All speech is from the song "Ciao" by Lush, except for the parts about their parents.
Written 5th March 2008.
“I never thought that I could feel as great as I do today,” Blaise snarled at Theo. “You were nothing but a big mistake. I’ve been so happy since I walked away.” The two of them were facing each other out in the grounds of Hogwarts, attracting a crowd. It was obvious something was going on between them, and it was obvious it was big – anyone could feel the tension surrounding the two fifth-years.
People shuffled and pushed as the circle grew bigger, and Theo spotted a flash of blond hair in the corner of his eye. Draco. He turned his head ever-so-slightly to catch the look on his friend’s face. It was the same as usual – bored – but with a hint of disapproval. Theo mentally shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and turned back to Blaise, whose lips were twisted in an ugly sneer. Theo’s heart did that stupid flippy thing it always did when he met Blaise’s beautiful green eyes. But Blaise’s words hurt, and it made Theo angry. Theo wanted to make Blaise feel his pain, his hurt, and so he grasped the only weapon he truly knew how to wield – words.
“I must’ve been crazy to have stayed with you,” Theo retorted, shaking his head, his voice shaking only a little. He ignored the jeers and calls around them; he only focused on Blaise, and Blaise focused on him. They were in the little bubble they were always in when the two of them were near each other. Nothing else mattered. “I can’t believe I thought I was in love with you.” Theo spat out the word as though it was poison marring his tongue. “But now I can really see you, the person you are, and I say ‘go to hell’, Blaise… Because that’s where you took me.” He stared at Blaise, and Theo felt his words bitter on his tongue, felt the lies threatening to constrict his throat.
“I never noticed before,” replied Blaise immediately, seemingly unfazed by the sentences that had hurt Theo so much to say, “but you always cramped my style. I’ve felt so much better since I slammed that door. It’s been like a non-stop party since I flew the coop – gods, I can’t believe I fell for such a loser like you. Fucking Theo, woe is me, oh my father is so horrible and cruel, pity me, pity me.” Blaise rolled his eyes. “Fun times.”
“Well, it’s no wonder I was always so blue,” Theo blazed back angrily, eyes flashing. Leave it up to Blaise to bring his family into this. “You know, when I was having to put up with you. Oh, Mother, oh my perfect, wonderful, never-killed-anyone-oh-no-definitely-not Mother, help me, help me, I can’t think for myself and you only have to look at me disapprovingly for me to feel guilty.” He rolled his eyes back at Blaise sarcastically, hands unconsciously clenching into fists.
Blaise was obviously stunned. He stared at Theo for a few seconds without speaking, then suddenly gained control of his features again, composing them and laughing coldly. His voice shook a bit, though from anger or something else Theo couldn’t tell. “Oh, here we go again, just lay the fucking blame on me. Don’t say anything word Theo, because sweetheart, you’re history.”
The words felt like they were cutting up Theo’s heart into little pieces. He harnessed the self-pity and sadness into anger though, feeling as though it would fare him better at the moment. Bodies and noise surged around him. He felt his claustrophobia kicking. “I met this guy, Blaise,” lied Theo angrily, ignoring his feelings, “and he’s so good to me. Beautiful, fantastic. Now I realise what love is. He’s fifty times the person you’ll ever be.” Someone catcalled and the crowd laughed as one. Theo rocked on his heels a little, only hearing the white noise in his head.
Blaise laughed too, the sound short and bitter. “Good luck, do you think I care? Since you left, the offers have been everywhere. I have a million guys just lining up for me. I’ve turned a corner, Theo, my life is ecstasy.” He grinned widely, sardonically, and Theo felt his hands itching to wrap them around Blaise’s throat – he wanted to kill him, or kiss him, and Theo didn’t know what to do. Someone, again, catcalled, and Blaise smiled smugly as if to say ‘See, Theo? I’m wanted… unlike you.’
“You were nothing but a waste of space,” Theo retorted, “I’ve been in heaven since you walked away. Life’s wonderful now that I’m over you--”
And then all of a sudden Blaise and Theo were lunging at each other, hands grasping for promise. Angry words were forgotten; wild thoughts of causing physical harm reigned now. The crowd cheered and raised their voices, begging for more, as Theo saw Blaise’s lip split and start to gush red, just as Blaise’s fist connected with Theo’s temple and Theo saw black.
***
“Where’s Nott?” demanded Pansy, one hand on her hip, the other flicking her hair away from her face. Her voice was as irritating as ever and Draco wished she would just leave him alone. He was tired and didn’t want to go Nott-hunting today, especially for wounded-and-probably-angry Nott. Plus, this article in the Prophet was riveting – apparently Harry wore boxers with little Snitches stitched on them. How cute. He hadn’t seen those ones… yet. The Firebolt ones, yes, but not Snitches…
“I don’t know,” he replied in a bored tone, not even looking up from his magazine. Draco turned the page – ooh, a picture! - and hoped Pansy would get the message. Go away. “Hospital Wing?”
“No. He got released a while ago. He was only knocked out for, like, thirty seconds,” said Pansy slowly, as though everyone in the world knew this. Draco half-expected her to go ‘duuuh’.
“I think he and that Zabini are studying in the library,” Goyle interrupted, running a hand over his bristled head. “Yeah. I saw them go off together. I think they made up or something. Dunno. They were acting a bit weird though.”
At that, Draco looked up, slightly startled, and Pansy met his gaze. A grin exploded across her face and she laughed once before pulling Draco up. All of a sudden he had a cunning, slightly scary look adorning his features; a look that said ‘Oh, this is gonna be good!’ The two of them sprinted out of the common room.
Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other in confusion. Crabbe was the first to move (albeit a bit slowly) – he shrugged. “Dunno. Pass another Chocolate Frog.”
~REVerse