Natalia and Harry both knew it was well past the school's curfew, but also knew that due to Harry's status as the resident hero nothing would really happen. So before heading off to sleep for class the next morning they took a quick trip to the tree by the now frozen lake. The cold was evident but Harry wrapped his arms around the smaller girl in front of him, and Natalia placed her hands over his in an attempt to help him warm up though it was no use seeing as how she was about half his size in all around stature. Harry laughed at her attempt to keep him warm and placed a kiss on her cheek.
"You're an angel, you know that?" Natalia grinned cheekily and turned her head to quickly peck his lips.
"Only for you darling." He laughed and rested his chin on her shoulder as they neared the old tree filled with memories that were beginning to clear out the all the bad times Harry could think of.
Slowly Harry began to deny the war, the blood, the death that had surrounded him for so long as he let himself become enraptured by the Italian goddess in his grasp.
Natalia herself was beginning to create the illusion of a perfect life with Harry, one free of blood ties, expectations, and most of all free of forced marriages. Resting her head on Harry's chest, Natalia closed her eyes as she felt sleep beckoning her yet she didn't want to leave Harry, didn't want to face the reality that she was leaving to Italy in three days time to sign her life away to a man she didn't want to marry, and be forced to bear his seed.
She couldn't think of it, she refused to sleep in a bed with a man that had spent so many nights in the bed of other women. Natalia loved Draco yes, but she would never again be in love with him. He had left her wounded and tainted for so long, left her feeling like a worthless girl, not ever the young woman she was.
Harry gave her that and more, he made her feel like the world was at her whim.
Even if it was only him.
She smirked slightly at the thought of his devotion to her at times. She found it sweet that he would dote on her so much, that he had just met her but had let her in his heart so quickly. Natalia knew it probably wasn't the easiest thing to do, therefore it made her love Harry even more.
Though she had yet to tell her boyfriend.
Natalia wasn't sure what compelled her to keep her feelings for him inside when she was almost positive he felt the same. And if their little act in the hotel room earlier hadn't proven it to her then she didn't know what would. But still there was a nagging inside that told her to wait just a little more at least until after the winter break, because maybe if something happens then maybe just maybe it wouldn't hurt as much when he left her. She wished she could stay with him over the winter break, wherever it was that he was going, she wanted to be with him.
Natalia knew it couldn't be though, that he would spend his holiday with the people he had been with since he started school. That Harry would probably not think of her when he was with his surrogate family, he would probably deny her if anyone asked. Natalia knew this was so, that as much as he may care for her that he would hurt her because it was apparently an easy thing to do.
Being unfaithful to her.
Feeling the tears brimming her eyes, Natalia forced herself to get angry, to tell herself that Harry was just a toy for the time being and that if he used her there would be hell to pay.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to get angry, instead she withdrew into herself even more. Wondering what her faults were, and why she was so easy to hurt. What was it exactly that told men, the second she opens her heart, it was OK to crush it.
She didn't understand.
Harry noticed the way Natalia seemed to draw into herself like she had been doing lately and when he sat down on the grass, his back to against the tree trunk, he turned the Italian girl so she faced him. Her knees on either sides of his hips while her hands lay limply on his stomach.
She didn't look him in the eye, much rather Natalia examined the buttons of his shirt and the emblem of his house over his breast pocket, her hair shielding her eyes from his view.
Harry sighed and brushed away her thick charcoal locks away from her face, cupping her cheek he gently pushed her face up until she had no other choice but to look him in the eye. He saw the way Natalia instantly hid her emotions from him, how that fearful look of uncertainty turned to one unreadable expression that Harry decided he rather didn't like. Harry ran his thumb over her cheek caressing it lightly, reveling in the soft silky skin that tempted him every day.
"What's wrong Natalia?" Natalia grinned widely and laughed.
"Why would anything be wrong?" Harry knew the answer and smile were her way of veering away from something that was bothering her and gave Natalia a tired look.
"Why are you lying?" Still Natalia continued.
"Are you sure something isn't wrong with you? Because I'm perfect love." Natalia's words didn't ring true, and the way her lip trembled slightly made Harry sigh.
"I can't help you if you don't tell me what's bothering you, do you regret tonight?" Natalia looked up at him with doe eyes and shook her head.
"That is one thing I will never regret."
"Then what is it Natalia? Like I told you at the hotel, we're going to figure a way out of this, we will, don't you worry about that. Do you seriously think I'd hand you off to someone like Malfoy so easily?" Harry said with a smirk, Natalia only gave a small laugh and shrugged, looking down at her hands she replied.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you did." Confused and slightly offended Harry ran his hand down her face, gripping her chin lightly bringing her face back up to meet his.
"Now why would I ever do something like that?" His eyes were somewhat hard, telling Natalia that she may have stepped over the line with that last comment, but she didn't care and just shrugged her shoulders again and looked off to the side, observing the Forbidden Forest.
"It's not a difficult thing to do I would assume, to use me then leave me." Natalia's words were harsher than intended and she bit her tongue to keep from speaking anymore. She felt her eyes beginning to sting with unshed tears, Harry's eyes while still confused, were no longer harsh. His eyes shone with concern as he turned his head to look her in the eye.
"Don't you ever think I'd do something like that, I'm not Malfoy and I wouldn't hurt you, Natalia you have no idea how much you mean to me, how much good you've brought into my life. Merlin, how could you ever think I would do anything other than love you?" Natalia felt tears rolling down her face and her voice was cracking as she spoke.
"Excuse me?" Harry wiped the fallen tears and cupped her face with both hands, he gave her such a look of adoration that Natalia could feel her heart constricting and swelling altogether.
He kissed her lips gently, pouring his emotions into that one sole kiss. Natalia could feel the tears running down her face as she placed her hands over Harry's and returned the kiss with the same tenderness and emotion. She couldn't understand though, why someone like Harry who had been hurt so much by so many was giving her his love so easily. Natalia couldn't understand why she had guarded her pathetic heart so long, if this had been the reward for opening it in the first place. She had known the pain of doing such a thing, but she had been much too much of a coward to open it more than once.
Harry though, Harry had lost his parents, had been an unwanted member in his uncle's family, had been betrayed, had lost what little members of his family he had left. He had lost his dream girl and been forced to endure watching the murders of countless friends, foes, and allies, but none of that stopped him from giving her his heart.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks with no remorse, and Natalia didn't care she moved her hands from on top of his and cupped her boyfriend's face trying hard not to sob as they continued to kiss.
Harry was the first to pull away.
"Why are you crying Natalia?" Try as she might to stop crying she couldn't so she just placed her lips back over his and kissed him again, praying to god that she had heard right and that this wasn't a dream that he loved her like she loved him, that even though the future was unclear he loved her regardless and would fight for her and that she was worth something. Harry grinned into the kiss and wrapped his arms around the girl in his lap.
Natalia pulled back and smiled through her tears.
"Promise me."
"Promise what?" Harry asked as he cleaned her tears, wondering how she could look so beautiful even with the tears running down her face and her eyes red from the crying.
"That you.... That you...."
"Love you?" Harry said with an amused grin.
"Yes, do you really love me Harry? I don't want to believe you just so that you'll end up lying, don't tell me you love me because you feel it's what I need to hear, and don't just say the words because you think you're supposed to. I can't handle that Harry, I'm not strong, I'm not at all, I can't love you and wind up being heartbroken again. My heart is more fragile than I care to admit Harry, because god Harry, I love you, I love you so much." Natalia admitted as felt herself begin to cry again.
Harry pressed his cheek to her cold wet one and nuzzled her face gently.
"I promise you that I love you more than words can admit, that I've loved you for a while and that I can't honestly say when it was that I fell in love because time with you is a standstill, and I also promise that I'll do my best to never hurt you, I won't make you cry and I won't ever lie to you. Trust me with your heart Natalia, I promise I won't let you down." Wrapping her arms around Harry's neck tightly, she cried into the crook of his neck, being soothed by the hands that rubbed her back soothingly and rhythmically.
It didn't take long for the Ravenclaw girl to fall asleep, dead to the world even the handsome Gryffindor whom she was sitting on top of. Harry couldn't help but to feel a twinge of anger towards Malfoy for doing what he had to Natalia, it was plain to see she had loved him more than she let on and that he hurt her more than even she knew. Natalia wasn't weak like she believed herself to be though, she was right in protecting herself from anymore pain, no one deserved to be used like she had, to be abused in such a manner. Though the girl who clung tightly to his shirt was sleeping soundly, Harry pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and whispered into her ear.
"I love you Natalia Zabini, and one day I'm going to marry you." He promised her, as he realized that he couldn't wake her, but that they much less couldn't stay out here all night they'd die of pneumonia for sure.
"Oh Bullocks." Harry groaned.
Hermione had left the room immediately after her second tryst with Draco, she had decided to go to her one and only refuge.
The library of course.
She had been there for hours, skipping dinner and her nightly rounds. Madam Pince had allowed her to stay as long as she needed unsure of what was wrong with the girl. Hermione hadn't cracked open a book, hadn't moved from her spot on the recliner towards the end of the library away from most everyone. She had simply come in and sat down, a blank look on her face as she tried to understand what control it was that Draco "ferret faced" Malfoy had over her. Why could he push her buttons just so, that it made her lose control? He had the amazing ability to make her feel so just downright sinful and good, then with the blink of an eye make her life hell and belittle her self-worth within minutes.
She wanted to figure out Draco Malfoy with every bit of her soul, wanted to know what it was exactly that was going on in his mind that made him think he could do as he pleased with her.
For the second time that day, Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes, and for the second time that day they were at the hand of the one boy she swore she hated with all her heart.
To say Draco Malfoy was confused would be a lie, pissed beyond belief yes, disgusted with himself beyond words, of course! Ashamed at having touched the filthy mudblood again, always.
But not confused.
He had left the room and been pacing back and forth for hours, had taken a hot shower scrubbing his skin raw trying to get Hermione out of his senses.
Granger.
Granger, not Hermione, never Hermione.
If he began thinking of her as Hermione he may even start to like the girl, and if that were to happen then all hell would break loose.
After freezing over of course.
He wasn't Natalia, he wasn't looking for love, Draco wasn't looking for anything from any member of the Golden Trio much less that wasteful emotion. Draco knew there was no such thing as the storybook romance that all simple girls wanted, and it came as no surprise that his Natalia would want the same. The cold eyed boy knew of course that Natalia wasn't his per say, but she had been once and as such would always be a part of him. Yet for the first time in a long time, the raven haired Italian princess was not the girl making his mind run rampant.
It was a buck toothed, frizz haired, low maintenance hag by the name of Hermione Jane Granger.
She was tormenting him with her simple ways, the way she didn't seem to notice or care what she was wearing, that her hair was a crime against humanity. The way she looked like a goddess when she was strewn in the heat of passion. It was all so absolutely insane!
He was supposed to be the one driving the girl insane not doing so himself.
This is what drove Draco to his friend's dorm in the middle of the night, it was well past midnight when Draco had finally come out of his dorm, her saw Granger's door closed and took only some gratification in the fact that she was probably crying over her precious virtue and the fact that he had taken her so many times already.
But the glory was short lived as he nervously knocked on his friend's door, it took Blaise some time before he decided to get up and answer the door and Draco could hear the angry ranting in Italian by the boy on the other side. This brought only a small smile of entertainment to the boy's face as Blaise answered the door.
"Draco? What time is it? Are you insane?"
"No, but I think I'm getting there." Raising an eyebrow the groggy Italian knew that Draco had something he needed to get off his chest and held open the door ushering his English friend in.
"Hurry up before I change my mind." Grateful at the less than amicable invitation Draco stepped in and shook his head, unsure of what his friend would say to his confessions yet he knew if there was anyone he could tell it was his only true friend.
"Well, first of all I blame this entirely on Natalia." Rolling his eyes and letting out a small amused laugh Blaise shook his head.
"That seems about right, what did she do to you now?"
"It's more so what I'm doing now because of her." Raising an inquisitive eyebrow at his friend the chocolate eyed boy said nothing merely waited for Draco to continue. "I'm shagging Granger." The pale skinned boy didn't have the nerve to look up at his friend.
Harry had finally lifted both the sleeping girl and himself up off the ground after what felt like an eternity. It was clear to see that Natalia was no delicate princess as one might assume, she was as dead as a log and though Harry tried to wake her up once he didn't have the heart to try again as she whimpered softly and held on to him tighter.
He was a sucker for a nice pair of lips.
Especially ones that pouted as beautifully as hers.
Smirking and rolling his eyes it had taken Harry various tries before finally lifting up off the ground without waking Natalia whom he was currently carrying into the school, she shivered slightly and held on tightly to her boyfriend as she let out a small sigh and snuggled into Harry's body as he brought her closer to him, one hand under her knees the other around her back as her own arms rested on her stomach and her head on his chest.
Once in the school Harry let out a tired breath as he rested against a wall and looked down at Natalia whose face seemed to be in a worried pout, she began to stir and Harry quickly kissed her and hushed her.
"It's OK I'm taking you back to the dorm." Trying to find it in her to argue and say that she should go alone, the small girl merely looked at up Harry feeling helpless and shook her head trying to break free of his hold, but her chivalrous Gryffindor boyfriend merely held her tighter and warned.
"Either you get carried like a princess or a sack of potatoes you choose." Pouting angrily Natalia huffed and looked straight ahead, to which Harry laughed and kissed her pouting lips lovingly. "I love it when you pout, you look beautiful."
"So I don't look beautiful any other time is that it Potter?" Her voice a groggy whisper as she settled back into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her long manicured nails through his scalp slowly causing shivers to breakout throughout Harry as he kissed her again and muttered against her mouth.
"I never said that, a blind man could fall in love with your beauty and your all mine." He said rather possessively as he once again stood and continued the walk to the Ravenclaw dorms.
Natalia rested contentedly in his arms her head in the crook of his neck as she thought herself lucky to have Harry as hers and no one else's. It didn't take long for the couple to make it to door Harry was all too familiar with. The bronze eagle knocker there he looked at Natalia as the normally inanimate object asked them. "How can one be happy?" The couple looked at each other and simultaneously answered.
"You choose to be."
"The situations that happen in one's life." Looking at each other suspiciously Natalia asked Harry.
"What do you mean because of what happens? Things always happen, Harry, but if you don't choose to be happy then you never can be."
"Well Natalia, how can you choose to be happy if you have nothing to make you happy? It would be like asking a blind man to read, telling a person to just be happy it doesn't work like that."
"But why would you give people or events such a power over your happiness? If you don't have it in you to be happy of your own accord and you only depend on others for happiness then you will never be happy." Raising an eyebrow Harry felt himself to get angry as he asked.
"So what are you trying to tell me Natalia? That I should just forget about everything I've dealt with and all the people I lost and just decide to be happy?" Shaking her head rather angrily, the small girl had no chance to reply as the door opened and the current Headmistress walked out.
"What I do believe Miss Zabini is trying to tell your Potter is that, whilst things may happen no matter how terrible they are you must never allow them to consume you to the point of misery, while Harry is trying to explain to you Natalia that people are of importance in one's life and that they can bring an indefinable amount of good to your life as well making your happiness all the much better." Both teenagers looked at each other with sheepish smiles. "Now what do tell are both of you doing out of bed and in the halls at these hours of the night, or shall I say morning?" A knowing smile on the elder woman's face as Natalia quickly said.
"We needed to talk."
"At 3 in the morning?"
"I was urgent Madame." The transfer student said with a serious look, Natalia had always been good at worming out of situations so she assumed this would be no different.
"Well Natalia, I'm not sure how things worked while you were at school in Italy but here at Hogwarts rules are not meant to be broken." Casting a glance at Harry she smirked and added. "Well lest not we get caught breaking them." Harry felt a smile spread across his features as he apologized quickly and bid Natalia good-night.
"Mr. Potter, can I actually have a word with you, I'm sure Filius won't mind if we step into his office." The young couple stared at each other confused before Harry placed a hand on the small of Natalia's back and nudged her inside. "Miss Zabini I'm sure you need your rest after all, just because you had a late night doesn't mean you'll be excused from classes." Nodding Natalia walked to the stairs that led up to the girl's dorms and waved good-bye to her boyfriend who grinned and when the Headmistress disappeared into the office he walked to her quickly and gave her a quick kiss before whispering in her ear.
"Just so you know, the reason I choose to be happy is because you make me happier then I've been in a very long time." Blushing, the young girl kissed him back and murmured to him.
"Well then you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me and I've never been happier, I never thought one person could do that for me." Kissing him again she whispered. "You should go I'll see you in the morning." After one last kiss was shared between the two the small girl took her leave as Harry slowly walked into the Ravenclaw's office to find a very upset headmistress sitting in a chair behind the desk.
"You wished to speak to me Headmistress?" Harry asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets and waited for McConnagall's wrath to make its appearance.
It had taken Hermione hours to get her emotions under control, yet even though she had cried her eyes dry and had the worst headache she could ever remember the girl was nowhere near being clear minded, just exhausted and in dire need of sleep.
So grudgingly, Hermione stood from her spot on the recliner and lagged out of the library. She was well aware of the hour as a rather long yawn escaped her lips and she stretched tiredly before continuing her lazy stroll to the heads dormitory for much needed sleep, she reminded herself to put up several locking wards on her doors to keep anymore incidents from happening.
The honey haired lioness was halfway up the stairs when stirring from the corner of her eye caught her attention and instinctively she shouted out.
"Stupefy!" Cautiously walking to the tall body that had been caught off guard Hermione felt her headache increase tenfold as she saw the familiar ginger tinted locks, lifting the spell she wasted no time in asking "Ronald what are you doing out at these hours?"
"Same could be asked of you Hermione." Rolling her eyes Hermione reminded her ex.
"I'm a Head, so do well to remember that and mind your manners when you speak to me, now I'll ask you once and once alone, what are you doing here at this hour?" It was clear to see Ron was not pleased at being told what to do.
"Harry's gone, he never came back up after dinner and I'm just worried."
"Harry is fine, he probably just needed to get away, honestly how much social interaction would you want after having to deal with the things he's had to?"
"I've been there with him since day one! Don't belittle what you or I saw just simply because you worship the guy."
"I'd rather worship him, than pretend I'm just as good!"Ron felt his short fuse ignite and he knew this argument wouldn't end good.
"We all went through hell don't you understand?! I just know how to forget easier, it's not my problem if both of you look to get attention by being the suffering war heroes!" He yelled as he began to stalk towards her feeling his anger begin to snap and get the better of him. Hermione saw this but didn't flinch or show the slightest sight of fear as she retorted.
"And you'd like to play the war hero that shags all the slags!"
"You knew what was happening so don't throw that shite out!"
"How dare you say I knew! How could I have known if you never told me arse!" At this Ron grabbed Hermione and shook her rather violently.
"Don't act stupid, it doesn't work! You knew I was ready to take the next step with you but all you ever focused on was school or Harry." His best friend's name rolled off Ron's tongue like venom as he continued his tirade.
"Bloody hell, half the time I thought you wanted to fuck Harry not me! You're a fucking tease Hermione, a bitch and I don't know why I ever wanted to be with you. You're nothing, just a brainiac who got lucky when two guys took pity on her." Hermione seethed but could do nothing she was trapped by Ron who had both her arms in a death grip as he shook her every time he spoke.
"200 points from Gryffindor for assault on a student, another hundred because it's a head and 50 just for being a downright prick!" She ended this by spitting at Ron who by now was seeing red as he threw her against a wall and pinned her by the throat, but instead of feeling fear, Hermione felt downright rage as she did her best to fight back the tall boy who was slowly cutting off her oxygen.
It was when her vision started to fade to black that Hermione knew Ron wasn't in a right state of mind. That was when fear began to trickle down her spine as she gasped for breath and her fighting was with him but for him to stop and let her breathe, but her ex was so far gone with anger that he did nothing but push his forearm into her throat even more and it was then that Hermione felt everything fade to black, before suddenly feeling a rush of air in her lungs and instead of wondering what happened she dropped to her knees and gasped for air.
It was when she saw a black pair of shoes in front of her that she looked up to meet cold gray eyes and instead of being fearful or thankful all Hermione could say was.
"You killed him didn't you?"