Passion & Duty ~ Chapter 6 of 8
Title: Passion & Duty
Author: jadestrick
Original Couple/Prompt: Lancelot & Guinevere
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the universe of Harry Potter. JK Rowling owns all that. I do this purely for enjoyment with no profit expected. Life is so unfair.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Sexual implications
Summary: When your heart feels true love for the first time, can you go against the world and everything you believe in?
Notes: Written for dramione_remix. Story begins here in the comm. Beautiful banner made by ningloreth.
I had FUN with this. Oh, it was stressful, especially since I NEVER write long fic. (I'm a drabble queen.) But this was FUN. And I already have oneshots for bits of the story rambling through my head. :) GARGANTUAN thank yous to caitriona_3 for being my beta and to rightxhere for being my cheerleader. I couldn't have done this without them. And thank you, of course, to the mods of dramione_remix for this wonderful idea! And thank you for reading the inner dark workings of my mind. :)
Additional Notes: Hermione's uncle is up to your imagination. :)
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Passion & Duty ~ Chapter 6
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He placed his palms on the stone banister of the courtyard and looked down into the village of Hogsmeade and the penetrating Forbidden Forest. The lake beside the castle reflected the moonlight, giving him the ability to see the specifics of the village. The festivities of the evening had all been prepared for and now the hustling of the village was more casual and relaxed. People strolled causally down the street or meandered into Madam Rosmerta's for some butterbeer. Behind him, Hufflepuff royal advisors, along with almost half of the population of Hufflepuff had arrived for the wedding in three days. The noise was cheerful and the music loud and inviting.
Draco felt no pull toward the festivities. Instead, anger seethed when he replayed Hermione's words in his head. But he knew she was right and he knew that had she only said them earlier, his heart wouldn't hurt as bad as it did. He didn't blame her for his feelings: he knew she would have said the words the day that they had met had he not taken control of the situation. He blamed himself, and that only made him feel worse.
"You're never very good at hiding, Draco," a voice said behind him.
Draco's shoulders slumped and he dropped his head. "Severus." He turned to face his former guardian. "So it was you in my dreams last night."
Snape sneered. "And you never were very good at keeping up the practices I taught you. Had you cleared your mind and focused, I wouldn't have entered your mind last night."
"No matter," Draco sniffed. "Probably full of flying chamber pots anyway. I don't dream very clearly. Never have."
Snape took a step toward him. "You always have, Draco."
Draco glared at him. "And you have never had a sense of privacy."
"You know that before your parents died, they begged me to protect you. That means knowing all that I can."
"Stay out of my head."
"Far too full anyway, considering recent events."
Draco furrowed his brow, feigning confusion. "Meaning?"
"And you never were good at playing daft, at least not with me."
Draco sighed and caved. He lifted his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache forming. "Alright, Severus. Say it. Get it out and then get out of my life."
"You're not a Hufflepuff, Draco."
"A fact of which you remind me every chance you get."
"You have no ability to be like one."
"Lovely. Thank you, Severus."
"You always prided yourself of being loyal to that…boy of a king and suddenly, you can't even do that, can you?"
Draco felt his blood boil. His eyes shot daggers. "Do not insult Cedric."
Severus suddenly closed the distance between them and was nose to nose with Draco. "Deny it all you want, Draco. One day, your Slytherin roots will call you back."
Draco stood his ground. "They tried that once and failed, didn't they?"
"Had your parents lived, you would've been king."
"But they didn't!" Draco hissed. "I lost that day, and so did countless others. The Slytherin name was lost. And any sense of lineage aside, Cedric never judged us like everyone else. He took us in and for that, I will remain loyal to him."
Snape smirked, a small and dangerous action that made Draco start in spite of the anger he felt. "Tell that to your heart."
Draco tried to hold the stare with Snape, but his eyes moved slightly to the left as he saw into the Great Hall. In the distance, Hermione stood beside her uncle and Cedric, who were both talking emphatically. Hermione, however, stared at the ground, lost in her own thoughts and, Draco suddenly realized, looking crushed. His heart pumped a little life into his body again and he felt any anger toward her cast to the side.
"If you want her, Slytherin," Snape whispered in his ear. "Don't let her get away."
Draco turned and looked suddenly at Snape, baffled by this completely different side to his teacher. Snape's face grew hard, but his eyes held tears. "Once they're gone, they don't come back. Don't let her get away, Draco. Don't make the mistake I did." He turned, wrapped his robes tighter around him and disappeared into the party.
Draco stared after him, confused and full of a newfound admiration for the man who finished raising him. Though he knew Severus was a true Slytherin to the core, he had never thought him capable of loving someone. Draco found himself wondering who she could've been, and whether or not he would have the courage to heed his mentor's words.
He saw a woman duck out into the courtyard and knew it was Hermione, her hair and dress flowing behind her. He watched her for several minutes as she walked slowly throughout the hallways, fingering the designs on the walls and columns until she came to a stop at an opening. The moonlight shaped her silhouette in such a way that were any man less sane, she would have appeared like an angel. Her fingers lifted to her shoulders and she rubbed her arms. He felt his entire being cave and his protective instinct of her overran him. Her words to him echoed throughout his head, but he squashed them. Without even summoning up the courage he was afraid he wouldn't have, he swept his robe from his own shoulders and crossed the courtyard to her.
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Hermione excused herself from the party and, as discreetly as possible for the honored guest of the party, made her way out into the courtyard. One of her favorite areas of the castle, she took her time tracing her fingers along the stone hallways that formed a square around the fountain in the courtyard's center. She finally stopped at an opening that showed the lake at its biggest, with few details of buildings curtailing the water. The moonlight flowed in through the openings in the stone columns and she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to persuade away the night's chill.
She jumped when she heard a voice behind her. "It's a bit too chilly for you to be out without a robe, my lady."
She whirled around to see Draco bow and offer her his own robe. She swallowed and reached out to take the robe, not being able to come up with any excuse to refuse. Their fingers lightly touched and she felt her arm tingle. She quickly looked up, unable to avert any gaze that poured from his eyes. His eyes were bold and they made her feel reckless. She blinked and finally took the robe from him, reaching around herself to tie it around her neck.
"Thank you, sir," she whispered.
She could see a brief hint of hurt pass across his features, but it was quickly passed and his face seemed relax. He gave off an air of being nothing more than the majority of the people in her life: those meant to serve her.
"My lady." He bowed and turned to go back into the party.
As he turned, her heart felt crushed and she thought of Harry and Ron's words and called after him.
"Draco, wait."
He stopped and turned, his face full of questioning but she thought she saw a flicker of hope.
"I want to apologize."
His face turned entirely questioning.
"What I said was harsh, and I'm sorry."
He cleared his throat and walked to her. "My lady, it was entirely appropriate. The words I said to you were uncalled for and highly abrupt. It was no way to speak to you."
She felt hurt begin to seep into her stomach and confusion set into her mind. "What does that mean?"
Draco looked completely at a loss for words.
She crossed her arms and let the hurt and anger fill her voice. "Inappropriate, yes, but you were right. I didn't tell you who I was. Uncalled for? That's rich, Malfoy." She seethed and took a step toward him, closing the distance until she knew he would be able to see how angry he had made her. "You kissed me. You said that you were in love with me. You had the gall to say I was in love with you. No one has ever made me feel like this. And for you to say that it was ‘uncalled for' absolutely makes my blood boil. Did it ever occur to you that when I told you to leave me alone that I was only doing what you asked me to? You told me to say what I should've said!"
"How was I supposed to take that any differently?" He whispered, only angering her further.
Her eye narrowed. "Did I pull away from you?"
He looked confused.
"That day, in the clearing," she continued. "Did I pull away from you?"
She saw a small smirk begin to creep up the corners of his mouth and she felt her anger rise even further.
"Don't you dare laugh at me," she hissed.
His hand reached up and took her face and before she could protest, he pulled her toward him and covered her mouth with his own. Her entire being melted into him and the world around her disappeared again. His arms wrapped around her and he crushed her against him and she let him. She let him make her feel something more than what she knew.
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His heart burst when he felt her lips again and his body grew strong and possessive when he felt her sigh of delight. He pulled her closer to him, determined to never let her go. Her arms reached around his neck and instead of the tickling and exploring from the first kiss, she held his head against hers in sheer passion. He pulled away and left kisses on her face and neck, wanting to taste every inch of her. Her gasp in his ear unleashed something within him and he pushed her against one of the columns, the shadows covering them. She pushed against him, making his breeches seem tight and he froze, his lips releasing hot breath into her ear.
"Hermione," he whispered, wanting her to say yes.
She stiffened as well and placed her hands on his chest, pushing him away from her. He consented with a harsh breath of disappointment. She looked at him and opened her mouth. When no words came out, he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Okay," he said, rubbing his face with his hands. "Now it's my turn." He took a few steps back until he felt it was a safe enough distance to keep him from kissing her again. He took a deep breath and looked at her beautiful face, bathed in shadow and flushed with desire.
"I'm in love with you," he said. When she took a step toward him, he matched it with one step back. "Wait." He held up a hand. "If you're any closer, I won't be able to say this." She leaned back against the wall and he continued. "I don't care who you are or what you are, I'm in love with you. I fell in love with you the second you came out from behind that tree. And even when I found out who you were, I tried. I tried to fight. I tried and I failed. You make me feel something I've never felt before and I want you with me."
He saw tears sliding down her cheeks and he took in a deep breath, steeling him self for what he had to say next. "But-"
"We have to tell Cedric," she finished for him.
He let out the breath and nodded. "He really does love you. I've seen it and heard him say it. He's my brother, if not by blood than by nature and as much as I want to take you away from here right now with me, I can't do that to him."
She lowered her head. "Somehow I knew that. Somehow I knew that he loved me more than he let on."
She raised her head and looked at him and he felt his heart break all over again. Fear washed through him, fighting his will in a battle to take her in his arms again lest she never come back.
She closed the distance between them and this time, he didn't fight her. She lifted her head to him and placed a kiss on his cheek and his eyes closed in heartache.
"The next time we're together," she whispered in his ear, "it'll be for good."
She leaned away from him and an understanding passed between them. She took the robe off her shoulder and pressed the folds of fabric into his hand. Giving his hands a small squeeze, she turned and walked into the night.
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Draco walked into his bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him. Having walked the castle for hours, he hadn't returned to his room until late into the night and everyone else was already asleep. He reached up and removed the robe from his shoulders, catching a whiff of her scent etched into the fabric. He sighed and decided that any ache he'd had for her was almost nowhere near as scary as the notion of talking to Cedric.
But she's worth it, his mind decided.
He smiled and laid the robe on his bed, turning to begin dressing for the night. A small knock came at his door. Perplexed at who would be up this time of night, he reached over and opened the door, coming face to face with Cedric.
"So," Cedric said. "Was she the one?"
Draco's face went automatically blank and a terror filled his very being.
"Was she the one from the clearing?" Cedric asked again, forcing Draco into the room as he entered and closed the door behind him.
Draco's chest tightened as he looked at his friend's face. He wanted to lie so desperately, but he knew he couldn't do it. He never thought he would care this much for two people pulling him in opposite directions and he found himself wondering if Hermione felt like this at all.
"Yes," he whispered.
Cedric's eyes closed and his head dropped and Draco felt the insane need to go to his friend or to tell him that it wasn't a huge matter, but that was against everything he felt and he stayed rooted in the spot. He waited for Cedric to say something. Anything.
They stood that way for several minutes, Draco staring at his friend and Cedric staring at the floor. Finally, Cedric lifted his head.
"Besides the conversation in the labyrinth, what else has happened, Draco?"
Surprise filled Draco and his mouth opened.
"I was there, Draco. I heard every word."
Draco closed his mouth and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Cedric."
Cedric suddenly reached over and swept the contents of the dresser onto the floor causing porcelain figurines to crash into bits and the wash basin to crash on the cold stone floor. Cedric whirled on Draco. "Don't apologize to me," he hissed through his teeth. "Answer the question."
Draco heard footsteps in the hallway, sure that Cedric had awakened the entire floor with the crash in the silence. In spite of his fear of the situation, he felt a sudden surge to claim Hermione as his own, knowing full well that she loved him. "I spoke to her this evening."
Cedric stared at him, a knowing look on his face.
"I love her, Cedric."
Blaise flung open the door, dress in only a pair of pants and Theo followed behind him, his sword in one hand and his wand in the other, looking bleary eyed. Draco caught Blaise's eyes and Blaise looked back and forth between the two of them. Draco flushed and glanced at Theo, who looked deadly serious at the whole situation.
"And Hermione?" Cedric asked.
Draco shifted his weight, wishing only he and Cedric were in the room. "She loves me too."
Cedric took a deep breath and stared at the floor, his shoulders drooping. After several moments, he raised his head and looked at Draco again. Draco felt a small kindling of hope rise in his stomach.
"You know I'm fighting for her." Cedric said.
Draco's eyes closed and he dropped his head. He supposed the idea of Cedric releasing Hermione from the marriage was too much to ask for, but nothing could have prepared him for the way he felt. His mind underwent a struggle to dim the noise that all of this created.
"But ultimately it's up to her," he heard Cedric whisper.
His eyes flew open and he stared at his friend. Cedric's face was etched in pain and his body looked tired. Draco suddenly realized how much Cedric had to deal with every single day of his life. He was too young to be a king. He had proven himself a good ruler, but he was constantly questioned and had to suffer influences by his advisors and other leaders. Draco suddenly remembered how he and Cedric had never left each other's sides for almost three months after the fire. Cedric was always there to calm Draco down after Draco flew into a rage and then into a fit of tears at the loss of his parents. Draco was always there with a horse at the ready when Cedric would run out of the castle and along with Blaise and Theo, would escape their duties for brief moments of running free.
And the idea that Cedric was backing down and leaving the entire decision up to Hermione made Draco feel exceptionally guilty and extraordinarily proud all at the same time.
"And you, Cedric?" He asked. "Do you really love her?"
Cedric glanced up at him with an expression that made Draco's will snap. "From the moment I saw her."
"Damn this woman," Blaise sneered from the doorway.
Both Cedric and Draco turned angrily and started toward Blaise, finding themselves suddenly blocked by Theo.
"Watch it, Blaise," Cedric hissed.
"How could I see it any other way?" Blaise snapped back. "You two are the closest of brothers I've ever known and she's done nothing but cause a rift since the day in the forest. If you ask me, both of you should simply leave her for good and let the little Gryffindor brat suffer on her own."
A loud smack echoed throughout the room as Draco pummeled past Cedric and Theo and punched Blaise in the face. Blaise stumbled back into the door frame and glared at Draco. Wiping blood from his lip, he lunged at Draco, who went to meet him in the fight. Cedric and Theo stood between them, holding the two apart.
"See?" Blaise yelled. "This is not worth one woman!"
"Blaise, cool down now or I'll hex you," Theo yelled and aimed his wand at Blaise's face.
Draco went still against Cedric and looked at the situation. Even though his heart screamed at him, he saw that Blaise was right. Even over the woman he loved, Cedric was willing to let her go. Blaise, ever the strong-willed, was determined to keep the bond between the four men complete. Theo looked crestfallen at his comrades. And Draco realized what Blaise was saying was true: all over one woman.
Cedric released Draco's arms and Draco took a step back, turning toward the window. Theo spelled Blaise's lip back together and Draco heard them leave the room, Blaise huffing the whole way. When the door closed, the silence in the room permeated into Draco's very soul. He knew deep down that whether or not Hermione was meant to be his, Cedric deserved her more. He turned around and looked Cedric in the eye, sorrow etched on his face.
"Blaise is right," he whispered.
"That's uncommon," Cedric smiled slightly.
Draco returned the smile, and his lips turned downward almost as quickly. "Cedric, I can't have her."
Cedric's brow furrowed and he took a step toward Draco. "Draco, it's up to her."
Draco straightened his back so he stood taller. "I'm backing out."
Cedric stared at him. His voice was barely audible. "Why?"
"Because," he said. "You deserve her more."
Cedric threw his hands in the air. "I appreciate the sentiment, Malfoy, but how long have I known you? Long enough for you to have gotten over your self deprecation of your ability to love. It's all over your face. You're going to love her for the rest of her life even if she chooses me. And as your friend, I can't stand in the way of that. That's what a friend does." Cedric turned and stormed out of the room without giving Draco a chance to argue.
Draco's body remained steely, and his mind was made up. He felt like cursing his heritage and their ability to choose duty over any feelings. He imagined the pain he saw flickering on Snape's face from earlier in the evening and knew that he would probably feel that pain for the rest of his life.
His body relaxing, he sunk onto the edge of the bed. He covered his face and did something he hadn't done since the three months after his parents' death: he cried.
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~ Chapter 5 ~
~ Chapter 7 ~
Author: jadestrick
Original Couple/Prompt: Lancelot & Guinevere
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the universe of Harry Potter. JK Rowling owns all that. I do this purely for enjoyment with no profit expected. Life is so unfair.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Sexual implications
Summary: When your heart feels true love for the first time, can you go against the world and everything you believe in?
Notes: Written for dramione_remix. Story begins here in the comm. Beautiful banner made by ningloreth.
I had FUN with this. Oh, it was stressful, especially since I NEVER write long fic. (I'm a drabble queen.) But this was FUN. And I already have oneshots for bits of the story rambling through my head. :) GARGANTUAN thank yous to caitriona_3 for being my beta and to rightxhere for being my cheerleader. I couldn't have done this without them. And thank you, of course, to the mods of dramione_remix for this wonderful idea! And thank you for reading the inner dark workings of my mind. :)
Additional Notes: Hermione's uncle is up to your imagination. :)
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Passion & Duty ~ Chapter 6
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He placed his palms on the stone banister of the courtyard and looked down into the village of Hogsmeade and the penetrating Forbidden Forest. The lake beside the castle reflected the moonlight, giving him the ability to see the specifics of the village. The festivities of the evening had all been prepared for and now the hustling of the village was more casual and relaxed. People strolled causally down the street or meandered into Madam Rosmerta's for some butterbeer. Behind him, Hufflepuff royal advisors, along with almost half of the population of Hufflepuff had arrived for the wedding in three days. The noise was cheerful and the music loud and inviting.
Draco felt no pull toward the festivities. Instead, anger seethed when he replayed Hermione's words in his head. But he knew she was right and he knew that had she only said them earlier, his heart wouldn't hurt as bad as it did. He didn't blame her for his feelings: he knew she would have said the words the day that they had met had he not taken control of the situation. He blamed himself, and that only made him feel worse.
"You're never very good at hiding, Draco," a voice said behind him.
Draco's shoulders slumped and he dropped his head. "Severus." He turned to face his former guardian. "So it was you in my dreams last night."
Snape sneered. "And you never were very good at keeping up the practices I taught you. Had you cleared your mind and focused, I wouldn't have entered your mind last night."
"No matter," Draco sniffed. "Probably full of flying chamber pots anyway. I don't dream very clearly. Never have."
Snape took a step toward him. "You always have, Draco."
Draco glared at him. "And you have never had a sense of privacy."
"You know that before your parents died, they begged me to protect you. That means knowing all that I can."
"Stay out of my head."
"Far too full anyway, considering recent events."
Draco furrowed his brow, feigning confusion. "Meaning?"
"And you never were good at playing daft, at least not with me."
Draco sighed and caved. He lifted his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache forming. "Alright, Severus. Say it. Get it out and then get out of my life."
"You're not a Hufflepuff, Draco."
"A fact of which you remind me every chance you get."
"You have no ability to be like one."
"Lovely. Thank you, Severus."
"You always prided yourself of being loyal to that…boy of a king and suddenly, you can't even do that, can you?"
Draco felt his blood boil. His eyes shot daggers. "Do not insult Cedric."
Severus suddenly closed the distance between them and was nose to nose with Draco. "Deny it all you want, Draco. One day, your Slytherin roots will call you back."
Draco stood his ground. "They tried that once and failed, didn't they?"
"Had your parents lived, you would've been king."
"But they didn't!" Draco hissed. "I lost that day, and so did countless others. The Slytherin name was lost. And any sense of lineage aside, Cedric never judged us like everyone else. He took us in and for that, I will remain loyal to him."
Snape smirked, a small and dangerous action that made Draco start in spite of the anger he felt. "Tell that to your heart."
Draco tried to hold the stare with Snape, but his eyes moved slightly to the left as he saw into the Great Hall. In the distance, Hermione stood beside her uncle and Cedric, who were both talking emphatically. Hermione, however, stared at the ground, lost in her own thoughts and, Draco suddenly realized, looking crushed. His heart pumped a little life into his body again and he felt any anger toward her cast to the side.
"If you want her, Slytherin," Snape whispered in his ear. "Don't let her get away."
Draco turned and looked suddenly at Snape, baffled by this completely different side to his teacher. Snape's face grew hard, but his eyes held tears. "Once they're gone, they don't come back. Don't let her get away, Draco. Don't make the mistake I did." He turned, wrapped his robes tighter around him and disappeared into the party.
Draco stared after him, confused and full of a newfound admiration for the man who finished raising him. Though he knew Severus was a true Slytherin to the core, he had never thought him capable of loving someone. Draco found himself wondering who she could've been, and whether or not he would have the courage to heed his mentor's words.
He saw a woman duck out into the courtyard and knew it was Hermione, her hair and dress flowing behind her. He watched her for several minutes as she walked slowly throughout the hallways, fingering the designs on the walls and columns until she came to a stop at an opening. The moonlight shaped her silhouette in such a way that were any man less sane, she would have appeared like an angel. Her fingers lifted to her shoulders and she rubbed her arms. He felt his entire being cave and his protective instinct of her overran him. Her words to him echoed throughout his head, but he squashed them. Without even summoning up the courage he was afraid he wouldn't have, he swept his robe from his own shoulders and crossed the courtyard to her.
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Hermione excused herself from the party and, as discreetly as possible for the honored guest of the party, made her way out into the courtyard. One of her favorite areas of the castle, she took her time tracing her fingers along the stone hallways that formed a square around the fountain in the courtyard's center. She finally stopped at an opening that showed the lake at its biggest, with few details of buildings curtailing the water. The moonlight flowed in through the openings in the stone columns and she wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to persuade away the night's chill.
She jumped when she heard a voice behind her. "It's a bit too chilly for you to be out without a robe, my lady."
She whirled around to see Draco bow and offer her his own robe. She swallowed and reached out to take the robe, not being able to come up with any excuse to refuse. Their fingers lightly touched and she felt her arm tingle. She quickly looked up, unable to avert any gaze that poured from his eyes. His eyes were bold and they made her feel reckless. She blinked and finally took the robe from him, reaching around herself to tie it around her neck.
"Thank you, sir," she whispered.
She could see a brief hint of hurt pass across his features, but it was quickly passed and his face seemed relax. He gave off an air of being nothing more than the majority of the people in her life: those meant to serve her.
"My lady." He bowed and turned to go back into the party.
As he turned, her heart felt crushed and she thought of Harry and Ron's words and called after him.
"Draco, wait."
He stopped and turned, his face full of questioning but she thought she saw a flicker of hope.
"I want to apologize."
His face turned entirely questioning.
"What I said was harsh, and I'm sorry."
He cleared his throat and walked to her. "My lady, it was entirely appropriate. The words I said to you were uncalled for and highly abrupt. It was no way to speak to you."
She felt hurt begin to seep into her stomach and confusion set into her mind. "What does that mean?"
Draco looked completely at a loss for words.
She crossed her arms and let the hurt and anger fill her voice. "Inappropriate, yes, but you were right. I didn't tell you who I was. Uncalled for? That's rich, Malfoy." She seethed and took a step toward him, closing the distance until she knew he would be able to see how angry he had made her. "You kissed me. You said that you were in love with me. You had the gall to say I was in love with you. No one has ever made me feel like this. And for you to say that it was ‘uncalled for' absolutely makes my blood boil. Did it ever occur to you that when I told you to leave me alone that I was only doing what you asked me to? You told me to say what I should've said!"
"How was I supposed to take that any differently?" He whispered, only angering her further.
Her eye narrowed. "Did I pull away from you?"
He looked confused.
"That day, in the clearing," she continued. "Did I pull away from you?"
She saw a small smirk begin to creep up the corners of his mouth and she felt her anger rise even further.
"Don't you dare laugh at me," she hissed.
His hand reached up and took her face and before she could protest, he pulled her toward him and covered her mouth with his own. Her entire being melted into him and the world around her disappeared again. His arms wrapped around her and he crushed her against him and she let him. She let him make her feel something more than what she knew.
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His heart burst when he felt her lips again and his body grew strong and possessive when he felt her sigh of delight. He pulled her closer to him, determined to never let her go. Her arms reached around his neck and instead of the tickling and exploring from the first kiss, she held his head against hers in sheer passion. He pulled away and left kisses on her face and neck, wanting to taste every inch of her. Her gasp in his ear unleashed something within him and he pushed her against one of the columns, the shadows covering them. She pushed against him, making his breeches seem tight and he froze, his lips releasing hot breath into her ear.
"Hermione," he whispered, wanting her to say yes.
She stiffened as well and placed her hands on his chest, pushing him away from her. He consented with a harsh breath of disappointment. She looked at him and opened her mouth. When no words came out, he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Okay," he said, rubbing his face with his hands. "Now it's my turn." He took a few steps back until he felt it was a safe enough distance to keep him from kissing her again. He took a deep breath and looked at her beautiful face, bathed in shadow and flushed with desire.
"I'm in love with you," he said. When she took a step toward him, he matched it with one step back. "Wait." He held up a hand. "If you're any closer, I won't be able to say this." She leaned back against the wall and he continued. "I don't care who you are or what you are, I'm in love with you. I fell in love with you the second you came out from behind that tree. And even when I found out who you were, I tried. I tried to fight. I tried and I failed. You make me feel something I've never felt before and I want you with me."
He saw tears sliding down her cheeks and he took in a deep breath, steeling him self for what he had to say next. "But-"
"We have to tell Cedric," she finished for him.
He let out the breath and nodded. "He really does love you. I've seen it and heard him say it. He's my brother, if not by blood than by nature and as much as I want to take you away from here right now with me, I can't do that to him."
She lowered her head. "Somehow I knew that. Somehow I knew that he loved me more than he let on."
She raised her head and looked at him and he felt his heart break all over again. Fear washed through him, fighting his will in a battle to take her in his arms again lest she never come back.
She closed the distance between them and this time, he didn't fight her. She lifted her head to him and placed a kiss on his cheek and his eyes closed in heartache.
"The next time we're together," she whispered in his ear, "it'll be for good."
She leaned away from him and an understanding passed between them. She took the robe off her shoulder and pressed the folds of fabric into his hand. Giving his hands a small squeeze, she turned and walked into the night.
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Draco walked into his bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him. Having walked the castle for hours, he hadn't returned to his room until late into the night and everyone else was already asleep. He reached up and removed the robe from his shoulders, catching a whiff of her scent etched into the fabric. He sighed and decided that any ache he'd had for her was almost nowhere near as scary as the notion of talking to Cedric.
But she's worth it, his mind decided.
He smiled and laid the robe on his bed, turning to begin dressing for the night. A small knock came at his door. Perplexed at who would be up this time of night, he reached over and opened the door, coming face to face with Cedric.
"So," Cedric said. "Was she the one?"
Draco's face went automatically blank and a terror filled his very being.
"Was she the one from the clearing?" Cedric asked again, forcing Draco into the room as he entered and closed the door behind him.
Draco's chest tightened as he looked at his friend's face. He wanted to lie so desperately, but he knew he couldn't do it. He never thought he would care this much for two people pulling him in opposite directions and he found himself wondering if Hermione felt like this at all.
"Yes," he whispered.
Cedric's eyes closed and his head dropped and Draco felt the insane need to go to his friend or to tell him that it wasn't a huge matter, but that was against everything he felt and he stayed rooted in the spot. He waited for Cedric to say something. Anything.
They stood that way for several minutes, Draco staring at his friend and Cedric staring at the floor. Finally, Cedric lifted his head.
"Besides the conversation in the labyrinth, what else has happened, Draco?"
Surprise filled Draco and his mouth opened.
"I was there, Draco. I heard every word."
Draco closed his mouth and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Cedric."
Cedric suddenly reached over and swept the contents of the dresser onto the floor causing porcelain figurines to crash into bits and the wash basin to crash on the cold stone floor. Cedric whirled on Draco. "Don't apologize to me," he hissed through his teeth. "Answer the question."
Draco heard footsteps in the hallway, sure that Cedric had awakened the entire floor with the crash in the silence. In spite of his fear of the situation, he felt a sudden surge to claim Hermione as his own, knowing full well that she loved him. "I spoke to her this evening."
Cedric stared at him, a knowing look on his face.
"I love her, Cedric."
Blaise flung open the door, dress in only a pair of pants and Theo followed behind him, his sword in one hand and his wand in the other, looking bleary eyed. Draco caught Blaise's eyes and Blaise looked back and forth between the two of them. Draco flushed and glanced at Theo, who looked deadly serious at the whole situation.
"And Hermione?" Cedric asked.
Draco shifted his weight, wishing only he and Cedric were in the room. "She loves me too."
Cedric took a deep breath and stared at the floor, his shoulders drooping. After several moments, he raised his head and looked at Draco again. Draco felt a small kindling of hope rise in his stomach.
"You know I'm fighting for her." Cedric said.
Draco's eyes closed and he dropped his head. He supposed the idea of Cedric releasing Hermione from the marriage was too much to ask for, but nothing could have prepared him for the way he felt. His mind underwent a struggle to dim the noise that all of this created.
"But ultimately it's up to her," he heard Cedric whisper.
His eyes flew open and he stared at his friend. Cedric's face was etched in pain and his body looked tired. Draco suddenly realized how much Cedric had to deal with every single day of his life. He was too young to be a king. He had proven himself a good ruler, but he was constantly questioned and had to suffer influences by his advisors and other leaders. Draco suddenly remembered how he and Cedric had never left each other's sides for almost three months after the fire. Cedric was always there to calm Draco down after Draco flew into a rage and then into a fit of tears at the loss of his parents. Draco was always there with a horse at the ready when Cedric would run out of the castle and along with Blaise and Theo, would escape their duties for brief moments of running free.
And the idea that Cedric was backing down and leaving the entire decision up to Hermione made Draco feel exceptionally guilty and extraordinarily proud all at the same time.
"And you, Cedric?" He asked. "Do you really love her?"
Cedric glanced up at him with an expression that made Draco's will snap. "From the moment I saw her."
"Damn this woman," Blaise sneered from the doorway.
Both Cedric and Draco turned angrily and started toward Blaise, finding themselves suddenly blocked by Theo.
"Watch it, Blaise," Cedric hissed.
"How could I see it any other way?" Blaise snapped back. "You two are the closest of brothers I've ever known and she's done nothing but cause a rift since the day in the forest. If you ask me, both of you should simply leave her for good and let the little Gryffindor brat suffer on her own."
A loud smack echoed throughout the room as Draco pummeled past Cedric and Theo and punched Blaise in the face. Blaise stumbled back into the door frame and glared at Draco. Wiping blood from his lip, he lunged at Draco, who went to meet him in the fight. Cedric and Theo stood between them, holding the two apart.
"See?" Blaise yelled. "This is not worth one woman!"
"Blaise, cool down now or I'll hex you," Theo yelled and aimed his wand at Blaise's face.
Draco went still against Cedric and looked at the situation. Even though his heart screamed at him, he saw that Blaise was right. Even over the woman he loved, Cedric was willing to let her go. Blaise, ever the strong-willed, was determined to keep the bond between the four men complete. Theo looked crestfallen at his comrades. And Draco realized what Blaise was saying was true: all over one woman.
Cedric released Draco's arms and Draco took a step back, turning toward the window. Theo spelled Blaise's lip back together and Draco heard them leave the room, Blaise huffing the whole way. When the door closed, the silence in the room permeated into Draco's very soul. He knew deep down that whether or not Hermione was meant to be his, Cedric deserved her more. He turned around and looked Cedric in the eye, sorrow etched on his face.
"Blaise is right," he whispered.
"That's uncommon," Cedric smiled slightly.
Draco returned the smile, and his lips turned downward almost as quickly. "Cedric, I can't have her."
Cedric's brow furrowed and he took a step toward Draco. "Draco, it's up to her."
Draco straightened his back so he stood taller. "I'm backing out."
Cedric stared at him. His voice was barely audible. "Why?"
"Because," he said. "You deserve her more."
Cedric threw his hands in the air. "I appreciate the sentiment, Malfoy, but how long have I known you? Long enough for you to have gotten over your self deprecation of your ability to love. It's all over your face. You're going to love her for the rest of her life even if she chooses me. And as your friend, I can't stand in the way of that. That's what a friend does." Cedric turned and stormed out of the room without giving Draco a chance to argue.
Draco's body remained steely, and his mind was made up. He felt like cursing his heritage and their ability to choose duty over any feelings. He imagined the pain he saw flickering on Snape's face from earlier in the evening and knew that he would probably feel that pain for the rest of his life.
His body relaxing, he sunk onto the edge of the bed. He covered his face and did something he hadn't done since the three months after his parents' death: he cried.
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~ Chapter 5 ~
~ Chapter 7 ~