September 27th, 1997

There's a slight chill in the air now that autumn is in full swing. The sun is covered by clouds, and the sky is gray despite it being the first day without rain in almost a week.

The sleeve of my jacket shields one of my hands from the cold, and my other hand is intertwined with Theo's as we walk to Hogsmeade. We've been fake dating for long enough that the news has gotten back to both of our parents.

Theo's dad was very pleased that he'd found a "respectable Pureblood girl". He was also happy about the fact that I'm a Rosier, he said that he was friends with my dad. That's complete bullshit of course, because according to my dad's journals, Tiberius Nott was an "annoying, stuck up prick".

My mother was just happy that I started dating someone. She was extremely happy that it was Theo because she absolutely adores him.

"Mister Nott, Miss Rosier," Professor McGonagall acknowledges us as we walk by.

"Hi, professor," I reply. Theo smiles and waves with his free hand.

McGonagall gives the both of us a small smile. "Have a good time," She says.

We smile back and continue the trek to Hogsmeade. Daphne and Blaise are walking a bit behind us, completely enamored with each other. Draco and Pansy are stuck at Hogwarts with Head boy and girl duties which consist of checking the third year's permission slips, but they said they'd catch up later.

"Where do you want to go first?" Theo asks as we reach the edge of the village.

"Three Broomsticks?" I suggest.

Theo grins, "Whatever you want. I'm just here to be the pretty boyfriend who pays."

"Bold of you to assume you're pretty," I tease.

Theo laughs, dropping my hand to wrap around my shoulders and pull me closer to his body. "I am pretty, don't lie," Theo says.

I shake my head and try not to laugh. "Okay, pretty boy," I reply.

"There we go," Theo grins. "Thank you very much."

Theo holds open the door for me and we enter the Three Broomsticks. There's a lot of people milling about already, but I spot an open booth and drag Theo along with me to it. Once we secure a table, Theo goes to get us butterbeers.

I shrug my jacket off and start looking around the pub when I spot my brother.

"Matt," I call.

He spots me in the booth and smiles before making his way over to me. Matthew sits down beside me in the booth.

"Ooh, are you here on a date?" Is the first thing Matt says, a teasing tone to his voice.

I bump his arm with mine, and he bumps me back just as hard.

"Yes, I'm with Theo," I answer. "He's getting us drinks."

"What a gentleman," Matt says.

I shake my head and roll my eyes at my half-brother. "Are you here with friends?" I ask.

"Yup, just right over there," He answers, pointing towards a table across the pub. There's two of his roommates that I recognize, and then one boy wearing a Ravenclaw hat that I don't recognize.

"And who's that boy?" I ask, nodding towards the Ravenclaw boy.

Matt blushes slightly. "A friend," He replies. I raise an eyebrow at him and he laughs. "A friend, a good friend, Alex."

"He's cute," I say.

"I know," Matt practically swoons as he glances over at his Ravenclaw 'friend'. "His name is Sawyer, he's in my year, and we have three classes together."

I smile at my brother. He looks like a lovesick idiot. "Well, I'm happy for you, Matt."

Theo is starting to walk back towards the booth, carrying two butterbeers. He's wearing a knit gray jumper that makes him look incredibly soft, and his hair looks extra fluffy today.

"You know mum wants to meet him over the Christmas hols," Matt says quietly.

"She's already met Theo," I say. "Several times, actually."

Matt smirks, "Yeah, I know. But she wants him to come over for Christmas Eve dinner."

"Merlin and Morgana," I mutter.

Theo sits down on the other side of me, carefully setting our butterbeers on the table. He leans around me and smiles, "Hey, Matt. What's up?"

"Not much, actually I should be getting back to my friends," Matt says. "Nice to see you, Theo."

Theo waves and I say goodbye to Matt before he's walking back towards his friends, and Sawyer.

"How's he doing?" Theo asks, nodding towards Matt.

I sigh, "I think he's okay. He doesn't really like to talk about what happened or what could happen, but he seems happy. He was in a dark place this summer after Rita Skeeter published that article, but I think he's doing better now."

This past summer my little brother was victim to Rita Skeeter's nosing around. She photographed Matt kissing a boy, a Gryffindor named Thomas Paley who had been Matthew's best friend since they met in first year, at a quidditch match over the summer and leaked the picture along with a whole article slandering him and me. She wrote that we're both fatherless deviants but I'm a deviant because I'm a Death Eater, which is a lie, and that Matt is a deviant because he kisses boys instead of girls.

Matt practically went into hiding the rest of the summer and didn't send any letters unless people wrote to him first. Thankfully, all of his friends couldn't give a shit about who Matt does or doesn't like, but it's other people that he was worried about.

"That's good then," Theo says. "What Rita did was awful. For him, and you. I don't know why she's so interested in the lives of teenagers."

I shrug, "It's whatever, she's always going to run her mouth and she's going to keep publishing articles on teenagers and their lives, especially if they have a known last name. Plus, some people are always going to think I'm a Death Eater just because of my dad."

"Yeah, me too," Theo says.

There's a pause in the conversation and I take a sip of my butterbeer. Theo mimics me and takes a sip of his as well.

"I think my dad was like Matt," I tell Theo.

He tilts his head. "How so?"

"I think my dad was in love with his best friend. I think he wasn't straight," I explain. "I've been reading his journals and I'm actually pretty sure my dad was shagging his best mate."

Theo laughs, setting his butterbeer back on the table. "Wow, I was not expecting to hear that today."

I stifle a laugh, shaking my head.

"So who was it then?" Theo asks. "His best mate?"

I rest my chin on my hand and look at Theo. "Are you sure you want to know? Because I sat in disbelief for a solid hour."

"Well now you have to tell me."

"Barty Crouch Jr," I say.

Theo's jaw drops and he just gaps at me. "No fucking way," He says. "You're lying."

"I assure you I am not, I'll let you read it."

Theo laughs and wraps his arm around me, bringing me closer to his body. "I might just take you up on the offer," He says.

I lean into Theo's embrace and take a sip of my butterbeer. I set it back down just as Theo leans in to whisper something to me. "McLaggen's staring," Theo whispers. A few seconds later he sighs. "So is Zacharias Smith," He adds. "I remember him, though you said he wasn't very memorable."

I smirk, and look past Theo to see there's just as many girls staring at him. Quite a few jealous and angry looks from girls who want to be in my position right now. If only they knew it was all just a lie.

"Hmm, Grace Nutley looks like she wants to curse me right about now," I whisper to Theo. I glance over. "And Amelia Fittleworth looks like she's going to cry."

"That's a shame," Theo says. He pulls back slightly and tilts his face so that our noses are touching. "This okay?"

I nod, then lean forward to brush my lips against his. Theo lets me take the lead and deepen the kiss. My hands are cupping his face and I'm kissing him slowly. Theo raises his hand from my hip and rests it on my neck, his ring cold against my pulse point.

I pull away and Theo chases my lips with his, so I give him one last kiss before pulling away completely.

"Well, that really showed them," Theo says. He quickly glances behind me, then smirks.

I grin, "Now, how about Honeydukes?"