Web: DaphneMillicent

Word Count: 605

The common room is all but empty. Only Millicent sits on the sofa, seemingly lost in thought as she reads. Daphne takes a deep breath. She's practiced everything she wants to say, but she's far from flawless, and her hands tremble as she approaches.

"Care for a drink?" she asks, holding up the bottle of wine.

Millicent looks up, then looks around like there could be anyone else for Daphne to talk to. When she seems to realize that they are the only ones not at the Yule Ball, her cheeks glow an embarrassed pink. She clears her throat. "Where did you get that?"

Daphne grins and makes her way closer. She sits down beside Millicent. "The kitchens." She pops the cork out and offers the other girl an apologetic smile. "I didn't think to get glasses. Hope you don't mind."

Millicent doesn't seem to care. She accepts the bottle and takes a deep drink. "What do you want?" she asks.

Daphne takes the bottle back and sips on it for a few seconds. The faint burn of it feels good, and it keeps her from panicking. She takes a deep breath. Why do her words seem to fail her when she needs them the most?

"I love you."

It's out now, and there's no way to take it back. That should bother her, but she can't bring herself to care. What's the worst that could happen? Her parents are progressive enough that her bisexuality won't bother them if rumors fly. She's cemented her own popularity well enough that this could never affect her.

"You're insane." Millicent grabs the bottle again and takes another drink. When she hands it back, she leans back and closes her eyes for a moment. "Who put you up to it?"

The question breaks Daphne's heart. Millicent has had her fair share of bullies. Even members of their own House have had horribly nasty things to say about her. Has it truly left such a devastating mark on her? Does she really believe she isn't worthy of love and acceptance?

Daphne shakes her head. She's admired the other girl since second year.

"I mean it."

Millicent sits up straight, her jaw clenching. She leans forward, slumping over and exhaling heavily. "You can't," she says. "They'll talk."

"I don't care what other people think, Millicent. All I care about is us." Daphne takes a deep breath. She sets the wine on the table and reaches out, taking the other girl by the hand. "Let people talk. They're only human, after all."

Silence hangs between them, and Daphne hates it. She wants nothing more than to skip to the ending so that she can have her happily ever after.

"Why me?"

Daphne smiles. "Because there's something about you that makes me happy." She moves closer, and her heart races painfully in her chest. "I figure that's a perfectly good reason."

Her hand trembles as she rests it on the back of Millicent's head and guides her closer. Their lips meet, and Daphne thinks that she might melt. It feels like every moment of her life has lead up to this moment, like everything has prepared her for this kiss.

"What if we aren't meant to be?" Millicent murmurs between kisses.

"Doesn't matter. I'll have you as long as you want me."

Deep down, Daphne knows they aren't made to last. In the end, they will fall apart, and nothing can stop that from happening.

But she means it. It doesn't matter where life takes them and how they change. In this moment, they have each other, and that is more than enough.