The constellation of Triangulum derives its name from its three brightest stars, which form the triangle's points. The constellation is home to the Triangulum Galaxy (Messier 33), one of the nearest and best known galaxies in the night sky.

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🖤

His heart pitter-pattered with excitement as the paper bird fluttered in his hands. The strudel idea had failed horrendously, but that did not matter because he was going to make it up to her. He tried not to smile as his pace quickened.

It was the lull between lessons and lunchtime where everyone would have headed back to the common room to freshen up. He was hoping to catch Angel then. The gorgeous scent of roast chicken and savoury pastries drifted down the hallway, weaving with the distant sound of banging pots and pans. No doubt the elves working hard to make lunch.

As he was about to round the corner and head down towards the Hufflepuff common room, two voices rang out clearly in the next corridor.

"What? You! With Draco Malfoy!" He stopped at the mention of his name. It was a male voice, heated, but confused. "What's gotten into you? Have you gone completely mental?"

"I'm so sorry, Ced. I didn't... It wasn't supposed to happen!" a girl pleaded. "I never meant to hurt you, I swear."

"Yeah, well, nice try, Angel!" Draco had never heard Cedric raise his voice before. It was severe, a whip against the back. "He's a Slytherin! Tell me, did he put you up to this? Did he force himself on you?"

"What, no! He's not like that. Really, Ced! Once you get to know him, he's actually-"

"So you did it on your own, then! You made a choice to kiss him. Behind my back! How long has this been going on?"

Draco decided to peek around the wall then. Angel had her back towards him, suddenly seeming very small in front of Cedric.

"It's not like that, Ced..."

"He's dangerous! Do you know who his family is? Not to mention, he's bullied you for years! You couldn't have gone with... I don't know, Zach, or something? Had to be Malfoy, hadn't it?"

"I know he was horrid, but he's changed! Once you get to know him, he's gentle and kind and-"

"Gentle? Are you hearing yourself? Why are you even defending him? Has he hexed you or something?"

Angel glanced around in a panic to make sure no one was hearing the commotion. "Ced, I know you're upset right now, and I'm sorry. I really am. Can we talk about this later?"

"Upset!" Cedric was in disbelief, his voice growing louder and agitated. "I'm livid! Do you know what you're getting yourself into? I just don't understand why you would do this. He's a bad influence!"

"Please, Ced. Let's just go for lunch and we'll talk about this later. I promise." Angel turned to leave, but Cedric's arm grasped hers. 

"Have you... have you been shagging him?"

Draco felt anger surge and take control of him. No one touched his girl like that. His mind went hazy. The next thing he knew, he was stalking up to them, large and purposeful steps. "Diggory! Get your filthy fucking hands off her!" he heard himself say.

They both whipped around in surprise, and Cedric seemed to snap out of a daze. He immediately let go of Angel and backed away. "Angel, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Oh, Ced, it's alright, let's just-" Draco strode right up to Cedric, and fist connected with face. Cedric stumbled back, holding his jaw.

"Fuck off!" Draco snarled. "I kissed her. Me. She did nothing. Actually, she was doing you a favour by even telling you, you fucking idiot. Have a go at me if you want." He stood in front of Angel protectively. "But touch her again and I swear your body will rot at the bottom of the Black Lake."

Cedric pulled out his wand but Draco matched his speed easily, adrenaline pumping in his veins.

"Stop it, the both of you!" Angel cried, lunging in between them. "This is all my fault, okay? I caused all this. Malfoy, I know you wouldn't hurt Cedric. Please, just... put down your wands for heavens' sake!"

He felt his heart soften. For you. He lowered his wand reluctantly. Cedric did the same.

"I should never have been involved in the both of you. I'm so sorry I've hurt you, Ced. You've been nothing but good to me, and I never meant for this to happen. Believe me. I really do care about you, but..." her voice quivered. "I understand if you never want to see or speak to me ever again."

"So that's it? You're choosing Malfoy?" Cedric was composed and resigned, as if he already knew the answer.

Angel was silent and Draco couldn't see her face. Sadness flashed across Cedric's eyes for a moment, fleeting like smoke in the wind as his gaze flicked back to Draco. "Take care of her, Malfoy. Or you'll be sorry." Then, turning to Angel, he said, "I hope you know what you're doing. But if he ever hurts you, you come tell me immediately. Do you understand?"

"She's not a child, Diggory," snapped Draco, narrowing his eyes. With one more glance at Angel, Cedric spun around and disappeared down the hall.

They watched him go before Angel turned back to Draco. Her shoulders were slumped and her eyes were filling with tears. "Angel, your arm..." He reached out, but she pulled from him and hurried away without a word.

"Wait!" he called after her. She broke into a run down the secret passageway behind the kitchens, deeper into the castle. "Please go away, Malfoy!" Her voice broke as her black robes billowed behind her.

On the other side of the wall, he could hear water running as the elves had started cleaning up the kitchenware. This part of the castle was unfamiliar, and he had a hard time keeping up with her while trying to take in his surroundings.

The little corridor snaked on forever before leading straight into a sort of clearing behind the kitchens, where a little burrow-like structure with a circular entrance was tucked away on the right.

Angel rapped the password so quickly his mind barely even registered it before she squeezed into the door and shut it behind her. He leaned against it, just able to make out her sobbing from the other side.

"Angel, come on! Open the bloody door." He slammed the door with his fists. This only seemed to make her cry harder, so he stopped.

"Leave me alone, Malfoy," she sniffled. He pressed his forehead against the old wood, at a loss of what to do. A minute passed, and he could still hear her sniffing. 

Quickly, he pulled out the little paper bird from his pocket, crumpled, but still chirping just the same. He folded it into a flatter, rectangle shape and pushed it under the door.

It was met with resistance from her robes, and confident that she had seen it, he quickly got up and hurried away before anyone saw him.

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🤍

Angel leaned back against the door, trying to stifle her sobs. Cedric hadn't just been someone she was seeing. He was also a dear friend. Now, he hated her for sure - and rightfully so.

Telling Cedric the truth had been the honest thing to do, but what he said about Draco hurt. He was indeed right about some things. Draco was a Death Eater, and dangerous to associate with. But there was so much more to the Slytherin boy than he knew.

The rustle of the note sliding under the door startled her. Her name was scrawled lazily on the front. It twitched as the bird trying to unfold its flattened wings. Scooping it up carefully, she pulled herself up and walked upstairs to the dorms.

She tucked the note carefully into her pillowcase before going to take a shower. The warm water flowed down her hair and back as she emptied her mind of all thoughts. A full fifteen glorious minutes of not thinking about anything at all.

A sudden knocking on the bathroom door snapped her out of her bliss. "Angel! Is that you?" Susan asked from the other side.

"I'm in here," she called back.

"We missed you at lunch! Coming for Herbology?"

She considered it for a while. "Actually, Susan, I'm not really feeling that great. Could you please tell Professor Sprout for me?" 

"You alright? Do you need to see Pomfrey?"

"No, no," she said quickly. "My head just hurts. Nothing a quick lie-down can't fix. I'll be fine after some rest."

"Well... alright then. Take care!"

She hadn't even realised she had been holding her breath, and let out a long exhale after Susan thumped back down the stairs.

After drying herself and pulling on a warm sweater, she was beginning feeling much better. The chatter downstairs had died down as students filed back to class. She spent some time tidying the room a little, plumping Susan and Hannah's pillows, smoothing their blankets, and picking up stray ties on the floor.

Light streamed in from the circular windows, breathing life onto the plants that hung from the wall. She picked up the small watering can that sat on one of the window sills and tipped a little into each pot.

Finally satisfied, she settled down onto her bed and pulled out the note.

Dear Angel,

Our time together may be limited, but you taught me that with someone special, an hour can hold an eternity.

I know I can't make up for anything, but please let me try. Meet me tonight at our usual place. I have a surprise for you.  

P.S. Wear your nicest dress.

Draco Malfoy

She frowned. He did not have to make up for anything, truly. But she wasn't sure if she wanted to go. It's not that she no longer trusted him, but she was still feeling awful from her conversation with Cedric.

She turned to the frame on her nightstand. "Mum, dad... What should I do?" Her parents laughed back at her silently. They had their arms over each other, Jacob turning to give Grace a peck on the cheek.

She touched the picture tenderly, her thumb passing over her father's face. "I love him, dad..." she whispered. "Is that terribly wrong?" Silence. She sighed, wondering why she expected otherwise every time.

What would she wear anyway? Nicest. She didn't have any of those fancy gowns he was probably used to, the ones the Slytherin girls always wore.

Hannah used to tell her and Susan about the extravagant parties the Wizarding 'royalty' held over the holidays. Huge Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts, followed by a glamorous New Year's countdown. There had not been one last year, but Hannah always gushed about the stunning dresses the girls wore. Proper expensive gowns threaded with gold and silver, diamonds and jewels dripping from their ears. 

All she had was the dress she'd worn for the Yule Ball two years ago, the one her dad picked. She rummaged her closet for it, finding it tucked away into the corner in a dust bag. It lost the sparkle and newness from years in the musty cabinet, but it would have to do.

She mentally kicked herself when she realised she had already decided to go.

In love with a Death Eater, she mused silently. Could you be any more ridiculous, Angel? Then she remembered the look in his cold grey eyes. It was broken, desperate. They had stared into hers, pleading for a way out. 

How were they ever going to make it out of this train wreck?

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

When she told them she would miss dinner too, they pulled her aside. "Did he hurt you? He's dead." Premature anger flamed in Hannah's blue eyes.

Draco's secret felt like someone had tied a boulder to her feet and thrown her into the lake. Looking at Hannah then, her lips almost parted to spill her guts. "No, he didn't," she said at the last second. "Ced and I have broken up."

"I'll kill him too," announced Hannah nonchalantly.

"You seem to enjoy killing people an awful lot. Should I be worried?"

Susan pursed her lips. "So you've chosen Blondie, then?"

"You're MAD!" Hannah shrieked, earning a stern 'sshhh!' from Susan.

"I know what you're going to say," she held up her hand to them. "Please don't. I know what I'm doing."

Susan laughed, pulling her into a hug. "I don't understand you at all, you bimbo. But if you say he's an alright bloke, then..."

Hannah groaned. "Not you, too, Susan! Have we just somehow forgotten that this is Draco Malfoy we're talking about?"

"He wants to take me out tonight. I think. I don't really know." She showed them the note. Their eyebrows practically disappeared into their hairlines.

"He'd better have a bloody eight-course dinner planned," said Hannah. "And you have to swear you'll tell us everything when you get back!"

Susan nodded. "We'll wait up for you. In case he pitches you off the Astronomy Tower or something."

"Fine," Angel smiled.