08 July, 1997 (12:00p.m, Sunday)

After walking into her second to last dance class, she noticed two things, the first being Adrian Pucey was nowhere to be seen. The second? Well, Theodore Nott was standing in the corner of the room talking to Madam Sallow.

When she walked in Madam Sallow turned her attention towards her, "Scarlett! I brought this lovely young man back to help you out this week. I thought maybe Adrian needed a visualization of what he should be doing. So I owl'ed Theodore's father and asked if he'd be alright with him coming to demonstrate."

Scarlett forced a smile, "Sounds great!" She not so enthusiastically replied.

Theo, however, now stood in the corner smirking.

"We'll start whenever Mr. Pucey gets here." Madam Sallow announced.

Their practice started at 12 o'clock on the dot. But at 12:05 Adrian hadn't shown up. Another thirty minutes passed and he still hadn't arrived.

Scarlett was laid out on a couch reading her book while Theo sat in the corner watching her. Madam Sallow had been staring at the door.

At one o'clock, they were startled by Madam Sallow clapping, "Okay, well, it seems Mr. Pucey has better things to do then show up to dance practice when he only has two lessons left. Theo, Scarlett, we will begin practice now. Theo, I hope you don't mind assisting Scarlett in her practice today."

He shook his head, "Not at all."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, standing up from the couch, she walked over to the middle of the floor and got into position- one hand holding Theo's and one hand on his shoulder.

He put one hand on her waist and with his other hand, he held hers.

She stared at the walls behind him, avoiding eye contact as much as possible. They were off beat for the first time today.

Madam Sallow paused the music, "Theodore, you're supposed to be everything that Mr. Pucey is lacking. Please don't make me regret my decision of bringing you here today."

Theo huffed, "Yes ma'am, it won't happen again."

Scarlett snickered, causing Theo to glare down at her.

He tightened his grip on her waist, fixed his posture, and swooped his hair back out of his face. Madam Sallow started the music again, he looked down at Scarlett, holding eye contact.

She stepped on his foot. On purpose. He rolled his eyes, "I had expected your dancing would've improved by now and that you're two left feet would be working properly."

She scoffed, "You're one to talk, the way you've danced so far makes me believe that this has to be your first time dancing with a girl."

"I've danced with plenty of girls."

"Did you have to blackmail the other boys in their year to achieve these dances?" She asked, batting her eyelashes as she stared up at him.

He frowned, "No, I'll have you know, I just have good taste and don't date shitty people."

She nodded, "Oh, but you'll sleep with them?"

He looked off to the side, "Name one girl that I-"

She cut him off, "Casey Alton, Lucy Cooper, Jane Davies, Madelyn Jenkins, want me to keep going?"

"How do you even know about them?"

"Girls talk, Theodore."

He rolled his eyes, "Whatever, anyone's better than Pucey."

Scarlett laughed, Madam Sallow glared at them from her chair, she wished they would shut up and just dance.

"Yeah, and how many other boys have liked me besides him? I bet you know all about it, since you went and threatened them all."

He shifted uncomfortably, "Scarlett, for the love of Merlin, I promise you aren't missing out on half of them. Most of them just want to sleep with you. They don't want to date you."

She sighed, "Well, good thing it's me they're wanting to date or sleep with and not you. But you just had to go and take it personally and screw up my chances of ever getting a decent boyfriend. So now I'm stuck with Pucey. So thanks a lot."

"Oh my Merlin, I'm so over this, you're not stuck with Pucey! If you're so miserable, dump him! He didn't show up to practice for your dance that is in four days! Fuck him, and not literally for the love of Merlin. Graham Montague likes you and he's done these balls before, Terrence Higgs likes you, he did a ball a month ago in Italy. Owl one of them!"

She rolled her eyes, "I don't like either of them so why would I do that?"

He huffed, "Scarlett, you're the one that picked Pucey in the first place. You liked him.We warned you. I'm not surprised he's not showing up. He's a bitch. When has he ever cared about anyone other than himself? There were plenty of options you could've had. So you're just kind of stuck with the consequences of your actions."

Scarlett turned to Madam Sallow, "I can't dance with him anymore. He's being a dick."

Madam Sallow frowned, "Scarlett, please, you have one more lesson, hopefully your partner will be back by then. Can you please just refrain from using unladylike language and just dance with Mr. Nott? Stop speaking to him and he won't have the chance to be a dick as you so kindly called him."

Scarlett blinked, "Yes ma'am." She wasn't expecting that. She turned back to Theo and frowned when she saw the smallest smile on his face, it was like he was trying to hide it but failing.

As they danced in circles away from Madam Sallow, Theo looked down at her, "How about that, then?"

She glared at him, "Shut up."

-

Scarlett sat at the dinner table with Lucius, Narcissa, Draco, Theo, and Theo Nott Sr.

"So Scarlett, Theo tells me that you've been working really hard at dance for your ball?" Theo's father, who was also named Theo, spoke.

Scarlett looked up, "Yes sir, I have been, he's helped a little bit."

Theo Sr. smiled, "That's my son, always lending a helping hand."

Draco snorted, Scarlett kicked him under the table, Lucius frowned at him.

"We appreciate his help, her date hasn't been showing up to his practices so it's been so helpful for Theo to come offer his help." Lucius told.

"Oh, who is her date?" He asked.

"The Pucey's boy."

Theo Sr. frowned, "Scarlett, you could've had much better than that."

She sighed, "I'm realizing that, the ball is in four days and he didn't even show up for this practice, we only have one left so I hope he shows up for that."

"Do you have a plan in case he doesn't?" Narcissa asked, smiling, everyone else was looking down at their plates, so when Scarlett made eye contact with her, Narcissa tilted her head in Theo's direction.

"No, I don't. I guess if he doesn't show up I'll dance on my own." It was a poor attempt at a joke.

Lucius looked up at her, "Absolutely not! There will be several Pureblood boys that have danced in these balls before, you will take your pick from them and I'll go up and ask them to escort you."

Theo Sr. nodded, "Theo would be delighted to escort you if need be."

Theo turned red, "Father..."

Theo Sr. clapped his back, "Isn't that right, son?"

He cleared his throat, "Yes, Scarlett, if you need someone to dance with you, it'd be my honor."

Narcissa clapped, "Well, how lovely."

Draco stifled a laugh, "Lovely indeed."

Theo shot him a glare.

authors note:
i got married!! my best friend that
i met through my wattpad comment
section came down to be my maid of
honor and then another one of my close
friends i met on here came down for
my wedding. it was the best weekend ever.

also sorry guys for taking so long to update.
having writers block