Hey! This chapter isn't terribly long, but... Well, you'll see. And I hope you'll like it! (:

Chapter Eight

For the most of the rest of the year, one would never have been able to guess that anything like that had ever been done by Antonin Dolohov. He resumed his cool, collected air around me; we were friendly in a cautious sort of way, and most of the time he came across as more condescending than anything.

Still, I'd tucked the experience away in the back of my mind, and every time he made a particularly sharp jibe at me I would think of it to assure myself that it was all a front for the sake of his reputation.

On Valentine's Day, I once again received a box of chocolates identical to the one I'd received the year before. Antonin only nodded once when I told him about it, though, rather than laughing like he had the previous time.

"What's wrong with you, Antonin?" I finally demanded a few weeks before the end of the school year. He'd been decent, at best, but something was wrong, and I was determined to find out what it was before we parted ways for the holidays.

"Nothing, Ally," he assured me, and tried to step around me, but I stopped him with one arm.

"Oh, please. You've been distant for months now, and you'll barely talk to me anymore," I insisted. "Come on. I thought we were friends. You can talk to me."

With a frown, he looked me over for a second, as though trying to make a decision. Then, severely, he spat, "You thought wrong."

Before I could protest, he'd turned on his heel and walked away.

---

I tried very hard to avoid him after that- he'd completely crushed me. Even if it was only as friends, I had possessed no greater desire than to preserve a relationship with him. Now, I was determined to keep as far from him and his heartbreaking antics as possible.

Unfortunately, this proved extremely difficult.

More than once, he would grab my wrist and begin to talk to me, and then falter, shake his head, and walk away. I was positive that he was trying to apologize, but I wasn't at all inclined to accept his apology.

It was a bit surprising to me, really, when I discovered a neatly written note folded on my pillow. I would have known the neat-yet-masculine handwriting anywhere.

"Antonin," I whispered aloud, the letter clutched in one hand. I was half tempted to burn it, but almost against my will, my hands unfolded the parchment and my eyes began to scan the page.

Alecto,

I miss you. I'm really sorry about what I said- I didn't mean it as it came across. I was just confused, I suppose, about what I meant to say. Anyway, could you please meet me in the Common Room at midnight? I need to talk to you.

Yours,

Antonin

My immediate reaction was to crumple the paper. Who did he think he was, anyway, coming crawling back for forgiveness after he'd completely shattered me with his words? But then, in the back of my mind, all of the times he'd actually been my friend began to seep up from my forgotten memories. How could I possibly refuse him?

So, against my better judgment, at midnight when I crept down to the Common Room. He was seated on the sofa, his back turned to me. Though I was stealthily making my way to join him, without even turning, he murmured, "Hello, Ally."

"How'd you know it was me?" I sat down next to him, nervously playing with my hair as I did so. He never failed to intimidate me.

"The way you walked down the stairs. You've got a very distinctive way of walking," he grinned.

Though I was trying to keep my distance in order to protect myself from getting hurt all over again, I couldn't help but smile back, slightly. "So why'd you need to talk to me?"

"Because," he told me, suddenly very serious. "I've come to realize something."

"What's that?"

"No need to be impatient," Antonin chuckled. "Anyway. Remember what you asked me before school started?"

I blushed at the memory, cursing how childish and naive I'd been. With as much composure as possible, I managed, "How could I forget?"

He sighed, looking at the dying fire in the grate for a moment. Then he looked back at me, and answered evenly, "I've come to realize that if you still are offering... I'd like nothing better than to be your first kiss. It's not as if anyone else would be daft enough to kiss you, after all, so you may as well get the experience once in your lifetime."

My immediate reaction was to scowl, and he grinned playfully. "Oh, Ally, you never could take a joke," he muttered, leaning toward me.

The next thing I knew, he'd kissed me.

---

That night, I'd slept better than I had in years- after I stopped giggling into my pillow, that is. He'd told me point-blank that I couldn't expect a relationship from him just because he'd kissed me, but I was quite giddy nonetheless.

My good mood lasted until the end of the school year. He and I were talking again- freely, not in the strained way we had been- and I'd never been more content with the state of things between us.

He never really explained why, exactly, he'd distanced himself from me for all of those months. I have my theories, of course, but the fact that he's Antonin Dolohov (and as such, does as he pleases) has always been enough to explain any of his behaviour, so I've never pressed the matter.

Finally, I'd gotten all I'd ever asked him for. I should have known better, though, than to assume that it would be enough to keep me content for very long.

Ooh, foreshadowing! (:

I'm pretty sure that you saw that coming, but still, it's one of my favourite Antonin/Alecto moments thus far. Next chapter coming soon! Thanks so much for reading, and reviews would be much appreciated-- hint, hint.