Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.
Chapter 30
Ky's POV
The silver spoon dangled at my lips as I scribbled out the answers for today's Arithmancy assignment, the cacophony of sound that was lunch on a weekday at Hogwarts was soothing background music as I punched out the numbers in my head.
I glanced up and smirked, on the opposite end of the hall I could see a flash of blonde, bent over a piece of parchment, occupied in the exact same thing I was attempting.
It had been just over a month since our descent into the deep dungeon…and my descent into a relationship I never imagined to ever be engaged in…not that you can really call it a relationship. Not that we cared to call it anything at all. That's what was most enthralling about what Draco and I had, it was easy. Almost cathartic in its simplicity.
The past month was littered by meetings arranged in the highs and lows of the castle, from the Astronomy Tower to our Muggle Spot down in the dungeons, venue ever changing but the activity always the same…
Almost as if he could read my mind, he lifted his steel grey eyes to my own and mirrored my smirk from across the room, the steel glistening as his eyes flickered to the spoon in my mouth and the smirk fell as his expression heated as they fell on my lips.
The spoon was quite rashly pulled from my mouth and I turned to the brunette, a quip replacing the spoon on my lips but before I could even get a word out, she held up her left forefinger which I had become much too accustomed with over the past three years and started her chastisement over my own words, settling into the seat next to me. "Don't! Sitting here consuming chocolate spread is not going to get your assignment done. You had three weeks to do it!"
I rolled my eyes at my best friend and grabbed the jar of Nutella, who needs spoons anyway? She flicked her wand and the bottle joined my spoon in her hand and I grinned evilly. Fine, if she won't let the cocoa distract me, she would just have to. My eyes flickered to the entrance; it had been exactly a minute since her arrival and right on cue, in walked Mr Nott.
His hazel eyes met mine and he winked in greeting, he stared at Mi for a good few seconds as he made his way to the Snake table, her chocolate eyes were focused on my assignment, not taking in a numerical sign as her face reddened as she probably felt the appreciative stare that her boyfriend had her under.
"His zip is open."
Her head snapped up, away from my work and the blood that reddened her face moments ago fled, her heart shaped mug now pale as a Malfoys and I laughed unashamedly as she recovered from my lie.
"Not funny." She hissed at me, eyes flickering around to make sure nobody heard us, which was quite unnecessary as the nearest Gryffindor was five seats away.
Mi and Theo had been secretly dating ever since we witnessed the death of Leonardo DiCaprio down in the dungeons.
I shrugged innocently, "Why would you even care if his zip is open, Mi? Especially since your third button is presently undone."
She grabbed at her white shirt quickly, frantically checking that all her buttons were well in their loops and her nose flared and I almost felt guilty at the second lie. Upon finding that her breasts were appropriately clothed all along, she glared at me and I smiled in return, "Fine fine. I get it, assignment." I turned to the sheet of parchment, a few examples away from being finished, the smile still plastered on my face, "It's just that, I always thought the nearest Wiggentree was in the Forbidden Forest, and well, I always thought the Forbidden Forest was…well…forbidden…"
"What?" Her chocolate hues were riddled with confusion.
I turned away from the parchment, my smile wider, "There's a baby bowtruckle in your hair."
She gasped, her left hand ascending to her bushy mane instantly and out flew the tiny inhabitant of the Wiggentree, it scuttled across the floor, unseen by most of the passersby.
I laughed at her scowl as she picked at her hair to make sure there were no more little creatures in it, "You should have told me once you saw it!"
"You should have told me you were going into the Forest!" I added with a giggle and she sighed, taking my now completed assignment and looking over it, her cheeks flushed as she checked the answers.
"I didn't… there happens to be a wiggentree…just behind the Hufflepuff stands of the quidditch pitch…"
"I see. I don't blame you for not noticing the presence of the prickly little creature, your hands must have been full enough with a prickly little creature of your own…or not so little…"
"KY!" She snapped and I laughed, this could never get old. Mi may have come to terms with her feelings for Teddy, but it was always fun to call her out on all the other aspects of their secret relationship. Their decision to keep their relationship hidden was purely Mi's idea, it had little to do with what our fellow Gryffindors would think, she only cared for the opinions of Harry and Ron whom I knew she would have to tell soon enough, but more to do with the reaction of his fellow Slytherins.
Teddy, much like he did when he signed off on helping me resurrect the old school newspaper, could care less what his brothers in ties thought, but Mi remembered too well what fiasco that had resulted in and would bring nothing like that to his doorstep again if it could be prevented.
"I know your secret." I turned away from the brown glower to the sing song voice as Bobby and Parvarti took the seats opposite us, the blonde narrowing her eyes at Mi.
Mi's glower fell with a gulp, as she ran a nervous hand through her thick brown locks, "I was helping Hagrid…the third years…Bowtruckles…"
"What?" Bobby frowned, brown eyes confused, "I was talking about your secret unhappiness that Ron and I are dating. I know that you and him are good friends, and I know that you have a crush on him."
Mi opened her mouth but Bobby stopped her, "And we-" She gestured to the four of us, "Are more than just friends Hermione. We-" She gestured to the four of us again with her finger revolving in a circular fashion, "have shared room…no more sacred than even that…shared shampoo…a bond like that cannot be broken over something as little as my winning the affections of the boy you care for. No, Hermione, please let me finish. I-" She pulled in her lips and held a sorrowful expression, "am so sorry Hermione. I should have said something. Warned you even. And I feel terrible that you have spent the last month ducking and diving from us, refraining from experiencing the pain that you must feel when having to witness the blinding purity that is the love that me and my Won Won share. I just want to say…" She reached across the table and grabbed Mi's hand sympathetically, "I hope we can still be friends. Even though I won-"
"Won what?" Mi muttered but Bobby cut over her.
"And anyway, not all of us can be the type of girl that dates the star quidditch player."
"Ron's not the star quidditch player." Stated Parvarti, but her best friend was too far gone in her own melodrama to listen to a word any of us said.
"I mean, it's a tough job. All these girls, throwing themselves at him! Constantly! If anything you should feel my pain, not envy me!" She clutched her chest, "I am doing you a favour Hermione, it takes a brave woman to handle being Ronald Weasley's girlfriend. I don't think that you had the mettle for such a job." She sighed, "Sometimes I wonder if even I have the mettle… then I look into his big green eyes-"
"Blue." We all muttered and she flicked it away with her hand.
"And I know…I know…he is THE one. Can you forgive me?"
I bit my lip, holding in my laughter as Mi fought to keep her face straight, "It…it's hard Lavender. But you're right…I would never…have been…brave-"
Mi was choking on the laughter she was holding back, which Bobby seemed to mistaken as her suppressing her tears. This caused the dirty blonde queen of drama to lean across the table, pulling Mi into a hug and I could not take a second more of it and burst into a fit of laughter that caused two first years to run away in shock.
Bobby glared at me as she let go of Mi who quickly sat down with a face that looked like she just escaped the clutches of a Basilisk. "Sorry." I huffed out, "I just think it's funny."
"What is?" Bobby snapped.
"Well you think that Mi is the one who is jealous of your relationship with Ron. When it's so obviously me!"
"You." The three girls snapped in surprise.
"Yeah. That's why it totally breaks my heart every time I see my Ronald trying to find the galleon you obviously swallowed with his tongue." That is actually what it looks like when those two snog.
"No! Really!" Bobby gasped out.
"Yeah." I turned to the entrance, where Ron was talking to Dean and Seamus with his back turned, "I mean…just look at that ASS!"
"Don't!" She screamed, "Stop looking at my Won Won's bum! Don't lick your lips! Ky!"
"What Bobby. Aren't you going to hug me and tell me it's OK."
"If you so much as lay a finger on my-"
"Ladies." Ron interrupted his girlfriend as he greeted us. "Ky!" He smiled, "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages. Where were you yesterday. I wanted to have a game-"
But before he finished his sentence Bobby gripped him by the arm and dragged him to the door.
Parvarti and Mi frowned at me and I shrugged innocently, sipping my mango juice, "What?"
Parvarti huffed out as she got to her feet, "She's going to be ten times more affectionate than she usually is! Do you know what that means; you should see what she got him for Christmas!"
She sulked away, meeting Alex Silver who had been hovering at the entrance for her for the past few minutes.
"Really?"
"What?" I laughed, "It was funny. Don't pretend like you didn't enjoy it, or do you not have the mettle to take a joke."
She chuckled at my use of the word, "I cannot believe the way those two are! That's why I prefer the arrangement Theodore and I share. Relationships should be personal, private matters." She adjusted the sheets of my assignment into a neat pile and turned to me, she cocked her left brow at me, "What's that on your neck?"
"Huh?"I touched my neck, trying to feel what she meant. I looked down at the brown smudge on my fingers and I laughed as her eyes widened.
"Is that body chocolate!" She whispered in astonishment.
I grabbed my assignment and got to my feet, "Where would I get that Mi. It's actually Nutella." I grabbed the jar from the table as her mouth hung open in disbelief. "And if you had a problem with where that spreads been, I wouldn't be touching that spoon."
She dropped my spoon quickly and laughed, joking about the spoon but not comforting her with the truth as I exited the Great Hall. And not a minute too soon as I saw the familiar couple walk through.
What with Ron consumed with Lavender, Mi ducking around with Teddy, Harry dating Ginny and my secret daily rendezvous with Draco…I can't remember the last time the four of us sat down for a meal together….not that I wanted to…
Ginny spotted Mi and made a beeline to her, Harry followed after. At least the two were not like Bobby and Ron, actually they were the total opposite to them, aside from that peck on the cheek at the Beach Day…I never saw them even hold hands… I scoffed inwardly, well publically; I knew how Harry got in the privilege of a private room…
I felt a hand at my waist and I let the familiar scented body usher me into the broom cupboard, his hands were on my hips in moments and I laughed as he pushed me against the wall, "You're the devil."
"Huh?" I giggled out; who knew my neck was so ticklish. "Aren't you four hours too early for our little meeting, Mr Malfoy."
He released my neck from his ministrations and his steel eyes clashed down at me, "Something came up…we can't meet tonight." He pulled me against him easily, "Don't think I didn't see what you were doing with that spoon at the table."
"I have no idea what you are talking about; I was merely consuming my favourite chocolate treat."
"Hmmm." He murmured, grabbing the jar from my hand and spinning the top off it, "I do believe I was interrupted the last time I was consuming my favourite chocolate treat…where were we? Was it the first button?" He flicked my top button open with his left hand, "Or maybe the second?"
The black lace outline of the otherwise plain white bra I wore under my school shirt peeked out innocently, but before he much too skilfully flicked open the third button I distracted him with an invasive kiss, the jar fell to the floor with a tinkle as it rolled away, and he grabbed me roughly by the waist with both his hands, wanting me to feel just what the kiss had done to him.
"I heard a funny story today." He muttered as he pulled away from the kiss and I raised a brow.
"I didn't think this the time to swap funny stories, but by all means." I shrugged and he pushed my collar aside and kissed the skin at the apex of my shoulder tenderly.
"You shrug too much, do you know that's bad manners. A lady should be able to confer all her emotions but with her eyes."
I pulled away from his lips, a hard feat considering I didn't have much place to manoeuvre, "And tell me Draco, what do my eyes say now?"
He smirked, leaning back and taking in my dark glower, he tilted his head to the left in thought, apparently reading my eyes, "Really? Here? Amidst all this rubbish. It's my own fault, too damn good looking, but if you insist, yes I would take your virginity."
I rolled my eyes, not as comfortable as I presented at our new topic. This was actually the first time Draco brought up sex, I was actually very shocked he didn't try anything before but I pretty much called the shots, hence the only thing we ever did was make out and after a particularly hot session last week he got on a first name basis with the twins, but nothing below the belt. I bit my lip, playing with his tie, "I thought you had a joke for me."
"Hmmm." He murmured, gathering enough from my reaction to his joke to know what I felt about it. "Not really a joke. More of a horrible rumour, too farfetched to even be true. Pansy seems to think you're going with Longbottom to Slughorn's Christmas party tonight."
I frowned, "How does Pansy know? I didn't even ask Neville yet?"
He let go of my waist, "Ask Neville? You mean…you're seriously asking Longbottom to this stupid party?"
I shrugged, I do do that often don't I, "Well, Nonno is forcing me to go. So I will have to go wuth someone."
Well, you can't really call it forcing me, we had a quiet supper two weeks ago, just before he left again to wherever he goes, and he told me he would appreciate me representing the Dumbledore family in his absence at the Christmas Party Slughorn is hosting…I couldn't say no to that!
Draco shrugged, descending on my neck again as if I didn't just tell him I would be going to the party with Neville. I pulled away and he grumbled at the loss of contact.
"The party is tonight, and I haven't even asked Neville as yet, I should go do that."
"Whose Granger going with?" His silver eyes glinted and I frowned at him for the question, it was not like him.
"She's going with Alex Silver." He frowned and I explained, "Aren Carrow asked Parvarti, which by the way goes to show that you were wrong, he actually does like her, so Alex asked Mi whilst they were serving duty the other day. He said that he just needed to get into the party, he intends on actually confessing to Parvarti tonight. And Mi didn't mind, considering she couldn't go with Teddy."
He shrugged as if he didn't care for the answer, "And what made you choose Longbottom?"
"Well I can't exactly take you." I chuckled, "Plus, I thought you had something to do today."
Draco was most definitely up to something, I never called him out on it. The other night we left each others company at two in the morning, spending the whole Sunday watching the Godfather trilogy, and he didn't show up for any morning classes and he wasn't sleeping in because when we did see each other later that day his eyes were blood shot from lack of sleep.
"It can wait." He shrugged, "Why don't you make an appearance for about an hour and meet me at the end of the Sixth at eight, unless you want to stay for the stupid party."
I laughed, walking to the door, "I guess there would be no need in asking Neville now. I guess I'll just fly solo."
I winked at him, as his eyes dilated at my words and I walked out of the closet, somehow he looked like he preferred me going with Neville after my last statement.
"I can't do it." Alex ran a trembling hand through his black hair, pushing the strands back from his light brown eyes and Mi patted his shoulder sympathetically.
"Relax Alex, you're just too nervous. We've gone over this a dozen times, you've liked her since fourth year! I mean, who is he anyway?" Mi gestured her long exposed right arm to the couple near us, Aren Carrow and Parvarti Patil stood against the right wall of the room, engaging in deep and unfortunately close conversation. I glanced at Alex whose pale face dropped a few shades at the view he had of the two and I sighed, knowing this was the only way.
I grabbed a flute of champagne from the table that was at my back and pushed it into his hands.
"No, Ky, thank you, I'm not one for-"
"Drink it." I pushed it at his lips forcefully and he had no choice but to take the flute and chug it down. He released the glass from his lips, his face reddening slightly and I placed my palm on his left shoulder, "Now, what do you feel for Parvarti Patil?"
I pushed him towards the couple with force, he knocked into Carrow and a few guests nearby turned towards the commotion as Mi snapped at me for the act, but she lost her anger when Silver's voice floated over to us,
"Parvarti, I love you. I loved you since we bumped into each other, outside Honey Dukes on your very first trip to Hogsmeade and-"
I smirked, turning away from the scene as Mi's shocked face turned suspicious. She curled her hair for the occasion, her brown locks sitting at her exposed shoulders as she wore a sleeveless peach cocktail dress that hugged her waist and widened in a bell shape just above her knees. She now had her clenched fist held at her cinched waist, "What did you do?"
I mock gasped, "I merely pushed him in the right direction, forgive me for-"
Just then there was a sound of flesh on flesh as Gwenog Jones slapped Cormac McLaggen across the face, and with a deeply affronted expression twirled and walked away.
McLaggen clutched his face, running after the famous quidditch player wincing, "Nice arse! I mean! Gwenog! I want to touch your nice arse! I mean I want to apologise! I don't know what's going on! Please."
I laughed as he ran after the woman, the idiot deserved it after he practically attacked Mi under the mistletoe five minutes ago, Mi tried holding her scowl but it was hard considering her eyes were bright with laughter, "Ky! What did you do!"
I laughed, pulling out the tiny bottle that held the clear liquid, "I thought this party might need a little spicing up!"
She gasped, grabbing the bottle, her brown eyes wide with disbelief, "You did not spike people's drink with veritasereum. That's-"
"Illegal." The deep voice interrupted, he had dressed in black dress robes for the occasion, but considering his usual attire you wouldn't have known the difference on first glance, he held out his palm for the potion and Mi gave it to him with an apologetic look on her face, making an excuse in a small voice and walking towards the balcony.
Sev turned to me and I refrained from rolling my eyes, "Oh come now Sev, I won't tell if you won't. And you won't."
"And what gives you that idea Bane?"
I smiled up at him without reservation, and his stern expression softened in response, "Eighteen days, three hours and fifty two minutes."
His only response was uncapping the bottle and sniffing at it, "You skipped phases?"
"Only needs to brew from the first quarter to the last quarter of the lunar cycle, the waxing and waning moon phases don't contribute to the brewing cycle. I tested it out…it works."
His black eyes glinted down at me, barely suppressed pride shining in them, "I thought you had given up on altering the process."
"I merely put the project on hold, but as you can see, the break proved productive."
He chuckled softly, "I do believe I have created a monster. Whatever would you do next, brew polyjuice in ten days?"
"Ten, please, I was thinking more along a week." His laughter died as a familiar voice imposed on our light banter.
"Of course, she needs no introduction, just like Mr Potter. Ky Thornton, Albus' granddaughter," Slughorn flung an arm around my shoulder as if we were old friends and I watched as Sev glanced down at his chubby little fingers with disdain. "Ouch." He pulled his hand away, and massaged his thumb, "I thing I just got stung with a bee!"
I smiled into my glass of apple cider as Sev discreetly pocketed his wand once again.
Slughorn had called with him two very imposing men, the younger looked in his late twenties with neat brown hair and light blue eyes, he was clean shaven and his robes looked as if were tailored just for him.
The older man had the same light blue eyes but his hair was a standard grey that made me think he was in his late fifties at least, yet he was clad in well cut dress robes very similar to his son, judging by the facial similarities.
"Ahhh and here is Mr Potter." Slughorn recovered from the apparent bee sting and grabbed Harry by the shoulder and turned him to our conversation. He was wearing the same dress robes he wore to Linus' wedding and I dealt with the memory that dress robes evoked by taking a large gulp of cider.
"And this here is his girlfriend," Slughorn wiggled his brows at the word as he gestured to Ginny and the glass suddenly heated in my hand, I took a calming breath…not wanting to push it to its breaking point.
"Ginevra Weasley. Of course I don't have to introduce you to Severus Snape over here. Ky, Ginevra, Harry, these are Edmund Sleek and Edmund Sleek the second. Founders of Sleekeazy hair potion and a whole range of beautifying products. Harry and Ky are my best potioneers, maybe a summer internship is on the horizon!"
Sev scoffed into his glass of champagne and Slughorn patted him on the back, "There there Severus, down it slowly."
I bit back a laugh at the look Sev gave Slughorn, but the rotund man was oblivious as he engaged Edmund Senior in conversation. Ginny smiled and shook hands with Edmund Junior, saying that she was a fan of his product, which was a total lie has redheads couldn't use the potion. He shook Harry's hand, who made some excuse and pulled Ginny away into the crowd.
"Miss Dumbledore."Edmund Sleek Junior held out his hand.
"It's actually Thornton, Mr Sleek." I added drily, as he raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, when he let go I discreetly wiped it at the back of my black dress.
"Then I insist you call me Eddy. Mr Sleek is my father. Ahh, and Severus, pleasure as always. How goes academia? Treating you well?" There was something very cynical in the way he asked the question and Sev smirked at the man.
"As well as it can be. I heard about your factory in Hong Kong, tough times to be in industry isn't it? Then again, when ones workforce averages at the age of ten, we must not expect much."
Edmund Jr laughed a laugh that never reached his eyes, "Oh how the British like to gossip, horrible rumours, I assure you Miss Thornton. Please tell me you don't plan on following your grandfathers footsteps and remaining as a teacher at Hogwarts, from what Horace tells me, you're quite the brewer. There is always a need for such dainty and precise hands in our RnD department. I promise it will be fun. And oh so profitable. Much more profitable than this place." He said with disdain.
"Well I fear Professor Slughorn has misrepresented me, I am nowhere near the level of potioneer he deems me, I fear my future is not as glamorous to venture out of the confines of this place."
He smiled, "Oh Miss Thornton," His eyes flickered from my straightened hair, over the black dress that hugged my figure, it was simple, and very demure in the fact that the only skin I showed was my arms, the dress sporting a neckline that hugged the base of my neck, "I believe it is you that is misinformed. I believe your future to be glamorous, very glamorous in deed."
"Well Edmund, I believe your future to be nonexistent." Sev looked at the man with a dark glower and the brunette tilted his head to the side in response, observing Sev in thought.
Edmund smirked, he flicked his finger and a card appeared in front of my face, "Miss Thornton, when you are guard dog is put down, contact me. I do believe we would work…amicably together. Yes…I do." And with one last leering look he twirled around and joined his father.
Sev breathed through his nose, barely containing his anger, I battered the card which kept hovering attention-seekingly in front of me, pestering my eyeline. "If I ever met a pair of slimy bastards it would be those two."
"I take it you have a history with the pair."
He glanced down at me, "Unfortunately. Slughorn sent me for the very same Summer Internship in my sixth year. Let's just say that one would never use that potion if they knew what went into its production. Edmund was in my year at Hogwarts, born, bred, probably conceived on a pile of gold, he thinks he can buy and sell anyone. Frivolous fools, the both of them."
I smiled, "I didn't know you hated The Man so, Sev."
He sipped his glass of champagne, "I may not have many morals, but the few I do attain I hold in high regard. Galleons can purchase you custom made robes and youthful looks, but it can't buy class…or intelligence, now can it?"
I nodded and he glanced down at me with a stern expression, "As happy as I am that you showed up to this thing sans the pain in the neck any boy you brought would have caused me, I wonder if it perhaps backfired. Slughorn has called for me twice but I can't comply as I see four boys that are waiting for my departure to spring into attack, I blame the dress. That looks nothing like the one Minerva bought you."
I laughed, "It's the exact same one, I promise. But I assure you I am more than equipped to deal with anybody that approaches me in your absence."
"That's what I am afraid of." He sighed, I laughed in response, leaning my head on his shoulder and he didn't even stiffen at the action, somewhere between my being on the run from Palbei and nearly falling to my death, Sev had changed. No more was he always fighting the care he so obviously had for me, or denying that we were in fact, family.
"Will you ever like anybody I date?"
He sipped his champagne in thought, attentive eyes people watching and then he chuckled, "Longbottom."
"I thought you hated Neville."
"Oh Longbottom is a pathetic student with about as much magic potential as a one legged flea…but, I do believe the boy's fear for me will prove beneficial in a situation such as that."
I smiled to myself, so if I actually brought Neville here, it might have pleased Sev some.
"Anyway, I shouldn't complain. It could be a lot worse. You could still be dating Potter."
And with that he placed his glass down and walked off to a beckoning Slughorn.
Almost magnetically my eyes found Harry, he was in a conversation with what seemed to be a vampire, or at least Ginny was talking and Harry was passively contributing to the tête-à-tête. It then occurred to me that Harry and I never went to an event together. Earlier when Slughorn introduced Ginny as Harry's girlfriend a jolt of jealousy shot through my veins…I'd never been introduced as such before…
I pulled my eyes away from the black head and reached for a flute of champagne, but the glass was swiped up before I could reach it. Carrow held it to his long lips, tossing the fluid back swiftly and I growled inwardly. He placed it down on the table with a deep sigh, "I needed that."
Not even pretending to care why, I scanned the room for Mi.
"Parvarti's left. With Alex Silver. Well, I suppose you of all people would understand, what with your recent heartbreak. Please tell me it gets better?"
I raised my brows, seriously, his green eyes glinted at me and I closed my eyes in annoyance, knowing that voyeuristic look all too well these days. Damn! Draco was right! The idiot was playing me. Just then there was a commotion in the centre of the room and a flow of whispers broke out, I couldn't see what had the guests gossiping so as Carrow was blocking most of my view of the room with his wide shoulders.
"So…you want to get out of here."
I smirked, "Yes. With you? No."
Not in the slightest concerned by the reaction that answer caused, I walked to the exit. It was about the time I agreed to meet Draco, and this party was just as cumbersome as I expected it to be. I winked at Blaise as he stared at me from the corner, in the company of the Carrow twins, younger sisters of Aren Carrow. He smirked over his glass, greeting me with his eyes.
My shoulders relaxed once I met the fresh air that was the Hogwarts sixth floor corridor and I quickly made way to the end of it, keeping to the wall which hosted most of the torchlight, not trusting myself in heels just yet.
Suddenly I bumped into something, but before I could utter a sound a hand clasped around my mouth and pushed me to the wall. I pushed against the hold but it was half hearted as the touch was so familiar I couldn't help the way my back slightly arched towards it.
Harry held his forefinger to his lips as he let go of my mouth, tossing the familiar cloak around us and tilting his head in gesture to the slightly ajar door to my right. I opened my mouth but the voices emitted from the classroom next to us silenced me.
"-placing your reliance on assistants like Crabbe and Goyle"
"They're not the only ones, I've got other people on my side. Better people."
"Then why not confide in me, and I can-"
"I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!"
"You are speaking like a child! I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but-"
Just then the door to our right flung open and Draco stormed out, his blonde head like a bright lamp in the dark corridor. Harry had his hand on my mouth once again as Sev strode out after him, an unfathomable expression on his face as he traced his steps back to the party.
The door to Slughorn's office long since closed behind Sev and Harry still had his hand on my mouth, but what was really disturbing me was that his right leg that lay between my own in his effort for the cloak to cover us both and I could definitely…feel…him.
"Ouch." He pulled his hand away as I bit into the flesh, tired of appeasing his attempt at reconnaissance. The action made him realise just how close we were and he took a quick step back, his face bright with an array of emotions. The step caused the cloak to slide of us and we were visible once more.
Almost in one movement he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down the corridor, pushing a portrait open and entering a dark, yet extremely familiar passage…too familiar…oh no…dancing wolf puppies….my face heated at the memory but Harry didn't seem to be affected by our destination in the slightest.
"Did you hear what they said!" He whispered, "Godric," He pushed his hair back in shock, clutching at the untidy strands with his left hand as he leaned against the wall of the narrow staircase with his right. "This is proof."
"Proof?" I cocked a brow, "Proof of what?" I refused to step onto the stairs, remaining on the very small space right at the bottom…those stairs were dangerous…they made you make stupid decisions.
"Of Malfoy!" Harry's green eyes were wide, "Being up to something! And Snape is helping him!"
That's the exact same dress robes he wore on Linus' wedding…on New Year's Day…the day he 'took' me to the Beatles concert… I wore that coat…I practically slept in it that night… I cleared my throat and looked at his shocked expression.
"We have to tell Dumbledore! Is he in today?"
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and concentrating on the now, "No, he left for Norway yesterday. Would you please stop pacing! You look like you need to piss and it's both distracting and disconcerting."
He stopped walking up and down the bottom steps of the narrow staircase and scowled at me, "You don't understand what this means, do you? Malfoy is up to something. He's a death eater! I knew it all along! He's working for Voldemort! And Snape is helping him."
I rolled my eyes, Harry was getting worked up over nothing, and that stressed look he had on his face was doing weird things to me…I was so fucked up in the head. Plus I pretty much knew Draco was working for Voldemort. I heard what Nonno was telling Sev, which means that Nonno already knows, "Don't you think if Malfoy is doing something for Voldemort, Nonno would know because Sev would know and Sev would tell Nonno…"
I glanced up the staircase with caution, we weren't supposed to be talking about these things…
He growled, stepping down to my level and hovering over me…his face red with frustration, I was obviously not as effected by the conversation as I apparently should have been, "Look, you didn't hear the whole thing! Snape said something about making an Unbreakable Oath with Malfoy's mother-"
"Wait what?" All images of Harry having his way with me on this very staircase flew out of my head at that, "An Unbreakable Vow? He said that? Sev said that he did that?" My blood ran cold…he can't break an Unbreakable Vow…if you do, it results in death…oh fuck…that means if Draco fails whatever mission Voldemort sets for him…I leaned back against the door, my breathing accelerating, Sev would die…and I've been doing my hardest distracting Draco…oh Godric, what have I done.
"Ky…Ky calm down. I know it's a lot to take in-"
"What did he say, exactly. What did he say Harry, word for word!" I clutched his arm, making him look him in the eye, "Please, please remember."
His frustration disappeared for a searching expression as his eyes grew soft, "Erm…err…he was trying to help Malfoy…that he swore to protect him…swore an Unbreakable Vow to Malfoy's mother."
I let out a deep breath…to protect him…just to protect him…as long as Draco was OK, Sev would be OK and Draco could still be OK if he failed his mission, I mean it depends on what Voldemort would do to him…but by then he should be more open to joining our side…Nonno could protect him and in doing so protect Sev…everyone was going to be OK…
"Ky." He clutched my neck and I looked up, startled at the contact, "What's going on? Are you OK?"
I gulped, the worry that instantly materialised fled just as quickly, making me somewhat light headed, "Harry, I think you're reading in to this too much. I know you think Malfoy is evil. That he's doing something for Voldemort. And he probably is." His green eyes smiled down, I knew Mi and Ron were not agreeing with him on this matter and my siding with him seemed to mean the world right now, "But what difference does it make. Nonno probably knows. Sev would have-"
He let out a growl, letting go of my neck and turning around, banging the wall with the palm of his left hand, "Snape! Snape! Snape is playing us, he's playing Dumbledore, he's playing you! He probably is really helping Malfoy-"
"Or pretending to help him so he can gather information!" I spat out angrily, really would he ever just let it go!
"Snape is NOT on our side!" His eyes were bulging in the severity he expressed to stress his point, his hands clenched in fists at his side, "He's working for Voldemort! He's playing us! Double agent! Please! Voldemort and him probably laugh their heads off-"
"STOP!" I screamed, taking a threatening step forward, "JUST STOP! How much does he have to do! How many times does he have to save you! Does he have to save ME! He saved you-"
"Only to payback my father who he was indebted to-"
"Fine that's why he saved you the first time! What of the second and the third! Why can't you just see that he is on OUR side!"
"You're blinded by your affection-"
"NO!" I screeched and his face paled over, "NO! You are blind Harry! You want him to be evil! You want him to be wrong! All you see is the man that made a mistake-"
"Mistake! Mistake! Taking the dark mark! Torturing muggle borns and muggles! Mistake!"
I took a step back from him, disappointment radiating of me, "What would you have him do Harry? What more can he do? Do you want to see him dead? Will that prove that he is on our side? Huh? Every time he leaves, he stands before Voldemort and LIES to him. LIES to the most evil dark wizard of our time. For you. For me. FOR US! And this is how you repay him!"
"Ky…you don't understand. He is not on OUR side. He is our enemy!"
"HE IS MY FAMILY!" I screeched, pushing at his chest. He grabbed my hands, his eyes unwavering.
"Loving him will bring you nothing but heartache Ky, he is evil."
I snatched my hands away from him, "NO! Loving you has brought me nothing but heartache Harry!" I breathed heavily, angry tears blurring my vision at what I admitted, he took a step forward and I pushed past him.
"Ky!" I ignored him, pounding up the stairs, my heart in my ears, my mind heavy with thoughts raging within it. "Ky!"
He grabbed my hand when I reached the top step, flinging me around, but he let go just as quickly when he saw the look on my face. He took a step back and I pushed the portrait open, angrier still that I was disappointed…disappointed that he didn't what? Beg me to stay?
I pushed through the Fat Lady, not even listening to her comments and made my way to my dorm, not even bothering to go find Draco. I didn't care. I didn't care if he went and got up to whatever he had got up to when he wasn't in class or with me.
I didn't care that every spot on my body that he had touched, that even slightly grazed his finger tips were burning as if set aflame. I didn't care that his scent clung to my very skin, I didn't care that my heart was still beating painfully beneath my chest.
And as I lay on my bed, fully clothed, closing my eyes and begging sleep to chase these thoughts away…I didn't care that his emerald green eyes haunted my vision…as he spun me around…just before I could leave…not saying a word…but those eyes…they said everything... I could read them like I could read my own thoughts…
And at that moment all I wanted was for it to be true…for me not to care…because I could laugh with Draco, sneak around with him…make out with him…but it couldn't make me stop…it didn't make me stop…all I wanted was to stop…loving Harry.
So this took loads of times to write! And I am still not happy with it…please review with your thoughts guys, they really are beneficial to the process!
Have an awesome one
Kalina