And the rest is rust and stardust (2)

Finding a way to introduce Astoria Greengrass to Neville Longbottom was no easy task. After last year, Neville's popularity had increased exponentially with quite a significant number of admirers.

"The boy who lived is taken, but this one," Daphne Greengrass said with a grin, "The one who emerged from shyness, the brand-new golden boy, is surely a catch and a target."

"You make Neville sound like a," I laughed, "What's a word for it, uh…"

"Player?" Greengrass curled her lips, "You know what, I'd say so."

"Come on, Neville's the last person to be a player," I squinted and said as if I knew better.

"Oh really?" She glanced at Neville, who was walking down the hall toward where we were standing before looking back at me.

Did I forget to mention we were kind of stalking him? Wait, we were definitely stalking him. Such a shame. But I did make a deal, so it was what it was. Still, shame on me.

"Really," I said, less confident than earlier now that I sensed Greengrass was up to something, "I'd rather believe when someone says Malfoy is a player."

"Why? Because he looks like one?" Greengrass rose her eyebrow and jokingly scoffed, "Please, Malfoy has never been the one who messes around, even though he acts like he has. He's quite loyal, believe it or not."

Seeing I was about to say something, she added:

"No, if you were about to say 'ugh, then what about Parkinson?'. That girl threw herself at him, and perhaps he was bored."

"Stop trying to make him sound better," I carried on with that 'I know you are doing' tone, "And what's you point here?"

"I was about to get to that," She glanced at Neville once again, then a cunning grin appeared on her lips as she winked at me, "Watch this."

It was too late. Before I could say anything or stop her, she already left for her target.

I couldn't hear what was said, but I saw Neville smiling with a bit of blushing, and Greengrass twirling and tucking her silky brown hair behind her ears.

I wasn't sure what I was watching, but I surely didn't want to have this scene re-enacted in front of me ever again. Ever.

A brief moment that felt like an eternity had passed, Greengrass returned with a victorious smile on her ever-so-lovely face, and all I managed to mutter was:

"What the hell was that about?"

"Calm down, Granger," She crossed her arms and said with triumph, "I just got my little sister a date."

"What? How?" I quickly lowered my voice after realizing I was practically yelling out of surprise unconsciously, "But I thought I was the one who supposed to do that."

"Are you mad at me for taking a what you considered difficult task of your hands?" She turned her head a little.

"No, un, absolutely not," I threw my hands, acted like I didn't care, "No, no, I need to thank you for lifting that weight off my shoulders."

"You are insanely and stupidly competitive for no reason," Greengrass shook her head, "Okay, now ask me how I did it."

"Fine, how did you do it?" Though I sounded reluctant, I was genuinely curious.

"Glad you asked. It was quite simple. I just went up and asked him if he'd be down to go out with me," She shrugged and said casually, "And since he already has a crush on me, it's expected that he'd say yes."

"Hold on, what?"

"I said, glad you asked…"

"No, not that," I stopped her mid-sentence, "What do you mean he already has a crush on you? How did you know that? And doesn't he know you…"

"He doesn't, and he's not going to. I don't want to break any hearts, plus, it's fun," She continued with that careless tone, then she got closer and whispered, "And as for how I came to know his secret, well, this is hard to believe, but…"

"But?" I felt I was on the edge of my seat, even though I was standing.

"Ginny Weasley," Greengrass said after talking a deep breath, "What can I say, that girl knows some stuff."

"And why would she tell you that?"

"What can I say," She straightened her tie a little, "Because I'm the coolest."

I crossed my arms while staring at her without saying a word.

"Alright, that's too far," She cleared her throat, "I know you want me to say something along the lines of how she and I share some dark secrets together, but sorry to disappoint, the truth is, she came to talk to me. First about how I should stay away from you, and second about how Longbottom sent her to tell on him. Because he's…"

"Because he's still shy and Ginny tends to be the one gets excited about some drama and gossip," I finished her sentence for her while nodding, "Sounds about right."

"There you go," She started walking, "Now we should head back, Malfoy's going to worry what keeps you so long."

"Wait a minute," I began following her but soon stopped, "You set yourself up with a date, not your sister. You and she don't look that alike."

"Aren't you naïve?" She motioned me to follow, "I'll send Astoria there and make her tell him that I can't make it and she'll be his company. It's going to be fine."

"Do you know you are horrible and a heartbreaker?" I symbolically rolled my eyes at her.

"I know, I know," She narrowed her eyes, "I'm the worst."

I laughed and hurried to catch up with her.

"Where are we going? This is not the way to the Slytherin common room," I became suspicious after walking passed way too many hallways than usual.

"Glad you asked," Greengrass tried to sound the same as the last time she used this phrase, but somehow, she sounded a little guilty, "Funny story, I forgot a book in the Divination classroom, and we are currently heading to the Divination Stairwell."

"Fine," I sighed, "Although you need to know I hate that puzzle maze of a place."

"Noted," She nodded while leading the way.

Just as I knew since the very beginning, together with that dizzying effect infuse stairwell and hoax of a class, unwanted surprises always appeared whenever I went through that part of the castle.

However, it might just get slightly interesting today.

When we reached to the bottom of the spiral stairs, we hear chatter. Greengrass extended her arm to stop me from walking, then she quietly walked up a couple of stairs before getting back down. She motioned me to look for myself, which I did.

Stood on the middle of this dreadful stairwell, were Ron Weasley and Pansy Parkinson.

"Ginny Weasley?" I whispered, sounded more or less accusatory.

"Ginny freaking Weasley," Greengrass smirked, though that guilty look lingered for another second.