I don't own the Harry Potter series...I'd make too many spelling errors.
Warning: Physiological Abuse, among other. (This is the relationship going downhill section)
"Try and touch me so I can scream at you not to touch me
Run out the room and I'll follow you like a lost puppy
Baby, without you I'm nothing, I'm so lost, hug me
Then tell me how ugly I am, but that you'll always love me."- Love the way you lie part II
Chapter: The Counting Game
19th May 1996
She had been about to post the letter when he found her on the way to the owlry.
"Lyra," Adrian said, looking at her in disappointment. "I've told you, it's too risky to keep in contact with them."
It made her blood boil and freeze simultaneously; not a good health sign.
Lyrisadora clenched the letter in her hand, she knew she was meant to be keeping up with the whole submissive act to keep him fooled but….she was starting to feel worn and tired, every day seemed like another verbal battering.
Condescending smiles.
Firm grips.
Cold glances.
It was starting to take its toll, and the apologies seemed to come out more automatic.
"They're my friends," Lyrisadora murmured, taking a step away from him. "This'll be the last letter, just to let them know I'm doing alright," she insisted, keeping her voice mild.
He closed the distance between them, his hand gently covered hers. "And if the Death Eaters find out your connection to them?" he inquired lightly.
The letter scrunched up more in her hand, she didn't reply. Adrian had a fair point, what she was doing was reckless, but with the Weasley twins, most things were. Her friendship with them hadn't been that well known to the other houses and the Slytherins weren't really keen to challenge a Malfoy, especially with Draco throwing his weight around throughout the years.
But the Twins made her smile, they were her friends; which she was in short supply of right now thanks to Adrian.
Lucretia locked up in hospital.
Elizabeth bound at home.
She couldn't even risk being seen in public with Astoria, less Adrian get jealous.
Lyrisadora peered back at Adrian, feeling a bad taste in her mouth. "I gess it is too risky," she said quietly, wishing she could scream and shout her frustration.
Adrian kissed her forehead and slipped the letter from her grip, he scrunched it up. "It's better this way," he told her gently, smiling at her warmly.
She strained a smile and let him wrap an arm around her waist.
She wondered how things had turned ugly so quick.
Only 25 days, six hours and five minutes left to go.
22nd May 1996
There was an unspoken rule that a limited number of boys were allowed to talk to her, Adrian never said anything, but the look in his eye spoke louder than words.
These days she usually found herself hanging out with him and his friends, or just him, she rarely got time alone anymore.
Adrian had even suggested they shower together and she sleep in his dorm more often.
She wondered if he realised how suffocating he was being?
But she didn't say anything, he wouldn't have listened anyway, and she didn't have enough energy in her to argue.
Besides in less than two months she'd be free….if everything went according to plan.
And anyway, she was finally alone now, she was reading through her Potions book in the Great hall, Adrian had wondered off to go help Miles train for Quidditch. The weather outside was gorgeous, so the Great Hall was more or less empty for a nice change.
She was pulled from her thoughts when she saw the Head Boy approaching. "Hey, Malfoy." Norman Bradley called, wondering towards her. "I need a word," he said.
Lyrisadora arched an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Crabbe and Goyle need sorting out, I caught them mugging Gordon Page," Bradley informed.
Lyrisadora sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Can't you do it yourself?" she murmured, dealing with those two idiots made her head hurt. "Or tell Professor Snape?"
Bradley frowned. "Snape won't listen to me, Besides Crabbe and Goyle will back off if you confront them," he told her, an amused smile playing on his lips. "I think they're afraid of you."
With good reason, Lyrisadora thought darkly. Bradley looked at her expectantly, she just didn't have the energy , pretending to be happy in front of Adrian was exhausting. "Alright fine I'll do it," she muttered looking back down at her book.
But for some reason Bradley's frown deepened. "Are you alright?" he asked curiously, looking at her critically. "I was expecting more of an argument," he remarked.
"Well maybe I'm just being nice for once," she retorted, avoiding his gaze, trying to sound convincing. Was it really that noticeable? She felt a wave of paranoia, the last thing she wanted was more people asking uncomfortable questions. "I'm just stressed from exams. My father really wants me to get top notch grades," she lied; she doubted her father cared much about her education anymore.
Bradley's frown lessoned. "I doubt it'll be that hard, though I might just beat you this year," he replied.
She rolled her eyes. "Keep dreaming," she retorted dryly.
He smirked, but there was still some concern in his eyes; she hadn't expected him to care that much, but then again he had softened towards her as the year progressed. He'd even said she was a pretty cool person, for a Slytherin.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, she arched an eyebrow at him. "Well, just take it easy," he tried to comfort, she supposed it was sort of sweet, she offered him a smile. Bradley patted her on the shoulder, before his eyes trailed away from her.
"Is everything alright?"
She tensed, she'd have to put a bell on him, his manoeuvring skills were terrifying.
Lyrisadora forced a smile as she turned around. "Hi Adrian, how's Miles?" she greeted casually, refusing to look at Bradley, making sure her gaze was focused on Adrian; as if he was the centre of the bloody universe.
Adrian briefly glanced at Bradley before smiling at her. "He's fine. Why, hoping he'd fall off his broom?"
She gave him an easy grin. "A girl can hope," she retorted.
Adrian hummed in amusement before he looked back at Bradley, who was looking at them curiously. "Anything you wanted Bradley?"
"Oh no, just prefect business, nothing major, it's all sorted now," Bradley replied casually, shrugging his shoulders. "See you two at the next meeting," he bid them both goodbye.
Lyrisadora glanced at Adrian, swallowing a lump down her throat, she noticed his eyes were still locked on Bradley, like a predator. "Bit touchy isn't he?" Adrian stated mildly, leaning against the table as he glanced down at her.
She shrugged, trying to dismiss the matter, the last thing she wanted was Adrian to become jealous, bad things tended to happen. "He's just a bit overly friendly," she commented in disinterest, rubbing Adrian's arm soothingly, trying to distract him. "It's annoying," she sighed, smiling at him sheepishly.
"Why was he touching you?" Adrian asked tonelessly, smoothing her hair back, looking at her curiously.
It was only a touch on the shoulder! He acted like she was some rare prized artefact.
She feigned confusion. "I guess he was just being comforting. He said I looked tired, since these exams have been stressing me out," she answered, then shrugged. "And as much as I love your protectiveness." She forced the sarcasm from her tone, keeping it pleasant. "He only touched my shoulder," she said lightly, drawing in closer to him, closing her book, standing to her feet. "No need to be jealous," she tried to tease.
He didn't seem angry, which meant he wouldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment, he wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a faint smile.
"Can you blame me? What if someone tries to steal you away?" he said gently, kissing her lips.
She kept her smile nailed in place, relieved that she had managed to distract him.
Up until she found out two days later that Bradley had fallen down one of the moving staircases and broken his leg.
She became better at avoiding people after that.
Only 22days three hours and ten minutes left to go.
1st June 1996
Lyrisadora knew Snape was worried about her, but she'd been trying to keep her distance, especially after Adrian's remark, implying that they were more than mentor and student.
It was disgusting and spiteful of him, also a bit reckless. She supposed he they would be graduating soon, so Adrian probably thought he could get away with it.
She'd already had to hex the Carrow twins into silence, less stupid rumours start to spread. But it seemed the insult had just been meant to humiliate, not slander.
The worst thing was Adrian acted like he hadn't even said anything. "Everything alright Princess?" he asked lightly, placing his hands on her waist, the two of them alone in his dorm room.
"I'm just tired," she said quietly, looking away from him.
It was strange, she got a full eight hours sleep yet she'd never felt more exhausted.
"You should relax more," he advised, stroking her thigh, looking at her pointedly.
"You can't solve everything with sex, Adrian," she murmured, as he started to loosen her tie, he laughed, it appeared he thought she was being funny. "Let's test that theory, shall we?" he purred, throwing the tie on the floor, his hands groping her chest.
It felt like a chore, she didn't even enjoy it anymore. She'd recently tried focusing more on pleasuring him so it'd be over quicker, but Adrian liked to drag it out. "Always so eager," she muttered, letting him take her blouse off.
She tried to zone out, she had found an interesting read with the philosophers stone, something about changing solid molecules into liquid ones, of course that was quite easy with alchemy. But with a philosophers stone you could easily change a stone wall into sand, or water.
He unzipped her skirt as he placed kisses on her neck, her stomach twisted painfully. Her mind trailed back to Cassondria and Miles, the couple had been sitting in a quiet corner, smiling and laughing with each other, they looked happy.
She wondered if she and Adrian had looked like that, before everything went wrong….
"You seem distracted," Adrian stated, smoothing her hair back, kissing her tenderly, she felt cold, standing in her underwear, she instinctively folded her arms over her chest, feeling an overwhelming feeling of dread.
"Sorry, I don't think I'm quite with it today," she replied, smiling at him disarmingly, her smile twitched when she backed away towards the bed. "So where did your friends run off to?" she found herself asking, sitting on the bed, her back pressed against the headboard, knees drawn up to her chin as she watched Adrian get undressed.
"Late night Quidditch practice," Adrian replied, smiling coyly as he removed his tie. "Which may or may not have been my doing," he added mildly. "They won't be back for another two hours."
"Clever," she complimented, wanting to keep him talking. "They won't mind me being here will they? Warrington looks like he'd like to throttle me," she said, her hands clenching the pillow when he took off his shirt and moved closer towards her. "He really doesn't like me."
"No he doesn't," Adrian agreed lightly, taking off his shoes and socks. "But he won't say anything, he knows he can't do anything about it," he went on. "Besides, he's just frustrated that no one will fuck him, not even the girls," he remarked, a smirk sliding onto his face.
Lyrisadora wasn't paying too much attention, she counted the days until they graduated, only 17 days, five hours and thirty minutes left to go.
Adrian frowned at her with concern, slipping off his trousers. "Are you sure you're alright?" he questioned, sitting next to her on the bed.
When confronted with an uncomfortable question, Lyrisadora had learned this:
Lie, lie and lie until they believe you.
She smiled slyly, uncurling her legs, crawling towards him. "It's just anticipation," she said warmly, stroking his shoulders, smoothing her hands over his toned chest. "You know I hate teasing," she chimed, kissing his neck.
He smiled, and pushed her onto the bed, hovering on top of her, her stomach churned, he roughly undid her bra and kissed her, she squeezed her eyes shut, as he tangled his fingers in her hair.
His body felt like it was crushing her, like she was trapped between two walls, as he guided her hands down to his girth. She turned away when she felt her eyes prickle,a lump stuck in her throat, her eyes landed on the clock across the room.
Only 17 days, five hours and twenty minutes left to go.
20th June 1996
Adrian was starting to get the feeling there was something wrong with Lyrisadora….she seemed sad.
He supposed his spiteful comment about Snape might have been an adding factor, oh and the fact her father was imprisoned.
He couldn't ignore the guilt in his chest, he supposed he was being a bit controlling, but he couldn't soften up too much, or she'd gain the upper hand.
But he tried to make it up to her, he tried pleasing her with sex but….there wasn't much of a reaction.
So he tried with compliments and gifts, little things to try to make her smile, but her smiles were never quite right. So this time he'd gone the extra mile for her, he'd bought her a new dress and taken her out for a meal at a high end restaurant.
"How's the wine?" he asked curiously from across the table.
Lyrisadora looked up from her glass, smoothing back a strand of hair behind her ear. "Strong," she replied lightly, taking a bite of her neatly cut chicken.
He forced a smile, watching her intently. At one point he feared she'd discovered the truth, but that was impossible, he'd been very careful after all.
He didn't want her broken, she was no fun that way, he knew he had to keep her under his thumb, but he still wanted her to happy, to submit to his authority and learn to love it.
Now that they had graduated, things would be different , better than ever. In a week or so they could finally leave for America under their new identities, it'd be perfect….almost.
"Is the dress a good fit?" Adrian asked.
She nodded, readjusting her napkin on her lap, smiling at him warmly. "It's beautiful, but you didn't have to go to the trouble," she told him.
He eyed her up and down, he'd made sure to have the dress tailored to outline every curve in her body, he smiled, admiring the deep V neckline. "It wasn't any trouble, you shouldn't be covered up like an old granny," he joked, grasping her hand under the table, wishing she didn't have to cover her arms with those long gloves. "Besides, you look beautiful."
Her smile stayed in place. "You don't look so bad yourself," she retorted playfully, making him grin. "By the way, my cousin wanted to meet up with me tomorrow," she told him.
His smile faltered a little, he had planned to take her out for lunch. "You've gotten back in contact with her?" he asked mildly.
Lyrisadora nodded, swallowing a bite of her food. "I'm meant to meet her-"
"You already agreed?" he interrupted, his smile fading, she looked at him warily. "Why didn't you check with me beforehand?" he questioned evenly, her smile slipped off. "I was going to surprise you for lunch tomorrow," he informed crisply, tightening his hold around her hand.
She tensed. "Oh right, I just assumed you'd be busy," she said, shrugging uncomfortably, she flashed him an apologetic look, he raised an eyebrow, his gaze growing colder. "….I'll reschedule for another day," Lyrisadora added hastily.
His smile returned, he kissed her gloved hand. "Thank you for understanding," he sighed, his gaze turning warmer, he let go of her hand. "I'm just trying to make every day special," he told her, taking a sip of his drink.
She hummed in agreement, her gaze lowered as she ate. He drummed his fingers on the table, wanting her to be more talkative. She didn't even criticise the use of such a cheesy line.
But he supposed her family was more or less broken apart now, so it was expected she'd be upset and sad. He was worried she'd get cold feet and choose to stay in England, he really hoped it wouldn't come to that, he didn't want to do this the hard way. They were too far deep to back out now, he couldn't imagine a life without her by his side.
Adrian looked at her with interest. "We're good together, aren't we?" he stated, looking at her for concurrence.
She glanced up at him. "We do make a good team," she said, shrugging dismissively, refolding her napkin in her lap. "Can you imagine us as a duelling duo?" she added, a faint smile curling onto her lips.
He smirked. "We'd slaughter them," he said amusingly, an idea sparked in his head. "We should practice," he proposed.
Lyrisadora smirked, her eyes brightened. "I'd floor you in an instant," she told him.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "So confident, you know you're not the only one who's been practicing," he argued.
She chuckled, his smile widened, he hadn't heard her laugh in…..he couldn't even remember….. "Experience outranks training," she countered. "Practice dummies and real people are very different, darling," she purred, taking a large sip of her wine.
"We'll see," he said mildly. "And anyway, you shouldn't underestimate me," he warned, smiling ominously, feeling something of nostalgia.
Lyrisadora's smirk tightened as she arched an eyebrow. "What makes you think I am?" she questioned evenly.
His smile twitched as he appraised her.
He loved her, but he'd be a fool to trust her.
Only 7 days, five hours and twenty minutes left to go.
I had writers block with my main story, too many things going on. :P
I'll update BTTP in a few days.
But I wnated to do a little Adrian and Lyra segment, just the last two months at Hoggy-warts.
