November 9th 1995
Song:Anxiety by Julia Michaels
Swim by chase Atlantic
Shameless by Camilla cabello
Normal girl by sza
OOTD
The morning was grey and cold—like all November mornings. It seemed they had skipped over fall and already entered winter with the snow that covered the ground—daintily falling from the sky and melting onto the pavement.
Astrid stayed in the shower for all of breakfast—letting out sighs at the hot water drizzling over her skin and the steam kissing her cheeks and nose pink.
She spent most of the early morning convincing herself she would enjoy getting out of her shell and catching up with an old friend—she had failed miserably.
She could not quite recall the last time she had gone out on her own—without her three friends and hung out with someone new—if Marcus Belby could be considered new.
Hermione had knocked on her door three times and three times she promised she would join them in a few minutes—staying in longer each time. Perhaps she should have joined them for breakfast—allowing herself to forget her anxious thoughts a little while.
Hermione sat outside on her bed when Astrid re entered their dorm—pulling her jacket over her clothes and placing a hat on her head "how was breakfast?"
The curly haired girl stared hard and long at her—most likely annoyed "I get to start my day with the boys and now I get to spend my afternoon with them too—how lucky"
Astrid laughed "will you still come and sit at a back table in my eye line when I get to the pub with Marcus?"
"Yes" Hermione sighed "if Ron and Harry hurry up in the Quidditch store that is"
Astrid smiled at this—feeling satisfied enough to finally leave their dorm and start making her way to the main doors where she would meet Marcus.
"Why don't we all go together?" Ron asked—looking Marcus over as he walked alongside Astrid and Harry
"I don't mind" Marcus nodded his head "if Astrid would like that"
"Sure" Astrid shrugged—feeling so happy Ron suggested they walk to the village together she could kiss him—this reduced the time she had to spend alone with the boy
She kept Hermione close to her side as they walked—talking back and forth of classes and the people they all disliked. Hermione's hand tightly in Astrid's all the way to the village and through the shops they all decided to go into together.
"This isn't going to well is it?" Hermione whispered to Astrid—the boys running around Zonko's and showing each other products only they found amusing
"This is wonderful" Astrid grinned—shaking Hermione's shoulder "I've only had to speak one word to him"
"Why did you say yes if you didn't want to come out with him?" Hermione leaned against the side of a shelf—her feet crossed over one another as she watched Ron chase Harry with a biting toy
Astrid shrugged—looking at the rare objects decorating the shelves "just didn't want to say no"
"Didn't want too or couldn't?" Hermione raised an eyebrow
"Same thing isn't it" Astrid pressed her lips in a thin line—picking up a few sneakoscopes and dungbombs to bring back for Nick, Lorenzo and Archie along with the sweets she bought them from Honeydukes
"He's going to want to sit alone with you when we go to get a butterbeer" Hermione rubbed her temples "goodness my head is aching—I knew I shouldn't have stayed up with Ron"
Astrid turned her head sharply—taking a step back and standing infront of Hermione "what were you doing up with Ron?"
"Nothing" Hermione laughed unnaturally—turning away from Astrid and walking into the aisle of nose biting teacups
"Why is it you won't admit you like him to me?" Astrid followed after—her arms crossed over her chest "do you not trust me? I mean are we not best friends!"
Hermione busied herself with the fake flowers that squirted out water—running her fingers through the petals "we are"
"I tell you everything" Astrid pouted her lips "you don't trust me!"
"I do" Hermione groaned "but it's embarrassing"
Astrid nodded her head slowly—turning away from her friend and walking to the register to check out her few items as Hermione stalled by the doors—rocking back and forth as she waited
"You don't have to tell me" Astrid looked out to see the boys re joining them "but if you do decide too—I promise I won't laugh nor will I tell a soul"
"You already know" Hermione and Astrid exited the shop—the wind painful against their cheeks
"I have a feeling, I don't know for sure and Harry's clueless so I can't even discuss it with him" Astrid smiled lightly "whatever" linking their arms again "we'll talk boys when we get to go to Hogesmede just the two of us"
"If that ever happens" Hermione eyed Ron and Harry "they're attached at our hips"
"Why don't we go get you those quills than?" Ron shoved his hands into his coat pockets—kicking the pebbles around the two
"Okay" Hermione lit up "Astrid we can—
"I was thinking we head to go get a drink if there's nothing else you want to look at" Marcus cut in—smiling innocently at Astrid—his cheeks flushed and his mouth covered with a thick knit scarf
"Let's go" Astrid glanced at Hermione
"See you" Hermione whispered "I'll be as quick as I can"
Astrid nodded her head—walking alongside Marcus and wondering what topics she could bring up to keep conversation flowing without any awkward pauses
She thanked him quietly as he opened the door for her—placing his coat around a chair of an open table in the middle of the room—Astrid slipping her gloves and coat off as she sat down—tapping her fingers on the wooden table as she looked around for familiar faces
Ginny sat in a corner with Michael and all the older years students had taken over all the booths except for one where Draco Malfoy sat—across from a dark haired girl.
Astrid readjusted in her seat—trying to see who he was all alone with—their mutual friends no where in sight.
"Butterbeer?" Marcus asked
Astrid glanced at him "mhm" before looking back to Malfoy who's eyes were skimming the interior of the restaurant rather than sitting on his date who seemed to be deep in conversation—waving her hands around as she spoke passionately about something
Astrid's eyes left Malfoy's face before he could look her w—instead she sat with her hands in her l—staring to the side where Marcus was waiting in line and saying hello to some of his friends who wore the same navy coloured sweaters and grey slacks.
A smirk raised on the corners of Malfoy's lips at the sight of Astrid—he observed her carefully—her hair still a copper colour under her black hat.
She zoned in and out—staring into the cracked wooden table as she waited—swinging her legs under the table every so slightly.
"Here we are" Marcus arrived just in time—bringing Astrid back "a hot butterbeer for you my lady"
"Ah" Astrid smiled up at him—warming her hands against the glass "thank you"
"Not a problem" Marcus pulled his chair out and took a seat—running a hand through his brown hair
Malfoy tapped his wand against the table as he watched the two—carefully looking Marcus over—from his short hair to his preppy sweater and dressy shoes.
"So" Astrid bit her lip "any plans for Christmas?"
Marcus took a swig of his drink before responding—explaining his family traditions to Astrid as she nodded her head—staring into the golden drink swirling glitteringly around
"What about you?" He tucked his hand under his chin—staring deeply into her eyes
"Oh" she laughed "erm, the Weasley's and us take turns hosting—I think this year is their turn and Lorenzo's birthday is during the holidays too so we'll probably visit France to celebrate"
"Ah, right, I've seen him around, he's grown quite a bit" Marcus smiled—laughing into a story of his first year that Astrid had heard twice already
She took a dainty sip of her drink—looking past him at Malfoy who was staring back at her—the corners of his mouth lifting but his eyes cold and narrowed.
Astrid sat up straighter—swallowing her spit "oh yeah, I remember and then Leo fell down the moving staircase right?"
"Exactly" Marcus laughed "we ended up being half an hour late to class because they kept switching—talk about a step in the wrong direction for our future punctuality"
"Hilarious" Astrid furrowed her eyebrows at Malfoy who wouldn't look away "are you going to the dance?"
"Possibly" Marcus moved in his seat—blocking Malfoy out of Astrid's vision "are you?"
"Uh yeah" she looked back at him—smiling once again "with Harry I think"
"Oh" Marcus nodded his head "are you two..."
"No!" Astrid coughed "oh, gosh no, Harry's like a brother"
Marcus smiled at this "I see"
"Besides he's not my type" Astrid laughed "a bit too dull for me I'm afraid, I'd lose my mind explaining every little thing to him—I already do"
Marcus laughed—looking at Astrid nervously "so, what is your type anyways?"
"Tall" Astrid shrugged "looks like he's malnourished" she thought for a moment "huh, I guess Harry fits that doesn't he? Anyways, I like guys that are on the same intellectual level as me and look mean"
"Weasley doesn't look mean" Marcus laughed "nor did I when we were younger"
"I guess you're right" Astrid looked to the door as it chimed—hoping to see Hermione and the others pile in, disappointed at the sight of Lee walking in with the twins "I gravitate towards gentle hearted people" George quirking an eyebrow at her that she dismissed
Astrid watched Malfoy pull his coat off of his shoulders instead—getting up and folding his sleeves up to his elbows—watching Astrid before he disappeared behind the wall that led to the restrooms.
"I'm going to use the ladies room" Astrid stood up—taking her hat off and leaving it next to her drink "be back in a second"
"No worries" Marcus focused on his butter beer
She glanced over at the table where Malfoy sat—watching Astoria Greengrass fix her lipgloss and boredly play with her necklace as she waited for Malfoy's return
She stopped in the middle of the corridor where the washroom doors stood—various metal plates indicating what gender went where.
Waiting a few seconds before realizing how foolish she was to follow Malfoy to the restrooms to begin with—abandoning Marcus who had been carrying the conversation on her behalf for the past hour. She turned abruptly to return—deciding to make a grander effort in rekindling her friendship with Belby.
"Following me Clearwater?" Malfoy stood at the opposite end—where the men's washroom was located—a taunting look on his face "can't get enough of me, can you?"
Astrid clenched her jaw—looking at the opening through the stairs to make sure no one was approaching the restrooms. She grabbed Malfoy's wrist and pulled him into the single stall washroom—pushing him against the wall and locking the door quickly
"What is your problem?" She hissed—leaning against the door so he couldn't leave "why do you keep staring at me!"
Malfoy grinned—taking a singular step to her and resting his palm against the door—leaning into her "why? I can't look at you"
Astird raised her chin—staring at him with cold eyes "No you can't—it's annoying"
"Does it bother you?" he asked—ducking his head so they were closer
"A great deal" she crossed her arms and stood taller—keeping her face neutral
"Does it make you nervous?" He asked—his hands taking a hold of her jaw
Astrid's face dropped—pushing herself against the door—with no where to escape "I—what're you doing?"
"Trying to understand why it bothers you so much" his hot breath hit Astrid's neck—his grip growing tighter
"Stop it" Astrid breathed "stop touching me" she pushed him—Malfoy unaffected
"Does my touch bother you too?" He asked—grinning "More than Belby and Weasley's touch?"
Astrid met his eyes—aware of her surroundings now and staring hard at him with her eyebrows furrowed "stop" she pushed him harder—Malfoy taking a step back "stop messing with my head"
"I'm not the one who pulled you in here and locked the door" he smiled at her reddening cheeks
Astrid turned away from him—unlocking the door and stepping out—wiping her hands against her pants—Malfoy leaving at the same time as her.
She stopped—her back colliding with his chest—Harry staring at her as he entered the three broomsticks—Ron and Hermione shuffling in behind him
"I'll see you later tonight" Malfoy whispered—his gaze set on Harry for a few moments before he side stepped and left Astrid standing
"Ron's just gone to get us butterbeers" Hermione informed Astrid and Marcus—sitting next to the girl "you don't mind if we join you, do you?"
Marcus stared at Astrid "No" a short sigh escaped his mouth "not at all"
Harry stared at Astrid for approximately one hour and twenty five minutes—during that time the five of them drank their butterbeers and Ron ate his pot pie—Harry not joining in any of the conversations that sprung up around him—not even when Marcus asked about Quidditch.
Astrid exchanged Harry's looks with stern ones of her own—she did not shy away and look down nor did she try and break the tension with a smile. She stared at him with her eyebrows knitted together—trying to read his face and thoughts without the use of magic.
Her face hot—knowing Malfoy was staring at her still—shamelessly.
Harry cleared his throat once Ron had spooned the last bit of pie into his mouth "Strid"
"What" she leaned back in her wooden chair—pulling at the fur on her coat—continuing to stare at him
"Walk with me" he stood—grabbing his coat off of the chair and tucking it under his arm
Astrid frowned—following him quickly out the door while the others slowly got up and sorted their things—looking to one another at the sudden departure of the two
She pulled her coat back on and placed her hat on her head—swinging her purse around as they walked side by side.
"Am I correct when I say I saw you and Malfoy together?" He asked—looking around at the shops
Astrid groaned "can I not take a piss anymore?"
"He was talking to you" Harry sharply looked at her—mistrust shining in his eyes
"We coincidentally came out of the washroom at the same time, I stopped because I saw you guys enter an hour after I told you to come sit in the restaurant and Malfoy just bumped into me" Astrid shrugged "it's nothing like what you're thinking"
"What did he say to you?"
"He—apologized" Astrid thought quick—taking her lip between her teeth "because he bumped into me"
"Sorry isn't in Malfoy's dictionary and it didn't look like he was apologizing" Harry avoided looking at her—instead looking back to see Hermione, Ron and Marcus following them back to Hogwarts—only a few feet away
"Okay" Astrid sighed "okay" she tried to think of what to say, how could she tell him it was all her, she pushed him into the restroom and locked them in there "he was asking me to apologize to the Slytherin team—to try and get Theo and Blaise back on the team
"How long has he been harassing you over that for?" Harry had seemed to relax at Astrid's answer
"He hasn't been harassing me, he's only brought it up once" Astrid twisted the rings that decorated her fingers—she wasn't necessarily lying when she said that—he had brought it up in the kitchens the night after the game and never again after that
Harry nodded his head "I'll take care of it"
"What do you mean?" Astrid asked—stopping when Ron called for her to slow down so the others could catch up to them "take care of what?"
"You don't worry" Harry patted Astrid's arm—walking over to Ron himself and pulling him away to the side—explaining something she couldn't make out
"What're they talking about?" Astrid asked
Hermione shrugged "probably strategizing a new plan to get Harry back on the team, it's what they've been talking about all morning" she grabbed Astrid's hand—smiling at her
"So" Marcus smiled awkwardly at the girls "the weather isn't too bad"
"Oh Marcus" Hermione sighed "you're so hopeless"
"We won't bite your head off" Astrid laughed "relax, you already know me and Hermione"
"We do suck blood" Hermione nudged him "occasionally and Astrid's a man eater"
"Not used to being around so many girls" Marcus laughed lightly—scratching his head and looking back at Harry and Ron who took their sweet time catching up to them
Astrid shook her head "very well, tell us about your debate group"
...
"I told you I'd see you tonight" Malfoy leaned off the wall outside the Gryffindor common room
"Unfortunately" Astrid rolled her eyes—not waiting for him—she pinned her prefect badge onto her robes—thinking of what Harry had said to her earlier
"I'm assuming Potty investigated you?" Malfoy spoke up just in time—descending down the stairs before she stepped down to the first one
"He did" Astrid avoided looking at the blonde—picking at her nails "I lied and said you were asking me to apologize to the Slytherin team and now Harry's out for you, thinks you've been harassing me"
"Shame" Malfoy clicked his tongue "if only he knew you're the one harassing me"
Astrid rolled her eyes—looking around the empty corridors for students out of bounds
"What if I tell him what actually happened between us" Malfoy walked backwards—his hands jammed into his pants pockets
"Nothing happened between us" Astrid opened the door leading to a small broom closet—using her wand to illuminate it "no one here"
"Perfect" Malfoy pushed her inside—closing the door behind them
"What are you doing!" Astrid whisper yelled
"You said it was empty, thought you wanted it for us" Malfoy lifted his weight to the other leg—his features and expressions hidden in the darkness of the closet
"Oh my Merlin" Astrid groaned—the pungent smell of cleaning supplies and brooms getting to her head "I was telling you there were no students shagging in here, not telling you to get in here with me"
"So you don't want to be the students shagging in here?" He asked—cocking an eyebrow
"No you freak!" Astrid pushed him aside—bolting out of the closet
"What the fuck" Malfoy joined Astrid's side—both of them staring at Andie who watched them—a black plastic bag balled up in his hands and the red makeup around his mouth smudging down to his neck
"Hello Astrid" he lifted a side of his mouth into a smile "I hope you aren't participating in vulgar acts"
"No" Astrid said very quietly "erm" she cleared her throat "no, prefect duty"
"Good girl" he stepped closer to her—closing his eyes and inhaling deeply "you smell like candy"
"I'd say sheep dung but I guess candy works too" Malfoy shrugged—earning a punch to the side from Astrid
"I'll see you soon Astrid" Andie glared at Malfoy "perhaps I'll visit you in your dreams" he waved his fingers at her—slowly backing away
"Yeh" Malfoy watched him with a judgmental look on his face "visit me while you're at it—cutie"
"Why do you have to be like that?" Astrid watched Malfoy instead of Andie "don't be mean too him"
"I'm mean?" Malfoy scoffed "he didn't say hello or goodbye to me and I'm the mean one"
"He only talks to people who are nice to him" Astrid checked her watch
"Horsen only talks to his imaginary friends" Malfoy raised an eyebrow "and you apparently, but I'm sure he's imagined you as his princess in need of saving or whatever clown and demonic stuff he's into"
"He's just unique"
"He's delusional, straight delusional, he thinks his life is a video game"
"He's a muggleborn wizard, his life must be like a game if he had thought he was just a normal human for so long" Astrid tried "anyways, its late, I think we should wrap this up now"
"Of course, you're expecting Andie Horsen tonight so I'm sure you're eager to get back" Malfoy rolled his eyes
"Goodnight to you too" Astrid huffed—watching Malfoy walk in the opposite direction as her