Chapter 29: 2-2

The Potter twins, having arrived near Hogwarts Castle via Side-Along Apparition with Professor Snape, were hailed by the Gryffindors as returning heroes. Regardless of their own wishes, they had once again become heroes—and they weren't happy about it. Harry was fed up, and Maria was crying to Hermione to stop the spread of any more ridiculous nicknames.

Above all else─

"Well, well, well! Mr. Potter, Miss Potter!"

"Ugh..."

There was no way the incompetent narcissist would stay silent toward the duo who had snatched all the attention right at the start of the new term.

"Naughty children. You may have thought you were testing your courage. But, however! As long as I am here─"

"Professor Lockhart? Just a moment ago, a student who wanted to speak with you was looking for you down the corridor. She was clutching your book and looked absolutely enchanted, so she probably wanted to share her thoughts on your work. Being the kind professor you are, surely you will go find her and listen to what she has to say?"

"Yes, of course! Now, which female student might it be?"

"Let me see... a dark-haired......... Slytherin student, I believe."

"Is that so, is that so! A dark-haired Slytherin girl!"

As Lockhart happily walked away, I grabbed Harry and Hermione's hands and power-walked to put some distance between us. We walked until those annoying turquoise robes were out of sight, and once I let go, Harry and I let out a deep, deep sigh.

"Your act as a girl was perfect, Maria."

"Thanks, Ron. I was actually just starting to wonder if I might really be a girl."

"Stop talking nonsense! Maria, your attitude just now wasn't good at all. It was rude when the professor went out of his way to speak to us. Professor Lockhart... I wonder if you offended him..."

"We're the ones who were offended."

"We're the ones whose feelings were hurt."

"Right now, he's probably drooling as he chases after a brunette madonna who might not even exist."

"Let his nose stretch all the way to the floor."

"Honestly!"

Hermione was indignant at us cursing to our heart's content, but Ron just played dumb, saying, "It's like watching Fred and George... you guys really are twins..." I love that about you, Ron.

"Um─"

The one who suddenly called out was a small boy with mousy brown hair─You're next! Colin Creevey!

Colin was holding a bulky camera about the size of his face in both hands, eyes sparkling, cheeks flushed bright red as he looked up at Harry. ...It was the exact same face Hermione makes when she looks at Lockhart.

Harry was overwhelmed by Colin's seemingly modest yet incredibly pushy requests for a photo. Just as he was trying to somehow escape this embarrassing demand─why is it that troubles always seem to pile up?

"Well, if it isn't the attention-seeking Potter and his tag-along sister."

Nobody called for you─you Slytherin brunette!

"How are you doing, Pansy?"

"Oh, perfectly, thanks for asking. I had a sublime and wonderful conversation with Draco this morning. It was an elegant morning, unlike you Gryffindors who are always making a racket. But it just turned terrible from this very moment. To think the pretty-faced floozy of a princess is holding an autograph session in a place like thiiiiis. How much are they? Are they even worth using as kindling for the fireplace?"

"So you do admit she has a pretty face."

"Since when did Maria agree to sign autographs?"

Shh! Don't casually throw fuel on the fire, Hermione, Ron.

"Well, I think it would burn much better if you were in the picture too. Care to join?"

"Wha... what do you mean─"

"Well, well? What's all this commotion? Who is handing out signed photos?"

"............"

Instantly, the light died in my and Harry's eyes. Ron's died too for good measure. In contrast, Hermione positively glowed. That glow was a bit too blinding for us.

I knew it; wherever there's a fuss, rubberneckers and this man will appear. Even though I had gone to all the trouble of having an unknown madonna stall him─Ah.

"Ara, Professor, how perceptive of you to notice. Actually, this is the student I mentioned earlier—a huge fan of yours who dearly loves your books and is so eager to learn, Miss Pansy Parkinson. I'm so relieved you didn't miss each other. Well then."

"Huh? W-wait, you, what?"

"Ah, Pansy! I heard you are quite the fan of my..."

Leaving Parkinson's confusion and the incompetent fool's obliviousness behind, I grabbed Hermione and Harry and ran once again. Ron would follow on his own, so priority went to Hermione, who looked like she might carelessly linger. I didn't care if I got a warning or lost House points. Just don't let that painfully loud turquoise blue enter my field of vision anymore!

"We got away... we really got away this time, right? Right, Harry?"

"Maria, you seem to have forgotten, so I'll remind you."

Ron shrugged his shoulders. Harry gently put an arm around my shoulder. Hermione was, as expected, still fuming.

"Our next class is Defense Against the Dark Arts."

─Go get swallowed by a Basilisk!

"So that's why the Gryffindor Princess is in such a bad mood."

"Right now, I'd sew your mouth shut too."

Having survived the absolute worst DADA class, I was currently sulking near our usual spot by the lake.

Seriously, seriously, incompetent people shouldn't try to punch above their weight. He can't even handle Pixies. He can't even clean up his own mess. Using Non-verbal Spells, and Wandless Magic on top of that, just pretending to wave his wand! I had my hands full just protecting Harry.

Out of spite, for Question 32 on the quiz: What is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest spell?, I wrote down "Obliviate."

"My apologies. Here, lie down to your heart's content."

Draco patted his lap for me, as I was unable to contain my frustration. Taking him at his word, I lay down; he brushed away my scattered bangs and placed his hand on my forehead.

It was cool and felt nice. Harry runs so warm, like a child's body temperature. That felt nice in its own way too. I like both of their temperatures.

"Draco... you're really pale."

"What's this, all of a sudden?"

I touched his cheek, which was pale beyond just being fair-skinned. It was indeed cool. And smooth. If I recall correctly, Draco's parents were also so pale they almost looked unhealthy, so I wondered if it was a trait specific to Pure-bloods. Sirius was... so gaunt that I couldn't really tell.

"Like a vampire?"

"You were still holding a grudge over that?"

I giggled as he pinched my cheek with a ticklish lightness. Looking down at me with his golden thread-like hair falling like a veil, Draco stroked my red hair. He played with it, occasionally twirling it around his fingers.

"...If Hermione saw us, she'd be loud about it."

"Ah, Miss Granger's lady lessons."

"It's because you snitched. Thanks to you, I get an earful of nagging every day."

"It's because you so casually try to stay over in a boy's room."

"But it's you."

"............"

He silently squished my lips with his fingers. Yes, yes, "Shut up," I get it.

"...Come to think of it, it's strange. Us, I mean."

"What, out of the blue? You're very abrupt today."

"I'm just in that kind of mood. My brain isn't working right thanks to Mr. Incompetent."

"Let's go with that."

He tickled the corner of my eyes with a laugh. And then, as expected, his fingers returned to the space between my hair and skin.

"Since when did we start touching each other like this?"

"............"

"Think about it. I wouldn't even shake hands with you at first."

If it hadn't been for Scorpius and Albus, I don't know if we would have even spoken properly to each other. It was Scorpius who changed Draco this much, and without Albus, my prejudice against Slytherin might have remained an unresolved lump. Truly, parents are always at the mercy of their children.

"First we started with greetings... and then we went for a meal?"

"As chaperones for the kids."

"And then we started meeting just the two of us."

"Before long, it was our whole families."

"Ginny seemed to be uncomfortable with you, though."

"Because I bullied her relentlessly during our school days."

"And yet you're so close to me, even though you bullied me almost to the point of death."

"I lost to your toughness."

We tapped our foreheads together and laughed. No matter how close I look, it's a beautiful face.

──Ah, since when? Since when did having you at this distance become so natural?

"Since when... did we start touching each other like this?"

"...Who knows, I don't remember."

"Right. .........I don't remember either."

The last time I said goodbye to you was──