Midnight Grace

Chapter Summary: Jo and Tia make promises to meet later in the day and discuss last night’s events before the new girl heads to breakfast with Draco and his entourage. Jo intends to sneak off and hide, but instead finds herself confronted by a rather unhappy Thane Purefoy. Their ensuing argument leads to the same thing that caused it, despite Jo’s mental determination that it wouldn’t.


Chapter Six: The Morning After
 
 
Tia woke up with the same smile she had when she went to sleep.  The other girls either weren’t awake yet, or they hadn’t managed to drag themselves out of bed.  Either way, Tia was enjoying the silence and the ability to allow her thoughts to roam freely, butterflies circling in her stomach as she thought of her blonde prefect.  She stared dreamily into the upholstered canopy of her bed, the slimmest rays of light slipping between the heavy curtains and falling across her cover.
 
Natural light never made its way into the dormitory, Slytherin being buried deeply beneath the castle and tucked at the back of the dungeons beneath the Black Lake.  It was damp and cold and Tia wondered how students of this house didn’t go insane by the time they reached their seventh year.  Perhaps that explained the level of psychosis that seemed to run rampant here – at least with the girls anyway.  If Parkinson was any indication, this was going to be a long year.
 
A morning person Tia was not, but today she was eager to get up and get her day started.  Her nerves were a little shaky as she thought about seeing Draco again this morning, wondering if he would be waiting for her upstairs.  At least there was one advantage to wearing a school uniform; it took all the guess-work out of planning a wardrobe for the week. 
 
Sitting up in her bed, Tia fought the urge to giggle uncontrollably.  She peeked out of the curtains to see if anyone else was there.  A fleeting thought of her mother’s disapproval passed by, Tia shoving it from her mind at once.  Atia Volusia would not have approved of such a display or even of having such thoughts, and Tia had to concede to her mother’s voice that her emotions did need to be more controlled, at least for now. 
 
Fastening one of the drapes to a bedpost, Tia slipped out of bed and hurried to her wardrobe.  She had just pulled her school robes free when a voice sounded from behind her.
 
“Looks like you made quick work of our prefect,” Liz snickered.  “Was he any good?”
 
“Pardon?” asked Tia, turning to look at Liz with her eyebrows raised.  She tried to quell the anxiety bubbling in her stomach, but panic would not be ignored.  Had someone seen them last night?  And could it be possible Liz already knew?  Merlin, she was going to be a laughing stock in Slytherin.  And it had only been two days.
 
“Well, I assume that’s who you were with,” said Liz, producing her own set of robes.  “Coming in after curfew after all.”
 
“Oh,” Tia sighed as relief spread and she could feel her limbs again.  “We went for a walk,” she said finally, turning back to her wardrobe.
 
“Oh, so that’s your story is it,” said Liz, smirking at the redhead.  The brunette laid out her things on her bed and nodded toward Jo’s. “Is she still asleep?”
 
“I guess so,” Tia shrugged, following Liz’s gaze.  “Did she have a late night as well?”
 
“No,” said Liz casually at first before narrowing her eyes.  “Why?  What do you know?”
 
Apparently Liz loved to gossip, and Tia quickly surmised that she was probably one of “those” girls.
 
“Would I really be asking you if I knew already?” Tia asked, mildly irritated as her eyes flicked to the blonde’s bed once again. 
 
Jo lay in bed, listening to the sounds of the other girls preparing for the day and stared up at the canopy above her. She suspected that word of last night’s encounter would already be circulating in the form of crude jokes.  Maybe she could have her name carved in the boy’s loo, like Saline Detrium’s had been last year after Purefoy had had his way with her and discarded her.  At least Jo would have company with being used and tossed aside. A lot of girls at Hogwarts could point Purefoy out as one who had broken their hearts or stolen their virginity. Luckily he had done neither to her, the honor of both belonging to someone who was now long gone and far away behind bars.
 
A knock sounded against one of the posts and Liz’s voice floated through the cocoon Jo had created for herself. “You’d better get moving Iosifina!”
 
Jo closed her eyes, grimacing at the use of her full name and waited until the sounds of the other girls had faded before opening the curtains and climbing from the bed, stopping as her eyes landed on the redheaded Canadian who was staring into the mirror.
 
“You’re up late,” Tia commented dryly, eyeing the blonde’s reflection in her mirror.
 
“I didn’t sleep well,” Jo muttered, which was the truth. Her dreams had been riddled with Thane and Drenkan changing places, one turning into the other before her confused eyes and then back again.
 
“Speaking of late, you didn’t come in ‘til after curfew,” Jo added, glancing towards Tia.
The blonde crossed the room and headed to the wardrobe where she jerked out her clothes for the day and began to dress quickly.
 
“Didn’t I?” the redhead smirked. “Went for a walk last night…”
 
“I’d guess it involved a certain male prefect?” Jo asked, slipping the cotton nightgown off and climbing into her school uniform.
 
“You could say he was involved,” Tia grinned broadly, glancing over to Liz, who was listening intently. 
 
“How involved?” Jo asked, glancing at herself in the mirror as she tugged on her robe, her stomach souring at the thought of having to see Thane all day.
 
“Rough night?” Tia asked noticing Jo’s expression. “Want me to fix your hair?”
 
“No, that’s all right,” Jo murmured. She suddenly remembered the decorative piece Tia had put into her hair last night. “Shit, I think I left that in my pocket.” She cast her memory back, trying to recall if she’d even retrieved it from the room.
 
“Left what?” Tia looked at her questioningly as if she was thinking of the proper question to ask to get the correct answer.
 
“That stick thingy,” Jo said, demonstrating with her hands. “I’ll get it to you later.”
 
“Oh, it’s no problem,” said Tia, clearly not convinced that was the problem. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
 
“Peachy,” the blonde muttered, jamming a quill into her messy bun.
 
“If you say so,” Tia responded. “Care to talk about it?”
 
“Nothing to talk about,” Jo maintained, slamming the wardrobe closed. “Though I bet you had an interesting night.”
 
“You could say that,” Tia nodded. “We have Care of Magical Creatures today, don’t we?”
 
Jo nodded, “Yeah, Hagrid teaches it.”
 
“The one with the thick beard,” Tia grinned again.
 
“Yeah, that’s him,” the blonde replied, her voice flat. “I suppose you’re in potions?”
 
“Aren’t you?”
 
“No, Snape wouldn’t let me in it,” Jo answered quietly. “My marks were too low.”
 
“Then we’ll have to talk in Care of Magical Creatures,” the redheaded girl said firmly, turning to Jo. “Or lunch, I suppose.”
 
The blonde swallowed hard and stared at her feet. She hardly wanted to discuss what an idiot she’d been with anyone, let alone having Tia pity her. “You’d better hurry or you’ll be late for Malfoy.”
 
“Mmmm,” Tia murmured, her green eyes watching the distressed girl. “Well, maybe we can discuss him later as well.  Unless you change your mind, that is.”
 
“Thanks,” Jo forced a hollow smile, wondering suddenly what had happened to Tia last night. It was obviously nothing terrible, or else the girl was a brilliant actress. “But I’m great. Malfoy, on the other hand, can be an interesting topic sometimes.
 
“You better go,” Jo said suddenly and waved towards the door with one hand and as she pulled her trunk opened with the other and began digging for her schoolbooks. “I’ll catch up with you in class and I think I can find my way to breakfast.”
 
“Suit yourself, but I’m pretty sure you’ll have an escort,” Tia commented as she lifted her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
 
Jo winced visibly despite trying to hide it. “Hard to say, isn’t it?”
 
“Is it?” Tia asked, her eyebrow cocked in curiosity.
 
“Yes, it is,” the blonde nodded, stuffing books into her school bag. “He’s waiting you know.”
 
“You’re worse than he is,” said Tia, rolling her emerald eyes. “I’m going, I’m going!” Shaking her head she headed out of the room and into the corridor beyond.
 
With a sigh Jo finished loading the bag down so she wouldn’t have to return to her dorm until classes were over and hung it on her shoulder. She had no intention of making an appearance in the Great Hall today if she could help it, preferring to find sanctuary in her abandoned classroom rather than face Thane Purefoy and his smirk.
 
Waiting until she was sure the common room would be empty, Jo crossed the dorm room and headed up the winding stairs, pausing at the threshold, her eyes darting around in time to see Tia and Draco leaving and the stone door snapping shut behind them.
 
Heaving a sigh of relief Jo hurried into the empty room and started for the door when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Stopping she glanced and saw the one person she was avoiding.
 
Thane approached Jo, his face unreadable, holding out the decorative stick she’d had in her hair last night. “Lose something?” he asked.
 
Jo’s heart quit beating and her chest tightened until she had to force air through it, the world spinning beneath her feet.
 
Refusing to meet his eyes she muttered, “It’s Tia’s,” and turned towards the door.
 
"And you were wearing it in your hair," said Thane, grabbing hold of Jo's arm before she could get away.  "Or did you forget abandoning me last night?"
 
Jo jerked, trying to free herself from Thane’s grip. “Hardly. It’s impossible to forget being used by Thane Purefoy, so I hear.” Her voice was cold while she tried to calm her pounding heart.
 
"Being used?" asked Thane.  "And how did you come to that conclusion?"
 
“It wasn’t really hard to come up with, was it? Let’s see…. You’ve bedded how many girls in the school and now you can add my name to the list, huh? Lucky-ducky me! I suppose I should feel honored - except you don’t seem to be very picky!” She gave her arm a final tug, pulling it free. Her eyes narrowed at him, torn between running away and beating him to death. “I’m sure you and Malfoy will have quite a chuckle over it!”
 
"Malfoy doesn't know about it," he said flatly.  "And he won't.  I told you I had no intention of putting you in with those other girls, but if you insist on doing it yourself, then go right ahead.  Categorize yourself however you wish!" This girl was impossible and she infuriated him to distraction.
 
“Whatever,” Jo muttered, waving her hand through the air to brush his comment away. “Do you actually want something other than to try and annoy me?”
 
"Didn't I make that clear?" asked Thane incredulously. “Or is it too hard to believe I enjoy the company of a girl who doesn’t have her eye on my inheritance?  Or can’t you get that through that pretty blonde head of yours?”
 
“From what I’ve heard there are quite a few who have their eyes on other parts of you,” she said, almost sneering at him. “And you’re not going to fool me with that ‘I’m interested in you’ crap! I can get a lot of things ‘through my pretty blonde head’ as you so aptly put it, and one of them is that rich boys don’t go after nobodies for serious relationships!”
 
“You’re right, I don’t go after nobodies and it’s not as though I’m proposing marriage,” said Thane heatedly, struggling to keep control. “Why not ask your housemates how many of them I actually pursued.”
 
“I don’t need to, I already know the answer. In case you’re unaware girls do talk, and talk a lot! I’ve heard all about your relationships last year,” the blonde huffed, getting more and more irritated for some reason. “I heard every sordid detail about Marianna, and I’ve heard about your and Liz’s love-hate relationship along with slews of others!”
 
"Then you mustn't have listened closely because if you HAD you’d realize that you’re wrong!” Thane said crossly.  His heart was pounding in his ears and his chest heaving with rapid breaths.  "And as for Marianna, I don't know how you even class yourself with her... and Liz?  You've got to be joking!"
 
“I am well aware that I’m not in their upper crust classes,” she hissed, her voice cold. “I appreciate your pointing it out. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to breakfast.”
 
“Are you mental or something??” Thane groaned. “Is everything about status and wealth with you?  How hard is it really to actually listen to the words I say or do you prefer to live in denial and continue to tell yourself these lies so you don't ever have to visit reality and actually be close to someone?"
 
“I have no idea WHAT it is you think you’re saying, but I know what you really mean,” Jo hissed between clenched teeth.  Her cheeks flamed with the anger and aggravation this boy had inspired in her already. She didn’t need this crap! It was only the second day of school; she had a whole dreadful year to get through, and to start it off like this… well, that was just fantastic! “And you wouldn’t know close if it danced in front of you naked! You’re too busy hiding behind your looks, your money and your hollow sex to know anything about it!”
 
Thane growled deeply in his throat, his jaw flexing as he ground his teeth together.  He was either beginning to fall for her or he was going to kill her.  Right now, both options seemed to yield the same result.  "Fine," he said, throwing his hands up in the air.  "I'm the last person to force myself on someone.  You went willingly with me last night and, in case you’ve forgotten, YOU were the one who left ME when it was all over.”
 
Jo opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. What was the point in all this anyway? He was trying to get her to feel bad, to feel guilty and bend to his will - for whatever reason. Maybe he thought it was amusing? She had no idea what his game was, but she knew it was one she didn’t need caught up in.
 
“Good,” she answered him instead. She had no intention of letting him know she’d spent last night berating herself over what she’d done.
 
"Good!" Thane reiterated, not willing to give anything more away than he already had.  If the girl was too challenged to pick up the fact that he'd already spilled too much of his real intention to her, and her alone, then that was her problem.  Maybe she really wasn't worth the effort after all.  "Then why are you still standing here?" he asked, suddenly realizing he didn't want her to go.
 
“I don’t know!” she snapped back, waving her fists around. “I’ll just leave then!” she turned on her heel and stalked towards the door, muttering under her breath about moronic males who felt like irritating people for no damn reason.
 
Thane stalked after her, spinning her around by the shoulder, and kissed her roughly and with purpose.  His mind was a blur, his heartbeat overwhelming in his ears.  At first, he didn’t react when Jo fell into him, the reaction he’d prepared for not coming. But his hesitation lasted for only a moment, his body responding instantly to her touch.
 
She pressed against him, her body melting into his, her tongue searching for his as she slid it into his mouth. Suddenly, she realized what was happening, and jerked back to glare at him, not trusting her voice to say what she meant.
 
Her crystal eyes bored holes through him, Thane’s midnight ones getting lost in their depths.  All of a sudden, everything made sense.  Jo was everything he wanted - had always wanted – and at that very moment he vowed to do whatever he could to make her understand.   "Don't do this, Iosifina," he said, the sound of his own voice echoing strangely in his ears.
 
She looked up at him, her eyes wide, blinking at him. “Do what?’ she asked, her voice almost a whisper as her emotions warred with one another for control.
 
“Leave…”
 
He didn't let her answer, his fingers brushing across her cheek and slipping into the back of her hair as he kissed her again.  In that moment, nothing else existed – only her in his arms and his desire to posses her fully.  Thane wanted every part of her and every part of her to submit to him.  He wanted to tell her it all, tell her he’d changed, that he’d never found anything in those other girls even close to how she made him feel.  To her he was real, like everyone else, his father’s name held no meaning in her world.  Jo said no, walked away from him, and didn’t care what he thought in the least.  She fought him with every ounce of her tiny being and he loved her for it.  But, no words came to him that could rightly express what he felt so, he’d let his lips and tongue savor her for as long as she'd allow and he would stay with her for every second she allowed him to be next to her.
 
Jo kissed him back, her lips lingering against his and her hands sliding up around his neck, her fingers curling in the hair at the back of his head, her thoughts shut off for the time being. Some part of her struggled to understand how he could have this effect on her. Part of her still wanted to smash his head against the wall for all his games, but the other part of her didn’t care and only wanted to revel in his nearness for as long as it lasted, like one of those pathetic girls she laughed at.
 
But, for Thane, the fact that she was nothing like any of those girls was exactly why he wanted her, and in the end, might be the reason why he couldn’t have her.  But for now he only wanted to feel her touch and taste her kiss as his hands traced the contours of her body.  His mind was thick with desire and he wanted nothing more than to feel her legs wrapped around him again.  Electricity coursed through his limbs, his hands slipping to her lower back, the state of his arousal evident as he pressed against her.
 
A low moan escaped her lips as Thane deepened the kiss, and her hands slid down to rub his back, her mind flying unbidden to last night and the events in the dusty classroom. A vision of him swam before her closed eyes and for a moment she almost surrendered to him, almost broke the kiss to whisper to him that she forgave him for everything and that it didn’t matter anymore. But somehow it did matter. She wasn’t a pawn and this wasn’t a game to be played.
 
On the other hand, what did it matter? In a year she’d leave this school and this country behind, and chances were the stories wouldn’t follow her back home. No, there were already stories enough there to keep everyone occupied. So what if she used him the way he’d used her? That’s what it would be, after all, right?
 
Her hands slipped down his back and he desperately tried not to fall prey to his usual tactics, but his body cried out for hers.  Thane swallowed up her slight frame in his arms, the feeling of her body next to his electric.  Immediately his mind was consumed with how he could make passionate love to her, the only way he knew to show her how he felt.  His lips slipped from her mouth, sliding down her neck, his teeth finding the sensitive part of her neck and bearing down on the flesh they found there.
 
Jo gasped, her fingers digging into Thane’s neck. Alarm bells went off in her mind, but she ignored them, telling herself this was getting even with him, despite the fact she knew it wasn’t true.
 
She pressed herself against him, feeling his hardness pushing into her thigh, causing heat to fan out through her body. The same longing she’d felt last night was returning in full force, and suddenly it was as if nothing had ever happened between the dusty classroom and this moment.
 
She slid one hand beneath his school robes, her fingers gathering the folds of his white shirt where it tucked into his pants, pulling it loose and sliding her hand up, fingers running over his hot skin, tracing the muscles of his back with her fingertips. Her other hand slid away from his neck and ran over his shoulder, working its way to his collar.
 
Thane loosened Jo’s tie and worked the buttons of her white shirt open.  He cradled her head in his large hand as his lips claimed hers again, his tongue seeking hers as he crushed her against him.  His mind was screaming out that this was not the way to prove to her his true intentions, but his body had already betrayed him and the voice of reason slowly faded into a fuzzy whir at the back of his mind.
 
Their tongues slid over one another, both fighting for dominance as Jo pulled her hands loose and began to peel Thane’s outer school robes off of him. He moved to accommodate her, the heap of cloth dropping to the floor of the common room.
 
A thought flashed through Jo’s mind that someone could walk in and catch them, but somehow the true implications refused to connect. She was lost in the moment and in the feel of Thane's hands caressing her skin as he moved them to cup her breasts in his palms.
 
The excitement he felt was doubled when Jo moved into his touch, pressing herself against his eager hands.  He broke their kiss and pulled away to look into her crystal eyes that so captivated him.  “Not here,” he whispered, his hand slipping down to take hers.
 
She allowed his fingers to entwine with her own, her shirt hanging opened exposing her bra, her eyes searching his while she tried to find what she remembered of speech. "Where?" she managed to ask in a murmur.
 
“My room,” said Thane, a glint in his eyes as he led her toward the boys’ dormitories.  “I can’t go into yours, after all,” he said, smiling as he picked her up and carried her through the door.
 
Thane carried her down the winding stairs that led to the seventh year boys' dormitories, Jo’s arms circling his neck as she trailed kisses along his jaw and tried to claim his lips again.  They entered his room and he laid her down gently atop the rumpled sheets, her blue eyes beckoning him to join her.  A look of unease flickered in her eyes so briefly that Thane couldn’t convince himself that he actually saw it, and when her hands reached up for him, he obliged.  Lowering himself onto the bed, he hovered over her as his hands found her warm skin again and his lips reclaimed hers. Jo tugged at the back of his shirt, freeing it, enjoying the feel of his sinewy muscles moving beneath his skin.
 
She explored the shape of his muscles as they crossed his stomach and moved up to his chest.  Electricity raced through his veins again at her touch, her nails grazing his skin like a cat’s claws.  He settled between her legs as they slid up his sides, gripping at his waist.  His hips moved into hers, his erection moving against her through their clothing, his hand moving up her thigh intent on ridding themselves of such barriers.
 
Jo gasped as his fingers caught the edge of her panties, his fingertips grazing the soft flesh beneath as he pulled the garment loose and threw it aside, his hands moving quickly to lift up her skirt and expose her naked form to him, his hands sliding once again between her thighs as a breathy moan escaped her lips.
 
His fingertips moved slowly over the velvety skin, Jo biting her lip as he slid his fingers inside her.  She pushed against him, driving them deeper, his hips moving against her thigh, his erection aching as she arched her back pleading for more.  His mouth dropped to the skin exposed by her open shirt, biting the lacy material of her bra with his teeth to expose her nipple, quickly taking it in his mouth.
 
She moaned, her back arching farther as she pressed her breast into the heat of his mouth, her hands sliding over his naked back and pulling his pants as low as she could, her arms unable to reach far enough to completely free him of them. Her mind whirled, lost in the pleasure radiating through her body from his ministrations.
 
Thane slipped his arm beneath her, lifting her up to him, his other hand releasing her and pulling himself free from his clothing.  She moaned in his ear with anticipation, her fingers digging at his hips urging him closer.  His cheek fell against hers as he entered her, her heat tightening around him as he pulsed and moved inside her. His breathing quickened as he struggled to again control his movements, his large hand supporting the small of her back as he withdrew and drove into her again.
 
Jo moaned loudly, tightening her legs around his waist as he thrust into her, her hips rising to meet his every move with equal force. Her hands dug into his back, nails piercing the taunt flesh as his muscles moved beneath her fingers. She cried out as waves of pleasure washed over her, her mouth sealing itself around his shoulder.
 
Thane breathed her name into her ear as Jo’s teeth teased his skin, tracing the wound she had left on him last night.  His mouth sought out the same place on her neck, his tongue tasting the sweetness of her skin as he moved within her.  And then he felt her teeth bear down on him again, his own penetrating the tender skin where the curve of her neck met her shoulder, tiny droplets of her blood pooling behind his teeth.  His tongue dipped and tasted the warm coppery fluid, letting it slide to the back of his throat where he swallowed.  His pace quickened and his hold on her tightened, refusing to lessen the force of his bite.  He sucked at the tiny wounds his made, wanting more of the coppery taste fueling his passion like gasoline on a fire, her muffled moans driving him to the brink of madness.
 
Her teeth clung to his shoulder, the salty taste of his blood running over her tongue, her moans muffled by his skin. His thrusts became faster and harder as if he meant to consume her or bury himself entirely within her, and she tightened her legs even more as the muscles in her body began to constrict, holding him in place, refusing to release him as her orgasm neared.
 
Jo’s teeth released him and she cried out, convulsing as the pleasure exploded inside her, her head thrown back and her eyes closed as she cried out his name.
 
Thane’s own orgasm was torn from him at the sound of her voice calling out for him.  His muscles stiffened as his body was racked with waves of pleasure, his own cry indistinguishable as it was lost in her supple skin.  With a final thrust, he came inside her, a tingling numbness settling into his limbs.  He collapsed on top of her, his hand running through her long tresses as he rested his forehead at her temple, kissing her chastely, his lips tracing the angle of her jaw.
 
Jo lay beneath Thane, her eyes still closed as the bell for the start of first period sounded through the castle, startling her back to the real world.
 
Her eyes popped open and she let out a scream, “Son of a bitch!” Jerking herself into a sitting position she pushed him off of her unceremoniously. “God damn it!”
 
Thane tumbled to the side as Jo fled from his bed, taking half the bedding with her as she scrambled to retrieve and refasten all of her clothing.  He reached under his bedcover and found her missing panties, and holding them up, he said, “You might want these.”
 
She jerked her undergarment from his hand, her eyes venomous. “Thanks a lot!” Scowling she wrapped the blankets tighter around herself and started towards the door, her clothing clutched in her hands, her face red with anger and humiliation, her mind whirring with thoughts of seeing Purefoy decapitated.
 
Thane watched, bewitched and bewildered as the blonde stomped from his room, wondering briefly what the house elves would think with half his bedding missing, but dismissed it quickly enough.  He pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes as he flung his legs over the side of his bed, sitting still for a moment before rising and pulling up his pants.  This girl made no sense and if he had half a brain he would have turned and fled as well.  But, as luck would have it, Thane rarely recognized his mental capacities whenever Jo was around and this morning was no exception.  He put his uniform back on, smoothing the wrinkles from his shirt and tying his tie once again.  Throwing his robes over his shoulders, he turned to his wardrobe and said, “Accio flask!” 
 
He took a long drink from it, as he looked at his bedroom door, his anger and rage welling inside him uncontrolled.  His reflection in the mirror showed his eyes were already clouding over and his left hand was glowing brightly with white light.  He screamed as the flask left his hand, hitting the door with an explosion of scotch pouring from its opened top.  His hands fisted in his hair as he struggled to control his emotions, his reflection staring back it him with murky, steel-blue eyes.
 
“Let her go, Thane,” a female voice said. He looked up and saw a very familiar face that wasn’t entirely unwelcome. “Remember what happened last time.”
 
Glaring wickedly at the woman who appeared in the mirror, he growled low in his throat and muttered, “Just leave me alone.”