Theodore Nott

For some reason, being back at Hogwarts was more difficult than it had ever been before. It had left Harry with a strange and uncomfortable mixture of nostalgia for what many consider the best years of the life and a constant reminder of the pain they had all endured every time he walked into a new room. He just needed to get away from it all, wandering to a slightly more secluded area of the castle and feigning interest in some potion he couldn’t quite place in order to take a moment for himself.

With Tracey gone off to talk to some other Slytherins, or so Draco supposed, he decided it was a good time for the first (and only) drink of the evening. It didn’t seem like a good idea to drink too much in a place like this. Once he found someone to come home with him and actually got home he could open a bottle of Firewhiskey. For now one glass would have to do. Drinking more than one glass implied that he was having a good time with those present here and even while trying to be polite that was not an impression Draco was going to give off.

He accepted the glass of firewhiskey which the blond boy offered, but he only took a small sip from it before placing the glass aside. They were to be here for hours, he couldn't afford to drink as he pleased and walk around intoxicated. He certainly wouldn't be this careful had he still been a student, but this wasn’t one of those parties where he could get away with whatever he did. The Prophet was probably covering the event -- he couldn’t allow himself to step out of line, not today. “I did see an old copy of Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science on display. I haven't been able to get my hands on any Argo Pyrites book in ages.” he admitted before shrugging his shoulders at the question the other let linger. “It’s a jog thing, they wanted someone to come on behalf of the hospital.” he rolled his eyes a little. “And guess who was the lucky one to be chosen? I get the day off tomorrow though, so I suppose it isn’t all that bad.” 

Being a healer meant that Cho’s free time was few and far between, and was often spent with relatives or close friends. Charity galas and visits back to Hogwarts were not something she had ever anticipated after graduating, and when she first heard about it, she hadn’t planned on attending. However, after talking about the event with Theo, she had agreed to go with him. Or rather, go and meet up with him once she got there - completely platonically, of course. 

After spending some time wandering around between the shelves of the library, reminiscing on all the long days spent studying within its walls, Cho made her way out to the courtyard to meet up with Theo. Leaning against a pillar with a glass of water in hand, she silently scanned the crowd of people chatting away with one another, until her eyes finally landed on her “date”. She pushed off from the pillar and carefully made her way over to him, before lightly tapping him on the shoulder. “Hey you.” She greeted, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

He was in conversation with a pretty blond girl he remembered vaguely from school but whose name he still couldn't place when he felt a tap to his shoulder and he turned around to see who it was that was interrupting his conversation, a smile growing on his lips when he realized it was her. “Cho, you made it.” He quickly yet politely excused himself from the other and walked with Cho over to the where the drinks were being served, offering her one of the more milder ones for didn’t imagine she intended to get drunk that night. “I thought you had stood me up on our not-a-date.” he said teasingly. “Did you just get here or have you been avoiding me all evening?” 

In fact, a few items had already caught his eye and what was more, so had quite a few people. He grinned and put down the book he’d been looking at. It was utterly boring, anyway, and he’d probably never actually read it, but he’d be damned if that stopped him from bidding on it. He threw one last glance at the ornate cover and moved towards the person who’d caught his attention. 

“Hello there,“ he inclined his head, grin still in place. Before the gala he’d done some research on what most of his old classmates were up to these days, much more thorough than any he’d done for classes back when he was still a student, if he might add, and he’d been waiting for the right moment to catch this person alone. “I was hoping you’d show up.“

Before he could walk to him, the other had caught his eye and Theo allowed a smirk to grow on his lips when he stepped towards him. “Were you now?” he laughed lightly taking another sip of his drink with his eyes still on him. He didn't remember the last time he had seen him but it was safe to say that it had been quite a while. Perhaps it was during the the Battle of Hogwarts that they had last crossed paths -- he couldn't really say. “I am not surprised, but I was rather hoping not to see you.” he went on in a teasing manner, before gesturing to the book behind him. “Now why would you be meddling with that little thing there?”