Chapter 11
It was only a moment or two before I began to regret running out the way that I did. It had completely slipped my mind that I had no idea where I was going. Vincent's house was like a maze and I was the lone mouse aimlessly trotting around in a confused daze. However, I foolishly told myself that being lost in this wilderness of plush furniture and expensive art was better than spending another second in Gerard's presence. I must have relived the moment in my head a hundred times since stalking away from the bathroom in nothing but a towel. I could feel his hazel eyes boring into me with a strange mix of interest and fright. That was probably the part that scared me the most. In my three years of knowing Gerard I have never seen fright in his eyes. Mischief, greed, contempt, and judgement—yes but fear was something I thought I he didn't know. But there it was, clear as day, a fear that I could only imagine coming from myself every time I looked at Vincent.
After about thirty minutes of searching I could feel my legs growing tired. It was times like then that made me wish I had taken up some sort of athletics. I was such a weak child. Luckily a familiar pop came in front of me and Madeline soon followed the sound looking worried as can be. Before I could say anything she grabbed my hand and without even so much as a peep apperated us to another room. This room was obviously made for a guest. It had an unlived in quality about it that was both impressive and unsettling. Also I noticed my trunk set by the window.
"I'll be just outside when you're ready but do be quick our guests have arrived." She said with the slightest bit of agitation.
"Oh I know, I saw Gerard already." I said not even liking the sound of his name coming out of my mouth.
"Well he obviously isn't the only one!" She exclaimed, "Guests Master Louis GUESTS!" And with a pop she was gone.
If the pressure hadn't been on before it certainly piled on after that. I had no idea how many people would be waiting downstairs but knowing Vincent and the world he lived in I didn't expect anything less than the entire Slytherin house downstairs gathered in a sea of green and black. I looked over the room and my eyes fell on a set of clothes laid neatly on the bed: A pair of grey slacks, matching vest, muted lavender button down, and sage green tie. I instantly recognized the colors as the bundle of clothes Vincent had thrown at me earlier in the evening. I could have sat there and admired the quality of the clothes for hours but a sharp knock on the door from Madeline implored to dress quickly. I looked myself over in the full length mirror hanging on the back of the door and I was surprised at how well his clothes fit me. I'm sure there had been some sort of charm on them at the time but it was nice to pretend that we were that much alike in body type. It made me feel closer to him.
XxX
When I assumed that all of Slytherin would be downstairs it was a bit of an exaggeration. As it turns out it was only every third year Slytherin but even so that was upwards of two hundred students. I stood at the top of a grand staircase looking over all the other students in the grand hall dressed to the nines. Everything in the hall was bathed in a silver light coming from floating candles charmed to mimic the soft light of the moon beaming through the floor to ceiling windows. There were dozens of wreaths and Christmas trees going the length of the room and three different fireplaces all a blaze.
"Louis!" I heard someone shout from in the crowd of the people. It wasn't more than a second before I locked onto Violet hurrying towards me drink in hand and in a yellow dress with embroidered dragons flying around on the fabric. As customary she had a flower in her hair, this time a golden orchid, "How have you been?" She asked pulling me into a hug. I had forgotten how much I missed her and graciously returned the embrace.
"It's been eventful. You look fantastic love, you're glowing! Who have you been snogging?" It was amazing. Only a few seconds in her presences and I was already back in my Slytherin ways. She had that affect on me where as I would always get nervous around Vincent or intimidated by Gerard. I had truly found a friend in her.
"Oh you're filthy! Come get a drink. Everyone is waiting for you!" With that she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the quagmire of posh preteens. We made our way to a large table covered in decadent desserts and elegant glasses filled with different colored drinks. Waiting by the table were Nathan, Vincent, and Gerard each with a different drink.
"So this is dinner?" I said sarcastically to Vincent.
"Only if you can afford it." Nathan retorted
"Well you missed dinner." Vincent said playfully. I had been lost upstairs for much longer than I thought.
"It's good to see you Louis. I didn't know you were coming." Nathan said
"Apparently he didn't know the rest of were either!" Gerard said draping his arm over my shoulders. I want to say that my first impulse was to shake him off but it wasn't and that bothered me, "My fault I suppose. I may have told a little while lie—all in good fun I assure you."
"I'm sorry, I should have said something. I assumed—" Vincent began
"Oh no Vincent you know what happens when you assume!" Gerard said mockingly wagging his finger.
"You make an ass out of you and me." Vincent said not amused.
"No…you drink!" Gerard exclaimed being greeted with cheers from the rest of the group. Gerard began to chant "drink" at the top of his lungs and soon the rest of the party joined him. Bashfully Vincent took the glass he was holding and pressed it to his lips. Egged on by the other students he swallowed the entire glass till not a drop was left. The room erupted into shouts and he looked towards me with a dazzling smile. I felt myself fall even deeper for him.
"Louis you look a little dry there, let's get you a drink." Violet said leading me towards the table.
"What do we have?" I tried to sound as experienced as possible because truth be told I had not touched alcohol up until that point. Luckily Violet didn't catch on.
"Well her this one, the yellow one, is just champagne nothing special. The fun starts with the other drinks—" Her face lit up as she explained each one.
There was a green drink called Salazar that contained Fire Whiskey and a blue drink called Blu.V that possessed a little Veritaserum. It was known as the ultimate inhibition stripper. It wasn't as strong as the pure potion but it was common knowledge that whoever had one too many would be losing any sort of truth telling game. There was an orange drink (the one Vincent downed in a matter of seconds) which was called Sorridere and possessed traces of Induced Euphoria Potion. That drink is self explanatory. Then there was a rose red drink that seemed very popular among the guest. I looked around and almost everyone had one. She explained to me that this drink was called Sueur de Veela. It was fire whiskey with a mild love potion. I noticed anyone drinking it at the party was extraordinarily friendly with anyone they came in contact with. By process of elimination I figured Blu.V and Sueur de Veela would not be good choices for me given the company I was keeping so I chose to go with Sorridere. It tasted like ginger ale with a bit more bite. Even with one sip I could feel the effects of the drink. I couldn't explain it but my mood was instantly lifted and anything negative I felt (including any uneasiness around Gerard) was instantly gone. I made a point to stick with that drink for the remainder of the night.
I had to admit that it felt good being with my Slytherin friends especially after the debacle that was the Weasley family Christmas. This party had an air of sophistication that the rustic setting of a Weasley Christmas just couldn't match. I felt like I was twice my age. I couldn't remember a time I had that much fun since before I went to Hogwarts. Violet, Nathan, Gerard, and Vincent had become my go to people. If you had told me two years ago at my sorting that I would find solace in four of the most prominent members of the Slytherin house in my year I would have probably scoffed at you. Honestly, if you had told me two years ago that I would not be on speaking terms with my best friend and cousin Lily I would have probably punched you in the face…had I had the disposition for such things. I found myself wishing that Hugo had been there at the party. He would have felt so out of place but I really wanted to show him just how civil the Slytherin's could be. They aren't these monsters that our siblings and cousins paint them to be. In all fairness my family, the Gryffindor's were proving to be the monsters in the situation. I don't mean to sound as if I was friends with these people or embraced being a Slytherin just to rub it in my family's, mostly Lily's, face but their red and gold self righteous hubris did not make the transition difficult.
XxX
I was now on my fourth or fifth drink at this point and was feeling on top of the world. The affects of the potion and the alcohol were really taking affect. I found myself sitting on the stairs with Vincent, Gerard and Nathan watching the rest of the party play out before us. I had danced so much me feet were begging for a break but Violet was still going strong dancing with anyone who wanted to. I had never seen her that open to other students before and I wasn't sure if I would again after that.
"I don't know how she does it. I swear she's part Cornish pixie or something." Gerard said with a smirk. The rest met his joke with hearty laughter…well all except Nathan who rarely laughed.
"Don't let her hear you say that. She'll curse you into next term!" I said, the affects of the potion still working their magic.
"I dare her!" Gerard said shoving me lightly
"Don't test her. She'll probably do it just to do it. Violet has never needed a reason to make your life hell."
"Oh sod off I'm going to go get a drink. Do you want anything?" He asked looking at Vincent over his shoulder who nodded in affirmation.
"She's something isn't she?" Nathan said taking another sip of his drink.
"She is." Vincent said watching her intently. I couldn't help but get lost in my imagination wishing he would look at me that way. We sat there watching Violet twirl around the room in her golden dress, the orchid in her hair catching the glow of the candles in the air.
"So you and Violet?" Gerard said to Vincent handing him a drink. This instantly shook us from our dream like state. I looked up at Gerard with a shocked expression on my face.
"So the dead has arisen I see." Gerard said mockingly before turning his attention back to Vincent.
"Well she fancies me. I'm not sure what else I can say on the matter." He took a sip of his drink.
"Well do you fancy her? I feel like that would have been the obvious question to answer." The subject at hand began to make me sick to my stomach and I could feel my contempt for Gerard rising in my chest.
"I'm not sure. I actually haven't given it much thought. I think I could fancy her." At first I chalked his answer up to just being polite and then I noticed the drink in Vincent's hand was a sapphire blue.
"Well she's the prettiest girl in our grade, well next to Louis here of course." Gerard said gesturing towards me with his drink.
"Lay off Gerard." I spat not in the mood.
"Touchy!" Gerard said grimacing at me.
"This is all true but her looks alone are no reason to fancy her." Vincent said trying to quell the argument.
"Well you guys are already friends so you can skip the getting to know each other stage. And your families are pretty much attached at the hip. It's a marvel you two aren't arranged to be married." My entire body tensed up at the thought of them being married and that's when I saw it. Gerard had a glint in his eye that was unmistakable. He had noticed my reaction and his serpent like mind was putting the pieces together.
"Gerard you're ridiculous…but I can't say that I disagree with you." Vincent said with a smile.
"Well what's stopping you?" Nathan chimed in, "Do you fancy someone else?"
"I—" Vincent began
"What do you think Louis?" Gerard asked with a false sense of naiveté.
"About what?" I said trying to bide my time but Gerard was too quick witted for that.
"Do you think Vincent and Violet should be a couple."
"Well if he doesn't want to—" I began
"I didn't ask you what he thinks. I asked do you think they would make a good couple." I remained silent. I could feel the nerves etched onto my face, "Is that a no?" I stayed silent as Gerard continued to coil around my throat, "Don't tell me you have a thing for Violet or…no…maybe—"
"You should date her." I said flatly. I looked up at Vincent with the thickest mask I could muster, "You two would be perfect together."
"You really think so?" Vincent asked quietly.
"I do. I really do." I said with a smile. Vincent looked as if he was about to reply but his face suddenly became tense.
"What are the lot of you doing sitting around looking pensive?" Violet said walking over towards us. She was met with an awkward silence, "What…is there something on my dress?" she said flattening the fabric with her hands.
"Violet—dance with me." Vincent said stretching out his hand. She looked at him confused for a moment before taking his hand and dragging him to the middle of the crowd. It took everything I had not to break down into tears.
"Just perfect together." Gerard said sitting down next to me. I kept true to my Slytherin code and refused to let him see me break.
"Utterly perfect." I said toasting his drink with mine. I could feel his hazel eyes trying to read me but he wasn't going to win. Not this time.
XxX
The shrill chirping of birds bought me to consciousness and the sun soon followed pinching at my eyelids with its unwelcome light. After the initial shock of waking up, my head began to pound terribly and I made a promise to myself never to drink that much again in my life. It wouldn't be the last time I made that promise. I crawled out of bed and made my way to the mirror where I noticed the tear stains on my cheeks. It was then that all the happenings of last night came to me which did nothing to help my headache. I had for all intensive purposes pushed Vincent into the arms of Violet all just to save my own ass. To add insult to injury my best friend, Gerard, had proven his Slytherin heritage. What I couldn't figure out is why he would do that to me. He had always been playful but this was different. He had some sort of agenda. Confronting him wasn't an option. I thought if I just ignored it and pretended that nothing bothered me everything would be fine. No one had to know that I was gay and no one would have to know that I liked Vincent. All I had to do was lie and that was something I had become accustomed to over the years.
"Louis?" I heard Nathan call from behind the door before knocking, "Are you awake?" I wiped the tear stains from my face and added a yawn for good measure before opening the door.
"Yeah, Good morning." He nodded in reply.
"Hungry?"
XxX
"Well that was something." Nathan said taking a bit out of a left over macaroon.
"Truly. Is it always like that?" I asked helping myself to the many desserts on the kitchen island. It goes without saying that Vincent's kitchen was just as majestic as the rest of the house.
"Usually. I was surprised it took him so long to invite you but to be honest we weren't sure if you were going to last."
"Was I really that bad?"
"If I had a chocolate frog for every time we heard you crying—"
"Alright I get it you arse!" I said throwing a mini éclair at him, "So are you ready to go back?"
"To Hogwarts? Absolutely. It's so boring being home."
"I'm surprised. You never seem to be enjoying yourself at school."
"Louis, I never seem to be enjoying myself anywhere."
"Very true," I said stifling a laugh, "I feel the same way. I never thought that I would grow to miss Hogwarts. I have the lot of you to blame for that."
"Friends will do as friends will do." He said matter-of-factly.
"I suppose they will." I heard Gerard say from the doorway, "I see you two have started without me. A little romantic breakfast for the two love birds?" He said helping himself to the desserts.
"Not so much. I'm saving my appetite for your troll of a mother." Nathan said stoically.
"Oh you're so funny Nathan you should have your own muggle television show!" He said taking his annoyance out on a lemon square, "So what is the plan for today?"
"Where are Vincent and Violet?" Nathan asked.
"Still in bed. The two of them stayed up all night talking. No need to thank me, just call me Cupid." The last thing I wanted to do was thank him and I had a list of things to call him before Cupid.
"Well we just can't leave without them." I said hiding my contempt.
"True. So what do you think they were talking about? Do you think it's official?" I could tell he was only trying to get at me.
"I could care less." Nathan said making his way out of the kitchen, "If nothing is happening I'm going back to bed."
"No need for that we're up." I heard Vincent say before stepping into the kitchen Violet soon coming in after him.
"Well the coven is all here." Gerard said pouring himself a glass of orange juice, "Whatever are we to do now?"
"Feeling up to a game of keep away?" Vincent said with a gleam in his eye.
"At this hour!" Violet exclaimed, "It's not even noon!"
"What better time to play? You're on mate." Gerard said after gulping down his juice.
"I guess I'll play too." Nathan said, "It isn't like there is anything better to do."
"Well you can count me and Violet out." I said grabbing her hand and smiling at her, "We're much too pretty for this kind of thing."
"Fine by me. We'll let the ladies sit this one out." Gerard said mockingly but I was not amused.
"Lay off Gerard, you can be a real prick some times." Vincent said giving him a shove. Gerard looked at him completely confused for a second before sucking his teeth and sending a sneer my way.
"Whatever. Let's just hurry up and play." And with that he left the kitchen.
I looked towards Vincent and couldn't contain the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. He returned it briefly before exiting the kitchen after Gerard followed by Nathan.
"So do you want to watch from the terrace?" Violet asked me shaking my arm.
"Sure. Sounds like a plan." I guess I had been staring at his retreating frame for too long, "So Gerard tells me you stayed up late last night talking with Vincent." I asked cautiously as we made our way upstairs to get some coats before heading outside to the terrace.
"We did but it was nothing out of the ordinary. It was nice though."
"I'm sure." I said feeling uncomfortable but I couldn't hold my curiosity, "So are you two together now?" I blurted out.
"What? No not at all!"
"Really?" I said with a tad too much excitement but she didn't pay any mind to it.
"No. Honestly Louis you think one dance and some small talk is going to win me over? I'm not some cheap date like I mean really how—"
"Okay Violet I understand." I said calming her down.
"Oh come on, we've got to go they're going to start the game soon."
"So you actually want to watch?"
"Shut up and grab that plate of macaroons that was on the counter, I'll meet you on the terrace." And bounded up the stairs before I could protest.
With no one there I couldn't help but allow a smile to run across my face and a few tears to trail to my chin. Despite Gerard's best efforts I still had a chance. I won't lie and say that I wasn't wary of how Vincent was on the fence when it came to starting something with Violet but knowing that nothing had happened as of yet gave me hope for the future. I really had to thank Gerard for waking me up and putting things into perspective. I couldn't just wait around in the shadows and hope one day that Vincent would sweep me off of my feet. At any moment he might just find someone else and I will have missed my chance. So it was in that moment that I decided Vincent was going to be mine by the end of this term. I look back at such a grand promise and can't help but feel foolish. As cliché as it is—things don't always go according to plan.
(A/n: Thanks for staying with me guys. Sorry it takes me so long but I figured I would update 2 for the price of 1 to apologize. Don't forget to review. Again thank you for reading =] )