Unrequited

Yes, yes, I know I said that there will be a sequel to \"This Subdued Fire\" but I felt a little compelled to get this little ficlet out. *shrugs* so there it is. Please R&R. Thanks.

Disclaimer: Don\'t own it except the plot.
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You Don\'t Know My Name

Somewhere between my sixth and seventh year it happened. I can remember the exact moment when it did. It was the springtime and the breezes were mild and flowers scented the air. The threat of the Dark Lord had been removed, Lucius was dead. And I...for the first time in my short life, I was free.

I\'d decided to sneak out for a bit of a stretch around the grounds when my gaze was caught by the soft ripple of the waters of the lake. I crept over to the Thinking Tree, that great oak that sat on the shores of the lake and watched as she emerged from water. Her hair was dripping wet, as was the rest and those golden eyes penetrated the darkness. They searched for a sign that she had been caught, or that someone had decided to disturb her midnight swim.

I tensed, sure that she had seen me. Curse this hair of mine, it\'s like a beacon, especially at night. But she apparently found nothing out of order because she walked ever closer to where I was. It seemed that she\'d left her belongings at the base of the tree. My first instinct was to hex her. Six years of habits die hard. But I restrained myself and merely contented myself with watching. And I secretly perved on it, I admit.

The bathing suit she wore was modest compared to some I\'d seen. Gryffindor red with a white racing stripe down the side. It was obviously a swimming costume designed for actual swimming and not for luring. She was small, had always been small - petite was the word. I think she could fit just under my arm. Not at all like Pansy, who had always been rather lean and lanky.

She smiled as she stretched under the crescent moon. The best thing I had ever done for her was to hex her. When she came back from the hospital wing with those teeth under control it did nothing but draw attention to those lovely lips she possessed. A perfect cupid\'s bow they are and perpetually pink from where she bites them pensively.

I\'d always secretly admired her brains, yet I hated her for them too. It seemed as if I\'d always been chasing Hermione Granger. It galled me and my family that I could never manage to surpass her. As I thought about it, I nearly hexed her once again. Keeping a tight rein on my impulses, I watched her from an objective standpoint.

Not gorgeous, she proed aed a sweet wholesome prettiness with her brown hair and freckles. The little retrousse nose only heightened that impression. The only things in her face that betrayed any hint of sensuality were those preternaturally gold eyes and full lips. Her body in that costume was sleek and firm. Even though she was tiny, she was perfectly formed, with long legs for her height. It amused me to see that her toes were painted bubblegum pink.

She grabbed up a towel and began to dry herself. I watched as she worked with swift efficiency. She applied a quick drying spell to her hair and I saw it puff out into wild curls. Those curls were nearly the only thing untamed about her. Everything except that temper was reined in. I still remember the slap she administered to me that day, then pulling out her wand to hex me. Hermione is a little firebrand and most times...well, all of the time, I only goaded her to watch her spark like a firecracker.

I turned to creep back into the castle, the hour having grown late. I had no wish to be caught by one of those interfering professors and having more points deducted from my House. But then the sound of someone whispering her name caused me to find a better hiding place so I could continue to spy.

Once ensconced in the hedges, I saw as that utter bint Weasley come bumbling across the field. She looked up and saw him and broke into a wide grin. I couldn\'t hear the words they were saying, but from the lazy look on her face I could guess that whatever it was, it was sexual. I could see Weasel running his hands over her arms and shoulders. She pulled him to her and gave the rodent the snogging of a lifetime. So. *They* were right as They always were. Rodent and Mudblood were boyfriend/girlfriend.

It was enough to make a person vomit.

I turned away to try to control the dry heaves. And when I\'d finally gotten my traitorous stomach under control, I saw that they\'d progressed rather quickly to utter nudity. I almost puked again, seeing Weasel naked. Thus, I concentrated on the Mudblood. To my utter surprise, she didn\'t look half-bad. Truth be told, she had a delicious figure under there. Shame that it was wasted on a Weasley. I could definitely show her a better time than he could, with his inexperienced fumblings.

I\'d shocked myself with that thought. I couldn\'t believe that I actually found her attractive. Merlin\'s blood, I thought it again. So what? Yes, she\'s vaguely attractive. There\'s other witches far hotter than she could ever hope to be. I continued to watch them. Funny, I never thought I was one for voyeurism. To be honest, Weasley wasn\'t acquitting himself *too* badly. But it was obvious that he was no match for her. She was quick to arouse and slow to burn. The look on her face was predatory as she caressed the rodent into oblivion. She was the domineering type and Weasel looked a bit squicked as she flipped him over and mounted him.

I sneered as she was able to turn the tables on Weasley so quickly. Apparently, Weasley\'s misgivings melted away as she rode him like a huntress. If it had been me, I\'d have let her do her worst and then shown her what a Malfoy could do. Weasley at least managed to hold off until she\'d reached her peak, collapsing onto his chest with a satisfied sigh.

After a time, they dressed themselves and made their way back to the castle. I found my insides growing sour with bitterness at the look of adoration on her face. And I knew then, that the tiny seed of jealousy had been sown in my secret heart.