The Last Man on Earth

The Last Man on Earth

Disclaimer: I do not own HP inc. nor do I intend to make any money from said characters. Please do not sue.

Chapter 32: Adrian

The Slytherin Dungeons: Earlier that night:

Adrian had said good night to the rowdy party that was still going on in Derrick’s room. He had looked everywhere for Terry that night but he could not find him at all. Just as he was passing MacIntyre’s room along the seventh year corridor, the door opened. Adrian came face to face with the object of his affection.

“Terry,’ said Adrian with a frown. Terry looked as if he had thrown on his clothes haphazardly, which he had. Terry stood frozen in surprise.

“Terry,” said Alec with a note of laughter in his voice. He came up behind a distracted Higgs and slid a possessive arm around his waist. “You forgot your- Merlin.” He gave Adrian a shocked look as well. Alec was just wearing a dark silk robe.

In an instant, the entire situation became clear to Adrian. He turned woodenly away and quickly made his way to the deserted common room. Adrian could hear his heart pounding in his ears and his face was red hot. He sat down on a couch and fought the urge to cry.

“I drove him to it,” thought Adrian frantically. “I slept with Alicia even though I knew he cared for her and after I forced him to break up with her. I deserve this. But I never thought he would sleep with another man. He said I was the only one. Was he lying? Has he been with Alec before? Does he sleep with other men too? Does this mean he never really loved me?”

“Adrian,” said a voice tentatively. He raised his head to look at Terry as he stood at the edge of the opposite couch.

“I get it now,” said Adrian dully.

“What?” asked Terry apprehensively.

“You don’t love me,” said Adrian with a slow nod. “I was pretty thick to ever think that you ever did.”

“Merlin Adrian,” said Terry thickly.

“Let me finish,” said Adrian woodenly. “When we became lovers, I thought we were both in love but I see clearly now. I kissed you first. I deluded myself into thinking you felt more for me. I’m sorry that I slept with Alicia. I know you don’t believe me but it was an accident. I was drunk and unhappy about you, and so was she. We decided to drown our sorrows together. If it’s any consolation, she claims that she hates you, which in girl speak means she still loves you.”

“Adrian,” said Terry tearfully. “I do love you. I love her too. I don’t know what to do and it’s tearing me apart. Alec is just so comforting. He doesn’t expect so much from me.”

“I don’t expect anything from you Terry,” said Adrian quietly as he stood up. “Not anymore. I hope that makes it easier for you.”

Terry watched as Adrian left the common room without a backward glance. He sat in the common room for a long time with his head buried in his hands. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Come on,” said Alec kindly as he looked into Terry’s tearstained face. He led him to his room and listened as Terry poured out his heart.

The Gryffindor common room:

“Where’s Katie?” asked Lee.

“She’s with her evil boyfriend,” said Fred calmly.

“That Slytherin oaf,” said Oliver with a frown. “What does she see in him?”

“What do any girls see in those Slytherins,” said George with a shudder.

“Angie,” said Fred. “You’re a girl. What would a girl see in a Slytherin?”

“Well spotted Fred,” said Angelina with an icy glare.

“First off,” said Alicia. “Bad boys are sexy.”

Most of the older Gryffindors started to snicker.

“And they all have that posh, sophisticated sheen to them,” said another Gryffindor girl.

“You mean those poncy accents,” said Lee with a snort.

“No, “ said Fred. “She means that they are mostly all rich.”

“There’s that,” said Alicia coolly.

“What about that git Malfoy,” said Hermione as she lifted her eyes off of her homework.

“In a few years,” said Angie. “That git will be one of the most sought after lads at Hogwarts.”

“Why?” asked Hermione with her nose scrunched up.

“Have you seen his father?” asked another older Gryffindor girl in a low voice. “If Malfoy turns out to be half as good-looking, he’ll be beating the witches off with broomsticks.”

“Then there’s the fact that he is the sole heir to one of Britain’s largest wizarding fortunes,” said Angie.

“Looks and money aren’t everything,” said Hermione with a frown.

“Yes,” said Alicia with a grin. “But it helps. Honestly, I’m just kidding.”

“What does Katie see in Flint,’ asked Oliver seriously.

“Flint does have a certain reputation,” said Lee.

“As Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff can attest,” said Fred with a raised brow.

“Only certain parts of those Houses,” said George.

“What are you lads on about?” asked Oliver with a confused look.

“Honestly,” said Angie with a sigh. “Ollie, Flint is reputed to be absolutely amazing in bed.”

“How do you know,” asked Fred with a frown.

“Everyone knows,” said an older seventh year girl.

“Here’s how the rumour mill ranks them,” said Alicia as she grinned into Fred, George and Lee’s wide eyes.

“You pervy woman have rankings,” asked Lee in an outraged voice.

“Like you lads haven’t ranked the chest of every girl at Hogwarts,’ said Alicia contemptuously.

“There are two lists though,’ said Angie. “The fittest and then the best.”

“Flint and Pucey have shared top ranking for the best between the sheets for two years,” said Alicia. “But Diggory is still the best looking.”

The girls in the common room shared a longing sigh.

“Pervy,” said George.

“I must admit I was surprised that Flint managed to tear himself away from Ravenclaw long enough to start going out with Katie,” said Fred.

“Fred,” warned Angie. “Don’t start.”

“What’s this about you knowing about rankings and such,” asked Fred with a frown.

“I have ears,” said Angie calmly.

“I wonder how many Gryffindor girls Pucey has managed to shag,” wondered Fred.

“Judging by how red a few faces just turned,” said George with a grin. “Quite a few.”

Angie calmed her pounding heart and gave Fred and George a stern look. She glanced around the room and repressed a grin when she saw how many red faces there were.

Much later, Angelina gave Fred a speaking look that he ignored as he and his mates kept playing the muggle game Fred learnt from his father. It was called go Fish. They played it with exploding snap cards. The explosions were giving Angie a sore head.

“Fred,” said Angie with a sigh. “I’m going to bed.”

“Good night,” said Fred absently.

Lately, Angie felt that Fred had been neglecting her. But she had come to the realization that it wasn’t that he was treating her differently, it was that she was seeing him differently. George and Fred were wrapped up in their plans to start a joke shop. They were terrifyingly single minded about it.

The situation had become clear when Angie and Alicia had gone to Hogsmeade and met up with Katie and Marcus at one point. Angie was struck at how softer Flint was around Katie. He was so focused on Katie. He never once glanced at another witch even in passing and he listened to Katie with all of his attention. Angie wanted to have someone that was that focused on her. But it was selfish, wasn’t it?

Angie looked towards the boys and sighed. She needed some chocolate. Angelina decided to slip off to the kitchens for a late night snack.

As she was making her way stealthily to the kitchens, she heard a noise coming from one of the dungeons unused rooms. She berated herself for her curiosity but looked into the room nonetheless.

Against the stone wall in the dimly lit room was Adrian Pucey – an obviously upset Adrian Pucey.

“Adrian,” said Angie carefully. “Are you all right.”

Adrian stiffened when he heard her enter the room.

“Yes,’ said Adrian stiffly. He turned his face away.

“Are you sure?” asked Angie.

“Yes Johnson,” said Adrian stiffly. “I am.”

Angie backed away and made her way thoughtfully to the kitchens. She couldn’t get Pucey out of her mind. He was upset. Angie thought he might have actually been crying. She made a decision and asked the elves for some hot chocolate and biscuits then made her way back to the deserted room.

“What is it Johnson,” asked Adrian querulously as she opened the closed but not locked door.

“Nothing,” said Angelina calmly as she came up to then sat down beside the Slytherin and unloaded her hands. Adrian looked down at the hot chocolate then up into her eyes questioningly. She sipped her cup quietly and looked off into the distance. She gave a small smile when she saw him pick up his cup of hot chocolate.

“Thank for not saying anything about that night,” said Angie quietly a few minutes later.

“Believe me,” said Adrian dryly. “It was my pleasure.”

“If you want to talk about what has upset you,” said Angie carefully. “I won’t say a word to anyone. We have shared secrets before.”

A thick silence fell between them. Angie had almost resigned herself to fact he wouldn’t say anything, when he began to speak.

“You know about Terry and Alicia,” asked Adrian.

“They broke up,” said Angie with a frown.

“He found me in bed with her last week,” said Adrian.

“Merlin,” said Angie. “Was he upset?”

“Yes,” said Adrian.

“Did you know about Terry and me,” asked Adrian.

“You are best mates,” said Angie.

“We were,” said Adrian sadly. “But we were more. I loved him and I thought he loved me. We were fighting about Alicia but I didn’t think he would do what he did.”

“I knew,” confessed Angie. “Alicia told me about the threesome. What did he do?”

“He slept with someone else, another man.”

“You’ve slept with other girls,” said Angie with a confused look. “So has he.”

“Girls don’t count,” said Adrian. “And it wasn’t about sex, it was about love. I really thought he loved me.”

“Oh Adrian,” said Angie sadly as she heard the hurt and anguish in his voice. She reached out and touched his hand lightly. He turned and buried his face into her shoulder. Angie was surprised but she reached over and held his shoulder and stroked his hair comfortingly. As he shuddered in her arms, Angie reflected on how he made her feel.

The entire time she had been had Hogwarts, she had been aware of Adrian Pucey. Like most girls, she admired his good looks and flirtatious nature. Unlike most girls, she admired the way he handled his broomstick on the pitch rather than how dashing he looked while on the said broomstick. Since their encounter, she was also disturbingly aware of him sexually. She relived that night in her dreams. Right now, she felt downright maternal.

“Is that all people want of me,” asked Adrian sadly much later.

“What?” asked Angie.

“Sex,” said Adrian as he lifted his head. “Is that all I’m good for? Why won’t he love me?”

“Maybe he is just not the one,” said Angie. “In fact, he isn’t. You deserve more Adrian. Everyone deserves someone who loves them unreservedly.”

“Like Weasley loves you,” said Adrian.

“No,” said Angie. He told her secrets now so would she. “He doesn’t love me in the way I want him to. It isn’t his fault like it really isn’t Higgs fault either. Sometimes two people want different things.”

“Oh,” said Adrian. “Thank you for listening to me.”

“My pleasure,” said Angie with a grin.

“No, thank you,” said Adrian as he leaned in and gave her a soft sweet kiss. Unlike the carnal kisses he gave her that night, this kiss was full of affection and warmth. The next kiss was deeper. The next one was hotter and wetter. On that hard stone floor, they kissed until the sun came up.