Blood of Enemies, Blood of Friends
Chapter 48 – Redefining Relationships
Everyone eventually left the hospital wing. Draco remained seated at Dawn's bedside. He had missed talking to her for the past week. Dawn was the first to speak. "So you spent years hating the boy who lived, and now you're dating the girl who lived," she mused.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," replied Draco. "So, how are you feeling? Can I get you anything?"
"Actually, I'm really hungry."
"That has to be a good sign," commented Draco. "I'll take a quick run to the kitchens and ask the house elves to send something up for us. I'm hungry too. I skipped dinner to sit with you." Draco slipped out of the hospital wing. He returned fifteen minutes later and informed Dawn that dinner would be sent up shortly.
The two teens sat in a comfortable silence until their food arrived. As they began eating, Dawn gave Draco a concerned look. "How are you doing dealing with everything?" she asked. "I remember how hard it was when my mom died."
"I'm doing okay," he replied between mouthfuls. "I'm kind of relieved that my father is gone, but he was still my father, so it does hurt. Does that make sense?"
"It makes perfect sense. So what is your mother going to do now? Is she going home?"
Draco smiled. "I used to feel bad for my mother. I always knew that she only stayed with my father because of me. Of course, I don't think she knew that I knew that. Anyway, now she's got all these big plans. I think she is finally going to be happy."
"What plans?" asked Dawn.
"She is going to close up Malfoy Manor. It is technically mine now. She wants it to be there for me when I graduate Hogwarts. I think we should sell it though. I never want to go back there."
Dawn thought of all the things Draco had told her about life with his father. "I understand," she said.
"So my mother is going to buy a cottage in Hogsmeade," Draco continued. "She also wants to get a job. She doesn't need one, but she wants to do something new with her life. Professor Giles is going to try to find her something with the Watcher's Council."
"Giles is good like that," confirmed Dawn. "He always watches out of the people he cares about."
"And speaking of Giles, he and my mum are going on a date tomorrow," added Draco excitedly.
"Oh my god, really?" squealed Dawn. "They would be so cute together."
"Yeah, she was actually worried that I wouldn't approve. That's why she told me about it – to make sure I was okay with her dating. I really hope it works out. My mum deserves to be with someone who actually cares about her."
****************
Buffy was sitting in the Scooby common room, waiting for Charlie to arrive. Willow and Giles were sitting at a table in the corner, discussing Willow's recovery. Xander and Anya wandered in. "What's everybody up to this weekend? Now that the prophecy thing is over, we should do something fun," stated Xander.
"Charlie is coming here for the weekend," stated Buffy. "I'm waiting for him now."
"I'm having lunch with Tonks tomorrow. We really need to talk," said Willow.
"What about you G-man?" asked Xander.
"I'm having coffee with Narcissa tomorrow at a small shop in Hogsmeade," replied Giles. "And please, do stop calling me that."
"Ooh, Giles has a date," squealed Anya excitedly.
"It's not a date," replied Giles. "It's coffee."
"Which is the date drink of choice," explained Willow.
"Told you she was interested," added Buffy.
"Good lord, Narcissa and I cannot date," said Giles worriedly.
"Why not?" asked Buffy. "Don't you like her?"
"Of course I like her," replied Giles, "but her husband just died. How would it look?"
"Who cares how it looks?" asked Anya. "She likes you. You like her. You both deserve to give each other lots of orgasms." Everyone starred at Anya.
"That truly was not helpful," Giles stated.
"Giles, you were once a high school librarian who took his underage students into graveyards every night. That didn't look right, but it was right. This is too. You both deserve to be happy," explained Buffy.
"She's right," agreed Willow. "It's right for the two of you. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks." Xander nodded his agreement.
Giles smiled at the children, now adults, who had become his extended family. "I do believe that I have a date to prepare for," he stated.
Before anyone could say anything else, the flames in the fireplace turned green, and Charlie stepped out. "Speaking of dates," said Buffy, as she grabbed Charlie's hand and led him up the stairs to her quarters.
"More like speaking of orgasms," commented Anya.
"An, we've talked about this," cautioned Xander.
"I think Anya is right this time," giggled Willow.
****************
Cat tapped lightly on Wesley's door. "Come in," responded a muffled voice. Cat entered the room to find Wesley sitting in an armchair reading one of the Watcher diaries. He looked up from the book. "Hello, Cat. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if we could talk," she said, taking a seat on the sofa.
"Of course," Wesley replied, putting his book aside. "What would you like to talk about?"
"The thing is, Wes, we have become good friends." He nodded. "And, I wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship."
"Nothing would jeopardize our friendship," Wesley stated.
Cat smiled, before continuing. "I like you, Wes. I like you a lot. Wes, I'm really attracted to you." She looked at him for a reaction. He looked thoughtful. "I was hoping that now that things have calmed down for a while that maybe we could try being more than friends." Wesley starred at her. "If you aren't interested, I understand. I still want to be your friend. . ."
Cat was cut off, when Wesley's lips met hers. It took a moment for her brain to process what was happening. When she realized that Wesley was kissing her, she hungrily returned the kiss.
After several minutes they broke apart. "I take it this means that you are interested in being more than friends," she whispered.
"Cat, I have been attracted to you since I first laid eyes on you. I never said anything, because I worried that I would ruin our friendship if you weren't interested."
Cat threw her arms around Wesley and kissed him again.
****************
As soon as Buffy and Charlie entered her room, she threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply. When they pulled apart he spoke. "I missed you too."
Buffy smiled at him. "Charlie, do you remember when you invited me to Romania for Valentine's Day, and we decided to wait and see if we should share a room, but then decided we should take it slow?" Charlie nodded. "I think we have taken it slow enough." Charlie's eyes widened at the realization of what she was saying. "I want you," Buffy stated simply.
Charlie pulled her tightly against him and kissed her again. Her lips opened to him and their tongues slid across each other. They broke apart, when Charlie lifted her into his arms. "I want you too," he said and claimed her lips again. Charlie carried Buffy into her bedroom and laid her down on her bed, all the while never breaking their kiss.
Buffy and Charlie spent hours making love, until exhaustion overtook them, and they fell asleep in each other's arms.
****************
When everyone in his dormitory appeared to be asleep, Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and left to meet Shannon in the common room. Ron, however, was still awake and noticed Harry leave. Ron knew that Harry was meeting Shannon and that they were planning to sleep together for the first time. Ron could not help but think about what it would be like to be sneaking out to sleep with Hermione. The thoughts occupied his mind, and he found it impossible to fall asleep. After nearly an hour, Ron threw on his bathrobe and slippers, grabbed some of his books, and headed down to the common room to do some homework.
Ron peered around the deserted common room. His eyes fell on a familiar bushy haired figure, seated in front of the fire. Hermione was diligently writing in a small leather bound book. "Hey, what are you doing up?" asked Ron.
Hermione jarred from her thoughts, jumped slightly. She looked up at Ron and smiled, before indicating that he should take a seat on the sofa next to her. "I couldn't sleep. I had too much on my mind," she replied. "Why are you up?"
"I had some things on my mind too," said Ron.
"Were you thinking about Harry and Shannon?" she asked.
Ron was surprised. "How did you know what they are doing tonight?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. "I understand that this is one of those guy things that Harry would tell you and not me, but this is also one of those girl things that Shannon would tell me."
"Oh," was all Ron could say.
"You know," continued Hermione, "there was a time, when I used to get upset that you and Harry would leave me out of your personal lives. I understood it, but it still hurt." Ron opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione shushed him. "I said that I understood. I think what hurt was that I didn't have girlfriends to share that kind of stuff with. I mean I've always been friendly with Ginny, but I couldn't exactly tell her that I fancied her brother and now I can't exactly tell her intimate details about us. I really am glad that Hogwarts started the Slayer training program. It's great having Dawn and Shannon to talk about girl stuff with."
"I'm glad that you finally have girlfriends to talk to," said Ron. "I hope you know that you can talk to me about anything, but I can understand that there are some things you would be more comfortable talking to other girls about."
Hermione smiled. "Can I ask you something, Ron?"
"Anything," he replied.
"When you couldn't sleep tonight was it just because you were thinking about Harry and Shannon or were you thinking about us doing what they are doing?"
Ron turned a deep shade of crimson. "Don't be mad, but I was thinking about us. I know we aren't ready, but I think about it a lot."
"So do I," admitted Hermione. Ron looked at her, the surprise evident on his face. "What? Girls think about that stuff a lot too. In fact, I was writing about it in my diary, when you came down here." She handed him her diary, pointing to the night's entry. He looked at her to ask for permission. "Go ahead. Read what I wrote," she insisted.
Ron took the diary and read the entry she had pointed out to him.
Shannon and Harry are sleeping together for the first time tonight. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to sleep with Ron. In some ways the whole thing scares me, especially since the first time is supposed to hurt a lot. But at the same time, I cannot think of anything more wonderful than to be that close to Ron, to fully give myself to him. I love him so much. I cannot imagine wanting to be with anyone as much as I want to be with him.
I know I'm not ready for sex yet, but I also know that it probably won't be long before I am. For now though all we do is kiss, and there are a lot of steps between snogging and shagging. I may not be ready for sex, but I am definitely ready to take the next step. I just don't know how to tell Ron that I want to go a little further. I am pretty sure that he wants to as well, but he is so respectful of what I want that he will never push. I love him for the way he respects me, but sometimes I worry that he doesn't push because he doesn't want me that way. Logically I know that I am being silly and that I need to find a way to tell him how I feel. I just don't know how.
Ron looked up from the diary and into Hermione's eyes. He could see her self-doubt. He cupped her face with his hand. "Never doubt that I want you," he said with conviction. "I don't push because I love you, and I don't want you to ever think that I'm with you for any other reason."
Hermione smiled broadly and leaned forward to kiss Ron. He held her in his arms, kissing her for several minutes, before pulling away. "So what would the next step be?" he asked with a lopsided grin. Hermione chewed on her bottom lip. She took his hand in hers and guided it to her chest. Ron smiled broadly and kissed her again, while his hands began to explore her breasts.
****************
Harry met Shannon in the deserted common room. They slipped under his invisibility cloak and walked out of the castle. "Where are we going?" she whispered.
"You'll see. I told you that I had the perfect place," he replied, as he led her toward the Whomping Willow. Harry picked up a branch and used it to press a knot on the trunk of the tree, which immediately stopped thrashing its branches. Harry and Shannon slipped off the invisibility cloak and entered the tunnel that began at the base of the tree.
They walked along in silence until they reached the Shrieking Shack. "This place is pretty trashed, but I fixed up one of the bedrooms for us," he explained.
Shannon smiled at her boyfriend. "I'm happy to be anywhere, as long as I'm with you," she said.
Harry returned her smile, took her hand, and led her up the stairs to one of the bedrooms. (He purposely cleaned out a different room from the one where he, Ron, and Hermione had confronted Sirius in their third year. That room contained too many memories that were not part of his relationship with Shannon.)
Shannon gasped when she saw the room. Harry had used several spells that he had learned when decontaminating Order headquarters before his fifth year. He had not only cleaned the room, but had also made the walls look freshly painted and the rug and bedding look brand new. Lastly, he had strewn rose petals across the floor and on the bed. "This is perfect," Shannon whispered.
Harry smiled, before pulling her into his arms and kissing her. Being nervous, their actions were tentative. They lay down on the bed and took their time exploring each other.
****************
Willow met Tonks at the Three Broomsticks early Saturday afternoon. They quickly ordered lunch and then began to talk. "How are you feeling?" Willow asked.
"I'm fine. Madame Pomfrey did a great job of patching me back up. Besides, this wasn't exactly the first time that I was injured in the line of duty," Tonks replied. "More importantly, how are you doing? I know you had a bit of a relapse. Are you handling it okay?"
"That's kind of what I needed to talk to you about," said Willow. "Tonks, I really like you. You're smart and fun and pretty, and you have been really understanding about my past."
"I sense a 'but' coming," said Tonks.
Willow nodded. "I should never have relapsed like that. When I saw you fall to the ground, I was back in the same place as when Tara was shot. I thought I had moved beyond that, but obviously I haven't come as far as I thought. Tonks, right now I can't handle being in a relationship. I need to focus my attention on my recovery. I still have a long way to go."
"So, you want to break up," stated Tonks. Willow saw the sadness in Tonks' expression.
"I'm sorry," said Willow. "I'm just not ready for a relationship right now. It wouldn't be fair to you, not to mention that it could be dangerous to the world."
"Willow, I understand why you feel that you cannot be in a relationship right now. But, we have been friends. Please tell me that we can still be friends. I want to help you through this," Tonks pleaded.
"I'd like that," replied Willow. "I wish I could say that we will be more than friends again someday, but right now I don't know if and when I'll be ready for a romantic relationship. And, I don't want you waiting around for something that may never happen."
"I know that in recovery, you are supposed to take things one day at a time," said Tonks. "Let's take our friendship one day at a time as well."
The two witches smiled at each other. They turned their conversation to a discussion about their childhoods and had a very pleasant lunch.
****************
Giles met Narcissa at Madame Puddifoot's late on Saturday afternoon. They ordered coffees and sat in an uncomfortable silence for several minutes. Narcissa finally broke the silence. "I'm not very good at this," she said. "I haven't dated in twenty years."
Giles smiled at her. "I've dated more recently than that, but not very often."
"Why not?" asked Narcissa. "I would have thought that an eligible bachelor like yourself would be in high demand." She smiled at him.
Giles laughed. "Ah yes, because so many women would understand that most of my time is devoted to a girl twenty years my junior."
Narcissa joined in his laughter. "I think that the relationship you have with Buffy and her friends is wonderful. You were their mentor. Now, you are their friend. Personally, I find the way that you opened your heart to them to be endearing. It is a shame that you never had children of your own. You would have made a wonderful father."
"That is one of my biggest regrets – that I never found the right woman to settle down and have a family with. However, my time in Sunnydale was rewarded by the establishment of what I consider my extended family."
"Rupert, you are not exactly an old man. You still have time to settle down, if that is what you want."
Giles smiled at Narcissa. "You know, sometimes when I look at you I see the little girl who used to follow Ethan and I around. I always wondered why you did."
Narcissa laughed. "I thought it was obvious. I had a huge schoolgirl crush on you. When I saw you that day in the hotel room after all those years I realized that I had never completely gotten over my crush."
"Cissa, if I had known the remarkable woman you would become, I would have been far kinder to you back then."
"It's okay, Rupert. I was eleven years old and really rather annoying."
"I cannot exactly disagree," said Giles.
Narcissa threw her arm across her eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, Rupert, you are breaking my heart again," she kidded, before breaking into another wave of laughter.
Giles and Narcissa eventually turned their conversation to some of the events in their lives during the past three decades. Both enjoyed each other's company, and neither wanted their first date to end.
****************
Madame Pomfrey released Dawn on Saturday afternoon. Buffy decided that it would be nice to have an impromptu party in the Scooby Common Room on Sunday afternoon for everyone who had been involved in the battle. She invited the faculty, students, and the Angel Investigations team. Buffy instructed the house elves to set up a buffet style meal on long tables against the back wall.
The Scoobies and their friends were the first to arrive, followed shortly thereafter by Angel, Spike, and Genevieve, who arrived via the floo network. The Angel found a seat around a table with Wesley, Cat, Faith, and Robin. Spike and Genevieve found themselves in a conversation about wizard ancestry with Giles and Narcissa. While Buffy was making sure everything was ready, Charlie chatted with Willow, Xander, and Anya.
The first students to arrive were Andrew and Luna. He had left the other Gryffindors to meet Luna in front of the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room. The two teens sat together on one of the sofas in a back corner. They were engrossed in a conversation about crumple-horned Snorkacks. They would stop talking from time to time to steal small kisses.
The rest of the students entered the Scooby common room at the same moment that Andrew and Luna were kissing. "I'm going to kill you," screamed Ron, as he dove toward Andrew. Fortunately Andrew was quick and fled from Ron across the common room.
Ron went after Andrew and was about to punch him, when Ginny's shriek caused him to freeze. "Ronald Weasley, what in the hell do you think you are doing to him," demanded Ginny. Everyone looked up from their conversations and gawped at the scene.
"He cheated on you," spat Ron through gritted teeth.
"That is not possible," stated Ginny matter-of-factly.
"Not possible? I saw him kissing Luna," said Ron.
"And since Luna is currently his girlfriend, he has every right to kiss her," stated Ginny.
Ron turned back to Andrew. "You broke up with my sister? I told you that if you hurt her, I would hurt you."
Ginny crossed the room quickly and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder. "He didn't hurt me. The breakup was mutual. We both realized that we were only meant to be friends and that we were interested in other people."
Ron's anger deflated. He turned to his sister. "You are dating someone else? Who?" he demanded.
"Neville," stated Ginny. Ron glared at Neville, who audibly gulped. "Don't you dare threaten him," warned Ginny. "Neville is a nice guy, and I am a big girl who can take care of myself."
Hermione stepped to Ron's side and took his hand in hers. She was always a calming influence on him. Ron nodded at Ginny, who let out a sigh of relief.
The situation finally diffused, the students found seats around the common room. Everyone ate, talked, and generally had a good time.
Dawn found herself being pulled between most of the adults. Everyone seemed to want to make sure that she had survived her ordeal unscathed. She was disappointed because she had hoped to spend time with Draco, but was happy to see that so many people cared about her well-being. Spike especially felt the need to keep checking on her.
Draco sat back in an overstuffed armchair, while Dawn made her rounds. He was surprised, when Ron took the seat beside him. "Draco, I just wanted to thank you for saving Hermione," said Ron sincerely.
At first Draco fell into his usual defense mechanism of making snide comments. "Well, I couldn't very well have my only real academic competition getting herself killed." Ron looked at Draco skeptically. "Fine," said Draco defeatedly. "I couldn't stand seeing Hermione get hurt. She's a good person. She's been a good friend to Dawn and the only one of your little trio to give me a second chance."
"I'm sorry about not giving you a chance," replied Ron. "It's no secret that I can be a bit stubborn."
"That's the understatement of the year," commented Draco.
Ron looked annoyed, but continued speaking. "The point is that you proved that Slytherin or not, you're the kind of person to do the right thing when it really counts, and I'm glad that you're on our side."
Ron stood to leave, but Draco stopped him. "Weasley, I mean Ron, I know I've said a lot of really nasty things to you in the past and done even worse things, but if you're willing, I'd like to start over."
Ron smiled and stuck out his hand. "Hello. I'm Ron Weasley. You are?"
Draco returned Ron's smile. "Draco Malfoy. Pleased to meet you."
Harry noticed Ron and Draco shaking hands. "What the hell is that all about?" he asked Shannon. She shrugged in reply.