AN: So, if you haven't taken a look at my homepage, or whatever its called on this site, I've been dealing with some serious and time consuming issues lately. But I have returned. I love this story, and I refuse to let it sit here unfinished. I will be writing everyday, forcing myself to get something out. I will break this writer's block. Feedback would be nice, but it isn't required. Review if you wish, but most importantly enjoy.
Vanessa, Astoria, and Daphne sat uncomfortably close as more and more people began to crowd into the Hog's Head inn. Vanessa began to feel a bit claustrophobic as three more Ravenclaws piled into the compact space, all cramming to get a good seat. She was sure that they weren't hear for anything more than to harass Harry with questions about Lord Voldemort's supposed return. Of course, half the people around her were here for the very same thing. At least they had a reason.
"What are we doing here anyway?" asked Daphne in a rather annoyed fashion, her normal calm exterior broken.
"You know, Ethan didn't really do a great job at explaining what this is all about anyway." said Astoria, leaning into her sister and Vanessa, who cast a disapproving look at an eavesdropping Hufflepuff.
"Well, from what he told me, Hermione didn't say much more than it would help us with our O.W.L.'s."
said Vanessa, keeping her voice low as she surveyed the room. The Hog's Head inn wasn't the most attractive spot that could've been picked.
"Oh if this is some kind of damn study group I'm out of here." said Astoria, her nostrils suddenly flaring. Daphne rolled her eyes, "Honestly Tori, you really think a study group would attract this much attention and also be kept such a secret?" Astoria stuck her glove covered finger in between her teeth and tugged it off her hand, "I don't know, perhaps. And don't call me Tori."
Vanessa pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she counted the people in the room, some familiar faces and some not. Fred and George Weasley cut their way through the crowd, handing Vanessa, Astoria, and Daphne glasses of Butterbeer, "Thanks guys." Astoria didn't hesitate as she took a large gulp, foam coating her upper lip.
"Don't mention it." said Fred
"Figured you'd need it."laughed George.
"Yeah, especially with the lot you've got to deal with later." Vanessa scrunched her face in confusion, "What you mean by that?" Astoria elbowed Vanessa, "They mean that we're the only Slytherins here, and you know they'll hate us for this."
"They already hate us." stated Daphne, looking torn between amusement and dismay. Out of the three, Daphne was the most uncomfortable with this fact.
Both boys mocked sadness with ugly pouts, "Quite a loss for you all, isn't it?"
"Yeah, couldn't imagine what it's like to be disliked by them."
"Oh it's dreadful, really." moaned Astoria as she took another gulp of Butterbeer. The twins took the seats directly in front of them, "I think they like us."
"Oh honestly, Astoria. You don't have to like someone for them to be nice to you."
"All right. Let me rephrase that, I think they like you two." Vanessa slapped her point finger to her lips in an attempt to shush Astoria, but the boys had already turned around with the same sly grin.
"Actually, you're wrong."
"We think you're hideous."
"We just brought you those because we felt bad." All three girls kicked the backs of Fred and George's chairs giving them a good jolt. Vanessa giggled into her cup as Fred began to imitate a troll, but her giggling was cut short by Hermione standing up from her seat.
"Er...Welcome everyone!" said Hermione in a shaky, unusually high, voice. Her eyes were darting around the room like a feral animal locked inside a cage. Vanessa and Hermione's eyes met for a moment, and Vanessa offered the best supportive smile she could muster. A few awkward seconds ticked by before Hermione started up again, "Er, well...you all know why we're here. Or, well, Harry had the idea-" Harry shot Hermione a look that made her voice jump, "I mean, I thought we should er have some kind of training."
"We didn't come here just to listen to her stammer I hope." growled Daphne in a hushed voice. Vanessa cut her eyes at Daphne before turning them back on Hermione. Vanessa fidgeted in her seat, the second hand embarrassment growing stronger. "Something for those of us who'd actually like to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts, not the ridiculous curriculum Umbridge is teaching. I mean really learn defensive spells, not just read about them." Hermione seemed to be picking up steam, becoming much more comfortable. "Because you can't call that Defense Against the Dark Arts. We're never going to learn how to defend ourselves by reviewing models in textbooks."
"Hear, hear!" called a sandy blonde headed boy in front of Neville.
"So is this some kind of club for those who want to learn defensive spells?" asked Astoria loudly.
"Well, yes." stated Hermione,
"Knowing Granger, this will turn into some study group. This is just about passing O.W.L's, isn't it?" said a rather haughty boy in the corner of the room who seemed very suspicious of Hermione.
"Who doesn't want to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. ?" asked Hermione rather heatedly, "But this is much bigger than that. We need to learn defensive magic because...well..." Hermione searched the room for courage, "Lord Voldemort is back."
Vanessa couldn't contain the gasp that erupted from her mouth. One girl spit butterbeer all over her friend's boots. The Patil threw their hands over their mouths as they faced one another. Daphne, Astoria, and Vanessa all looked towards one another, wild eyed and gaping mouths. But as soon as they had turned to one another, all eyes had found their way to one person: Harry. Harry, who looked quite uncomfortable, shifted his eyes all around the room, anywhere except for the eyes staring at him.
"Well, we were thinking-" Hermione stopped again, urged by Harry's glance, "I was thinking, perhaps we should form a club. If, that is, anyone wants to join us."
"Where's the proof You-Know-Who is back?" asked that blonde-haired boy again. Vanessa scoffed at him, to which he replied with a nasty glance her way.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore believes..." Hermione was interrupted.
"No. He believes him." he sneered Harry's way. "Does he have any proof?"
"Yeah, of course he does. Didn't you hear he got his autograph?" quipped Vanessa. Perhaps it was her lack of sleep that had made her fuse so short that day, but she really did not feel like listening to this kid mouthing off.
"Don't think I was asking you, Cunningham." Vanessa turned her head around so fast her neck popped,
"I don't know who you think you're talking to like that-" Daphne grabbed a hold of Vanessa's wrist, Astoria had her jaw locked as she began to growl obscenities as this unknown boy, the old barman had stopped washing the filthy glasses, and Fred and George were turning their chairs around with eager smiles on their faces.
"Who the hell are you anyway?" asked Ron loudly.
"Zacharias Smith" said the no longer unknown boy, "I think I've got every right to know what makes him say You-Know-Who is back."
"If everyone could just calm down," said Hermione at once, her eyebrows raised at Vanessa, "This is not the time or place for that-"
"No. It's okay, Hermione." said Harry.
Immediately, the room fell silent, Vanessa forgot the anger that had just been coursing through her veins, the Weasley twins had swiveled around their seats. All eyes were on Harry.
Vanessa felt guilty as Harry stood up before the small crowd. Of course she wanted to know what really happened. Like everyone there, she had her own selfish reasons for being there. Regardless of the fact that she was Harry's friend, she was still fascinated by what had happened to him that night. She had tried not to let that fascination show itself, but that day was the exception.
"You asked why I say You-Know-Who is back." Harry started, "Well, I saw him. But you've already been told that. If you can't believe Dumbledore, you'll never believe me. I'm not going to waste anymore time trying to convince you."
The room had become deathly silent, and the tension had risen a few levels. No one dared break the silence. Well, almost no one.
"The only thing Dumbledore said was that Cedric Diggory was killed by You-Know-Who, and that you brought back his body. He didn't give any details as to what happened. How do you expect us to believe that without any details?" asked Zacharias callously.
"Why would you want details of a murder?" asked Astoria, her head tilted up in disgust.
"If you came here to hear about what it's like to watch someone be murder by You-Know-Who, you might as well leave now!" fired Harry, casting an angry glare at Zacharias and the people huddled close to him.
Vanessa expected Zacharias to leave in a huff, causing a ruckus as he did so, but to her surprise and dismay he remained in his seat. His cheeks were beginning to darken as he loudly thumped his back against his seat. He and Harry glared at one another for what felt like ages before Hermione interrupted the silence, "So...if anyone wants to learn defensive magic...er...then we need to plan out when and where we can meet up."
"Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm?" called a girl with large blue eyes in the back of the room.
"Well, yes." said Harry.
"A full bodied Patronus?" asked Susan Bones.
"Yes, a stag."
"Wicked." said Astoria, "I wonder what mine would be." she asked herself aloud.
"That's something we'd be learning in our meetings-"interjected Hermione, trying to keep things on subject.
"Blimey, Harry. Didn't know you could do that." said Dean, who seemed thoroughly impressed. Vanessa too, was impressed. She'd tried to produce a Patronus a few times and never got anything more than mist.
"Is it true that you killed the basilisk with the sword that's in Dumbledore's office?" asked another boy up front."
"Yeah, I did. How did you know?" asked Harry suspiciously.
Harry never got an answer, but was more thoroughly interrogated about his abilities and feats. Vanessa noticed as Harry nearly bounced out of his seat as Cho praised him for getting through the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament.
"Look, it all sounds great when you put it that way." said Harry as he shifted in his seat, "I didn't get through it all alone. Honestly, I'm not just trying to be modest-"
"Yes he is." interrupted Hermione.
"No, I always had help."
"Not with that dragon last year! You were all by yourself there." said Neville supportively.
"Okay, yeah, but I-"
"Are you trying to weasel of showing us this?" asked Zacharias once again. Vanessa and Astoria both groaned at the sound of his voice.
"Here's a wild idea, how about you shut your mouth?" asked Ron loudly.
Nearly everyone applauded at this idea.
"Well what are we here for if he's saying he can't even do half the stuff he's supposedly done?"
"That's not what he said." snarled George.
"Supposedly? What the hell are you going on about?" asked Vanessa heatedly.
"Oh shut it, Cunningham.-"
"Tell me to shut it one more time Smith, and I'll hex you so bad your own mother won't recognize you." threatened Vanessa.
"I think you might want to listen to that one. You should've seen what she did to Pansy Parkinson last year!" yelled Daphne, who was now trying to take Vanessa's wand from her.
"No, keep running your mouth. Let things get interesting." said Fred through a smirk that would've made Malfoy jealous.
"Anyway!" said Hermione, "Anyone have any ideas of where we could meet?"
"But he still hasn't-"
"SHUT IT!" yelled Vanessa, Astoria, Daphne, Fred, and George.
Vanessa slipped her wand back into the pocket of her coat. It was best to keep it out of her reach for now, otherwise she'd be having to explain why Zacharias looked like a beached squid. She could feel her hands shaking against he thighs, her foot tapping incessantly on the leg of her chair. She kept her eyes forward, on Harry and Hermione, but she could feel Zacharias burning holes into her. Vanessa wanted nothing more than to shove her way over to him and pop him across the face. But then she would be in trouble. Her anger had already landed her in enough trouble over the last five years. Most of the time she was pretty level headed and calm, but when something struck a nerve, it struck hard.
"Well, we'll find somewhere to practice. Just keep your eyes peeled for something." said Hermione optimistically. She placed her bag in her lap as she rummaged around for something. She pulled out a piece of bare parchment, a quill, and small vial of ink.
"Everyone, you can write your names down here. Just so we know who all was here." Hermione stopped to take a breath, "But I also think that we should agree to not tell anyone else, especially Umbridge!"
As the paper started to be passed around, Daphne tugged on Vanessa's coat, "What? I'm not going to hex him-"
"No, it's not that." Daphne hesitated, "I'm not sure I want to sign that."
Vanessa's brows met in the middle, "Why on earth not? I thought you of all people would love to do this."
Daphne bowed her head a little lower, "It's just that, you know, what if our parents find out. They still don't know you're friends with them."
The Greengrass's were, like the Malfoy family, an old well known pureblood family. And they most certainly were not interested in their two daughters being friends with muggleborns and halfbloods.
"Mum and Dad will get over it. It's not like they're supporters of You-Know-Who." replied Astoria, giving her sister an urging look.
"I know that, but I'm a little hesitant to join something like this-"
"Why? Don't you want to learn defensive magic?" asked Vanessa.
"Of course, but-"
"Then you should join. Just come to the first few meetings, and if you don't like it, stop going." said Vanessa. Daphne shifted her eyes between Astoria and Vanessa. Her weary expression didn't lift by the time the parchment came around, and with a last glance at her sister, she slowly signed it. Vanessa nudged her in the side, a smile spreading across her face.
"Thank you, Daph." said Vanessa as she gave her signature, then passing it to Astoria.
"Besides, what would it be without me?" inquired Daphne.
"I was prepared to forge your signature if you weren't going to do it yourself." laughed Astoria, "So thank you for not making me do that."
"Now come on, let's get out of here before that Zacharias bloke says something else to set Vanessa off."
said Daphne, half joking. Vanessa pulled her beanie over her head, throwing the Zacharias boy a nasty look before they left.
"Could you believe the way he talked to me?" asked Vanessa incredulously. Daphne laughed as she held open the door for the three of them, the cold nearly knocking them back in.
"He's an ass." said Daphne, letting the door slam behind them.
"Although, it was nice to see your feisty side." chuckled Astoria, mocking Vanessa's wild-eyed angry face.
"At least I didn't do anything." said Vanessa, wrapping her arms around herself. "Besides, it's not like I was the one out of line."
Daphne started laughing too, "You're really not in a good mood today, are you?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes, "And who says I'm not in a good mood?"
Astoria cleared her throat, "If you tell me to shut it once more, I'll hex you so bad your mother won't recognize you!"
Vanessa snorted, "Oh, so I should just let that foul little wart of a boy speak to me that way. Pathetic little Hufflepuff."
Daphne and Astoria giggled, "What? WHAT?"
Astoria laughed harder at this, "Tell me- tell me, ha ha! Tell me how you really feel."
Vanessa let herself relax a bit more. Hearing herself get all wound up about one dumb boy was actually a little funny. "Look, all I'm saying is today is not the day to tell me to shut it."
"Oh, don't worry. I won't be saying a damn thing." said Daphne, hands raised defensively. Vanessa hooked her arms on Daphne and Astoria,
"I would never go off on you two like that."
"Unless we said something like that." said Astoria
"No, if you said something like that to me I'd just start apologizing and crying." laughed Vanessa.
"Like hell you would." retorted Astoria.
"No, I believe it. It's the same thing I do whenever you and I fight." smiled Daphne.
Thankfully, fights weren't a common thing amongst them. Sure, disagreements happened, but fights were few and far between. Neither of them had a problem with confrontation, but amongst one another, that was a different story. If a fight broke out, it was only a matter of time that one of them would take the blame and apologize.
"We need to learn how to have a proper fight then." proposed Astoria.
"Well perhaps this little club will teach us some spells to practice on one another." grinned Vanessa.
Vanessa had her feet tucked beneath her as her unfinished essay sat before her. It was nearly midnight, but she couldn't sleep until the essay was done. She had procrastinated all day, and this was her punishment. Everyone else was asleep, and Astoria's snoring was getting irritating so Vanessa made herself at home in the common room. The last of the sixth years had left only an hour ago, and Vanessa sat in silence, shifting through her notes as she tried to make everything in her essay fit just right. She ran a hand through her hair, her fingers catching in a knot at the end of her long tangled hair.
"Damn." groaned Vanessa as she attempted to untangle the knot, only to end up accidentally pulling out a few strands of hair.
"You know that's awful to do to your hair." Vanessa jerked up so hard she knocked her unfinished essay onto the ground. Thank Merlin she hadn't put her ink on the couch with her. She turned towards the voice, somewhat stunned that he was actually there.
"What are you doing here Mr. Malfoy?" asked Vanessa.
"Back to the formalities, are we my dear?" Lucius quietly asked, inching closer to her. Vanessa looked back towards the staircase and around the room, "I just don't want anyone to think-"
"Think what?" asked Lucius, inclining his head towards her.
"Well, it would be inappropriate for me to call you by your first name." replied Vanessa, her eyes beginning to wander over his towering form. His hair was tied back, allowing his strong jaw to be on full display. He seemed under dressed, as compared to his usual multiple layers of well tailored clothes.
"Oh, it would, wouldn't it?" smirked Lucius, "But it's much more pleasant when you do so."
Vanessa felt as though she were injected with boiling water. Her skin began to tingle and warm as he crept closer to her, seemingly unconcerned about the possibility of anyone seeing them.
"What are you doing up at this hour, Vanessa." inquired Lucius, as he took a few more steps closer. He was standing perhaps two feet from her now. She instantly realized that her essay was still lying on the floor. She quickly picked them up and placed them in her lap, "I was finishing my essay for Charms." replied Vanessa. She hesitated a moment before asking, "What are you doing up at this hour, Lucius?"
He smiled slyly as he closed the distance between himself and Vanessa, "Charms? I've been told that you're one of Professor Flitwick's favorites. Is that so?"
A grin split her mouth, "Well I wouldn't go that far, but I do very well in Charms."
Vanessa felt her stomach flip as Lucius stood just a few inches before her. His gaze was unrelenting. "But you aren't answering my question. Why are you up?" repeated Vanessa, hoping she didn't sound nosy. She was relieved when she saw him chuckle.
"Persistent one. But it's quite funny you were down here because I had intended on leaving this under your door." he extended a note to her, which she took at once, dragging her nail underneath the slip.
"It's a request." Vanessa smiled as she quickly read the note,
"Nothing would please me more if you would accompany me to a dinner on Thursday night at nine. Dress formally." She placed the note down on her lap, and offered Lucius a kind smile, "Nothing would please me more, Lucius." said Vanessa coyly.
Lucius grinned down at her, "See how much better that sounds, pet." Vanessa blushed under his gaze, fidgeting on her feet. Lucius offered his hand, "It is much too late for you to be up. Don't you have Divination early?" Vanessa giggled as she took his hand.
"It's Divination. If I sleep through it, I'm hardly missing much." quipped Vanessa. Lucius tutted down at her, "That's such a terrible thing to say about such an important class." The two smiled impishly together.
"When you say formally, do you mean a dress?" asked Vanessa. She immediately realized what an incredibly stupid question that was.
"Yes, perhaps that black dress you wore a few days ago." said Lucius, who, now that she was close enough, looked as though he could use a good night's rest.
"Liked that, did you?"asked Vanessa, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it anyway.
"As a matter of fact I do like it." replied Lucius, bowing his head to her. Vanessa knew that at any moment a random student could walk down the staircase and see her and Lucius, but she didn't care. Her attention was instead focused on how warm his hand was, and how all she wanted was to get even closer to him. The space was killing her.
"I find it fascinating that only a moment ago you were worried that someone would hear you saying my first name, yet you seem very at ease now." Lucius chuckled as he moved his hand from hers up to her arm, running up to her shoulder before grasping her wrist. Vanessa seemed to be in a trance, fixed on his gray eyes and nothing else, her body relaxing into him. He had this strange affect on her, a kind of calm that she had seldom experienced. He was a warm cup of tea on a winter day. His other hand had found her face, and she turned her cheek into his palm, taking in the smell of his expensive cologne before opening her eyes. He was studying her, as though she were a potion he was brewing. Was he stirring everything the right way? Had he added the right ingredients?
"You are something." said Lucius, still watching he carefully. Vanessa was unsure what he meant by that, and creased her brows at his statement. Lucius reassured her with a smile, one of his rare genuine smiles. Vanessa placed her hand on his chest and slid it up to the curve of his shoulder as she kissed him, closing what space was between them. Lucius responded with urgency, his hand that once held so firmly to her wrist now gripped her hip. His lips were warm and soft against her own, and as she become more and more comfortable, Vanessa pressed her body fully against his, her instincts taking over. A surge of electricity went through her as he parted her pout with his tongue. She didn't hesitate to allow him entrance, and purred with pleasure as his tongue found hers. Her essay lay long forgotten as Lucius continue his invasion of her mouth, with one swipe of his tongue at a time.
"Hey, Nessa!" Lucius and Vanessa broke apart almost instantly at the sound of Astoria's voice. As Vanessa came down from her high, she had the sudden realization that Astoria was headed down the stairs. Oh she could've killed Astoria for interrupting that. Before Vanessa could call Astoria off, Lucius pressed his lips against hers once again, for one brief moment. As he pulled away, he whispered, "Thursday, nine o'clock. Good night, Vanessa." He smiled coyly as his tongue, that he just moments ago been on hers, licked over his bottom lip.
"Good night." whispered Vanessa dreamily.
Lucius moved swiftly across the room, and out of the common room and out of Astoria's sight. As soon as the common room door shut, Astoria jumped the last step, "You done with your essay yet?" she asked before a yawn.
"I could kill you." growled Vanessa.
AN: Hope you all enjoyed it. Please be kind in the reviews, but please DO review! Until next time!