Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 22: The Girl He Thought He Knew
Adrian Selwyn had known Georgina Goyle for nearly six years.
He knew she was an excellent Quidditch Beater. He knew she had a formidable temper, an impressive vocabulary of obscenities, and a tendency to express displeasure in ways that made people reconsider their life choices. He had seen her knock a Bludger halfway across the pitch and once watched her lift a fourth-year boy bodily out of her favourite chair.
He had also seen her laugh with Victoria Crabbe, argue with Draconia Malfoy, and defend younger Slytherins when older students from other Houses gave them trouble. So when he’d asked her to Hogsmeade, he hadn’t been under any illusions about her personality. What he hadn’t expected was the girl currently walking beside him. Not merely because she looked beautiful, although that was certainly part of it. It was the way she kept smiling. As though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
And every time she caught him looking at her, that smile became a little more uncertain. They had been walking towards Hogsmeade for about ten minutes when Adrian noticed that Georgina was unusually quiet. He glanced at her.
“Everything all right?”
She looked over.
“Yeah. Why?”
He smiled.
“You’re very quiet.”
Georgina laughed nervously.
“Am I?”
“A bit.”
She looked ahead. Then shrugged.
“Sorry.”
Adrian blinked.
“Sorry?”
“Yeah.”
“What for?”
Georgina hesitated.
“For being boring, I suppose.”
Adrian stopped walking. Georgina took another step before realising he’d stopped. She turned.
“What?”
He stared at her.
“Georgina Goyle. Boring?”
She blushed.
“Well...”
Adrian laughed.
“That’s a new one.”
Georgina folded her arms.
“Don’t be a prat.”
“There she is.”
She laughed despite herself. Then looked away. Adrian’s expression softened.
“Seriously. You don’t have to entertain me.”
Georgina looked back.
“I don’t?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“I asked you out because I wanted to spend time with you.”
She stared at him for a moment. Then smiled.
“Oh.”
Adrian offered his arm again.
“Come on.”
Georgina took it. And this time, she moved a little closer. Hogsmeade was crowded with students enjoying the crisp autumn morning. The shop windows were decorated with pumpkins and coloured leaves, and the air smelled of chimney smoke, fresh bread, and sweets from Honeydukes. Georgina looked around with an expression Adrian hadn’t seen before. Not the familiar assessing gaze she wore on the Quidditch pitch. Something softer. Almost delighted.
“Look at that.”
Adrian followed her gaze. A shop window displayed a collection of tiny enchanted glass animals. A miniature silver unicorn trotted in circles around a crystal tree, while a pair of glass swans glided across an impossibly small lake. Adrian smiled.
“Want to have a look?”
Georgina hesitated.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“Yeah. I’d like that.”
Inside, the shop was warm and filled with delicate little objects. Georgina wandered slowly between the shelves, examining music boxes, glass ornaments, and tiny enchanted figurines. Adrian watched her pick up a small crystal bird. It spread its wings and gave a soft, musical chirp. Georgina smiled.
“Oh, that’s lovely.”
Adrian approached.
“Like birds?”
She nodded.
“Yeah.”
He looked surprised.
“Really?”
Georgina glanced at him.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just didn’t know.”
She laughed softly.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“I suppose there is.”
Georgina looked back at the bird.
“My mum used to keep canaries.”
Adrian leaned against the shelf.
“Did she?”
Georgina nodded.
“Three of them. Little yellow things. Made a bloody racket every morning.”
He laughed.
“Sounds annoying.”
“They were.”
She smiled fondly.
“But I loved them.”
She turned the little crystal bird in her hands.
“One of them used to sit on my finger. Wouldn’t let anyone else touch him.”
Adrian watched her.
“What happened to them?”
Georgina’s smile faded slightly.
“They got old.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
For a moment, she looked sad. Then she carefully returned the ornament to its place. Adrian hadn’t expected that. Not because he thought Georgina incapable of affection, but because he’d never seen her speak about anything with such quiet tenderness. He smiled.
“You should tell me more about them sometime.”
Georgina looked at him.
“Really?”
“Really.”
She smiled back.
“I’d like that.”
They continued through the village. At Honeydukes, Georgina spent several minutes deciding between chocolate frogs and sugar quills. Adrian watched with amusement.
“Having trouble?”
She sighed.
“Yeah.”
“Get both.”
She shook her head.
“Don’t need both.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll eat both.”
Adrian laughed.
“That sounds like a perfectly good reason.”
Georgina grinned.
“You’re a terrible influence.”
“Apparently.”
She finally chose a small bag of chocolate frogs. Then noticed Adrian reaching for his purse.
“Oi.”
He looked up.
“What?”
“I’m paying.”
Adrian blinked.
“Georgina—”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t start.”
He laughed.
“I was going to buy them for you.”
“I know.”
“Then why won’t you let me?”
She hesitated. Then smiled.
“Because you bought the butterbeers earlier.”
“So?”
“So it’s my turn.”
He considered. Then nodded.
“Fair enough.”
“Good.”
She paid for the chocolates. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, handed him one. Adrian looked at it.
“What’s this?”
“A chocolate frog, you idiot.”
He laughed.
“I can see that.”
“Well, it’s for you.”
Adrian smiled.
“Thank you.”
Georgina blushed faintly.
“You’re welcome.”
They eventually found a quiet table near the window of a small tearoom. It was less crowded than the Three Broomsticks, and the owner had placed little vases of autumn flowers on each table. Georgina sat opposite Adrian. For a while, they talked about classes, Quidditch, and their plans after Hogwarts. Adrian discovered that Georgina liked Herbology more than she’d ever admitted in public. Georgina discovered that Adrian was surprisingly good at sketching and had once considered studying magical architecture.
“You draw?” she asked.
Adrian nodded.
“A bit.”
“Buildings?”
“Mostly.”
Georgina smiled.
“That’s brilliant.”
“It’s not that impressive.”
“Can I see sometime?”
Adrian looked surprised.
“My drawings?”
“Yeah.”
He hesitated. Then smiled.
“Of course.”
Georgina looked pleased.
“I’d like that.”
Adrian watched her for a moment. Then said, “You know, you’re different when we’re alone.” Georgina’s smile faltered.
“Oh.”
He noticed immediately.
“Not in a bad way.”
She looked down.
“Right.”
Adrian leaned forward slightly.
“Georgina.”
She looked up. He smiled.
“I like it.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“This.”
He gestured between them.
“Talking to you. Getting to know you.”
Georgina stared. Then smiled uncertainly.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She looked down at her hands. For a moment, she didn’t speak. Then she laughed softly.
“Bloody hell.”
“What?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“Georgina.”
She looked up. Then sighed.
“I’m not used to this.”
“To what?”
She hesitated.
“Having a boy interested in me.”
Adrian’s expression softened.
“Oh.”
Georgina looked away.
“I know that sounds stupid.”
“It doesn’t.”
She gave him a doubtful look. He shook his head.
“Really.”
Georgina traced a finger along the edge of her cup.
“Vic and I used to talk about it.”
Adrian waited.
“About boys. Dating. All that.”
She smiled faintly.
“Draconia always had someone asking her out. Sometimes two or three.”
Adrian laughed softly.
“That sounds like Malfoy.”
Georgina nodded.
“Yeah.”
Then her smile faded.
“But nobody ever asked us.”
Adrian watched her.
“Not once?”
She shook her head.
“Not once.”
He frowned.
“That’s hard to believe.”
Georgina laughed without much humour.
“Well, believe it.”
She hesitated.
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