While We're Young -- December 1995

I was rather nervous about this whole thing; I mean... it was Malfoy. Granted, he was a Gryffindor and a housemate since first year (obviously), but still. He was a bit strange. But he was so cute. I had agreed to date him... I mean, why not? We would look totally cute together. I waited in the common room for him to come back from an early morning Quidditch practice before going to Hogsmeade. Parvati was waiting with me and had helped get me all dolled up. I looked at my best mate. "He better not stand me up," I said to her, realizing that he was about ten minutes late for being back.

I was walking back to the common room with Ron.  "Is it odd that I'm a bit nervous?" I questioned, chuckling and shaking my head.  "I mean... I can't say that the disappointing Malfoy is a good option."  Especially with the werewolf part of me.  That had been my punishment for being Sorted into Gryffindor.

I rolled my eyes at my best mate. "Lav, I doubt he is standing you up," I said. And as soon as the words were out of my mouth the team started to make their way into the common room through the portrait hole. "See? The team is back... practice just ran a little long. Give him a little bit of time to get changed and cleaned up, you'll be fine." I was not impressed by the lack of punctuality, but then I also knew how Quidditch goes and that the players lose track of time sometimes while out on the field.

I sighed with relief. "Alright," I said to her. "I just don't know what to expect with him." I knew that Parvati understood what I was getting at. Even though he was a Gryffindor... his entire life he had been made to hate Muggleborns... and that was me. But it did nto seem to bother him quite so much with becoming mates with Ron and them.