{ 20 }
"Glad to see you weren't shipped off to Azkaban." Theo clapped me on the back as I sat down between him and Blaise.
"Uh…thanks? Me too." I filled my plate, just realizing I missed lunch today.
"Tracey was ranting in the common room this morning about you staying out all night again. An hour later, McGonagall was looking for you."
Tracey. Merlin and Salazar. I rolled my eyes. Let her rant all she wants.
"Completely unrelated, I assure you." I searched out the Gryffindor table and found Hermione sitting next to Potter. She shook her head at whatever he was saying. It seems we both have meddling friends.
"Well, watch your back anyway. She's got it out for you." Blaise muttered just low enough that I could hear him. "You're going to do whatever you want, but if I were you, I would plan to sleep in the dorm tonight."
I mulled over his advice. It's solid, but still. He doesn't know what I know.
I sighed. I suppose I need to tell them.
"She doesn't have anything on me. I haven't broken any rules." I could feel his eyes burning holes in the side of my head. "Seriously. Trust me on this one."
"Curfew, Draco. It's a rule. It always has been."
Students around us talked, laughed, gossiped. I am not under the illusion that no one is listening to us, though. Information is power, and the easiest way to get information is to take it from unsuspecting people that think no one else is listening.
"Let's finish this conversation later, alright?"
Theo looked like he wanted to argue, but nodded in agreement and returned to his food. The three of us ate in silence. When we were finished, I nudged both of them and nodded towards the door.
They shared a look between them, but still they followed me out of the Great Hall. I found an empty room down the hallway and ushered them inside, then I warded the door behind us.
"This doesn't leave this room. Bones would probably strangle me for telling you two." That got their attention. Theo sat down and Blaise leaned against a table. They both stared at me, waiting for me to continue.
"Spit it out, then." Theo tapped his fingers impatiently against the desk.
"Curfew." I smirked at them, crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back against the door. "I haven't broken it."
They waited for me to continue. I gave them a minute to ponder before I finished.
"That rule specifically states that it applies to all underage students."
It was my turn to wait. It took a minute before Blaise' forehead wrinkled up.
"Are you saying…"
"I'm saying that I have not broken any rules."
Blaise looked relieved. Theo looked skeptical.
"How sure are you?" He was not convinced.
"Bones was the one that pointed it out to me. She also asked me not to tell anyone. They don't want all of the eighth years knowing they are free to roam the castle at night."
It took a few seconds before Theo burst out laughing.
"You have got to be the luckiest bloke in the world." His shoulders relaxed and he slumped back in his seat.
I don't know about all that.
"There is something else the two of you should know." I walked across the room to the window and sat on the stone ledge. Flashes of lightning could be seen in the distance. The storm was getting closer. "You know McGonagall was looking for me. Hermione and I were in her office most of the morning."
The whole situation still seems surreal. I don't think I've even processed it in my mind yet, because now that I think about it I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
"And?" Blaise broke the silence.
"Giles went to McGonagall. He told her that Hermione isn't being challenged enough and she's being disruptive to the class."
"She barely even talks in class." Theo looked as confused as I had been when I heard it myself.
"The rest of her professors agreed." And now I'm offended on her behalf all over again. My hand curled into a fist.
It didn't take much for them to all turn on the Golden Girl, did it?
"I thought McGonagall loved Granger. She was her star pupil." Blaise lifted himself up to sit on the table he had been leaning on.
"That was before, wasn't it? When Granger was Little Miss Perfect. Now, she's McGonagall's worst nightmare." Theo scoffed. "Brilliant and talented, yes. But also rebellious. Fearless. With a huge ass chip on her shoulder, mental health issues and suicidal tendancies."
"That's enough, Theo." My brow furrowed and my hand twitched towards my wand. He was getting into dangerous territory.
"Am I wrong? I could say most of that about any one of us." He raised his brow and smirked at me. "Take all of that, add in the fact that she's shacking up with you…"
"Shacking up? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I could have laughed if I hadn't been so offended by his off hand comment.
"Oh, come on, Draco." He rolled his eyes and grinned. "Would you rather I say she's fucking you?"
My reaction was instantaneous and visceral. I went from offended to pissed the fuck off in a heartbeat.
"I'd rather you do not make those kinds of assumptions." My lip curled in distaste. Honestly, I thought Theo had more class than that.
His eyes widened and the smile fell from his face.
"Relax. I was joking around." He finally seemed to realize that I wasn't laughing. "Seriously, I didn't know it was a touchy subject."
"I'm pretty sure everyone has made that assumption, mate." Blaise chuckled. "It isn't Theo's fault if you haven't been able to get under her skirt yet."
"Merlin and Salazar! I am not trying to get under her skirt." I threw my hands up in the air. I swear, these two are worse than Pansy and Daphne.
"Then what are you trying to do?" Theo looked at me, flabbergasted. Then he looked at Blaise, who shrugged his shoulders.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath.
"No offense, but I've seen the two of you snogging. You can't possibly convince me there isn't physical attraction and sexual tension there." Blaise scoffed.
I need to shut this down. Now. They'll keep digging until they find answers that I do not want them to have.
"Not everything is about sex." In fact, I have no idea if I will ever have sex. With Hermione or anyone else for that matter. "She isn't ready. And I am not going to push her. We have our whole lives for that."
Fuck. Did I say that out loud?
Theo and Blaise sat in stunned silence. Yep. I definitely said it out loud.
"We talked to her a few days ago." Blaise cleared his throat. "Granger."
I watched him for a long moment. Why would he bring that up now?
"I am aware." I answered carefully. "She told me you threatened her."
He didn't deny it.
"She needed to know what you are giving up for her. And the consequences if she has less than honorable intentions."
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling.
"And were you satisfied with her response?"
Not that I care.
"She seemed genuine enough." He wiped his palms against his pants nervously. "The funny thing is, when I asked what her intentions were, do you know what she said?"
I shook my head no. And I have no idea where he is going with this or what it has to do with anything.
"She said you have your whole lives to figure it out." Theo spoke quietly, but the words echoed in my mind long after he said them.
I haven't talked to her about our future. But if I'm being honest, when I think of the future, she's there.
Always.
The common room was bustling with activity when the three of us walked in together. There was a group of third years studying for a potions exam in the corner. Fifth years were playing chess. Some of the older girls were gossiping in a different corner.
We claimed an empty table and sat down. Pansy and Daphne joined us a few moments later. Over the course of the next hour, I learned several things I had missed.
First, and most disturbing, Tracey and Greg had hooked up. Apparently that was how she knew I was not in bed last night. She had been in Greg's bed and noticed I wasn't there.
Second, Theo had played a re-match of chess with Lovegood at lunch, and had lost for a second time to the whimsical witch.
And third, Blaise was considering asking a Hufflepuff to the dance. Pansy smacked him in the back of the head and told him to stop thinking about it and do it already. The dance is in a week. He can't stand to wait too much longer.
When the younger years had all gone to bed, and it was just us eighth years, Daphne produced a bottle of firewhiskey.
For a brief period of time, we forgot who we are, forgot the things we have seen or done, forgot that for most of us, our destinies are predetermined.
When I finally laid my head against my pillow and closed my eyes, I remembered what it had felt like, to sleep with Hermione by my side, and I drifted to sleep, dreaming of strawberry fields and chocolate kisses.
I woke Sunday morning with a pounding headache, a horrible taste in my mouth and a feeling of cold dread that I couldn't shake.
"You look like hell." The girl Weasley snarked as I neared the Great Hall. I turned with a sneer on my face to see her and Hermione walking down the staircase. Hermione was smacking the red headed witch's arm.
"Ginny!" She hissed.
I bit my tongue. Better not to say anything I would regret later.
Hermione looked like a sight for sore eyes. I focused on her and ignored Ginny altogether. She was wearing faded blue jeans, and a long sleeved shirt that had a picture of a hag on a broom and the words 'Support your Local Witches' surrounding the picture. Her hair was loose and wavy. It was getting longer now, hanging past her shoulders.
"Where do you get these shirts?" I tried to ignore the feeling of gloom and doom that surrounded me.
She glanced down then back at me with a smile.
"It's cute, right? I got it over the summer at a muggle store."
My brow crinkled in confusion. I always thought that muggles didn't know anything about our world.
"Are you okay?" She slid her arms around my waist.
"Fine." I released a deep sigh and pulled her closer. Had it only been twelve hours since I held her? It felt like an eternity.
"A little hungover maybe." I admitted quietly in her ear.
She shook her head and chuckled against my chest. Then she stepped back and started looking through her bag. A moment later she pulled out a vial and handed it to me.
"Pepper up potion." She smirked.
"You are a life saver." I took the potion and swallowed it down quickly. I closed my eyes and could instantly feel the potion going to work. After thirty seconds, I could take a deep breath without pain lancing though my head, and the churning in my stomach had eased.
"Better?" I could hear the smirk that I'm sure still plastered her face.
Physically I felt better, but that feeling of impending doom still persisted. I rubbed at my heart absently.
"Much." I opened my eyes and took in the witch in front of me through new eyes. She was still beautiful. Her eyes were tired though. "Did you sleep last night?"
She cleared her throat and pushed her hair back behind her ears.
"A little." Her cheeks darkened and she averted her eyes.
Interesting. Why would she be embarrassed by that? I tilted my head to the side and watched her. She fiddled with her hair and her eyes darted over to Ginny then back to me again.
"This is still creepy. I just want both of you to know that." Weasley rolled her eyes and motioned between Granger and I. "It's against nature."
She shook her head, laughing at some inside joke between herself and Hermione, then she left us alone at the base of the stairs.
"What is creepy?" My brow furrowed. Hermione's cheeks had turned and even darker red than before.
"Ignore her." She covered her face with both hands and took a deep breath.
What am I missing?
I settled my hands on her waist and pulled her closer.
"Are you going to tell me why your face is bright red?"
She rolled her eyes and huffed out a laugh.
"Fine. You asked me if I slept last night. And I did, a little bit, but…Oh Merlin, this is so stupid." She bit her bottom lip. "I had dreams. Very graphic dreams. About you. And me. And it felt so real, like if I opened my eyes you would be right there. But you weren't there, and I was…disappointed."
My heart thudded in my chest. Her admission felt huge. She dreamt of me. She missed me. She wanted me there, with her, at night. And maybe not just to comfort her.
"I wish I could be there every night."
Maybe, someday.
She looked up at me through her lashes. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Me too." She barely whispered before laying her head against my chest and wrapping her arms around my back. I held her tight for a few heartbeats.
"Alright. Breakfast. Let's go." She stepped away, slipped her hand into mine and pulled me towards the Great Hall.
The feeling of dread persisted throughout the day. I tried to ignore it, but unlike Hermione, I actually believe in Divination. Something bad is going to happen. I am sure of it.
All day, I was on guard, watching the people around me. In the library, Hermione even asked me if everything was alright and gave me curious glances as we sat quietly at a corner table.
How am I supposed to explain to her that something just feels off? She would think I've lost the plot. Hell. Maybe I have. I debated it back and forth in my head several times before I decided.
I leaned closer to her and covered her hand with my own. She paused and turned to look at me. I could see curiosity and concern in her eyes.
"Have you ever had a feeling that something bad was about to happen?"
She blinked several times. Then her eyebrow rose and she smirked at me.
"Only every minute of every day." She huffed a short laugh. "How long have you felt like that?"
"All day." I turned to face her completely. "I don't know what it's about."
Her eyes searched mine for a long moment. Finally, she must have found what she was looking for.
"Alright. Whatever it is, we'll handle it."
I pulled her forward for a quick kiss, because honestly, how could I not?
"You're kind of amazing, you know that?"
She shook her head in disagreement, but her face lit up with the compliment.
"Shut up." Her cheeks tinged pink. She turned away from me, pushed her hair behind her ear and leaned over the book that was open in front of her on the table.
"What are you reading, anyway?" Personally, I had been working on arithmancy homework.
"It's a biography of Rowena Ravenclaw." She didn't even lift her eyes off the pages.
"Okay. Why?"
She sighed and pushed the book back.
"I figured I should know something about her before I try to read her book." She rolled her shoulders back and flipped the book in front of her closed. "What do you say we get out of here?"
"I thought you'd never ask." Getting out of there sounds like a great idea. I stood and held my hand out. She took it readily and we left the library together.
It was close enough to dinner time that we made our way downstairs to the Great Hall. The room was half full of students mulling around. Some were working on homework. Others were playing games like exploding snap and chess. Some were just sitting in small groups, talking.
"Draco. Look." Hermione pulled on my arm and pointed me towards the end of the Ravenclaw table. It took me a few seconds to realize Theo was sitting there across from Luna with a chessboard between them.
Luna was chatting away as we drew near. Theo was focused on the board, ignoring the blonde witch. The way his brow was furrowed, the game was not going his way. Again.
We were within earshot when his king fell.
"Ouch. What is that, three times now?" I clapped him on the back. He turned and glared at me.
"You play her, then. See how well you fare." He grumbled. Then he slid over on the bench and motioned me to sit.
I shrugged my shoulder and sat down across from Luna. Hermione sat next to me. Her hip and leg pressed against mine. Her right hand interlaced with my left.
"There are wrackspurts surrounding you. Did you know?" Luna tilted her head and looked at me with concern.
"Don't worry, Lovegood. He always looks like that." Theo joked.
I rolled my eyes. I have no idea what she's talking about, but with her, that's to be expected.
"Luna. Did you figure out how to cure your carnivorous tulip?" Hermione squeezed my hand in a quick pulse.
"Not yet." Luna made her first move. "I have a few more of your recommendations to try, though."
"Did you say you have a carnivorous tulip?" Theo sounded impressed. "Those are quite rare."
"Oh, yes. But it has a fungus on its petals that I can't seem to cure."
Our game continued as Luna, Hermione and Theo began having a conversation regarding the possible remedies for her plant. I tuned it all out and focused on my strategy. Luna seemed to be quite distracted by the topic, so I had hope that it would make her sloppy.
I wonder if that was Hermione's intent when she started the conversation to begin with. I glanced over at her. As though she sensed my gaze, she turned towards me and gave me a small smile. I held her hand a little tighter and forced myself to not laugh at her antics.
In the end, it didn't matter. Luna's final attack took me completely off guard and my king fell just as Theo's had. I stared at the board for several long seconds after it was over trying to figure out where I had gone wrong.
"Tough break." Theo whispered with a chuckle.
"Yeah. She has a style all her own." I looked up at the witch across from me. "Good game, Luna."
"Oh, thank you." Her eyes lit up as she smiled.
Hermione's hand tightened around mine.
I turned to see her watching Luna with a scowl on her face.
"What's wrong?" I leaned close and spoke softly so only she could hear me.
"Nothing." She blinked quickly and shook her head. "It's fine."
Her eyes darted quickly between Luna and Theo. She took a deep breath before pasting on the fakest smile I have ever seen on her. I don't know what I missed. There was something bothering her, though.
"Excuse me." She stood quickly and walked away without another word. I watched her until she disappeared through the large wooden doors.
What the hell was that all about?
By the time I made it to the entrance hall, she was on her way out the front doors. I found her in the courtyard, pacing back and forth.
She saw me coming and paused in her movement. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back against the stone railing. She leaned next to me.
"I just needed to get some fresh air." She tapped her foot against the ground. "It took me by surprise, that's all."
I'm glad she cleared that up. I rolled my eyes and waited for her to elaborate.
After several long moments, I realized that she was not going to give me any more to go on than that.
"What took you by surprise?" I prompted her. "Me losing to Lovegood? Believe me, I was surprised, also."
She huffed out a short laugh and leaned her head against my shoulder.
"No. That was to be expected." She sighed. "I was referring to Luna and Theo."
"It's killing him that he keeps losing to her." I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her against my side.
"That's not what I'm talking about, Draco." She curled further into me. The air was chilly and neither one of us were wearing cloaks. "Luna likes him."
Wait. What? How did I miss that?
"Luna…what?"
She pushed away from me and started pacing again.
"She was the only friend of mine that never gave me shit about being with you. I can't not be supportive. But…Merlin! Why Theo?"
"Woah." I stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop pacing. "What's wrong with Theo?"
She blinked several times before taking a step back, away from me.
"Draco, he hates me."
That's not true. That can't be true.
She started pacing again.
He did threaten her, and accused her of trying to get you sent to Azkaban.
Yes, there was that.
And he has suggested numerous times that she's up to something and you should not trust her.
Right. He did do that.
He called her a mudblood.
A cold chill ran down my spine with that one. Okay. She might have a point.
Now that I think about it, he was only supportive at the beginning. When he thought I wouldn't go through with it? When he thought it was a joke?
I stumbled backwards.
They all thought it was a joke. Hell, even Tracey had wanted to be part of it - breaking Hermione Granger's heart.
Merlin and Salazar.
Why in the fuck had I not seen this before?
Hermione did not seem to notice my epiphany. She continued pacing.
"It seems like they have a lot in common, and they would be cute together, but would he be good to her?"
I took a deep breath. She was looking at me now, expectantly. I would like to think the obvious answer would be yes.
Luna Lovegood, though? A lot of people have made her the punchline of their jokes over the years. Theo included. If the blonde witch makes her feelings known, would they be well received?
"Theo doesn't have the best luck with women. He's been burned a lot. I can tell you, he'll never make the first move. I doubt he even knows she's sweet on him." That bad feeling in the pit of my stomach intensified.
"That really did not answer the question." She stopped pacing and wrapped her arms around my waist.
"I really don't know." I released a deep sigh as I pulled her in closer. I held her and I dropped a kiss on her forehead.
After dinner, I walked Hermione to Gryffindor Tower. Then I returned to the dungeon. The common room was quieter than normal. I found Theo and Blaise back in our bedroom.
"I figured you would stay with Granger again tonight." Blaise commented when I pulled my desk chair over to sit next to them.
"Thought about it." That was easy enough to admit. I'd rather be with her than them, that's for sure. "What are you two doing?"
They had a parchment spread in front of them with some kind of code written on it. Next to that, a chessboard was set up.
"Theo's trying to figure out how Lovegood keeps besting him." Blaise laughed. "He made a note of each of her moves, and yours, and he's recreating the game."
"She has a pattern. There has to be some kind of reasoning behind her madness." He chewed on the end of a sugar quill as he studied the next move on the list.
"This obsession of yours can't be healthy." I chuckled and helped myself to one of Hermione's favorite treats.
"I'm not obsessed."
He could say that all he wants, but he never took his eyes off the parchment in front of him.
"You know, she told Granger she still doesn't have a date for the ball. She plans on going by herself." Blaise grinned and winked at me.
Shite. Had he come to the same conclusion Hermione had?
"Are you really surprised?" Theo chuckled. "The girl is half nutters. Everyone knows that."
I cringed. There was the answer to Granger's question.
Blaise just grinned wider.
"I just thought, since you have been spending so much time with her…"
I closed my eyes and sighed. Blaise was just taking the piss out of him. He didn't know the witch actually likes our friend.
I kicked him under the table. When he looked at me, I shook my head, hoping he would take the hint and stop.
He gave me an odd look, not quite understanding.
"I have not been spending time with her." Theo's brow crinkled and he finally looked up from his parchment. "Don't say shit like that. People will think you are serious."
My heart sank.
"What's wrong with spending time with Lovegood? You have a lot in common." I pressed.
Blaise' eyes widened as he caught on.
Theo blinked a few times.
"Very funny." He rolled his eyes and returned to his task. "You may be willing to push the limits just to see how far you can go. I am not."
"To see how far I can go before what, exactly?" I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees.
His eyes met mine.
"Before your father puts you back in your place." The way his brow furrowed, I could tell he thought that much was obvious.
"My Father does not get to determine where my place is. Not anymore." My voice was hard, clipped. I need him to understand. Blaise gets it. Why doesn't Theo? "I'm never going back there."
"Really?" He snorted out a short laugh. "Where are you going, then? To the muggle world with your girlfriend?"
There was derision in his tone when he said 'girlfriend'. My heart sank a little further.
"Believe it or not, this is not about Hermione. With or without her, I am done with Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy."
The room was silent for several long minutes. My eyes were locked on Theo's the whole time. He was skeptical still, but I could see the understanding dawning in his eyes as he watched me.
Blaise was the one that broke the silence when he cleared his throat.
"When did you make that decision?" He asked me, but his eyes were on Theo also.
My gaze dropped from Theo to land on my wrists. My fingertips traced over the nearly invisible scars.
"I was given a second chance at life. I am not going to waste it." I cleared my throat. It was time to lay it all out on the table. "Hermione…we come from different places, but in a lot of ways, too many ways, we are the same. Right now, we are just trying to figure out how to survive. How to heal. How to move on."
I need her for that. I know that now. And I think that she needs me as well. We are going to pull each other out of the darkness. I am sure of it.
"That all sounds very poetic." Theo narrowed his eyes and pushed away from the table. "Poetic doesn't buy food or give you shelter. Where are you going to live? How will you survive on the streets?"
My lip quirked up on one side in a smirk.
"Who said anything about living on the streets? Didn't I tell you I have a plan? And no, it is not dependent on Granger, with the possible exception that I hope she'll be with me." I made sure to add the last part before he could accuse me of going to live with muggles again.
Although, living with muggles could not possibly be worse than living at the Manor. Come to think of it, living on the streets would be preferable, as well.
Neither mattered, though. Black Castle is mine. I don't have to live in the streets or with muggles.
"What I need to know, from both of you, is are you with me, or against me? Because once I tell my parents about Hermione, I will be disinherited and labeled as a blood traitor. And you will each need to decide if you are going to continue to associate with me or not."
Theo stood quickly and paced to the other side of the room.
"Dammit, Draco." I could see anger boiling beneath his skin. "You know what happens to blood traitors. My Father would kill me! And you are delusional if you think yours will just let you walk away."
I stood and faced him. My hands balled into fists at my side. That feeling I had all day re-emerged and panic started to rise up in my throat.
"Your Father is in Azkaban for the rest of his life. You are the head of House Nott. You control your own destiny, Theo. Not him or his outdated ideals."
I don't want to lose my best friend.
Ultimately, it will be his choice, though. I swallowed hard around the feeling of helplessness that overtook me.
"It isn't that easy and you know it." His voice rose in volume, echoing off the stone walls.
"Yes. It is." I shouted back at him. I ran my hands through my hair. I had my answer from him, even if it wasn't an answer I liked. With a deep breath, I turned towards Blaise. "What about you?"
"I'm neutral. Do what's right for you, mate. I'm not going anywhere."
Not surprising. His father was killed during the war. His mother had returned to Italy. He didn't have to answer to anyone.
"When do you plan on telling them? Soon?" Theo leaned against the door and let his head fall back against the wood. His whole body was tense.
"I figure I should tell them before someone else does. Sooner rather than later."
His fist hit the door.
"Why not just let this dalliance of yours play out? Get it out of your system or whatever and see what happens next."
I nearly stumbled backwards. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Blaise cover his face with his palm and shake his head.
"What in the actual fuck is that supposed to mean?" I glared at him.
"You know exactly what I mean." His nose curled up. "Whatever game you are playing here, finish it. For Salazar's sake, Draco, you told us you don't even want to fuck her…"
In a heartbeat, my wand was in my hand and I had Theo pressed against the door with my forearm across his chest and my wand at his throat.
"I am not playing games with her." Anger pulsed through my veins as I growled those words. I tightened my hold on him, even though he was frozen against the door. "I'm in love with her, you jackass."
I don't know which one of us was more surprised by that revelation. It was the first time I had admitted it out loud. Still, the truth of that statement rang through the room.
No one said a word. The shock and sudden understanding that filled Theo's eyes told me that he had not ever considered that the relationship between myself and Hermione was serious. I think in that moment, he finally realized that there truly was no going back for me. I have already crossed the line that every good pureblood knows to be drawn in the sand.
"Draco. You don't want to hurt him. Lower your wand." Blaise' calm voice cut through the silence.
My jaw ticked, because I think, maybe, I do want to hurt him.
I took a deep breath, then followed Blaise' advice. I lowered my wand and stepped back.
Theo bent forward and placed his hands on his knees. He took a deep breath. When he straightened up again, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"It's about damn time, mate." He rubbed at his chest. There will be a bruise where my elbow shoved against his shoulder. "After yesterday, we thought maybe Greg has been right all along."
Adrenaline pumped through my veins. My hand still curled tightly around my wand. And now, I am confused as fuck. What just happened?
"What?" I looked to Blaise, hoping he could provide an explanation. He was smirking at me.
"Greg has been saying that you are using Granger to get back at your Father, and you plan to gain her trust so you can break her once and for all."
My eyes darted from Blaise to Theo and back again.
"Tracey accused me of the same thing weeks ago. You two actually believed I would do that?" My nose curled up.
Theo shrugged his shoulder and ran his hand through his hair.
"Not really, but it sounded like something the old you would have done." He leaned against the door again and crossed his hands over his chest. "So I started pushing and prodding, asking questions to make you think about the consequences of your actions."
Son of a bitch.
"You could have just asked me, you know?" I sank down in my chair. "Wait. Are you saying you don't hate Hermione?"
"Of course not." He sounded offended, but it was a valid question.
"You called her a…" I couldn't even say the word. The thought of it made my stomach roll.
"I pushed too hard on that one." He grimaced and finally returned to the table and took his seat across from me. "I never meant for her to hear me say it, either. And then McGonagall damn near expelled her because of me. I almost threw up right there in her office."
My mind was spinning. Minutes ago, I was prepared to walk away from him for good. I didn't want to do it, but I would have.
"Do you have any idea how close I came to cursing you just now?" I looked at my wand, still gripped between my fingers. "Don't ever talk about her like that again. I mean it. I won't hesitate next time."
He lifted his hands into the air in surrender.
"I won't. Promise."
I held his gaze for a long moment before nodding once and looking away. The room was silent once again.
"So this plan of yours?" Blaise opened a bottle of butter beer, then handed one to me and one to Theo. "Are you going to tell us about it, or do we keep assuming you are going to live with Granger's parents after all?"
I opened the bottle in my hand and took a long drink.
"Two minutes ago, you thought I was planning to get close to my girlfriend just so I could hurt her, while trying to somehow rebel against my Father just for the sake of pushing him to his limit." I shook my head and took another drink. "Why should I trust you wankers with that information?"
"We were hoping that wasn't the case, but we had to be sure." Theo shrugged. "And to be fair, you've been hard to read. It could have gone either way."
I glared at him. What did I do to make him suspect I would do that?
"Besides that, you actually thought I would rather follow in my father's footsteps than be labeled as a blood traitor along with you? You should have known better than that." He covered his heart with his hand. "That wounded me, Draco."
I rolled my eyes. Whatever. He's still an asshole.
"If it makes you feel better, I knew as soon as I saw the two of you snogging in the courtyard that it was real." Blaise laughed. "Although, when you said you don't want to sleep with her, I started to have my doubts."
Good Gods. Not this again.
"I never said I don't want to." I rolled my eyes again. These two are exhausting. "I said she isn't ready. Neither am I, for that matter. We've been dating for, what? Six weeks?"
"I slept with Tracey on our first date." Blaise took a drink from his bottle.
"That's different. Tracey is a slag." My eyes are going to hurt from rolling them so much.
"What, is Granger saving herself for marriage or something?" Blaise chuckled and took another drink.
Maybe she would have. If she had been given the choice.
Pain lanced through my heart and my stomach rolled.
She would never have that option. It had been stolen from her.
I became aware of them watching me.
"What if she is?" I fixed Blaise with a hard stare. Better to let them think that than for them to know the truth.
His eyes widened and he nearly choked on his drink.
"Oh!...Really?" He stuttered, grasping for words. "That's…rare."
I sighed dramatically and pinched the bridge of my nose. Theo assumed I was joking and Blaise had fallen for it. He cracked up laughing.
"So…?" Blaise looked more confused than he already had been.
"So…it's none of your damn business." I flicked the end of my wand and sent a stinging curse at his shoulder. He responded almost immediately. I was ready for it and deflected the curse easily enough.
Our dorm room is a comfortable size for four teenage boys. It is not, however, big enough for a dual between two of those boys. Our good natured jinxes bounced off the walls and the floor. When the dust cleared, we were all laughing as hard as we could, and most of the room had been destroyed.
I fell back on my bed. Feathers flew everywhere. Greg walked in, took one look at the room and walked right back out again.
It took several repair spells to put everything to rights. By the time we were finished, Greg had returned to the room and gone to bed.
Blaise smacked my shoulder and grinned, then he turned in for the night, too.
Theo looked over his chess board mournfully. It had been scattered across the room. We found all the pieces, but he would have to start his re-enactment of the match between Luna and I all over again.
"She's good people, you know?" I set up the white pieces while he set up the black.
"Granger?" He snorted a quick laugh. "She's the poster child for good people."
"Well, yeah." I laughed along with him, then I pointed to his list of moves. "But I wasn't talking about Hermione."
His hand froze just as he was about to place the queen in her position next to the king. He hesitated a moment, then set the piece into position.
My eyes met his briefly. He didn't answer me, but he did nod in acknowledgement. That was good enough for me. I left him to finish up and went to bed.
As I lay in the dark, I couldn't help but think of Hermione. With my wand in hand, I produced my silver cobra patronus and gave it a message to deliver to her.
Good night, Hermione. I wish you were here, by my side.
AN: I love hearing your thoughts. Hit that review button and let me know what you think. Or don't. Your choice, really. ;)
FF is still fucking up my formatting when I upload new chapters. IDK what the fuck is up with that, but it is irritating as hell. So, apologies if the segment breaks are not clear.
I never know what to say in these AN's, so I'm just gonna leave it at that. Have a great day!
Until next time.
-mezy