WARNING: Slash ahead.
Chapter 14:
Being on the Hogwarts train had been horrible without Ginny. Blaise was constantly reminded of her presence, and it took all of his willpower not to seek out the small redhead. Draco, had gone to sleep the moment he had taken a seat next to Daphne in the Slytherins compartment, and had been no help whatsoever.
Feeling Pansy's eyes on him, he looked over to see her sitting beside Vince, and staring.
"May I help you?" Blaise asked quietly, aware that Draco was not the only one asleep, and that Theo was watching him with interest in his dark eyes.
"Yes." Pansy spoke firmly, and reached down to thread her fingers through Vince's, holding his hand tightly. "You and Draco can stop being complete arseholes."
Blaise raised a dark eyebrow sardonically, "Language." She grinned at him dangerously, showing sparkling white teeth, and he shifted a little away from her. Pansy scared him.
"You miss her." She spoke simply, and Blaise sighed in relief that it wasn't anything worse, "He misses her too, even though he won't admit it." Pansy jerked her thumb in Draco's direction.
Blaise narrowed his navy eyes, and looked away, not really in the mood to discuss Ginny. He could feel her down the train, and it was hard to realize that even now, they still had that strong a bond.
"Ignore me all you like, you know I'm right." Pansy leaned against Vince, who placed a soft kiss on her forehead. No longer welcome with his family since they had caught word of their relationship, Vince had been invited by Pansy's mother to their home for the holidays, and honestly, he had never looked forward to Christmas more.
"You are completely irritating now that you're in love and happy, you know that, right?" Blaise threw at her with a smirk.
Stroking her thumb across Vince's knuckles, Pansy grinned in return, "I'm surprisingly ok with it."
He laughed softly, genuinely happy for his meddling friend, and braced his feet against the seat opposite in an effort to stretch out his leg muscles, and gain some vestige of sleep.
All too soon, Draco was shaking Blaise gently in an effort to wake him up. "We're here Blaise." He spoke quietly, sending shivers through the still not-quite-awake boy before he remembered that he was angry at Draco.
Blaise sat up stiffly, and turned away from the blonde Slytherin, with the excuse that he needed to put on his robe. Draco watched his lover with hurt evident in his mercury eyes, before also turning away. He caught the eye of Theo who was smirking, and glared slightly, satisfied when the other Slytherin turned away.
Pansy watched the entire exchange with derision. Boys were so stupid sometimes was the only thing she could think of, before walking out of the compartment with Vince following close behind.
Arriving at the Savoy had been equally tense. Draco had no idea what was going on, but he thought that Blaise was acting like a child, and he refused to indulge him.
Draco wandered into one of the large bedroom, the hotel's manager trailing behind him. "As you can see, you have two bedrooms with luxurious king-sized beds, and two en-suite washing rooms."
The blonde took in everything with a critical eye, before nodding slightly, and waving the hovering man off, all with the inherent air of one who knows wealth and power. As the man turned to leave the suite, Blaise tucked a wad of pounds into his hand. "Thank you for all of your help."
Needless to say, Blaise and Draco were treated with kid gloves by the hotel staff after that.
A few evenings later, they had gone out, speaking only when necessary, and had ended up at a large, exclusive, Muggle dance club. Staying at opposite ends of the club, Blaise and Draco had both danced and drank to an extreme before Draco had decided to make a move.
Blaise closed his eyes and threw his arms out, dancing wildly, almost daring those around him to join in. Seeing a tall female staring at him with heavy-lidded eyes, he turned to her, and held out his hand with a smirk. She was instantly pulled into his chest, and whirled around.
Feeling his skin sizzle, Blaise smiled drunkenly as he felt Draco getting closer. While drunk, Blaise had a hard time keeping his shields up, and Draco knew it well. A shaft of desire ripped through him, and he was at the point where he didn't care if it was from him, or his lover who had just placed his hands on Blaise's tight waist.
Draco pushed his hips into Blaise aggressively, his hands finding the bottom of the white t-shirt that just met the low-slung leather pants that the shorter boy was wearing. Feeling himself harden, Draco brought one hand up to shift Blaise's almost shoulder length hair to one side to run his tongue up the cord of his strong neck.
Blaise moaned, and the girl who was still dancing squeaked lightly when his fingers tightened on her. He let her go to lean back into Draco's embrace, arching his back to press himself closer.
Tracing patterns on Blaise's abs, Draco continued dancing, his jeans tightening painfully against Blaise's hard behind. The girl watched them with desire, they looked like angels who had fallen for all the right reasons.
Draco lowered his bright head back again to where Blaise's t-shirt exposed the spot where neck met shoulder, and delicately bit there, grinning as he heard Blaise gasp in surprise and pleasure. Laving attention on the spot with his tongue, Draco traced the waist of the soft leather, letting his fingers drift just under to feel the silky skin there.
Almost panting from Draco's ministrations, Blaise shuddered as he felt his lover's long fingers graze the front of his pants, a touch so fleeting that if he hadn't known better, he would have sworn was accidental.
"Tease." Blaise all but whimpered, as they continued to move to the music. He was rewarded by Draco's low laughter.
Growling low in his throat, Draco reacted to Blaise maneuvering his arm behind his back, and between where their two bodies were pressed closely together. He firmly stroked the hardness he found there, causing Draco to lurch forward again, pushing his hand right down the front of Blaise's tight pants to stroke the hardness he found there.
"I want you…" Draco murmured, trailing his lips up Blaise's neck to nibble on his sensitive earlobe. Blaise shivered at the contact, and nodded jerkily.
Grabbing Blaise's hand firmly, Draco turned and pulled him off the dance floor behind him. Pulling his wand out of his back pocket, Blaise cast a quick surreptitious disillusionment charm over both of them, and followed Draco eagerly, well aware of what was going to happen.
As they made their way further into the labyrinth of hallways within the large club, Blaise took advantage of the relative quietness, and pushed Draco against the stone wall, pressing himself tightly against the taller male's strong back.
Draco hurriedly undid his belt and almost ripped his zipper off the denim to get his pants open as Blaise assaulted his neck and cheek with hungry lips. Feeling Draco trembling, Blaise roughly pushed his jeans off his hips, and reached around to cup his hard cock with one hand, the other reaching up to tightly pinch aroused, flat, male nipples through the thin cotton of his shirt.
Dizzy with desire, Draco moaned tightly as he felt, rather than heard, Blaise mutter a few words, and then the tip of his hardness pressing forward past the tight ring of muscle, well oiled by Blaise's spells. Blaise groaned out loud as he felt the tightness, and it was almost painful for him to go slowly to allow Draco to get used to his presence. Breathing heavily, feeling beads of sweat making their way down his back under his shirt, Blaise paused when he was completely seated.
Resting his forehead on the cool stone, Draco whimpered as Blaise stroked his hand up and down his hard cock, and then started to move gently out, before starting a firm rhythm that caused Draco to arch his back into Blaise's heat. He pushed back, demanding without words that Blaise go faster.
Drunken Muggles stumbled past, not noticing the two wizards moaning, and moving against each other in the public hallway.
Blaise bit his lip as he felt closer and closer, and he sped up the movements of his hand and hips, and grasped Draco tightly around the waist with his free arm. Draco cried out, not even recognizing his own needy tones, and he shuddered violently as he climaxed.
Feeling Draco's muscles contracting around his length, Blaise sank his teeth into the side of Draco's neck as he followed closely. Blaise sighed as he leaned against Draco's back, hugging him tightly, trying to catch his breath. It took a long time for both of them to be able to walk on legs with still-shaking muscles, and then leave the club for the hotel.
Blaise rubbed a plush towel through his dark hair later that evening, feeling how it was starting to curl now that he had allowed it to grow longer than usual. Wandering into the luxurious bedroom, he saw that Draco was fast asleep in the middle of the large bed. Typical. That boy could sleep through anything.
He pulled on his black silk pajama bottoms, and ran a hand roughly through his hair to comb it into some sort of semblance.
Blaise's sleep patterns had improved exponentially since he had gotten sick, despite the fact that he was not yet tired that particular evening. He was down to using the dreamless sleep potion to every other night, but it had helped.
Being away from Savvy Zabini, and Zabini Manor for that length of time had done wonders for his sense of security. Knowing that Zabini Manor now technically belonged to him when he had turned seventeen was something that he had decided to push to the back of his mind until he left school.
Draco and Blaise had been having an interesting time in Muggle London so far. It was awkward, and tense, due to what Luna had told Blaise, but which he had not had the courage to confront Draco with. It was so unlike him not to bring something like that up, but he was too afraid of losing Draco too. Unless he counted what had happened earlier in the night, but he couldn't bring himself to regret that, even when the weak Muggle alcoholic haze had worn off.
Draco had seemed to realize that something was wrong, but he had not brought it up, instead choosing to act as normal as possible. They had been to all of the finest restaurants, and clubs, all without really talking to one another.
Heartily disgusted with his lack of courage in actually talking to his lover, Blaise traced his scars absent-mindedly, unable to see them due to the glamour, but still able to feel the raised edges. Blaise stared at Draco's prone form intently.
Asleep on his front, Draco's pale back rose and fell as he breathed, his legs sprawled with the linens. Blaise sighed, and turned to find a t-shirt, and watch the teevee that was located in the living room. It was absolutely incredible what Muggles found to be entertainment.
Glancing automatically at the elevator door, Blaise wandered through the room to find a comfortable spot on the couch, the plasteeq wand clutched in one hand. Remembering the look on the hotel manager's face when he had been asked to explain how the teevee worked to the two teenagers, Blaise grinned slightly.
Settling in, Blaise wondered what was different. Something was… off. He turned to look at the elevator doors again, and spotted it. Scrambling off the couch, he strode closer for a better look. Yes, that was a shock of bright red curls.
Ginny Weasley was fast asleep on the carpet just outside the wards he had set up a few days prior, her hair fanned out over her shoulders and knees. He knelt beside her small form, and brushed a tendril of her hair off of her delicate face, and lifted her against his chest.
"Blaise…" She sighed in her sleep, nuzzling her face into his neck as he stood. Blaise felt something inside of him clench at the familiar feel and smell of the girl in his arms.
Realizing just how long she must have been stuck between the elevator and the wars, Blaise stared at her too-pale face which was slightly pinched with stress. Knowing what a deep sleeper she was, and realizing just how much he had missed her, he brought her into the bedroom, and laid her down beside the still-sleeping Draco, climbing in on her other side to pull her into his arms.
Though asleep, Draco turned to her small body, and draped his arm across her hips in a possessive squeeze. Blaise fell asleep feeling at peace for the first time in far too long.
Ginny was having the most wonderful dream. She felt like she had come home.
--
Fred woke up on Christmas morning, and reached for his fiancé with one arm, only opening his bleary eyes to see that she was not in bed with him when his hand encountered nothing but a pillow. His fiancé… he loved that. Realizing that she was currently in France with her family, he groaned, and flopped back into bed.
He woke up an hour later, this time taking note that he was back in his and George's old room at the Burrow. Funny that Mara's absence had registered before the fact that he was not in his own flat. Grinning at how incredibly sappy he was becoming, he sat up to find George staring at him with an evil grin.
"What?" He looked at his twin suspiciously, brushing his short red hair off his forehead impatiently. George's hair now floated just short of his shoulders, generally tied back with a leather thong, and he lamented briefly the fact that they were no longer completely identical in appearance. It was the end of an era.
"You missed me heading downstairs, to be interrogated about my lack of a girlfriend, and where exactly Ginny was." George studied his nails innocently, "I may have mentioned that you and Mara had an engagement party already with all of our friends."
"What?" Fred stared at him in horror, "That's not even true!"
"Has that ever stopped either of us before?"
Thinking for a moment, Fred's shoulders sagged, "No."
George grinned, "I love that you got engaged."
"So glad you're gaining amusement from my major life decision." Fred glared at him before stretching his arms over his head, wincing as his shoulders popped, and his back ached from the small, old bed. "I need to leave at about noon to go see Mara in France. We should head down for breakfast."
"Oh, I'm not going back down there. Mum's on the warpath now." George crossed his legs at the ankles, and leaned back against the wall on his bed opposite Fred's. "Can I come to Mara's with you?"
"I believe fuck no sums up my feelings about that idea." Fred's answer was said with ill-humour as he stumbled out of bed, and started searching for the change of clothes he had brought over the night before, "I want to make a good impression."
"Fair enough." Tapping his fingers on his thigh, George watched his twin thoughtfully.
They were becoming more and more different as they got older, and it felt like sometimes Fred was leaving him behind. He couldn't begrudge him, however, he was so happy. It was somewhat bitter sweet however, because it highlighted just how dissatisfied George was becoming with his own life.
George's mind drifted to Padma as he thought about his life. Pushing the tall, dark haired girl out of his thoughts aggressively, he wondered when playing the field had gotten old.
Cursing under his breath, George flopped back on his bed, and stared at the watermarks, and cracks that marred the white surface of the ceiling. At least they no longer kept WWW merchandise stacked in their childhood room, it had started to feel claustrophobic.
Hearing an incessant knocking at their one small window, George turned his head slightly to see an unfamiliar owl flittering around out in the cold air, tapping at the glass.
"I'm not getting up." Fred warned, rolling over and sticking his head under his pillow. His twin sighed, and stumbled out of his bed, kicking Fred's mattress on his way over, and let the owl fly in.
"Oi!" George heard the yelp from beneath the pillow as he watched the bird fly around the room in mad circles close to the ceiling. Finally, a letter was dropped onto George's bed, and the owl made a rather grand exit after flapping it's wings in George's face. Muttering to himself about tempermental birds who would taste like chicken, George closed the door behind it.
"Well, don't I feel popular all of a sudden." George murmured to himself as he picked up the envelope, breaking the seal carefully, before inhaling sharply at the contents, and the sender.
George,
I'm not sure exactly what to say. This is more than a little awkward, and I'm glad I'm not in Gryffindor, because I feel like a coward because I could not bring myself to come see you, or floo you.
I like you. I've liked you for awhile now. And not just because you're Ginny's brother, just so we're clear. Actually, if anything, that would hold me back, but well… ok, I'm going off-tangent. I like you. I want to know if you want to go out with me at some point. It's ok if I'm too late, I just don't want to have any regrets.
I also promise I won't call you a red buffoon again, even if I think you sometimes deserve it.
Merry Christmas.
Padma.
Carefully folding the heavy paper back up, George laid back on his bed to again contemplate the ceiling. He had not expected that development.
George hopped out of bed, and leaned over to shake Fred, "Come on! You're coming downstairs with me this time."
"Bugger that."
"Presents." Fred shot out of bed at that word, a big smile curving his lips, "Let's go!"
--
Ginny woke up disoriented, with the uncomfortable feeling of having slept in her clothes. She stretched languorously, stopping abruptly when her hand met with warm skin. Slowly, she looked up, to find that she was lying within Draco's loose embrace. Instinctively, she turned her head, to find Blaise laying behind her on his stomache, hugging his pillow tightly. It was oddly endearing.
Sitting up, Ginny pushed her wild hair behind her shoulders, and slid down to the bottom of the bed to avoid waking the Slytherins, determined to find the water closet before thinking about her current situation.
After making use of the facilities, Ginny stood in the opulent bathroom, and stared at her reflection in resignation. She was much too pale still, and her hair looked like it had been struck with lightning. Knowing that she was avoiding thinking about the two men still asleep in the large bed through the door to her right, she slowly ran a comb that was lying beside the sink through her hair.
Adjusting her dress against her hips, she squared her shoulders and tried to gather up some courage that she just knew she had. Sitting on the closed seat of the loo, she faced facts. Her courage was completely used up at this point. Glumly, she wondered if Harry ever hid from Voldemort in the loo.
Having woken up when Ginny had left the bed, Blaise sat resting against the padded headboard, and stared at the door, waiting for Ginny to emerge. Checking the small, elegant clock that was placed on the dresser, Blaise sighed as ten minutes passed. Then twenty.
Pulling on his bathrobe against the slight chill in the room, Blaise got out of bed and made his way to the door, the open robe floating in a black cloud behind him, his bare chest gleaming in the sunlight. A quiet alohamora had the lock springing into action, and he quietly made his way into the smaller room.
Ginny looked up as the door opened, and she watched Blaise approach with wide eyes. He frowned as he saw the weariness there, the timid expression making him long for the Ginny he knew, instead of this stranger.
She stared down at the tiled floor as he crouched in front of her, making her legs spread slightly to accommodate him. Blaise rested his hands gently on the sides of her face, and forced her to look at him, their eyes level.
"Hi." He spoke so quietly, that she was only sure of his words by watching his full lips. "I missed you."
"I missed you." Ginny matched his tone, her hands clenched tightly together on her thighs, almost touching the skin of his chest. Blaise stroked his thumbs lightly over her cheeks, feeling the soft skin there.
"I don't know why you came last night." He looked intently into her bright eyes, searching for something, "I don't really care, to be honest. I'm just glad you're here."
Ginny smiled, a slow, true smile, "So am I. Merry Christmas, Blaise." She leaned forward to brush a kiss against his lips. Blaise slid his hands through her hair to cup the back of her head, and held her close as he slowly took over, lips touching over and over in the lightest of touches. He reveled in the familiar, and yet different taste of her, the way that she responded to him.
Sighing against his lips which she had missed so much, Ginny pulled back slightly to stare at him again. "We all need to talk. We all have something that needs to be said."
"I know." He massaged the back of her neck gently. "Look, why don't you have a bath, while I wake up Draco and get some breakfast for all of us."
Ginny nodded her acquiescence, and leaned forward to kiss him once more. Blaise smiled at her gently, before standing up to lean over and run the taps in the large bathtub. Kissing her once more, he turned and left her alone in the room.
Blaise knelt on the edge of bed, and braced himself over Draco with one hand to kiss the lips softened by sleep. This had no affect on Draco's deep slumber, so he leaned forward again to bite the base of his pale neck, right beside where a dark bruise had formed from his ministrations the night before.
Draco came awake with a groan, and reached for a hastily retreating Blaise, "Oh come on!"
Grinning at Draco's grumblings, Blaise looked over at him as he made his way to the tellyphone, "Get up."
Flopping onto his front, Draco tried to go back to bed, but the sound of water splashing caught his attention, "Blaise, is someone in the bathroom?" He looked over at the dark haired boy by raising his head.
On the plastic handle, ordering a small feast of breakfast foods, Blaise simply held up a hand, indicating that Draco should leave him alone as he discussed the benefits of pancakes.
Draco frowned at the brush off, and pulled himself out of bed to investigate. Striding to the adjoining bathroom, completely unmindful of his own nudity, Draco opened the door, and slowly took in the sight of the small redhead amid the bubbles in the bathtub.
At the slight whisper of the door opening, Ginny looked over her shoulder to see Draco staring at her expressionlessly. Fighting back the surge of apprehension, she stared back, determined to not look away first.
Not breaking her stare, Draco walked almost hesitantly to the side of the tub, and sat down on the porcelain edge beside her head. "Red."
Ginny closed her eyes at the sound of the familiar nickname, her shoulders loosing tension that she hadn't even realized was there. She opened them again to see Draco still staring at her intently, and that he was completely naked. Swallowing against a suddenly dry throat, she looked forward, trying not to focus on all of that pale skin.
"Move forward." He spoke with such familiar authority, that Ginny glared at him out of sheer habit of never doing exactly what he wanted until he asked the right way. Draco sighed, falling back into the familiar, and much missed routine, "Please baby?"
Ginny grinned to herself, and slid forward, feeling Draco climbing into the water behind her, his legs sliding against her own, his hands pulling her back against his chest until she was comfortable settled in the vee of his hips. She leaned her head back, feeling his chin resting on her hair.
"I thought I had dreamt that you were here last night." He said conversationally, sprawling his arms along the edges of the tub negligently.
"Was it a good dream?" Ginny had no idea what to with her hands, but she couldn't let him see just how nervous she was, so clenching them on her stomache was out of the question. She settled on letting her arms relax to her sides, her fingers resting gently on his legs just above the knees. Draco tensed momentarily at her touch, before forcing himself to relax. "Yes."
Ginny nodded at his answer, and silence settled over them, the two former lovers both afraid to speak and say something that might ruin the quiet moment. Finally, the silence was broken only when Draco reached for the soft sponge, and lathered it with the expensive soap that the hotel provided. He ran it slowly up her arm, covering her skin in the white suds in a move that was both arousing and relaxing.
Allowing him to gently bathe her, Ginny leaned into him and let her mind drift at his soothing touch. She had almost forgotten just how amazing Draco could be with his hands when he felt like it. He gave the best massages too…
"Sit up." Ginny started at the softly given instruction, and this time didn't stop to glare at him, but obeyed, and got the pleasure of him running the soft material down her back, followed by stroking fingers that soothed her muscles.
Draco pulled her back into him, and carefully wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly to him. She brought her smaller hands up to hold onto his, feeling his fingers thread through her own and hold on firmly. Pulling their joined hands up, she kissed his knuckles before letting it drift back down to rest on her collarbone.
Closing his eyes, Draco breathed in the smell of lavender bath bubbles, and Ginny. She always smelled lightly of vanilla, but also her own indefinable scent all of her own. His arms tightened in an effort to never let her go again. "Merry Christmas, Ginny."
Blaise stood in the doorframe watching the two people who meant the most to him, silently forgiving each other. They each had so much to talk about, but for this moment, it felt like everything was perfect. Happiness quaked through him at the image that they presented, and he was loath to break it, but his rumbling stomache needed to have it's say.
"Breakfast is going to be here any moment." Draco glanced over at him, a golden eyebrow raised at the interruption. Ginny looked over Draco's shoulder, and grinned slyly at Blaise, "I don't think I'm completely clean, but oh well…" She sighed melodramatically, and stood up as Draco groaned at the sight of her nakedness just an inch from his own body.
Grinning back at her, Blaise grabbed a plush towel from the shelf, and walked forward to enfold her within it. He helped her out of the tub, and looked back at Draco as they exited into the bedroom, "Come on, you don't want the food to get cold, right?"
Draco groaned again, and leaned his head back.
A/N: I completely wrote the final chapter, and then decided to break it in two. I want to get the first chapter of "Reflect You" (sequel) finished, and then put that, plus the final chapter of "Complicate You" up at the same time, just so you all have some idea of how my crazy mind works.
I also keep forgetting to mention it, but yes, the chapter titles are taken from 'Closer' by Nine Inch Nails, which is a HOT song. Love it.
Thank you again to everyone who's been reviewing, I love reading what you think! I just wanted bring your attention to an HP awards site for all pairings and such in fanfics (called Quill to Parchment. I can't put the link here, this site won't allow it. It is on my profile though, so check it out when you get a chance!). I nominated a few writers (Airmid should check out the pending when she gets a chance!) and anyone whose interested should definitely go and check out the nominees. There are some AWESOME fics up there! Honestly, I wouldn't mention it if I didn't think it.
Ok, enough of that. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR READING, and hopefully reviewing, and making my day. : )
FYI - the formatting for this chapter is so completely messed up, and I apologize. When I upload, it does something really weird. I tried uploading multilple times, and then I had to resort to fixing it after uploading, and that doesn't always look pretty. Again, sorry.