Nott Your Girl

Rumors

"What, no Warrington?" I shoved Theo out of the doorway, dropping my share of pillows and blankets on Draco's bed. His outraged 'hey!' was barely audible through the pile, and I I swung back around to face my brother with a smirk.

"I'm not stupid," I scoffed. "I'm not bringing him anywhere near you lot. I can scare him away on my own just fine, thanks." A snort sounded from behind me and flicked Draco off without looking.

"From what I hear, baby sister," Theo drawled, moving back toward the sheet he'd been hanging to make the projection screen, "you're having the opposite problem. What exactly did you do to that poor boy last week to have him falling all over himself already? Do we have more in common than I thought?" He flashed me a rakish grin and I snatched a pillow off Draco's bed to launch at his stupid face.

"It was our FIRST date," I growled. Draco fell off the bed trying to disentangle himself from the mess I'd made of it. I reached down a hand to help him, biting back a smile and earning a mock scowl in response.

"Must have been some first date," Blaise's voice drifted out of the bathroom before he appeared in the doorway, leaning casually against the doorjamb with his arms crossed and a smirk on his lips. "From what I hear, you almost made Theo an uncle against the door to Ravenclaw Tower." My mouth dropped in outrage, and Theo spun around to laugh maniacally at me.

"You trollop!" he cackled, now pointing at me for added effect. I spun around and snatched more pillows as Draco quickly backed up with wide eyes, his hands raised defensively.

"I did not," I growled, chucking a pillow at Theo for emphasis, "shag," another pillow, "Cassius," one more, "after one," pillow, "date." The last pillow flew at Blaise who wasn't expecting it after the volley I'd thrown at Theo, and I smirked as I landed squarely in his smug face.

"Awfully defensive, there," Draco drawled, and my mouth dropped as I spun to face him. He was picking invisible pieces of lint from his black t-shirt, a carefully neutral expression in place. My eyes narrowed and his lips twitched. Traitor.

"I don't know where you heard that," I called out for Blaise, still glaring at Draco as he lost the fight with his smile. "But it was just a kiss."

"Give yourself some credit," a new voice chimed in, "that was a proper snog. Roaming hands and all." Ginny strolled casually through the door, arms full of snacks and the rest of our friends behind her. Their faces all held varying degrees of amusement, not a single one looking like they were going to come to my defense.

"I hate all of you," I muttered, giving up the fight and dropping onto Draco's bed with a pout. A green Slytherin jumper appeared out of the corner of my eye, and I glanced up to see Draco holding it out with a patiently amused smile.

"Stop whining and put this on," he ordered. I crossed my arms, ignoring the siren call of a warm oversized hoodie, and gave him a taunting grin.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't want Pansy to find out." His smile dropped as he narrowed his eyes at me, a muscle twitching in the side of his jaw, and he tossed it in my lap.

"Put it on," he repeated, firmer this time. "You're a blanket hog when you're cold." He turned away from me without another word, but I saw the edge of his cheek lift in a smile. My own curling up in response, I stopped pretending to debate and pulled it quickly over my head. I was immediately surrounded by spearmint and green apples, and I took a moment to just breathe it in and feel my entire body relax reflexively. Home.

When my eyes opened they landed unerringly on pale blue across the room, the soft smile on his lips bringing an embarrassed flush to my cheeks. Merlin, Alex, I silently chastised myself, could you look like more of a headcase? I stood to help open the rest of the snacks while Theo got the movie ready, trying to keep myself busy so I wouldn't do something embarrassing like sniff Draco's hoodie some more. Cassius, I reminded myself. You're dating Cassius. You're moving on. I shot him a quick glance over my shoulder, arguing with my brother about the movie choice for the evening. He wants Pansy, not you. Let it go.

The clink of butterbeer bottles being opened drew me out of my inner lecture, and I grabbed a few from Harry while he opened the rest. Once the drinks were passed around and the snacks had all been set out, I glanced around the room to find a spot. Everyone was setting up their spots on the floor as usual, and I shot a quick glance at Draco passing out the last of the popcorn before taking my own spot between Ginny and Hermione. Neither girl said anything, but Hermione's sad smile said enough. If I was going to move on and actually try this thing with Cass, I had to let go of any lingering hope for Draco. That meant no cuddling, no whispering in the dark, no affection at all outside of a normal coed friendship. Which was really going to suck.

I could feel eyes on me as Theo dimmed the lights, and I held out for less than three minutes before finally shooting a glance in his direction. There was a crease between his brows, lips turned down in a frown as he sat alone on his bed with his arms crossed over his chest. He raised a single brow at me in question when our eyes met, his face softening slightly as he lifted the corner of his blanket in invitation. My mouth went dry, and I forced out a slow breath. You're moving on. Right. With a small smile and a shake of my head, I gestured for him to sit on the floor with the rest of us. His frown deepened and he dropped the blanket, shaking his head once, and I turned back to the movie with an uncomfortable tightness in my chest. 

Two hands reached for mine on either side, and I squeezed them gratefully. Moving on. I could do this.