CHAPTER THREE

Nova whispered to Albus, "Just ignore the stares." She continued her essay, engrossed in writing.

Albus replied in a hushed tone, "But it's getting on my nerves," prompting her to let out a gentle chuckle.

Nova shrugged, responding, "What were you expecting? Considering our family's fame and our unique backgrounds—being the Strange ones" - she lifted her hand in a mocking gesture - "a Malfoy in Gryffindor, and a Potter in Slytherin. How appalling!!"

Albus couldn't help but laugh at her antics," Don't you care about what others say?"

"Why should I?" Nova tilted her head curiously.

Albus shrugged, meeting her gaze and casting a discreet glance around the room," I mean, I'd rather have strangers over enemies," he agreed.

Nova chuckled, resting her hand on his arm at the table, suggesting, "The only thing that truly matters are the important people in your life, not just strangers and not even out enemis." She then playfully reprimanded him, "Maybe I'm not the only one who needs a lesson."

Albus teased, "So, what? You're going to teach me to speak up or ignore what the say?" He chuckled, to which she shot a knowing smirk at him, amused.

"Why not?" Nova posed in a questioning tone, suggesting, "think of it like this, would you prefer to end up being easily used and let what other's say bother you, or would you rather develop some defensive strategies to stop people from walking all over you?"

Albus insisted, "Hey, I don't get used easily," he insisted defensively.

"Are you sure about that?" Nova challenged, and he merely nodded. "Alright, if you say so."

"Glad we come to an agreement," He said sarcastically as they both went back to doing their assignments.

However, Nova had different plans. After an hour, she decided to test her theory further. She turned to Albus, her voice filled with feigned innocence, "Hey, Albus, could you help me with my Potion essay? I'm just a few hundred words short. Write it for me?"

Albus nodded and reached for the parchment, but Nova quickly tugged it away.

Nova couldn't help but grin mischievously as she held the parchment just out of Albus' reach, "Ah ah ah! Hold on a second."

He stared at her with a perplexed expression, wondering why she was acting so strange, "Why can't I write it for you?"

Nova declared in triumph, "See? You just proved my point."

Albus's baffled expression mirrored his surprise, "What-" he began, but she cut him off.

"Let's say you're wrong," she interjected. "Someone who claims not to get used easily wouldn't have easily accepted that."

Albus shot her an exasperated glare, "You're a menace, Nova Malfoy." He lowered his hands, frowning.

Nova's competitive nature seemed to thrive on this little game they were playing, a mix of frustration and amusement evident on Albus' face.

"You're impossible," he muttered with a hint of fondness. "Is winning every conversation your sole purpose in life?"

She then winked at him," Why not? my dear little Potter friend" She then went back to working on her essay.

Leaving Albus to sigh in defeat.

With Nova, still focused on her own work, she was blissfully unaware of Albus' gaze. He put up a facade of indifference, though, beneath it all, his attention was consumed with watching her.

Unaware, he soaked up every aspect of her presence—the way she wrote, the little mannerisms, all the intricate details that made her unique. He couldn't tear his eyes away.

The silence in the room was deafening as Albus fought the urge to interrupt her focused writing session. His gaze lingered on her, taking in every detail. He struggled to hide the growing infatuation he harboured for her. Every small gesture or movement she made only intensified his feelings.

The air was thick with unspoken tension. Albus's eyes were fixated on her, the room feeling heavy with anticipation. He ached to reach out, to say something, but he held back, watching her in captivated silence.

After hours of working together, Albus and Nova eventually walked out of the library side by side. He the began to to speak, "I don't see the point in being unkind to people" as they exited.

She argued, "It's not about being mean; it's about establishing that you are not someone to be taken for granted," she explained, casting him a glance before returning her gaze forward.

Albus mused, "So, you're mentoring me to be mean, and I'm guiding you to be kind."

She responded, "Not overly strange, in my opinion," and then shrugged with a slight smirk, "I suppose what I'm getting at is, well... a Malfoy and a Potter working together?"

Albus halted their steps, his voice carrying a note of surprise, "That thought hadn't even crossed my mind, Nova."

He paused to address her next point, "Though I was cautious about the stares we received earlier, being a Potter and Malfoy, or a Gryffindor and Slytherin... but really that should be none of their concern."

Nova met his gaze, "Unfortunately, people often make others' affairs their own business. Scorp and I discovered that firsthand."

"Again, they shouldn't speak ill of us, not that it's any of their business," Albus grumbled.

She forced a smile, "There's only so much we can control, you know?"

Albus moved closer to her, touching her cheek gently, "You don't need to fake a smile around me, Nova. It's alright to be sad and hurt. You don't have to put on a strong face."

"I despise admitting my weaknesses," Nova whispered, her voice filled with a hint of vulnerability.

Albus reassured her, "I won't judge you, you know I won't. Just be honest with me."

Nova teased him, "I can't help but ask Potter, but are you flirting with me?" To her surprise, he withdrew his hand and coughed, attempting to distract from his embarrassment.

Albus retorted, "You ruined the moment, Malfoy."

Nova laughed, finding amusement in his flushed state. She kept walking, her own cheeks tinted with a rosy hue mirroring Albus's reddening face.

As they continued their walk, the silence between them was heavy with unspoken words and hidden desires. Albus's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and longing, while Nova wrestled with her own emotions. The air was thick with the aftermath of their conversation, their eyes constantly straying to each other, each stealing glances whenever they thought the other was not looking. It was an unspoken battle of wills, a silent war of emotions both of them were too ashamed to address.

The atmosphere in the Great Hall became muted, both Nova and Albus's attention fixated on their own thoughts rather than the usual chatter.

Meanwhile, across the hall, Albus sat slumped over the table next to Scorpius. His head buried, he couldn't escape the swirling thoughts and emotions. On the other side of the room, Nova leaned against her friend Rose, seeking solace in her presence.

Both Albus and Nova found themselves in different places, but their reactions to the earlier encounter mirrored each other—a sigh of frustration and helplessness echoing through the hall.

Both Nova and Albus found themselves hopelessly smitten with each other, but neither had the courage to express their feelings. The tension and longing between them grew with every silent encounter, each moment filled with unspoken words and glances that carried more weight than they both dared to acknowledge.

The intensity of their feelings for each other lingered unspoken, adding an extra layer of tension to every encounter they shared. The silent glances, the unspoken words, the tension—it all swirled around them, building a powerful charge between two people too terrified to face the truth. They tiptoed around each other, dancing a dance of longing and restraint, unable to break free from the invisible chains of their fear.