Matters of Circumstance
Disclaimer: Do seriously you think JK would sue me if I forgot to write a disclaimer?
(A/N: This is not beta-ed, and it's certainly not my best, but it is the best I could come up with in just a few hours =0S Stupid school…)
Story Info:
House: Slytherin
Challenge: Six (August 16th to August 23th)
Character: Penelope Clearwater (Ravenclaw)
"He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day."
- Ginny Weasley on Penelope and Percy
STAND TOO CLOSE
He is late.
Again.
So I can't really be blamed for the words that come out of my mouth as he comes to a stop in front of me.
"Do you love me?" The words are slow to come, and I regret them as soon as they're out of my mouth and his face starts changing color, almost matching his hair. His hands are trembling as he reaches out to intertwine his fingers with mine.
Does he love me?
Do I really want to know the answer to that question?
What if he doesn't? What then?
He pulls me into one of the empty classrooms along the corridor slowly, and the glance he sends back in my direction is enough to make my heart miss a beat. I can't believe I just asked that, I just ruined everything. So what if he doesn't love me? He's not supposed to. I'm not really his girlfriend, just a girl he likes to make out with every once in a while.
And now, we're standing facing each other, my hand still held in his, the door to the classroom closed behind us.
"I do." After such a long, awkward pause I wasn't even expecting an answer. And certainly not the one I'd just gotten. He did love me. I take in a sharp breath and glance over at him, my cheeks scarlet. A smile nervously crosses my lips and I'm too stunned to say anything.
His breath is on my lips then, and I quiver a bit at the odd sensation. It's like having your first kiss all over again. Does love always make things this complicated? He's moving so slowly, I can see him just a breath away from my face, his nose is grazing mine… but our lips don't touch. And I don't dare move to speed it up. His scarlet hair is in his eyes, but that doesn't make his gaze any less intense. I can barely breathe, and then, he's kissing me – his lips pressing against mine softly.
The kiss goes on for a long period of time, and I'm lost in it. His lips are so sweet; they taste of cinnamon and apple, and – for some reason – remind me of Christmas.
"Percy!" I can't remember hearing the door open, but then again – I wouldn't have been able to notice anything outside of him and me. I still can't get over the fact that he loves me. But when I turn around and see his little sister standing there my heart skips a beat again – we're doomed.
"Ginny?" Percy looks flustered for a few seconds before he adopts a strange posture. The change is so radical and startling you would never guess it was the same person standing there. "It's after curfew, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm not the one making out in an empty classroom after curfew," Ginny replies easily before skipping out of the classroom, humming under her breath, leaving both of us staring after her like a pair of idiots.