times."

casual.

a perfect evening ruined by one fucking word.

you were so done with this.

"casual?" you repeated, turning around to face him. "i'm about to meet your fucking parents, draco. what the fuck do you mean that we're casual? do i mean nothing more to you than an occasional shag? why, draco, why?"

"i told you, i'm not ready for a relationship," he tried to reason.

"not ready for a relationship? you like ten girlfriends before me, how can you be not ready? at least tell the truth and say you don't want to be with me."

"oh merlin." he exhaled. "you know that's not true. why are you so bitter about it?"

"i'm meeting your parents," you repeated for the second time. "you take me out on dates, you buy me an expensive dress, you even talked about a future with me in it once but then you say it's casual and you wonder why i'm bitter?"

"but i told you countless times we're not together-"

"draco!" his mother's voice called again.

"we'll be there in a minute!" he yelled. his voice sounded a bit harsher than he intented it to be. "i tell you we're not together all the time and you always say it's fine. but i can tell it's obviously not. so why are you still hanging around?"

you nodded. "you know what? you're right. i tried hard to be the calm girl that holds her tongue and gives you space, but honestly? i'm not. and i'm exhausted of pretending to be in case you change your mind one day and tell me you wanna be with me." you began to pack your things.

"wait. don't." you stopped, hoping he'll say the right things. but the next words were a dissapointment. "what do i tell my parents?"

you shrugged. "say what you tell to your friends. it's casual. so there's really no point in meeting them." you walked past him with a sweet fake smile and before he could say anything, you were out of sight.

[eleadore]

yk how harry immediately attaches himself to people who need him - ron who was poor and clueless, hermione who had no friends etc - and then you have draco who not only doesn’t need him but possesses so many things that harry doesn’t have - surety of self, a sense of belonging, parents lol - and i think that repels harry as much as draco being draco bc so much of harrys self worth is tied up in being useful

so one of the most compelling things about the ship is when harry realizes draco does need him, starting in 6th yr and then culminating in the room of req, and that changing how he views their relationship… and even MORE compelling is if draco rejects this premise 🙂 and insists he didn’t NEED harry(s friendship) actually, that was an act of charity and he didn’t NEED harry to save his life, the plan was to burn to a crisp all along, bc by then harry can see past the pride to the wobbly little boy in him too

[bunny-1111]

Falling behind - Theodore Nott

Based on the lyrics of "Falling Behind" by Laufey, where the reader feels like everyone's in a relationship. Too blind to notice that Theodore's been waiting for her all along.

Word count: 0.8k, fluff

...

"Don't you just love this weather" Pansy smiled beside you,

You shake your head, arms crossed, grumpy, it was going to become everyone's problem

"Come on, smell how fresh it is today!" she continues, shaking you gently

"Yeah, all I can smell is a sickly romance in the air" you groan, head tilting back

"Oh, come on, it's nice" she tries to persuade

"You because you have Blaise, alright? Look at how happy you are; look at how alone I am." you huff

She laughs at you. "You're not alone."

"Oh yeah, look around, Pans, Lovers stroll without a care in sight, I care alone, about everything", you complain.

"You're so clueless," she smiles, looking back at the rest of your Slytherin boys. Her eyes observe Theodore, and his eyes watch you.

"Whatever" you mutter, looking behind, eyes falling onto Theo

"he's perfect" you sigh

"how many times do I have to tell you for you to belive me, he likes you too" she insists

"Please Pans, he just nice, thats all" you say looking back to the ground

"Theodore Nott, nice, yeah not to most" she almost laugh

Trailing not too far walked Theo, Blaise and Draco

"Just ask her out already. I'm sick of listening to you talk about it, Nott!" demanded Draco

"Yeah, ask her out, Dray will bring Astoria, I'll bring Pansy, and you bring her", suggested Blaise

"Don't you idiots think I haven't tried? The girls' more oblivious than fucken Flilch during night shift," he sighed.

He takes matters into his own hands, picks a flower, jogs up and offers it out to you

"For you" he smiles

"Thanks, Theo" you accept, smelling the freshly plucked rose, skipping to catch up to Pansy

Pansy looks back at a now-stationed Theodore. She mouths, 'good effort,' he just nods his head. He'll try again tomorrow.

...

"Hey, did you hear we need a date for this Christmas ball thing" you panic

"Yeah, so?" Matteo replies

"So?!, this is horrible news, absolutely abhorrent", you continue

"And why's that?" he continues, unamused

"Not everyone is like you, Matteo, ok! Look at you falling in love with Tracey Davis. Good for you! You don't need to stress about who you'll take," you rant. "Gitt", you finish under your breath

"Should I ask her now?" Theodore asks Lorenzo

"Better time than ever, look at her go" he gestures to you, hands flying around the air as you rant to Matteo

Theodore's eyebrows scrunched together. He was becoming more helpless by the minute. He was beginning to lose count of how many times you had accidentally rejected him.

"look at how passionate she is, Enz, I want her so bad" Theodore admires from the couch behind you

"No one wants me!" you exclaim as if you had almost heard Theo

"Come on now." comforts Matteo, gesturing for you to turn around and face Theodore

When you did turn, your face was met with a worried-looking Theo and a smiling Enzo.

"Look at your faces. You're teasing me" You begin walking out

"Everybody's falling in love, and I'm falling behind!" you scream out, storming out the large common room doors, heading to your dorm

Unbeknownst to you, a deprived Theodore is left standing, hands thrown in the air, in defeat

"Enough now, go fucking get her", Matteo says, not looking up

Theodore shakes his head and begins to follow you, catching up to your door and knocking gently two times to alert you.

When you open the door, he is taken aback

"You're crying, why are you crying," he says quickly

You wipe your running nose and let him in, "I'm not, just coming down with a cold, I think", you try

"Bullshit, you can tell me what's wrong, alright" he smiles, inching closer.

"I'm just frustrated, that's all. They're frustrated tears," you explain quietly

He sits you both on your bed, neither of you saying anything but your eyes and his, looking into each other. The eyes say a thousand words.

"I-" you begin

"When will you get it?" he interrupts

"get what?" you ask

"I have feelings for you, alright, and you're so blindsided you can't come to your senses ad realise." you quickly spills out

"Oh.' you breath out

"yeah, oh." he follows, face frowning

"Why do you look so upset at it?" you question

"Come on, look at your reaction. You've turned me down enough times without even trying, OK? That's it, now I'm frustrated," he says

"Who said I don't have feelings for you, too," you say

"What?" he says, looking up. "Do you?"

You cup his face, softly kissing his lips

You both laugh, pulling off each other

"So why didn't you tell me" he laughs

"Why didn't you?" you reply

"I did, So many times, I tried to show you!!" he smiles

"Well, it worked in the end, Nott." you smile back, leaning in for another kiss

[iservewangxian]

draco fell first but harry fell harder trope is just... chef's kiss.

harry being so clueless about being obsessed with draco his whole life that when he finally realizes, he just can't stand the idea of spending even a second apart because he's afraid draco will disappear and then he won't be able to demonstrate years of accumulated devotion.