Shepard squinted as she looked down the darkened corridors of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Not seeing any of the staff she continued to make her way down the corridors, Leah kept close to the wall as she moved to turn around the corner, stopping just in time so that Professor McGonagall didn't spot her. She waited for a moment, allowing enough time for McGonagall to have passed the corridor before moving on. As she made her way through the midnight corridors of this magical school her thoughts began to wander.
Why does he want to see me? After what I did to him last time… why? It makes no sense… Now this rumour that's going around, that his father found out that he was dating a… a half-blood and sent him a howler…. It's just… What if he's breaking up with me? What if he didn't love me after-all and I was just a fling like those other girls?
Her slim body slammed into something warm and firm, quickly pulling her back from her thoughts. She gasped when she looked into the cold grey-blue eyes of Holly Chase.
"What are you doing here? I thought even prefects had to be asleep by now." Shepard whispered, trying desperately hard to keep her voice low.
"I'm going for another Legilimency and Occlumency lesson with Professor Snape." She replied almost too quickly.
"At 11 O'clock at night on Christmas Eve?" Leah questioned, her voice dripping with her disbelief.
"Yes…" Chase moved to walk away from the Gryffindor but as she did so her small, nimble body crashed into the black robed figure of Professor Snape.
"Holly! I've been looking for you; you're late for your lesson with me." Holly nodded and walked when Snape flicked his hand in the direction he wished her to go, he was so preoccupied with Chase that he didn't notice Leah hidden in the shadows. She could have sworn he had stared at Chase's ass a few times. As soon as they were both out of sight Leah continued down the hallways until she ended up where this entire thing had begun; the room of requirement.
The intricate pattern of the doors began to appear from the wall before finally emerging and swinging open, she halted in her stride only once before pushing through her fears and continuing into the room. It was dark as she entered and she felt a little scared. Leah jumped when soft hands met her hips, music began to play as the mysterious person began to gently sway with Leah, they moved further into the room and Shepard was swiftly spun around to face her dance-partner.
"Draco…" He silenced her with a soft kiss, his soft lips gently moving over her own as they continued to dance. His mouth trailed down to her neck and she let out a small sigh.
"You probably think I'm a monster… but… I want to be with you Shepard; I would do anything to be with you…" His voice was low and serious as he whispered in her ear. "But it must be kept secret… if my father hears about it he'll… he'll take me away from this wretched place… Although I could handle that, it's being away from you that I couldn't handle…"
Her arms linked around his neck and she coaxed his head up to look her in the eyes, her lips brushed his own as she spoke, "Draco, if it means being with you… I'll do anything… just… just don't leave me, okay?"
He could see the tears sparkling in her eyes and threatening to spill over. Malfoy pulled her slim form into his own, holding her tightly while whispering whole-hearted promises of love and laughter, of loyalty and trust, of Malfoy and Shepard.
"Legilimens..."
Snape expertly flicked his wand, only using the spell verbally for Chase's sake. The two stared at each other with a ferocious, concentrated look within their eyes. Snape moved through the corridors and levels of Chase's mind. She, in turn, closed all doors and refused him access. Eventually he increased his speed, running through the corridors, pacing her, forcing her to work even harder to keep him out, he ran up a spiral staircase and continued down the maze of corridors before he eventually came to an open door; he entered the misty room. Snape was immediately shelled with memories and images of Chase's time at Durmstrang… He eventually stopped at one particular memory…
… Chase trudged on through the snow, her feet were frozen and she held her coat even tighter around her wiry form. Tears slowly ran down her face and she kept her head low, not only from the snow but the people around her as well.
The potions master was suddenly hit with a sense of empathy for the young Miss Chase. He remembered the times that James and the rest of the Marauders had bullied him to this breaking point.
She sobbed and sat down onto a small bench that looked out onto the frozen lake. Chase drew her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly; keeping herself warm. A stocky, broad shouldered student walked over to her; sitting down next to her he gently wrapped an arm around her body pulling her into his own. Holly buried her head into the crook of his neck; she could feel his stubble brush her brow when he rested his chin on top of her head.
After a while she brought her head up and looked into his black eyes, her hand ran backwards through his dark hair, she was happy that he hadn't yet had it cut back yet and gave him a sad smile.
"Blagodaryati , Viktor…" Holly brought her lips slowly to his own, hesitating before Krum brought his lips the rest of the way, gently kissing her.
Snape was forcefully pushed from the memory; Chase's anger got the better of her when he invaded this memory. She pushed him from the layers of her mind.
"Oh, how touching…"
"You shouldn't have invaded that…"
"You wanted to learn this didn't you, Chase? You need to learn to stop wearing your heart on your sleeve; you need to keep up with what I'm teaching you!"
She stood, walking over to him and, fuelled by her anger, she slapped him; not thinking of the consequences. He grasped her wrist swiftly; his voice was cold and deathly as he spoke, pulling her closer to him so she could hear.
"Miss Chase, were you not in Slytherin and had I not known the reason for your reaction I would have you expelled, as it is…." Chase looked over Snape's face, his pale skin, black hair and dark eyes; she quickly leaned forwards and kissed him on the lips.
"Oh my… Shit! I just made it worse…." Holly, finally coming to her senses, realized what she had done and ran quickly from the classroom. Silently cursing herself as she ran back to the common room. Urggg… Idiot! Now look what you've done… and you have to stay here over Christmas break! Fucking brilliant… Well, at least it'll give Viktor something amusing to read!
She entered the common room again and took her place on the sofa. She stayed there the entire night, waiting for Malfoy to return… he never did.
Draco swaggered into the Slytherin common room, his shirt un-tucked, his tie hung loosely around his neck and an idiotic, gleeful smile was plastered over his face. He ran a hand through his ice-blonde hair, slicking it back. He never noticed Chase sitting on the sofa, reading a copy of Common Magical Ailments and Afflictionsthat she had started last night. She looked like she was about to say something to him but as she did he waved a mindless hand at her, motioning for her to not talk as he continued into his dormitory.
Chase sighed and closed her book, silently thanking Merlin that it was the Christmas Holidays and she could wear her own clothes. She walked out of the common room and down to the prefect's dormitory; she quickly changed into a pair of light blue skinny jeans, a slimming red tank-top, black cardigan and ankle boots.
She made her way outside and into the Owlery, picking up her own mail, Draco's and – when she noticed that the owl had carelessly discarded it over the cold stone floor – Shepard's mail. Holly walked back through the snow covered grounds towards the castle; it almost reminded her of Durmstrang. She pushed the great doors open and entered the great hall, she threw all the mail onto the breakfast table and, after looking around for Malfoy or Shepard, she decided to open her own mail. There was a letter from her mother, a copy of the Daily Prophet and a large package with an envelope tied to the top of it. She briefly read the letter from her mother and had a cursory glance at the headlines. As her attention wavered to the large package Shepard walked over, her smile so bright Chase could have sworn she was going to go blind.
"Hey, Chase… how are you doing?" Fatigue and stress had begun to catch up with her and Chase gave a forced smile.
"I'm fine… erm, I got your mail for you… and, er… Merry Christmas." She handed Leah her mail. "You seem happy… what happened?" Shepard laughed.
"I'm great and thanks! I would have totally forgotten if you didn't pick it up for me..." Chase gave a small nod. "I need to tell you something but… but I don't know how you'll react…" Holly raised an eyebrow and Leah sat down next to her and leaned in closely so that Chase could hear.
"Last night Draco Malfoy said he wanted to go out with me!" She tried desperately to keep her voice low. "He's even defying his father to be with me… I mean it's all hush-hush so you can't tell anyone but…"
"Your secret's safe with me, Shepard. I'm happy for you…" Shepard hugged her and her attention was drawn to the large box.
"From anyone special?" She enquired.
"I wouldn't know yet, I haven't been given a chance to open it."
"Oh…" Chase slipped the letter free and immediately recognized the rough yet elegant handwriting scrawled across it. A small smile came across her lips and she slipped the letter into her pocket, deciding it would be best to read it later. As she moved to open the package itself Malfoy walked into the hall and directly in the two girls' direction. He gave a quick smirk and wink towards Shepard before stating, "Shepard! What are you doing at a Slytherin table? Shouldn't you be over there with your know-it-all friends?"
Leah quickly moved from the table and back to Hermione and Ron who were already having a lover's tiff and it wasn't even nine o'clock yet.
Without even looking at Draco she handed him his mail and turned her attention back to her package. Malfoy, being so intoxicated with his newfound courage and feelings of freedom and love, completely ignored her coldness towards him and took the mail with half a smile before exiting the great hall. A few moments later Leah followed.
Holly was finally left alone with the package; opening it she found a beautiful cable-knit jumper and a photo-album. She knew the jumper was from Viktor's grandmother and the photo-album had probably been made by Krum and Papp. She began to open it, flipping through the photos. Chase smiled when she came upon one of herself, Viktor and Ákos Papp. They were in main courtyard of Durmstrang institute and were sitting on the fountain. It had been a lovely summer's day, her last summer there. Suddenly, in the midst of her reminiscing, she felt a cold hand grip her shoulder and she closed her eyes tightly when she recognized the firm grip, long fingers and utterly cold aura.
"Miss Chase, I must speak with you… privately." She closed her eyes momentarily before picking up her post and leather satchel and following Snape from the hall.
Shepard gave a sorrowful sigh when she looked at her watch and realized she had to go and find Chase for help with potions. Malfoy was staring at her longingly when she stood, readjusting her top and wristbands. Draco walked over to her and gripped her waist gently, pulling her body back into his own as she began to exit the room. She laughed lightly when he nibbled at her neck.
"Draco… Haha, Draco… please stop… I need to go do some revision…"
"We could revise together." One arm snaked around her waist as his free hand caressed her cheek.
"No… I need to go find Chase to do some potions revision… Slughorn wants us to brew Draught of Peace and apparently Chase knows how to do it with her eyes closed." He melodramatically frowned before kissing her on the lips again.
"Alright… I'll meet you back here at midnight?" She nodded; there was an obvious spring in her step as she languidly walked out of the Room of requirement, her hips swaying freely as she did so.
Okay... I know I haven't updated in ages... but I haven't updated my Hannibal Fanfic either!... I've been having problems so I thought I would get through those so that it didn't effect my writing. Anyways, hoped you enjoyed the chapter and... well, please review and feel free to PM me :)