the kiss list, adrian pucey
𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆

SIX MONTHS LATER

     "I NEED TO SEARCH YOU."

     Leo Raywood stood with his hands crossed tightly across his chest, sporting a stern and wide-eyed expression, restricting his best friend from leaving the Gryffindor common room.

     Today was the final of the Hogwarts Quidditch Interhouse Cup and the two teams competing happened to be Gryffindor and Slytherin. And Bianca Larsson was torn. She herself grew alongside a house of lions and wore her golden robes with pride for six years. But her boyfriend was a Slytherin. It wasn't as if she could be neutral towards the whole ideal, however hard she tried to. The entire school had been raving about this match for the past week and a half. And no one was going about it lightly.

     It was the same hectic, aggressive rivalry between the two final teams as it was every year. Bianca had just never cared as much previously. Nor had Gryffindor been in the final in a long time. It was always Slytherin, and they always dominated their competition. For the past week, propaganda had been torn down, people wearing their chosen team's colour face paint every day even though it's not allowed, and the grounds turned into the set of Fair Verona from the Shakespeare play. The school had been split. Everyone chooses aside. Gryffindor or Slytherin. Except Bianca Larsson. If you could think of a way she could go about this conflict, she would be eternally grateful. But for now, she feels like Juliet Capulet.

     Leo has no idea how she must feel, only that he will not allow her to show any kind of support to her boyfriend's team. Leo is a firm believer in House Pride and considering his girlfriend is playing today, he will not let his best friend betray Alicia Spinnet nor will he let her possess any kind of Slytherin merchandise. 

     For the past six months of their relationship, Bianca has attended every one of Adrian Pucey's Quidditch matches. In fact, she has been to almost all of the matches combined. The day after Valentine's day, Adrian gave Bianca his Slytherin scarf because there was a Ravenclaw/Slytherin match the next day. He had also claimed he was "in a romantic mood" so she didn't need to wear it, but just accept that he was trying to "build a bridge between their house rivalries" (Bianca wants you to know she thinks her boyfriend is adorable). Since then, she's collected numerous items of green and silver coloured objects of varying shapes and sizes and Leo Raywood has been far from happy about it.

     "What?" Bianca scoffed, getting up from the plush, velvet sofa, receiving a warm breeze that had wafted over from the crackling fireplace.

     Leo took a step closer ─ he felt as though he needed to exert his dominance onto her. After all, he must stand up for his house. "I need to search you." He repeated, his chin faltering as he lifted it higher. Leo wasn't sure how intimidated Bianca felt, but it felt as though he was doing something for his confidence act.

     A smirk flickered across her face. "For what exactly?" She asked. Bianca knew exactly what Leo wanted to find in her pocket. He had only ever asked her if she had any kind of Slytherin representation on her once before. And, back then, he hadn't gone to the lengths of threatening to search her with hopes to catch her in the act of supporting the opposing team.

     Bianca thinks Leo is immature for his views on Bianca's support for the Slytherin Quidditch team. Sure, it goes against all of the traditions the Hogwarts Cup hosts, but (besides Draco Malfoy) there's nothing wrong with the Serpent's team. Marcus Flint got kicked off of it for his behaviour three months ago. The rest of them aren't half bad. Bianca must be biased. So she was not going to let him get to it ─ the "it" in question being the bright green t-shirt with a silver serpent embezzled in the centre, underneath her Gryffindor knitted jumper. Oh, and Adrian's Prefect badge tucked safely into her jeans pocket. That was also green.

     Leo's lips pursed together and made one straight, incredibly serious line. "Slytherin contraband." He answered, his voice almost as bad as Snape's monotone.

     Bianca rolled her eyes, and her sigh could be heard from the other end of the packed common room. "Leo, I think your choice of word here isn't appropriate considering we are going to a Quidditch match and not-"

     She barely got halfway into her sentence before Leo launched at her, his hands like fiends stretched out in front of him. Bianca didn't fight back; she hardly even moved. Which is why it was incredibly easy for Leo's fingers to dive into her pockets, roam around for about a second until he found the petite harmless badge that belonged to Adrian Pucey.

     Leo held it high as if it were a prize, his villainous grin broader than ever. "Ah-ha!" He shouted.

     Bianca's eyes shut down briefly, as she collected her nerves. She already knew Leo wasn't going to take his discovery lightly. "Oh, Jesus." She lamented.

     "You really thought you could get away with it did you?" He questioned incredulously.

     The rest of the common room went about normally ─ half of the house was chattering excitedly about the upcoming match. The rest of Gryffindor house were so eager that they were already in the stands awaiting kick-off. The room was lit up, more than usual. The red wallpaper wasn't the only splashes of colour, but the students too were fashioned in golden and crimson hues, making the lounge kindled with life. 

     And Bianca could tell Leo was about to make a dramatic scene. One that was completely unnecessary. 

     She kept her calm. "Leo, give it back," Bianca said gently.

     Leo shook his head. "Absolutely not!" He announced, his chest puffed out. "This unlawful cargo shall go nowhere near the Gryffindor stands."

     "It's a badge, for crying out loud."

     "Exactly!" He snapped. "A Slytherin badge! Bet this belongs to Adrian, huh?! Not anymore it doesn't!"

     Leo's threats to never return Adrian's badge was incredibly frustrating for Bianca, but there was no way she was going to fuel his anger by raising her voice. "I see this is a touchy subject for you, Lee," she started cooly, "and I respect your efforts, but if you don't return it to me in the next five seconds, I would like you to know I am not afraid of using a hex to get what I want."

     "Shame on you."

     "You know perfectly well why I own such cargo and I am asking you nicely if you would just let it slide this one time."

     Leo looked stunned by this statement as if he couldn't believe those words just came out of her mouth. "This "one time" is the most important game of the season, Bianca!" He was on the verge of shouting at this point. "I will not have you spectate such an event with a violation such as this in your possession! I won't have it!" Leo began shaking the badge around in his grip like he wanted the entire common room to witness her betrayal. No one had noticed the tiny pin in his hands, it was that inoffensive.

     "I apologise for my inconvenience of a boyfriend," Bianca sighed, "but just because your significant other happens to play for your house, does not mean mine doesn't deserve my support!"

     "You're a Gryffindor! Of course, he doesn't deserve your support!" Leo exclaimed exasperatedly. 

     It was apparent that Leo's childish ways had reflected back onto Bianca, and there was no helping her now. "Well then, consider yourself un-friended!"

     "I already have!" He was almost red in the face.

     It is important to mention that there is in fact a witness to this interrogation. And it is also important to mention that Maxine O'Flaherty does not want to be said witness to said interrogation.

     The Hufflepuff stood on the sidelines, Angelina Johnson's Gryffindor scarf neatly placed across her collarbone, her hands hanging low in a weak clasp. 

     "I have never witnessed such a pathetic argument," Maxine said, causing Bianca and Leo to both turn their heads in sync, waiting for Max to defend one of them. Instead, they both adopted a rather offended expression. "And I have three sisters," Max added.

     Bianca ignored the insult and made sure her blood temperature was back down to a semi-normal state, before lengthening her neck and regaining her composure. "Maxine," she muttered politely, "shall we go take our seats?"

     "No." Leo protested immediately. The muscles in Bianca's jaw clenched, but she didn't dare look at him. "Max's coming with me." 

     Apparently, Maxine had no say in the matter herself.

     Bianca turned her head towards the boy slowly, making sure her voice was going to stay at a volume that was acceptable. "She was my friend first."

     "She only became your friend because of the bet!" Leo countered.

     "She only became your friend because of my bet!" Bianca argued.

     Maxine's boiling point had been reached and with a heavy respire, the attention was brought back on her. "Oh for the love of God, will you shut up?" She said, one eyebrow raised, her eyes fed up. Right now, Maxine felt like a mother, with two insufferable toddlers that didn't know when to shut their mouths. "We are all sitting together, so we will all go there together. Think you can do that without ripping each other's heads off?"

     Leo carefully folded one arm into the other across his chest, his shoulders bolting upwards as he did so. "If she doesn't cheer for Slytherin," he said, "I might agree to that."

     Bianca did the same thing with her arms, narrowing her eyes into his. Leo still had the badge in his hand. "Consider me decapitated then."

     Leo looked taken aback, and his hands dropped to his sides in one movement. He looked over at Maxine with a hopeful expression, willing her to punish Bianca in some way. This only solidified Maxine's Mother Superiority Complex.

     The Hufflepuff immediately shot him down. "Don't look at me." She said to Leo.

     Bianca's eyes were glued to the side of Leo's head. She released her arms and broke the stuffy silence that had fallen between the three of them ─ Maxine too tired to speak, and Leo, run dry from things to say.  

     "I'm going to see Adrian," Bianca said flatly, before turning her head to direct her next words at Maxine. "I'll see you there."

     Leo picked up on her deliberate and (what he considered to be a) malicious act of ignoring him and pouted his lips babyishly. "Bye then."

     Bianca brushed her Gryffindor jumper (another reason Bianca believed Leo's reaction to be overly dramatic, considering it wasn't like she wasn't showing any kind of support to her own house) freeing it from any possible settling dust, in a way that was so obvious, Leo couldn't ignore it. She parrotted his tone. "Bye then." She said back, before leaving through the portrait hole, without her boyfriend's Prefect badge.

     The Hogwarts castle has never been so alive, Bianca noticed as she strolled out to the Quidditch pitch. Everyone was sporting a bright smile on their faces, and although the school was essentially competing against each other, those supporting the same team seemed closer than ever. Cheers echoed throughout the expanse of the grounds, where the sky was a crystal-like blue, clouds only existing as a myth. The school year was drawing to a close, and two months of homework-freedom was all anyone was thinking about.

     It made Bianca reflect on the past year. She passed her end of year exams with flying colours; lost a bet to a childish imbecile, who is now her boyfriend, by the way; scored her first-ever goal in a game of uncompetitive Quidditch; and she had never felt more excited for the prospects ahead.

     The arena was filling up when Bianca joined the train of students filing in to take the seats. She broke the trail and disappeared behind the curtains underneath the entrance stand and headed for the Slytherin team's chamber, where they discussed last-minute tactics, and where Bianca knew Adrian to be. 

     Cassius Warrington came to the entrance of the green and silver tent below the stands upon Bianca's arrival five minutes later. The Hogwarts band was resonating through the Scottish Highlands and the roars of cheers travelled around the towers of students like a wave.

     Cassius stood in the walkway, concealing the insides of the room tactfully, adorned in his flashy green robes, that fell to his ankles. He chewed the gum in his mouth aggressively, and inspected Bianca carefully, before rolling his eyes. "Adrian, your friend's here," Cassius called out, dressed in an expressionless mood.

     Bianca heard shuffling from inside the tent, followed by various mumbles and murmurs. And eventually, Cassius stepped aside, to reveal a grinning Adrian Pucey, in the same Slytherin attire.

     The couple shared a delighted gaze; Cassius Warrington blinking distastefully between them. "You have five minutes tops." Cassius said.

     This shook Adrian out of the daze he shared dreamily with his girlfriend unexpectedly, and he stared at his friend with a creased forehead. "The game doesn't start for another hour?" Adrian contested.

     Cassius still held the same bored look and shrugged his shoulders half-heartedly. "For all we know," he said, reverting his focus onto the girl who stood just outside, tightening his eyes eerily, "she's silently hexing you so Gryffindor win."

     Bianca tried to smile as she defended herself. "That's not true."

     Cassius cocked an eyebrow, and Adrian silently begged for him to leave. "That's what a guilty person would say." Cassius countered, chewing his gum even louder now. He glanced at Adrian once more than back at Bianca, shooting her an I'm warning you type look, jutting his eyebrows upwards. "I'm timing you." He said, lifting his wrist and tapping his imaginary watch harshly for the two of them to see. "You've already lost a minute." The boy droned, munching his gum a few more times before ambling back inside the tent.

     Adrian peered back into the tent to make sure Cassius was out of the way, along with the rest of his team, before properly greeting his girlfriend. Except, Adrian had a very peculiar way of doing this. In which, he didn't greet her normally, and instead, proposed (this is not a joke).

     His teeth peeked through his broad grin, as he clapped his hands together. "Well, I think four minutes is long enough for our vows." Adrian beamed. "You have prepared yours, right? And you brought a Priest, yeah?" As Bianca sighed defeatedly rubbing her fingers against her temple, Adrian teetered on his toes to get a look at the hallway outside of the tent, seemingly looking for a man to validate their marriage. "We can't espouse without the church's blessing, Bianca."

     Bianca stifled her smile to stop it from growing, and she let out a quiet chuckle at his overly-serious groan. "Adrian," she placed two hands on his arms gently, to settle him, "we talked about this. We're not getting married before any form of Quidditch final."

     Adrian was drunk when this debate started. It was another common room party, about three months into their relationship, and Slytherin had just won their match against Hufflepuff, with an astonishing ending score of 50-290. Adrian had always had a dream of proposing to his future girlfriend before the final match of a major Quidditch tournament. 

     After Slytherin's win, Adrian had great faith they could win the Interhouse Cup once again. Thus, in his drunken state, warned Bianca that they were going to get engaged rather soon. Even once he had sobered up and Bianca had told him of his dreams, Adrian agreed with past-drunk-Adrian and said Bianca should be ready for anything. After all, when he is Captain of the Wimbourne Wasps, he'll be winning every match he plays. Therefore making it to many finals in major British Tournaments (he may even end up playing for the English National Team, who knows?), ergo proposing to his girlfriend after lifting the glistening victory cup.

     Adrian's shoulders sagged. "But that's what they do in the movies!" He protested. Adrian thought that just in case Slytherin didn't win (which he had serious hope they would) he'd propose now for good luck before the match started. Because of this debacle, Bianca regrets ever introducing him to romance films, where proposals are always done in the most extravagant of ways. Adrian wanted that too. Bianca thinks they are far too young.

     His adolescence made her smile even sweeter (how did she end up with this one?). "I just came to say good luck."

     "You're boring." He groaned. "But I appreciate the effort. And I love you. But do tell Wood we're going to kick your sorry asses, though."

     "Duley noted." She replied. "And I love you too."

     "Ugh!"

     Cassius Warrington was not out of earshot. This became apparent when his noises of complaint wafted from inside the tent. "Minus one minute for the mushy jargon!" Cassius called out from behind Adrian.

     "Agreed." Graham Montague's voice followed. "That was far too sappy, Ade."

     Adrian's head whipped in the direction of his team. "Piss off or I won't play." He threatened.

     "You wouldn't dare," Cassius replied. Bianca could not see any of this, but could rather just hear the voices echo in response.

     Adrian turned inward and cocked his head, his shoulders riding up in aggravation. "Oh yeah? Try me, Warrington. I'd like to see you-"

     "Wasting our last permitted sixty seconds here babe." Bianca cut him off, just as Adrian was about to stride further into the tent, where things could have gotten a little too defensive. Bianca was reminded of her and Leo's pathetic battle. She gave thought to the differences between that fight and this one.

     Adrian melted right back into his sweet, charming self again as he turned to face Bianca. "Right yeah, sorry." He winced. "I'll try to spot you, yeah?" He suggested, rearing the conversation away from his teammates, and setting them back on track, where Adrian was actually going to play as one of Slytherin's three chasers, unlike his threat not to.

     "Wouldn't want to distract you," Bianca replied.

     Adrian smirked. "Oh honey," he started, "you already-"

     "Pucey." Cassius Warrington had a way of disturbing Bianca and Adrian's conversations. His voice was harsher now, more assertive. "Don't finish that sentence or I'll dropkick you into England."

     Adrian was very close to retaliating, but one look at his girlfriend, who looked as though she was very prepared to have a go at her own boyfriend, brought him back to earth, and he didn't even acknowledge Cassius' remark.

     He shrugged sheepishly. "Duty calls."

     "Good luck, Ade," Bianca said softly, before lowering her voice even though there was no one around besides the Slytherin team. And her next words would have had no negative impact on them at all. She leaned in, and whispered: "I'm secretly rooting for you."

     Adrian gasped dramatically. "Am I dating a traitor?" He asked incredulously.

     "Scandalous," Bianca smirked back.

     The pair gazed at each other for a moment, letting the reality of their relationship sink in, even if it took six months. As Bianca had done earlier, the past year came flooding back to Adrian's mind and he gave himself a moment to allow that. He didn't dwell on the boring parts, or even the fact it took him six years to finally get Bianca Larsson to love him back, but he only thought about how he had finally been successful. And he was eternally grateful.

     "Thank you for your support, love." He told her. But he wasn't just thanking his girlfriend for finding it in her intellectual heart to care just a little for his Quidditch success, but also for the past six months, and all of the months to come. He lightened the mood even more: "I appreciate your treason greatly. I know it must be hard."

     Bianca shrugged innocently, batting her eyelashes and said: "I don't care that much for Quidditch. I'm only here for you."

     This was still true, an hour and fifteen minutes later.

     "I think you should leave." Leo declared from their place in the stands, fifteen minutes into the Gryffindor v Slytherin final.

     The score was 10-50 to Slytherin, ergo Leo Raywood was not best pleased. The atmosphere was still in its prime, and the air was breezy. The seas of yellow and crimson, opposed the dark shades of green, but the school was united in roars of cheers. The match was a thrilling one ─ although that was guaranteed. The players swam the pitch in gushes of air, their coloured robes standing tall behind them; each of them mighty warriors flushed with determination. Adrian was playing particularly great, but you didn't hear that from Bianca.  

     Bianca scoffed, just loud enough for the boy who stood next to her to hear over the howling crowds. "Do you now?"

     Leo nodded his head sharply, his hair twisted upward and spiralling in the light wind. "Yup." He said. "Go sit in the Slytherin stand, please." Bianca watched as his eyes fell to the stands opposite them ─ the ones washed in green and silver.

     Bianca didn't change her tone of voice, mostly for Maxine's comfort, and instead, spoke rather candidly. "I'm not going to take orders from you. Nor am I going to sit with a bunch of snakes."

     Bianca may be happy to support her boyfriend's team, but she is not willing to mingle with the other Slytherins. The majority of them still have pureblood supremacist views and out-of-hand god complexes (cough cough Draco Malfoy and Marcus Flint). Adrian and his friends (most of the time) are the only exceptions.

     "Well!" Leo sang. "You seem perfectly happy cheering for their team!"

     Bianca could see Maxine slowly fish her hand into a bag of crisps and eat it impeded. She felt the Hufflepuff's eyes on her. Bianca sighed, her eyes locked on the sky above her. "I'm not cheering for their team, I'm cheering for Adrian."

     One of Leo's eyebrows jerked up, and he swayed backwards. "I take it back, I don't like you two together."

     "Ouch."

     "You could at least show some respect to your friends risking their lives out on a broom this afternoon," Leo said.

     Bianca didn't know how much more of this she could take. "I wouldn't say they are risking their lives, Leo. That's a little dramatic."

     "Dangerous game, Quidditch. Suppose you think I'm being dramatic for barring you from any common room celebrations tonight, don't you?" The boy had taken a step closer to Bianca, and she suspects its due to his need for feeling superior. He did not look the part.

     Bianca stared him down. "You won't be barring me from anything."

     "You've cheered every time Slytherin have scored," Leo said as if it were inevitable that Bianca wouldn't be invited to the Gryffindor celebrations, should they win this match.

     "Adrian's scored all of Slytherin's goals so far, what do you want me to do?"

     "Tape your mouth shut?"

     "I'm just being supportive."

     "Yeah, supportive of the wrong side."

     For the two bickering spectators, this conversation wasn't necessarily boring, but a way for the two of them to project their views. For anyone else, for example, Maxine O'Flaherty, she doesn't think she has ever experienced more pain than listening to Bianca and Leo argue so pettily. And she's been hit over the head with a Beater's bat before. And with a Bludger.

     "How much longer has this match got?" Max droned sleepily, her eyes sinking.

     Leo and Bianca were suddenly pulled from their world of squabbling and returned to one where a Quidditch match was progressing in front of their eyes. They both turned their heads to look at her. 

     "We're fifteen minutes in, Max." Bianca replied. It was clear that her arguing with Leo didn't have the same effect on her as it did on Max, and Bianca didn't quite understand Max's desire for the exciting match to be over already.

     All Max said back, in a very fatigued way, was: "Give me strength."

     Leo shut up. At least for now. And the three of them had regained their enthusiasm for the game again. How thrilling it was to see their classmates zoom around the pitch. And how mesmerising it was to see thousands of people collected into one space, awestruck by one game. An incredible buzz hung in the air.

     But as Bianca watched the match, her mind couldn't help but stray away from the game unfolding before her, no matter the elation it created. Her eyes wandered through the pitch, and around the stands, and a few people stood out to her. All of which are, no, were places on The Kiss List. Some crossed off, some failures, but all the while, huddled into one space before her eyes. It was weird remembering that eight months ago, all she could think about when seeing these people was how she would manage to kiss them. And kiss them, she did. But now, she just sees her classmates. Friends, foes. Once strangers, now bordering companions. Some just acquaintances, some old friends.

     Seeing as you haven't seen any of them for the past six months, let's catch you up:

     Clad in a crimson and yellow hat, which was not required considering the weather forecast, Bianca spotted Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory first. There was no surprise he was going to support the Lions for today, considering Slytherin's dirty play cost his team a spot in the final. He's still as sweet and as smart as ever, and no longer single. Fourth-year Ravenclaw Cho Chang caught his fancy, and last Bianca heard, the two were thriving.

     The same girl was stood beside her boyfriend, Cedric. No house merchandise spotted, but Bianca assumed if Cedric was supporting Gryffindor, so was Cho. Cho came out on top of her year following the OWL results. In terms of extracurriculars, Cho has since been announced Deputy Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and has now been named the head Astronomy Subject Captain, and is no doubt awaiting her Prefect call up in two years.

     On the other side of Cedric, stood a cheering Anthony Rickett. He is still amazing at Chess, as is Bianca ─ the two of them becoming Chess Captains and Head Chairmen of the Chess club. Anthony and Bianca remain friends, but Ant has threatened to win back his title of Chess Champion in their final year.

     Next to Anthony was Malcolm Preece. He remains to be the loveliest person ever by the way. He no longer hides his nack for Herbology and is constantly studying with high hopes of staying Professor Sprout's favourite student. He has since settled back into England, and Bianca and her family are having dinner at the Preece's next week. She's even staying there for a little while during summer.

     Keeping on the Hufflepuff side of things, there isn't much to say about Tamsin Applebee and Heidi Macavoy, besides the fact that they are still bitches. Tamsin eventually got over her crush on Adrian and finally learned he wasn't infatuated with her. But her bitterness towards Bianca remains, and they haven't spoken a word to one another in sixth months. Heidi is on a two-month-long detention string after drunkenly verbally abusing poor old Professor Flitwick (various insults about his height were thrown about. It was horrid). She also lost her Quidditch position. Sucks for her. So Bianca moved swiftly on, not wanting to reminisce any of her past experiences with those two.

     Maxine O'Flaherty, who has now regained her enthusiasm for the current match, is Bianca Larsson's best friend (Leo does still count though). When Max isn't busy with Angelina (the pair are doing wonderfully by the way) she and Bianca are attached at the hip. They healthily debate when Leo is occupied, and gossip like there's no tomorrow. Let's just say Bianca is forever indebted that she walked in on Maxine in the Astronomy tower that night they met.

     On the Slytherin supporters spectrum, Bianca spotted Jeremy Stretton first. There was no surprise he had decided to side with the Serpents on this day, nor did Bianca care that much. Jeremy Stretton remains to be the biggest twat there ever lived (tied with Marcus Flint). She has to physically avoid him in the hallways, and he has actually been banned from all Gryffindor and Hufflepuff parties since an incident happened in the Badgers Basement that is too gross to narrate. He's barely even liked by his own house. Only when he's on the Quidditch Pitch. Even then, he's the only non-Slytherin player that plays like a rotten cheat.

     Moving swiftly on, Duncan Inglebee half-heartedly waves a green flag as he stands at the back of one of the Slytherin areas. He quit the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, having lost interest in the sport, has since come out as gay, and spends all of his time in his dorm room. Bianca would like to say he is a nice person now, but frankly, she can't make that argument, because no one has spoken to that boy in months. Besides a select few.

     Bianca had temporarily lost all concentration on the most important match of the year already, and she was overcome with the determination to find every single member of The Kiss List before she could feel comfortable again.

     She saw Randolph Burrow next. Another one of her failures. Even though Bianca never got the chance to pursue Randolph, she made the effort to smile at him in the hallways any time she saw him. Bianca still feels bad that she used these people just to win a bet, so she was resolute to be as nice as possible to the people she was close to using. Randolph being one of them. There was no doubt that the boy was slightly confused by her random kindness but he soon got over that and returned the gesture. They now occasionally talk in lessons and Bianca wishes she had befriended him sooner. She thinks he's the best player on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

     Roger Davies was another she never managed to cross off. She did the same with Roger that she did to Randolph ─ act incredibly nice around him out of the blue. It just didn't have the same effect on Roger like it did on Randolph. Roger's a cocky pureblood now, and Bianca doesn't know why she expected any better than that. She hopes Cho Chang gets promoted to Primary Captain sooner rather than later, so Roger is humbled for once in his life.

     Bianca was glad to find Jason Samuels with a Gryffindor banner in his hand. Then again, she would have been extremely surprised to see any different. Jason and Bianca have been spending quite a bit of time together. Not tonnes ─ they're not that close ─ but any time Jason struggles with homework he can always rely on Bianca to help him out. And it goes both ways (which is quite rare considering Bianca isn't one to struggle academically). Jason is the most modest boy Bianca has ever met.

     Trying her best to claw her mind away from her various thoughts, Bianca focused her eyes back onto the pitch. And even then, the people playing were plenty more memories for her brain to fish around for.

     Oliver Wood was hovering in front of the highest golden hoop, his head on high alert, following the action of the game. Oliver hasn't changed that much. In fact, he hasn't changed at all. He still prays to the Quidditch Gods at night, and has no other vocabulary that doesn't consist of the words "Quaffle", "Broom", and "Golden Snitch". He did try to find another hobby after his girlfriend, Katie Bell, brought him up on his obsession with the sport, this time with a bit more aggravation in her voice in contrast to the previous times she complained about it. But it seems, all Oliver Wood is good for is Quidditch. Certainly not baking. His and Katie's relationship has been on the rocks a bit as of late, but Bianca knows they will pull through, and Oliver seems optimistic too.

     As for Katie, Katie Bell has adopted a new rebellious persona. After not doing as well as she had planned in their end of year exams, Katie sort of spiralled. But in the best way possible (at least according to Fred and George Weasley). She now helps the redhead twins with their pranks and latest jokes and she apparently gets a real thrill of it. Katie's new and improved approach to life is "who gives a crap?". Bianca is surprisingly very happy for Katie.

     Angelina Johnson has never been better. Her first-ever serious and healthy relationship is coming up to seven months in the running, she aced all of her exams (with zero stress), is going on holiday to Barbados with her family over the summer for three weeks, and, there is speculation she is the favourite candidate amongst the staff board for Head Girl. And Bianca isn't even mad about it.   

     Fred Weasley is still single. And it appears he has nothing wrong with that. He and his twin brother George have been upping their pranks this past year, and a possible future business has also come into the equation. Fred has since become Gryffindor's best beater, topping the charts and exceeding the highest statistics of previous players, much to George's discontent. However, George did manage to beat his brother when it came to OWL results ─ their mother Molly, not best pleased with either of them.

     Speaking of George, George Weasley was never dating Miles Bletchley (or so he says). He claims to be one-hundred percent heterosexual, it's just a matter of whether anyone believes that or not. Miles is now dating Hufflepuff fifth year, Patrick Bagby. George has, however, been more open about his love for knitting, and has since created a club, that has obtained over twenty members. Half of them are teenage girls, enthralled by the ginger twin. But members nonetheless.

     Bianca watched the boys in green now. The boys who she hated at the start of the year, and did for half of it. But in the end, none of them turned out to be half bad.

     Cassius Warrington is still a prick. At least to the people he dislikes. He's still very much a manwhore, and if you consider that bad, then you, by all means, wouldn't be a fan, but Bianca has learned over the past six months, that he is actually a very funny guy. Bianca even agreed to tutor him in his core subjects. The most impressive part about this ordeal was that Cassius asked for the tutoring by himself. It wasn't something compulsory that he complained about, but something that he decided for himself would, in the long run, be good for him. Cassius Warrington voluntarily studies now. It's some serious character development.

     And Cassius isn't the only one of Adrian's friends that has improved as a person. Bianca never thought she'd see it, but Graham Montague is a serious feminist now. She doesn't know where he got it from (she likes to think she had some input since they spend quite a bit of time together nowadays) but she absolutely loves it. Graham has vouched to have no further sexual relations until after marriage and he spends his time writing poetry. Shocking, we know. Everyone is just waiting for him to come out of the closet now.

     Terrence Higgs is a nerd now. He corrects people on their grammar, celebrates the concept of homework and writes essays for fun. He, no doubt, still loves Quidditch, but apparently, there is something about academic validation that he never understood before. Like he never appreciated it properly six months ago. Now? It's practically what keeps him alive. Bianca is incredibly proud.

     Miles Bletchley is Bianca's favourite (shh, don't tell Adrian). Every Sunday afternoon, for the past six months, the two of them have attended a book club they created together. It's just the two of them and all they do is discuss that week's read, but Bianca cherishes it dearly. Miles and Patrick are Bianca's favourite double-date candidates (shh, don't tell Leo and Alicia).

     And then there is Adrian. No one cares about him, so moving on.

      Kidding. Bianca loves watching him fly. Even when he looks rather aggressive and she could never imagine playing against him because that's frankly frightening, but she does love watching him fly. Don't tell the rest of the team, but Adrian sneaks Bianca under the bleachers of the Training Pitch to watch Slytherin's practices sometimes. They sneak out onto the roof every night too. They've done that every night for the past six months. Even in February when the cold made her limbs a distant memory, and their fingertips turn blue. It's nicer now summer has arrived and the sun survives till nine in the evening. 

     The past six months have been a whirlwind of delight and romance. Like a fantasy ballad, written by the two of them. Those Winter nights curled up in each other's arms to maintain body heat and avoid hypothermia, but also just to be close to each other just because they can. Those Hogsmeade dates that were all the same on paper, but so lovely and different at the same time. And those study sessions that just ended up with the two of them playing chess in the library until they fell asleep. And those harder days when their lives were too tangled up in separate ambitions but were instantly healed when they caught a glimpse of each other at dinner so simply, and everything was fine again. Because they saw each other. A whirlwind that Bianca is so thankful for.

     It was lovely to think back. And seeing as she loved watching her boyfriend play Quidditch with his friends, even when he's acting as his competitive, scary self, Bianca reverted her attention back onto the final game of the season.

     The speed of the players produced flashes of sound and colour, making Bianca's eyes cross. The Quaffle was like a hot potato ─ effortlessly being tossed from one flying student to the next. Cassius had it now. He threw it to Lucian Bole (previously a substitute but has since been promoted to a consistent player after Marcus Flint was sacked), who soared towards the goal, Adrian at his ankles. Lucian held his arm high above his head, and in a blink, even with Oliver's efforts, the clang of a bell echoed around the arena as the Quaffle sailed through the middle hoop. Bianca watched as the entire Gryffindor team sighed in defeat ─ Oliver the angriest of them all.

     The Slytherin end erupted into praise, while the Lions' end sagged with disappointment. Bianca winced to herself, and her shoulders drooped in sadness. Apparently, this reaction wasn't good enough for Leo, since Maxine O'Flaherty had different ways to react. Much louder, clearer ways to react.

     "FUCK!" Max yelled, and yet no one turned a blind eye ─ everyone else was thinking it internally.

     Leo's protests started immediately. "Maxine's more enraged by Slytherin's lead than you are!" He exclaimed in Bianca's direction. "That's not how it should be!"

     Bianca was saddened by Slytherin's increasing lead, and although only half an hour had passed, no signs of the Seekers being remotely close to catching the snitch had been spotted, and Gryffindor's spirits were slowly declining. In Leo's eyes, her sadness was not nearly deep enough.

     She sighed. "Both of you have girlfriends that play for Gryffindor." She argued. "I'm not arguing with you, Lee, nor do I have a side here. I'm neutral." She shrugged. Neutral? Maybe. Bias to her boyfriend's team even when she had love for the opposing one? Definitely.

     Leo huffed sarcastically. "Sure ya are."

     Maxine had her eyes glued to the game, and it stayed that way, even when she leaned over towards Bianca and said: "Actually, Angie isn't the only reason I'm angry Slytherin are winning." She explained. "I also made a bet with your boyfriend."

     Bianca paused for a minute. Initially, this puzzled her. "Hm?" She hummed in confusion, her eyebrows slowly sinking as her thought process became more developed.

     "Adrian bet me five galleons Slytherin would win." Max had raised her voice a little, so Bianca could hear her over the crowd. Max's own news seemed sort of irrelevant to her, but she decided to tell Bianca anyway. "I disagreed." 

     Bianca stared into the side of Maxine's head. Her lips slowly parted and the game had no interest to her for now. Max finally glanced over at Bianca when she received no reply in the first few seconds. Maxine was met with a cocked head, and muddled creases in Bianca's forehead.

     "What?"

     "Why would you make a bet with my boyfriend?" Was Bianca's question back.

     Max shrugged. "I have confidence in Gryffindor, ergo, I would gain five galleons. And making bets with Adrian Pucey seemed to give you good luck. What with your long-term relationship and all." She wiggled her head.

     It's true ─ making bets with Adrian Pucey had given Bianca a rather good outcome. But it didn't seem it at first, and Bianca was still unsure that was a good idea from Max's view frame. Adrian will probably not keep his word if Gryffindor win. "That's hardly the same," Bianca replied.

     "Isn't it?"

     Leo gave up arguing with Bianca because Gryffindor scored three further goals.

     Lee Jordan's voice boomed around the stadium as Angelina Johnson scored her first goal this game, bringing Gryffindor's tally up to 40 ─ Slytherin still in the led by 20 points. As you can probably tell, Maxine went berserk. It was two minutes later when she finally stopped jumping up and down ecstatically. It was this goal, that Bianca cranked up her passion for when Gryffindor scored. Leo thinks she should have done this ten minutes ago (when Katie scored Gryffindor's first goal).

     And yet, Bianca couldn't take her eyes off of Adrian and how flawlessly he guided his broom wherever he wanted it to go. Even if his robes were green, and her scarf was red. Leo still had his Prefect badge, since Bianca had given up trying to get it back, and yet he still played just as good ─ better even ─ without his lucky charm.

     And maybe, it wasn't that lucky after all. Because two and a half hours later, Slytherin won the match.

     "Don't. Utter. A. Word." Leo said monotonously, whilst the Gryffindor stands were faced with a raving ocean of emerald green, where their jumps of joy, made waves that spiked from one end of the stands to another. The sound was immense.

     Even as she watched Adrian and his teammates clump together in pure bliss, piling on top of Draco Malfoy, who had the coveted Golden Snitch in his grasp, hidden underneath the heap of boys, Bianca was still sad for her friends in red. "I'm not happy-"

     The entire right side of the stadium who were supporting Gryffindor were sporting disappointed expressions; some sulking in their seats (Maxine being one of them), some mindlessly clapping for the victorious team out of respect. 

     And some were just pissed. Exhibit A: Leo Raywood.

     "I said don't talk!" 

     It was incredibly disheartening seeing the Gryffindor team, slowly fly down from their once high ground, with solemn faces, as they dismounted their brooms and shared defeated handshakes. Bianca doesn't think she's ever seen Fred and George Weasley look so crushed.

     And even though Bianca had to admit her heart felt warm to see Adrian's grin as proud as ever, her heart also felt like it was sinking to her stomach, because she knew how much it meant to her friends to win this match. Oliver's only got one year left ─ and he's yet to win the Interhouse Cup at Hogwarts. 

     "Lee," Bianca's voice was the softest it's ever been so far this day. "I'm not happy Gryffindor lost if that's what you're wondering."

     His hands flew to his side. "You so are!" He said. "Now you get to be all nutty about your boyfriend!"

     "You would have done the same if Gryffindor won!" Bianca challenged.

     A low groan erupted from his throat. "That would be different because that's my house!" He debated and it felt like they were going round in circles. "But, anyway, they didn't win. So shush."

     Leo flopped down into his seat; a deep breath out following.

     Bianca subtly sat down in the seat next to him and began saying: "As you wish. But-"

     But Leo opened his mouth before giving her a chance. "Oh my-"

     She stopped him before he could say anything else. Her voice was calm. "Leo." She said. It was clear neither one of them was going to agree on this, so Bianca decided on the most mature approach she could: "They didn't win this year, no, but I have confidence they can do it next year. More experience, thicker skin and all that."

     Leo had heard Alicia talk about how excited she was for this match, and how much she knew it meant to Oliver if they could finally win. He had heard all of the stories from their practices about how they truly believed they could do it this year, what with the famous Harry Potter as their new seeker, and for being the strongest they've ever been. Now he feared he'd have to comfort her because Slytherin were just that little bit stronger.

     Bianca knew how much he cared. 

     He finally looked her in the eyes and tilted his head for a moment before setting it straight again. He sighed. Not with anger, but with acceptance. And despite the pitch invasion from the Slytherin house, who enveloped their team, as they received the giant silver cup, it was still a nice moment. With the blaring chants from down below and the surf of green banners and silver flags, it was still a nice moment.

     "Fuck." Maxine huffed from beside Bianca. "I owe your boyfriend five galleons."

     The aftermath of the match started out brutal but ended up as a sweet gathering of the Gryffindor Quidditch team's closest supporters. So while the raving Slytherin clan memorialized this moment with song and dance, and throwing their players up in the air for forty-five minutes, Bianca, Leo and Maxine all met the Gryffindor players in their tent and commemorated them on their great play.

     The atmosphere was sombre, but there were hints of hope and sweetness that they all recognised. Moments were Fred cracked a joke, or Angelina mentioned a funny memory from this past year. Oliver had stopped crying ─ and that was definitely a good sign. So although the cheering from outside where supporters of the Slytherin team had all collected, a few hugs and laughs picked the Gryffindor team back up again.

     Bianca stood on the sidelines and watched her friends crack smiles, and fill the room with just a drop of glee after a great loss, and couldn't help but smile too. And although she wanted to congratulate her boyfriend, she wasn't sure how the crowd outside would feel about her stealing him away. And besides, noticing Leo cheer up his girlfriend, told her, Adrian could wait. "Leo." She called him over.

     After excusing himself from Alicia, and shuffling over to where Bianca stood, she held out her hand for him to shake. His forehead creased, so she clarified her intentions. "Truce?" Her head cocked to the side.

     Leo's neck jutted out. "How old are you sorry?"

     Bianca tutted. "Old enough to know we should put our differences behind us."

     It took a second for Leo to consider his options. But eventually, just how she wanted him to, he sighed and gave up. "Oh, Lord. Okay."

     As their hands collided in a grasp, a torch in the tent reflected in his eyes, and it caused them to sparkle. They still have a year left, but it made Bianca think. What happens when they leave Hogwarts? How do friendships survive without seeing each other every day for class? Even as all these daunting thoughts unloaded onto her, Bianca knew that she and Leo would last forever.

     "I'm gonna go give my congratulations to the Slytherin team." She explained, as their hands slipped away from each other. Leo didn't seem as annoyed as Bianca expected him to. "If that's okay with you, that is?" She asked jokingly, even though she wasn't technically asking for his permission ─ she was going to do it no matter what he said.

     Leo groaned in jest. "If you must." His tone of voice told Bianca that he didn't mind at all. Even after all their squabbling, Leo knew that the winning team deserved their praises sung, and he didn't mind that Bianca was nice enough to congratulate them when he wasn't.

     Bianca congratulated her friends one last time, before politely excusing herself. And they had no bad words to say about her exit. Because they are good friends. And friends understand.

     She had to wait a little while before the winning team was "physically available" due to the masses amount of celebration taking place and because the crowds of Serpent supporters was far too large for Bianca to see through. And so, as the sun went down behind the castle, Bianca waited until the Slytherin team finally emerged from their tent, all changed out of their sweaty Quidditch robes, no doubt awaiting further celebrations from their house once they return to their underground common room.

     Bianca wanted to congratulate the rest of the Slytherin team before she said anything to Adrian. But she wasn't quite able to do that. Adrian was the last one out from the backside of the stadium, and even though she was growing cold, Bianca had just enough energy to launch herself at him and throw her arms around his neck.

     The rest of the team laughed on ahead, as Adrian recovered from the shock of his girlfriend's appearance. But once the initial surprise sunk in, Adrian returned the favour and wrapped his arms around her back, and spun her off of the ground.

     Bianca's head was nestled in the crook of his neck, but he could still understand her words. "Aw, I'm so proud of you!" She cried.

     Adrian's smile only grew bigger as they made eye contact after she finally lifted her head from his comfort. He carefully placed her back down on the ground, his hands still loosely locked around her waist. "You enjoy the game?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear.

     Bianca rested her hand on his chest gently and smiled up at him. "Course I did." She replied. "Leo's slightly pissed I cheered you on the whole game, for Gryffindor to then lose, though." She grimaced.

     Adrian's arms fell from her back, and she spun around, the two ascending the hill up to the castle. He was quick to sling his arm over her shoulder, and he naturally tugged her closer. "He'll come around," Adrian reassured, and just like that, Bianca didn't need any more confirmation whatsoever. 

     Adrian rubbed her shoulder lovingly with his hand, and dipped his head to look at his girlfriend; their steps synced perfectly. "I'm just pleased my girlfriend stayed for the entire match and didn't let her boredom get the better of her. Aw." Bianca admired his pouting lips and realized shortly after that he was mocking her.

     "I was not bored, thank you." Bianca defended, lifting her chin. 

     Adrian exhaled deeply, absorbing the landscape around him. "You can say it." He said. "I won't get offended."

     "That doesn't matter," Bianca replied, snuggling closer into his side almost to silently apologise for not being interested in his Quidditch career sooner, "because I wasn't bored."

     Adrian's cheeky grin softened, and so did his voice. "That's nice to hear. I'm glad you came."

     Bianca hummed. "Hm yes, I thought I should. What with its importance and all."

     "Aw, my successes are important to you."

     "Now that's a stretch too far," Bianca said sarcastically, and his breathy chuckle echoed in her ears seconds later. From this close, the clear sound of his laughter was like the warmth of a fire in the Gryffindor common room.

     "You know you love me." Adrian drawled, playfully shoving her to the side a little, so her body swayed left then right.

     Once she recovered, and her laughter had settled, Bianca was quick to budge up close to him once again. "Ugh, not the corny romance lingo." She complained, rolling her eyes, almost echoing Cassius Warrington.

     Adrian's mouth dropped open humorously as if he was offended. "Don't lie," he said, "you know you love that too, you hypocrite."

     It was true. And Adrian was curious as to why Bianca tried to hide the fact that the cliché words they shared, wasn't her favourite thing ever.

     "That's a step too far."

     Adrian didn't say anything. 

     It was a perfect period of stillness. Where peace had settled among them, and this picturesque life couldn't be disturbed by anything at all. 

      "Oh, and before I forget," Adrian broke the silence, and Bianca didn't mind at all. "Tell O'Flaherty she owes me five galleons."

     Bianca feels Adrian's last words summed up the past year perfectly. It felt like a film producer clacking a board and wrapping up this perfect take. Or like an author, typing out the final line of this sentimental chapter. And Bianca couldn't wait for the next one. Fuck trying not to be cringey. Wasn't the entire Kiss List bet a marathon of melodrama and a series of maudlin events? Yes, yes it was. And Bianca is very happy it happened that way. So thank you, Kiss List. In all your mushy, silly ways, you were a genius. And a heck of a lot of fun.

     Their laughter dissipated into the summer breeze. Not lost, nor forgotten but near.

     The Hogwarts castle stood tall in the distance, against the fading blue beyond. The fortress of uniform grey, that is a mosaic of humble rocks up close, never looked so homely, despite its grand size, and towering structure. The sun was submerging behind the great mountains of Scotland that were dressed in green, like a brilliant painting from years ago. 

     The castle's turrets spiralled high into the sky, and from where she stood, it looked as though they were greeting the clouds with the tips of their fingers.

     Bianca felt like she could touch the sky. Because Adrian was by her side.

𝒇𝒊𝒏.