Title: The Myth of Innocence
Author: Catalina Royce
Disclaimer: These stories are based on characters and situations created
and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books,
Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made
and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Rating: R
Virginia waited until Blaise and Pansy had left them alone. By that time her temper was simmering. So what if she'd wanted to take whatever they had further? It wasn't up to him to state that they were going out. It wasn't his decision.
"How dare you?" She asked, acutely aware that she sounded like the heroine in a trashy romance novel. She started fiddling with her robe, gathering herself up into a state of agitated fury. "How dare you just..just decide that we're going out!"
"How else do you expect me to counter the interest about us? By telling them that we hate each other? Why are you hanging around if you hate me, hmm?" The last sentence seemed to come out more harshly than the rest, and Draco winced at the telling note in his voice.
Apparently Virginia had heard it, too, because she hesitated in her answer. "Draco, I don't hate you. I can even understand why you are ashamed of what we did." As she sighed, a bleak look came into her eyes. "I don't like it, but I can accept it."
"We both know, Virginia, that that only happened because you were under Veritaserum." His face was harsh, and Virginia looked into his eyes for a second, and then away. Draco realized what she was saying, and almost laughed. "Virginia, if I was ashamed of doing something with a Weasley, why would I let the school know that we were involved?"
A pang of alarm shot through him as her eyes filled up with tears. "You didn't have any choice. I wish you'd just decided to," she choked on the words, her brown eyes shimmering with moisture. "But you didn't."
Draco's face broke into a tender smile, and he pulled on her hand to bring her to sit beside him. "Virginia. I decided that not only because it was the best option, but also because it's the one I like best." He pulled her over to sit on his lap.
As if she'd been there for years, she nestled closer to him, sighing softly. They sat that way for a couple of minutes. He heard a breathy whisper. "You mean you don't hate me?"
"No, Virginia, I promise. I don't hate you. I'm not ashamed of you, and I think you're lovely."
He didn't become alarmed until she started to cry. It wasn't even the pretty girl tears that Pansy used when she wanted something. No, these were real tears, welling and then dropping down her cheeks like rain. Her face looked wretched, and he could do nothing but hold her while she cried out her storm. She hiccoughed once, then smack him on the shoulder. "How could you do that to me, you prig?"
Okay, now he was beyond confused. He couldn't find south even if he were standing at the North Pole. "Do what?"
"Make me think I wasn't good enough for you."
He knew then with a sudden clarity that, even when he'd hated her and everything she'd stood for, he'd respected her. And somewhere along the line, that respect had grown into love.
He nearly smiled at the revelation, but decided against it when he saw her face glaring out at him under the shock of red hair. She wouldn't understand his glee. "I didn't mean to." He checked his watch. "Come on, you've got Transfiguration, and I've got Care of Magical Creatures."
They slept together that night, and for the rest of the week. They didn't do anything, of course, it was too soon for the both of them, but for Virginia, that time was magic. The feeling of being completely alone had washed away with her tears, and she revelled in the ability to wrap her arms around him and feel completely protected.
The only jarring note in her happiness was the memory of the book, and the way it had made her feel. It was ridiculous, of course, and in hindsight she knew that there had been nothing wrong with the book. It was a book, nothing more, and it couldn't hurt her. That didn't explain why she knew the ending, but perhaps Molly had told Ginny the story when they were younger.
It was with this thought in her mind that she decided to finish the book, to get over her fear forever.
After all, Hogwarts library wouldn't keep a dangerous book there for anyone to read, would it?
She awoke with a stretch and a sigh of pleasure, her hand settling back to its former position on Draco's stomach before she opened her eyes. She had a task to do today, one she couldn't put off. The day before she'd collected the book, and today she'd read it. It didn't matter that she knew the ending, that the ending sat like a dead weight around her heart, she'd read it anyway.
Draco's eyes opened, his face breaking into a grin at the sight of the dishevelled beauty sitting in his bed. Her hair was falling around her face, knots making it look almost like Granger's hair. She yawned once and blinked at him, then her face seemed to melt and she kissed him on the cheek.
They'd been kissing for a few days, but this was that first time that she'd taken the initiative. He was so shocked that he didn't react for a second, then he came to his senses and pulled her down beside her.
He stared at her, and she froze expectantly. They held the gaze for a few seconds. She decided maybe he was waiting for her to take the lead. Slightly unsure of how to do so, she leant into him, angling her face slightly and gave him a quick peck. It felt good to take the lead, so she did it again, this time staying there longer.
They'd been lying side by side, but Draco rolled over onto her, his weight pressing her down into the mattress. The pressure felt so good. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and tried to pull him closer to her.
One of his hands skimmed down the side of her body. She could feel his arousal pressing into her stomach. She wasn't wearing anything underneath the T-shirt he'd given her, but she'd never let him know that, and if he'd figured that out, well, he'd never let on that he knew.
He grinned wolfishly at her then slid his hand up her thigh. She had a horrible feeling of deja vu, and then the moment passed. He showed no surprise about the lack of barrier. Instead, he just lifted himself off her and pulled the shirt over her head.
He settled himself on her again, elbows braced to take his weight, and she looked at what she could see. He had a true seeker physique. He was light, but well toned and his muscles were lithe, rather that stringy. His body flowed in the perfect 'V' shape of a man – broad shoulders that slimmed down to the waist.
She ran her leg up his, realizing that he wasn't fully naked yet. She was about to ask why, but he forestalled the question simply by kissing her. His hand slid down her body, long fingers playing with her nipple.
Her breath hitched. She could feel warmth inside of her flooding down into the pit of her stomach. Her legs moved restlessly, and her arms slid down his back. They continued further of their own accord, relentlessly trying to divest him of his clothes. He didn't object, merely rolled over and pulled her on top of him to finish what she'd started.
Naked, she straddled his stomach. She was facing his legs, and she knew he'd be able to feel her warmth, her arousal. She bent over to her task, exposing herself completely, and he sucked in a breath. As soon as she finished her task, he picked her up bodily and turned her around to face him. He stared at her for a second, then smiled tenderly and whispered, "So beautiful." His hand reached out to cup her breast. She felt her insides melt.
It was her turn to gasp when his fingers reached down and cupped her. Her hips bucked slightly, and his middle finger slid along, resting just below her clit. She licked her lips. He seemed perfectly content to wait, which just wouldn't do. She bucked slightly and grasped him in her hand, positioned herself, and sank down onto him.
She started to move, to ride him, but she'd never done this before, and she couldn't get the right rhythm. She frowned her helplessness and feeling of inadequacy. Draco simply smiled at her and his hands grasped her hips, directing her movements. The pattern simply established itself from there.
His hands once again played with her breasts, his fingers swift and sure of exactly where to touch. He wasn't inexperienced.
Energy built up inside her, wanting to be released. She didn't know how, wasn't sure what to do, so she simply rode him faster. His smile encouraged and reassured her.
He kissed her neck. She could feel his mouth there, his hot breath whispering at the place where her neck joined her shoulders. She didn't understand what he was saying for a minute, and then understanding hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"I love you. I know you won't believe me, but I love you. I love you. I love you."
Shock hit her at the same moment his finger pressed on her clit, and she screamed and was thrown in a paroxysm of delight.
Minutes later she came to her senses, panting slightly. "Is it always..like that?"
He grinned at her. "Only when you're lucky."
He wrapped his arms around her. She lay her head on his muscular chest and simply smiled. All her misapprehensions about the book were gone. Thrown away. It was possibly foolhardy, but it was true nonetheless. She sighed against his chest. "I have to read a book today."
"Oh?"
Nodding, Virginia raised herself onto one elbow, being careful not to hurt him. "It's a book about this woman whose love left her. She was sick, but she didn't know it, and he'd left to find the cure. She'd gotten pregnant before he left, and she decided that he'd abandoned her. She became bitter and twisted, you see, and then he returned with the cure to her sickness. But she'd never known she was ill, so she rejected him, and sent him to the tower like all her other suitors to be killed. And then she died a month later, and so did the baby."
"And you need to read this book?"
She nodded again. "Yes. Because I've never read it before and I already know what happens."
"So why do you need to read it?"
She grinned at him. "So that I can prove I'm right."
Author's Note: Well, I have some bad news for you all. This will be the last chapter for January, because I'm going away as of tomorrow. However, I do have the rest of the plot fully sorted out, which is a relief.
My beta-reader, Nicole, is a wonderful lady, and she's posting this story for me. We're in the process of upgrading our security system for the computer, and at the moment we have nothing to protect it. Fanfiction.net isn't the most secure site around, so I'm not going to be able to access it while my computer is so vulnerable. Also, props must go to her for her titling abilities, and also for pulling me up on a few matters. Please give her a hand.
Finally, I should have a new story up for you guys soon. It was a challenge by one of my friends, and it's due to be released on the 31st of January.
EDIT: I am uploading the first chapter of my challenge-story today. (The 31st of January.) So please read and review it.