CHAPTER 25-CRACKS
Winter was surprised the following morning when she walked into the common room and Draco was waiting for her on one of the chairs. She walked over to him and sat down on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I see Madame Pomfrey cleared you to leave," said Winter.

"She says I'm all healed, not even any scars to brag about," Draco replied.

"I personally prefer no scars myself, at least on me so I don't understand guy's needs to have scars to show off."

"We tend to compare things and whoever has the most impressive is usually the winner."

"Boys."

Winter smirked and pressed her forehead against Draco's.

"Is this an indication that you plan to spend more time with me?" she asked.

"I believe that was your request," Draco answered.

"I consider it more of a demand."

"I'm here aren't I?"

"Yes, you are, and I am very pleased with your choice."

"I'm not that opposed to it."

Winter leaned in and kissed Draco, he wound his arms around her back and kissed her back but they didn't kiss too long as they were in a crowded room.

"It seems like there's always something that disrupts us when we're trying to snog," said Winter.

"And why would you want to be alone to snog me?"

"I don't feel comfortable being stared at."

"Any ulterior motives?"

Winter wasn't sure what Draco was getting at but once he began to smirk it finally came to her and she rolled her eyes.

"I'll say no," said Winter.

"You're no fun," Draco replied.

"You need to get your mind out of the gutter."

"It's taken permanent residence there."

Winter chuckled and then leaned forward and rubbed her nose against Draco's playfully before resting her forehead against his. She twined their fingers together and just sat there with her eyes closed, feeling completely at peace and safe in the arms of Draco.

"I want things to stay like this," said Winter, barely above a whisper. "Everything is so perfect, apart from the whole arranged marriage thing; I wouldn't change a single thing in my life. The rest of the year will be amazing if it continues just like it's going now."

When Winter didn't get a reply from Draco she opened her eyes and saw him staring blankly at their intertwined hands. She wondered what she had said to make him suddenly so quiet and sat back in his lap.

"I said something wrong, didn't I?" she asked. Draco's attention snapped back to her and he shook his head.

"No, you didn't say anything wrong," Draco answered. "I just...I really want the same thing."

"Good, glad to see we're on the same page about something finally."

"It was bound to happen. I do have to go meet with Snape soon though to find out a punishment. I got detention for being out too late the other night and Filch likes to rat people out for fun."

"I think he has a sixth sense zoned in to any student doing the slightest thing wrong. I suppose I can let you go for a little while but you better be back soon."

"Right after we're done I'll come right back to you."

"Good answer."

Winter kissed Draco once more and then stood up and watched him as he left the common room. While she had been talking to him about the arranged marriage she realized she had never gotten any more information from her parents. She decided it was finally time to start speaking to them again, even though they didn't deserve it. Winter walked up to her room and grabbed parchment and a quill and began to write out the things she wanted to know most.

Parents,
I want to know a few things about this horrible arrangement you made for me without my consent. What were the terms and is there a time frame in which the arrangement must take place? Also, what will happen if I do not fulfill the arrangement? If you do not answer me honestly I will never trust either of you again. Tell me every detail, no matter the consequence. I deserve to know. Don't you think you owe me that much?
~Your Once Daughter

Winter felt content enough with the letter and rolled it up before leaving the common room and going out towards the owlery. It took her a bit of time to get there but she managed and walked inside where she began to look around. After a few scans she finally spotted Draco's brindle owl, Charcoal.

"Charcoal," Winter said, and Charcoal turned his big golden eyes on her and cocked his head before cautiously flying down to her. She had never actually spent much time with Charcoal, only seeing him when Draco got packages or sent them off. Each time she would manage a pet or a pat on the head but nothing more. She was surprised that he had decided to come to her after all and latched the letter onto his leg then took him to the window. A moment later Charcoal flew off into the sky and Winter watched him until he was nothing but a blot in the skye. She then turned and began to work her way back down to the castle realizing that it was about time for lunch.

She entered into the Great Hall and saw that students were gathering around the tables and food was just beginning to appear. As she scanned the Slytherin table she spotted Mary-Kate and Haley sitting together and walked over to them, sitting down next to Mary-Kate.

"Hey, Fall," said Mary-Kate with a backwards glance as she piled food onto her plate.

"Hi, Mary-Kate, Hales," said Winter, smiling. "Hungry then?"

"Starving, slept straight through breakfast, I'm surprised you can't hear my stomach rumbling."

"How are things, Hales, still juggling your various suitors?" asked Winter.

"That got tedious, they all got so jealous when they found out I wasn't only dating them. I decided to pick the best of the choices and now I'm dating Adrian," said Haley, and Winter dropped the fork she had been using to jab at food on Mary-Kate's plate. "That's okay with you right? I know you and Adrian had a thing once."

"Yeah, it's fine, I have Draco, it was just a surprise."

"Good, because I really like him."

"I'm so happy for you; it's so great that all of us are in amazing relationships."

"Totally," said Mary-Kate through a mouthful of mashed potatoes and Winter and Haley laughed. Winter felt an arm slide around her waist and turned with a smile, thinking it was Draco and ended up seeing Blaise. She groaned and reached back, pulling his arm from around her waist.

"What do you want, Blaise?" asked Winter.

"Just curious if Draco is still lying to you," Blaise replied.

"And what would he be lying about?"

"Where do you think he is right now?"

"With Snape discussing what he has to do for detention."

"He's not with Snape, he hasn't been with Snape all day."

"I don't care to be honest, if his secrets are that important to him then he can keep them, I'm done with mistrusting him, I won't do it anymore."

"You don't care that he lied straight to your face?"

"I could care less honestly."

"What did he do to earn that? You hated him for years and all the sudden you trust him explicitly? And me, who you've known for years, you don't trust at all anymore?"

"Just goes to show how someone you thought you knew can change so drastically."

Blaise shook his head and took Winter's hand in a death grip.

"Please, Winter, if you choose me I will make your life full, you'll never experience heartache, you'll have everything you could ever want and more. I will never leave you, I'll love you forever and a day, my every breath will belong to you and be because of you. I want you to be my wife, I want to grow old with you and watch our children grow up and have children of their own. We can have as many as you want; it's all up to you. All you have to do is be with me."

Winter felt her heart break and tears spring to her eyes at the sheer honesty of Blaise's words and the heartache she could see etched into his every feature. He had never been so honest with her and here he was spilling his heart to her in a crowded room that had gone suspiciously silent. She had never truly realized how much Blaise cared about her, how much he truly wanted her. It wasn't actions or romantic gestures that showed her that, it was the truth, the naked truth that he has just laid before her. How easy it would be to say yes and not have to hurt him again, to marry him and know that all he said was true. That would be her life with Blaise, a safe and secure life, with a safe and secure husband.
Nothing with Draco was certain; she didn't even know what would become of them over the next few years, not even the next few months.

They could stay together and that thought warmed her to her very soul or they would break up and her sole turned to ice because at that point she'd have no Draco and no Blaise. She knew it was foolish to choose based solely on love and faith but she wanted Draco with her entire being. Just the memory of how she felt with him that morning was something she had never felt with Blaise and she doubted she ever would.

"I'm sorry, Blaise," Winter said, her voice cracking. "I'm so sorry but I don't love you like I love Draco. I can't marry someone I don't love, what kind of life is that? Please, understand that I can't do this, I can't do this."

Blaise looked up at Winter and she saw that all the fire that had been in his eyes was gone, he seemed hollow and dull. Winter felt a sob escape her lips as she knew that was her doing. He just stood up and left the Great Hall to the sound of murmurs and Winter turned to Mary-Kate, unsure what to do. Mary-Kate stood up and led Winter out of the Great Hall and to a secluded part of the castle where Winter began to cry.

"He's never been that honest with me before," said Winter, wiping at her eyes. "He always pushed and talked bad about Draco but this time he was vulnerable because he gave me everything. I just...I can't love him that way and it breaks my heart when I know he can and he does."

Mary-Kate hugged Winter and patted her back soothingly.

"I don't know how to help you," Mary-Kate said honestly. "Love is complicated but it's worth fighting for and if you and Draco love each other then you shouldn't stop. You shouldn't give up Draco and settle for Blaise because you know he'll never leave you. What kind of life would a loveless marriage lead? You'll be safe but you'll be miserable. If you're meant to be with Draco then you have to believe that Blaise will find someone he's meant to be with."

Winter sucked up her crying and wiped the tears from her face.

"Thank you," Winter said, smiling at Mary-Kate. "For reminding me that love is worth fighting for."

"Blaise knows that too, he's not going to give up, at least not for a while," said Mary-Kate.

"Unfortunately, that I do know."

"Let's go back to the common room; I'm sure your man will be there."

Winter held out her arm and Mary-Kate slipped hers through Winter's as they walked off down to the dungeon.