[seventeen]

"Still not making up, are they?" Celine asked as she sat next to Theo at lunch. She gestured at Draco, who was glancing at Hermione every few seconds 

"No." Theo shook his head. Even so, he wasn't guilty about taking Hermione out for that ride. They didn't do anything wrong. He didn't even kiss her even if she gave him that last night, because he respected his best mate that much. 

"I heard from my cousin you're the reason they fought. Is it true?" Celine prodded 

"Oh Cel, just go straight to the point and ask him what you really wanted to ask him." Pansy laughed as she sat across Theo with a plate filled with pasta

"Ask me what?" Theo asked, looking at Celine curiously 

"Flitwick announced to the Hufflepuffs earlier today that there'll be a meteor shower this evening. I was wondering if you'd wanna watch with me." Celine smiled brightly 

"It's supposed to be some nice little event for the students or whatever. The professors thought it would be a good idea to make the vibe here a little bit more happy since people are still distraught over the war or whatever." Pansy shrugged, but she seemed to be onboard with the idea of the professors. Even they could feel the school's aura was turning gray. 

Theo snuck a glance at Draco, who was now showing Blaise something in a box, then turned back at Celine "I wouldn't mind going with you." He smiled charmingly 

"Perfect." Celine grinned and turned back to her plate of Pesto.

It's been two days since Hermione's fainting spell and since then, the rumors haven't died down. At least Ron's cheating rumors have been declared as old news, but Hermione wasn't exactly fond of being the entire castle's hot topic "I heard there's a meteor shower event tonight. Are you all coming?" Ginny asked as she sat next to Harry "Harry and I will be watching at the Quidditch pitch, should be the best spot, right babe?" 

Ron made a gagging sound "Should be." Harry agreed

"Are you coming, Hermione?" Viktor asked "Shall we watch together?" 

Another gagging noise from Ron "How about we all watch together?" Hermione smiled at the four of them "It should be the best way to start the year."

"We're nearly at our midterms, but sure." Ron shrugged

"Great!" Hermione said cheerfully and returned to happily eating her sushi 

"Is it just me or has Malfoy been staring at you this whole time?" Viktor asked as he caught Draco's look 

"One, don't look at him." Hermione gently pushed his cheek away with a finger "Two, yes he has been and we're not going to acknowledge it." 

"You're picking at his jealousy." Ginny snickered at the way Hermione just touched Viktor "He is such a jealous boy, I don't understand."

"He's used to getting what he wants and having it all to himself." Ron rolled his eyes "Only child things." 

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed at threw a piece of bread at Ron "" 

"You're pretty possessive too, Harry." Hermione chuckled "I've seen the way you glare at the back of Dean's head every time he comes even a meter close to Ginny."

"True." Ginny laughed just as Harry scowled in protest "I do not glare at Dean."

"You've got quite an entertaining circle, Hermy-oh-niny." Viktor teased 

"I know." Hermione smiled fondly as she watched Ginny and Ron tease Harry incessantly 

"I'm glad to be part of it now." Viktor smiled and proceeded to talk to her about his further studies with McGonagall and how complex it was to transfigure someone into an animagus. Draco watched her interact with her old flame so casually and frowned 

"There you go again, mate." Blaise laughed "Remember, you guys are nothing until you both agree on something. Until then, you shouldn't be possessive, because she isn't yours in the first place." 

"First of all, even if we are together, I don't own her. She's her own person." Draco rolled his eyes "But, fine, I hear you." he sighed and glanced at the small box in his hands

"She doesn't seem the jewelry type, though." Blaise shrugged 

"Yeah thanks for the encouragement, mate." Draco muttered sarcastically "It's just a simple bracelet." 

"A simple bracelet is a galleon, not a thousand." Blaise said "Simple bracelets also don't have magical features."

"Why would I give her trash?" Draco made a face 

"You've got much to learn, my friend." Blaise shook his head dramatically "Come on, let's head to Charms."

The rest of the day was dragging at best. Hermione and Draco only had one class together. Throughout that class, Hermione tried her best to ignore Draco's piercing gaze as the golden bracelet in his pocket felt as if it were burning a hole through it. "Draco stop it, you look like a serial killer." Pansy hissed under her breath 

"I'm sorry, I can't help it." Draco muttered and looked away, pretending to read through his Charms book as Flitwick discussed the last few points of his lesson

"Before you make it up to Granger by giving her that stupid box in your pocket, I think you should consider making it up to your best mate first." Pansy hissed "Whatever happened to bros before hoes?"

"Granger is not a hoe."

"You know what I mean!" Pansy exclaimed 

"I know what, miss Parkinson?" Flitwick called out, causing the entire room to turn to Pansy

"Know that it's time, professor Flitwick." Pansy smirked, gesturing to the large grandfather clock in his classroom "We've gone overtime." 

Flitwick let out a small chuckle "I was wondering when someone would tell me. Well, that's it for today. I hope you all find the time to watch the meteor shower tonight - food and refreshments should be provided." 

Without another word, the students began to leave one by one, with Hermione amongst the first ones to leave 

"Theo first, Draco. Remember who was there for you when nobody else was. He doesn't deserve this." Pansy sighed and grabbed her belongings before she, too, left the room 

"Did you figure out how to do the charm you asked me, mister Malfoy?" Flitwick called from his desk at the front 

"Of course, professor. 'Twas easy once you cleared up the theory for me." Draco nodded as he began to collect his things 

"I didn't doubt you could do it. You're one of the bests at Charms, mister Malfoy - I hope you use your talent well." the old professor then retreated into his office at the backroom 

Draco never really liked Flitwick - he was good teacher, sure, but a bit too cheery for Draco's cynical personality. That little comment, though, made him smile. When he came back to Hogwarts, much of the people avoided him and looked at him with fear, like Slughorn. Very few treated him kindly, so, to hear that from Flitwick - he couldn't help but feel...warm.

Nobody really had his back and saw him for who he truly was, besides his friends. With a sigh, he ran out in search of a certain brown-haired Slytherin. 

He found Theodore in the Prefects' bathroom - perhaps about to get ready for the meteor viewing later tonight. "Is there something I can help you with, Draco?" Theo asked, his back turned to his friend as he arranged the clothes he was going to change into