Its been days.
Honey hadn't expected anything to change after that last cryptic meeting by the lake, but the next few days were different. The Durmstrang boy, whose name he still hadn't learned, started approaching him more frequently between classes, lingering near the common areas, always offering a casual smile or a quick comment. Each time, he handed Honey a note with something lighthearted written on it, some vague joke or a comment about his "adventures," and Honey, despite his confusion about the boy's intentions, couldn't help but be intrigued. There was something oddly charming about his strange, aloof demeanor, the way he seemed so carefree about everything. It was a nice distraction from the chaos of his thoughts and the weight of everything that had happened recently.
One afternoon, just after classes, Honey was sitting by the fire in the common room, reading a new potions book he had borrowed from the library, when the Durmstrang boy found him again.
"Hey, are you still reading those boring old potions books?" The boy's voice was light and teasing as he dropped down on the couch next to Honey. "You could be doing so much more interesting things, you know."
Honey looked up, slightly startled. The boy was so casual, so confident, leaning back with a smirk on his face. He had a way of making even the most mundane moments feel like an adventure.
Honey felt his pulse quicken, his hands twitching slightly as he closed the book. "I—I'm just trying to get through some schoolwork," he muttered, unsure of what to say. "I don't—really—"
"Yeah, yeah," the boy interrupted, clearly amused, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, you've done enough studying for today. Come with me for a bit. I have something fun planned."
Honey hesitated, unsure. He had never been one to just drop everything, but for some reason, the boy's carefree attitude was infectious. Besides, the days had been dragging on lately, and it had been a while since he'd had a chance to just forget about everything.
"Okay... just for a bit," Honey said, giving in. He could use a break, even if he didn't really understand what this all meant.
As they made their way through the halls, laughing at little jokes and nonsense that Honey didn't always fully understand, the boy's playful nature put him at ease. But there was something else, something Honey couldn't quite place, about the way the Durmstrang student looked at him. It wasn't just friendship—it was... something more. Was he flirting with him? Honey wasn't sure, but it felt like that, and the idea confused him.
As they reached the courtyard, the Durmstrang boy leaned against the stone wall, folding his arms across his chest with a grin. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're all nervous and twitchy." He smirked at Honey, who immediately felt his cheeks flush.
"I—I'm not nervous," Honey stammered, his voice cracking slightly. His hands fidgeted with the hem of his robes. "I—just—"
The Durmstrang boy chuckled. "Yeah, right." He took a step closer, his voice dropping. "I like it though. You make everything interesting. No one's ever this... unpredictable. It's... fun."
Honey's heart raced, and he took a step back, trying to make sense of the situation. The boy was making it seem like a joke, like everything was just for fun. But to Honey, it felt different, like there was something deeper in the way he was being treated. It wasn't like anything he'd experienced before.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Honey, there you are!"
Honey turned to see Draco walking toward them, his expression unreadable. He wasn't with his usual group of friends—just by himself. But there was something in his posture, the way he stood a little straighter, his eyes narrowing just slightly as they landed on the Durmstrang boy.
The Durmstrang boy, noticing Draco, straightened up and raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Well, well, the famous Malfoy." He extended a hand in a mock gesture of friendship, though it was clear it wasn't really genuine.
Draco didn't shake it. Instead, he eyed the Durmstrang student coolly, before turning his attention back to Honey, his gaze softer, but there was an edge to his voice. "What's going on here?"
Honey blinked, suddenly feeling awkward, unsure of how to explain the situation. "I—uh, we were just talking..." he started, but his voice trailed off, not sure how to even begin.
The Durmstrang boy tilted his head, clearly amused by the tension in the air. "What, you jealous, Malfoy?" he asked with a playful lilt in his voice. "I was just showing Honey a good time."
Jealous? The word hit Honey like a punch to the gut. Was Draco... jealous? His heart twisted at the thought, but he couldn't make sense of it. Draco had never been one to show much emotion, at least not like that.
Draco's eyes flicked to Honey for a moment, his expression unreadable, before his lips curled into a tight, controlled smile. "I'm not jealous," he said, though his tone was sharper than usual. "I just don't think it's a good idea for you to be wasting Honey's time."
The Durmstrang boy chuckled. "Wasting his time? You must be joking. I'm just having a little fun." He shot Honey a look, still amused by the entire situation.
Honey felt his chest tighten. He didn't know how to react. His brain was swirling, trying to piece together what this all meant. Why had the Durmstrang boy been so friendly, and why did it feel like he was... trying to get closer to him in a way that felt more like a joke than anything real?
And why did Draco seem so bothered by it?
Before Honey could answer, Draco spoke again, his tone a little softer now, but still with that edge. "Come on, Honey. Let's go." He didn't wait for Honey to respond, just turned and started walking away, clearly expecting him to follow.
Honey stood frozen for a moment, the Durmstrang boy's teasing smile still lingering in his mind, and then his gaze shifted to Draco, who had already taken a few steps ahead.
"Coming?" Draco called over his shoulder, his tone now carrying a note of something—something that almost sounded like concern.
Honey hesitated before following Draco, but a small part of him couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something had changed between them. Something he wasn't quite ready to understand.
As they walked back to the castle, Honey glanced over at Draco. His best friend's face was neutral, but the air between them felt heavier now, laden with something unspoken. Honey couldn't help but wonder if Draco was, in fact, jealous, and if that meant something more than just protective friendship.
But for now, he pushed the thoughts aside. He wasn't ready to confront them—not yet.
