Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 42: A Question Without Words
By the time they left the arcade, Draconia had decided that Muggle entertainment was one of the most remarkable inventions in human history.
She had driven a racing car into a wall seven times, defeated Alex in a fighting game, and acquired a small white stuffed cat that she was now carrying with almost embarrassing affection. She had also discovered that she liked holding Alex’s hand, and had been doing so whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Alex was still amazed by his luck. The girl he’d met by chance was funny, clever, affectionate, and genuinely interested in what he had to say. She also found ordinary things unexpectedly fascinating.
She’d taken his hand during lunch, leaned against him throughout the film, and even invited him to keep his arm around her after catching him smelling her hair. Now she was walking beside him, their fingers intertwined, occasionally brushing her shoulder against his as they talked.
Alex wasn’t particularly experienced with girls, but he wasn’t entirely oblivious either. He was beginning to think she might like him. Quite a lot, actually. They found a quiet bench near one of the shopping centre’s indoor fountains. The late-afternoon crowds were thinning, and the sound of falling water made the area pleasantly peaceful. Draconia sat beside Alex, placing her little white cat on her lap.
“I’ve had a wonderful time,” she said.
Alex smiled. “Me too.”
“Truly. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in ages.”
“Well, you certainly laughed when I lost that fighting game.”
Draconia grinned. “You were rather terrible.”
“I was winning until you discovered that ridiculous combination.”
“Skill, Alex. It’s called skill.”
He laughed. “Right. Remind me never to challenge you again.”
“A wise decision.”
She turned the little cat over in her hands, examining its pink ribbon.
“And thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s adorable.”
Alex smiled. “You really like cats, don’t you?” Draconia laughed.
“Oh, you have no idea.”
“Got one at home?”
“No, unfortunately. My mother prefers peacocks.”
Alex blinked.
“Peacocks?”
Draconia nodded, then realised how peculiar that sounded.
“Yes. We have several.”
“In your garden?”
“On the grounds, yes.”
Alex stared at her. Then laughed.
“Blimey. Your family’s really something, aren’t they?”
Draconia smiled.
“You could say that.”
She looked down at the little cat again, then tucked it carefully into her handbag, leaving its white head peeking out. Alex chuckled.
“That’s cute.”
Draconia looked up.
“The cat?”
He shook his head.
“You.”
She blushed.
“Oh.”
He smiled. And she smiled back. They sat quietly for a moment, watching the water tumble into the fountain. Alex had noticed that Draconia seemed to enjoy being close to him. When they’d sat down, she’d chosen the space immediately beside him rather than the far end of the bench. Her knee rested lightly against his, and she hadn’t moved it away. He liked that. He liked it rather a lot. But he was also trying very hard not to assume too much.
Draconia came from a traditional family. She’d mentioned that several times, and some of her reactions suggested that she wasn’t accustomed to the casual way boys and girls behaved around each other. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. So he talked. About school, mostly. About his friends, his plans for the summer, and the possibility of learning to drive when he turned eighteen. Draconia listened with interest.
“You want to drive a car?”
“Yeah. My dad says he’ll teach me.”
“How exciting.”
“Most people don’t think driving lessons are that exciting.”
“I do.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Imagine being able to travel wherever you like, whenever you like.”
Alex grinned.
“Well, that’s the idea.”
Draconia thought of broomsticks, Portkeys, and Apparition, but said nothing. Instead, she asked him about his favourite places to visit. He told her about the seaside, a small town where his grandparents lived, and a beautiful stretch of countryside where he’d gone camping with his family. She listened, smiling. And without quite realising it, she moved a little closer. Alex noticed. Of course he noticed. He was seventeen, after all.
Draconia was in the middle of telling him an amusing story about Georgina when something changed. It was a small thing. So small that she might not have noticed it if she hadn’t been looking directly at him. Alex had stopped smiling. Not because he was unhappy. Quite the opposite. His expression had softened, and his attention seemed to have shifted away from what she was saying. His eyes were no longer quite meeting hers. They were focused slightly lower. On her mouth.
Draconia stopped speaking. Alex blinked.
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
She stared at him for a moment. Then a slow smile appeared on her face.
“Alex.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you listening to me?”
He looked embarrassed.
“Of course.”
“Really?”
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
He laughed awkwardly.
“Sorry.”
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