Chapter Text
With the first upcoming Hogsmeade weekend for the students of Hogwarts, the main topic of discussion involved a certain Gryffindor third year.
“I don’t get what the fuss is all about,” Kai grumbled as he and Dewey walked to the Library after a extra troublesome class with Professor Binns.
Dewey raised his eyebrows but didn’t respond instantly.
“I mean, why should it trouble them who Teddy asks out to Hogsmeade? It’s really nonsensical, that.” Kai continued. “As far as I know, he could take a skulking troll to Hogsmeade and I won’t really mind!”
“You seem to care.” remarked Dewey.
Kai flared at this. “No, I don’t! I’m just saying I don’t understand—“
They stopped when they reached the Great Hall. A group of girls were circling around the Gryffindor table and some were squealing. Kai and Dewey looked at each other before the first advanced forward and the latter followed.
They had to push past several girls to get a better look at the scene, and what they saw made them come to an abrupt stop.
Teddy was standing in the middle, and a pretty girl in blue uniform was holding out a heart-shaped box. Teddy hesitated before he accepted it, and the girls all squealed in delight.
Dewey’s gaze instinctively headed over to the Slytherin table, where he spotted Violet, who was sitting with her back to the spectacle and eating her porriage like nothing was happening.
When the crowd began to separate, Teddy spotted the boys and walked over. “That was awkward,” he started, rubbing the back of his neck.
“What did she say?” asked Dewey.
“She… asked me out if I’ll be her date to Hogsmeade.”
Kai clapped Teddy’s shoulders. “Our little Teddy, all grown up and going on dates.”
“Did you accept?” asked Dewey.
Teddy shrugged. “I told her I’ll think about it.” His gaze travelled toward the Slytherin table as well. Violet was getting up and was walking toward the exit in brisk footsteps. “Hey, Vi!”
She stopped, and Teddy jogged over to her. Dewey and Kai followed. “Er—how was lunch?”
Violet’s face was blank. “It was okay.”
“So—Vi,” Kai cut in. “Teddy was just asked out by a Ravenclaw.”
Dewey shot him a look. Violet’s face went slightly tense. “Yes, I could hear the noise.”
“He didn’t give an answer yet, though.” Dewey said quickly.
Teddy was fiddling with the heart-shaped box in his hand. “So… do you think I should accept?”
“You should be able to decide that on your own, Teddy.”
“So you won’t mind if I accept?”
Violet tidied her skirt. “Why should that concern me?”
“No—I guess not.”
“No.”
With that, Violet turned and resumed her walk toward the exit. She disappeared with a flick of her crow black hair. After a moment of hesitation, Teddy parted too. With a quick wave at the boys, he headed back toward the Gryffindor table where his friends whopped when he arrived.
“That was intense.” Kai muttered.
“Teddy can be so hopeless sometimes.” said Dewey, eyeing the door to the Great Hall swinging shut.
“So thick in the head.” agreed Kai.
It was two days before the looming event of Valentines that an unexpected event happened that throw off course of the expected turn of events and instead started what Nagaeena would later name as ‘the game of love-and-death’.
But first, Dewey and Kai were faced with a problem of their crancky Slytherin friend.
“I think Teddy will decline.” said Dewey. Violet increased her pace, and he and Kai had to jog to catch up to her.
“Yeah, he’s Teddy.” said Kai. “Like, Teddy-likes-Vi, Teddy.”
Dewey nodded. “Not many boys risks being beaten up and nearly killed just so he can talk to you again, Vi.”
“None, actually. Except Lupin.” agreed Kai.
Violet glared and the two boys shrank back. “Are you done?” she snapped.
“Vi, you are eventually going to speak to Teddy again, aren’t you?” asked Kai.
“I am speaking to him.” said Violet. “When did I not speak to him?”
“You do, but it’s mostly in short snaps.” pointed out Dewey. “Like now.”
“You’re mad at him.” said Kai.
“Why would I be mad at him?” The two boys shared a look, and Violet rolled her eyes. “I am not mad at him, if Teddy’s concerned. But I will be if you keep on harassing me with non-significant matters.”
They watched as Violet walked into the Charms classroom. There was a pause before Dewey spoke up. “I think we need help.”
“So you want me to help get… Teddy and Violet together?” The boys nodded eagerly and Mercy Burbage sent them a skeptical look. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea…”
“In this pace, they’re going to be old and scrawny once they realize their feelings for each other.” said Kai.
Dewey nodded. “And we’re not trying to make them get together. We’re merely trying to get rid of the obstacles in the way.”
“Isn’t that what everyone wants? Personally, I’m getting tired of waiting around.” Kai held up his hand. “They’re sneaking glances at each other, brushing when they pass in corridors, and smiling when their eyes meet, and what? They’re calling themselves friends?”
“They’re cousins, Kai.”
“Second-hand cousins. That’s as good as next-door neighbors for what we care.”
Mercy sighed. “Okay. But,” she paused, pinning the boys with a look. “I’m only going to help so that I can keep you from getting out of hand. And for the record, I think this is a very bad idea.”
“You’re the best, Merce.” said Dewey, bounding over and giving her a hug.
Mercy blushed, and Kai arched an eyebrow, but neither said anything.
The two Hufflepuffs and one Ravenclaw were walking out of their Transfiguration classroom that an unexpected spectacle welcomed them.
Violet stood in the middle of the corridor, her friends standing beside her and giggling, and a thin boy in Slytherin colors were blushing and saying something quietly. He jumped and hurried away when he spotted the three coming towards them.
Unfortunately, Teddy happened to be rounding the corner at that moment, and there was a pause as the Slytherin and Gryffindor looked at each other.
Finally, the gaze broke and they passed each other by, not meeting the other’s eye.
Kai sighed. “Well, it seems like the matters had taken a turn toward a more higher level.”
“So… who should do the honors?” asked Dewey.
The three looked at each other.
“Nose goes!”
“Nose goes!” Kai and Mercy shouted simultaneously.
Dewey groaned. “Really, guys?”
Mercy smiled. “Cheers.”
In Herbology, instead of taking his usual seat next to Edgar, Dewey walked over to where the Slytherin girls were taking their seats. They all giggled when Dewey dropped in next to Violet, who merely arched an eyebrow.
“Hi,” he said sheepishly.
“Hello.”
“Mind if I join you for the class?”
Violet glanced at her friends, who smiled widely at her. “Sure.”
Professor Longbottom entered soon, and they began to work on their assignments. Dewey’s mind was spilling with how he should approach the matter, and Violet was maintaining her usual calm, so the pair worked in comparable silence than usual.
Finally, Dewey cleared his throat. “I heard you were asked out.”
Violet didn’t look up from her plant, but Dewey could see her frowm. “So?” she asked indifferently.
“So… are you going to accept?”
Violet shrugged. “Maybe.”
Dewey nodded, and the two went back to their plants.
“Maybe?” Kai echoed once Dewey had relayed Violet’s answer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, she’s not planning on accepting the offer but isn’t yet going to turn down it. Not with Teddy being asked out by Karen.” Mercy said from the couch. “She isn’t going to just sit around when Teddy goes on a date with another girl.”
Kai crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair inside the Room of Requirement. “So… is she going to accept, or not?”
“I think what Mercy means is that Violet’s going to decide when Teddy dignifies his answer,” said Dewey, pushing a chess piece forward and knocking out Kai’s knight.
Kai winced and moved his Queen a step back. “Why can’t she decide on her own?”
“Because, you idiot, she doesn’t want Teddy to go on that date.” Nagaeena entered with Demica, sighing heavily. Mercy waved and the two girls joined her on the couch.
“Why are you here?” Kai asked dubiously. “Who told her?”
“We heard our dormmate’s facing a problem of love-and-death so we decided to join in.” chipped in Demica.
“And anyways, we’re far more experts on this area than you, Chang.” smirked Nagaeena. “‘Why can’t she decide on her own’? Seriously?”
Kai flushed, but Dewey cut in before he could retort. “So what do you suggest we do?”
Nagaeena flashed a smile. “We intervene.”