Draco's eyes were frozen again as he and the rest of the Slytherin seventh years entered the Great Hall. Pansy Parkinson was trying desperately to cling to his arm, and he kept shaking himself free. He spotted the Dream Team across the Hall and he sneered. Potter met his gaze, and Draco held it until the Boy Who Lived turned away.
Dumbledore sat at the front of the room looking older then he had that morning. McGonagall stood next to him, lips a thin line. Flitwick was a small presence on the Headmaster's other side, and Snape stood off to the side, arms crossed over his chest. The last was dirty Professor Sprout, her round face clearly expressing the worry each of the Professors undoubtedly felt.
Finally, a cry of "What's going on?" was heard in the crowd of seventh years. A rumbling started as the rest of the students whispered their agreement.
Blaise walked to the front and yelled for silence.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Thank you, Mister Zabini." His voice was tired, and Draco suddenly had the impression of Dumbledore being crippled, a mere shadow of himself sitting in the imperious chair. "I've called you all here to discuss your future. War with Voldemort is upon us-" Here a flinch sped through the room, "Yes, yes... I understand your fear." Draco snorted. Fear of an old snake? Please. "And I wish to uncover a solution to this problem."
"So you brought in the Slytherins?!" An incredulous shout from the Ravenclaw corner of the room.
A outcry rose from the Slytherins, "Watch it, Birdie! One day-"
"Yes, I brought in the Slytherins." Dumbledore interrupted, "Contrary to popular belief, the Slytherins are not evil." The old man sighed, the weary sigh of one who has seen too much, "If you will listen, I will tell you a story."
"I'm too old for stories." Someone grumbled.
"Be that as it may, I would appreciate if you would listen." Dumbledore cleared his throat again, "Hundreds of years ago, there were the Great Four that founded this school. Most of you have heard their names as you've grown, they are the Four Founders. Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, and Helga Hufflepuff. The divided the Hogwarts Houses by their own preferred traits. Slytherin valued cunning, Gryffindor bravery, Ravenclaw prized intelligence, and Hufflepuff clung tight to loyalty. Now, you all were separated by these traits, but you all contain each of them, in varying amounts. Gryffindors have shown both courage and loyalty, some intelligence, others cunning. The Hogwarts Houses are separated by name, but you are all of one house. The House of Hogwarts, it does not matter where the hat put you, you are kin because you have attended this school. The Houses are not as separate as you wish to believe."
A hush followed the Headmasters word, and finally Weasley grumbled, "Doesn't matter. Still don't like Slytherins."
He was silenced as Granger elbowed him in the stomach.
Snape spoke, his voice carrying without being projected, "I will state that each of my Slytherins are trustworthy. Those that you do not see here do not wish to be a part of this plan. You will respect that decision, and keep any less-than-appropriate comments to yourself. Do you understand?"
Reluctant murmurs of 'yes' were heard, and the meeting began.
Blaise and Draco walked back to the common room, Dumbledore's last words running through their heads.
'Tomorrow there will be a sign up posted on the Great halls notice board. I hope at least a few of you will consider signing.'
Blaise looked over to were Draco was being oddly quiet. "You're going to sign, aren't you?"
Draco's head jerked up and he met Blaise's eyes. He sighed, "Yeah. I'm going to sign."
"When you tell my sister, make sure I'm not in the room."
Draco smiled humorlessly, "I'll try to remember."
"YOU WHAT??!!" Echo yelled from the common room. "ARE YOU A COMPLETE IDIOT??!!"
Draco didn't give her the glory of seeing him wince. "I'm going to sign up for the war." He repeated calmly, "One, it won't effect my studies at all, it's an instant pass. Two, Dumbledore needs all the help he can get, and I'm not interested in serving some old snake until he takes the long road to wherever the hell he's going. I don't care if you don't want me to, I'm signing up, and that's final."
Echo open her mouth to speak then quickly closed it. She sat down looking at her hands. "I don't want you to die."
He sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to him. "I'm not going to die. I promise."
"You don't know that." Echo looked him strait in the eyes. "If you don't come back, I... I..." Echo wiped a falling tear with the back of her hand. "I will kill you." Echo's lips tugged up into a smile, but it was gone faster then it had appeared. "I love you Draco, so please, please don't die." She snuggled closer to his chest, silent tears falling.
Draco blinked. She... loved him? He swallowed, tilting her head up for a gentle kiss, "I love you too." He whispered before catching her lips with his.
Draco rolled over, his arms slipping around Echo's waist. He watched her sleep, her face bathed in moonlight. Gods, she was beautiful... He sighed softly, feeling more relaxed then he had in weeks. His hand slid tenderly over her smooth, bare stomach, and she stirred slightly in her sleep.
He let his mind flash back to the activities they'd shared not an hour before. He smiled lazily as the image of her face as she experienced not one, but three explosive releases. He kissed her temple gently, settling down to catch some sleep himself. "I love you, Echo." He whispered, feeling the black fingers of sleep tug at him.
Echo woke to the sounds off Draco's light snores. She smiled and kissed his nose. His eyes opened slowly, slits of tired silver peeking up at her. "Morning." He murmured.
"Morning." She giggled at his sloppy tiredness. "You look really funny." She giggled again.
He rolled, pinning her beneath him, "You too."
"I would push you off me, but I love you too much, you big lug." She smiled, lust filling her green eyes.
"Mm..." He brushed his lips over hers, "Love you too."
"Wanna give me a repeat of last night?"
He chuckled softly, glancing at the clock. There were still three hours till breakfast. "Whenever, wherever you want." He smirked.
"I want it now, and here." Echo whispered into his lips. "That is, if you're up to it?" She raised a brow, challenging him.
He raised his right back, sliding a hand down her side, "Oh, I'm more then up to it..."
Blaise sat across from Solana in the Great Hall, neither of them speaking to the other. He reached over to grab a pancake when a letter hit him in the arm. The letter was addressed to him, his family crest shining dark green.
Solana frowned, watching Blaise pale. She fought the urge to reach out and touch him, instead breaking the silence that had followed them since Draco had shown the Head Boy the notice. "What's wrong?"
"Er..." Blaise looked up at her and then back down at the letter. "It's from my father."
"Oh." She poked at her eggs with her fork, "Maybe you should open it."
"I know I should but..." Blaise opened the letter. "I know what it says."
Blaise,
Your mother and I think that you are old enough now to become a deatheater. You will become one, you have no choice. I will be coming to the school in a week to take you to your first meeting.
-Father
Solana blinked at him, "What does it say? You don't have to tell me, but..." She shrugged.
"Promise you won't tell?" Blaise said lightly, handing her the letter.
She nodded, scanning the letter. It dropped onto the table when she was finished. "You can't."
"You know I don't have a choice." Blaise locked eyes with her for a second. Then he picked up the letter and set it on fire, letting the ashes float to the floor.
"But..." She sighed, rubbing her eyes, "You can't! It's not..."
"I know, but you read the letter, I have no choice." Blaise whispered.
She bit her lip, shaking her head, "You just can't, Blaise." Solana whispered back.
"I'll be fine." Blaise said more to him self then to her.
She didn't reply, her head turned to look at Draco and Echo, who had just entered the hall. She watched her brother separate himself from Echo, and he started towards the list at the head table. As it was, the list was empty, a rolled parchment in front of Dumbledore's seat. The aged Headmaster's eyes twinkled as he handed Draco a quill, ink, and the parchment.
Draco signed with a flourish, the quill scratching in the silent hall.
Draco turn and walked back to the Slytherin table. Nasty stares were
sent towards him as he took his seat.
"Remember, if you don't come back, I'll kill you." Echo said, kissing him.
Draco returned the kiss before pulling back, "Don't worry, Echo. I'll come back."
"You better." Echo pulled him in to a deep kiss, not caring that the
whole table was looking at them.
Solana looked away from the couple, her face clean of any emotion, save for the spark of jealousy in her eyes. She heard Draco move on the bench, and she fixed her eyes stubbornly down at the table.
Blaise lend over the table. "You alright?" He asked Solana. "You seem
kinda out of it."
Solana blinked, looking up at him. "What? Oh... I'm fine. Just... Just tired."
The great hall went quiet as Potter, Weasley, and Granger got up and
sign the scroll under Draco's name.
Solana stood after the Hall began to increase in sound, and turned, leaving the Great Hall. Draco didn't look up from Echo.
Blaise stood as if was going to follow her but remembered what had
happened two day ago, and sat back down, eyes closed tightly.
Draco finally broke apart from Echo, panting. He glanced over at Blaise, and his brow forrowed, "What's up? You look like somebody hexed your owl."
"Oh... Nothing just thinking."
"Where's Lana?" Draco blinked, looking around for his sister.
"She just left." Blaise answered looking longingly at the door. "So
what did you two do last night?"
Draco smirked, "Nothing, Blaise. Can you go after Lana? I'm... a little busy." He looked down at Echo, arms pulling her tighter to him.
"Eww, sure I will go find her."
Draco returned his attention to Echo as Blaise stood, leaving the hall.
Solana was leaning against a pillar, her eyes shut. The sleep she had missed during her time with Blaise was catching up with her, and she found herself dozing, slightly uncomfortable against the stones at her back.
She was awaken from her sleep as the door to the great hall opened.
"There you are." Blaise said walking over to her. "Your brother sent me after you to see if you were alright." Blaise smirked and put his hand of her shoulder. "So are you?"
She couldn't bring herself to glare at him, and her voice was only half as scathing as she had intended it to be. "Do I look like it?"
"No, you look like shit, that's why I am asking. If you looked fine then I wouldn't have asked." Blaise took his hand off her shoulder and frowned. "What's wrong? You can tell me."
She bit her lip, "You. And Drake, and Echo..." She shrugged. "It'd take too long to explain." She pushed away from the pillar, making to move down the hall.
"I have time." Blaise said, running after her.
"Maybe I don't want to tell you." Solana refused to look at him. 'Stop denying it! You think about him all the time!' She shook her head. No. It wasn't true... It was... Draco. And Echo. They... were ignoring her. But... that wasn't it. Not remotely close...
"Well then you don't have to tell me, but, I have something to tell you." Blaise stopped her and pushed her against the wall his hand beside her head holding him up. "I can't stop thinking about you, you are all I can think of. I only had you one night and we didn't even do anything and I still find myself wanting more. I want to be love back by you. I want to be able to kiss you whenever i want to, I want you to be the only one I kiss and vise a versa. I can't even sleep without dreaming of your lovely face smiling and kissing my lips."
"I love you Solana Malfoy, and I want to know if you love me to. Just a simple yes or no question." Blaise stopped talking and looked deep in to Solana's eyes waiting for an answer.
Solana's brow furrowed, and she shook her head, "No..." She frowned, watching his face fall. "Don't say that. You'll... There'll be more chances. Really." She pushed herself up onto her toes, brushing her lips over his. "I don't... no, that's not true." She smiled slightly, "I'm almost completely positive that I love you too."
Blaise made a sigh of relieve. He smiled and picked Solana up and kissed her hard on the mouth, smiling the whole time.
She made a surprised noise in her throat, her arms wrapping around his neck. She let him press her back against the wall again, her lips parting under the pressure of his mouth. "Mm..."
Blaise moaned as he slipped his tongue in to her warm mouth, his hands
sliding under her butt to keep her from falling. Blaise pulled back to
look at her. "Do you really love me?"
Solana's legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, under his robes. "I think so... I've never been in love, but... I can't stop thinking about you. Even when I'm asleep..." She swallowed, meeting his eyes, "I think I think too much."
"I don't. I think you think the perfect amount." Blaise gave her a lopsided grin and leaned down to kiss her again.
She moaned softly as he pressed his hips into hers, and she broke the kiss. "Not here..." She brushed her lips over his, "You're room?"
Blaise looked suprized then smirked and twisted so she was now on his back. He looked back to see if she was okay then stated to run down to the Slytherin dorms.
She gripped his shoulders tightly, a cry of shock escaping her as they reached his room and he tossed her down on the bed. "Blaise!"
"Yes?" He asked innocently closing the door and coming to join her on the bed.
She shook her head, taking a deep breath. "Never mind." Oh Merlin's Holy Balls. She could tell... she was going to let him... she'd... Gods. She was going to lose her virginity to her best friend's brother. She watched him for a moment, noting the smile on his face. Well... if it'd make him smile like that, she'd do it.
"Are you ready?" He asked unable to keep the smile off his face. The one girl he loves is in his room smiling at him, and he might have a chance to make love to her. How could he not be smiling.
She licked her lips, and shot him a smirk worthy of any Malfoy, "Zabini, I was born ready."
True's oddness: Well er are going to stop there, Anndy can't afford to lose all her stories. Sorry!! hehehe Well I will see if she will let me put something in at the beginning of the next chapter. Till then, high ho silver!!!
Anndy's Babble: ::very suspicious:: Like what? Hrmm... Anyhoo, we finished this last night, but... ::shrug:: Oh well. Fixed the break, because ::Huggles stories:: I've got twelve stories up that I refuse to lose. Mine. My preeeecioooous.... ::gollem, gollem::
True: Are you okay?? Hehehe Anndy??? :: look at readers :: help!
Anndy: what? ::twitch:: I'm fine. he he he....