HOW TO BE A HEARTBREAKER
THREE BROOMSTICKS

( Saturday 15 November 1997 )

  The Three Broomsticks was bustling with life when Pansy and Rowan stepped through the door. The snow on their shoes immediately melted on the mat and disappeared thanks to one of Madam Rosmerta's charms, and the sickly sweet scent of Butterbeer filled their nostrils. Rowan pulled off the black beanie that had been keeping her hair dry, and shoved it into her coat pocket with her gloves.

"It looks like there are barely any seats," Rowan grunted, looking around at all of the booths and tables filled to the brim with Hogsmeade residents and students from Hogwarts.

Pansy latched onto Rowan's hand to drag her further into the pub. Sure enough, at the table in the corner of the room, mostly tucked away from any other human life, were three familiar Slytherin boys. Rowan could have stomped her foot at the sight of Draco and turned right around to go somewhere else, but Pansy's grip on her was iron — and Rowan didn't want to mess up all of the progress she had made.

They must have only argued twice in the past week since the Quidditch match (and yes, maybe it had only been six days and Rowan had been in the hospital wing for the majority of two of them), but this was insane progress for them. Theo seemed very happy at the whole ordeal.

"Pansy, Rowan, come sit down," the boy himself quickly waved them over, running a hand through his brown curls and pushing them off of his head. "Look what I just bought. I thought I'd try getting into photography."

Pansy sat next to Theo so that Rowan was forced onto the side of the booth that Draco was on. He budged up, but with Blaise there too, their shoulders were brushing. Rowan looked straight ahead, acting as though he wasn't sitting beside her.

"That's cool," Pansy said, taking it off of him, making Theo visibly wince. "How much did it cost?"

"400 Galleons," Theo admitted with a gulp, his hands circling Pansy's in fear she would drop it. "So please be very careful!"

Pansy whistled. "Normally people don't buy the most expensive item in the shop when they get into a new hobby, Theo. What if you're absolutely shit at it?"

Theo rolled his eyes. "It wasn't the most expensive camera. It's a good one, anyway. And I won't be shit at it."

"Let me try," Pansy said, but Theo was prying it out of her hands.

"I don't trust you," Theo said, "Look —" He lifted his camera and snapped a photograph of Rowan, Draco, and Blaise sitting together.

The photograph came out of the top, revealing a moving image of the three Slytherins looking equally as surprised by the flash. Pansy plucked it from his hands to look closer.

"Merlin, Pansy!" Theo complained, "You're like a toddler — grabbing everything and asking questions."

Pansy rolled her eyes and slammed the photo back down onto the table. "Have it back then. Sorry for showing an interest in your new hobby."

Theo looked like he felt genuinely bad for a moment, but Pansy added, "Just make sure you don't go spending too much of your money. You'll still want some after Hogwarts."

Rowan shared a small, knowing smile with Pansy.

"Why do you care what Theo spends his money on?" Draco raised his brows. "What are you, a Gringott goblin, Parkinson?"

Pansy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Just saying, Malfoy."

"I bought myself something as well," Rowan grinned, extending her hand forwards.

Her fingers were always adorned by multiple rings, so it was hard to spot which one was new — especially when the boys didn't spend ages looking at them. There was the Slytherin one, of course, which she wore on her ring finger, and a few others dotted about.

"Which one?" Blaise asked.

"This one," Rowan pointed at the thin band wrapped around the top of her middle finger.

He turned his nose up. "It's a bit plain."

"Yes, but it goes nicely with everything else," Rowan stated, admiring her hand one more time before tucking it away. "And it cost me quite a bit too."

"How much?" Theo asked, "We'll see who's really making the worst investments here."

"60 Galleons," Rowan admitted.

"For that?" Blaise scoffed loudly. "Sorry, but you were robbed, Rowan."

Rowan grinned, shaking her head. "I liked it, though."

"Anybody else got any hauls they want to show off?" Draco droned, rolling his eyes.

"Glad you asked, Malfoy," Pansy mocked him, "The coat's new — do you like it?"

Draco's expression didn't change from its natural deadpan state as he stared at her. "It's awful."

Pansy sent him a middle finger, shaking her head. "I'll go to the front and grab some drinks. Butterbeer, Rowan?"

"Yeah," Rowan nodded. "Thanks."

Pansy was quick to return with two drinks after she had left, denying the coins that Rowan tried to slide over to her in repayment. The conversation for the next twenty minutes mostly revolved around a combination of Quidditch and Gryffindor's latest drama surrounding Harry Potter himself. Apparently, Snape had accused Harry of stealing from his inventory, resulting in Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, coming in, and supposedly shit had hit the fan up in Dumbledore's office between the two old school rivals.

Harry seemed to attract constant attention no matter what he was doing. It had sort of faded since his fourth year, the novelty of going to school with the boy who defeated Voldemort as a baby wearing off, but Snape still had it out for him for whatever reason.

  "Isn't Black your second cousin?" Pansy glanced at Draco.

"Yeah, he is," Draco muttered, "But nobody's spoken to him since the war — not since that night, anyway. Especially once he had taken Potter in. Last I heard, my father said he was engaged to the werewolf Professor Lupin."

"What a family," Theo gave a little chuckle.

Rowan furrowed her eyebrows as she finished off the last of her drink. Harry's godfather and Professor Lupin may sound unconventional to them, but she bet Harry was so much more loved than any of them were.

Pansy's parents' love was unconditional, based on the fact that if they found out she liked girls she would lose everything, Theo said his father was an arsehole — just like Rowan's. Blaise had never had a stable father figure, not that he necessarily needed one, but it was probably hard adjusting all the time and having an inconsistent childhood. Then there was Draco. He was a mystery, just like Blaise had said. Rowan thought he was as close as anything to his father when they were younger, but perhaps that wasn't the case anymore. He never mentioned his parents anymore.

Rowan nearly scoffed at the realisation that all of them had issues with their parents. Though, she was sure that was quite common within traditional Pureblood families like her own.

She'd always watched the Weasleys turn up at the train station every year and wondered what it would be like to have one loving parent, let alone two. Or siblings. Rowan thought she'd like a sister, one around her age.

"Earth to Rowan." Pansy clicked her fingers in front of her face, snapping her out of her trance. "Theo asked you a question."

But she had Pansy. That was enough.

"Sorry." Rowan shook her head. "What was it?"

"I was just asking what everybody was doing this Christmas, and whether or not you'll be going to the Malfoys' New Years ball?"

Rowan's eyebrows raised. She glanced at Draco beside her. "The New Years ball hasn't been at your house since the second year."

Draco looked down at her impassively. "Well we're hosting this year again. Problem with it, Yaxley?"

"No." Rowan exhaled loudly through her nose. "I assume my father and I will be going. I haven't heard anything about it yet."

"Is your mother still in France, Draco?" Blaise asked, "Or is she helping to plan? My mother and yours used to work on them together."

Draco shrugged his shoulders. "She'll be back in time for it, I'm sure."

There was something off about the way he spoke. Rowan looked around and couldn't believe nobody else was giving him suspicious looks. Rowan mostly heard all of her Pureblood-family news from the people at school. She didn't spend any time with her father at home, and he didn't inform her on things such as Draco's mother supposedly spending a long time in France, or the fact that the Malfoys were hosting the ball this year.

After Rowan's mother had died, the Yaxleys hadn't been so included in things other Pureblood families talked about or did. Corban Yaxley hung out with former Death Eaters who hadn't gone on to have children or families of their own — sexist men who looked at Rowan too long for her liking, or who went with him to Knockturn Alley for some fun on the Friday nights after a long day at the Ministry.

She hated it so much, but at least he was careful enough about it that people at school didn't know. She'd told Pansy all about it, of course, but Rowan was pretty sure she would die if anybody like Draco had ever discovered the things her father got up to in his free time.

They didn't sit around for much longer before deciding it was time to leave for the day. Rowan pulled her beanie back on, her dark hair falling out the ends and past her shoulders as she yanked her gloves back up her hands too.

"We'll see you guys later," Rowan called over her shoulder.

Pansy and Rowan headed off, but were stopped by Theo calling out to them.

"We're heading back to Hogwarts as well. We'll come with you."

And so the three Slytherin boys joined them on their walk home. Not without a few grumbled complaints from Draco, though. However, Rowan was sure that Draco found himself enjoying himself a little more than he would care to admit. Every now and then, someone would crack a joke that she would see him smile at out of the corner of her eye, or he'd be rather quick to contribute to a discussion.

They were nearly at the courtyard when Rowan felt a snowball smack into her back from behind. She whirled around, as did the Slytherins around her, and Rowan's eyes narrowed on Blaise whose gloves were covered with white ice. He sent her a bright grin, as if that would save him, and then his eyes widened, his hands raising in defence as he backed up.

"In all honesty, I was aiming for Malfoy!" Blaise cried.

Draco looked rather offended for a moment, raising his eyebrows. Rowan thought Blaise had to be lying — Draco was standing about five feet to the left of her.

Rowan bent down, slowly rolling up a firm ball of snow with her hands. "As you know very well, Zabini, when I aim for something, I never miss. Do you think a heat shot or a dick shot would be sufficient?"

"Hit him so hard he can't have kids, Rowan," Pansy snickered from behind her.

Rowan's arm shot out so fast that Blaise had no time to react. He shrieked loudly as the ball of snow smacked him right in the face. There was laughter from Theo and Pansy behind Rowan, but Blaise was quick to scramble for more snow.

"This is childish. Perhaps we should just head back into the —" Draco's eye roll stopped midway due to one of Theo's snowballs hitting him in the chest. "Hey!"

Theo gave a shrug, but Rowan could tell that he had been dying to do that for a while now. Draco was suddenly dashing for some snow himself, and Pansy was shrieking as Blaise sent one in her direction and the other in Rowan's.

"This is homophobia, Zabini!" Pansy screeched, diving to smack him with one.

The Slytherins couldn't help but howl with laughter as they ducked out of the way of one another. Even Draco wore an absentminded grin as he managed to land a snowball to Rowan's shoulder.

"You'll pay for that, Malfoy!" Rowan feigned anger and retaliated with one to his chest.

For a few fleeting moments, it was as if the five teenagers had always been friends. Or as if they hadn't come together as the result of a revenge plan, where one was to be the unsuspecting victim. Rowan even managed to forget about how much she hated Draco at that moment. It was easy to — for once, he looked like a careless boy having fun.

Rowan watched the way Theo laughed with Draco for a few moments and thought that maybe Theo had forgotten too. But the snow was starting to melt on them and their hands were growing numb. It was called a day when Pansy grew particularly upset over how drenched her hair had become. Draco's shoulders straightened and Rowan remembered who she was dealing with here.

For all of the okay moments Draco Malfoy may have, like being a good Captain or having a little bit of fun with his friends, he was still the bad person she knew deep down.

Rowan would be stupid not to keep that in mind.

...

( Wednesday 19th November 1997 )

Rowan's eyes wouldn't stop trying to lull shut. She was far too warm by the fire in the common room, tucked up with the Charms book she was supposed to be revising. It was easy to keep slipping when the words started to blur and her jumper only grew softer. Every now and then she'd try to jolt herself awake, reminding herself that her NEWTs were in a matter of months, but sleep was so tempting...

Rowan jumped when there was a bang from the entrance of the Slytherin common room. Her head swivelled to look over, her entire body waking up completely when she realised that it was Theo. His entire face was red with fury as he marched through, his robes swaying back as he ripped them off and tossed them on the back of a nearby sofa. Rowan immediately bounded from the chair, rushing over.

"Theo," Rowan breathed, placing her hands just below his shoulders so he was forced to come to a stop. His nostrils flared as he breathed heavily, his jaw clenched. He tried to look everywhere but at her. "Theo, look at me!" She demanded, "What the hell happened?"

People were glancing over, wanting to know what was going on with Theodore Nott. Rowan saw Daphne looking over with obvious interest, an eyebrow raised. Rowan grabbed Theo by his wrist and started to tug him to the dormitories.

"I'm fine," Theo snapped, but allowed for her to lead the way.

"Really?" Rowan scoffed as she shoved open the door to the seventh year boys' dormitory, thankful to find it empty from anybody else. "That's hard to believe considering the big scene that you just made."

Theo grunted, slamming the door shut with such force that the cabinets and other furniture inside of the room rattled slightly. He ran his hands through his dark curly hair as he paced the room, anger rolling off of him. He was completely seething with it. Rowan was pretty sure the only other person she had seen this angry was her father.

"What happened?" Rowan urged again, this time a little more gentle than the last. Though it was hard – she was losing patience.

"Malfoy happened!" Theo growled, "Why the fuck did that bastard have to go anywhere near her?"

Rowan immediately understood why Theo was so furious. Her shoulders sagged a little — at least she didn't have to worry about something new.

"I'm trying to look past the fact that they slept together. It was two months ago, right? So why the fuck is she still into him?" Theo huffed, not stopping with his restless pacing and hand movements. "I asked her if she was going to his stupid fucking New Years ball, I needed something to fucking talk about, and she was over the moon thinking I was giving her an invitation from Draco bloody Malfoy himself."

Rowan winced a little. "Perhaps she misinterpreted what you said?"

"Obviously!" Theo snapped, "She gets all blushy and cute and asks if Draco wants her there! And then asks where he is, or if he's said anything about her to me! I can't fucking stand it, Rowan. It makes me sick."

Rowan sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Theo. It's good news that Malfoy steers clear of her, though. Whilst that may leave her wanting more right now, she'll definitely get sick of waiting or come to the realisation that whatever lies he spewed in her ear that night weren't so true."

Theo clenched his fists and then lifted an enclosed hand to his mouth, biting down on his knuckles for a moment to stop himself yelling out in anger.

Rowan moved closer, her hand moving to touch his arm comfortingly when the door flung open. Theo and Rowan looked over, finding Draco himself there. He looked equally as surprised to see Rowan in his dormitory for a moment, but the look passed. He took in the dainty hand on Theo's bicep, the pants rolling from Theo's mouth.

Draco raised his eyebrows and tossed his bag onto the bed nearest the door. "I did wonder why you and Blaise were choosing to hang around Yaxley and Parkinson more," he said as he flopped down beside his bag. "And I didn't believe it when you said that it was because they were funny."

Theo rolled his eyes, still pumped with adrenaline and anger. "That's not —"

"I personally just want to know if this has happened since Blaise outed your crush on Yaxley at the beginning of the year, or if this is perhaps a recent occurrence?" Draco feigned interest. "Did you have two guys on the go at once, Yaxley? Should we start calling you the slut now?"

"Watch your mouth!" Rowan hissed warningly at him. "There is nothing going on between Theo and I. I was comforting him, like a friend. You see, Malfoy, this is what a healthy friendship looks like. I suppose you're not too familiar with the concept though, are you?"

"Oh, please," Draco scoffed, "Why would Theo not hang around your insufferable arse if not to just fuck you? It's so obvious."

"That's enough, Draco," Theo warned, trying to keep his anger at bay in order not to burst completely. "And it's not true at all."

Rowan's fists clenched by her sides. "Some people are actually decent, Malfoy, and they don't hang around the gender they're attracted to merely for sexual gain. Also a concept you wouldn't understand."

Draco laughed. "You're right. Of course you and Theo aren't fucking. You wouldn't be so goddamn uptight if you were actually getting some."

"Wanker," Rowan spat through gritted teeth. "Fuck you, Malfoy."

She had to restrain herself before she made comments about his obvious daddy issues that would set her progress all the way back with him. Rowan turned on her heel, not waiting for his response as she left the boys' dorm and slammed the door behind her.

Draco Malfoy was the worst thing that had ever happened to her, she swore it.

....

( Thursday 20th November 1997 )

"Last night was amazing!" Theo grinned widely as he dropped into the seat next to Rowan at her Divination table with Pansy.

Pansy narrowed her gaze between them. "Er, what the hell did you two do last night? Nott looks far too pleased with himself for it to be nothing."

Rowan rolled her eyes. "Theo and I did nothing sexual. Get your mind out of the gutter." She turned to face the curly-haired boy. "And why on earth do you think last night was good? Malfoy literally accused us of sleeping around with one another and borderline called me a slut."

The intake of air Pansy consumed sounded so sharp that it had to have burned her chest. "He called you what?" She smacked her palm down on the round table. "I'll bloody kill him! Stupid tosser, he's got no right using such words when he can't go three days without getting his dick wet."

Theo ignored her. "It was absolutely perfect, Rowan. I mean, I didn't expect Draco to walk in and at first I was just as angry as you when he started accusing us of shagging, but then I really looked at him! I took in what he was saying!"

Rowan looked at him as if he had grown three heads. "Yeah! He was calling me a slut and then uptight!"

"He was jealous!" Theo's grin was so wide it looked like it probably hurt. "He was being malicious and nasty and he kept questioning and accusing because he didn't want it to be true. I mean, the fact that that's where his mind first jumped when he saw you comforting me just proves it!"

"Or maybe he was mad because you're his best friend and he hates Rowan?" Pansy furrowed his brows.

"No, I saw the look on his face," Theo claimed, shaking his head. "Our plan is working! He's starting to grow attached to you, Rowan. He's never been jealous of a girl before! Not even the ones he sleeps with."

Rowan thought about what Theo was saying.

"But how?" She asked, "I swear nothing's really happened between us yet. We still argue. Maybe not as much, but —"

"Draco went quiet for days after the whole Quidditch thing," Theo said, "I think he was really shocked you'd jumped in the way for him. Whether it was for the game or not, I think... I think he started to gain a lot of respect for you in that moment."

"If that's the case, he gained respect for me as a Quidditch player — which he should have a long time ago. But he must have realised I was serious about winning," Rowan said.

"No..." Theo hummed. "I think it was a bit more than that, Rowan. Maybe partly. But I think it sort of put a light on you in his eyes. Like he found it attractive how much you cared about the game or something."

Pansy rolled her eyes. "That's a pathetic reason to like someone."

"I don't think he realises what these feelings are," Theo said, "The jealousy, admiring you after your Quidditch thing... He's probably confused and angry about it. I knew this would happen. It will take some time, but he'll figure out what all these feelings mean eventually."

"There's no way," Rowan huffed. "Besides, he's still sleeping around. I saw him with some girl like four days ago."

"That's just Malfoy though," Theo replied, "Sense will be knocked into him." He began to look far too giddy for Rowan's liking. "Soon, you'll be all he can think about! He'll be obsessed with you, and then —-" he grinned and shook his head. "Then he'll be fucking sorry for everything he did to me, and the things he did to nearly half of the girls at this school."

Pansy gave Theo a look. "You sound like a bloody psychopath. Especially with that grin."

"I'm excited for justice, what can I say?" Theo mocked.

However, even Rowan couldn't help but agree with Pansy that Theo was far too eager for all of this. Well, Rowan had known since Theo literally agreed to an Unbreakable Vow and to give her half of his vault, but with every incident where Lorelei broke his heart a little more, he became slightly more... unhinged felt like the wrong word to use, but somewhat close.

It was almost startling. It put an immense pressure on her shoulders, one that she felt the undeniable weight of almost every time she lay eyes on Draco or Theo.

She worried about disappointing Theo in the end. After all, it was a possibility that Rowan wouldn't be able to break Draco's heart — for a number of different reasons.

All Rowan could do was promise Theo her best shot.

...
i know I keep saying I won't update for a while and then posting frequently but I genuinely cannot procrastinate from uni anymore haha. i'll probably be gone for a week and a half, but I will do my absolute best to find time to pull together a chapter for you guys!!

hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading <333

Word count: 4.0k

dyIansobrien.