Catching Up 7/13
Title: Catching Up
Author: Liliths_Requiem
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Adrian Pucey, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini
Pairings: Adrian Pucey/Millicent Bulstrode, Blaise Zabini/Pansy Parkinson
Era: 2000, August
Word Count: 1158
Story Summary: Adrian and Theodore talk
Prompt: Rarepair_Shorts Table 10 Prompt 7: “Round of Applause”
“Theodore Nott,” Adrian greets as he walks over to the table the other man is currently occupying, “Early, as always.”
“I thought that was the only reason you let me talk to you at Hogwarts. That, and the fact that I was the only one in my year that could stand up to Malfoy,” Theodore’s wolfish grin has broken many women’s hearts, and whenever Adrian sees it he cannot help but chuckle. Theodore is probably the best friend he has, after Marcus, and he’s Callie’s godfather for the sole fact that Jaelyn couldn’t fathom giving the responsibility to Marcus. “We don’t know he’s not a Death Eater!” she had exclaimed the night their daughter was born. Adrian had hit her for that; it was the only time he had ever raised his hands to a woman. Amazingly, he still doesn’t regret it. On his list of priorities, Marcus came before his dead wife.
“Actually, it was your connections to Hogs Head and your ability to sneak in as much alcohol as we could carry,” Adrian confesses as he orders a beer from the new owner of the Leaky. She’s a young girl, probably Theo’s age, with long blonde curls and a scar over her right eye. She looks familiar, but Adrian can’t remember her name. Millicent probably knows. He’ll have to ask her later.
“Auntie Ace always said that connection would come in handy,” Acantha Crouch was Theodore’s maternal great-aunt as well as the life partner of Aberforth Dumbledore’s granddaughter. Theodore and his great aunt are unbelievably close, mainly because she’s the only one in his entire family who hasn’t ostracized him since he murdered his father. “Anyway, why’d you set this up?”
Adrian feigns offense, pulling his hand back to his forehead and making his eyes wide. “Can’t a guy ask his best mate out for drinks?” he asks, smiling at the barmaid as she places his drink on the table. She gives him a smile back, looks at him like she’s expecting him to remember her, and then accepts the handful of knuts he’s using to pay. Theodore rolls his eyes and shakes his head, and Adrian knows he’s going to have to say this eventually. “I asked Millicent on a date. For tonight. And I’m bloody terrified.”
Of all the reactions Adrian was expecting, Theodore’s mirthless laughter was not one of them. “You asked Millicent Bulstrode out on a date?” the younger man lets out an ungentlemanly snort, “And she agreed? Quick, honey, grab the kids and get in the fireplace! The end of the world is nigh!” Adrian smacks Theodore on the back of his head, effectively stopping the un-Slytherin-like giggles, but he can’t seem to wipe the smirk from his friend’s face. “I thought she was only a shag-buddy? I thought “things aren’t serious”?” He uses his fingers as quotation marks to drive the point home and his smirk widens as Adrian, who is usually so collected, fidgets in his seat.
“You’ve made your point, Nott,” Adrian decides after a few more seconds of watching his friend laugh. “I didn’t exactly plan this, okay? We’ve been shagging for what, a year now? It was bound to get serious at some point. I mean she all but lives at my house. My girls call her “Millie,” and she takes Jezzi to her dance lessons. How was I not supposed to get attached?” He poses the question like he’s trying to justify his actions, like he’s doing something wrong even though he knows he isn’t. He and Millicent have been a long time coming, and he’s known this was going to happen for the last six months. He’s just been ignoring it, and trying to get everyone else to ignore it as well.
Obviously, he’s failed.
“Calm down, Pucey,” Theodore tells him, his eyes then stray towards a figure behind Adrian’s ear and his words quickly change, “Or don’t, actually, as there’s a big black man headed this way, and he doesn’t look particularly thrilled about you asking his best friend out on a date.” The last words get out just before the clapping begins, and Adrian turns fully in his stool to face Blaise head on.
The clapping becomes steadily slower as Blaise draws nearer, and by the time they’re standing face to face it’s stopped. Adrian stands up, making himself just slightly taller than the other Slytherin, and pulls his genetic Gryffindor cockiness out from within. “Something you wanted to say, Zabini?” They’ve never gotten along, mainly because Blaise was on the wrong side of the War. But they’ve been civil this past year, especially at the Winter Ball the Pritchards threw, because Millicent wants them to be friends. Right now, Adrian thinks he’s going to have to admit that that friendship isn’t going to happen.
“Just that I’m happy your bollocks have finally dropped and you asked Millicent out. She’s always had a thing for girls, though, so maybe she’d prefer if you kept them in your stomach, where they’ve been all along,” the little speech is delivered in the most posh accent Blaise can muster, and it takes all of Adrian’s energy not to punch the smirk off the other man’s face. Balling his fists just slightly, so as to appear unaffected by Blaise’s words, Adrian opens his mouth to reply.
“Just because she’s refused to play with Pansy’s leftovers doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a real man, Zabini. Actually, it means she does want one, as you’ve proven time and time again that you like it up the arse,” the words seem effortless, but Adrian feels like he’s hesitated too long. Marcus usually plays these games for him, because despite the Sorting Hat’s decision, Adrian was raised a Gryffindor and still isn’t completely sure of himself when it comes to Slytherin’s power games.
Blaise doesn’t miss a beat, gathering himself to his full height, which brings him to about Adrian’s nose, the man says, “The only reason Millicent’s settled for you is the fact that she cannot have me, as I only date beautiful girls.” Unlike Slytheirns, Gryffindors are very good at taking insults personally. Adrian doesn’t think until after his fist has connected with Blaise’s jaw, and by that point in time stopping seems to be a moot point. He continues to lay into Blaise until Theodore successfully pulls him off.
“I’ll take care of Blaise,” the younger man promises, as the blonde witch bustles over. The expression on her face is pure anger, and Adrian knows his best option is to leave-now. “You go on and get ready for your date.”
Adrian starts to make his way towards the door when Theodore calls out his name. “And Adrian?” he says, waiting for his friend to turn around, “Congrats, mate. It’s high time you found another bird.”
Slytherins might not be the best when it comes to friendship, but in the rare moments they attempt camaraderie, they always excel.
Author: Liliths_Requiem
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Adrian Pucey, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini
Pairings: Adrian Pucey/Millicent Bulstrode, Blaise Zabini/Pansy Parkinson
Era: 2000, August
Word Count: 1158
Story Summary: Adrian and Theodore talk
Prompt: Rarepair_Shorts Table 10 Prompt 7: “Round of Applause”
“Theodore Nott,” Adrian greets as he walks over to the table the other man is currently occupying, “Early, as always.”
“I thought that was the only reason you let me talk to you at Hogwarts. That, and the fact that I was the only one in my year that could stand up to Malfoy,” Theodore’s wolfish grin has broken many women’s hearts, and whenever Adrian sees it he cannot help but chuckle. Theodore is probably the best friend he has, after Marcus, and he’s Callie’s godfather for the sole fact that Jaelyn couldn’t fathom giving the responsibility to Marcus. “We don’t know he’s not a Death Eater!” she had exclaimed the night their daughter was born. Adrian had hit her for that; it was the only time he had ever raised his hands to a woman. Amazingly, he still doesn’t regret it. On his list of priorities, Marcus came before his dead wife.
“Actually, it was your connections to Hogs Head and your ability to sneak in as much alcohol as we could carry,” Adrian confesses as he orders a beer from the new owner of the Leaky. She’s a young girl, probably Theo’s age, with long blonde curls and a scar over her right eye. She looks familiar, but Adrian can’t remember her name. Millicent probably knows. He’ll have to ask her later.
“Auntie Ace always said that connection would come in handy,” Acantha Crouch was Theodore’s maternal great-aunt as well as the life partner of Aberforth Dumbledore’s granddaughter. Theodore and his great aunt are unbelievably close, mainly because she’s the only one in his entire family who hasn’t ostracized him since he murdered his father. “Anyway, why’d you set this up?”
Adrian feigns offense, pulling his hand back to his forehead and making his eyes wide. “Can’t a guy ask his best mate out for drinks?” he asks, smiling at the barmaid as she places his drink on the table. She gives him a smile back, looks at him like she’s expecting him to remember her, and then accepts the handful of knuts he’s using to pay. Theodore rolls his eyes and shakes his head, and Adrian knows he’s going to have to say this eventually. “I asked Millicent on a date. For tonight. And I’m bloody terrified.”
Of all the reactions Adrian was expecting, Theodore’s mirthless laughter was not one of them. “You asked Millicent Bulstrode out on a date?” the younger man lets out an ungentlemanly snort, “And she agreed? Quick, honey, grab the kids and get in the fireplace! The end of the world is nigh!” Adrian smacks Theodore on the back of his head, effectively stopping the un-Slytherin-like giggles, but he can’t seem to wipe the smirk from his friend’s face. “I thought she was only a shag-buddy? I thought “things aren’t serious”?” He uses his fingers as quotation marks to drive the point home and his smirk widens as Adrian, who is usually so collected, fidgets in his seat.
“You’ve made your point, Nott,” Adrian decides after a few more seconds of watching his friend laugh. “I didn’t exactly plan this, okay? We’ve been shagging for what, a year now? It was bound to get serious at some point. I mean she all but lives at my house. My girls call her “Millie,” and she takes Jezzi to her dance lessons. How was I not supposed to get attached?” He poses the question like he’s trying to justify his actions, like he’s doing something wrong even though he knows he isn’t. He and Millicent have been a long time coming, and he’s known this was going to happen for the last six months. He’s just been ignoring it, and trying to get everyone else to ignore it as well.
Obviously, he’s failed.
“Calm down, Pucey,” Theodore tells him, his eyes then stray towards a figure behind Adrian’s ear and his words quickly change, “Or don’t, actually, as there’s a big black man headed this way, and he doesn’t look particularly thrilled about you asking his best friend out on a date.” The last words get out just before the clapping begins, and Adrian turns fully in his stool to face Blaise head on.
The clapping becomes steadily slower as Blaise draws nearer, and by the time they’re standing face to face it’s stopped. Adrian stands up, making himself just slightly taller than the other Slytherin, and pulls his genetic Gryffindor cockiness out from within. “Something you wanted to say, Zabini?” They’ve never gotten along, mainly because Blaise was on the wrong side of the War. But they’ve been civil this past year, especially at the Winter Ball the Pritchards threw, because Millicent wants them to be friends. Right now, Adrian thinks he’s going to have to admit that that friendship isn’t going to happen.
“Just that I’m happy your bollocks have finally dropped and you asked Millicent out. She’s always had a thing for girls, though, so maybe she’d prefer if you kept them in your stomach, where they’ve been all along,” the little speech is delivered in the most posh accent Blaise can muster, and it takes all of Adrian’s energy not to punch the smirk off the other man’s face. Balling his fists just slightly, so as to appear unaffected by Blaise’s words, Adrian opens his mouth to reply.
“Just because she’s refused to play with Pansy’s leftovers doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a real man, Zabini. Actually, it means she does want one, as you’ve proven time and time again that you like it up the arse,” the words seem effortless, but Adrian feels like he’s hesitated too long. Marcus usually plays these games for him, because despite the Sorting Hat’s decision, Adrian was raised a Gryffindor and still isn’t completely sure of himself when it comes to Slytherin’s power games.
Blaise doesn’t miss a beat, gathering himself to his full height, which brings him to about Adrian’s nose, the man says, “The only reason Millicent’s settled for you is the fact that she cannot have me, as I only date beautiful girls.” Unlike Slytheirns, Gryffindors are very good at taking insults personally. Adrian doesn’t think until after his fist has connected with Blaise’s jaw, and by that point in time stopping seems to be a moot point. He continues to lay into Blaise until Theodore successfully pulls him off.
“I’ll take care of Blaise,” the younger man promises, as the blonde witch bustles over. The expression on her face is pure anger, and Adrian knows his best option is to leave-now. “You go on and get ready for your date.”
Adrian starts to make his way towards the door when Theodore calls out his name. “And Adrian?” he says, waiting for his friend to turn around, “Congrats, mate. It’s high time you found another bird.”
Slytherins might not be the best when it comes to friendship, but in the rare moments they attempt camaraderie, they always excel.