Harmonious Fire

"Do you think I should try and talk to him, he's not been out of that room for days." Hermione looked over at her lover. The blond man, languishing aristocratically on the leather sofa across from her. He was the perfect image, a god in her eyes. A cigarette drooped gracefully from his lips, and a tumbler of whiskey was set on the floor besides him. He didn't answer her straight away, so intent was he on his book. Hermione had had the surprise of her life, finding miles of muggle novels in the library in his apartments. His current read was Dorian Gray, having read it herself she knew why he was so intent on it. A story of the repercussions of one's vanity and the various human errors it created. The younger version of her boyfriend reminded her of the books protagonist, but gone now were any vestiges of the spoiled little brat he had once been. He was an anti-hero, a tragic character, but what one may see as flaws, she saw as his many strengths. She smiled wanly, god how she loved him, "Draco...?" She said again, still nothing, so she got up from her current position, she grabbed his book out of his hand and tossed it across the room, swinging her leg up and straddling his thighs. He growled and grabbed her hips,
"I was reading that," he said in a half dangerous, half amused tone, she smirked,
"I know, but I asked you a question and you know I don't like being ignored Lover," she pouted at him.
"I know, wench." He said slyly, "But I was reading my book, and you know how I hate being interrupted." He slipped his hand under her shirt, teasing the soft skin of her torso, working his way upward. Her eyes narrowed,
"Don't try and ignore my question. What are we going to do about Blaise?" Draco sighed, Blaise hadn't given up on him everytime he had pushed him away in the last six years, the least he could do was return the favour.
"I'll talk to him. Make him try and see sense. That little bitch fucked with his head long enough these past six years, its time enough." Hermione smirked down at him, the edge of malicious intent in his voice made her spine tingle. She stood up off his lap, and pulled him up off the sofa,
"No time like the present." She shoved him towards the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her against him,
"You are awfully eager to get him out that room Pet, am I not satisfying enough for you anymore?" She shoved him backward, her expression irritated,
"Go talk to him you egotistical prat." He smirked at her, she raised her eyebrows at him, and he knew better then to trifle with her when she was in this mood. He did a mock bow,
"As you command my Angel." He swept from the room, heading up the stairs towards Blaise's suite. There wasn't a sound from emanating from the depths, Draco sighed heavily and raised his fist, hammering on the door. No answer, he knocked again. Still nothing. Fuck this he thought. He raised his foot, aiming a well place kick at the lock, it gave straight away. The door swung on its hinges, it was dark, dank, the smell of rotten food stung his nostrils. Christ, how the fuck could Blaise live like this? Draco was going to throttle that red haired slut, she did this. He stepped into the room, picking his way through the debris of strewn clothes, books and god knows what else. He could vaguely see a figure slumped on the bed, Draco waved a hand at the fireplace, the orange glow casting a pale light. The room was more of state then he had first realised, empty firewhiskey bottles littered the ground, which was also covered in cigarette butts, untouched trays of food rotted in the corners. Christ, it was disgusting. Enough was enough,
"Blaise!" He yelled, no reply. "BLAISE!" Nothing, he walked over to the bed, kicking aside various items. Blaise was lying face down, his back arching slowly with every breath he took. Draco curled his lip in disgust, he grabbed Blaise's shoulder, and shook. A groan, finally he was getting somewhere. "So you are alive then, I was beginning to wonder." He heard a a muffled,
"Fuck off." Which of course he chose to ignore,
"No. Get the fuck up." No response. Draco had had enough of this, he let the power take over, adrenalin running through his veins. He hauled Blaise up and off the bed in one fluid motion, standing him up and shoving him against the nearest wall. With two hands on either side of his head, Blaise was trapped. Draco finally got a good look at Blaise's face. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, he face looked thinner and his breath stank of alcohol and stale smoke. His five o'clock shadow had reached epic proportions and his dark eyes were bloodshot. Draco got right in his face, "This place is disgusting and so are you." Blaise shoved, but Draco wouldn't budge,
"Oh right," Blaise slurred at him, "And you weren't exactly the same when you found out Hermione was gone! Hypocrite." Draco cocked his fist and drew back, catching Blaise round the face.
"At least I didn't let myself get into the state you're in right now. Your mother would be ashamed to even look at you. Is that little bint really worth all this Lover?"
"Shut the fuck up, she was my wife Draco! For six fucking years! And she couldn't wait to be shot of me the first chance she got!" Draco stepped back, the smell of firewhiskey was overwhelming, and the torn look on Blaise's face was tugging at something deep inside him. Blaise slumped to the floor, unable to hold himself up, drunk, tired or a combination of the two. Draco didn't know. He cursed that bitch to the high heavens for doing this, they had given her a choice, but she chose wrong. No one would ever care the way Blaise Zabini did for her. And she screwed it all over for Potter and his merry band of Aurors, and whatever the fuck else. Draco crouched down in front of his friend, searching for the eyes that so reassured him all that time ago that Hermione would return, he couldn't see him. Those beautiful indigo eyes were dull, lifeless, he tipped Blaise's head up, forcing him to look,
"Blaise, she never deserved you. That little whore couldn't see a good thing in front of her. She was a Weasley, notorious for being as stupid as fucking trolls. She isn't worth a damn compared to you. Now please, get out of this room, it smells like a fucking sewer. Get in the shower and go downstairs, Hermione is beside herself worrying about you. She misses you, and so do I." Blaise sighed wearily,
"Help me up." Draco smiled wanly, standing upright, he held out his hand, pulling Blaise upwards. He wrapped his arms around his lover and kissed him on the head. Releasing him, Draco shoved Blaise toward the bathroom,
"Christ, you smell like a fucking tramp Zabini."
"Scopilo, bastardo!" Blaise muttered as he entered the bathroom. Draco laughed,
"Maybe after you've showered!"
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Harry was pacing, back and forth, back and forth. It had been days and the Ministry still hadn't finished their interrogating of Ginny Zabini. Oh how Harry hated all this bureaucratic nonsense. This was a war and he didn't have time for red tape and mountains of paper work. But the Ministry did still have their ways, trying to act all normal in the face of these dark times. Harry snorted, fucking idiots. It was each for his own, and right now he needed Ginny back with Malfoy and Zabini if he was ever going to get anywhere. Ron's death was weighing heavy on his heart, and his judgement. For it had been brought to his attention, just two nights previous that by sending Ginny back, he was probably sending her to a fate worse than death. It was the worst row that the Order had ever had. Some were in agreement with his plan, wanting Malfoy and Zabini, and even Hermione brought to justice for Ron's murder. But others were still concerned for that Death Eater traitor. Most of Ginny's family wanted her to stay, not wanting to lose another loved one. Harry thought them naive, Ginny had chosen her path with scant regard for the people who cared for her, so why the fuck should he consider her safety. She was a means to an end, nothing more. Grimmauld Place was quiet, still in mourning, Harry couldn't stand it. He needed to keep busy, for a man who had just lost everything in his life he cared for, it was harder than it sounded. A knock on his door broke him from his pacing,
"Come in," he said brusquely, the door swung open, revealing Remus Lupin. The only person left in his life he trusted fully. Lupin would tell him what was right, what to do. He always did. It was times like this that Harry missed his parents, Sirius and Dumbledore the most, people to advise him, to take care of him. But they were gone. This war had devoured them, as it was devouring Harry. Remus stepped in, and sank onto the sofa in the corner of the study. He leant forward, the grey in his hair more pronounced than ever,
"We're worried about you Harry, locking yourself in here, its no good for anyone." Harry shook his head,
"I can't deal with people right now." The older man bowed his head, and sighed,
"I realise that. But you have to. The Order, they need their leader, especially after the other night. And with what happened." Harry's head snapped up,
"What happened, Remus?! You mean the murder of my best friend?! I'm the only one around here doing a fucking thing about it!" Remus stood up,
"What? By sending Ginny back into the snakepit?! You really think that getting her killed is going to bring justice for this?! We'll get Malfoy and Zabini, but not like this." Harry turned his back, so much for any help or support. He was just as close minded and supportive of that bitch to see this working. Harry got right in his old friends face,
"If you aren't going to support me Remus, then get the fuck out. That traitorous bitch can go back to her husband and face the consequence of her actions." Lupin wasn't in the least bit swayed, his face fell slightly at the venom in Harry's tone, but he was sure it was just a reaction to this entire situation,
"Do you think that he would have wanted this? Ron that is?" Harry's face was a blank canvas, no reaction at all, "You are sending his baby sister back to his murderers. He never would have wanted that. She came back willingly, that has to speak for something. You loved her once Harry, don't forget that. It'll destroy Molly and Arthur if you go through with this, they've already lost one child, don't take another one." With that parting comment he left the room, leaving Harry to contemplate his words. Remus sighed, wandering to the basement kitchen, remembering slightly happier times when innocence was treasured. He entered the kitchen, where his wife waited patiently for him, Teddy seated on her lap fiddling with one of Fred & George's fake wands. She looked up, concerned,
"Well, did you get through to him?" Lupin sat next to her, taking her hand in his,
"I hope so. Otherwise I think we've lost him."
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He found her reclining in the lounge room, book in hand. She looked weary, her eyes kept drooping, concentration slipping from her reading. He chuckled, she looked up at the sound, smiling upon seeing him,
"You look better," she said in a gentle tone. He walked to her, making her move, then sat next to her, placing her head in his lap. He stroked her hair, its once bushy strands now like silk in his fingers,
"Draco, he spoke to me." She merely nodded. "I'm sorry for the past few days Cara, I just..." He trailed off, he didn't really know what it was he wanted to say, which was an absolute first for him. Zabini's were notorious for being able to speak their minds, but he was starting to feel this wretched war getting to him. They had made no progress with their task, and he was beginning to think that it was a lost cause. What would happen then? And with Ginny leaving him, he had tried to muster hatred for her, it had work the first few days. But after a time all he could think was the things he missed about her. However, like Draco said, she chose to go, and maybe they were better off without her around.
"Blaise?" He was broken from his thought, Hermione was looking at him, concern etched all over her beautiful face. He half-smiled at her, which wasn't reassuring, she pushed on, "Are we not enough for you?" His features flashed with confusion,
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione scowled,
"Its not hard to grasp, why do you need that little traitor to make you happy?! Are Draco and I not good enough for you anymore?" Blaise's anger darkened the sky, he shoved her off his lap and stood up,
"Seriously?! I can't believe you are being this fucking selfish! She was my wife Hermione! Haven't I got a right to miss her? You were gone, for six years, Draco was a fucking mess and all I had was her. He didn't touch me for going on two years Hermione. I needed someone, and she was there." She raised up her hands,
"I don't want to start an argument about this Blaise, but can't you see thats how I felt, you've been holed up in that room for days on end. You wouldn't even let us help you. We can help you baby, please let us." She went to him and wrapped her fingers around his arm, turning him to face her. His eyes were an inky dark indigo colour, she could feel the power rippling off him. "Please, I'm sorry I made you angry. But we miss you, we've all been apart for to long. I can't help but be possessive of you, both of you. I just got you back and I can't lose you again. Please Blaise." She felt his anger subside, he wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on top of hers. She breathed him in, he smelt of soap, very very clean.
"Don't ever for one second think that you and Draco aren't enough for me, I love you both, you know that. But I won't apologize for missing her, she is...was a part of my life and I can't change that." He heard Hermione say a small thank you into his chest, he smiled. Tilting her head to look up at him, her eyes were smudged with make up, tear streaks formed. "Dry your eyes Angel, otherwise Draco will have my balls for making you cry." She laughed, he wiped away the smudges with his fingertips, leaning down to kiss her. She responded, looping her arms around his neck. He dragged her down to the sofa, setting her atop him. Soon enough clothes were being strewn off, thrown in various area's of the room. He nipped at her bottom lip, demanding entrance, she obliged, pouring everything she felt for him into her kiss. He traced his fingers up her torso, he hadn't realised it that first night but she was much thinner than he remembered, her ribs almost protruding from her skin. "We need to fatten you up Cara, what did they feed you at that Godforsaken place, bread and water?" She punched him lightly on the arm, wiggling her bum against his crotch. He groaned and pulled her down, their bodies impossibly close to one another.
"You're bastard you know that?" He raised an eyebrow, and half shrugged his shoulders in agreement. They lost themselves in each other for the rest of the afternoon. Sated and satisfied, they fell into a light slumber, to be woken by Draco bursting through the door, hours later. A letter in his hand, and a wild, angry look in his eyes,
"We've got a huge fucking problem."
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In the darkest recess of the old castle, impatience brewed. Voldemort was restless, his rages permeating the atmosphere, forcing constant night and lashing storms. The whole earth shook in his wake. Bellatrix Lestrange, for the first time, feared for her life. He had already destroyed a whole battalion of Death Eaters for their failings. She trembled with fear as she lifted an elegant hand to knock.
"Enter." The voice hissed, she pushed the door open, her eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness. She heard a snakelike slither from one corner, "My Bella," he hissed, "Have you news for me?" Her eyes darted back and forth, she couldn't see where he was and that made her weary, the darkness wrapped around her with no indication of letting up,
"Yes my Lord. I bring news of a great triumph." Suddenly he was there in front of her, his features dimmed, and deteriorating. She got the feeling he was not long for this world, and the war was teetering on a precipice. It was almost time for the final strike. She could feel it stirring.
"Well..." He indicated for her to continue,
"Draco and Blaise have rid us of the blood traitor Ronald Weasley, and it appears have kidnapped Potter's Mudblood." Voldemort's features lightened, he was almost smiling,
"Well that is great news indeed, though why did they not inform us themselves. Why are you and not they stood here now? They should have that Mudblood whore cowering at my feet right now." His expression changed again, into one of explosive anger, however his voice remained calm, "I trust you know where to find them." Bella nodded, "Well then, go to them and inform them that I shall be paying visit very soon. It is almost time for the final battle, and I shall need my Generals." Bella bowed her head and rushed out the door. Voldemort went to his window, watched the storm clouds roll over his dominion. "Yes, soon." A snakelike grin set his features alight, the darkness engulfed him and he laughed.