Wanting Something More
Chapter Sixteen: Wanting Details
"You can't be so stingy Brittany!" Scarlett tossed the pillow at her friends head.
"I told you everything." Brittany hid herself under the covers of her bed.
"You did not give me details. 'We kissed' is nothing more than a tease." Scarlett shot back as she crossed the room to the bed.
"You've been harping me about this for two months now. It's nearly Christmas." Brittany held the covers tighter over her head.
"I'll keep you here over Christmas if you don't tell me." Scarlett began tugging at the covers. "Stop hiding and face me."
"It's not that important. We kissed, twice. He agreed to go forward. What more do you want?" Brittany lost her grip and the covers flew off her face.
"How did he kiss you. You two have been spending more and more time together alone in this room. At least until two weeks ago. What is going on? Is he busy with you know who things or did you guys get into a fight? Has he kissed you again?" Scarlett pressed.
"What? Now you want to know every little detail?" Brittany squeaked.
"Of course I do. Suddenly you are actually understanding Herbology and Transfiguration. You are even beginning to do well in Charms. What has gotten into you? You've been shy for the last month." Scarlett pressed.
"I'm scared alright. If I talk about it, it becomes really real. Anything that I love that becomes real Malfoy takes away. I'm scared to talk about it." Brittany hid her face in her hands.
"Oh hun. You don't need to worry. Come on give me something. All of us are dying to know what is going on. Harry's too private with this information so none of the boys can get a read on him. I'm you're best friend. I want to know that everything is going well for you. Please tell me. Malfoy won't be able to ruin this. I promise." Scarlett wrapped her arms around her best friend and slowly rocked her.
"Alright. We kissed twice. The first time it was soft and tender and so full of so many things at once it was confusing. The second time he kissed me it was full of promise and hope. The third time-"
"Wait third time? I knew it. I knew you two weren't just studying in here." Scarlett cheered. "I'm glad."
"Oh, why do you make me say theses embarrassing things." Brittany grumbled.
"Because you've never had a man. Now you do and you're going to dish on the details. You're going to be a proper girlfriend and talk about boys with me. That's what girlfriends do with each other they talk about boys."
"We always rag on Malfoy." Brittany threw in. "I like doing that it's fun to mock him."
"Brittany, spill it. No more excuses." Scarlett warned as she grabbed a pillow.
"Fine fine. Put the weapon down and I'll tell you." Brittany agreed.
"Good girl."
Brittany was sticking her lip out in concentration as she attempted the spell for the third time that day. It was still early in the morning. November was well underway, and thus classes began increasing in difficulty. I've think I've got it now.
She waved her wand and watched wide eyed as the Feather began floating just like in first year charms. Only this time she was able to do so non verbally.
"That's it Brittany. You've finally done it. Non verbal spell casting is really difficult." Harry praised as he moved towards her with a smile.
"I don't know why but whenever you're with me I can cast better. Blaise says it's because I'm less stressed. Seth says it's because I finally." She stopped talking and covered her mouth.
Harry moved closer and gave her a hug. "You finally what?" He pressed as he held her tightly to him. She mumbled something into his cloak and he laughed. "I can't understand you Brittany. Tell me or I'll make you do it again." He teased.
"That's just unfair." Brittany harped. "I could be helping you with Potions or sparring with you for practice too. Helping just me isn't going to help you you know."
Harry grinned as he kissed her cheek. "After the Christmas Holiday's Professor Anya is going to be holding special sessions with the members of the DA and of course, you and your friends are all invited as well. Starting in a few days I'm going to be having lessons with Snape and Professor Anya on alternating days for a while. We won't have as much time together."
"Well that's going to help you right? Then that's a good thing. You really should give Snape a chance. He doesn't hate you." Brittany added.
"Stop deflecting and tell me what Seth said. Or should I just go ask him myself?" Harry teased.
"No, please don't. He said I was finally falling in love. Bring in love makes things better. Also the kissing helped somehow. I walked away from him at that point." Brittany turned her head away from him and began rambling. "I mean he was probably going to make some point about kissing me helping me get out stress. That or he was going to say I was so horrible at Charms because I didn't know how to be charming or-"
Harry placed his lips over hers quickly and silenced her words. His hand moved to entangle itself in her hair as his other pulled her tightly to him once more. Her eyes closed as she melted against him. Her lips moved along his as she gripped his robes in her fists. She pulled him closer to her own body heat. She wanted to feel his heat over every inch she could. Harry let out a soft moan as he pulled away. She was unsure if it was in disappointment at their parting, or happiness at after two months he had kissed her once more.
"Yup, Ron was right. I really did need to do that again." Harry smiled as he moved a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Ron told you to kiss me?" Brittany wondered.
"No, Ron said I needed to do whatever I did on that date to make me so happy. I've apparently been grumpy the last month." Harry replied.
"Hermione mentioned that. I thought it was because Malfoy confronted you in the halls." Brittany was surprised as she moved to sit down.
Harry joined her on the bed. "Nah, I've been used to Malfoy's little temper-tantrums. I just wanted to make sure you were able to understand everything. I think I'm done tutoring you Brittany."
"What? I mean, I know I'm not the best at these things, but I've really been trying. I've gotten loads better. I mean having Neville help me in Herbology was a huge help. Thanks for that by the way. I'm really sorry If I've upset you." Brittany placed her hands over his and looked into his eyes pleadingly.
"You have done well enough that I think if you work with Nix, Scarlett, Serena and Gabriel you should be alright. I don't want to spend the little time I'm going to have leftover from my own schoolwork, Snape, and Professor Anya, spending time with Ron and Hermione teaching you." Harry attempted to placate her.
"You don't want to spend time with me?" Brittany recoiled back as if slapped.
Harry grabbed her hands and looked right into her eyes. "No, I want to spend any free time I have left spending time with you. Playing Wizards Chess, or arguing over Quidditch Teams, or sharing stories, or something even more important."
"What's even more important." Brittany whispered.
"Falling in love with you. We've spent most of the last month and this month studying. Even doing our own work side by side. I like it, and I want to keep doing that." Harry flushed a little, feeling slightly embarrassed at having to admit this. "I've wanted to kiss you for the last month. I couldn't stop thinking about it really. So instead of just studying or doing schoolwork I'm going to spend time enjoying every new memory you give me."
"Oh." Was all she could say with the blush covering her whole face.
"Making you blush just happens to be something I enjoy doing. As well as this." Harry leaned forward and kissed her again.
This kiss was more bold. His lips moved with passion and intent. His hands caressed her sides as he slowly leaned back with her. He made that little noise in the back of his throat again as he pressed his lips more firmly to her own. She in turn curled around him as they lay side by side kissing each other with the pent up frustration of a month and a half of holding back. Harry's hand moved to slide through her hair as he broke apart the kiss for rmuch needed air. His fingers rand over the silver barrette in her hair and he smiled.
"I enjoy seeing you wear this as well. It makes me happy to know you show it off. Whether anyone knows it's from me or not." Harry smiled as he held her close.
"I like seeing you smile. It really makes the room brighter. You have this ability to make all the bad things go away with that smile." Brittany snuggled into his arms.
"Well I actually have something to smile about." Harry reasoned.
"What's that?" Brittany asked with a smirk.
"I'll tell you when you're older." Harry teased.
"Wait, what?" Brittany sat up.
Harry sat up as well. His hand was moving towards one of the pillows covertly. "When you're older. I promise to tell you."
"You, you're teasing me? Blaise told you to say that didn't he?" Brittany grabbed a pillow and made to swing at him only to be blocked by his own pillow.
Harry swung at her and continued swinging as they play fought with pillows. "It you beat me at Wizards Chess I'll tell you."
"I know Blaise told you. I want to know what you have to smile about. You big tease." Brittany huffed, even as she was smiling broadly at their pillow battle.
"We'll just have to wait and see won't we?" Harry continued to tease.
"I'll beat you one day Harry." Brittany challenged back.
"I'm eagerly awaiting the day." Harry laughed. Both their eyes were bright with happiness.
Scarlett took a few minutes to process everything. Brittany continued to sit in her bed, red in the face. "So there you go. You wanted details."
"You said three. You just told me he kissed you four times." Scarlett teased. "You've been holding out on us."
"See, this is why I didn't want to say anything. It's moving so fast." Brittany pressed.
"Brittany you've kissed him four times. Two times on two different days months apart. I would say given the time frame you have you're moving fine. If not a little slowly for my liking." Scarlett added.
"Serena and Gabriel finally went out on a date and they haven't kissed yet." Brittany added.
"Because Gabriel is so shy. If he were more aggressive maybe they would have. Beside each love is different. You can't rush it and you can't force it. It goes at the pace it wants to. If you wanted a slow romance you should have started earlier." Scarlett reasoned.
"He was dating Ginny last year." Brittany tossed back.
"So you did like him last year." Scarlett cheered. "We all knew it even if you didn't."
"Oh stuff it. I may have liked him but I didn't love him." Brittany shot back.
"But you do now." Scarlett kept her voice slightly aggressive. Brittany needed pushing every once in a while. She'd been doing it to her and Nix for years.
"Of course I do. He's everything I need, everything I've ever wanted." Brittany shot back defensively. Her face turned bright red and she gawked at Scarlett. "Scarlett!"
"Oh I know. You've been on cloud nine the last two weeks. You have until the end of the school year to fall in love and get a proposal. You've only got five or so more months left. I would hope you've at least fallen in love by now. Now you can build on it. Nix is going to be so pleased."
"Nix set you up to this?" Brittany squeaked.
"Of course. He and I both know you're too stubborn for your own good. You would have taken a few more precious months to realize your feelings. We had to do something." Scarlett reasoned.
"Now how am I going to face him later on? I'm not sure he's in love with me yet. What if I tell him and he's not there yet. It will be awkward." Brittany began to panic.
"Calm down. You are the queen of awkward. You can handle this. Besides from that story right there if he isn't in love with you yet he will be soon." Scarlett reasoned. "Now come on. We're going to meet Serena, Gabriel and Nix for our group study session. You're going to have to deal with realizing you love Harry Potter on you're own time. You still have classes to do well in."
"Yes mother." Brittany bemoaned as she got out of the bed. "Thanks Scarlett. I'd be lost in this whole love mess without you."
"Anytime Brittany." Scarlett smiled softly. Maybe she'd wait until later to tell her Nix asked her to join him and his parents for Christmas.
The girls were making their way to the library. They were chatting about all the new spells they were learning in Defense Against the Dark Arts when their happy bubble was burst. "Brittany, my dear. Off to the Library again I see."
Both girls froze at the cheerfeul tone in Malfoy's voice. When Draco Malfoy sounded that cheerful something was going well for him. That something usually involved their own misfortune. "Yes, I'm going to study with Scarlett, Nix, Gabriel, and Serena." Brittany replied while turning around.
"That's such good news. I've heard that you've been improving well. Also that you look less tired recently. You must be sleeping well too I take it." Draco purred as he moved towards his obsession slowly.
"Yes, the sleeping droughts from Madam Pomfrey have helped my insomnia." Brittany explained in a slightly kind tone. She had not been bother from him in the last month. Perhaps he was slowing giving up on her. She could only hope.
"That's good to know. I'll make sure Father has some for when you visit for Christmas." Draco dropped the surprise with such glee, Brittany and Scarlett nearly missed what he actually said. They were looking outside to see if Voldemort had embraced the light and was running around outside hugging children and kissing babies.
"Wait, coming over for Christmas? Did my parents make plans to visit with your family over Christmas. I haven't heard anything." Brittany replied still shocked.
"She's joining me and Nix for a tour of Italy. She was hoping to ask her parents soon if she could." Scarlett added quickly.
Brittany rolled with the idea, not realizing it was in part the truth. "I totally forgot about that Scarlett. Shoot. I'll have you and Nix both remind me when we're done studying to ask.
"Come now Brittany. You don't know Nix only wants Scarlett to go with him. He wants to spend time with her. He finally got the stones to ask the girl out. Or he's planning to. You don't want to ruin their chances at a relationship do you?" He pressed. He knew Rivers was planning on asking her out over the trip. He had also not included Brittany in the conversation Pansy had overheard him having with his best friend. She was becoming invaluable.
"How would you know that?" Scarlett shot. Trying to trick Brittany with lies about Nix were over the line. She knew they would only ever be best friends. She could live with that. Bus using her to get to Brittany was low. "Nix and I are just friends. He knows how stressful the holidays are for us with our families. That's why he invited us. Do not try to twist this to get to Brittany."
"I'm not. Maybe you should ask his friend. The shy one. He told him so himself." Pansy added coming up from behind Draco. "I heard it myself."
Brittany was unsure of Pansy's motives, but figured she would help Draco to get into his good graces. Admitting that to Scarlett though, that was actually nice to the struggling girl. "That's, wow Pansy. Thank you for being honest."
"Brittany you can't believe them?"
"Why not? Nix is in love with him and you're in love with him. It's not unbelievable." Brittany pressed.
"Which is why you are going to be spending Christmas at Malfoy manor. You're family was explicit that we get sometime alone together to bond." Draco added his grin spreading across his face with each word.
"What? You can't be serious?" Brittany hissed.
"See I knew it was a trick." Scarlett shot back as she stood in front of her friend.
"You really should be going Nott. Go run along to Rivers and finally snog the man of your dreams. I'm going to talk to my fiancee for a few moments." Draco purred.
"Like bloody hell I will." Scarlett shouted.
"I would recommend you keep your voice down. I don't want to have to send you to detention for causing a scene. Perhaps put in a good word to the girls to start throwing themselves at Rivers. You wouldn't want that now would you?" Draco pressed on.
"You bastard!" Scarlett yelled. She fully intended to break the little shit's nuts over this one. He crossed the line he never should have crossed.
Brittany held her back. "Go to him. I'm sure you'll pass Professor Snape on the way. Let him know what's going on. I won't move from this spot. Just go Scarlett."
"No. Why would you ask me to do that. He molested you when I was right next to you. What do you think he'll do now? I'm not leaving you alone with him." Scarlett pressed looking at her friend as if she lost her mind.
"Then go get Snape. Go to his office and scream your head off till you turn blue what's happening. I won't risk you're relationship with Nix over this. I won't risk you're happiness over my own safety. Malfoy won't hurt me. Just go damn it." Brittany shouted back as she pushed her friend a little. "I'll be alright."
"If it makes you feel better Nott, I only want to speak with her it's been months." Draco added. "Go now and I won't make good on my threat."
Scarlett looked between the pair and wondered if Brittany had lost her mind. "It's Tuesday Scarlett. Nothing bad happens on Tuesday."
Scarlett turned around and bolted. It was Tuesday. Harry had his special lessons with Snape until seven on Tuesdays. Brittany was telling her to go get Snape. "I'm going to talk to Snape. She better be untouched and not crying when I get back here with him and my friends."
Draco began to open his mouth but Brittany beat him to it. "Send them away Draco. Send them away and we'll talk. Right here just the two of us. I won't fight you on this if you let her do what she wants and you send them away. I doubt your Godfather will come running because you want to talk to me."
Draco could have died right there. She was giving in to him She was backing down and actually submitting to his will. It was not full submission but it worked. "Very well. I'll see you all back in the common rooms."
"But Draco. You said that-"
"Not right now Pansy. My fiancee might finally be coming to her senses." Draco shot back.
"Fine." Pansy turned to see that Brittany was not happy. She was waiting for something. She did this to save her friends from Draco's manipulation. "Good luck with that."
Draco moved to step closer. "I've missed you so much Brittany. I've been worried sick about you."
"Please stay where you are Malfoy. I don't feel safe around you. You get any closer and I'll show you just what my tutor's been teaching me." Brittany warned showing her wand. "I don't want to fight."
"I'm hurt Brittany. You know I would never hurt you without reason. You provoked me last time. You should know better than to make me jealous. Well you would if you ever had before. I may have over reacted. I should have been more gentle. I'll be more gentle next time." Draco admitted. "I scared you, that's understandable. You reacted that way years ago. I'm sorry."
Brittany nodded. "I can't trust you. You know I don't love you. Why are you forcing this issue?"
"Because I love you. You don't know how that feels. You think you hate me, but you don't. You've never really been with anyone so you don't understand. You do actually love me. You're just scared." Draco pressed.
"No, I really don't love you. You've tormented me for as long as I can remember. You should find someone who loves you as well. Then you marry that person." Brittany pressed.
"You'll understand once you stop being so scared. I see you trembling." Draco moved in closer. He smirked, when all Brittany did was raise her wand. "You wouldn't got back on your word. I'm still just talking to you. I don't want to have to hurt your friends. I want you to see the truth."
Draco was not only a few feet away. Hurry up Harry. "You don't love me. Draco if you did you would stop trying to change me. I am who I am. I'm not some dumb bimbo you can mold into the perfect wife. I'm a human being."
"Now that is low. You know I love you. You've always known. That's why your terrified. You're terrified to be alone with me because you're afraid to give in. You're terrified to admit feeling for me because you don't think I'm going to be faithful. You mock and challenge me because you want me to earn you. I've loved you since we were children. You've been mine since we've were children. I am yours as well."
He stepped closer and was now only a foot away. "I've been yours since they day we met. Those other women were for experience with love and lust. So I can be better for you. I'm would conquer the world for you. Make you it's queen as you deserve. You would only have to love and honor me. Don't you see. You were born to be mine."
Brittany raised her other hand and slapped him. "I told you to stay over there. Get over your delusions. I am not your property. I am my own person. Who I fall in love with is my choice. Who I marry is my choice. You can't take that from me."
Draco glared as he held his cheek. "I'm not taking that from you. I'm showing you, you ungrateful bitch, that you're choice is me. You're only choice." He moved faster than she could and he griped her hand harshly. "Stop being so damned scared and admit you love me."
"I despise you. You push yourself onto me. You force your way into my life. You expect me to be something I'm not. You don't love me and I will never love you." Brittany hissed as she tried to pry her hand free.
"Stop it. Just stop being so stubborn. You are mine. Merlin you just don't get it. "I've wanted you all my life and you will marry me. You will fall in love with me. And you will be mine even after you die. I own you Brittany. Stop fighting it or I'm going to have to teach you just how nice I've been these last few years. I can love you and treat you like a queen. But if you're going to act like a spoiled little bitch I'll make you're life a living hell until you realize just how wrong you are."
Draco moved closer and pulled her towards him. He closed his eyes intending to kiss her. Brittany screamed and threw her head back attempting to get away. When all of a sudden she felt Draco lurch backwards and she was about to go with him when a familiar and comforting pair of arms wrapped around her waist. Harry had just used Flipendo non verbally on Draco to save her. They had worked on that spell a few times.
Brittany turned to see Harry's face more enraged than she had ever seen it before. "Harry." She whispered.
"Malfoy. If I ever hear you say something like that to her again I'll make sure not you're mother won't be able to identify you. You dare to claim you love this girl yet you treat her like bloody shit. Keep away from her. She's not yours." Harry shouted.
Malfoy stood up and wondered where the bloody hell Harry Potter came from. "Who are you to talk about that to me? She's going to marry me at the end of this year. She's mine. Just because you hate me does not give you the right to interfere in this." Draco hissed.
"She needs protection from you! I'll hide her where even you can't find her." Harry continued as he held Brittany as tightly as he could. He needed to feel her in his arms to calm down. To know he had saved her.
"You don't know what you're getting in the middle of Potter. She's just a Slytherin. Go waste your last year of life with your Weaslette. And get your fifthly hands off of her right now! Or I'm going to make that little red haired slut regret it." Draco shouted as he came close towards the pair. "Brittany move away from him or so help me I'll hurt everyone of your friends until you beg for mercy."
"Over my dead body Malfoy." Harry shot back as he raised his wand.
"Why are you protecting her?" Draco hissed back.
"Because she asked me to." Harry shot back with pride as he smirked and looked down at her. "She asked me to protect her from you. Whatever it takes to keep her safe."
Draco reeled back. "You asked him, him, of all people for help? Potter can't save you from this. This will only make things worse for you. I'll forgive you if you come with me right now."
"She's not going with you Malfoy."
"Stay out of this!"
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't need to tell you that. She'll suffer you're punishment as well."
"She's not a pet or a thing. You can't punish her for doing what she wants."
"She's mine and I'll do what I want Potter. Get off of her!"
"Like hell I will. Come and make me Malfoy. Too scared to face me like a man?"
"I'll end you."
"In you're dreams."
"Stop it please."
"Yes, Potter Stop it. She's seeing the light now."
"You should stop it Malfoy. You're scaring her."
"That's it. You give me no choice. I'm contacting your father."
"Oh that's rich. Use her father to control her. How long is that going to work Malfoy."
"It'll work fine when he forces her to marry me this Christmas."
"Too bad she'll be with me."
"What?" Draco shot completely taken aback by that comment. Draco took a second to look at the situation, to study the details. Brittany was clinging, clinging to Harry Potter. Her arms were wrapped around him so tightly he was sure she was squeezing the life out of him. Potter was holding her almost tenderly it seemed. It was protective, but still tender. No it can't be. This can't have happened. He was in love with the Weaslette.
"Get away from her now Potter." Draco's voice was darker than it had ever been before.
"Never." Harry hissed back. "Unless Brittany tells me to go I'm not leaving. Even then I'll bring her with if she thinks sending me away to save me is smart." He smiled at her knowingly. With Scarlett he understood, with him he'd be a little upset. Not to mention concerned for her sanity. That voice growled out in his mind. She is my love. You'll never have her Malfoy.
"Leave my woman alone. You think she could ever fall in love with you? I will do with her as I please and you will never have her. She is mine." Draco hissed.
"I-" Brittany began and thanked every star she had for the nasally angered and very known voice that interrupted them.
"Enough! I don't know how you kept these halls unoccupied Draco but this stops now. You and I are going to speak with your father right this instant. Potter I expect you to take Miss Zabini to her brother and then leave. Do whatever you want after that. If you're ignorant brain cannot comprehend what you are getting in the middle off then you should back off. Now go!"
Harry and Brittany needed no other encouragement and moved quickly to get away from them. Harry held her tightly as they left and whispered. "Don't ever scare me like that again." Brittany only mumbled an apology as she held onto her savior all the tighter.
"But Snape!" Draco shouted as Snape grabbed him by the arm, and began dragging him to his office.
"No, I warned you what forcing yourself on her would do. I warned you that pushing her would push her away. You are doing this to yourself. Stop this before you make things worse for yourself." Snape grumbled as he led his godson away. "That insipid boy would ruin everything if you keep pushing her towards you." He hissed. Thankfully the damage has already been done. He loves her, and she loves him. The most you can do is try and force her father's hand O highly doubt those two stubborn fools would even care. "She has expressed her desire to die before she marries you to me herself, if you keep acting this way. Which is why I forbid you from causing a scene, and put her in a room where you'd have less contact with her. If she kills herself you can't marry her; she'll be dead. I told you to be patient. She'll come to you whether she wants to or not. You have to stop scaring her."
"I can't help it. I get so infuriated when she fights me. Then when Potter puts his hands all over her, and she holds onto him I lose it completely." Draco shot back.
"She holds him because he keeps you away from her. She does not feel safe."
"How do I make her feel safe?"
"Stop threatening her and her friends and stop trying to force your will on her openly. Be subtle like I told you. You'll marry her this summer. Calm yourself. We will be speaking with your father in a few moments." You had better keep her away from Draco. Potter I don't think she'll be safe at school anymore if he gets near her again.
"Harry! Malfoy's with Brittany!" Scarlett screamed as she burst into the headmaster's office.
"Miss Nott! What do you mean with Miss Zabini?" Snape asked as he stood up and stiffened.
"He threatened to ruin my relationship with Nix so Brittany sent me to get Harry without Malfoy knowing. She's by herself. I came to get you as soon as I could."
Harry stood up from the chair. Previously fatigued but now full of energy. "Where are they?"
"In the third corridor before the Library. Please hurry."
"If he lays one finger on her I'm going to hurt him." Harry vowed.
"You will not use leathal force Potter." Snape ordered.
Harry turned as they ran out of the office. "So long as she is safe I won't. I promised her I'd never let him lay a hand on her again. I mean to keep that promise." The look in his eyes was one of feirce protectiveness, of love, and a promise of pain if someone should try and take that way from him.
"I'll keep my eyes on the situation I will intervene if I deem it necessary." Snape replied as he slowed his pace. "You love her."
"I do."
"You'd face everything in her path or yours to protect her."
"I would."
"You might want to consider keeping her somewhere my godson can't get to her."
"Every second I'm not with her."
Snape sighed as they entered his office. "Miss Nott came in here, screaming about how you were going to torment Miss Zabini again, if I did not go fetch you right away. You're very lucky nothing happened. Hopefully your father will be able to talk some sense into you since I cannot." He rubbed at his temples. "I doubt now she will even entertain the notion of joining you for Christmas."
"But our father decided-" Draco argued.
"Again. Ask yourself what happens if you keep pushing. She will find a way to get out of the marriage. She will end her life. No one wants that. You need to stop acting like a child and think."
"I'll bet our father's still make her. She's mine." Draco griped.
Not anymore.
Harry held Brittany in her room as she trembled in his arms. He had locked the door after he sent Scarlett to go explain everything to the others. Brittany did not need her over protective brother ranting and raving right now. He knew she just needed to cry. For whatever reason she had not started to yet.
"I'm sorry. I broke my promise. I swore he'd never lay a hand on you again." Harry whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"It wasn't your fault. I sent Scarlett to get you because we were out numbered. I had to keep him pacified. At least until my White Knight could save me." Brittany replied with a shaky smile.
"I don't know if you're safe here anymore." Harry replied.
"You're here. That's the safest place for me." Brittany reasoned as she moved to go to her loveseat.
"Where are you going? You don't think I'm letting you out of my arms until I can assure myself you are actually safe and he didn't do anything to hurt you." Harry chuckled a little as she let out a whine of disappointment. He moved them both to the couch and sat down with her. She kissed his chin in thanks at realizing what she wanted.
"Sorry, my legs were getting to shaky to keep standing up." Brittany replied as she snuggled into him.
"What did he do?" Harry pressed.
Brittany recounted the details and slowly her wall came crashing down. At the end she was balling into his shirt about how scared she was until he came to save her. Harry continued to hold her as she cried. He ran one hand soothingly up and down her back while the other played with her hair. He nuzzled the top of her head and sat there quietly as she cried.
Either you are spending every moment not in class with me, or I'll send you to Grimmauld Place to keep you from him. Too much more of this and he'll actually harm you in a way I'll have to kill him for. We should not have gotten so lax in our defenses. Just because he backed off did not mean he gave up. I'll remember that for next time. You're my girl and I'll keep you safe. He thought with a fierce determination.
"Thank you for rescuing me Harry. I don't know what I would do without you."
"I'll never let you find out. I'm always going to come back to save you." Harry replied as she smiled into his chest, even as more tears flowed from her eyes. "Always."