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Draco blamed Theo.
He didn't have definitive proof against Theo, but there was no other logical explanation for what Draco was seeing.
He and Theo had been passing notes in Charms, and since they weren't seated at the same table, they'd had to charm their notes to fly back and forth.
But his last note, folded into the same paper bird he always used for passing notes, was not flying discreetly toward Theo on the other side of the room. Instead, Draco watched, too startled to act, as the bird flapped purposefully toward Professor Flitwick, hitting him in the back of the head.
The tiny professor jumped, then spun around with a cry. Then he saw the parchment on the floor and bent to pick it up. "Oh no! What's this?" He then proceeded to open it, and Draco started sliding down in his chair.
Flitwick frowned for a moment, then his large bushy eyebrows flew up and he chortled. "I see what you did there, Mr. Malfoy." Then he looked toward Hermione Granger, seated just before him in the front row. "Is it true you rode a giant dragon last year? I had heard that, but of course never wanted to pry."
Granger went very still, then slowly nodded her head. "Yes, I did. But why-"
"I'm afraid we can't really devote class time to anything further, and I'll be skipping my usual policy of reading it aloud, as I think the subject material would be too distracting." Then, to Draco's horror, Flitwick set the crumpled note in front of Hermione. "I shall assume, Miss Granger, that there have been no other notes between you. But please do not reply until after class."
When Granger tentatively reached out a hand to take the note, Draco thought he would melt into the floor. He knew what was on the paper, and while it wasn't exactly incriminating, it would certainly lead to questions.
As if on cue, Crabbe elbowed him sharply in the side. "What does that say?" he hissed.
"Nothing." He shot him a look. "Drop it."
Draco couldn't take his eyes off Granger's hand, wrapped tightly around the note. At one point, she started to open it, and sheer terror and panic propelled him from his seat. "Professor, I need to go to the hospital wing."
Flitwick chuckled and waved dismissively. "Sit down, Mr. Malfoy. You and Miss Granger can discuss your suggestion after class."
Draco felt his cheeks burning, but thankfully, Granger remained facing forward. He stood there a moment longer, considering bolting without permission.
Then Flitwick looked at him hard. "I think detention tonight will help remind you that it's not acceptable to pass notes in class."
Wishing he could say something, anything, to erase the last three minutes, Draco still didn't move. When Flitwick sent him a stern look, Draco finally sat heavily in his chair.
He was going to destroy Theo.
Draco had only confessed to Theo that he fancied Granger under extreme duress, though he had absolutely sworn he would never do anything about it. Theo had been increasingly vocal that he should, since she seemed to not despise him anymore and the school year was winding down. But Draco would never tell her the truth, even if they had become something like friends this makeshift eighth year. Theo wouldn't let it rest, and so he'd pestered Draco to write down some of his feelings in their communication, as something of a warm-up for doing it in real life. Draco had refused when Theo first tried it in Transfiguration, but then Theo had penned an example that was extremely lewd and nothing at all what Draco would say.
After sending a few outlandish "confessions" back and forth that were purely jokes, Draco had landed on a line that he would never say to her but that he thought made him sound impressive. He'd sent it to Theo like normal, but for some reason, it had ended up hitting Flitwick in the back of the head. Draco hadn't seen Theo do anything, but he'd been too busy staring at the paper bird, flapping unsuspectingly toward the front of the room. He hadn't messed up the spell designed to send the bird toward his possibly-erstwhile friend.
As Draco fumed, imagining all manner of ways to get back at Theo, he watched as Granger carefully opened the parchment without making so much as a rustle and concluded she'd cast a charm on it to keep it silent. She hardly moved once it was open, so he had to imagine that every now and then, she was casting her eyes down into her lap to read a few snatches of the note at a time. Quicker than he thought possible, she let out a gasp that even he could hear, three rows back. Then she quickly shoved his note into her bag, sat up straight in her chair, and pointedly stared straight ahead.
Great.
Not that he needed proof that she wasn't interested, but maybe, just maybe, a tiny flicker of hope had sparked to life when he knew she was going to read what he'd said. Even though it had been a joke, even though it was obviously not a real confession of any sort and she'd probably find it offensive, it was always possible that she'd see the truth between the lines. Then she'd turn around, looking straight at him. Their eyes would meet, and an understanding would pass between them, an unspoken vibe of mutual interest that neither of them would have to verbalize. Then they'd simply be together.
Although, Pansy wouldn't exactly take too kindly to that, considering she thought she was his girlfriend, despite numerous people telling her otherwise, including himself.
Now that Granger had read the note, Draco tried to ignore it for the rest of class, even managing to take a few notes. He started packing up three minutes before class ended, fully intending to run as soon as it was over.
But Flitwick had other ideas. As soon as he put his wand down, the Charms professor looked straight at Draco. "Please stay behind a moment, Mr. Malfoy, to discuss your detention."
Draco swallowed a groan and gave Crabbe a falsely apathetic shrug as he gathered his things and left with Goyle. Theo clapped him on the shoulder, and Draco could tell he was having a hard time keeping his laughter in check. "See you in the common room, mate."
Draco glared at him, wishing he could hex Theo with only his mind. "Yeah. Right. I'll rush right down."
Then Theo had the audacity to wink. "You'll thank me. Just you wait."
Draco's eyes went wide, and he started to speak, to lunge out of his chair and grab Theo to force him to tell him what he'd done, but then Granger herself walked past Draco's table, heading for the door, and he lost every nerve in his body. He slumped in his chair and looked away from her, which only made Theo's smirk widen. "Later, Draco."
When everyone was gone, Flitwick came over and sat on the table in front of Draco's, folding his hands in his lap. "Mr. Malfoy. I know that this is a... trying time in the life of a young person, but propositioning a young lady in the manner you did today is not the best recipe for success."
If Draco had thought that Granger reading his note to Theo was the most humiliating thing that could happen that day, he'd been very wrong. "No, Professor, it wasn't like that."
Flitwick raised an eyebrow. "I'm familiar with innuendo, I assure you."
Draco violently shook his head. "I-no, it was a joke. I was writing to Theo. Somehow the note got off course."
"You were writing to Mr. Nott about Miss Granger? I didn't see his name anywhere on the parchment."
Draco's blood went cold as ice. He barely heard another word Flitwick said beyond hearing that he had to be back in the Charms classroom after dinner for his detention. For the rest of the day, he looked for Theo, who was suspiciously absent from every situation where they would normally interact. As a small mercy, Draco also managed to avoid seeing Granger again, though he suspected it was because she was also avoiding him. So much for the friendship they'd formed over the year, built on mutual trust and shared interests. She now thought he was propositioning her, as Flitwick put it, and was so repulsed that she couldn't stand being in the same room as him.
That was all fine with him; he never expected to see her again after school ended, though in some of his wildest imaginings, they'd end up working in close proximity in the future, then they'd end up out for drinks late at night, and one thing would lead to another, and he'd ask her out properly. But never did he imagine him acting on what he felt when he was only eighteen.
Detention passed quietly and was mind-numbingly boring. At half past eleven, Flitwick released him. Draco yawned as he stood, ready to turn in for the night and forget about the whole day for a little while.
But he stopped in his tracks when he left the Charms classroom and almost ran over none other than Granger herself. He'd had to correct his movements so as not to knock her down, but she didn't seem fazed.
"Explain." She held out the note to him, a severe expression on her face.
Draco snatched the note from her and quickly opened it, his eyes widening in disbelief as he read the only words on the page.
Granger,
I heard you rode an old, blind dragon last year. I suggest trying out a younger, fitter version sometime.
Draco
He turned the parchment over, looking in vain for the rest of the words he'd written, the ones to Theo where he'd said he would never approach her in that way but here was a line he'd tossed around in his head a few times. That's all it was, a stupid line, and that's what she'd read. There was nothing else on the paper except his short words to her.
"It... that... it was a joke."
"A joke." She repeated the word as though it were something unsavory.
"I... yes. That was never meant for you to see."
"I gathered that much. But you wrote it?" When he wasn't looking, she plucked the note out of his hand.
"Yes. But, Granger, I-"
"Didn't mean it?"
Her question gave him pause. "I-"
"You don't fancy me?"
"Well, I-"
"Yes or no, Malfoy. It's a simple question."
"I-yes. But that's-"
"Yes you do?"
Draco shot her a glare, and in that moment, realized what was happening. "Granger, that wasn't meant for you. It was a joke with Theo."
Hurt flashed in her eyes. "So you feel comfortable talking about me like this?"
"What? No, I mean... Look, I'm sorry. Alright?" He dragged a hand through his hair.
She eyed him skeptically, then finally nodded. "You can make it up to me by taking me to Hogsmeade this weekend."
His jaw dropped open. "What?"
"You're remarkably inarticulate right now." She smirked. "I like this new side of you. What do you say?"
"About Hogsmeade? Granger, are you asking me out?" His heart was racing now, and he could feel himself trying to smile.
"What if I am?"
Now he couldn't help it. "Then I'd say yes."
She looked triumphant for an instant before masking it. "Good. We'll meet in the entrance hall at eight."
"Alright."
"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" She smiled and started walking away. After taking a few steps, she stopped, turned slightly toward him, and held out her hand.
Draco hesitated for an instant, then wrapped his hand around hers.
The worst thing was that he'd have to tell Theo that he'd been right.
He'd be completely insufferable.