Midnight Grace

Chapter Summary: As the first Hogsmeade trip of the year arrives, Tia and Draco find themselves inexplicably drawn towards one another in a much deeper manner, yet Tia denies it not only to others, but to herself as well.
Jo finds herself spending the bulk of the excursion with Tia, Draco and the infamous Thane Purefoy, attending the latter boy’s eighteenth birthday celebration in a seedy pub while Pansy waits patiently for her plan to take root.

Chapter Nine: Hogsmeade

Tia sat on Draco’s lap with her long legs straddling his hips and her skirt covering the intimate details of their indiscretions being committed against the storage cupboard in which they now hid. He had pulled her inside unexpectedly on their way back to Slytherin after dinner. Most of their evenings ended this way, each of them falling prey to the temptations of the other, but tonight had been different.

Draco had been distracted, at best, during the entire day. A quiet anger surrounded him, his normal barbs carrying much more venom than usual. His face was pale and drawn, much more so than Tia was accustomed to seeing it, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. She knew that he had business in Hogsmeade tomorrow, but he wouldn’t say what or with whom, and she didn’t ask.

Pale grey eyes held her captive, as they often did when they were together like this, and she wanted to take away the darkness lying behind them. It was there and unmistakable, and from time to time she caught herself worrying about it before brushing it off and telling herself that it was none of her business. But, she couldn’t ignore the tightening in her chest when he looked at her that way, like he could see directly into her soul and part of her actually wanted to allow him the privilege.

Draco looked up into endless pools of emerald green. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at him, and he relished the knowledge that the look was meant only for him. His hands slipped beneath her skirt, pushing it up until he could see her body moving against his, and he ran his thumb over the small patch of hair there, eliciting a quiet moan from Tia’s lips. He smirked, enjoying every thrust of her hips as she sought after his hand wanting more. He loved watching her and playing with her, knowing he could make her want him even more than she did right now.

Allowing his thumb to slide between them, he couldn’t suppress his moan as Tia found what she had wanted, her head thrown back, her auburn hair cascading down her back. He felt her climax coming, and soon stifled her movements, his hands gripping her hips. Her head fell forward, her eyes still closed as she whispered, “no”, which was exactly what he wanted.

“Look at me,” he said breathlessly, his fingers lifting her chin while his other hand held her hips cruelly in place.

She did as she was told, opening her eyes to meet his. His hand returned to her hip, holding her still as much for himself as for her, his body aching as her heat pulsed around him. Then he allowed her to move, ever so slowly, as he held her captive again with his stormy grey eyes. He guided her movements, his own hips thrusting upward and driving into her. She bit at the corner of her lip, but did not waver, and he loved her for it.

“Say my name…” he commanded in a whisper.

She obeyed.

“Say it again…”

And she did.

At once, he set her free, his hands snaking up the back of her opened blouse, caressing her warm skin as she ground her hips furiously into him. He met her every thrust with equal desire and determination, his passion and her beauty overwhelming him.

They cried out together, mounting desire sweeping over them until it peaked, shattering into a thousand pieces as they fell into one another, the world outside this tiny room lost and nearly forgotten. Draco held Tia tightly to his chest, their hearts pounding, his arms wrapping around her slender frame, her breath warm against his ear. Needles pricked at the backs of his eyes for reasons he couldn’t yet fathom, but he willed them away in a swirl of broken memories.

They stayed like that for some time, resting quietly in each other’s embrace, until Draco finally broke their silence, saying it was time to go.

Something changed that night between them – both felt it, but neither could say it or even understand what it was. They said good-night and parted, each reluctantly releasing the other’s hand. The air was palpable between them as they drifted apart. It was only ‘til morning, but it seemed like so much more. As the distance grew between them, and they disappeared from one another’s sight, both steeled their emotions and closed their minds, burying this moment deeply inside, a vulnerability that neither could afford to wager, at least, not tonight.

*****

The next morning, Jo found herself sitting on a trunk and staring in the mirror attached to the inside of one of the wardrobes, Tia and Liz’s reflections leaning over her shoulders, grinning broadly.

“You look great!” Liz enthused, her hand reaching up to pat her own hair.

“I don’t know…” Jo blinked, eyeing the results of the two girls’ efforts. They’d swept her hair up, after much debate, and fastened it with a large, ornate clip that held what looked akin to a sapphire but probably wasn’t – or at least Jo preferred to assume it wasn’t. After they’d settled on the hair-do they’d then attacked her with various bits of make up, one putting something on and the other wrinkling their nose and taking it off again. They’d finally managed to agree on the earth tones, though there’d been a bit of a stir over the eyelash thickening – Liz making her look, in Tia’s words, like an over-painted trollop, but finally that too was resolved.

“You look perfect,” Tia assured Jo, patting her on the shoulder quickly. “Now get dressed, we’re running late.”

“I look ridiculous,” the blonde muttered, climbing to her feet. “It’s just Hogsmeade! It’s not a foreign country. No one new is going to be there!”

“And it’s not someone new you’re trying to impress,” Tia pointed out, giving herself a final touchup.

“I’m not trying to impress anyone!” Jo defended as she tugged a white blouse over her head.

Liz snickered loudly, but the blonde girl ignored her, pulling her shirt straight and digging through the wardrobe for a pair of jeans.

“I still don’t know what your obsession with Muggle clothes is,” Liz rolled her eyes as she looked at her roommate.

“And I fail to see the need for me to keep up with two entirely separate fashion trends,” she answered back, finding her favorite pair.

“You’re not wearing those!” Tia admonished and marched across the room, catching up the pants and leaving Jo standing with one foot in the air.
.
“Why? What’s wrong with them?” asked Jo, teetering momentarily before dropping her foot once again. She looked from one girl to the other. “Come on guys, it’s not like I have a date!”

“Does this clueless routine actually work for her?” Tia asked Liz, snickering.

“Not especially, but she insists on maintaining her show of ignorance,” Liz answered dryly. Jo just glared at both girls.

Twenty minutes later the three girls appeared in the common room, Liz peeling off to meet up with Marianna while Jo and Tia headed towards Draco and company.

The blonde prefect gave his girlfriend an approving smirk, his eyes landing on Jo. “Now I see what took so long,” he complained, his tone more cutting than usual. “Why do women feel the need to try and fix one another? If they can’t look decent themselves I say leave them be.”

Jo scowled darkly, “I looked fine before!” She tugged on the skirt, feeling over-dressed. They’d let her keep her blouse, deciding the embroidery made it all right, but had insisted on the ankle length black skirt they’d dug out of Liz’s collection. There’d been one horrible moment when they’d threatened her with Marianna’s pink mini-dress and matching robe but after Jo had sworn co-operation they’d relented.

Tia admonished Draco, and Jo adjusted the black bag hanging off her shoulder, ignoring Thane Purefoy who was in his usual post, his eyes staring straight ahead at nothing. In the last weeks they’d barely spoken to one another, excluding a few odd encounters, all of which had ended in one of them shouting loudly and storming off. But those only happened when Draco Malfoy wasn’t present, as though Thane were on his best behavior in front of his best friend. For the most part when Draco was there Thane pretty much ignored her, while trying to look anywhere but at the happy couple oozing all over one another.

Jo was dreading Hogsmeade, really. The impression she got from Tia was that they were pretty much going straight to the festivities, considering that by the time the staff would let them leave it would be nearly lunchtime. After that she wasn’t sure if Tia intended to sneak away with Draco and friends, or if the two girls would go shopping alone. Mainly, she just wanted to get to the Hog’s Head, eat lunch and then escape the scrutiny of a certain pair of midnight colored eyes – even if it meant having to spend her afternoon with Liz and Marianna.

“Are we ready now?” Draco’s voice cut through Jo’s thoughts. She hadn’t been paying attention to the chatter going on between the couple.

“Aren’t we in a good mood?” Tia teased him, but Jo could see concern flicker in the depths of her green eyes. Draco had been acting tense the last few days – tenser than normal – and as far as Jo knew he hadn’t revealed the reason why to his girlfriend yet.

“He’s just excited to be getting away from the wildlife,” Thane said smoothly, his gaze flicking to Pansy and Ferrywhether.

“There’s no point, it will only follow,” Jo muttered darkly.

Thane looked down at the blonde girl from the corner of his eye, his hands firmly shoved in his pockets and a bored expression on his face. It was a nice change to see her in something other than school robes, despite the fact she looked entirely uncomfortable with her manner of dress. But, he’d be damned of he was going to tell her. He might as well beat his head against a stone wall.

Thane was dressed casually enough himself, in dark jeans and a button-down shirt. His long black cloak was of a modern style and fluttered effortlessly around his shoes and his sunglasses, as usual, were nestled in his tousled black hair. He glanced at Jo again, catching the blonde eyeing him appraisingly as if she were trying to figure out something.

“Something troubling you?” Thane asked.

“I told you I could’ve worn jeans!” Jo said to Tia, completely ignoring Thane’s question.

“Right,” said Thane dryly, “no point in actually looking nice for a change.”

Jo whirled around, her crystal-blue eyes boring holes through the taller boy. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Thane smirked, having elicited the desired response from her. “Most would take it as a compliment!”

“And exactly what kind of compliment WAS that?” Jo’s hands landed emphatically on her hips.

“What difference does it make? You don’t recognize any of them!”

“Oh, will you two shut up!” Malfoy interrupted, thoroughly exasperated by the pair.

Both Thane and Jo resumed their previous stance of ignoring one another, each of them crossing their arms as they turned in opposite directions.

Tia took Draco’s arm and hurried to keep up with his pace. She turned back to Jo and stretched out her free hand. Jo took it reluctantly and Tia pulled the blonde next to her. They exchanged a couple of meaningful looks and silently agreed not to discuss it until later. Thane was trailing behind them and the redhead looked over her shoulder to him with narrowed eyes, to which he only responded by sticking out his tongue at her and grinning.

Pansy watched the group leave, the stone door snapping closed behind them while she controlled the urge to throw up.

“If he looks at her like that one more time I swear to Merlin I’ll gag,” she exclaimed.

Lana nodded vaguely, her eyes going to the large clock on the wall. “You’re really going through with it?”

“Of course I am. Coultier’s already agreed to it, though he only knows what he needs to, of course,” Pansy added quickly, sweeping her hair back from her face. “You’re sure you want to miss it?”

“I already, you know, promised Zabini…” she trailed off.

“Right, right. You go ahead and meet Zabini and tonight when we get back you wait and see - Draco will be with me!” Pansy smiled evilly.

“I just hope you’re right,” Lana said weakly, not looking at all convinced that the hair-brained scheme could possibly work.

“Of course I am! Trust me! All I have to do is wait until that bint is alone and then…” Pansy broke off into laughter that sounded slightly maniacal.

“Well, good luck with that,” Lana mumbled, collecting her things quickly. “See you later tonight, and if you decide not to go through with it…”

Pansy cut her off, scowling. “I WILL go through with it. Just wait. A little attention and he’ll have her off in an alleyway somewhere. Trust me, she’ll be dying to wrap her legs around his waist!”

“Okay, right… um… bye then,” and Lana scurried away, her red hair flying out behind her in her haste.

Pansy watched her friend go, still smiling insanely. Yes, this just might work, and then she wouldn’t even need the replacement love potion she’d ordered!


The Slytherins wound their way through the castle, completely unaware of Pansy’s plan hanging over their heads. They walked through the large front doors, making their way to the checkpoint and standing impatiently in queue, waiting to be passed through the gates to make their way to the tiny wizarding village.

“Why do we have to do this?” Tia asked, craning her head to see the front of the line.

“It keeps the underclassmen from slipping through,” Jo explained, conscious of Thane standing just behind her. “Filch has a list-“

“And he checks us off, blah, blah, blah,” Draco sneered. “Can we get on with it?” he snapped to no one in particular.

Tia shifted uncomfortably, squeezing his hand, her eyes meeting Jo’s for only a moment before dancing back to look at her boyfriend again.

Jo hefted the black bag once more, the strap having slid off of her shoulder again. Inside it was Thane’s birthday present from her and Tia; it had arrived a couple days ago. She’d been sitting with Marianna and Liz at breakfast when the large bird had swooped down, delivering the package wrapped in thick brown paper and waiting patiently for her to sign the conformation slip before it flapped away once more. She’d just used her bank account number from Gringott’s for the transaction, and Tia had already paid her half back, having the gold deposited straight into Jo’s account too.

Of course, the two girls had demanded to know what was in the package, but Jo had held out, refusing to tell either one of them. How could she admit she was half responsible for a birthday present for Thane?

Draco continued to grumble occasionally until Filch and Madam Hooch finally passed the group through the large gates. Once through, the blonde prefect gripped his girlfriend’s hand and began moving at his impatient pace, Jo and Tia struggling to keep up while Thane loped along easily.

The trees lining the road to the village were all arrayed in autumn colors of red and gold, leaves blowing loose from the branches when the breeze shook them to swirl in the air before finding resting places amongst the thick browning grass and weeds. The sky was overcast, but not with dark heavy clouds, instead just thin white ones that served only to filter the brightness of the sunlight rather than obscure it.

Jo breathed in deeply, enjoying the spicy scent of dead leaves that filled the air, the breeze ruffling the tendrils of golden hair that hung around her face. Glancing towards Tia and Draco she wondered once more what was eating at the boy and if he intended to be this insufferable all day.

----------------------

The bell jingled as the four-some headed out of the small jewelry shop, Draco and Thane in the lead and the girls behind examining the large drop earrings Draco had just purchased for Tia.

Jo's eyes had bulged at the price tag, but the white headed Prefect seemed to think nothing of it as he'd swept them onto the counter, intoning to add them to the family account.

"Those are likely to pull your earlobes all the way off," Jo joked to her friend as the late morning sun caught the green gems, making them sparkle brilliantly.

Tia smiled as she closed the small velvet box over the emerald earrings. They were certainly an unexpected gift, but not an unwelcome one. “He’s probably just trying to show off,” she whispered, a grin creeping up on her face. “You know, to make sure I know what kind of money his family has.”

Jo snickered, "How could you NOT know? He makes sure the whole school knows on a routine basis!" She adjusted her cloak as a cool breeze came swooping down the cobblestone street, stirring her long skirt. "So, did it work? Are you impressed?"

“Yes, I have to admit I am,” Tia said, still grinning.

Jo simply laughed, shaking her head. So far they'd had a pleasant morning, and even though she was waiting for the axe to fall she was almost enjoying herself anyway. "So when are we being hauled off to the infamous birthday lunch?"

Nodding toward Draco and Thane, Tia said, “I think that’s where we’re heading now.”

Jo nodded her head in understanding her eyes following the pair in front of them. They had their heads together and were talking in low tones. "Wonder what they're gossiping about?"

“Probably the same as us,” Tia laughed as she placed the small box in the bag she wore over her shoulder. “So, how are you holding up? Think you can survive the festivities?”

"Yeah, so far Purefoy's been rather decent about ignoring me," Jo smiled cheerfully. He'd kept most of his sarcastic remarks to himself since they’d gotten to town, anyway. Though I wish he'd quit staring at me like I'm a specimen in a bell-jar." He'd done that at least once in each shop they’d gone into, and it was rather unnerving.

“What do you mean?” asked Tia just as she caught a backward glance from Thane. She lowered her voice even more. “Has he been staring or something?”

"Yes, and it's... well I don’t like it," Jo squirmed slightly as the boy in question gazed back at them before Draco smacked him on the arm and commanded his attention once more. "Kind of like that only much more.... I don’t know... invasive, almost."

“Like he’s picturing you naked,” Tia giggled, nudging her friend on the shoulder with her own.

"Kind of like that.. only...I don’t know... more disconcerting," she felt her cheeks flame scarlet. "It’s like he can see right through me or something - or at least like he's trying. I don’t know, I guess it sounds stupid," she waved it away.

“No, it sounds terribly interesting is what it sounds,” said Tia with a devilish grin, this time catching a glance from Draco. “And you’re sure you don’t want him to? Not even just a little?”

"Of course I’m sure!" the blonde girl defended, slowing down as they approached their destination. "Why would I want... a..a... an aggravating, annoying male staring a me?!?!”

“Right. Why on earth would you want a handsome, rich boy to be interested in you,” Tia laughed just as Draco dropped back. He lifted the hood of his cloak to cover his white hair, Thane mimicking his actions. “What are you doing that for?”

“It’s best if you’re not seen in a place like this,” Draco explained, exchanging a glance with Purefoy. “Not to mention, most people here don’t want to be seen.”

Jo and Tia exchanged glances, but both dutifully pulled their hoods up, obscuring their faces effectively. Jo was fairly certain than anyone seeing her blue coat would know exactly who it was, but she wasn’t that concerned about having her identity discovered. She could understand Draco and Thane and even Tia not wanting people to know, but she seriously doubted anyone who could make any difference in her life would ever hear if she were spotted in the seedy pub.

An unusual smell greeted her as Draco guided Tia into the pub, and her hand shot up to her nose. Both of Draco’s hands were on either side of her waist and he seemed very intent on keeping her close to him. He stayed behind her until they reached the bar, Thane muttering something she couldn’t understand to the barkeeper and then she was shuffled off to a booth set beside a staircase leading to only Merlin knew where. She moved to lower her hood, but Draco’s hand stopped her. Instead, she settled for pushing it back so she could at least see where she was sitting. Jo squeezed in across from her and Tia looked at her questioningly as Draco returned to the bar with Thane.

“What’s all this about?” the redhead asked.

"I have no idea," Jo answered quietly. "I expect it wouldn’t behoove them and their social positions to be caught in here. This is the kind of place that the 'unwashed masses' would frequent, kind of the bottom of the barrel people, so to speak. Like her," Jo nodded across the room to a cloaked woman sitting alone at a table, long gray hair curling from beneath the hood. "Chances are she's a hag or a vampire or even a Death Eater."

“A Death Eater?” Tia asked aloud. She knew enough about the Dark Lord and his followers, but the thought of actually living amongst them hadn’t actually occurred to her. Of course her grandmother had talked of such things, but to be honest, she hadn’t really paid attention. She looked over to Draco, and for the first time, questioned his family’s role in all of this. She tried to laugh it off and smile. “I guess we should try to remain anonymous then.”

Jo nodded. “Yeah, probably for the best, though if they’re planning on getting drunk I can’t imagine them staying too anonymous,” she commented dryly, tugging at the hood which dropped over her eyes. “Should be interesting.” She jerked her head towards the pair of boys that were already heading back to the table, hoods still pulled low.

Thane tipped his sunglasses down, his dark blue eyes glinting, as he set the dusty bottle down on the table. Jo met his eyes briefly before retreating into the hood of her cloak, only a few strands of her blonde hair remaining in view. He opened a gloved hand and produced four glasses, advising they use these instead of the ones provided by the pub.

The booth was large and tucked away in the back of the room in a dark corner, the stairway to nowhere looming beside it. Draco had already slid next to Tia and, of course, that left only one place left for Thane to go. When he had asked Draco to supply him with entertainment, Constantinescu was not what he had in mind. Although, he supposed things could have been worse. Jo had managed to go all morning without yelling at him, and he’d done his best not to pay any attention to her whatsoever. But, he did have to admit that she did look nice today, for whatever reason, or maybe it was just the scotch he’d been sipping on all morning.

“Well, shall we have a toast to me?” asked Thane, lifting his glass of amber-colored liquid with a crooked smile.

Jo tried not to make any of the multitude of sarcastic remarks which sprung instantly to mind. It was his birthday party, after all. He probably wasn’t thrilled with Draco demanding to include Tia and, by way of the Canadian, herself. Still she couldn’t help but make a strange noise in her throat as she carefully poured the liquid into her small glass, handing the bottle across the table to Tia, and raising her own glass politely but unenthusiastically.

Draco raised a disapproving eyebrow at the blonde across from him. He had never seen anything so ridiculous as the way these two acted around one another. If either of them had a brain cell to split between them, they’d realize the liked each other and get on with it. He took the bottle from Tia, his thoughts changing quickly as her fingers slid easily over the back of his hand as she relinquished the bottle to his control.

Pouring first a glass for Tia and then one for himself, he looked over to Thane with a rather cocky smirk. “To the most arrogant, loudmouthed, self-absorbed git I’ve had the pleasure of knowing since birth. Let’s raise our glasses in honor of his eighteenth birthday, a day which none of us thought he’d ever reach.”

Jo smirked. “Here, here,” she said, nodding in agreement as their glasses clinked against one another. Tipping the glass back into her mouth she swallowed the liquid, a fiery trail blazing down her throat and into her stomach. Blinking her eyes, but refusing to make any other outward sign of even vague discomfort, she sat the glass back on the table, meeting Tia's eyes and trying to ignore the male seated next to her.

Thane grimaced purposefully and Draco didn’t even flinch, which felt slightly odd to the girls seated next to them. Jo and Tia exchanged a glance as the two boys refilled their glasses and shared a laugh. The redhead kicked Jo under the table, to which the blonde mouthed, “What?” Tia just cocked her head to the side and glared at Jo, unable to say anything but hoping the girl would pick up on the fact that she should present the guest of honor with his present.

Jo blinked at Tia again and the red head nodded towards the black bag that Jo had heaped unceremoniously on the table. Sighing deeply, the blonde figured out what she wanted. Grimacing, she tugged the bag open and pulled out the brightly wrapped package, the shiny paper rustling and drawing the attention of both boys.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” asked Thane, his midnight eyes lighting up. A present from Miss Constantinescu was the last thing he expected. “Oh, you shouldn’t have!”

Jo muttered something under her breath to the effect that it wasn’t her idea and received yet another kick from Tia. Giving her friend a look that bordered on nasty, she cleared her throat and handed the gift over. She was strongly tempted to go with their original agreement and claim no responsibility for the present, but with Draco staring she decided it would only make Tia look bad. "It's from both of us."

“Did you put them up to this?” Thane asked his white-haired friend.

“This has nothing to do with me,” he said and took an idle sip from his glass. “That bottle of scotch is the only gift you’re getting from me.”

“Well then, I must thank these two lovely ladies,” he said as he tore into the wrapping paper. He paused once the small box was revealed.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” Tia asked excitedly, a child-like smile on her face.

Thane felt like pulling his sunglasses down and hiding firmly behind them. There was an intense feeling of trepidation as he stared at the box, knowing that some type of jewelry lie within it. Somehow, he thought it would feel entirely different if it had only been from Jo. But, he didn’t waste too much time on that thought and replaced his grin before saying, “Of course. Just wanted to build anticipation.”

Opening the box slowly, he revealed a square-cut onyx stone set in a heavy silver ring. There was an intricate antiqued inlay on either side of the setting that looked distinctly Celtic, and glancing toward Jo, he wondered if she knew of his ancestry.

“So, do you like it?” Tia asked quickly. She seemed to be more excited about his present than he did at the moment.

“It’s absolutely lovely!” Thane answered, smiling, and pulled it from its niche to inspect it more closely.

“Well, I can’t take credit for it,” said Tia. “Jo’s the one who picked it out.”

Thane’s grin broadened at Tia’s words and he immediately slipped it onto the ring finger of his right hand. “Then I must thank you, Iosifina.”

Jo cringed at the use of her name and at Tia's giving her all the credit. She was definitely going to have to have a long talk with the red head later. Forcing a half smile and trying to ignore her flaming cheeks, grateful that he couldn’t see her face thanks to the hood, she said "You're welcome, though really, it’s Jo."

“Of course, as you wish – Jo,” he said, ignoring Draco’s dramatic rolling of his eyes and his disapproving snort.

Their food came out a short time later, Draco finally relenting and allowing Tia to lower her hood while she ate. Tia was sure she saw Jo smile inadvertently at least twice when she heard the distinctive “clink” of the ring hitting Thane’s glass whenever he took a drink. He had managed to coax the blonde from the corner of the booth and actually engage in conversation with him, though she did put on quite a show of it being quite against her will.

It hadn’t been Tia’s most brilliant scheme, but at least the two were talking again, and that was definitely a marked improvement even from this morning. Draco had given her a couple of suspicious looks, and she was sure he’d caught on to her whole plot, but she only shrugged and smiled as if she knew nothing. It seemed the day wasn’t going to be a disaster after all.