A/N: Sorry I took so long. Family obligations and whatnot. Anyway, here's the next chapter. I'm not saying a word on pairngs but I've got them all figured out. Until five minutes from now when Confusion will be beating down my door!
Thank you to Cari, Nekokijo (hamster? LOL), More!!!, Helga of Wurm (thank you for both reviews), Shin, Cam2626, elise, karina305 (Drac in leather? *grin* I'll see what I can do), Tschubi-chan, do you really care?!, Amo Draconem!, orion, Kate (aka Yama Luvr), Lizzy Potter (did he really seem like an idot? That wasn't my intention), Tani, Wonders-of-Magic (certainly, you can archive my fic!), Kathryn Malfoy, Prongs, CrystalStarGuardian, emily, LunarBard (I seem to have forgotten it!), LindsayBeth, AVK, alex, Glace de Slyhterin (There will be more Snape eventually. Fight? Probably one of those too), Beth825, Tom Riddilpley, Jessika M. (He is. Trust me. ), Dreamer (Neither can I, but I'm hoping.), Mystica, Zoe (I will. Later.), 7Luna7, Wyv and Bel (*grin*), Fluer (Eep! I'll try...), Mimi, Sharon M., Lelio (I just fall further and further from grace, don't I?), Calamity, Rehanna, and Cat Samwise.
Many, many thanks to my wonderful betas! Hugs and all kinds of kind words to Bella, to whom I dedicate this chapter.
***
The last thing I wanted was Seamus on my case. He was relentless. He would never give up. All I could hope to do was stall him. Lot of good that would do. He would just keep asking and asking until I finally cracked. But I hadn't cracked, yet. I almost had and it was so hard not to crack. So hard not to kiss Harry when he was so close, just steps away, but those steps felt like miles. I couldn't. For Harry's sake if not my own. I keep telling myself this. Maybe if I say it often enough I'll believe it.
I repeated it on my way to the infirmary. It's my new mantra. It took Madame Pomfrey no time to heal the wound. Cleaning the blood off my robes would be quite another matter. Words kept running through my mind. Une vie pendant une vie, scellée avec le sang. So far, so good. Let's hope the first part won't be necessary. I'm not sure if this is a one-way deal.
I wandered aimlessly for a while and found myself back in the cottage. I'm not sure why I came here. It was a mistake. A horrible mistake. Every inch of this place triggers a memory. How many memories we made in such a short time. I don't want to be here if you're not. It's not the same.
Damn him. Why do you have to be so beautiful, so vulnerable? Why do I have to want you so much? But Lucius had been counting on that. He was also hoping you'd feel the same way. Or did he know I was going to do this? Am I fighting him or am I playing into his hands? Maybe I'm overestimating him. No. Impossible to overestimate a Malfoy and deadly to underestimate one. But he has to have some limits!
Argh! I can't think. I don't want to think. My head feels like it's about to explode from the circular thought patterns in my head. There is no end, no way to sort through the twisting knot. I know what I want. Why does the one thing I want have to be the one thing I can't have?
I have one thing from you. The dragon necklace you gave me for my birthday. Do you remember it? I don't dare wear it. I keep it in my pocket. I pull it out occasionally, mostly when I think of you like I do now. I love the way it catches the light as it sparkles in my hand. I tap it with my wand. Nothing. Nothing has happened for weeks. The magic is all gone. Where did it go? Do you think if I try hard enough, I can find it again? Please say yes. It was so pretty, but now it's broken like everything else.
***
More angst on Draco's part. *sigh* Harry angst is just so hard to picture! i'll try really hard to get the next bit up soon. Review!
Luv ya!
J. Silver
Thank you to Cari, Nekokijo (hamster? LOL), More!!!, Helga of Wurm (thank you for both reviews), Shin, Cam2626, elise, karina305 (Drac in leather? *grin* I'll see what I can do), Tschubi-chan, do you really care?!, Amo Draconem!, orion, Kate (aka Yama Luvr), Lizzy Potter (did he really seem like an idot? That wasn't my intention), Tani, Wonders-of-Magic (certainly, you can archive my fic!), Kathryn Malfoy, Prongs, CrystalStarGuardian, emily, LunarBard (I seem to have forgotten it!), LindsayBeth, AVK, alex, Glace de Slyhterin (There will be more Snape eventually. Fight? Probably one of those too), Beth825, Tom Riddilpley, Jessika M. (He is. Trust me. ), Dreamer (Neither can I, but I'm hoping.), Mystica, Zoe (I will. Later.), 7Luna7, Wyv and Bel (*grin*), Fluer (Eep! I'll try...), Mimi, Sharon M., Lelio (I just fall further and further from grace, don't I?), Calamity, Rehanna, and Cat Samwise.
Many, many thanks to my wonderful betas! Hugs and all kinds of kind words to Bella, to whom I dedicate this chapter.
***
The last thing I wanted was Seamus on my case. He was relentless. He would never give up. All I could hope to do was stall him. Lot of good that would do. He would just keep asking and asking until I finally cracked. But I hadn't cracked, yet. I almost had and it was so hard not to crack. So hard not to kiss Harry when he was so close, just steps away, but those steps felt like miles. I couldn't. For Harry's sake if not my own. I keep telling myself this. Maybe if I say it often enough I'll believe it.
I repeated it on my way to the infirmary. It's my new mantra. It took Madame Pomfrey no time to heal the wound. Cleaning the blood off my robes would be quite another matter. Words kept running through my mind. Une vie pendant une vie, scellée avec le sang. So far, so good. Let's hope the first part won't be necessary. I'm not sure if this is a one-way deal.
I wandered aimlessly for a while and found myself back in the cottage. I'm not sure why I came here. It was a mistake. A horrible mistake. Every inch of this place triggers a memory. How many memories we made in such a short time. I don't want to be here if you're not. It's not the same.
Damn him. Why do you have to be so beautiful, so vulnerable? Why do I have to want you so much? But Lucius had been counting on that. He was also hoping you'd feel the same way. Or did he know I was going to do this? Am I fighting him or am I playing into his hands? Maybe I'm overestimating him. No. Impossible to overestimate a Malfoy and deadly to underestimate one. But he has to have some limits!
Argh! I can't think. I don't want to think. My head feels like it's about to explode from the circular thought patterns in my head. There is no end, no way to sort through the twisting knot. I know what I want. Why does the one thing I want have to be the one thing I can't have?
I have one thing from you. The dragon necklace you gave me for my birthday. Do you remember it? I don't dare wear it. I keep it in my pocket. I pull it out occasionally, mostly when I think of you like I do now. I love the way it catches the light as it sparkles in my hand. I tap it with my wand. Nothing. Nothing has happened for weeks. The magic is all gone. Where did it go? Do you think if I try hard enough, I can find it again? Please say yes. It was so pretty, but now it's broken like everything else.
***
More angst on Draco's part. *sigh* Harry angst is just so hard to picture! i'll try really hard to get the next bit up soon. Review!
Luv ya!
J. Silver