Eep!! I wanted to update every day, but I didn't have a chance to write at all yesterday! ::apologizes humbly:: I'm very sorry.. I tried making this chapter just as long as rest, with lots of nice yummy scenes - lol.
---------
This chapter is dedicated to my muse, friend and more-than-a-brother-less-than-a-lover, Fernando!! Lol. If it were not for him and all his ideas and encouragement, I couldn't have completed this chapter as quick as I was able to. Thank you!! ::aim twin faces:: tee hee.
Small cameo this chapter from Ferny!! aka my rl friend and reviewer assraelrui..lmao.
assraelrui--Omg I so want to meet her..NOT! Lol. And what do youmean by "odor control"!? I think you are confusing me with someone ::cough cough:: LoL. And yus! my gemini twin!! lol.. I am the girl called Harmony.... "I cry for a lumbing!!" lmao.
---------
Kay, two small things.. First, I know Draco may seem a little OOC in this chapter, but I think the events that have occurred make him in character-ish.. lol. I dunno. I'm too tired to think coherenty - . -
Second.. After actually writing the chapter, I had to go back and change the preview for this episode.. so since most won't want to go back to chapter 6 just to see the preview for this 'episode', I decided to put it here, yay!
-----
TODAY ON...Desiring Need!
The candies have finally worn off! In their wake, they have left a very anguished and distraught Usagi, a very contemplating Malfoy, and a group of friends torn apart. Back to the normal routine of classes, Usagi is ready to return to the boring, welcomed monotony of work. An unexpected turn of events in Potions with Snape draws her and Malfoy ironically closer than she ever could have anticipated! What happened during his class? What will happen with the other five friends? Where will Malfoy and Usagi go from here..? Find out in today's episode, "Yearning!"
-----
{At the touch of your hand, at the sound of your voice,
at the moment your eyes meet mind..
I am out of my mind, I am out of control,
full of feelings I can't deny...}
--Jeckyll and Hyde, "It's a Dangerous Game"
Desiring Need...
Y e a r n i n g
"How are you feeling?"
The question was simple, or at least it should have been. But.. at this current moment in Usagi's life, the complexity of that question was too far and vast for her to grasp. So instead, she merely smiled politely at the nurse and said, "Much better now, thank you."
It was true. After eating a large piece of chocolate and getting a good twenty additional minutes of rest, she could feel her strength returning to her..physically, at least. Emotionally? Mentally? She wasn't sure those things would ever repair completely. The nurse bustled away, and Usagi hesitantly laid back down. The harsh traces of her headache had ebbed away, and her weariness had dissolved rather adequately.
"Oh dear.. I said an hour, young man!"
Usagi sat up from the cot she was lying in to see the scowling form of Draco. Despite her better judgment, there were things she wanted to know.. things she wanted to clear up. "It's okay, Madam Pomfrey. I really am feeling much better." The nurse cast her an uncertain, wary glance. The turned her look on Draco and glared.
"Alright.. but don't bother her excessively, lest she returns to the condition you brought her in.." The nurse muttered, still disapproving, but allowed him into the room. Leaving considerately to give them privacy, Draco took a seat next to her cot.
"You're looking better," he said softly. "How do you feel?"
That question, again. Usagi did not give the same response. She merely looked at him for several long, quiet moments. His eyes really did reflect a veiled concern, the tone of his voice soft and quiet, indicating his worry as well. She looked at him for a while, so long in fact that he was about to repeat the question.
"Why.." She finally asked, looking into his eyes, searching for something there. "Why did that happen?"
Apparently, the candies had worn off.. Draco could tell from his own extreme control, and from the clearness of her blue eyes, rather than the hazy darkness they had shone as when clouded with lust. Draco looked at her, contemplating his answer. Well, never let it be said Malfoys weren't respectable.
"The candy," he said simply. He watched as her face shown with confusion, before twisting and shimmering with an agonizing sense of betrayal. He continued, however. "The candy made you feel...lust for me. As did mine, for you. Although I'll admit the candies only served to enhance on my behalf.." He could see this was not a time for light conversation as tears glimmered in her eyes, refusing to fall just yet.
"So," she said quietly, her voice scarce above a stranded whisper, "after I had ate the candies, your intent was just to...to..." She couldn't bring herself to find the right phrasing for the term. "To have sex.." She blushed a little, anger and pain keeping her collected in thoughts.
"Yes."
"Is that all you really think of and want me for?"
The question surprised him a little. "No."
"How much longer does it last?"
"I believe it may have worn off already." Usagi began to disagree with this statement, but thought better of it. Perhaps they had..
"So...why?"
He glanced at her trembling hands, clenched in fists so tightly the knuckles turned white. He knew what she was asking. He sighed sadly, shifting in his chair to a more comfortable position. "Because I didn't know how else to proceed."
"To proceed," she murmured, echoing his words. "Proceed with what?"
He didn't know how much he should tell her. Perhaps he could use a little more truth with the blonde.. that seemed to get him further than the deceptive lies. "With making you fall in love with me."
Usagi's eyes widened in shock, the tears she had held back trickling down her cheeks from the action. She looked at him with a startled, vivid shock. "What?" she asked, not quite sure she had heard him right. Maybe she was still tired..
"To make you fall in love with me."
His answers were kept simple and scarce dipped with emotion. Usagi looked at him as though he was a stranger, confusion and an odd look he could not place in her eyes. She leaned forward and raised her hand, placing her palm against his cheek lightly. He looked at her, keeping his face stoic and impassive, feeling his skin tingle as her hand brushed across his cheek, her fingers touching softly over his lips, brushing across the light folds of flesh. She moved her index finger down against his lips, causing them to part slightly. Grasping his chin very lightly, she saw his eyes close for a long moment.
Usagi drew her hand back fully and drove it forward, slapping him across the face with as much force as she could possibly muster. And if one were to ask, that force was remarkably a great deal in abundance, fueled by her anger and pain and confusion. She could not help the slight satisfaction, though quickly replaced by a pang of guilt, as his face whipped the other way with the force of the blow. Almost immediately, his pale complexion began to bloom with color from the contact.
Draco turned his head slowly back to her. His eyes were burning with rage and anger... was that pain she saw? She hoped so.
"That," she said in a trembling voice, "was for toying with my emotions..for taking away my first kiss..For almost taking away my...my virginity," she near sobbed, "for..for lying and saying what you just said...For...for.." Usagi turned away from him, shuddering from the effort of these words. "Please leave. I don't ever want to see you again."
He knew, as did she, that this was near impossible, but it still hurt more than he would ever let on to hear it. "Very well," he said quietly. Standing he placed his hand on top of her head, feeling the loose, silken strands beneath it. Feeling her flinch, he withdrew. "I do not say this often, nor do I ever intend to start making it a habit. I know of your compassion.. If you can find it somewhere in your heart, I would like to make this up to you, in some way. I know I can never erase my actions, and that is something I will regrettably admit I am...agonizing over," he said in a low voice, scarce higher than her own had previously been.
"My actions were irrational.. driven by lust and something else that I can't quite name...I don't know what I feel for you beyond that, I will be honest. But.." He paused. "I would like to find out." He chanced a look at her, and saw her trembling, her shoulders quaking greatly as she listened to him. "Good bye, Usagi.. please consider what I said. I want to know if I really do...." He hesitated, and thought better of it. "Good bye, Usagi." With that, he left.
Usagi laid back down, her eyes closed, her breathing wavered and uneven. She refused to cry anymore.. And yet merely looking at him had caused her to do so. Maybe the candies had a lingering effect..
'Maybe not,' she thought quietly, looking at the chair he had sat in a few moments ago.
-----
Malfoy had made a grand mess of things for the five friends and they all knew it. Harry and Hermione had not spoken since the said incident, Ron refused to speak to Minako, and Makoto was stranded somewhere amidst the chaos, having her own share of pain that she tried to hide in order to help her friends.
"Minako, why did you laugh at Ron?" she asked softly. Minako turned her angered eyes, a frown on her lips, to her friend.
"I didn't mean to!" she exclaimed. "He doesn't understand...he blew things out of proportion. I only laughed because.." She turned away, feeling a little foolish.
"Yes?" Makoto asked attentively.
"Because.. I thought weasel was a cute nick name for him..."
Makoto stared at her blonde friend, boggled. Unable to contain herself, she burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Well that's good! Just explain that to him!"
Minako frowned. "I can't.. he won't even speak to me. I tried to and he just told me to go away.." she looked away a little.
Makoto laughed lightly. "Then just ambush him with it! Oh come on.. you're always the first to break the silence," she teased slightly. Seeing a small smile flit across Minako's face, she grinned. "C'mon.. go to him and try and work it out. I'm sure he'll understand." Minako nodded numbly, retreating to find Ron.
'Well that's one problem hopefully solved,' she mused dully. She glanced warily at the form of Harry, brooding and silent. Her eyes softened slightly, and she didn't think any amount of her talking would solve this problem. It was something he and Hermione...and possibly Usagi.. would be able to solve.
She thought about her other blonde friend, the hardships the must be feeling. She felt silly in her own "pain", having only a crush on Harry.. nothing serious enough to cause a bitter resentment should he end up with someone else. Usagi had a lot on her plate to deal with, perhaps more than even the vivacious blonde could handle.
She hoped she got through with the situation okay.. If not, she didn't care how powerful Draco was. She would still take him down.
-----
Usagi was relieved when the fussing nurse finally relented enough to release her from the Hospital Wing. She had spent the majority of her day there, and wanted to get back to her room to sleep on a more comfortable bed... even if it did evoke horrid memories.
"Not so horrid actually," she mumbled to herself before shaking her head.
Reaching her dorm room, she approached the bed cautiously, as though afraid some remnants of the spell lingered there, or his presence in general. She sat down carefully on the bed and laid down. It felt nice.. the billowy softness of the covers against her, the fluffy pillow beneath her head.. She could disregard, even if only for just tonight, that which had almost transpired in here.
Sighing, she began to contemplate her thoughts. What Draco had said before he left... All of those things.. Did he mean it? She was not quite certain. She was usually fairly good at reading people and their emotions... But Draco was as unpredictable as the pop exams Snape gave... Now that the candies had worn off, Usagi tried to sort through the jumble of emotions she felt for him.
His complexity and odd demeanor did not make this task any easier, only further enhancing the confusion she felt. Usagi did believe everyone deserved a second chance.. Maybe she should give things a try..
..to the guy who deceived her enough to get her to do something she never even so much as fantasized about before.
Usagi rolled over in her bed, pressing her face fully against her pillow, deriving a little sense of comfort from the soft darkness that enveloped her. She knew what she would have to do.. She just wanted to sleep some more before she pursued anything.
-----
The Great Hall filled with its usual busy bustle as the students filled in the next morning for breakfast. Ron and Minako were back in amiable terms as she had told him the reason for her laughter. Hermione and Harry still were not speaking to each other, not out of anger so much as a loss of what exactly to say. After knowing how he felt about Usagi, and him know how she felt, Hermione did not know where to begin with conversating. It was all far too awkward.. and miserable.
"Usagi-chan!" Minako squealed, standing abruptly as she watched her best friend enter the Great Hall and take a seat next to her. "How are you feeling? Are you alright? Do you--"
"Hey take it easy, Mina-chan," she said with a laugh. A smile was upon her face, something that relieved her fellow blonde immensely. "I'm doing fine, I feel fine, and I'm hungry!" She made a plate of assorted foods, and the others smiled hesitantly. She certainly 'seemed' okay..
"So, what have you guys been up to?" she asked in her usual cheery voice. She watched curiously as everyone averted their eyes, looking away or muttering something she couldn't understand. "Huh? What happened? What's going on?"
It was Hermione who spoke up attentively. "Well... Malfoy has made a real mess of things," she mumbled. Usagi frowned, looking away for a moment before smiling.
"How so? What did he do?"
Harry snorted. "Well, aside from the obvious... He just....err... well he..." He stammered slightly, not sure how to exactly word what it was he had done.
"I think he kinda revealed some things that some would rather have kept secret," Ron supplied helpfully with a small, sad smile. Usagi tilted her head curiously, but decided not to press the matter. It was obvious they did not wish to talk about whatever had transpired. Breakfast continued in a relative amount of silence, save for light conversation made between Usagi, Minako, and Makoto.
-----
"You will be making the potion 'Amorous Will' today. Turn to page 43 and begin...immediately."
Everyone hated double Potions, for it was almost certain they would have to apply their knowledge to making a concoction during it. Usagi particularly hated this class because she didn't really know anyone in it... except, of course, for Draco. A partner was necessary for this assignment, and Usagi looked around warily.
Draco knew much better than to ask Usagi if she wanted to be his partner...he reveled in the irony of that double statement. He was partnered with Crabbe, being as he knew him on the most acquainted level in the class, although any of the other Slytherin girls (and a reluctant-to-admit- handful of Gryffindor girls) in the class would have gladly partnered with him.
Usagi saw a Gryffindor boy amidst the shuffle of moving students, not really going to anyone in particular. Walking over to him, Usagi smiled in a friendly manner. "Hi, I'm Usagi.. Want to partner up? I have to warn you I'm not very good in this class--"
"Sure," he interrupted with a small shrug. "My name's Fernando.. I hate this damn class.. and all these damn people," he muttered. Usagi smiled unsurely. Well, she was releived at least to have a partner..
Her and Fern, as he preferred to be called, worked on the spell. She was relieved to have partnered with him, for he seemed to have a much better grasp on how to make potions than she did, despite his utter resentment toward everything in the class.
Draco, on the other hand, was furious. He was able to complete the potion making quickly, but seeing Usagi even associate with someone else made him angered. He watched as the two smiled and talked, becoming better acquainted. He didn't know how much longer he could stand keeping his distance, surprised with himself for feeling this way.
"Wow," Usagi murmured. "You're pretty smart," she said with a giggle. Fern smirked slightly, shrugging once more. "Yeah, well.. this class is still annoying as hell." He was a pessimistic one, she could tell, but she was still happy to know she'd finally be getting a decent grade in the class. "Alright," he concluded, "it's done."
Usagi looked in awe at the cauldron, watching the mauve-colored liquid swirl slightly in its holding. Taking a quick glance at the other partnered groups, she saw many were close to being finished as well. She knew for sure had she been alone, she'd still be on the first paragraph, trying to decipher what to do. "Thank you so much for this!" she said happily.
Her partner frowned at her, though a slight bemused look played in his crystalline blue eyes. "Yeah, well.. I needed to get it done to. Not like it's a great favor to you," he pointed out. Usagi shrugged, unphased. "Yes, but I wouldn't have gotten very far.."
Snape's voice broke the friendly conversations that had engaged as the potions were being completed. "Time is up. Stop working if you have not already done so and I will come around to grade your concoctions." The stern teacher walked slowly around the room, gazing into the cauldrons with his well-trained eyes. Stopping at Usagi and Fern's, the corner of his lips twitched slightly before he spoke. "Good." It was a simple, short word, but it made Usagi happier than she had ever been in his class.
Snape continued his rounds, giving a comment every now and then. After they had finished, he instructed them to fill a small vile before clearing the cauldron. "It appears all of the spells were done correctly," he said in his usual, dry voice. "But I will be grading each one of them carefully. Now, let us continue. We are going to test out the potion.." He flicked his wrist, and the cauldron near his desk filled with the reddish purple liquid. "Since the majority of the pairings were of the same sex, the next set of pairing will randomly be selected and placed on the board. I will call up this pairing, and the female will take the potion.." His mouth twitched slightly as he continued. "The male will become completely entranced by the female for the duration of five minutes. He may merely babble incentively of supposed, proffered love, or perhaps reveal something true," he said sarcastically. "I have dilluted the spell a great deal. If potent enough, this spell could last a terribly long time."
Usagi fidgeted restlessly in her seat, and Fern glanced at her curiously. She kept shifting uncomfortably, glancing around the room with apprehension. This was not a good way to restart her school days...
Snape flicked his wand at the names on the attendance sheet, and then flicked his wand to the blackboard. A pairing of names began materializing row by row across the board.
Amber S... Fernando M
Pansy P...Vincent C.
The list materialized slowly, and the last pair came into view:
Usagi T.. Draco M.
"No!" Usagi blurted loudly, and Draco swore softly. Usagi blushed as she saw people staring at her, and Draco merely glared at the looks he received. Snape raised an eyebrow at the two.
"Well, being as it seems there is a dislike between you two.. it will only serve to prove the effectiveness of this spell. You two will go first, so the rest of the class can observe."
Usagi felt as though she was going to cry. "Why me," she mumbled, resting her head against the desk. She looked up at Snape, a pleading in her eyes. "I.. I don't feel very well," she said, trying desperately to think of something. "Can I go to the nurse or something?"
Snape gave a short chortle before abruptly reverting to his emotionless face. "No. Hurry it along. Both of you, to the front of the class."
Usagi refused to move, however.. She couldn't do this... She couldn't handle it again... "Please," she whispered.
But how could he understand? If he knew the situation, she was sure he'd reconsider things more kindly. As it was, however..
"If the two of you do not participate it will be 50 points reduced from both of your houses." The room became quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Did Snape just threaten to take points away from Slytherin?...
If that was not incentive enough, the harsh glares and muttered threats from the students in the room would certainly do it. The two rose slowly and walked to the front of the room, trying not to look at one another. Snape sighed scornfully at the two students, but one who looked close enough would have been able to see the small flicker of emotion in his eyes..
Snape took out a measuring spoon, putting an adequate amount of the creamy-looking liquid upon it. Carefully handing Usagi the spoon, she cast him a reproachful look before turning it to the spoon. Squeezing her eyes shut and praying for the best, Usagi placed the spoon in her mouth, feeling the liquid slide down her throat bitterly. It did not taste surpassingly bad.. a little sweet, perhaps. But Usagi learned the sweetest of candies could bring fourth the most sour effects.
"What now?" she muttered to Snape, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. She watched idely as he started a timer. Five minutes..
"Turn to Mister Malfoy," he instructed. She did so quietly. Hearing Snape sigh, she almost turned to look at him before hearing him speak quickly. "Look at him, Miss Tsukino, not the ground, nor anyone else." Usagi bit her lower lip and slowly did so. Her eyes looked upward slowly, taking in the features of his robes, his slender neck, his strong chin, the beautiful lips resting above it... his eyes. As her eyes locked with his, she saw his widen slightly, before dimming.
Usagi felt frozen beneath his gaze, having seen those features before. Her heartbeat quickened as she took a stumbling step backward, terrified of what might happen. How dare Snape, a professor, allow something like this! She watched in a silent, awed curiosity as Draco's face contorted, twisting into a pained frown. She realized with a deep compassion he was trying to fight the potion's effect..
"Thank you," she whispered softly, placing her hand against his arm, feeling him shudder under her touch. She pulled away quickly as to not cause any further hindrance in his attempt to not succumb to the spell.
Three and a half agonizing minutes past, the seconds ticking by at a meticulous crawl. "Damnit," Draco swore, gritting his teeth from the effort. He couldn't take it anymore... He felt his mind become dizzily fogged as the infatuous radiation of the potion took over. He looked at her with a slow, languid smile, and Usagi's heart sank. He was strong.. but the spell was stronger.
"You're so beautiful, Usagi," he murmured, encircling her wrist with his fingers loosely. The other students in the class watched with their jaws hanging wide.
"Well thank you," she mumbled. She glanced warily at the timer. One minute left...
"You know," he continued, his voice soft as silk, "you were especially beautiful yesterday..The way you--"
"Draco," she said quietly, successfully interrupting him. "Just please be quiet.." 45 seconds..
"Oh, but you were.. There's no denying it. The way you moaned for me to--"
"Please!" she cried, wrenching her arm away, her cheeks blooming with color like crimson flowers. The students in the class could scarce believe what they were hearing. A Gryffindor.. and a Slytherin.. Draco, of all people in fact.. Impossible.
"The way you kept pulling me close to you.. and your mouth, oh.. You have a lovely little mouth.."
She quickly pressed her hand against his mouth, stopping any further revelations from carelessly being spoken. 10 seconds remained.. They seemed to pass by in slow motion for her.
He pulled her hand firmly from his mouth, grasping it in his own...
Pulling her close, he rested his hand against her neck.
He began to close to small amount of remaining distance between them...
A mere fractious breaths of space between their lips, Draco pulled himself away before the kiss ensued. Usagi looked at the blinking timer. The potion had worn off.
Snape was looking at the two students in an expression somewhere entangled between shock and intrigue. It lasted for only another brief moment, before he nodded. "Fifty points to Slytherin for being able to temporarily resist such a strong spell.." He scowled slightly before continuing. "And fifty points to Gryffindor for enduring its..effects."
Usagi sat down numbly, followed by the angered Draco. This was not good. Very much so.. this was not good.
-----
"Did you hear what happened in Snape's class? I totally can't believe it!"
"I know! Who'd have ever thought.. Do ya really think it's true.. did they actually...ya know.. 'do it'?"
"Oh yeah! I heard they didn't even stop for breaks! They just continued for hours and hours.."
"Wow! Usagi is so lucky...Draco sure is hot.. Oh look, there she comes!"
Usagi had endured this for the past two hours, listening to the whispered comments and gossip that flew around the school. Why... Why did Snape have to do that? Usagi did not hate anyone truly, but she came as close to that emotion as she would allow for the teacher right now.
"She's pretty hot too, man... Draco scored big time, huh?"
"He sure did.."
Several whistles ensued as Usagi walked down the hall, clenching her fists, trembling with anger.
"Ohh, look! There he comes too.."
"He doesn't look too happy.."
Usagi turned around, seeing the other person all of the whispered gossip pertained to. "Draco," she murmured, hesitant as to what should be said. Draco didn't say anything, though. He grasped her hand and began walking, leading her from the hallway.
"They do look kinda cute together.."
"Maybe they're going to go back to having lots of sex.."
Usagi kept her head lowered, glad for the moment to have Draco with her. Ironic as the situation had become, she needed him for stabilityright now. What happened in there wasn't his fault.. he even tried fighting it.. By no means did she forgive him for his previous actions just yet.. They still needed to do a great deal of talking for that to ever occur. But for now, she was strangely relieved.
"Where are we going?" she said quietly, trying to ignore the gossip that still could be heard.
"Some place we can talk with the assurety of no interruptions."
He led her onward and it didn't take her long to figure out where that was.. Malfoy gave the password to the Slytherin common room, before proceeding to his own room. Muttering the second password she barely heard, they entered the room. She had been here once before.. Thinking about it made her blush slightly.
"We need to talk." The statement was simple, but it comprised a world of truth and sincerity to it. Usagi nodded numbly in agreement, taking a seat at the table. He did not sit right away, however, pacing pensively. Pausing to look at her, he sighed. "Things are a mess, you know.. and I know it is my fault."
"Not completely," Usagi found herself saying, surprising them both. "If Snape didn't have to go and do that..."
"But if I had never done the said actions to begin with, none of that would have taken place," he pointed out. Usagi quieted, knowing what he said was true. Seeing her contemplating expression, he continued. "I do apologize for Snape's class," he muttered bitterly. "I truly did try to...resist it all. I don't know if it was primarily because of you or the potion..maybe both. But it did help me determine a few things."
He sat down on the edge of his bed, looking at her from time to time as he spoke. "I realize how frivolously I have acted. I almost took away something I had no rights to.. and I almost lost all chances of ever so much as speaking with you again. I guess in a way I should thank Potter and your other friends."
"What did you do to them?" she interrupted for a moment. "They said you really messed things up for them, or something like that.."
Draco smiled inwardly before shrugging. "I found out what Potter and the mud...and Granger truly desired," he corrected himself, upon seeing the warning glare she cast. "Turned out Potter wants you.. and she wants him." He watched as Usagi's eyes widened, before she turned away with a guilty look.
"I see," she said quietly. Remaining silent, she bid him to continue.
"Regardless.. I want to fix things, somehow. I don't know how to resolve things as far as the rumors, but that is a petty matter to deal with. I want to fix what I have potentially broken between you and I. I cannot tell you exactly how I feel, in all honesty. But as I said before, I'd like to find out. After what happened in Potions today.. it did make it clearer that I do.. care for you a great deal."
Usagi looked at him, her head tilting slightly as she listened. "I don't know what actions I'll have to take," he continued, "in order to make things start to work more amiably between us. But.. I'm willing to try whatever would make you comfortable. Even if that means keeping my distance."
He heard, dimly, as she rose from her seat to sit in front of him on the floor, placing her hand carefully against his leg as he continued. "I want to give it a chance.. Some sort of attempt at...I don't know," he said with a scowl, unable to properly word what he was trying to express.
He no longer wanted to do this as a mission for Voldemort. He wanted to do this for himself...
..and for Usagi.
She looked up at him from her kneeling position in front of him, her hands against his legs loosely. She couldn't deny how she felt... She knew the candies had greatly influenced her actions the previous day, but... She found a part of herself unable to deal with the though of not giving things a chance. Being this close to him, being near him.. It filled her with feelings she could not deny, regardless of how wrong it was, and how hard she tried. He looked into her eyes and saw something.. something that encouraged him..
Perhaps it was the slight smile on her face, or the sheer emotion he felt in general that consumed him, stronger than any spell he had been under these last 48 hours. He rested his hands almost hesitantly upon her shoulders, before lowering his face to hers..
To his surprise, and hers as well, it was Usagi who closed to distance, pressing the soft, sweet kiss to his lips.
----
Woot! I honestly think I would finish tonite/this morning lol.. It's 2:30am atm.. I'm so tired.. Must finish though!! If there are typos, my apologies.. ::sweatdrop::
THANK YOU ALL SOO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS!! ::squeals happily at having broke the 100 review mark so soon::
To: Silver Moon Goddess1, devilsheart, Serenity Usagi Malfoy, Dark Mistress Serenity, Jessica Hillyard, Starlite Saviour.. Thank you so much for the kind comments and reviews!!
Serenity Voldemort Riddle--YAY!! You were the 101th reviewer!! Lol . And yus, never ever mess with a Malfoy.. especially the sexy one, Draco..Oo..lol. Slave should be out kinda soon.. I had put it on a hiatus to rush with getting this chapter out! lol. Will work on it after I post this chapter if I don't pass out..hehe.
platinum star--lol, i dont really like harry/usagi pairings, but i did want to consider writing one to better like the couple.. I had a teaser a while ago, much like this one, called Unexpected Alliances.. It got almost 40 reviews for just the little bit I have, so I'm considering after I finish this story to completely revise what I currently have of that story, and then work on making that one come back to life, hehe. I hope you still enjoy this story, even if it's not a Harry/Usa . ;
SesshoumarusBunny--Yay! I'm so happy you like the stories.. and I sent you an Email a few hours ago ::grins:: Thanks for the reviews!!
MFlower49--Yes, yes I am =P hehe.
Bunny Winner--Hmm I guess you're right.. But Makoto didn't really know what to feel.. She didn't really know if it was a mutual thing for Usagi and Draco or what.. I guess afterwards though she shoulda acted a little harsher.. I apologize for the OOC-ness of Makoto then, and for the possible OOC-ness Draco-chan portrayed in this chapter.. if you're worried about that, don't... his vindictive little butt will get back into gear soon I think ::grins:: Thank you very much for the review!!
Kitoky--LOL sorry about the dream scare..hehe. I dun think Harry and Draco are gonna create a civil war in the fic.. They are just naturally rivals, perhaps more so enhanced by the situations in thee fic. I was just trying to exploit that a little with Malfoy's revenge =) I hope the fic isn't becoming cliche! ::starts thinking of strange ideas to do..:: lol. And awww!! I'm so happy that the fic almost made you cry.. er.. I mean I'm not happy that you almost cried but.. ack.. - . - Never let it be said I was good with words =P LoL I'm very touched and glad you like the fic, and very happy you reviewed!!
Tangled Junky--Aww, I'm so glad you like it.. I wanted to keep it kinda emotion-filled and interesting.. seems like i'm at least partially succeeding in doing so =.D
PsychoBunni-- Wow! Thanks for the numerous reviews..LOL. I appreciate all of them, and hope you enjoyed this chapter =.D :hug:
ABC Gurl--Hehe, I'm glad ya liked the dream thingy... and lmao, I know what ya mean.. I love him all sexy n evil.. hopefully we'll be seeing him return to that soon enough ::grins::
chibi duo--Woohoo! I'm so happy you're enjoying it! =.D And yer not sick! I loove evil too.. I came so close to goin' all the way with.. "that scene"...lol. But that woulda been wrong and sick...hehehe. and forget harry and the tag-alongs!! Lol j/k.. they're okay.. or at least they will be ::grins::
amazing-jax--aww, thank you! :hug:
OtAkU--Yay, I'm glad you liked chapter 5.. I was kinda happy with it too ::grins:: Lol. Hmm, yes, her headache was impart due to the candies starting to subside as well as just the sheer exhaustion of the whole situation.. I know I get a headache sometimes when I'm overly exhausted.. and after a good cry, both of which Usagi experienced. Thanks a lot for the review, hope you enjoyed this chapter as well =.D
hely--aww.. I'm glad you took the time to review, especially since you don't normally do so.. Thank you!!
Ryui and Gokuru-chan--Yay!! I'm so glad you like the stories that much.. that truly makes me feel very happy =.D I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
-----
{INCENTIVE! lol..}
NEXT TIME ON...Desiring Need!
Draco and Usagi begin to explore the possibility of a relationship.. What is this.. a date!? Harry and Hermione attempt to resolve things into a more amiable level and restore their friendship back to its original state, but can things ever go back to the way they were? Will Draco figure out if he holds more than just a physical attraction for Usagi? Will they ever work out, or are they simply too odly matched..? Find out in next time's episode, "Rapture!"
---------
This chapter is dedicated to my muse, friend and more-than-a-brother-less-than-a-lover, Fernando!! Lol. If it were not for him and all his ideas and encouragement, I couldn't have completed this chapter as quick as I was able to. Thank you!! ::aim twin faces:: tee hee.
Small cameo this chapter from Ferny!! aka my rl friend and reviewer assraelrui..lmao.
assraelrui--Omg I so want to meet her..NOT! Lol. And what do youmean by "odor control"!? I think you are confusing me with someone ::cough cough:: LoL. And yus! my gemini twin!! lol.. I am the girl called Harmony.... "I cry for a lumbing!!" lmao.
---------
Kay, two small things.. First, I know Draco may seem a little OOC in this chapter, but I think the events that have occurred make him in character-ish.. lol. I dunno. I'm too tired to think coherenty - . -
Second.. After actually writing the chapter, I had to go back and change the preview for this episode.. so since most won't want to go back to chapter 6 just to see the preview for this 'episode', I decided to put it here, yay!
-----
TODAY ON...Desiring Need!
The candies have finally worn off! In their wake, they have left a very anguished and distraught Usagi, a very contemplating Malfoy, and a group of friends torn apart. Back to the normal routine of classes, Usagi is ready to return to the boring, welcomed monotony of work. An unexpected turn of events in Potions with Snape draws her and Malfoy ironically closer than she ever could have anticipated! What happened during his class? What will happen with the other five friends? Where will Malfoy and Usagi go from here..? Find out in today's episode, "Yearning!"
-----
{At the touch of your hand, at the sound of your voice,
at the moment your eyes meet mind..
I am out of my mind, I am out of control,
full of feelings I can't deny...}
--Jeckyll and Hyde, "It's a Dangerous Game"
Desiring Need...
Y e a r n i n g
"How are you feeling?"
The question was simple, or at least it should have been. But.. at this current moment in Usagi's life, the complexity of that question was too far and vast for her to grasp. So instead, she merely smiled politely at the nurse and said, "Much better now, thank you."
It was true. After eating a large piece of chocolate and getting a good twenty additional minutes of rest, she could feel her strength returning to her..physically, at least. Emotionally? Mentally? She wasn't sure those things would ever repair completely. The nurse bustled away, and Usagi hesitantly laid back down. The harsh traces of her headache had ebbed away, and her weariness had dissolved rather adequately.
"Oh dear.. I said an hour, young man!"
Usagi sat up from the cot she was lying in to see the scowling form of Draco. Despite her better judgment, there were things she wanted to know.. things she wanted to clear up. "It's okay, Madam Pomfrey. I really am feeling much better." The nurse cast her an uncertain, wary glance. The turned her look on Draco and glared.
"Alright.. but don't bother her excessively, lest she returns to the condition you brought her in.." The nurse muttered, still disapproving, but allowed him into the room. Leaving considerately to give them privacy, Draco took a seat next to her cot.
"You're looking better," he said softly. "How do you feel?"
That question, again. Usagi did not give the same response. She merely looked at him for several long, quiet moments. His eyes really did reflect a veiled concern, the tone of his voice soft and quiet, indicating his worry as well. She looked at him for a while, so long in fact that he was about to repeat the question.
"Why.." She finally asked, looking into his eyes, searching for something there. "Why did that happen?"
Apparently, the candies had worn off.. Draco could tell from his own extreme control, and from the clearness of her blue eyes, rather than the hazy darkness they had shone as when clouded with lust. Draco looked at her, contemplating his answer. Well, never let it be said Malfoys weren't respectable.
"The candy," he said simply. He watched as her face shown with confusion, before twisting and shimmering with an agonizing sense of betrayal. He continued, however. "The candy made you feel...lust for me. As did mine, for you. Although I'll admit the candies only served to enhance on my behalf.." He could see this was not a time for light conversation as tears glimmered in her eyes, refusing to fall just yet.
"So," she said quietly, her voice scarce above a stranded whisper, "after I had ate the candies, your intent was just to...to..." She couldn't bring herself to find the right phrasing for the term. "To have sex.." She blushed a little, anger and pain keeping her collected in thoughts.
"Yes."
"Is that all you really think of and want me for?"
The question surprised him a little. "No."
"How much longer does it last?"
"I believe it may have worn off already." Usagi began to disagree with this statement, but thought better of it. Perhaps they had..
"So...why?"
He glanced at her trembling hands, clenched in fists so tightly the knuckles turned white. He knew what she was asking. He sighed sadly, shifting in his chair to a more comfortable position. "Because I didn't know how else to proceed."
"To proceed," she murmured, echoing his words. "Proceed with what?"
He didn't know how much he should tell her. Perhaps he could use a little more truth with the blonde.. that seemed to get him further than the deceptive lies. "With making you fall in love with me."
Usagi's eyes widened in shock, the tears she had held back trickling down her cheeks from the action. She looked at him with a startled, vivid shock. "What?" she asked, not quite sure she had heard him right. Maybe she was still tired..
"To make you fall in love with me."
His answers were kept simple and scarce dipped with emotion. Usagi looked at him as though he was a stranger, confusion and an odd look he could not place in her eyes. She leaned forward and raised her hand, placing her palm against his cheek lightly. He looked at her, keeping his face stoic and impassive, feeling his skin tingle as her hand brushed across his cheek, her fingers touching softly over his lips, brushing across the light folds of flesh. She moved her index finger down against his lips, causing them to part slightly. Grasping his chin very lightly, she saw his eyes close for a long moment.
Usagi drew her hand back fully and drove it forward, slapping him across the face with as much force as she could possibly muster. And if one were to ask, that force was remarkably a great deal in abundance, fueled by her anger and pain and confusion. She could not help the slight satisfaction, though quickly replaced by a pang of guilt, as his face whipped the other way with the force of the blow. Almost immediately, his pale complexion began to bloom with color from the contact.
Draco turned his head slowly back to her. His eyes were burning with rage and anger... was that pain she saw? She hoped so.
"That," she said in a trembling voice, "was for toying with my emotions..for taking away my first kiss..For almost taking away my...my virginity," she near sobbed, "for..for lying and saying what you just said...For...for.." Usagi turned away from him, shuddering from the effort of these words. "Please leave. I don't ever want to see you again."
He knew, as did she, that this was near impossible, but it still hurt more than he would ever let on to hear it. "Very well," he said quietly. Standing he placed his hand on top of her head, feeling the loose, silken strands beneath it. Feeling her flinch, he withdrew. "I do not say this often, nor do I ever intend to start making it a habit. I know of your compassion.. If you can find it somewhere in your heart, I would like to make this up to you, in some way. I know I can never erase my actions, and that is something I will regrettably admit I am...agonizing over," he said in a low voice, scarce higher than her own had previously been.
"My actions were irrational.. driven by lust and something else that I can't quite name...I don't know what I feel for you beyond that, I will be honest. But.." He paused. "I would like to find out." He chanced a look at her, and saw her trembling, her shoulders quaking greatly as she listened to him. "Good bye, Usagi.. please consider what I said. I want to know if I really do...." He hesitated, and thought better of it. "Good bye, Usagi." With that, he left.
Usagi laid back down, her eyes closed, her breathing wavered and uneven. She refused to cry anymore.. And yet merely looking at him had caused her to do so. Maybe the candies had a lingering effect..
'Maybe not,' she thought quietly, looking at the chair he had sat in a few moments ago.
-----
Malfoy had made a grand mess of things for the five friends and they all knew it. Harry and Hermione had not spoken since the said incident, Ron refused to speak to Minako, and Makoto was stranded somewhere amidst the chaos, having her own share of pain that she tried to hide in order to help her friends.
"Minako, why did you laugh at Ron?" she asked softly. Minako turned her angered eyes, a frown on her lips, to her friend.
"I didn't mean to!" she exclaimed. "He doesn't understand...he blew things out of proportion. I only laughed because.." She turned away, feeling a little foolish.
"Yes?" Makoto asked attentively.
"Because.. I thought weasel was a cute nick name for him..."
Makoto stared at her blonde friend, boggled. Unable to contain herself, she burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Well that's good! Just explain that to him!"
Minako frowned. "I can't.. he won't even speak to me. I tried to and he just told me to go away.." she looked away a little.
Makoto laughed lightly. "Then just ambush him with it! Oh come on.. you're always the first to break the silence," she teased slightly. Seeing a small smile flit across Minako's face, she grinned. "C'mon.. go to him and try and work it out. I'm sure he'll understand." Minako nodded numbly, retreating to find Ron.
'Well that's one problem hopefully solved,' she mused dully. She glanced warily at the form of Harry, brooding and silent. Her eyes softened slightly, and she didn't think any amount of her talking would solve this problem. It was something he and Hermione...and possibly Usagi.. would be able to solve.
She thought about her other blonde friend, the hardships the must be feeling. She felt silly in her own "pain", having only a crush on Harry.. nothing serious enough to cause a bitter resentment should he end up with someone else. Usagi had a lot on her plate to deal with, perhaps more than even the vivacious blonde could handle.
She hoped she got through with the situation okay.. If not, she didn't care how powerful Draco was. She would still take him down.
-----
Usagi was relieved when the fussing nurse finally relented enough to release her from the Hospital Wing. She had spent the majority of her day there, and wanted to get back to her room to sleep on a more comfortable bed... even if it did evoke horrid memories.
"Not so horrid actually," she mumbled to herself before shaking her head.
Reaching her dorm room, she approached the bed cautiously, as though afraid some remnants of the spell lingered there, or his presence in general. She sat down carefully on the bed and laid down. It felt nice.. the billowy softness of the covers against her, the fluffy pillow beneath her head.. She could disregard, even if only for just tonight, that which had almost transpired in here.
Sighing, she began to contemplate her thoughts. What Draco had said before he left... All of those things.. Did he mean it? She was not quite certain. She was usually fairly good at reading people and their emotions... But Draco was as unpredictable as the pop exams Snape gave... Now that the candies had worn off, Usagi tried to sort through the jumble of emotions she felt for him.
His complexity and odd demeanor did not make this task any easier, only further enhancing the confusion she felt. Usagi did believe everyone deserved a second chance.. Maybe she should give things a try..
..to the guy who deceived her enough to get her to do something she never even so much as fantasized about before.
Usagi rolled over in her bed, pressing her face fully against her pillow, deriving a little sense of comfort from the soft darkness that enveloped her. She knew what she would have to do.. She just wanted to sleep some more before she pursued anything.
-----
The Great Hall filled with its usual busy bustle as the students filled in the next morning for breakfast. Ron and Minako were back in amiable terms as she had told him the reason for her laughter. Hermione and Harry still were not speaking to each other, not out of anger so much as a loss of what exactly to say. After knowing how he felt about Usagi, and him know how she felt, Hermione did not know where to begin with conversating. It was all far too awkward.. and miserable.
"Usagi-chan!" Minako squealed, standing abruptly as she watched her best friend enter the Great Hall and take a seat next to her. "How are you feeling? Are you alright? Do you--"
"Hey take it easy, Mina-chan," she said with a laugh. A smile was upon her face, something that relieved her fellow blonde immensely. "I'm doing fine, I feel fine, and I'm hungry!" She made a plate of assorted foods, and the others smiled hesitantly. She certainly 'seemed' okay..
"So, what have you guys been up to?" she asked in her usual cheery voice. She watched curiously as everyone averted their eyes, looking away or muttering something she couldn't understand. "Huh? What happened? What's going on?"
It was Hermione who spoke up attentively. "Well... Malfoy has made a real mess of things," she mumbled. Usagi frowned, looking away for a moment before smiling.
"How so? What did he do?"
Harry snorted. "Well, aside from the obvious... He just....err... well he..." He stammered slightly, not sure how to exactly word what it was he had done.
"I think he kinda revealed some things that some would rather have kept secret," Ron supplied helpfully with a small, sad smile. Usagi tilted her head curiously, but decided not to press the matter. It was obvious they did not wish to talk about whatever had transpired. Breakfast continued in a relative amount of silence, save for light conversation made between Usagi, Minako, and Makoto.
-----
"You will be making the potion 'Amorous Will' today. Turn to page 43 and begin...immediately."
Everyone hated double Potions, for it was almost certain they would have to apply their knowledge to making a concoction during it. Usagi particularly hated this class because she didn't really know anyone in it... except, of course, for Draco. A partner was necessary for this assignment, and Usagi looked around warily.
Draco knew much better than to ask Usagi if she wanted to be his partner...he reveled in the irony of that double statement. He was partnered with Crabbe, being as he knew him on the most acquainted level in the class, although any of the other Slytherin girls (and a reluctant-to-admit- handful of Gryffindor girls) in the class would have gladly partnered with him.
Usagi saw a Gryffindor boy amidst the shuffle of moving students, not really going to anyone in particular. Walking over to him, Usagi smiled in a friendly manner. "Hi, I'm Usagi.. Want to partner up? I have to warn you I'm not very good in this class--"
"Sure," he interrupted with a small shrug. "My name's Fernando.. I hate this damn class.. and all these damn people," he muttered. Usagi smiled unsurely. Well, she was releived at least to have a partner..
Her and Fern, as he preferred to be called, worked on the spell. She was relieved to have partnered with him, for he seemed to have a much better grasp on how to make potions than she did, despite his utter resentment toward everything in the class.
Draco, on the other hand, was furious. He was able to complete the potion making quickly, but seeing Usagi even associate with someone else made him angered. He watched as the two smiled and talked, becoming better acquainted. He didn't know how much longer he could stand keeping his distance, surprised with himself for feeling this way.
"Wow," Usagi murmured. "You're pretty smart," she said with a giggle. Fern smirked slightly, shrugging once more. "Yeah, well.. this class is still annoying as hell." He was a pessimistic one, she could tell, but she was still happy to know she'd finally be getting a decent grade in the class. "Alright," he concluded, "it's done."
Usagi looked in awe at the cauldron, watching the mauve-colored liquid swirl slightly in its holding. Taking a quick glance at the other partnered groups, she saw many were close to being finished as well. She knew for sure had she been alone, she'd still be on the first paragraph, trying to decipher what to do. "Thank you so much for this!" she said happily.
Her partner frowned at her, though a slight bemused look played in his crystalline blue eyes. "Yeah, well.. I needed to get it done to. Not like it's a great favor to you," he pointed out. Usagi shrugged, unphased. "Yes, but I wouldn't have gotten very far.."
Snape's voice broke the friendly conversations that had engaged as the potions were being completed. "Time is up. Stop working if you have not already done so and I will come around to grade your concoctions." The stern teacher walked slowly around the room, gazing into the cauldrons with his well-trained eyes. Stopping at Usagi and Fern's, the corner of his lips twitched slightly before he spoke. "Good." It was a simple, short word, but it made Usagi happier than she had ever been in his class.
Snape continued his rounds, giving a comment every now and then. After they had finished, he instructed them to fill a small vile before clearing the cauldron. "It appears all of the spells were done correctly," he said in his usual, dry voice. "But I will be grading each one of them carefully. Now, let us continue. We are going to test out the potion.." He flicked his wrist, and the cauldron near his desk filled with the reddish purple liquid. "Since the majority of the pairings were of the same sex, the next set of pairing will randomly be selected and placed on the board. I will call up this pairing, and the female will take the potion.." His mouth twitched slightly as he continued. "The male will become completely entranced by the female for the duration of five minutes. He may merely babble incentively of supposed, proffered love, or perhaps reveal something true," he said sarcastically. "I have dilluted the spell a great deal. If potent enough, this spell could last a terribly long time."
Usagi fidgeted restlessly in her seat, and Fern glanced at her curiously. She kept shifting uncomfortably, glancing around the room with apprehension. This was not a good way to restart her school days...
Snape flicked his wand at the names on the attendance sheet, and then flicked his wand to the blackboard. A pairing of names began materializing row by row across the board.
Amber S... Fernando M
Pansy P...Vincent C.
The list materialized slowly, and the last pair came into view:
Usagi T.. Draco M.
"No!" Usagi blurted loudly, and Draco swore softly. Usagi blushed as she saw people staring at her, and Draco merely glared at the looks he received. Snape raised an eyebrow at the two.
"Well, being as it seems there is a dislike between you two.. it will only serve to prove the effectiveness of this spell. You two will go first, so the rest of the class can observe."
Usagi felt as though she was going to cry. "Why me," she mumbled, resting her head against the desk. She looked up at Snape, a pleading in her eyes. "I.. I don't feel very well," she said, trying desperately to think of something. "Can I go to the nurse or something?"
Snape gave a short chortle before abruptly reverting to his emotionless face. "No. Hurry it along. Both of you, to the front of the class."
Usagi refused to move, however.. She couldn't do this... She couldn't handle it again... "Please," she whispered.
But how could he understand? If he knew the situation, she was sure he'd reconsider things more kindly. As it was, however..
"If the two of you do not participate it will be 50 points reduced from both of your houses." The room became quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Did Snape just threaten to take points away from Slytherin?...
If that was not incentive enough, the harsh glares and muttered threats from the students in the room would certainly do it. The two rose slowly and walked to the front of the room, trying not to look at one another. Snape sighed scornfully at the two students, but one who looked close enough would have been able to see the small flicker of emotion in his eyes..
Snape took out a measuring spoon, putting an adequate amount of the creamy-looking liquid upon it. Carefully handing Usagi the spoon, she cast him a reproachful look before turning it to the spoon. Squeezing her eyes shut and praying for the best, Usagi placed the spoon in her mouth, feeling the liquid slide down her throat bitterly. It did not taste surpassingly bad.. a little sweet, perhaps. But Usagi learned the sweetest of candies could bring fourth the most sour effects.
"What now?" she muttered to Snape, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. She watched idely as he started a timer. Five minutes..
"Turn to Mister Malfoy," he instructed. She did so quietly. Hearing Snape sigh, she almost turned to look at him before hearing him speak quickly. "Look at him, Miss Tsukino, not the ground, nor anyone else." Usagi bit her lower lip and slowly did so. Her eyes looked upward slowly, taking in the features of his robes, his slender neck, his strong chin, the beautiful lips resting above it... his eyes. As her eyes locked with his, she saw his widen slightly, before dimming.
Usagi felt frozen beneath his gaze, having seen those features before. Her heartbeat quickened as she took a stumbling step backward, terrified of what might happen. How dare Snape, a professor, allow something like this! She watched in a silent, awed curiosity as Draco's face contorted, twisting into a pained frown. She realized with a deep compassion he was trying to fight the potion's effect..
"Thank you," she whispered softly, placing her hand against his arm, feeling him shudder under her touch. She pulled away quickly as to not cause any further hindrance in his attempt to not succumb to the spell.
Three and a half agonizing minutes past, the seconds ticking by at a meticulous crawl. "Damnit," Draco swore, gritting his teeth from the effort. He couldn't take it anymore... He felt his mind become dizzily fogged as the infatuous radiation of the potion took over. He looked at her with a slow, languid smile, and Usagi's heart sank. He was strong.. but the spell was stronger.
"You're so beautiful, Usagi," he murmured, encircling her wrist with his fingers loosely. The other students in the class watched with their jaws hanging wide.
"Well thank you," she mumbled. She glanced warily at the timer. One minute left...
"You know," he continued, his voice soft as silk, "you were especially beautiful yesterday..The way you--"
"Draco," she said quietly, successfully interrupting him. "Just please be quiet.." 45 seconds..
"Oh, but you were.. There's no denying it. The way you moaned for me to--"
"Please!" she cried, wrenching her arm away, her cheeks blooming with color like crimson flowers. The students in the class could scarce believe what they were hearing. A Gryffindor.. and a Slytherin.. Draco, of all people in fact.. Impossible.
"The way you kept pulling me close to you.. and your mouth, oh.. You have a lovely little mouth.."
She quickly pressed her hand against his mouth, stopping any further revelations from carelessly being spoken. 10 seconds remained.. They seemed to pass by in slow motion for her.
He pulled her hand firmly from his mouth, grasping it in his own...
Pulling her close, he rested his hand against her neck.
He began to close to small amount of remaining distance between them...
A mere fractious breaths of space between their lips, Draco pulled himself away before the kiss ensued. Usagi looked at the blinking timer. The potion had worn off.
Snape was looking at the two students in an expression somewhere entangled between shock and intrigue. It lasted for only another brief moment, before he nodded. "Fifty points to Slytherin for being able to temporarily resist such a strong spell.." He scowled slightly before continuing. "And fifty points to Gryffindor for enduring its..effects."
Usagi sat down numbly, followed by the angered Draco. This was not good. Very much so.. this was not good.
-----
"Did you hear what happened in Snape's class? I totally can't believe it!"
"I know! Who'd have ever thought.. Do ya really think it's true.. did they actually...ya know.. 'do it'?"
"Oh yeah! I heard they didn't even stop for breaks! They just continued for hours and hours.."
"Wow! Usagi is so lucky...Draco sure is hot.. Oh look, there she comes!"
Usagi had endured this for the past two hours, listening to the whispered comments and gossip that flew around the school. Why... Why did Snape have to do that? Usagi did not hate anyone truly, but she came as close to that emotion as she would allow for the teacher right now.
"She's pretty hot too, man... Draco scored big time, huh?"
"He sure did.."
Several whistles ensued as Usagi walked down the hall, clenching her fists, trembling with anger.
"Ohh, look! There he comes too.."
"He doesn't look too happy.."
Usagi turned around, seeing the other person all of the whispered gossip pertained to. "Draco," she murmured, hesitant as to what should be said. Draco didn't say anything, though. He grasped her hand and began walking, leading her from the hallway.
"They do look kinda cute together.."
"Maybe they're going to go back to having lots of sex.."
Usagi kept her head lowered, glad for the moment to have Draco with her. Ironic as the situation had become, she needed him for stabilityright now. What happened in there wasn't his fault.. he even tried fighting it.. By no means did she forgive him for his previous actions just yet.. They still needed to do a great deal of talking for that to ever occur. But for now, she was strangely relieved.
"Where are we going?" she said quietly, trying to ignore the gossip that still could be heard.
"Some place we can talk with the assurety of no interruptions."
He led her onward and it didn't take her long to figure out where that was.. Malfoy gave the password to the Slytherin common room, before proceeding to his own room. Muttering the second password she barely heard, they entered the room. She had been here once before.. Thinking about it made her blush slightly.
"We need to talk." The statement was simple, but it comprised a world of truth and sincerity to it. Usagi nodded numbly in agreement, taking a seat at the table. He did not sit right away, however, pacing pensively. Pausing to look at her, he sighed. "Things are a mess, you know.. and I know it is my fault."
"Not completely," Usagi found herself saying, surprising them both. "If Snape didn't have to go and do that..."
"But if I had never done the said actions to begin with, none of that would have taken place," he pointed out. Usagi quieted, knowing what he said was true. Seeing her contemplating expression, he continued. "I do apologize for Snape's class," he muttered bitterly. "I truly did try to...resist it all. I don't know if it was primarily because of you or the potion..maybe both. But it did help me determine a few things."
He sat down on the edge of his bed, looking at her from time to time as he spoke. "I realize how frivolously I have acted. I almost took away something I had no rights to.. and I almost lost all chances of ever so much as speaking with you again. I guess in a way I should thank Potter and your other friends."
"What did you do to them?" she interrupted for a moment. "They said you really messed things up for them, or something like that.."
Draco smiled inwardly before shrugging. "I found out what Potter and the mud...and Granger truly desired," he corrected himself, upon seeing the warning glare she cast. "Turned out Potter wants you.. and she wants him." He watched as Usagi's eyes widened, before she turned away with a guilty look.
"I see," she said quietly. Remaining silent, she bid him to continue.
"Regardless.. I want to fix things, somehow. I don't know how to resolve things as far as the rumors, but that is a petty matter to deal with. I want to fix what I have potentially broken between you and I. I cannot tell you exactly how I feel, in all honesty. But as I said before, I'd like to find out. After what happened in Potions today.. it did make it clearer that I do.. care for you a great deal."
Usagi looked at him, her head tilting slightly as she listened. "I don't know what actions I'll have to take," he continued, "in order to make things start to work more amiably between us. But.. I'm willing to try whatever would make you comfortable. Even if that means keeping my distance."
He heard, dimly, as she rose from her seat to sit in front of him on the floor, placing her hand carefully against his leg as he continued. "I want to give it a chance.. Some sort of attempt at...I don't know," he said with a scowl, unable to properly word what he was trying to express.
He no longer wanted to do this as a mission for Voldemort. He wanted to do this for himself...
..and for Usagi.
She looked up at him from her kneeling position in front of him, her hands against his legs loosely. She couldn't deny how she felt... She knew the candies had greatly influenced her actions the previous day, but... She found a part of herself unable to deal with the though of not giving things a chance. Being this close to him, being near him.. It filled her with feelings she could not deny, regardless of how wrong it was, and how hard she tried. He looked into her eyes and saw something.. something that encouraged him..
Perhaps it was the slight smile on her face, or the sheer emotion he felt in general that consumed him, stronger than any spell he had been under these last 48 hours. He rested his hands almost hesitantly upon her shoulders, before lowering his face to hers..
To his surprise, and hers as well, it was Usagi who closed to distance, pressing the soft, sweet kiss to his lips.
----
Woot! I honestly think I would finish tonite/this morning lol.. It's 2:30am atm.. I'm so tired.. Must finish though!! If there are typos, my apologies.. ::sweatdrop::
THANK YOU ALL SOO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS!! ::squeals happily at having broke the 100 review mark so soon::
To: Silver Moon Goddess1, devilsheart, Serenity Usagi Malfoy, Dark Mistress Serenity, Jessica Hillyard, Starlite Saviour.. Thank you so much for the kind comments and reviews!!
Serenity Voldemort Riddle--YAY!! You were the 101th reviewer!! Lol . And yus, never ever mess with a Malfoy.. especially the sexy one, Draco..Oo..lol. Slave should be out kinda soon.. I had put it on a hiatus to rush with getting this chapter out! lol. Will work on it after I post this chapter if I don't pass out..hehe.
platinum star--lol, i dont really like harry/usagi pairings, but i did want to consider writing one to better like the couple.. I had a teaser a while ago, much like this one, called Unexpected Alliances.. It got almost 40 reviews for just the little bit I have, so I'm considering after I finish this story to completely revise what I currently have of that story, and then work on making that one come back to life, hehe. I hope you still enjoy this story, even if it's not a Harry/Usa . ;
SesshoumarusBunny--Yay! I'm so happy you like the stories.. and I sent you an Email a few hours ago ::grins:: Thanks for the reviews!!
MFlower49--Yes, yes I am =P hehe.
Bunny Winner--Hmm I guess you're right.. But Makoto didn't really know what to feel.. She didn't really know if it was a mutual thing for Usagi and Draco or what.. I guess afterwards though she shoulda acted a little harsher.. I apologize for the OOC-ness of Makoto then, and for the possible OOC-ness Draco-chan portrayed in this chapter.. if you're worried about that, don't... his vindictive little butt will get back into gear soon I think ::grins:: Thank you very much for the review!!
Kitoky--LOL sorry about the dream scare..hehe. I dun think Harry and Draco are gonna create a civil war in the fic.. They are just naturally rivals, perhaps more so enhanced by the situations in thee fic. I was just trying to exploit that a little with Malfoy's revenge =) I hope the fic isn't becoming cliche! ::starts thinking of strange ideas to do..:: lol. And awww!! I'm so happy that the fic almost made you cry.. er.. I mean I'm not happy that you almost cried but.. ack.. - . - Never let it be said I was good with words =P LoL I'm very touched and glad you like the fic, and very happy you reviewed!!
Tangled Junky--Aww, I'm so glad you like it.. I wanted to keep it kinda emotion-filled and interesting.. seems like i'm at least partially succeeding in doing so =.D
PsychoBunni-- Wow! Thanks for the numerous reviews..LOL. I appreciate all of them, and hope you enjoyed this chapter =.D :hug:
ABC Gurl--Hehe, I'm glad ya liked the dream thingy... and lmao, I know what ya mean.. I love him all sexy n evil.. hopefully we'll be seeing him return to that soon enough ::grins::
chibi duo--Woohoo! I'm so happy you're enjoying it! =.D And yer not sick! I loove evil too.. I came so close to goin' all the way with.. "that scene"...lol. But that woulda been wrong and sick...hehehe. and forget harry and the tag-alongs!! Lol j/k.. they're okay.. or at least they will be ::grins::
amazing-jax--aww, thank you! :hug:
OtAkU--Yay, I'm glad you liked chapter 5.. I was kinda happy with it too ::grins:: Lol. Hmm, yes, her headache was impart due to the candies starting to subside as well as just the sheer exhaustion of the whole situation.. I know I get a headache sometimes when I'm overly exhausted.. and after a good cry, both of which Usagi experienced. Thanks a lot for the review, hope you enjoyed this chapter as well =.D
hely--aww.. I'm glad you took the time to review, especially since you don't normally do so.. Thank you!!
Ryui and Gokuru-chan--Yay!! I'm so glad you like the stories that much.. that truly makes me feel very happy =.D I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
-----
{INCENTIVE! lol..}
NEXT TIME ON...Desiring Need!
Draco and Usagi begin to explore the possibility of a relationship.. What is this.. a date!? Harry and Hermione attempt to resolve things into a more amiable level and restore their friendship back to its original state, but can things ever go back to the way they were? Will Draco figure out if he holds more than just a physical attraction for Usagi? Will they ever work out, or are they simply too odly matched..? Find out in next time's episode, "Rapture!"
