Chapter 34
LB
By the time I reached the castle, I could hear the singing and chanting coming from the quidditch pitch. I changed back to my human form as I saw the students walking towards the castle. Crookshanks saw the large crowd come closer and ran inside before a stampede would occur. It was obvious who had won. First the Ravenclaws came in singing, then the Hufflepuffs. If Slytherin had won, they would never be singing. Then the Gryffindors came into view, singing louder than I ever heard them. I saw that the twins were carrying Harry on their shoulders, Harry was holding the cup high in the air, laughing. When Harry found me, he called out for me.
"ALEC!"
I smiled wide as I waved at him. Clumsily he jumped off the twins' shoulders and pressed the cup in Oliver's hands. The twins followed amused as Harry came running over to me. His arms flung around me, hugging me tight. "We won! We won the cup!"
"I know." I laughed. Harry pulled back with a beaming smile before he planted one on me. My eyes were large, but Harry just sang again as he walked back to the team, celebrating. When I saw the twins in front of me, they had an amused but grumbled look on their faces. I couldn't help the laughter that burst out, and the twins joined in. When they were close to me, they pulled me in a twin hug. "Congratulations." I beamed up at them.
"Thank you." They bowed. "You missed quite the show."
I stilled as they straightened back up. "You knew I wasn't there?"
"Of course." They said.
"Where were you?" Fred asked.
"Nott was there, but you weren't."
"I -" I didn't know what to say, I would've never expected them to notice my absence. "I'm sorry, I didn't sleep at all last night. I just slept through my alarm clock. I'm so sorry."
"That's okay." Fred said wrapping his arm around my shoulder, while George grabbed my waist. "If you do us a little favour."
"A favour? Like what?"
"Hm." George hummed in my ear. "We'll think of something."
"Nothing too gross, okay." I chuckled. "And please don't tell Harry." I stepped out from between them. "I got to go see Draco. Party later?"
"What do you think?" Fred huffed with a grin. I smiled at them both and kissed their cheeks before looking for the Slytherins. First, I saw the Slytherin students trickle in slowly and defeated behind the Gryffindors. I stopped the seventh year, Aiden, when I didn't spot Nott or Draco.
"Hey, Aiden. Do you know where Emmett is or Draco?"
"The team is still in the changing rooms, I bet Emmett is there for his brother."
"Okay, thanks." I said before I pushed passed the Slytherins and made my way to the changing rooms. I saw Emmett pacing in front of the entrance of the changing rooms. When his back was to me, I stopped him by wrapping my arms around his waist. "I'm sorry."
He placed his hand on mine. "You know, you're the only Gryffindor I would believe when they say that."
"Good." I smiled against his back. He turned in my grasp and he titled my chin to give me soft kiss.
"They're going to be in there for a while." He said looking back to the changing rooms. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah, sure. Everything okay?" I asked as I followed him to the back of the bleachers.
"Depends." He combed his hand through his hair. "I like you, Alec. You're the first Gryffindor I liked. You're funny, sweet, smart and smoking hot." He grinned. "And the sex." He blew out a whistle.
"Okay." I said slowly. I think he was feeling the same as me, but I wasn't sure, so I waited for him to continue.
"But there is something missing, isn't there?" He asked as he took my hands in his. "That something to make a relationship work."
I looked at him and started to laugh, my head falling against his chest. Emmett looked surprised and confused down at me. "I feel the same." I said when my laughter died down. "I don't know what exactly there is missing, but something just is. On paper, we would match perfectly. Like you said, we like each other, you are smart and witty, and the sex is amazing. But after four months there has to be something more right, like love? Or at least really falling for each other."
"You are amazing, you know that."
"I know." I chuckled and he kissed me again, pushing me against the bleachers.
"I have to admit, I will miss this."
"Maybe you shouldn't." I looked up to him. "We can keep this casual, and the moment there is someone else, we stop. We've been together for four months without any real feelings for each other. I think we could do it."
"I like the way you think, Alec." He purred my name and hitched his hands under my legs and picked me up. Our tongues danced around each other, as my hand went into his hair. He started kissing my neck, nipping and sucking it hard. I let my head fall to the side, that's when I noticed that the door from the changing rooms had opened.
"Emmett." I moaned his name as he sucked on a sensitive spot. "The team is walking out." He lowered my legs slowly and groaned against my neck.
"Right. Let's go." He said as he adjusted his trousers. I laughed at his strained situation, and we walked to the grim team. Emmett clapped his brother on his back, while I turned to look for Draco. When my eyes found Theo, he nodded to do changing room. I gave him a small smile before I headed in.
LB
Just like with muggles, each player had his own open cupboard where their clothes, protection and brooms were hanging in. Draco was sitting on the floor, his back against the bench, his head dropped low. I slid down next to him, and we sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I'm a failure." He said, his voice barely audible.
"No, you're not." I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and pulled him close. "Don't you ever think that. Potter is just -"
"Better than me." He mumbled.
"He has a firebolt." I pointed out. "And you know, you're too big." Draco lifted his head, and he looked at me with a funny expression, making me chuckle. "I mean, seekers are supposed to be small, and light." I pinched his arm. "You're getting too tall and broad, cousin."
"I guess I can take that as a compliment." He said with a small smile.
"You should. Every girl or boy is going to fall for you. With those arms and your gorgeous stormy grey eyes."
"Are you saying that to give yourself a compliment?" He chuckled.
"What? Are my arms that big?" I flexed my arms, and I could see a first real smile appear on his lips. "Come on, let's get you something to drown your sorrows in." I nudged him. Draco stood up and took me hands in his, to pull me up. "I've got some fire whiskey stashed in my room.
"Don't you want to celebrate with your friends?" He asked as we walked out the changing room. The others Slytherins were gone, probably already drinking the defeat away themselves.
"I'll meet them a little later. I'm sure the party is going to last until well into the night. Now, my cousin needs me."
"You're the best cousin I've ever had."
"You don't have many cousins to choose from." I chuckled. "And would you still feel the same, if I didn't give you booze?"
"Depends on the day." He joked and ducked just in time when my hand flew to his head. He laughed as he ran over the pitch, me on his heels.
LB
After an hour of drinking in my chambers, Draco was going over the books in our bookcase curiously when Remus walked in. His eyes were fixed on me, angry. I gulped a little as I jumped up. That's when he noticed Draco standing at the bookcase.
"Draco, you played well today." His eyes softened as he walked to the young boy and shook his hand.
"Thank you, professor." He looked between Remus and I, before stepping aside. "I should get going. Thanks for cheering me up, Alexandra."
"Any time, cousin." I kissed his cheek and slipped the rest of the bottle of fire whiskey in his robes. He grinned at me and with a nod to Remus, he walked out the door. I turn to see Remus leaning against his desk, scowling. "So, the drinking or staying out all night?" I asked leaning against the wall.
"Both."
"Draco just lost the quidditch cup, he said he was a failure, uncle Moony." I rubbed my eyes tiredly; it's been a long day/night. "All because of his stupid father, he thinks he's a failure if things don't come through. I tried to cheer him up."
"Okay." He gave a short nod.
"And I went out last night to explore the... forest." I think I could feel the daggers pierce my skin when he looked at me like that. "As Loki. And I got a little lost and stayed at a hide out until it was light out."
"Why didn't you send a Patronus?"
"Then I needed to change back, and there where tons of dementors in the forest. By the time they left, I had fallen asleep." I rubbed my arm subconsciously. "Oh, that reminds me. Look." I turned into Loki on the spot and held out my paw. Remus pushed himself off the couch and crouched down, inspecting my paw. His eyes turned a bit larger when he recognized the mark. He stepped back to let me transform back. "A bit like McGonagall and her spectacles."
"Yeah." He nodded. "But will this happen with every tattoo you get? Because Sir-" He stopped himself from talking as he looked anywhere but me.
"I'll go to my room." I said.
"Why?"
"Aren't I grounded?"
"Hm, no." He said with pursed lips. "I can't ground you in a school where nobody gets grounded, that seems unfair. You can do three nights of detention."
"Doing what?"
"I'll think of something."
I smiled as I flung my arms around his waist. "You're the best."
"Wait until you know what your detention is." He joked. "Go to the party, cub."
"I love you." I kissed his cheek.
"I love you too, now go. If it gets too late and you decide to stay with Angelina, send me a message."
"I promise."
LB
The party was already in full swing when I arrived. The moment the portrait opened the music echoed loudly in the hallway. I quickly walked in and closed the portrait behind me, enclosing the music in the common room. The last first and second years were guided up the dorms as it was nearly ten-thirty when I arrived. I saw Harry talking to Ron and when he saw me enter, he blushed fiercely. I just smiled at him before my eyes went around the room. The next person they halted on was Hermione. She was tucked in the corner, her head on the table as she slept. I walked towards her and nudged her awake. When she lifted her head, I saw a glimpse of a golden necklace around her neck. I shifted my eyes and looked at her droopy eyes.
"Let's get you upstairs, sleepyhead." I wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her up. Slow steps as we walked up the spiral staircase. Once we reached the third landing, Hermione pointed to the first door, and I opened it. Hermione stumbled to her bed and crashed on it, already asleep. I chuckled as I pulled off her shoes. Then I swapped her casual muggle clothes with a pair of pyjamas with a wave of my wand. I tucked her in, placing the blanket just under her chin and kissed the top of her bushy hair. "Goodnight, Granger." She snored slightly by the time I left the room and headed back to the party.