06 July, 1997 (2:55p.m, Friday)

Theo Nott was sitting across from Scarlett at a Muggle ice cream parlor in the middle of London. They had been sitting in a back corner for the past hour talking and eating ice cream.

It was the blonde girls idea to go into Muggle London instead of going to Diagon Alley. They would be less likely to see anyone they knew if they found a random place to just sit at.

She was right. The only person they had seen that they knew was Hermione Granger. She'd walked past the parlor in a hurry.

Theo had spent the past several minutes making jokes about Adrian and Scarlett was laughing along. She was actually having fun.

Until Theo asked her when she planned on breaking up with Adrian, that kind of ruined the mood.

"I'm honestly not too sure. I'm worried about it. If I break up with him right now then I don't have a date. If I breakup with him right after the ball, then he'll just tell everyone that I was using him. So I don't really know what to do."

"I think you just need to break up with him right now. You have one week to find a date and that's one week too long to still have to deal with Adrian."

"I mean, yeah, I guess you're right."

"Guess?" He asked. "I've never been wrong, ever."

She rolled her eyes, "I can think of many times when you've been wrong."

"Name one."

"Third year. When you were so sure that Slytherin was going to beat Gryffindor at the Quidditch match. So sure that you bet Ron a new broomstick."

"Well, in the end I helped him out, didn't I?"

"Help is a loose term. I believe you told him you'd meet him at Quality Quidditch Supplies and when the day came you told me to go tell him you were sick. So I had to go with him to pick out his broomstick because you didn't want to go."

"Well..." He trailed off.

"Exactly."

It got quiet for a few minutes and the two ate their ice cream in silence.

When they finally left and got back into the taxi which drove them back to Malfoy Manor stopping at the gates that hid the ginormous house from most people's sight, Theo got out and walked to the other car door and opened it for Scarlett.

He thanked the driver and then the two entered the gates. As they approached the garden, she smiled at him and then walked off a different way from where he was. They couldn't be together. Not until Adrian was out of the picture.

-

06 July, 1997 (9:40p.m, Friday)

Scarlett was lying in bed when she heard the sound of footsteps running up the stairs. What in the hell? Lucius and Narcissa were out for the night. Narcissa said they were going to have dinner with a friend but she knew the real reason they left. They had a meeting with the Dark Lord.

Draco didn't have to go this time. He decided to stay over at Theo's for the night, just in case the meeting got moved back to his house.

Scarlett was alone. So who was in the manor?

Well, her question was answered very quickly. Astoria burst into her room, "I heard you were here by yourself and decided we needed to have a sleepover! We have so much to talk about!" Astoria exclaimed.

Scarlett blinked, "How did you know that?"

"Scarlett, I talk to Draco all the time. Of course I knew Cissy and Lucius were gone for the night. That was supposed to be used to mine and Draco's advantage but he chickened out last minute." Astoria giggled as she told Scarlett.

"Ok, ew, gross Astoria, I never want to hear about you and Draco's 'advantage' again. Quite frankly, I never want to step foot in his room ever again."

Astoria raised an eyebrow, "I'm not talking about sex, idiot. I'm talking about a party. We were going to go to a party, but it was a little far away so we would've been out all night."

"Well thanks for the invite."

"Draco said I couldn't invite you."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Of course he did."

Astoria threw herself down on to the bed, laying on her stomach and propping up on her hands, "You know Drakey is a little suspicious of you and Theo right?"

"Nothing to be suspicious of." Scarlett tried.

Astoria gave her a questionable look, "Well.. You did kiss Theo."

"Oh my gosh, Astoria, you can't just say that out loud."

"Well it's true!"

"Okay, well, it's never happening again."

"I know you snuck off with him today."

"Did not."

"Did too. He came back too happy."

"That's such nonsense. Theo doesn't have a happy bone in his body."

Astoria laughed, "Then where were you today?"

"I went to Diagon Alley."

"Alone?"

"Yes." Scarlett looked down at her hands, avoiding eye contact.

"You wanna know how I know you're lying?" Astoria asked.

Scarlett nodded.

"Because Theo told me he went to Diagon Alley alone today too. So I guess you two lonely people met up somewhere and had a fun secret date."

"Oh my Merlin!" Scarlett exclaimed, "Okay! Fine, I spent a little bit of time with him today but we parted our separate ways and there was no kissing!"

Astoria shook her head, "I knew it! You can't lie to me. I see right through you!"

Scarlett groaned, "I liked it better twenty minutes ago when I was left alone to my thoughts." She picked up the throw pillow beside her and tossed it as Astoria.

Astoria laughed again, "What were you thinking about? Theo and his lips? Maybe even, dare I say, kissing Theo's lips?" She made kissing noises at Scarlett.

Scarlett threw another pillow at her. She was beginning to enjoy Astoria's company. It was nice to have a friend. She didn't really have that before. She simply followed Draco around and talked to his friends. Not having a girl friend since she and Hermione were friends. But now she has one. She thinks. She's not for sure. Does Astoria actually like her or is she just nice to her for the sake of Draco?

She figures that Astoria probably likes her since she hasn't told Draco her secret.

"Wanna go to Terrence Higgs house? I heard his parents are out for the weekend. Official Dark Lord business and he's throwing a massive party."

"How about we just stay here and make milkshakes and play board games?" Scarlett offered.

"We could do that at his house. He has like four kitchens."

Scarlett shrugged, "Okay. Think Adrian will be there?"

"Nope! He hates Terrence."

"Sounds good."

-

06 July, 1997 (11:00p.m, Friday)

Astoria and Scarlett stepped out of the fireplace. The party was in full swing by now. They would have been there sooner if Astoria hadn't insisted on doing Scarlett's makeup.

Scarlett, who was now wearing a light pink sweater and black leggings to go with it, also had her hair pulled into a high ponytail— she hated ponytails, but Astoria managed to make it look nice. Along with her new hair and outfit, she also had eyeliner on, blush and a pink lipstick that matched the sweater. She looked good.

She always looked good but she was glowing this time. Astoria pulled Scarlett to one of the four kitchens and began conversing with some girls from Ravenclaw. A blender sitting in front of them. "Great minds think alike." Astoria had said when she asked what they were making and they told her milkshakes.

Scarlett backed up a little bit when a few more people walked in, she backed into someone.

"Excuse me, sorry." The person said, grabbing her waist to keep her from falling.

"It's all good." Scarlett said, smiling as she turned around. The smile quickly fading when she realized who it was.

"Scarlett, you look.. different." Adrian Pucey was standing directly in front of her, still holding her waist.

Scarlett smiled, "Trying out a new look. Astoria did it."

He nodded, "Well you look hot."

"Thanks. What are you doing here?"

"Well, to be honest, I was bored at home and wanted social interaction, I'm not usually a fan of Terrence. What are you doing here tonight?"

"Came with Tori. We've been hanging out some."

"Where's Draco and his friend?"

"You mean Theo?" She asked, confused.

Adrian frowned, "Yes. I was hoping not to have to say his name."

She nodded, "They're at his house. Tori is staying the night with me."

A smirk replaced his bored expression, "So you two are home alone?"

She looked at him, a confused expression taking over, "Yes?"

"Well, would you like some more company?"

"No, Tori and I are having a girls night."

"She could go home. You and I could have a night."

Scarlett scoffed, "Adrian, I don't know where you've gotten this idea that I'm ever going to sleep with you, but it's not happening. We've been dating for like a week. You never acknowledged my existence prior to that. Even if I did want to sleep with you, it would not be now. It's way too soon."

"Well, if Nott hadn't have told everyone last semester that you were off limits then we could've already been together." Adrian drunkenly confessed. She hadn't realized how drunk he was when they first started talking, but now he was right in her face and all she could smell was alcohol.

"He what?" She practically yelled.

Adrian nodded, "He told everyone that they needed to stay away from you. Graham Montague liked you, Terrence Higgs liked you, Crabbe liked you. There were so many, but he told us all that no one was good enough for you and that if we attempted to talk to you then Draco would make sure we got no playing time in quidditch."

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Why would I lie?"

"Well, you don't have a good track record for honesty."

"Well, I'm telling the truth."

Scarlett smiled, "Well, then I've got to go find Astoria. See you later, you've actually been very helpful."

As she was walking away, Adrian called to her, "So are you wanting to meet up later?"

But the music was too loud and she didn't hear.

authors note:
surprise! new theo nott book out.
it's a social media au so imagine
hogwarts with phones

also i forgot my plan for theo and
scarlett and they forgave each other too
soon so i had to add a little drama.