Chapter Text
Natasha Romanoff never thought it to be possible for someone to be rejected for the eighteenth time in a row without even feeling slightly discouraged. That is, until she met the Hufflepuff enigma known as Clint Barton. He came to Hogwarts six years ago, half-deaf and grinning like an idiot when Professor Flitwick suggested a charm that worked ten times better than the measly muggle hearing aid he had given up trying to fix. And after that, the quiet and heartwarming Hufflepuff hasn't even shut up once.
(It also came as no surprise for her to learn that he shared friendly relations with the one and only Anthony 'Tony' Stark. It wasn't much of a mystery where his annoyingly stubborn persistence came from. After all, she had been down a path somewhat similar with the older Ravenclaw many, many times.)
"Aw, 'Tasha, please?" She grimaced at the nickname; where do people even come up with these? Wasn't Natasha a perfectly nice, suitable, and English name?
"No."
"I'll pay."
"Yeah, still no." Natasha smirked discreetly as she saw Barton huff in annoyance from the corners of her eyes. Perhaps she hadn't given him enough credit? It's not everyday that a mere muggleborn Hufflepuff attempts to woo the notoriously skilled pureblood so-called queen of Slytherins. Well, it wasn't so much as 'wooing' as relentlessly ask the same question over and over again.
She wasn't sure if he was brave or just stupid.
'Natalia darling, please. You're breaking little Clint's heart." The obnoxious voice coming from the table to their left piped up.
'Stark, I've warned you. Don't call my by that name – Romanoff will do just fine. Better yet, just don't address me at all.' She replied coldly, slamming her potions textbook onto the wooden table in what she hoped to be a threateningly manner. Stark merely raised his eyebrows.
"Ooh, watch out, everyone. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Why, did your plan of terrorizing firsties on your way to transfigurations not work out?" He grinned cheekily. "Or has it really been that long since … you know." He wagged his eyebrows in what she supposed was a lewd and suggestive manner.
Did she mention she really, really hated Stark? Without a moment's hesitation, she snatched Barton's (who, now that she thought about it, had been laughing too hard to properly protest) textbook and proceeded to whack Stark in the head with it. The loud 'whap!' sound created by the book connecting with his stupid, empty, and overtly egotistic numbskull brain was very satisfying indeed.
"Well, I can't say it's been pleasant…"
"Your personality isn't pleasant." Stark grumbled under his breath, still massaging his aching scalp. Natasha wanted to grin triumphantly. 'Serves you right, Starky-Barky.' But she didn't. What respectable, elegant, and classy pureblood lady would do something so childish? Never mind that she physically attacked him there and then- details, details.
Gathering up her scrolls and parchment, she hurried out of the library before either Madam Pince or Clint Barton had to chance to catch up to her.
The sharp sound of her heels clicking upon the marble floors echoed throughout the walls of stone enclosing her. Once again, she turned around; making sure that no one was followed her. Shaking the creeping feeling of paranoia that gave her goose bumps, Natasha picked up the pace and continued down to the dungeons.
Despite what most of the Hogwarts population believed, the dungeons weren't nearly as cold as they think. (But then again, she had grown up in Oymyakon, the coldest place known to man.) The hearth of the flame burnt gently in the fireplace, flickering lights casting shadows on the plush green chairs placed in front of it.
She was the heir to the Romanova family, and daughter of the Soviet. It wasn't a responsibility many could understand. Perhaps Stark did. After all, it was the one thing both of them never brought up in their petty fights- a silent vow, a line not to be crossed. Natasha supposed Stark considered her to be his friend, in a twisted way. And Natasha didn't harbor nearly as much negative emotion for him as she led on. It's just that neither of them is good at making friends, and both of them spectacular at making enemies.
"Romanoff?" She turned around, and nodded curtly when she spotted the head boy addressing her. Nicholas Fury was widely respected among the Slytherins; in many years past, Gryffindors tend to be chosen for prefectural and head person duties than not. It wasn't common for other houses to take the lead. Natasha had considered going for the spot herself many times; the only problem being she wasn't the friendliest person around. (Though, neither was Nick, actually.)
"Fury. Can I help you?"
"No." Natasha frowned. "Someone dropped this off for you." Wordlessly, she accepted the slightly crumpled parchment and resisted the urge to groan.
Will you (please) go to Hogsmeade with me?
-C. Barton (H)
The dreaded question. Even when he wasn't here, he was still bothering her. What part of 'no', 'no!' and 'definitely not' did he fail to understand? Sensing her growing agitation, Fury chuckled.
"Word of advice, Romanoff. Half of Slytherin already thinks you two are secretly hooking up because you haven't punched him into oblivion yet. You're really not convincing anyone but yourself with these rejections."
Natasha thought she really, really hated Fury at times, too. And no, it didn't escape her notice that she never once thought about hating Barton.
And Fury noticed she didn't exactly deny his last statements either.
A/N: Around a year ago, I had a poll on my old account asking which couple from Avengers people liked most and wanted a fic of, and Clintasha won! I never did get to writing the prompt (Hogwarts AU) , but I figured now's a good time as any to start it.
However, I'm changing it to multi-chaptered ficlets that take part in different POVs and at different times, but is ultimately the same story! Sort of like a series of one-shots that built up the whole story. I also tried making the characters seem younger personality-wise (Natasha especially) because they're still teenagers and are a lot younger than they were in canon.
I hope you guys enjoy it! If you do, then please comment/review. It really makes my day! ^-^