"Are you sure you want to go to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop?" Greengrass asked as we walked out of Honeydukes.
"Why not? They have some good tea selections that probably can help with this horrible hangover," I threw my hands.
"Ah, how boring," She acted like she was disappointed, "I should've known when you picked the sugar quill out of everything."
"Hey, the deluxe version of it lasts longer," I protested and justified for myself, "Alright, Miss. Not-boring, tell me, why the hell did you get a blood-flavoured lollipop?"
"I've always been rather curious about it," She curled her lips before licking on it, "huh, interesting."
"Interesting?" I couldn't believe what I heard, half laughing, I said, "That's an odd word choice. You seem to be enjoying it."
"I have to train the inner vampire in me, you know," She pretended to be serious, but then quickly leaned over, "Okay, let me tell you a secret. It tastes horrible, but I paid for it, so I'm finishing it."
I shook my head in amazement.
"But seriously, Granger, Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop?" She circled back to her initial question, "Come on, that place is for couples. And we are not there yet."
She then winked at me.
"Fine, fine, sorry if I'm moving to fast," I cleared my throat and tried my best not to laugh, "Where do you want to go then?"
"I say we go to Three Broomsticks," Greengrass put the whole lollipop in her mouth and mumbled, "You can't leave Hogsmeade without a Butterbeer, or two, or three."
"More drinks?" My eyes must've widened since Greengrass burst out a laughter, "Haven't we had enough last night?"
"I know you are trying to be a good kid," She put her hand on my shoulder, still with that disgusting blood flavored lollipop in her mouth. And as she spoke, I could smell the metallic scent, "But you and I both know you'd take a good pint of Butterbeer than any kind of tea."
"That's not true, I'd love a good cup of …"
"Blah, blah, blah," She covered her ears. After a brief pause, she said, "Are you done? Because we should get going before they get crowded in the afternoon."
Before I could answer, she already started walking. I laughed as I shook my head and caught up with her.
"I'm afraid this was a horrible idea," I said as I was sipping my butterbeer, sitting at the bar, "I don't think I can live a party life."
"A party life?" Greengrass chuckled, "Come on, you call this a party life? Oh dear, you haven't seen anything yet."
"You can call me a square," I shrugged, "I know you are thinking about it."
"Nope, I just think we all need a little nudge to live like who we ought to be," She curled her lips and finished the last bit of her drink, then raised her hand and waved, "Red currant rum please."
"That's deep, I guess?" I rose my eyebrow, "And isn't this a bit too early to drink hard liquor?"
"Never too early," She said smugly, swung a half circle in her chair and turned to face me, "So, let's talk about life."
"What?"
"Like, you know, what do you like to do? Where do you like to go?" Greengrass shrugged, "I'm trying to get to know my new friend better here."
"Um," I stumbled on my words. For the longest time, I hadn't been doing anything for the sole purpose of the happiness for myself. Truth be told, I didn't even know what made me happy, "Reading?"
"Sure," She nodded though I knew she wasn't too convinced nor excited about my answer, "At least it's not chess.
"What about you?" I asked, hoping to get the hook off me.
"Knitting," She said with a smirk.
"Knitting?!" Madam Rosmerta and I said simultaneously.
"I find that hard to believe, darling," Madam Rosmerta said as she handed Greengrass the red currant rum she ordered.
"Please, I'm joking," Greengrass picked the glass up, "It's a joke, don't take it seriously, both of you. "
"What do you actually enjoy doing then?" I pressed on.
"Horseback riding," She said and took a decent sized sip of her drink, "And-you are totally going to judge me for this-tarot reading."
"No judgement," I shook my head, still trying to finish my first butterbeer while Greengrass was on her third, "I must say, horseback riding does sound like something you'd do. And I think I've come to conclusion that fate is a curious thing."
"I wonder if that realization came through after you started seeing Malfoy," She blinked a couple times with an innocent look, which made me blush.
I threw my hands.
"Speaking of that," She put her glass down and scooted closer, "I hope you don't mind me asking, how is it like to date Malfoy?"
"I'm not sure I understood what you mean by that," I was caught off guard by that question.
"How is he like?" She said light-heartedly, "He's a mystery and it's safe to say that most of us are curious about how he is like privately, away from all his pretentious acts."
"That's a little harsh to call him pretentious, but I get it," I said, still a bit weirded out by her question, "He's very nice and surprisingly, the kind of person that would stand by you through thick and thin."
"That's good to hear," She nodded slowly as if she was thinking about what to say next, "You know, considering his dating history."
"You mean about Parkinson?" I frowned.
"No," She dragged on the word, "I mean...you know what, it doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that both of you are happy, and I'm glad."
I wanted to ask more about what she was trying to say, but she was fast to change the topic and began talking about horseback riding.
I had a quite pleasant day spending time with Greengrass except from her odd question about Malfoy. Aside from that, I enjoyed her company. It almost seemed too good to be true for me to have a great day, and I was right. As we were back in the Hogwarts castle, walking down the hall to the Slytherin common room, we ran into Pansy Parkinson.
"I'm surprised to see you spent a whole day with Greengrass," Parkinson crossed her arms.
"Nosy much?" Greengrass took my arm and tried to drag me away from Parkinson.
"Can I have a word with you?" Parkinson asked, looking right into my eyes, "Just you and I."
My reflex told me to say no, but there was something in her look that made me want to say yes.
"Sure," I finally said, freed myself from Greengrass' grasp despite her protest about how it was a bad idea to talk to Parkinson, "It's fine. Give us a moment please."
Reluctantly she walked away, and I waited until she got inside the Slytherin common room before I spoke.
"What now?" I asked impatiently.
"Granger, I don't like you," She sighed, didn't look away, "But even with that, I still have to warn you about Greengrass. She's bad news."
"Are you trying to sabotage every relationship I have with a Slytherin?" I asked directly.
"What? I'm not trying to sabotage anything," She sounded repulsed, "I can only take the horse to the water, but I can't make it drink. Yes, I think it's stupid of Draco to stay with you, but it's ultimately his choice. I told you before that when I care about someone, I want them to be happy. And if Draco thinks being with you makes him happy, then I'm more than glad he has you, despite my personal dislike in you. Unlike Greengrass."
"I don't know if I should say thank you," I tiled my head and said with a frown, "And what do you mean 'unlike Greengrass'?"
Before she could speak, I heard a voice calling my name. I looked over her shoulder, it was Malfoy.
"Greengrass told me that you are out here with Parkinson," He walked up to me, wrapped his hand around my waist, and said to Parkinson coldly, "Get lost."
"I was just trying to…"
"Get lost," He repeated in a malicious tone, "Don't make me repeat myself."
"You are an oblivious fool, Draco," Parkinson sighed again in frustration. As she left, her sight lingered on me as if she was trying to tell me something.
I guess I had to talk to Pansy Parkinson.