𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍.
chapter six; Kisses & Bad Timing
" Don't they make you float for a bit? "

  MADELINE COULDN'T BELIEVE she was sitting in a booth opposite Nico Keeler. Bluebelle had in fact picked out her outfit (which consisted of neither a jumper nor jeans). It was a nice walk over to the Three Broomsticks, Nico had ordered their drinks and now she was in a state of disbelief. 

  "So," Nico said, settling back into his seat, "Why did it take so long to get you on the quidditch team?"

  "I already told you," Madeline laughed, sipping her butterbeer, "It was my brother's thing."

  "And now?"

  "Now. . . I'm not letting him stop me from doing things I want to."

  Nico smiled at her answer, "Good thing for me." Madeline raised a brow, "Well, I'm sure he's not very happy about you coming out with me."

  "James doesn't like me around anyone."

  "I sort of get where he's coming from."

  "I'm sorry?"

  "Well," Nico grinned, leaning forward, "You're fit, fiery, now you're on the quidditch team, I'd be protective too."

  Madeline smiled, looking into her butterbeer as if it held a response for her. Nico reached across the table and placed a hand over hers.

  "You're cute when you blush."

  Madeline placed her cool hands on her cheeks, "That's good because it happens a lot when you're around."

  "It's one of my many talents," Nico shrugged with a small smile.

  "Alright, now you just sound arrogant."

  "Confident," Nico corrected teasingly.

  Sirius, James, and Peter were laughing as they clambered into the Three Broomsticks. Remus was resting in the hospital wing and had kindly requested chocolate from his friends.

  "Woah," Sirius held his arms out, effectively stopping both James and Peter. "Let's come back later."

  "What? Why?" James gave him a weird look, "You don't want butterbeer?"

  "I think this is more about the fact that Maddie's on a date," Peter spoke up, earning a glare from Sirius.

  "What?" James whirled around, setting eyes on Madeline who was smiling shyly at Nico. "She's—!"

  "Mate, let's just go," Sirius sighed.

  "No, we're going to get butterbeer," James grumbled, "And we're going to make sure Maddie doesn't do anything stupid."

  "James—"

  "Whose side are you on, Sirius?" James questioned.

  "Yours," Sirius mumbled after a moment, following James to a table.

  "I don't mean to worry you," Nico spoke quietly, "But I'm pretty sure Black, Pettigrew, and your brother just walked in."

  Madeline groaned, resting her forehead on the table, "I'm so sorry, he's—"

  "Hey, it's alright." Madeline looked up cautiously, "We could always make him angry."

  "Now I'm interested," The brunette grinned, scooting forward in her seat.

  Nico simply smiled, placing a hand on her jaw and bringing Madeline into a deep kiss. Madeline's eyes widened before they closed, allowing herself to enjoy the moment of bliss that was kissing this boy.

  Madeline had expected, debatably, too much out of a first kiss. Bluebelle had described hers, back in second year with Jones Hyde, and Madeline felt none of it, no fireworks or butterflies. His lips were soft and when they parted, she tasted peppermint, but this was the only lasting imprint in her mind.

  Nico pulled away, smirking proudly at the flushed teen whose eyes fluttered open a moment later.

  "Think he's mad?"

  "Dunno yet."

  "Guess we should try again?"

  "That would be best."

  James choked on his butterbeer, the drink spilling from his lips as he coughed it up. Peter worriedly patted his friend's back.

  "Are you alright?" Sirius snorted.

  "I'm going to kill that git—"

  "Woah, woah, woah," Sirius grabbed James' sleeve, pulling him back into the chair, "Who are we killing?"

  "Keeler."

  Sirius turned, his face fell as he saw Madeline locking lips with Nico. She seemed genuinely happy, her brown locks slowly falling forward but her rosy cheeks still visible.

  "We can't just—"

  "He's going to hurt her!"

  "I don't like it either," Sirius snapped, "Saying something won't do anything but make her want him more, you know that."

  James sighed, leaning back into his chair.

  "Mad yet?"

  "Oh, completely pissed," Madeline nodded.

  "Do you want to do anything else?" Nico questioned, "I'm sort of enjoying this date with you."

  "Only sort of?" Madeline cocked a brow.

  "Would you like to change my mind, Potter?"

  "Who would I be if I didn't?"

  "They're on the move!" Peter whispered loudly to his friends.

  "We know, Pete," Sirius sighed, "We're letting her go."

  "No, we are not!" James cried, "We're just. . . not letting her ruin our day. She's my sister, I couldn't care less what she does."

  "James—"

  "Can't let her go because I never cared in the first place."

  "Oi!" Sirius hit James' arm, "Don't get all pissy with your sister, she didn't do anything."

  "Why are you defending her so much recently?"

  Sirius shook his head at James' anger, "I'm going back, come find me when you're over yourself."

  James crossed his arms, sulking as Sirius threw a jacket over his shoulders and hurried out. Peter quietly sipped on his drink, frowning at James' mood.

  "Honeydukes?" Sirius slowed at the familiar voice, "You like sweets?"

  "Who doesn't?" Madeline laughed. Nico had an arm around the girl's shoulders, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her puffy jacket.

  "So, what do you like then?"

  "I could eat an entire packet of Fizzing Whizbees in one sitting."

  Nico laughed, "Don't they make you float for a bit?"

  "That's the fun part!"

ϟ

  Nico had insisted Madeline sit with him and his friends and dinner, to which Kai and Bluebelle had given her enthusiastic thumbs up in reassurance.

  "This is Maddie Potter," Nico introduced as the duo sat with a bunch of older boys. Most seemed either Nico's year or seventh, which only intimidated Madeline a bit.

  "Oh, James' little sister."

  "First of all, we're twins," Madeline sighed, "And I'm not just his sister."

  The boys exchanged approving looks that made the brunette shift awkwardly.

  "Well, Maddie," The boy who had spoken before grinned, "I'm Colin Hughes."

  "Right," Madeline mumbled, "I think we'll get along wonderfully."

  Nico simply grinned, pulling the girl into his side while he chatted with his mates. Madeline had remained silent most of the meal, not by choice, but it seemed the boys surrounding her were not only loud but very quick to speak.

  To the point where their voices often overlapped, and not even the Marauders did that.

  Madeline was transparently miserable, she had a plate full of delicious food but it felt like everyone around her was judging each and every movement, so the girl wound up hardly eating. The Potter girl brushed it off as jitters of being around so many new faces, but it didn't feel good regardless.

  "You don't like my friends," Nico stated bluntly as they casually walked back to the Ravenclaw Tower.

  "No, no, they're great," Madeline smiled, "Uh, just a bit louder than mine, I suppose."

  "Declan is loud," Nico laughed, pulling the girl to a halt, "You don't have to lie, I know you don't like them."

  "I do, really." The girl attempted to lie through her teeth, "They're funny."

  "Well, I'm glad you think so." He grinned, slowly backing her to a wall, "It'd be a lot more complicated otherwise."

  Sirius seemed to have shit timing because he turned the hall just in time to see Nico pinning Madeline up against a wall in a kiss. The boy hated Nico Keeler, he knew all too well how he spoke when not trying to sway girls into bed.

  Sirius may have been gradually earning the title of heart-breaker, but he never gloated. He didn't see people as trophies to be won and lost, and Sirius hated people who did.

  The boy rolled his eyes heavily, turning around to take another route to his common room.

  It seemed, perhaps, he was frustrated with the fact Madeline was kissing anyone. Not just that it was Nico.

  And he had no idea why.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
I'm updating this so quickly lol
oops? Thanks for READING THOUGH
because I really do love this story 
and maddie :')