A/N: Hey all. Just a short chapter. No author note at the end. I shall save that for the next chapter.
DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE! Anything Harry Potter related that is.
Chapter Eleven – Only Hope
Depression hung thickly in the air. Even Samara and here little friend Ophelia seemed sad. No longer could you find them running throughout the house playing hide and seek, or squealing excitedly as they pretended they were princesses locked in the highest furthest 'tower' of the Zabini Castle. Bree had walked past her sister's room to find the two girls sitting quietly, brushing their dolls hair. Shaking her head slightly, she walked towards the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. Even the weather seemed to be depressed for heavy sheets of rain ran down the window, and it was terribly cold. Bree pulled her jumper closer to her body and ran down the last couple of stairs, crossing the entrance hall and into the kitchen. She was surprised to see Hermione there already, with a book and a steaming mug of something that smelt delicious.
She looked up with a warm smile. Surprised again.
"Hey you" she said curiously as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard across the room from Hermione "you're in a good mood. Anything happen?" Fingers crossed that Blaise had sought Hermione out and confessed his undying love for her. But she was disappointed as Hermione shook her head.
"Nothing special. It's raining" she said, nodding her head towards the window. "I adore the rain." Bree smiled sadly, trying to convince herself that at least something was making Hermione happy. It had been almost 2 weeks since the incident with Sasha, and Bree's talk with Blaise, and as far as she knew, Hermione and Blaise had not said a single word to one another. It broke her heart. The two of them obviously had feelings for one another, even if they hadn't said it out loud. So what was stopping them? Bree pondered this thought for a while, while she sat across from Hermione with her wonderful hot coffee.
The two sat in comfortable silence, for what seemed like hours. The house was so silent that bree could have sworn that there was no one home, but she knew that there was no where else for them to go. But this is how it had been for two weeks. Everyone seemed to have locked themselves in their rooms. No even Draco had been around. But it was Blaise that was worrying Bree the most. She knew her twin so well, and she could feel she was hurting, but why? Why was he continuing his relationship with that horrible Sasha? She knew there was a reason, for Blaise had mentioned so in their conversation those two weeks ago. But what could it possibly be.
Just then, the door to the kitchen opened, and Sasha glided into the room, her nose held high. She looked down upon the two girls at the kitchen table. Hermione was trying desperately to pretend that no one had just come into the kitchen. Bree had fixed Sasha with a hard stare.
"What do you want?" she asked her voice cold and sharp. Sasha raised an eye brow and snarled at Bree.
"I'm looking for Blaise. Have you seen him?" Bree did not answer, but Sasha knew that she would not tell her, even if she knew. She had never liked Blaise's sister, but then again, she supposed she could put up with her when…
"Hmmm" she said, casting her eyes around the kitchen before landing on Hermione. "So, has Blaise told you yet? We're getting married" This statement had its desired affect and Sasha smirked. Hermione looked up quickly from her book, her eyes already full of tears of anger and sadness. Bree had stood up suddenly, and though she was shorter than Sasha, she was rather intimating, and the blonde took a step back, no longer smirking,
"What do you mean getting married? When did he ask you?" Her voice was laced with impatience and Sasha obviously noticed, for she did not take her time answering.
"Obviously, getting married is rather self explanatory. He told me he couldn't wait till we were 21. And he asked me last night." She said, her smirk now back in place, as she held out her left hand, adorned with a beautiful diamond ring. Bree gasped, knowing full well that Sasha was telling the truth. This was the Zabini family ring. It was generally passed down to the first born son, but as Orlando had not been entered into a marriage contract for unknown reasons, Blaise had received it.
Bree looked up in time to see Hermione streak out of the kitchen, and she looked back up at Sasha.
"Please excuse me" her voice dripping with sarcasm "I have to leave" and with that, she took off after Hermione. She was however stopped again, just as she had been 2 weeks ago. Draco was now standing in front the staircase the Hermione had run up, the same smirk his sister wore, firmly in place.
"Ahh, my dear Bree. I wish for you to accompany me" Bree glared at him, and ordinarily he would have moved, but when he didn't, when even his facial expression didn't change, Bree was startled.
"Oh, please Bree. You're scare tactics hardly hold any merit with me anymore. Now I am requesting a moment of your time. I am trying to be as polite as possible, but we can go about this he hard way"
Bree didn't move for a moment, then suddenly, she made a dash for the front door, but Draco was too fast for her. He grabbed her upper arm, slamming her backwards into the door. She shut her eyes tightly, willing herself not to cry at the white hot pain running throughout her body. He pinned her against the door with his own body, pressing his lips to hers, furiously. After a moment he pulled away and lent close to her ear.
"Now listen to me. I have a proposition for you, and you will be accepting it. You don't scare me anymore Briseis. I can easily control you as I have done, but it is your choice." He hissed "Choose to marry me and you will be my equal. Should you also choose marriage, then Sasha will terminate her marriage contract to Blaise and he will be free to pursue Hermione. Should you not choose this you will marry me anyway, you however will be my servant to bend at my every whim. Oh, and Blaise and Sasha will marry. Poor Hermione." he said in a disgustingly fake voice. He didn't do sympathy well.
Bree felt sick. Terribly sick. Her stomach was clenching painfully, hot tears of anger were prickling her eyes and she wanted to hit Draco, but he had pinned her arms at her side. She would not let Blaise and Sasha marry. He was supposed to be with Hermione. It was fate. Sighing defiantly, she looked Draco in the eye.
"Fine, you get your way again. I'm yours, for it is my only option, and Blaise's only hope." Draco smirked.
"I knew you'd see it my way. I shall go an inform the unhappy pair that they are no longer betrothed to one another." And with that, he pressed his lips to Bree's, softly this time, before releasing her and making his way up the staircase. Bree watched him go, and only when he was out of sight, did she slide to the floor, allowing the tears to flow freely down her face. Unfortunately for her, moments later, Alexis happened to come down the stairs, and saw Bree propped up against the door, her shoulders heaving with sobs.
"Omg, Bree" she said worriedly, running down the stairs and sliding to the floor beside her friend "what on earth has happened?" Bree looked up at her, wiped away her tears and tried for a smile. It was not a convincing one, but it would do.
"There's nothing wrong at all. I'm just… hap-happy. I'm getting married." And with that she pulled herself up off the floor, flung open the door, and ran out into the pouring rain.
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Draco had a wicked smirk on his face as he found Sasha in the large library reading by lamp light. She looked up at him and matched his grin with one of her own. No words needed to be exchanged, but she couldn't help herself.
"So it's all worked out then?" Draco nodded.
"Bree has agreed to marry me, and believes that you and Blaise have now terminated your marriage contract. You will of course not do so, but I feel it best if you suggest to Blaise, that he spend some 'quality time' with our dear Miss Granger. Bree will suspect that he is trying to pursue Hermione now. You will remove the engagement ring also. You have done marvelously well thus far, so kudos to you. I applaud you" and with that he clapped mockingly before exiting the room, and Sasha laughed, encompassing all that is evil and wicked.
Three perfectly good lives had been ruined, thanks to two horribly evil people, and there seemed to be no hope for Hermione and Blaise now, as the two sat in their room, tears in their eyes and thoughts of the other in their head.
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