Chapter Four:
( hogsmeade date )

▂✫⌒*･ﾟ

SPENCER WONDERED TO HERSELF what Hermione meant when she told her that Harry was planning something that she could not tell anyone. Apparently, only limited people will be informed of it and lucky for her, Ricky also knew that they were suppose to meet up together for Hogsmeade. Unfortunately, Theodore was not someone who knew about it and it hurt to say that Hermione clearly told her not to tell him. Theodore was their friend too, but she could not help think about why the infamous golden trio would not want him to know. She hoped it was not because of some Slytherin prejudice. At the remembrance of her friend, her eyes widen in alert.

"What are we gonna tell Theo?" Spencer gasps quietly, giving her friend a questioning look. Ricky furrows his brows in confusion before shrugging.

"I can easily lie to him, but you? Spencer, you cannot lie to people you consider friends," Ricky calls her out. Spencer was bad at expressing her feelings and while she instead told them that she was 'fine', it was her way of pretending (although she was still lying). There was a huge difference in her mind at least since when she lied her voice grew a tad higher and she would nervously stare at the person straight ahead so they wouldn't know (but people close to her knew about that). Which is why she groaned loudly and tried thinking about what she can do. Her eyes looked around the room until she thought about Hermione's words. A few students knew about it and she was kind enough to tell her the ones that she invited.

"What if I go on a date!" Spencer brings up with a raised eyebrow. Ricky stares at her oddly as if he was not sure if he heard right. The idea was crazy, but it would give a reason to Theodore why he cannot go with them. Though, the date would have to be someone who is going to the secret meeting in order for it to work out. She narrows her eyes and glances around the Great Hall to find someone that Hermione mentioned. Her eyes fell to the Hufflepuff table and she slammed her hand onto the table to gain her friend's attention. He raises an eyebrow, urging her to say what was on her mind. "I'll be right back, Ricky."

Right away, Spencer stood up and marched toward the Hufflepuff table. She smiled at the boys surrounding the poor victim and then paid attention. Zacharias Smith blinked in surprised and he motioned for his friends to move elsewhere. The Ravenclaw smirked in response and placed her chin on her hands.

"Would you mind going on a date with me, Smith? During Hosmeade, of course. We can hang after the... you-know-what," Spencer questions, her eyes silently putting themself to use as a technique. See, the Montague family had a gift of being graced with an innocent look on her face. Morgana truthfully took advantage of it when in reality she was a cold-hearted bitch. However, Spencer never really used it unless she thought of it useful. Like now.

The Hufflepuff quickly nodded in shock, his eyes slightly widened in disbelief before he tried playing it off as cool. "Yeah, sure," he answers with a squeaky voice. He cleared his throat and gain a tougher posture as he nodded surely.

In triumph, the young girl grinned and went back to sit with her friend. Ricky had his two brows raised. "That works too, I guess," he comments, snorting slightly at the end. Before they could continue their conversation, their Slytherin friends places himself beside Spencer and stares at them questioningly.

"What works too?" He asks, taking a bite out of a fruit.

Spencer hummed lightly and shrugged. "Well, I was thinking if next Hogsmeade you would like to come with Ricky and I?" Although they would not be able to go together on Saturday, the young girl did want to go with the two of them.

Theodore made a face. "I don't like going after the first time I went... but why next Hogsmeade either way?"

Ricky grinned at the story his friend just made up. "She's going on a date," he snitches for her, his eyes glistening in mischief as he watches the girl's blood raise up to her cheeks. Theodore raises his two brows in surprise.

"With who?" He could not help but ask in absurd. It was not the fact that she had a date since the girl was rather pretty, but it was more that he wanted to know who would have the privilege to do so. Spencer has became his first friend and he did care about her even though he's not sure what the word exactly means. The Ravenclaw boy motioned to the Hufflepuff table where a certain someone was announcing the date in wondrous.

Spencer grimaced slightly, already regretting her choice in character. Perhaps she should have chosen Neville, but he was awfully too sweet and awkward for the both of them. Theodore scrunched up his nose in disgust, but did not speak against it. He accepted the answer and then turned to the boy.

"Me? I'm gonna hang with the golden trio," Ricky answers clearly. It was an obvious lie, but he would make sure to stay with the three kids afterwards. Hopefully, they'll accept him. Theodore scrunched up his brows in confusion.

"With the what?" He repeats loudly. Noticing how Ricky continued to look at the Gryffindor table, he seemed to realized what he meant. "Ah, your crush on Potter. Smart," he points out with an impressed nod.

Spencer frowns as she remembered his words. "Think about going next time, yeah?" She questions innocently, her brows scrunched up together.

The Slytherin softened his expressions at her look and nods in agreement. Before they could continue into another conversation, the usual owls come flying toward the two boys. Theodore catches his swiftly and waves the owl off which makes Spencer only assume that it comes from his father (based off his facial expressions since the Slytherin does not talk about him). It was interesting comparing her two friends. While Ricky received a loving letter from his family (although they were muggles they made themselves get use to receiving mails by owl), Theodore never once made a face of appreciation and instead of disgust. On the other hand, Spencer never received any letters from her relatives, especially her parents. She only scowled in annoyance when every single week an owl would reach her sister just as it now did. The only times they actually arrived toward her was when she was getting in trouble for 'not listening to her sister'.

That was perfectly fine.

Ricky sent her a worried glance as he noticed her stab the chicken piece with her fork. Instead of acknowledging it, she bitterly ate the food and minded her own business. And just like always, Morgana looks up from where she's sitting and raises up the letter, mockingly waving it at her while blowing a kiss. Spencer believed that one of those days, her eyes will never see the day again by how much she rolls them. She groans to herself as she brings her forehead to Theodore's shoulder in order to hide her face. The Slytherin slightly stiffened before he calmed down and turned toward his friend.

"What's wrong?" Theodore questions, but he was not sure to look at Ricky or Spencer. Knowing his friend was not going to answer, Ricky sighed and glared hotly at the Slytherin table.

"Morgana always boasts about receiving mail knowing that Spencer does not get one," he explains to the Slytherin shortly. Theodore narrowed his eyes at the words and scoffed, patting the girl beside him comfortingly.

Ricky furrows his brows confusingly as he stared off to the Slytherin table. Spencer noticed his look and rose an eyebrow in curiosity. Her friend shook his head although the confusion still lingered. "Why is Zabini staring?"

Spencer felt the urge to turn around, but instead forced herself to stare back at her friend. She had a feeling the reason why was because of her embarrassing breakdown she had two weeks ago. Since then, the Ravenclaw escaped the detentions and slowly let her scarred hand heal. The words were still clearly there, but she did her best trying to not stare at it to let it poison her mind. Zabini probably thought she needed help— which perhaps that would be best, but if she admitted it then that would mean something was actually going on with her. Something that could make her friends pity her.

"That's odd... is he staring at you?" Theodore seems slightly surprise and suspicious. The Slytherin went to glare at his fellow housemate if it were not for the fact that Spencer touched his arm and gave him a look.

"He's probably barely realizing that I'm Morgana's sister," she makes up, shrugging her shoulders. As expected, her voice pitched up which made Ricky glance at her in her obvious lie. Instead of commenting anything about it, he gives her a look, but does not say anything. She knew that was not why Zabini was staring at her. Well, not most of it at least. He obviously knew she was siblings with the oldest Montague. Spencer sighs internally and leans her head back as she prepares herself for what was to come on Saturday.

.･:*:･ﾟ'✫,'✫'ﾟ･:*:･˙

SPENCER FOUND HERSELF REGRETTING asking Zacharias Smith on a date. Perhaps she had been off the day she had asked, because the moment he found her, the smile that was on her face vanished. Ricky had gone to find the three Gryffindors and possibly explain the slightest why she was not with him. Ultimately, this was all on her. The Ravenclaw could not help it want to groan at her stupidity. Usually, she would take her time to process on her ideas and this one seemed to be one of the worsts. Unlike when she first asked him out on a date, Smith held a smirk on his face.

"We don't have to go to the secret meeting or whatever," Smith announces, his eyes swept across the area and landed on the Three Broomsticks. Spencer forced herself not to roll her eyes as she pursed her lips into a tight smile.

"No, I want to go," she disagrees, marching forward to where Hog's Head was located at. What would be the point of her not going when it was the reason she even is on this date? She was going to stick around him at the end either way. The two of them walked by Zonko's where surprisingly she would rather be in than next to her date. He was too busy talking about himself that in no point did she even have a chance. She was starting to question if he even knew her name in the first place. Already she knew a lot about him which was unnecessary.

The Ravenclaw scrunched up her nose in disgust. A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture upon it of a wild boar's severed head leaking blood onto the white cloth around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they approached. Hog's Head was completely and undeniably different than the Three Broomsticks. The usual crowded place turned out to be much classier and cleaner. It was pleasing to be inside unlike this dusty old place.

"Is it safe to even be here?" Smith coughed out, rubbing his nose on his arm. For once, Spencer agreed with him. A relieved sigh escaped her mouth as she noticed her best friend standing beside Harry. The place was crowded with students (possible for the first time) and the two of them went to join them. Immediately, she practically ran to be beside Ricky. Her friend chuckled at her tactics before giving a polite nod toward her date. Smith narrowed his eyes and placed himself next to the girl, offering only a short nod.

One of the Weasley twins (Spencer only assumes it was Fred by the way his hair was done), handed out the possible poisoned butterbeers around and the Ravenclaw mumbles out a small thanks in appreciation. The redhead boy winked in response. Spencer did not interact with the twins often, but she respected them. Their pranks were hilarious most of the time and they had some sort of truce between them when it came to Morgana. Smith cleared his throat and glares at the twins before sending Spencer a smirk. The Ravenclaw scrunched up her nose at what he did and turned away from him.

"Well— er— hi," Hermione stammers out, her voice higher than usual presumably because of nerves. Everyone else silenced completely as their eyes went toward the boy who lived before staring at the brightest Gryffindor. Occasionally, most of them would stare back at Harry. "Well, you know why you're here—"

Spencer did not, but go off.

"Er... Harry had an idea— I mean I did..." Hermione continued to stutter throughout what could be considered a speech. Spencer tilts her head in surprise as she noticed the Gryffindor male throw his friend a sharp look. Suddenly, as if remembering why they were there in the first place, Hermione cleared her throat and her voice considerably grew stronger and confident as she continued, "I had an idea that it might be good if people who really wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts— not the rubbish that Professor Umbridge has been doing."

A familiar housemate of hers, Anthony Goldstein lifts up his own butterbeer and gives his support to Hermione's words. The Gryffindor girl heartened at the compliment before deciding to continue, "I thought it would be good if we took matters into our own hands."

At the announcement, Spencer straighten her position and leaned forward in interest. A chance to disobey the most hated professor and actually getting to practice spells? That sounded a whole lot better; Hermione truthfully was an amazing witch. When Michael Corner— Spencer has come to learn that he was dating the only Weasley girl— spoke up about OWLs, Hermione defensively had answered that she did want to pass, but that "Lord Voldemort's back" which caused a slight uproar.

The boy beside her undeniably scoffed in ignorance but did not speak up. Spencer could not help but roll her eyes at the student's reactions. One Ravenclaw girl dumped the butterbeer in herself while others looked fearful. Some of them still did not seem to believe the words and instead held a stoned face. Ricky and her shared a familiar look before turning their attention back to the Gryffindors in charge. Hermione let out a shaky chuckle (Spencer was quite proud in the fact that the girl used Voldemort's name) and continued talking.

"If you want to join us, we need to decide where—"

Before Hermione could finish, Spencer's date interrupts the girl from talking as he questions rather aggressively, "Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?"

Spencer does not stop herself from placing her hand on her face in utter disappointment and tiredness. Ricky soothes her back comfortingly, already feeling the distaste radiating off his friend. "You want proof that the Dark Lord is back? What— do you expect him to leave you a message or was Cedric's death not enough for you?"

"Aren't Ravenclaws suppose to be the first asking for proof?" Zacharias scoffs out, his eyes glaring right at his own date. Now see, that was an example of how the houses do not define you. Clearly, not all Hufflepuffs were the sweetest kids, sometimes they had males like Zacharias Smith that simply did not belong anywhere. And for the Ravenclaw comment— not every student were to be smart. Many of them were open-minded or creative, showing a distinct area in where they are able to succeed which explains why most of them don't tend to do absolutely amazing on their grades.

Harry, the amazing friend he is, decides to intervene like he always does. "Leave her alone, mate," the Gryffindor warns at the Hufflepuff, sending him a quick glare. Spencer smiles in appreciation. "Now, what makes me say that Voldemort is back?"

The boy who lived stares right at Spencer's sorry of a date and claims, "I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you didn't believe me. I am not going to waste an afternoon trying to convince someone." The whole group seemed to hold onto their breaths (except for the bright ones that is) as Harry spoke up. Spencer glances at the barman who occasionally stared back at them.

Dismissively, Zacharias continues, "Dumbledore never told us the details. I think we would all like to know—"

Spencer groans in exhaustion at the boy's idiotic comments. The rest of the group glance at her warily and quietened down as she said, "Smith, I don't think Harry is here to give us the details about Cedric's death. Do you know how rude that sounds? You talk about it like if he was not your housemate or a friend to any of us here. Now, please, shut it or the date is off."

Harry nods his head in agreement before backtracking a moment, his face slightly scrunching in concern for his Ravenclaw friend. Knowing that was not important, Harry waved it off and ended it with, "if that's all you're here for, you might as well clear out."

None of them, not even Zacharias who immediately fell silence at the threat the girl gave him, stood up from their seats. Hermione awkwardly glance around them before speaking up once more, "Like I was saying... if you want to learn some defense, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're gonna meet, and where we're going to—"

"Is it true," interrupted Susan Bones with her long plait down her back, "that you can produce a Patronus?"

At the new information, Spencer widens her eyes and looks enthusiastic about the fact. There was a murmur of interest around the group because of it. Harry nodded his head shortly but he seemed slightly defensive about it. The girl's lips twist upwards. "A corporeal Patronus?"

"You don't know Madam Bones, do you?" Harry questions as if he remembered something. The Ravenclaw leaned back at what he asked and rose an eyebrow. Susan nodded excitedly, revealing that the woman was in fact her aunt. From then on, all of them began sharing the stories they heard about Harry and his accomplishments. Spencer smiles lightly at the sudden embarrassed look on her friend's face. They mentioned the stone from their first year, the chamber of secrets, his escape from a mass murderer (Spencer saw the golden trio share a look which interested her to no end), and the tri-wizard tournament.

Harry's face doubled in red and he shook his head. "Look... I don't want to sound like I'm trying to be modest or anything, but I had a lot of help with that stuff—"

"Harry, give yourself more credit. You've done many amazing things," Spencer cuts him off, sending him a cool look. She raises an eyebrow as if daring him to disagree. Ricky nodded beside her.

"No, okay, yes, I did some bits without help, but the point is—"

"Are you trying to weasel your way out of this?" Smith questions with the same glare on his face. At this point, Ron angrily stomped his feet.

"Here's an idea, Smith. How about you shut your mouth?" Ron retorts toward the blond male, obviously being pissed off with the Hufflepuff. Zacharias flushes in embarrassment and defensively says, "We all turned up to learn from him, and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it."

Fred angrily glares at the Hufflepuff, sending a quick apologetic look at the Ravenclaw. "That's not what he said," he defends Harry.

George inquires, "Would you like us to clean out your ears for you?" He pulled out a long and lethal-looking metal instrument from inside one of the Zonko's bag. Spencer snickered quietly before coughing as she felt her date glance at her quickly. His twin brother pats Spencer in the back sympathetically, giving her a sly wink.

"Moving on... the point is, do we agree that we want to take lessons from Harry?" Hermione sneaks back in, sending the small group a glare to focus. There was a murmur of agreement while Smith folded his arms and said nothing, glancing every now and then at the device George had on his hand. A relieved look appeared on her face as she nodded in acceptance. "The next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there is a point in meeting less than once a week—"

Interruptions were quick to appear once more, this time specifically about Quidditch. Truthfully, Spencer wasn't even involved with the sport so she did not mind what days. Although, they also could not be every single day because if this were to be a secret... that means Theodore wouldn't be able to know. It was bad enough that Hermione did not trust the Slytherin. For good reason, but Spencer had a soft spot for him. That goes for Ernie Macmillan as well who spoke up supportively for Harry. Now he was the embodiment of a Hufflepuff. At the mention of Professor Umbridge not wanting them to train because they'll be against the Ministry, Spencer scrunched up her nose in pure disgust. She sneakily glanced down at her hand before shivering.

"No, he hasn't," Hermione snaps toward Luna. The blonde Ravenclaw had made a comment about Fudge having an army of heliopaths. At the rude snark from the Gryffindor, Spencer narrowed her eyes at Hermione in defense for her housemate. Luna may be saying something odd information, but she was a good person. Once Hermione notice the look, she blushed red in embarrassment of how the Ravenclaw defends her friend.

"Leave Luna alone, Hermione. I'm sure heliopaths are completely harmless either way," Spencer comments, sending a kind smile to the dreamy blonde girl. A bright grin appears on Luna's face. This, however, does not stop from the two girls to start their own argument. Lucky for them, Ginny Weasley was also in the room and Spencer had jumped once the redheaded girl mimicked Umbridge, "Hem, hem."

"Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to meet?" Ginny intervenes. Nods reappeared in the group which made Lee Jordan say, "Once a week works."

After that was solved, they were trying to solve the situation in where they could meet up. They crossed off the library and classrooms since it would be too obvious for them to be found. Whatever group they were forming was quite rebellious. At last, they still did not think of any place— Spencer thought about mentioning the Forbidden Forest before deciding against it.

Hermione sighed in disappointment. "Right, well, we'll try to find somewhere. We'll send a message rounds to everybody when we've got a time and a place for the meeting." She rummaged in her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then hesitated, rather as though she was steeling herself to say something. "I- I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think that we ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge— or anybody else— what we're up to."

Right after George cheerfully signed his name (obviously Fred has done it before him), he handed the quill to Spencer. She notices his eyes trail down to her hand as he did so and it warmed her heart to see a concern look flash on his face before she ignored it and signed the parchment. Spencer turned toward her date and went to pass him the quill before he hesitantly took it, a frown on his lips. She sent him a raised eyebrow in question.

"Well... I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is," he stammers quietly, an unsure look on his face. Spencer turned to Ernie and saw his hesitation as well. Hermione went beside her and turned to the Hufflepuffs.

"I- well... we're prefects," Ernie bursts out. "And if this list was found we would all get deeply in trouble..."

Hermione narrows her eyes at him while Spencer makes a face of understanding. "Ernie, do you really think I'd leave that list lying around?" She questions.

At the reminder of who he was talking to, Ernie begins feeling less anxiety. "No, of course not! Here, give me the..."

After that, the assurance of Ernie signing it made Zacharias follow along. No one else seemed to object to the idea and they all looked at each other in a new way. Whatever they were about to do, it would be considered dangerous and something that they should be wary about. Spencer quirked an eyebrow at Hermione, feeling something off about what she just signed. Not anything bad, but like if they had signed a contract.

Ricky turned to her and smirked, staring to the side to where Smith was waiting for her. Spencer smacked her friend's chest, closing her eyes in regret. At the sound of her friend snickering, the young girl raised up her middle finger at him. Knowing she shouldn't keep the impatient boy waiting, Spencer kissed her friend's cheek before waving goodbye at the golden trio. She forced a smile on her lips when Zacharias went beside her as they exited Hog's Head.

The two students walked toward Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop (Smith said he wanted to go there). Spencer did not really want to head to that place since she heard rumors that it was where couples would go on a date. Sure, she asked Smith out, but it was all so she could pretend and not confess a lie to her new friend. Just as in the beginning, Zacharias continued on to talk about himself, clearly in an exaggerated way. His true self was revealed when he continuously disregarded Cedric when trying to make Harry question his own eyes.

"You don't really believe Harry, do you?" The Hufflepuff finally directs a question toward her. He seemed to be eyeing her weirdly and she was starting to get uncomfortable.

Spencer gave him a blank look. "Why wouldn't I? He has never lied, has he?"

Zacharias did not seem to be satisfied with her answer, but he let it go. Instead, he got up from his seat and held out his hand. She stared at it unpleasantly and chose to ignore it as she stood from her own spot. Spencer followed him to the High Street. He sat down in one of the benches and urged for her to do the same. The Ravenclaw girl stared at him confusingly as the boy slowly began leaning in close to her. Her eyes widen in surprise before she realized what he was about to do and swiftly moved her head to the other side. A disgusted look reached her face as his wet lips connected to her smooth cheek. Annoyed with the zero action, Smith placed his hand on her cheek and turned her once more.

Hurriedly, Spencer stood up from her seat and gave the boy a dirty glare. "What the hell, man?" She snapped, rubbing off the saliva from her cheek.

"Hey, I'm just trying to get something from you," Zacharias ignorantly defends himself. Spencer scoffed at his statement and went to leave before she abruptly stopped as the boy grabs her wrist tightly. "Come on, Montague. Your sister has at least given me a check-out, I'm sure you could give me a kiss."

"I'm not my sister," Spencer growls out. She struggled to rip her arm away from his hand, but he was a Quidditch player so it made sense if he was stronger.

"Then try to be," Zacharias argues, grabbing her shoulder with his other hand as he brings her in closer. Once more, Spencer turns her head away from him.

She could not help but feel awfully disgusted at his words and she went to forcibly remove his hand from her arm. How dare he utter the same words that were printed on her skin? "Let me go," she demanded, already aiming to grab her wand and hex him into an endless pit of misery.

"Smith, I think you heard what she said," a familiar voice comments lazily. Although the tone of his voice was kept calm, when Spencer looked up to stare at the other figure, she could not help but notice the hardened look on his eyes. Zacharias turned to the Sytherin and gave him an odd look.

"We're on a date, Zabini. I'm sure we're fine," the Hufflepuff retorts back, rolling his eyes as if he would never expect for the Ravenclaw to leave him. Spencer glared at the supposed date and finally removes his hold on her wrist. She softly rubs the spot, forcing herself to ignore the Hufflepuff as she stepped aside from him and went beside the Slytherin.

"I'd rather be facing a Dementor than continue on this date with you, Smith. Until you get your head out of your ass, I don't want you near me unless it's necessary," Spencer snaps. It was only when he finally left that she was able to let out a sigh of relief. How was it possible that she chose the most idiotic boy in existence as her date? Clearly, this time her mind let her down since she did not think at all. He seemed before, but it was now obvious he hid behind his unusual charms. Smith practically forced himself on her and if he had stolen her first kiss— not that the first kiss was meant to be special, but she would rather kiss someone she actually liked and with mutual consent.

Her jaw clenched in annoyance and she crossed her arms defensively at what just occurred. No doubt Ricky would be angry at what just happened. For someone that was supposed to be incredibly 'smart', she really was the most stupidest. "Sometimes I question why I'm in Ravenclaw," she mumbles out loud, her eyes wandering around as she notices students laugh as they hang out with their friends.

Zabini stays silent for a couple of seconds before sighing. "Don't beat yourself up for his actions, Montague. Smith is a big boy, he should know better," he assures, looking up as he noticed his blond Slytherin friend make his way toward him.

Spencer soon realized Malfoy was heading their way, his two lackeys following right behind with a whole bunch of sweets around them. The Ravenclaw grimaced at the sight and she finally stared at Zabini. "I should probably go," Spencer motions, eyeing the Slytherins warily before turning around to try and find her best friend.

The young Montague did not walk for long as she felt light-hearted steps reach beside her carelessly. Spencer could not describe the utter surprise that appeared in her face the moment she turned to find Zabini stroll along her. She turned back and noticed Malfoy and his two pesky followers heading the opposite way. Based on their positions, they did not leave Zabini in anger, but more in acceptance. For some reason (Spencer's decided), her sister's ex-boyfriend had asked them to wander off. As she glances at his blank face, she realized she may not know the reason why. It was quite concerning now many times the Slytherin has actually helped her. Certainly, now she owed him more than one favor. One that she has not yet completed.

They walked in silence, but none of them really minded it. Zabini rested his hands on his pockets, his eyes calmly wandering around the familiar place. Spencer never really had a chance to look at him. All she saw him as was a guy who her sister tried wooing in order to find an easier connection to the great Dark Lord. Except he was actually quite fit and good-looking. He was about four inches taller than her which seemed reasonable as Spencer was pretty tall herself. His skin was a dark shade which led Spencer to assume that he came from an Italian and African descendant (if her history was correct). She could tell he did not care much about his looks with the way his cheeks were rose high and his eyes were slightly slanted, he just simply knew that he was rather good in the eye.

He was a mystery. Almost like how Theodore has been for their time at Hogwarts (though he was opening up). Spencer could not truly unravel him much. She figured he hid behind his arrogant snarks and defensive postures. There was no point in trying to figure him out completely unless he decided to open up. Spencer glances away from him, realizing that she stared a bit too long for it to be considered normal.

At this point, she did not even know where she was going. It was like her feet just decided to follow the Slytherin's way since he seemed to have a clue. Her lips twisted up from the corners and for the first time that day, a sudden relaxation fell on her shoulders. In front of the two students was a sign that clearly said 'Tomes and Scrolls'. It was a bookshop that settled a bit farther away from the High Street where everyone would go. She has heard of it and always wished to head there, but since every time she went to Hogsmeade it had been with Ricky and the two usually just hung out at the Three Broomsticks or Honeydukes.

Zabini carefully opened the door, allowing for Spencer to head inside first. "I like going here when I want to not be with Draco's followers. They're far too mindless to even acknowledge the place," he spoke once more, his voice low and light at the same time. The girl was far too excited to have stepped inside that she chuckled warmly at his comment. The scent of parchment paper and fresh wood entered her nose in a calming way. Books were neatly piled in sections and the newer ones stood in front of their view.

Spencer practically skipped forward and gazed at all of them. There was many that she recognized immediately and could recite most of it, before she also acknowledged the ones that she had not gone through. The Ravenclaw padded around the shelves, her eyes stopping suddenly as she found a book she found beloved. Before her hand could reach it, she jumped in startled as someone tapped her shoulder. A sigh escaped her mouth once she realized it was the Slytherin who for a moment appeared to be amused, but perhaps her eyes lied to her because of the excitement. His hand was raised, revealing a very much familiar book.

Upon realizing that he held a smirk, Spencer snorts as she grabs the book he's holding. Romeo and Juliet was clearly written in bold letters through the hard cover. Zabini raises an eyebrow as he says, "I thought you would like a very romantic play. It even has your surname in it— Romeo Montague."

"It is quite interesting, but the romance is odd, isn't it?" Spencer could not help but question. She's heard sayings of how people wished they had a love like Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. That always confused her greatly because the two of them tragically died. Of course, their death represented more of the family rivalry that ended because of it, but even then Spencer did not wish at all to have a love like theirs. If she were to have died, she would not have want her lover to die with her. It's quite obsessive and absurd. In the play, she rather liked Benvolio and Mercutio. Benvolio was the calmer one who had bigger sense, while Mercutio was awfully loud but was still quite smart.

"Suppose so," Zabini mutters in response. His eyes glanced around the books that Spencer surrounded herself in and for a moment, she could have sworn she had seen a slight quirk of his lips twisted up. The Slytherin grabbed another book from beside her and she had to get on her toes to read the title. It was a familiar author, but a book she still had not read. Surprisingly. The words A Tale of Two Cities were embedded in the cover. Spencer had the book in her list, but she still did not read it because of her distractions with many others that she finds in the main library (the Ravenclaw common room was filled with many as well).

"I've been meaning to read that one," Spencer admits, her brows furrowing closely together as she reads a short snippet of what the story is about. Honestly, Spencer fell in love with the bookshop immediately. Most of the books were from muggles and since her family did not tend to care for them, all they had were simple books that were made by wizards. It was why she found herself reading many of the ones that Hogwarts had in its place since she rarely had some at home. Zabini stares at her momentarily before looking away. Spencer took that chance to get ahold of the book she was staring at earlier before he had startled her.

There was a story she was always fond of since it became one of the first she had read. Little Women, a novel written by a woman named Louisa May Alcott. It involved four wonderful sisters that shared very distinct personalities, but through all the annoyance still managed to love each other. Jo March was the main character's name and it is mostly from her point of view where Spencer read about the adventures she had with her siblings, her best friend who was in love with her but did not end up with, and the struggle of her trying to make her way to be known as more than just a woman who needed to marry. It was one of her favorites, along with Jane Eyre and even Pride and Prejudice. Muggles tend to be overly creative and somehow realistic in settings which captured Spencer's heart in many ways. It was those books that separated themselves from facts— like the earlier one she read about mathematics.

Some time later, Spencer did not realize Zabini had separated from her and was looking at some artistic supplies before she found him in that area of the bookshop. The same book by Charles Dickens was on his left hand while his right got ahold of some sketching supplies. She could not blame him since in her own hands was in fact Little Women and Jane Eyre. As the two met each other once more, Zabini motioned for her to step into the paying area. As if remembering that this was a trip and that they had a school and transportation to get back to, Spencer hurried up in buying the two books and waited patiently for Zabini to do the same.

Before continuing their way to the main area, Zabini stops Spencer from walking and hesitates to speak. The young girl tilts her head curiously as she waits for him to get his thoughts together. He slowly takes out the book he just bought and holds it out for her to get. Spencer eyed it in confusion and waits for him to speak.

"Since you've been wanting to read it," he recalls to the words that she told him. A slight pause is done by him before he continues, "I thought you would like to borrow it." Zabini cleared his throat almost awkwardly, but his face still had the usual brooding expression.

In deep surprise, Spencer smiles kindly. She takes the book from his hands and then holds up her pointer finger, signaling him to wait for a second. Her hand reaches down to the bag she bought and takes out her copy of Little Women. Perhaps it was a different style than he has read, but it was a book she thoroughly enjoyed and hoped that he would find it in himself to do so as well. Based on the expression he had done back at the bookshop, he had not read the book before.

"Book for a book? You could read my favorite one while I yours... unless you don't want to...?" Spencer begins before adding the last question cautiously. Zabini rose an eyebrow in surprise before accepting the deal as he grabs the simple hard covered book.

And just like that, the two students found themselves returning to school with a book ready to read. The awful date that Spencer experience was long gone from her mind which said a lot since she held good memory.

(Who knew that Zabini could distract her from such event?)

▂✫⌒*･ﾟ

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
zacharias is annoying ngl ! he's
also big dumb and does not know what
being a gentlemen is— but blaise does 💓
any who, im putting a lot of friendships for
spencer to have just because she deserves
better than her sister and for the pain that i have
and will put her thru 🦋🧚‍♀️