Just Friends

Chapter 7

Blaise opened the door slowly and when he realised Theo was at his front door, a wide grin spread out on his face. Theo furrowed his brow when he saw the sly grin on Blaise's face.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here this evening Theodore?" Blaised asked with a mocked cordiality, the knowing smile still lingering on his face.

Theo let out an exasperated sigh, his eyes momentarily rolling at the jest, yet he chose to sidestep the teasing. "Is Malfoy around? I need to have a word with him," he inquired, peering into the room with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Oh, he's here alright... Come on in, Theo. I need to grab something from the common room real quick," Blaise said, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. With that, he sauntered out the door, leaving Theo alone in the room with Draco.

Draco sat upright on his bed, his back against the headboard, engrossed in a book cradled in his hands. Briefly, he glanced up at Theo, acknowledging his presence before redirecting his attention back to the pages. His expression remained stoic, a mask veiling any discernible emotions.

"May I...?" Theo gestured, seeking permission to join him on the bed.

Draco offered no verbal response, but he shifted his legs, silently making space for Theo to sit. His eyes remained fixed on the book, unwavering even as he accommodated Theo's request.

"Thanks," Theo said as he sat down at the edge of the bed.

The two of them sat in silence for a while.

When it was apparent to Theo that Draco wasn't going to talk to him, he took a deep breath before asking, "So...how long will you be staying here?" Theo inquired with his gaze glued to the floor.

"Why do you care?" Draco answered tersely. His eyes were still glued to the book.

Theo's gaze remained fixed on the floor, his mind working in overdrive to find the right words. Opting for small talk, he cleared his throat before tentatively asking, "How are you?" It was a safe start, or so he thought.

Draco's response cut through the air, a mix of cynicism and a smirk playing on his lips. "Eh, well, not bad, I guess. Could be better, considering I just found out that my girlfriend cheated on me with my own friend," he remarked, his eyes never leaving the book in his hands.

Exhaling an exaggerated sigh, Theo shifted his body to face Draco directly. "Look, Malfoy, I... I'm really sorry about what happened, alright?" His brows furrowed, carrying the weight of genuine remorse as he wore an apologetic expression, hoping to bridge the gap between them.

Draco scoffed, setting his book aside, and shifted his gaze towards Theo. "Really? You're sorry? Sorry for what, exactly? Are you sorry that my girlfriend was an unfaithful wench, Or are you sorry for conveniently forgetting to mention it to me?" His words dripped with sarcasm, the visible rage in his expression contrasting with his biting tone.

"Look Malfoy, why are you angry with me when your girlfriend is the one who cheated on you?" Theo replied defensively, his own frustration beginning to surface in response to Draco's accusation.

Draco's voice was strained, his words heavy with accusation. "You had no problem sleeping with her, did you? Even though you knew we were together!"

"Stop blaming me for something I had no clue about!" Theo's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. "I didn't intentionally do this to hurt you. I had no idea she was your girlfriend!"

Draco's jaw tensed, his eyes flashing with anger. "Ignorance doesn't excuse what you did. You were with her, Nott. You crossed a line."

Theo scoffed, his tone laced with defiance. "How was I supposed to know, Malfoy? She didn't exactly wear a label that said 'taken'."