Kindred

~Chapter 7~

Draco walked into the dining hall after dinner had started. He kept his head up and as he walked by the Gryffindor tables he stared straight ahead, he didn't want to see the hurt and accusation in Arianna's eyes. It wasn't until he was seated at the Slytherin table that he let his eyes sweep the room. He felt the panic rise in his throat as he searched for Arianna. She wasn't there. The golden trio sat eating and murmuring amongst themselves but Arianna was nowhere in sight.

As dinner progressed he fought to keep control of the panic crushing around him as Arianna did not appear. By the time dessert appeared it had slipped through his fingers. Standing he strode over to the three Gryffindors. "Where is Arianna?" he asked, his voice strangled.

Hermione glared at him as Harry shook his head "Said something about homework," he mumbled.

"But you've seen her?" he asked, his voice low.

"Yeah, we saw her!" Hermione hissed. "Bawling her eyes out over you, you arrogant git!"

"I didn't mean too..." he whispered. "I just..."

"Leave Malfoy," Harry commanded with a wave of his fork.

Draco turned and strode from the dining hall, he could feel every eye in the room boring into his back.

He didn't even know where he was going until he found himself sitting on the low stone wall of the astronomy tower. From where he sat he could see the lights flickering randomly in the dormitories. He screwed his eyes shut and imagined Arianna in one of those rooms. He could picture her, lying across her bed, her red hair falling across the white pillowcase in stark contrast. He could see her shoulders heaving as the sobs wracked her body, sobs that he had induced. Throwing his head forward he slammed it into the stone wall. The pain reverberated along his spine and he felt a bit better. "What the fuck were you thinking getting involved with her!" He admonished himself. "No way in hell will you ever be good enough for her." He wrapped his arms around himself as he continued to slam his head into the wall. "Not good enough for anything! Not good enough for anyone! Useless! Worthless!" The words he'd heard so many times in his young life swirled around in his brain.

Arianna sat on her bed in the dormitory. She'd long ago dried her tears, she knew Draco was fighting demons that had nothing to do with her. It still hurt, but at least she understood. Once again she focused on him, clearing her mind of everything except him. She sat there for several minutes before a wave of pain washed over her. Her eyes snapped open as the metallic tinge of blood reached her nostrils. Gagging slightly she closed her eyes once again "Where are you my love?" she asked, her senses searching the castle for him. The mist swirled through her brain as he came into focus. She hopped of the bed and grabbed her cloak from the chair. Racing from the room she almost ran into Harry climbing in the portrait hole. "Cover for me!" she whispered before continuing down the corridor. She let her senses guide her across the castle's seventh floor.

Flinging open the door to the astronomy classroom she stopped just inside the door and took a deep breath. In seconds she was stepping onto the landing that held the telescopes. She saw him then. Sitting on the wall, his head in his hands, the moon silhouetted his lithe frame. He wasn't wearing his robes and the black of his uniform made him seem small. Moving towards him she held out her hand. "Draco..." she whispered his name.

"Go away Arianna." He muttered, trying to keep the tears from his voice.

"No." She shook her head "Not when you need me."

"I don't want you here."

"Maybe...but you need me," she murmured moving to sit in front of him.

She reached for his hands, her slender fingers closing around his wrists. "Look at me Draco," She whispered.

He reluctantly lifted his head.

She gasped at the trail of blood along his face. It had dripped from his forehead across his cheeks and had it been possible it would have seemed he was crying blood. "Babe..." she whispered, her voice thick with pain. She felt everything he did. The pain, the fear, the uncertainty. Gently she brought her hand to his face and brushed the blood matted hair from his face.

Draco felt the tenderness of her touch, full of love and caring. It was something he had never experienced before, ever. The tears continued to fall as she stroked his face with her fingertips. "Arianna...I..."

She placed her finger over his lips "Shhhh, just let me love you," she whispered.

He ached for her touch, he ached for her love. He nodded, it was a slight, almost imperceptible movement but the look in his eyes told her just how much he needed her. She stood and pulled him to his feet.

He stood stock still as she let her eyes move over him. Tentatively her fingers reached for the silver and green tie he had loosened earlier. Pulling the knot free she licked her lips nervously. Her hands trailed down his chest, slowly until she caught the edge of his sweater in her fingers. She pushed it up, her palms flat against his abdomen and he sucked in a breath.

Draco could feel the sweat beading along his spine. This was it, he couldn't deny himself or her any longer. He wanted her, no, she was right needed her. The same way he needed oxygen he needed this incredible woman standing in front of him. The need was primal and burned to his very soul. He bit his lip as he felt her fingers at the collar of his starched white shirt. Her fingers brushed against his skin as she worked the buttons open. He wondered what she would think when she finally had his body exposed to her gaze.

Apprehension tingled along his nerve endings as the last button pulled free. She pushed the material over his shoulders and let it fall noiselessly to the stone beneath their feet. The moonlight sculpted his muscles and a hint of uncertainty shadowed his eyes. "Please!" his mind screamed as she let her hands trail across his shoulders.

Arianna moved closer to him, her hands trailing down his back. As her fingers brushed the ridge of raised flesh she paused. The anger she felt flash through her took her by surprise. She lifted her eyes to his questioningly.

He was biting his bottom lip so hard she saw a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. "My father." The words were as audible to her as it would have been had he spoken. He averted his gaze from her eyes "There are more," he whispered, his voice trembling. When he felt her hands leave his exposed flesh a new raw pain skidded through his being. Closing his eyes he willed the tears away.

Moving behind him Arianna let her eyes move over his back, the scars red and vivid against his pale flesh. She felt fury as such she had never felt before.

When he felt her lips against his back the relief washed over him. She wasn't repulsed by the multitude of scars that criss-crossed his back.

Arianna let her hands slip around his waist as she leaned into him, her kisses moving to the back of his neck as his pulse throbbed in time to his rapidly increasing heartbeat.

He turned in her arms and lifted her chin to meet his eyes. "Arianna..." Her name on his lips was like a caress. "I don't think I've earned it yet," he whispered.

She smiled "No, but I have. I want you Draco...I want you to make love to me right here, right now. Make me yours," she whispered.

He cradled her face in both hands, putting all he didn't know how to say into the kiss. He felt her hands at the waistband of his charcoal trousers, her fingers fumbling with the belt buckle. He caught her hands in his and moved them back to his chest. He smiled gently at her "Not so fast my princess," he murmured unfastening her cloak.

As the heavy scarlet material slid to the ground he saw she was already dressed for bed. The satin material of her nightgown shimmered in the moonlight. His eyes roved over her body, the short nightgown stopped just at her thighs, exposing the creamy skin and he felt lightheaded. Her chest heaved and he could see her nipples clearly outlined pushing the thin material out. He reached for the tie and pulled it free. The material around her shoulders loosened and she shrugged it down her arms.

As her body was revealed he sucked in a breath. "You are so beautiful Arianna," he murmured reaching for her and pulling her flush against his body. The little pebbles of her hardened nipples pressed into his chest and the fire ignited in his stomach.

She could feel his hardness twitch against her stomach and she closed her eyes, the sensation sending little pulses of electricity over her skin. This time when her hands slid to his belt he didn't stop her. He was too lost in the taste of her skin under his lips. While she worked the belt free he kicked off his shoes and before he knew it he was stepping out of the dark material pooling at his feet.

She moved back and looked at him "You are simply incredible Draco," she murmured as her eyes took in the planes and muscles of his body. The green silk boxers were tented as his manhood swelled with wanting.

He hooked his thumbs at the band and swept the material down his slender hips. As his erection became visible she took a deep breath. He knelt and spread her cloak across the cool stones. Holding out his hand he smiled at her "Are you ready my love?" he whispered.

She nodded and took his outstretched hand moving next to him. He kissed her tenderly as his hands traveled her body, exploring for the first time in sweet ecstasy. He laid her back and her hands mirrored the movement of his. She felt the fire burn brighter as he stroked it to a raging inferno that threatened to consume her if he didn't take her soon. "Please Draco...Please," she begged looking up into his eyes. He nodded and moved over her.

As he entered her for the first time she caught sight of the constellation of the Dragon over his shoulder and she saw it flash brighter as he sank into her. "My Dragon," she whispered.

Draco bit his lip as he felt her inner walls pulse around him and all of the aches and misery, the rage and the despair, washed out of him in the flood of her.

Sometime later, neither of them were sure how long, Arianna lay in Draco's arms his fingers stroking her long red hair. He felt free, nothing in his life mattered anymore except the woman in his arms. She was his life, his heart, his soul. "Arianna?" he murmured.

"Yes Draco?"

"I love you," he whispered the words for the first time in his life.

Her heart swelled and she turned to face him. "I love you...I don't know how this happened but..."

He put a finger to her lips "It doesn't matter princess, it only matters that it has."

The smile widened and she brushed his lips with hers.

"We should probably get back, before we are missed," he murmured reluctantly. "I don't want to leave you but..."

Arianna nodded "I know my love. But you are right, we'll be in tons of trouble."

He stood and helped her to her feet. After they had both donned their clothes Arianna used her wand to clean up the blood on his face. Raking his blonde locks across his forehead she smiled gently "No more of that Draco."

He pulled her into his arms and rained kisses over her face "I love you Ari. Don't ever doubt that. No matter what happens I will always love you."