A/N: Chapter Twenty-Eight!
I fell into the same place I'd been sitting before, after which Daphne refilled all our glasses with more wine — apart from Ginny's — and made motion for the game to continue. It was Astoria's turn, much to everyone's chagrin, but mostly mine. She turned her card, reading it silently before a smile tugged at her glossed lips.
"Perform the sexual act of your choosing on the person to your left."
For a moment, the pieces didn't fall into place and I merely sat there, half annoyed and half drunk, until Ginny cleared her throat, as if to catch my attention. Around then, I glanced up and noticed who exactly was seated to Astoria's left. Bellatrix 2.0 eyed him with average interest, as she was currently pining for Blaise, not Theo. It was only when she noticed the commotion that settled within mine, Ginny's and Daphne's facial expressions that the idea of performing a sexual act on him interested her in the slightest.
She then tucked the card into her cleavage, and scanned him head to toe. "What do you think, Theo?"
His eyes were on the floor, and his cheeks were beet red. "Your choice."
"Don't worry…" she told him, tracing a finger along his left bicep, as though there wasn't an entire group of people there to watch. "I'll go easy on you…"
From there, an even deeper shade of red coloured his cheeks and neck, as Astoria linked their arms and led him away from the circle, into one of the rooms. I swear I could feel the panic radiate from him, alerting me of the fact that he didn't want to do anything with her — but the pair of them disappeared behind that door before the rest of us had even a second to digest what had happened.
Daphne shot a pointed look at me, torn between anger towards her younger sister and concern over what we had discussed. I forced a smile and drank from my wine, knowing there was nothing I could do and even if there was, Nott wasn't mine. If he wanted to get off with Astoria, that was his business.
Never before had the lines between us been more evident.
It took about ten minutes for them to return, during which time I noticed their hair and clothes looked tousled and disheveled. Astoria's top was no longer tucked into her skirt and the spirals in her hair looked as though someone had combed through them from roots to ends. Nott was no different. His hair was loose and fell over his eyes, reminding me of the way he looked in the dungeons.
I had some more wine, and then some more after that, ignoring the gnawing feeling in my chest.
"Guess it's my turn —" Ron interjected, bringing the attention to him, as he turned his card. "Take off an article of clothing."
Daphne and Blaise chuckled, whilst Ginny and Astoria gagged, leaving me, Harry and Nott to remain perfectly silent, deciding between both reactions. I had already seen him naked, but the idea of seeing any part of him unclothed after what we had been through was beyond awkward.
Ron tossed the card aside and pulled the shirt from over his head, revealing a torso that was slightly more toned than I remembered. He was pale and had freckles all over his back and front, but he looked good — in great shape. To this, I exchanged an amused look with Harry before realizing it was my turn.
Everyone, including Astoria, had their eyes on me.
"Right — erm —" I set down the wine I'd been guzzling since the game began, and turned the first card on my stack. It wasn't the truth card for which I had hoped. It was a dare card, one that instructed me to do something so scandalous, I could feel heat begin to build around my face and neck — just from reading it.
Ginny looked at me, motioning for me to continue. "Well, what does it say?"
I blinked, rather hard, before speaking so much as a word. "For a minimum of five minutes, massage the person you know least and finish with heavy petting; without leaving the circle."
There was a collective raise in both eyebrows and temperature amongst the group. I had limited options, as most of them were good friends of mine, whom I knew like the back of my hand. I glanced up, noticing Daphne, Ginny, Harry and Ron all staring at me with quizzical looks, uncertain as to where I would take this. I had two options. Blaise or Astoria — which meant, either way, there would be added tension to the unspoken feud between myself and the younger Greengrass sister.
I set the card aside, glancing between them for a long time, before moving towards Blaise — as there was no chance in hell I would willingly touch the other option. I rose from my place in the circle and made my way to where Blaise sat, knowing all eyes were on me.
From there, he leaned forward, making room for me as I fell behind him, on both knees. Neither of us said anything. It was dead silent in the lounge. It took several moments for me to actually look him in the eyes, during which time I noticed the mingled surprise and awareness in his. Something told me he knew the thoughts were running through my mind, and the speed at which they overtook me.
In that moment, I positioned both hands about half an inch above his shoulders, hovering there for three, maybe four seconds, until bringing them down, giving him a slow massage. In the background, there was a song playing. It was an indie rock track that poured in through the window, from one of the surrounding cabins in the village.
First, there was the smooth, titillating guitar riff, followed by the hard, atmospheric bass, topped with Alex Turner's vocals.
You got the lights on in the afternoon
And the nights are drawn out long
And you're kissing to cut through the gloom
With a cough drop coloured tongue
And you were sitting in the corner with the coats all piled high
And I thought you might be mine
In a small world on an exceptionally rainy Tuesday night
In the right place and time
I rubbed my hands along Blaise's shoulders, feeling him tense up and then release, as my movements continued. Ginny tossed a look at Harry, the reactions of Daphne and Ron, as though waiting for me to flee in girlish fright. But I didn't. I sat where I was, behind Blaise, with my hands traveling along his neck, shoulders and arms, attuned to the places he most needed me, surprised by the adrenaline that coursed through me, as I found someone else looking directly at me with a blend of shock, nervousness and envy in his eyes.
If he had it in him to hook up with his ex whilst everyone was there, then I had all the rights in the world to do this with Blaise.
"Damn, Hermione…" the musician sighed, rolling his head back and then forward, so relaxed he was beginning to lose control.
I continued, keeping a careful eye on the clock propped on top of the fireplace, and measuring my assault on Blaise's tensed up muscles in thirty second increments. It was around three minutes in, that I moved from his arms, down his front, where his abdomen flexed, greeting me with muscles I didn't know existed.
Blushing a little, I leaned close and whispered something to him.
"Ready?"
"I've been ready," he whispered back, blinking his eyes open to witness my hands, as I moved them to the hem of his trousers, and then lower.
Harry and Ron faced elsewhere, refusing to look, whilst Astoria glared at me with her mouth hanging open, leaving Ginny and Daphne to exchange surprised looks.
I flicked a quick look at my roommate, noticing the sweat building on his forehead, surprisingly drawn to the voyeuristic appeal in what was happening. It carried on like this for the next minute or so, as I watched him watch me, until finally, the five minutes were up and the dare was over.
Blaise lifted both knees, eyeing me with sheer amazement, as I sauntered back to my place in the circle.
From there, the game continued.
Daphne cleared her throat, dispelling the tension in the atmosphere, and flipped her card to reveal a truth.
"Name the person in the room you envy most," she read out loud, cheeks pink. "Er — Hermione."
I faced her, momentarily shocked, with no time to respond, as Harry quickly turned his card. "Dare," he voiced, with a gradual drop in confidence. "For a minimum of one minute, snog the person to your left." His face screwed. "Wait — what?"
Daphne blanched. "There must be a mistake…"
"I say go for it," Ginny shrugged, tossing one look at her brother who, for the most part, remained unperturbed. "It's just a game," he added.
There was a long, drawn out silence, wherein Harry looked at me, begging with his eyes for me to say something to prevent the dare from happening, but I, along with Ron and Ginny, didn't see the big deal (that, and I was a little curious but shh). It was common knowledge that Ron and Daphne were in love and that Ginny and Harry had been obsessed with one another for almost a decade. There was no reason to feel uncomfortable. It was only a game.
Finally, Daphne turned to him and simply shrugged. "Just a peck. It won't meaning anything."
Harry swallowed hard, setting the card down. "Just a peck," he repeated. "Okay."
"Actually…" Blaise broke through, eyeing the card. "Says here you have to snog."
He was right.
Harry scowled at him nonetheless, before turning to Daphne, giving her a look that said she could change her mind at any moment — but neither of them did.
I watched with everyone else, keeping an eye on the clock, as both Harry and Daph scooted close and pressed their mouths together — only their mouths. It was a bit like one of those after-school programmes, reminiscent of primary school kisses with puckered lips and nowhere to place ones hands. There was nothing remotely sexy about it — nothing like the kiss Daphne had given Ron.
But it still felt awkward to watch.
Myself, Blaise and Astoria suppressed our laughter and studied the clumsy kiss, as though it were an experiment. For a moment, it appeared both Harry and Daphne were about to pass out from sheer nervousness, but the moment was short-lived, as Ron grunted when the time was up.
The reluctant kissers broke apart and retreated to their spots without further word, blushing like school children.
Next was Blaise.
"Come on, dare card…" he predicted, blowing into his fist before turning the card closest to him. "Damn it! Explain your most embarrassing sexual encounter." With that, he frowned, thinking, thinking, thinking. "I don't have one."
Ginny scoffed at this. "Everyone does. Fess up, Zabini."
"I don't," he furthered, smirking. "Unless you count the time I walked in on Ros' rubbing one out in the back room of Three Broomsticks."
I gaped at him. "You're joking."
His smirk deepened, and he thought wistfully about the said-incident. "It was back in sixth year. I was on a date, and ended up spilling butterbeer on my trousers, so I went to the back room to use the sink, as the loo was occupied…and she was there, behind the boxes, moaning with her hand between her legs like a right little fox."
"Rosmerta…" Ron pouted, as though his innocence had been stolen. "I had a chat her two weeks ago at my mum's Sunday dinner…"
Nott was the next to comment, facing his best mate. "Did she see you?"
"Nah," he shrugged, playing it cool.
Astoria eyed him, knowingly. "You ran away like a scared little schoolboy — didn't you?" she remarked.
Blaise tossed her a casual glare, but didn't deny.
Next, Ginny turned her card. "Truth," she read out loud; relieved. "Amongst those present, whom would you trade bodies with for a day, and why." Without a moment of thought, she answered. "Harry, because I want to know what it's like to have a wee standing up, and I'm curious about the scar."
Her husband arched an eyebrow. "Well, then."
"Another truth," Nott voiced, having turned his card. "Er — Have you ever had sex in an open, public place. If so, where and with whom?"
I knocked back some more of that white wine, aware that Daphne, Ginny and Ron shot simultaneous looks at me.
The young man cleared his throat, and set down the card. "Can't say I have."
"Bollocks," Astoria scoffed, scanning her nails. "What about that time in Dubai? I seem to recall something between us in one of the nightclub at that famous hotel," she added, eyeing him. "Oh, Theo, don't tell me you've forgotten all about our time together…"
"Actually," Blaise interjected. "The card specifies sex, and from what I recall about the Dubai nightclub is that you waited until Theo was drunk enough before falling on his lap and coming onto him, knowing he was two seconds away from passing out. No sex."
"How would you know?" she fired back. "Weren't you too busy slipping something into one of those Lebanese witches' drinks?"
Blaise tossed her a bewildered look. "I would never —"
"Now, now…" Daphne cut in, staring between the three of them and then at me, too panicked to remain silent. "This game is supposed to be lighthearted and fun."
"Maybe we should do something else," Ginny suggested. "Walk around the village a bit. Check out the nightlife."
Harry nodded, rather enthusiastically. "That sounds like a great idea."
Few Hours Later
I left the group earlier than planned and walked back to the cabin, where the rooms were deserted, as there was no one home. It was the opportunity for which I'd been waiting; vial in the palm of my hand. I recalled everything Daphne had told me and moved upstairs, to the attic. It was crowded with older furniture and boxes, labeled with a mix of Muggle and wizarding terms. I figured no one was allowed up there, apart from Daphne's parents, as most Muggles renting a room would be completely and utterly confused at tags like 'extra cauldrons' and the like.
Nonetheless, there was something I had to do, so I refocused and traveled from one area of the attic to the next, until finding a familiar bowl that looked similar to the one in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. I had never seen or used a pensieve in my adult years, as there had never been a reason to do so. But the discomfort inside didn't settle, as I thought distantly about what had transpired at that fountain. I had always prided myself on having a good memory, even drunk, which made the situation all the more frustrating.
It was clear, what had to be done, but there was one problem.
I had no tears to shed.
I glanced at the vial, as though staring at it would reduce me to an emotional state, but nothing happened. There was another way to extract memories, but of course, crying was the easiest and surprisingly, the least painful.
In the back of my mind, I had something of a mental block that prevented me from turning into an overly emotional wreck over men. I hated being that girl, the one whose heart was always broken, the one who would either settle or end up single, as no man would ever love her the way she wanted.
Truth be told, being single wasn't the problem.
To me, the problem was refusing to acknowledge something real, something most people spend their entire lives searching for — and that's what Nott was doing. He refused to acknowledge what happened between us, which was a massive problem.
I thought about that, long and hard, able to extract a couple tears from both eyes — after which I emptied the vial into the pensieve and immersed myself in the smoky reality of what had transpired the night before his father's funeral.
It was clear.
His voice. His touch. His reaction to me and my body. Those movements, the heat coming from him. There was nothing platonic about what happened. It wasn't lust. I could see and hear that without a second of thought. For about twenty minutes, I watched the scene unfold with hushed breathing and a growing knot in my stomach — struggling to follow along as one thing led to another.
It seemed things were a little more heated than he let on. I noticed the blush on his cheeks and the slow burn between our bodies, until finally our movements came to a crashing halt, as we fell into the fountain. Just like that, the moment was over — followed by another, as someone came rushing outside dressing in black trousers, with his shirt unbuttoned from top to bottom, as though he'd been in the middle of changing.
"What happened?" Draco demanded, slinging an arm under me. "Is she hurt?"
Nott stumbled out of the fountain. "Hold on. Let me get my kit. I'll — I'll check."
His friend eyed him, first with bewilderment and then with panic. "Wait, your nose. It's bleeding."
"Oh, right," Nott rubbed his upper lip with the back of his hand, laying eyes on the red colouring. "Must be — Must be from the fall."
Something about the manner in which Draco looked at him, said otherwise. "When was your last appointment?"
"It doesn't matter. I don't have —"
"Theo," he interjected, repositioning me over his shoulder as I started to slip. "You can't avoid this forever."
Nott glanced down, as more streams of crimson leaked from not one, but from both his nostrils. He quickly wiped the blood away. "I'm fine."
"Does she know?" Draco asked.
"I…no…she doesn't," he confessed. "I need time. I just need…some more time."
With that, the memory faded, as it was clear I was losing consciousness. The trees, the fountain, the arms that held me in place, everything faded. I sucked in a sharp breath, lifting my head from the pensieve with my hair drenched and the snowflake pendant cold against my skin.
A/N: Thoughts?
Cheers
xo.
