Title: Ties That Bind
Author: Chiyo Javaid
Warnings: Slash (guy on guy ... eventually), coarse language and Character Death.
Summary: What happens, when you live in a world where nothing is as it seems. When everythingyou once believed was a lie? You get Serpens Malfoy's life, of course. SLASH.
Note: I'd actually resolved to not post again for a week, but it's easter, and I'm getting so far ahead it's kind of ridiculous! (Once I post this, I'm back to writing chapter six!) S, as a treat, here's chapter four. I'm also putting it up, becuse it explain som of the things that have been confusing people. So here we go!
Disclaimer: My arm glitters ...
Beta: I am looking for a beta. Someone who will read over my work, correct any mistakes in spelling and such, and give me constructive criticism. They need to be good at spelling and grammar, be open-minded (this is a Slash, after all) and be patient. Also, a sense of humour would be nice, lol. If anyone's interested, either PM me, or drop a line by review. Thanks.
chapter four
heartfelt talks and breakfast
Serpens was still fuming when they finally made it up the stairs and into his room. Pansy was sobbing quietly, partly over her stinging cheek, but mainly because of the way Serpens had stood up for her back at the Malfoy's. She knew Narcissa was acting not out of malice, but out of shock, and it didn't happen often that Narcissa was so shocked she was reduced to anger, but even then, for Serpens to defend her like that … so was the power of love for your intended. She wished it was the right kind of love, but she knew he saw her as nothing but a true friend, and a sister. She hadn't been joking when she decided he was gay, no matter how much he tried to deny it.
"Are you okay?" he said, putting his hand over hers, inspecting the mark. "Would you like anything for that?"
Pansy shook her head. Serpens was just turning away when she spoke.
"Thank you," she whispered. "But you didn't need to do that."
"Yes, I did. No one deserves that kind of treatment. You were only trying to make everything better – to give them back something they never had, and to give me something I had only ever dreamed of," he said matter-of-factly. Pansy smiled weakly, tears threatening to fill over again.
"I know you're upset, Serp," she said. "Stop trying to hide it."
"I'm not the one crying here," Serp said.
"Point," Pansy nodded. "But I know how much the prospect of having a family for once in your life excited you. You can cry if you want."
And Serpens did just that. Pansy didn't say anything, just hugged him tightly, crying herself. Later, she did not mock him for it. He had needed that little crying session, and she knew he felt better for it.
Serpens awoke to fin himself and Pansy lying in his bed, with an amused Tom standing over them. "Have fun, did we?" he said, with a raised eyebrow and a toothless grin. Serpens yawned.
"Whatever you want, Tom," he said, removing his arm from Pansy's waist. It may look like something else, but there wasn't anything to it. But Serpens was smart enough to never say it out loud. Pansy had described the purpose of an intended, and the bind they held.
It had gone out of fashion because people, mainly muggleborns, believed that it was pretty much stripping a child of its choice, and pairing them with someone deemed suitable by the parents. This idea was only reinforced by the way purebloods used it to ensure their magical potency. Because back then, it was believed that muggleborns were weak and their magic even weaker. Purebloods believed that putting a pureblood with another pureblood ensured the potency of their line. That is, until Squibs started popping up in even the most powerful of lines.
An intended was pretty much your 'soul mate'. They were chosen very carefully and were compatible with you in every way.
Most of the time. There was the odd couple that, instead of creating the desired effect – love, compatibility, and passion, etcetera, it inspired other feelings, such as hatred, and pretty much the complete opposite. Sometimes, it made no difference at all. And you had to work on it. The spell only did so much. It drew you together, and compelled you to get to know one another. A lot of the time, it invoked love, and some such things, sometimes all that came out of it, was friendship. Sometimes, it created enemies. This meant that the feelings were true. They had just been helped along to a degree.
Although Pansy seemed to think that she loved him in that way, Serpens knew better. He knew that there was certainly a crush, but nothing that wouldn't pass. Her stronger feelings were caused by the separation, though it hadn't been complete, as he had always been close enough for her not to go insane, but it was enough to make her feel alone, and without love. It might take a while, but after enough time, she would eventually lose that feeling, and they would be nothing more than friends.
He hoped. Because he didn't want her to go through any more pain than necessary.
"Serpens?" Pansy murmured, shifting slightly.
"Yes, Pan?" he said.
"Zee. And get me some breakfast. Not cooked," she said, closing her eyes again and pulling the blankets over her. Serpens grinned.
"Yes, ma'am!" he said happily, saluting.
Down in the bar, Serpens was getting breakfast for the two of them, when he was interrupted.
"This isn't a trick, is it?"
Serpens turned around to see Draco Malfoy, staring at him with wide grey eyes. Serpens glared. "Come to take a swipe at Pan, too, have you?" he snarled, fists clenching. Draco took a step back as if he himself, had been slapped.
"No!" he said, shaking his head vigorously. Serpens took a closer look at him and noticed the very badly concealed, dark circles under Draco's eyes. He must not have slept that night. "You know, she was crying for hours afterwards," he said quietly, looking down at the floor. "Pansy has always been a part of our family, she just … lost control. No one's mentioned you since I was told that I even had a twin. And that was Artemis-"
"Who is Artemis?" Serpens cried out in frustration. "I keep hearing about her, yet all I know is she's supposedly my sister! But I'd never even heard of her before the start of this week!"
"Artemis is my … our older sister. You won't have heard of her because, while she's only five years older, she went to Beauxbatons. She didn't want to be in the same school as Dumbledore," Draco explained. "She was the one who told me, because neither Mother, nor Father would tell me anything, so she did. She remembers you. But she doesn't know you're alive yet. She got back home this morning and has been trying to figure out what's wrong with Mother. I have a feeling we'll be hearing from her soon."
Serpens nodded, satisfied. "What does she look like?"
"Mother, so she kind of looks like you actually, but her hair is shorter," said Draco, nodding to Serpens' shoulder length hair. Serpens grinned.
"Pan says I look adorable," he said, with an over-exaggerated sniff. Draco smirked, but it faded almost instantly.
"How is she?" he asked urgently. Serpens shrugged.
"Physically, she's fine. Emotionally … she's a bit shocked and … hurt."
Draco winced. "I'll bet," he murmured. "Can I see her?"
"What makes you think she's here?" Serpens said, crossing his arms over his chest. Draco smirked again.
"One, you wouldn't let her out of your sight, not after what happened, two, because I say so, and three, you're getting breakfast for two," he said, pointing out to the two bowls of cereal.
"What makes you think they aren't both mine?"
"You're too skinny."
"I could be trying to fix that, you know."
"You're gay," Draco said, with no kind of malice or disgust. He said as if he were merely stating a fact.
Serpens threw his hands up in despair. "Why does everyone keep saying that?" he cried. Draco shrugged.
"Just a feeling, but, can I?"
"Ugh, fine, Dray – or do you want me to call you 'Co'?" said Serpens. Draco looked at him questioningly, but Serpens merely shook his head. "Come on …"
They were just about to ascend the stairs, when a voice stopped them.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, just what do you think you are doing?"
They turned to see a pale, pretty girl striding up to them. Her hair was cut to her chin, and was super-layered, sticking out in almost every direction. Her silvery grey eyes flashed as she came to a stand still. "I wanted to come with you," she whined after a moments pause.
Well, Serpens at least knew who Artemis Malfoy was.
"Heya, Serp," she added, before poking Draco in the chest.
"You left me alone with them!" she moaned. "How could you, Draco?"
"I'd spent the whole night with them, Miska," Draco pointed out, and Artemis huffed. "Besides, you're twenty-one, you can handle anything!"
"Shut up."
"Miska?" Serpens said.
"Figure it out," Artemis shrugged, and Draco sniggered.
"Wow, so this is what having siblings feels like," Serpens said with a shake of his head. "I've been missing out on so much …"
"Oh, you know you love us," Draco said good-naturedly.
"That's debatable," Artemis said, giving Draco a scrutinizing look. He glared at her, and Serpens laughed.
"Come on," he said. "Pan'll kill me if I don't bring you up anytime soon."
"Believe it," said Artemis.
"So you're the culprit!!" Serpens cried. "Pan!" he yelled, racing up the stairs. "I win!"
Note: I like easter and all, but the easter bunny makes no sense.I believe in the Easter Chicken! He's a special chicken who's eggs he lys are made of chocolate! But the Easter Bunny is his evil cousin, who steals all the egss and started delivering them n easter, leading people to beliee in him, but I know better ...
It just makes more sense!
No reviews this tgime around, sadly. I did post only yesterday after all ...
- Chiyo, xx.
(Why is it that around any holiday where I get lots of chocolate, I never seem to like to stuff until afterwards?)
