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she/ her. Ravenclaw. Saggitarius. I write sometimes lol

[blueariel3-blog]

Rest Now, Darling

Pairing: Azriel X Reader

Just as Elain had finished preparing tea for you, the door to Rhys' study closed. You snapped your head up to the sound and prayed to the mother that everything was alright. The debrief from the mission could take hours and you always waited in anticipation of Azriel's mood. 

You silently sipped your tea and counted the minutes as they sat in the room. Elain had gone out to her garden at some point and Feyre walked through the house to her room to change out of her leathers and into her painting clothes. Nesta dropped by to return one of your books as the sky began to creep into darkness. 

All the while you sat silently on the couch, eyes gazing into the fire as if you could extend some of its warmth to the brooding male upstairs. 

The door gently opened, a shuffle of feet across the carpet, and the click of Azriel's door. You sighed and stood from your spot, stretching the knots in your back that had developed since you first sat on the couch hours ago. Rhys was intently reading something on his desk when you entered. 

His head rose slightly, swimming eyes meeting yours as he inclined for you to close the door. Silent steps across the room as you sat perfectly still in the seat still warm from Azriel's earlier occupation. His scent gently rose to meet you and you inhaled, smoothing the wringles in your pants out as you tried to detect any scent of blood. 

"He's fine. Physcially. Mentally, he may be brooding for a few days. Go with him, I'll have the twins leave some plates in the fridge if you get hungry." 

Not needing a dismissal, you gently rose from the seat and set out to find the shadow singer. The soft click of the door was all that could be heard in the hallway as you made your way to his room. The lights were off, the shadows quietly breezing through the air and wrapping around your wrist in a comforting manner. 

You took small steps toward the figure hunched over his knees that sat on his bed. His thoughts ran wild as he replayed the scenes over and over; the agony washing over him was unbearable. As much as he needed to reach out and assure himself you were safe, he had no energy to do so. His shadows whispered in his ear that you were moving towards him and he exhaled some of his worry. 

You gently touched his head, running your finger through the soft, dark curls. His forehead came to rest against your chest and his arms hung limply around your legs. You continued to offer him this soft comfort in the quiet, knowing that he needed it. 

No words were said as you gently pulled the top of his leathers up. You ran your hands over his smooth skin comfortingly as you pulled it off, careful to mind his wings. His head continued to droop as you silently motioned him to stand up and remove the rest of his clothes. A pair of bottoms floating over on a shadow appeared in your hand and you quickly slipped them over his legs. 

The covers pulled back by the force of the darkness and you let him slip into bed. His eyes continued to stare blankly at the ceiling as you changed your clothes into one of his t-shirts. His skin was cold as you placed a hand over his heart, only to reassure yourself that he was alright. The sheets were soft against your skin as you moved closer to him. 

As you lay agsint the pillows next to him, he suddenly shifted and lay atop you. It was not a sexual act, but an intimate one for certain. He lay sprawled over you and the rise and fall of his chest pushed against yours. You placed your hands along his back and head once more to continue the mindless scratching that seemed to soothe him. 

Azriel wanted quiet as his thoughts ran wild. He wanted to be alone as he had to remember every detail of what he had heard and seen. He always wanted your touch, craved it like a man who had been without water for a thousand years. He need you there to ground him. 

The beating of your hearts was in time, but not yet tethered together. 

Azriel fought against the darkness that wanted to drag him into a place of Hell, but the comforting whispers of his shadows and soothing motions of your hands seemed to lull him there anyways. There was nothing he could do as descended into his thoughts. 

"Rest now, darling," you whispered into the night as his wings cocooned around you. Despite the turmoil he was feeling, you would be there in the morning to face the day with him. And every day after that. 

[blueariel3-blog]

Cookies

Pairing: Azriel x Reader

Summary: You attempt to make a welcome home gift for your mate, but it doesn't go as planned.

A/N: This is my first time writing something for ACOTAR, let me know if you like it! Just something sweet and short. I could definitely use this right now :)

Azriel had been gone on a mission for several days across the sea and you were missing him terribly. Every time you caught his faint scent, found a clothing item of his stuffed in the bottom of the laundry basket, or spotted his favorite book lying on the coffee table, your heart ached a little bit more for him. It was hard to be away from your mate but you knew his job was important to keeping your court and family safe. 

You glanced at the clock again, noting that it was still relatively early in the night and he wasn't due home until tomorrow afternoon. Needing something to occupy your time, you decided to try some baking. Elain had bought you a cookbook for your birthday a few months prior after you admitted that you didn't have a knack for cooking and struggled to come up with recipes. 

You pulled the book from the top shelf of your pantry, lightly dusting it off and laying it on the smooth countertops. You thumbed through the soft pages and noted the little details Elain had written in and smiled at her thoughtfulness. Little notes like "Try this one!" and "Make on a cold winter night!" were scattered throughout the book. She even went as far as starring her favorite recipes. 

You found a recipe towards the back of the book for chocolate chip cookies. Despite being a very fit Illyrian male, Azriel had the biggest sweet tooth. He was always eating something sweet or drinking something sugary; you're honestly not sure how his teeth didn't rot out. You smiled to yourself, already feeling how happy he would be to come home to one of his favorite treats. 

An hour later, flour littered the countertops along with several different types of sugars, chocolate chips, salts, flour, and butter. The first batch you made was still raw on the inside so you quickly threw them out. The second bath had cooked too long (you were afraid of another raw middle) and were so hard, they didn't even budge as you banged them against the countertops. 

The third batch had too much flour and immediately crumbled when you picked it up. After each failed attempt, your irritation grew until you had finally had enough and sent the pan of unedible cookies flying off the counter and towards the front door. It happened to be at that moment that your mate walked through the door. 

His brows furrowed as something hit his leg and then crumbled into a heap by his feet, the smell of something burning filling his nostrils. He raised a singular eyebrow as he looked towards you in the kitchen, only to find tears welling up in your eyes that you were desperately trying to keep from falling. 

He was quick to drop his weapons and reach for you. His scarred hands were gentle as they grabbed your waist and he slowly pulled your body towards his. He noted the baking ingredients on the counter, the dirty apron covering the front of one of his t-shirts you wore, and the sweat coating your brow and came to one conclusion: you were trying to bake. He fought back a smile as he slowly tucked you into his arms, your forehead resting against his chest. 

You breathed in his scent and instantly relaxed. His arms tightened their hold on you and you relaxed further, slinging your arms around his waist and peeking up at him. His nose brushed across your cheek and then across your nose as he rested his brow against yours. 

"Hi," you whispered to him. Your cheeks were slightly tinted pink as you rested your chin on his chest to stare into his eyes. He brushed a strand of hair behind your ears and his eyes seemed to melt as he took in the sight of his mate. 

"Hi," he whispered back. Your soft giggle warmed his heart and he couldn't stop placing a sweet peck on your lips. "What's going on in here?" His tone was light and playful, afraid of sending you into another meltdown. 

You sighed heavily, pulling away to look at all the failed attempts at a welcome home gift scattered throughout the kitchen. 

"I was going to make you some cookies to come home to but I couldn't get the recipe right. The first ones were still raw, the next ones were too burnt, and the ones that I accidentally flung at you had crumbled because they had too much flower." 

As you recounted the day's activities to Azriel, his smile only grew out of the love he had for you. You felt the warmth through the bond and melted further into his chest. He placed another kiss on your brow before pulling back and going to retrieve the cookie sheet from the doorway. 

"Well, let's bake them together." He gave you a soft smile as he dumped your cookies into the trashcan. 

"Okay," you smiled as he organized the ingredients on the counter. He carefully read the directions and his shadows would bring you the ingredients one at a time as needed. They tickled your arms and legs as you two stood side by side and you giggled, brushing against them lovingly. 

When the batter was done, Azriel helped you carefully scoop each cookie out and place it on the tray. You placed them on the rack in the oven, dusting flour from your fingers as they set to bake for 15 minutes. 

Azriel pulled the apron off of you and chucked it behind him as he reached down and scooped you into his arms. You yelped as his hands found your bottom and squeezed playfully. 

"What are you doing?" You laughed as he walked further into your house. 

"Spending time with my mate," he replied as he settled you both on the couch. He was lying on his back, holding you tightly to his chest. You felt something soft against your skin and looked back to see the shadows placing a blanket on top of you before darting off to the kitchen. 

You folded your hands across his chest and then placed your head on top so you could see him properly. He gave you his best grin, the one you only ever got to see. It was reserved just for you. 

"Sorry I didn't have them ready before you got home. I thought you wouldn't be home until tomorrow." He brushed the hair away from your face as he flooded the bond with warmth once again. 

"It's quite alright. It was the thought that counts. Besides, I like baking with you." 

"Oh, do you now?" You grinned and tilted your head, watching as a smirk pulled at his lips. "And why's that?" 

He quickly leaned up to capture your lips in a sweet kiss. 

"Because that means I get 15 minutes with you, uninterrupted, while we wait for them to bake." 

He wiggled his eyebrows and you burst out laughing. He gently gripped your arms and flipped you so he was hovering above you. He placed a kiss on your cheek, then your other one, then your forehead, nose, chin, neck, and finally on your lips. 

You sighed as you melted into him, arms coming to wrap around his neck. You had been thinking about doing this since he left for his mission last week. His hair was soft as you carded your fingers through it, lips firm and accepting as he poured his love into you. 

Azriel laid his head on your chest, listening to your heartbeat as you softly brushed through his hair. His shadows whispered that there were only a few more minutes until the cookies were done, but there was enough dough for at least 4 more batches. 

He smiled and sent them back to watch the cookies. His hands squeezed your sides lovingly as he closed his eyes and basked in the feeling of finally being able to return home. 

[blueariel3-blog]

Together

Pairing: Poly!Dragonott x Reader

Summary: Draco is tasked with finishing the vanishing cabinet, but it's tearing him apart. You and Theo make a plan to help him.

You skipped down the hallway, your hand safely enclosed in Theo’s rather large one. Pansy made a joke about Trelawany’s outfit ahead of you and the group of Slytherins laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls and sending some second years running. You nodded along and smiled, pretending as if you heard the joke and thought it was funny as you focused on getting to the great hall. 

The smell of fresh roast and gravy hit your nose and you sighed as you happily took your seat. Theo sat next to you, helped you fix your plate, and poured you a drink, smiling as he did so. You brushed a tender kiss across his cheek in thanks. There were several minutes of silent eating and chattering before you realized Draco wasn’t at the table and likely wasn’t coming. 

You gently placed a hand on Theo’s knee and gave a small squeeze. He gave you a quiet look of understanding and gestured for you to finish your meal. You did so quietly, nodding along to the conversation and trying not to let fear and worry consume you and ruin your appetite. 

When dinner was almost over, you made your way around to the kitchens to find the elves. They all greeted you warmly as you passed through, rich smells filling your nose and washing some of your nerves away. You stopped at the counter in front of the head elf and gently laid your hands on the counter. 

“Could I have a plate to go? Please?” It wasn’t unusual for you to often ask the elves for a plate to take, and you gathered they knew why. 

“Of course, dear.” The elderly elf climbed down from her stool and you watched her toddle around the kitchen to collect the food. In a magically extended box, they shoved a double heaping of roast and gravy, rice, carrots, turnips, pumpkin pastries, and cheesecake. She set the box on the counter and patted it, handing her a small extended pitcher of pumpkin juice. 

“Thank you,” you whispered quietly. The elf placed her withered hand on your cheek gently and nodded, motioning for you to get going. You gently took the box and pitcher and pushed open the kitchen doors with your elbow, meeting Theo right outside. 

“I’m worried about him,” you said as he took the box from you. You both started down the corridors, keeping track of the moving staircases in order to get to the room of requirement. You passed Snape in the hallway who nodded his head and continued on his way. 

“I am too. Maybe he’ll let us help today.” He sighed as he stepped in front of the blank wall, waiting on you to step beside him. You gave him a sharp look. 

“I doubt it. Show me the room of requirement.” 

The stones began to chip away until a door appeared. Theo turned the handle and sighed. A blast of warm air hit you in the face and you sighed, shrugging your robes off as you weaved through the stacks of lost and forgotten objects. A clattering sound to your right had you sharply turning and coming to stand behind a head of platinum hair. 

You placed a hand on his shoulder as you braced for an outburst. He turned to face both of you, dark circles around his eyes. You could see how tired he was and how stress had taken a toll on his body, but you had lost that fight more times than you cared to admit. 

Theo placed the box on the table beside you and stepped towards you both, placing a hand on Draco’s other shoulder. He sagged into both of your touches before pulling away and rubbing a tired hand through his hair, the movement slow and sluggish. He dropped onto the worn quilted couch you and Theo spent much of your time on while watching him. 

“You didn’t have to bring me anything,” he mumbled. He was a very closed-off person despite sharing a relationship with both of you and refused to accept help. You gently lowered yourself to the floor and sat against his legs as Theo took the open seat next to him. 

“We know we didn’t have to, but we wanted to. Don’t want you to be alone,” You whispered. Despite knowing no one else occupied the room and you could talk as loud as you wanted, you always kept your voice quiet around your boys. 

“Thanks,” he sighed. 

Theo gently patted his thigh and motioned for him to turn his body, laying his head down in Theo’s lap. He stroked the blond and stringy hair away from his pale face, scratching gently at his scalp. The hand that dangled over the edge allowed for you to reach out and grasp his cold fingers in yours. 

“How much have you gotten done?” Theo was always hesitant to ask but knew it was a conversation that needed to be had. 

“Almost done, just need a few more days.” Theo exchanged a look with you and shook his head. He had been saying that for weeks. 

“Why don’t you eat and rest a little while? Theo and I will wake you up in a few hours.” 

“Can’t. Need to finish the cabinet.” His words slurred together and his eyes dropped as he struggled to stay awake. You brushed a tender kiss to his fingers and gently massaged the pressure point on his wrist, the dark mark almost touching it.

You sat there for a few minutes as you both waited for Draco to drift to sleep. When quiet snoring filled the room, you pried his hand out of yours and pulled up from the floor. You silently cast a charm to extend the couch to a bed big enough to fit the three of you and placed a silencing charm around the posters. 

You helped Theo move his body and tug off his robes to make him more comfortable. He wore his white button-down and boxers when you were both done, curled under the silk green sheets and resting comfortably. 

“Want me to help,” Theo whispered. You shook your head and bent to place a kiss on his forehead. 

“No, stay with him. You both need some sleep.” Your lips hovered near his brow, pressing another kiss before standing upright and moving to the cabinet a few feet away. 

You cast another silencing charm around you and opened the creaking door only to find a dead bird inside. You sighed and banished the creature, shutting the door again to think. 

An hour later, you heard Theo’s snores join in with Draco’s. You turned to see Draco laying behind Theo, an arm wrapped around his waist as he buried his head in the curly chocolate locks. You smiled and turned back to the furniture. 

In the next hour, you managed to accomplish a few things. You altered the spells along the outside and inside of the cabinet to cushion the entrance and exit of whoever stepped inside. You also added a muffling spell to keep the sound contained and fixed the squeaky hinges that plagued Draco’s nightmares. 

It was another 3 hours and lots of charms and transfigurations before you decided to step inside. You knew if either of the boys saw you in the cabinet they would combust, but they were both happily sleeping. You took a deep breath and carefully shut the door behind you, trusting your spell work to be thorough enough to protect your life. 

With a deep breath, you muttered the charm and braced your hands against the walls. There was a light humming and a quick flash of light before the furniture eased back into its quiet nature. You carefully cracked open the door and were met with a room quite different than the one you had just left. A large smile appeared on your face. 

You cast a diagnostic and checked for injuries to make sure you weren’t looking over anything in your desperation for the cabinet to work. When you were sure you were fine, you closed the door once more and uttered the charm again. The same quiet rumbling and flash of light consumed you before it went still again. 

On the other side of this door were your two boyfriends wrapped in one another arms and snoring. You grinned, hardly containing your squeal, and jumped out of the cabinet. Another diagnostic confirmed you were not injured. 

You peeled off your uniform and transformed your dress shirt into a long t-shirt and slipped into bed behind Draco. The clock on the opposite wall read 4:55 am and you silently groaned as you set the alarm for 7 sharp. A few lost hours of sleep would be worth it for his well-being. 

You slipped a hand around Draco’s abdomen and lightly kissed his head, nuzzling in deep to the comforting scent of apples and chestnut. 

A few hours later, the sharp ringing of an alarm woke you from your sleep. You all three groaned as you moved around the bed, disentangling limbs. Draco suddenly shot from the bed and almost tripped on his trousers before stumbling to the cabinet. 

“I wasn’t supposed to sleep! I have to finish this cabinet in time!” He pulled at the roots of his hair and you shot up from the bed, coming to grasp his hands and prevent him from hurting himself further. 

“Draco, baby, I fixed the cabinet.” It was as if he was in his own world and couldn’t hear you. 

“He’s going to kill me if I don’t get this done! I’ll have to skip classes again to make up for it,” He mumbled to himself. Theo joined you two and pulled Draco into his side who tried to push him away. 

“Draco! Listen to her!” 

Theo shoved his shoulders and turned him around to watch you. Draco lifted his eyebrows as if surprised to find you there and reached out a hand. 

“Darling, I’m sorry. I have to finish the cabinet. Let Theo take you to get ready and I’ll try to get you for lunch.” 

“Draco I fixed the cabinet.” His hand stilled mid-air and he blinked at you. 

“That’s not funny.” He narrowed his eyes. You huffed and stomped towards the cabinet, pulling the door open and then sealing yourself inside. You heard Draco yelling from the other side. 

“NO! Theo, let me go! She’s going to die!” There was a brief sound of struggling and then silence. 

You opened the door to find a different room and sighed, closing it once again. When you opened the door a second time, both boys stood with their mouths hanging open as you stepped out. 

“Now, no more worrying. It’s fixed. You will go to class and eat with us and sleep in our bed and you will not spend another moment worrying about this wretched furniture. Either of you.” You gave them both a pointed look. 

“How did you…why?” Draco sounded astonished and his eyes began to glass over. You placed a hand on each side of his head and kissed him gently before resting your foreheads together. 

“It was tearing you apart and I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to do something. It’s fixed now and you don’t have to worry about it for a while.” You placed another kiss on his forehead, then the tip of his nose, then each cheek, and finally another one on his lips. 

“Thank you. Both of you. I don’t know what I would do without you.” He extended a hand behind him for Theo who gladly took it and joined the embrace. The dark-haired wizard placed a kiss on both of your heads. 

“Now that that’s sorted, let's all go shower, together. Then we can eat, together. And then go to class, together. And when the day is done we’ll all take a nap, together.” You smiled and hummed, leaning into his side. 

“That sounds lovely. I’ve missed both of you.” Draco gave each of you a short kiss and tugged on your hands, leading you to the pile of clothes on the floor beside the bed. 

You each helped one another dress slowly, sharing small smiles and giggles. It wasn’t long before the three of you walked quietly through the halls together to the bathroom, desperate to be in each other's arms again. 

[blueariel3-blog]

Another Age

Pairing: Hermione Granger x Draco Malfoy

Authors note: This is just a short part I wrote, but I'm thinking of turning it into a longer story? Let me know if you like it and if you would like more parts!

Summary: Hermione Granger is forced back in time to the first wizarding war, and finds herself in a few predicaments she never thought she would.

Hermione watched helplessly as the dark forces surrounded her. Black figures moved impeccably fast through the air, the tang of dark magic burning her nostrils as she greedily inhaled a breath. 

She widened her stance: feet planted firmly on the ground, wand raised steadily, face drawn into a hard expression. If she was going to die, she was going to go down fighting. Memories flashed through her mind as quickly as a flash of lightning and the grip on her wand grew tighter. She would not let all of those memories be wasted on achieving nothing. 

The figures circled high above, diving down, again and again, to make contact with the soldiers on the ground. High-pitched screams filled with pure terror and pain rung through her ears. She watched as the sky began to fill with smoke and the air smelled of burnt flesh, rotting corpses, and the unmistakable tang of death. 

Green light flashed from the end of her wand, the lethal curse leaving her lips before she had the chance to blink. Three dark figures fell instantaneously and a wicked smile graced her porcelain features. 

She distantly heard the fight between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. The effects were earth-shattering, shaking the very ground they stood on and invoking a new form of punishment on the world. Blood ties were not meant to be broken; lovers were not meant to be enemies; evil was not meant to win against good. 

Hermione had a split-second awareness to shield and move out of the way of the swirl that collapsed the building behind her in seconds. The rumblings of fallen stone and debris sent a shudder through her body and dirt caked her already torn clothes. 

She could do this. 

She sprinted across the field, taking down soldier after soldier. They fell one by one on top of another, but there were too many for her to take all at once. She briefly thought of a spell she knew that could take down everyone around them, but that would include the Aurors from MACUSA and the ministry, and herself. 

She found herself asking if the lives of a few innocents were worth the lives of millions. Could she force herself to sacrifice herself and her fellow Aurors to save the world and rid it of evil? She wasn’t sure if it was pure stupidity or the dark magic that had begun to bloom in her veins that made her even consider it. 

Five figures surrounded her and she blinked back into the present. She recognized the one with short blonde hair, her wand trembling in her hand as she held it against her. Queenie. 

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Her voice was more lethal, deeper, and more tantalizing than she remembered. It had been affected by war and months of killing others, losing her sanity in the process. 

No one responded though sneers adorned their faces as they all silently agreed that they did, in fact, want to partake in this. 

“Very well, see you in Hell.” 

Red flamed from the end of her wand as she cast a crucio to the one on her left and blocked a disarming charm from the one on her right. She sidestepped a bombarda and cast conjunctivitis in retaliation. Their screams made a lovely melody as they clawed at their deformed eyes. 

Fiendfyre was beginning to encompass them, burning several Aurors and soldiers to the ground in the process. She cast a quick extinguishing charm around her to block the effect and swiveled to fire another crucio at an oncoming soldier. 

Hermione turned back to face Queenie. The witch shuddered and took a step backward, her wand still trembling in her hands as she faced the brightest witch of another age. Hermione cast an everte statum and watched as the blonde landed on her back, sharp bits of rubble digging into her precious skin. 

“You could have done great things. You could have been remembered on the right side of the war, and instead, you chose to fall victim to a few broken promises in the wake of love.” 

She snarled the words menacingly, watching terror and anger fill the girl's eyes. 

“If you had been in my position, you would have done the same!” 

“I have been in your position, and I could tell you I wouldn’t have! I would have sacrificed my life and wants in order to protect everyone else. I am willingly doing it now! There is not a single object or person that could convince me to side with evil for my own personal gain!” 

She felt her heart begin to flutter and tears well in her eyes. There was a time when she imagined a simple life that had everything she wanted. There hadn’t been time to imagine those things for quite a while, and she supposed she would never get another chance to. 

“You don’t understand, I love him!” 

“I understand perfectly.” Hermione raised her wand, the tip growing green yet again. Her words were forming on her lips, but before she could utter them fully, she was hit square in the chest with a crucio. Her throat became raw from the screaming and her body twitched and convulsed in unnatural angles. 

She had the vague sense of a large form hovering over her body, hissing began to surround her. She figured someone had sent the snakes after her and she was going to die of venomous poisoning at any moment, should they decide she deserved a quick and painless death. 

The hissing stopped. All of the noise, the crashing, the burning, the scream, stopped. The smell of burning bodies and tangible magic ceased the burning in her lungs. The world stopped spinning, and in its wake, a dark force emerged. 

From the edge of her vision, she saw white blonde hair peeking over the top of black clothing, which sat atop a massive black figure. Even from a distance, she knew what was approaching. The world began to spin again and the battles resumed. There was the unmistakable feeling of slimy scales curling around her legs and a flick of a forked tongue against her ribs. 

She managed the strength to lift her head and saw Nagini curling around her feet, striking at the soldiers surrounding her. She looked left to find the dark dragon continuing its descent, fire slipping from its jaws and the heat reaching her even across the great distance. 

Hermione ground her teeth together and forced her body to move, the crucio having ended when Nagini struck her attacker with quick rage. Her body protested as she moved into a kneeling position and the muscles in her arm screamed as she raised her wand again. 

She felt the rush of air as wings flapped above her and fire began to spread. She matched the deaths from the beast with her own string of curses, wands flying and soldiers collapsing. Queenie had made an escape and was lost amongst the flood of soldiers making their way to the beast. 

Hermione locked eyes with the figure atop the dragon and smirked. Grey eyes met hers, and a shudder of pride racked through her sore body as she turned back to face the incoming calvary. With both of their wands raised and a beast at each of their sides, they began to purge the world of sins. 

[blueariel3-blog]

Only Her

Pairing: Tom Riddle x Reader

A/N: Hello! This is the first fic I'm posting so let me know if you like it! I had so much fun writing it and I always have ideas in my head for stories, so I thought it was time I finally posted one lol.

The autumn breeze was chilling to the bone once you had been exposed to it. No amount of thick sweaters, fluffy scarves, or wool gloves could keep the bite out once the cold really settled in. Tom blew a warm breath into his hands ( as warm as he could manage in the current weather) and cursed the skies. He would not be trekking through this treacherous weather if it weren’t for the bubbly girl skipping in front of him. 

She had asked him to accompany her to Hogsmeade this weekend and no matter how hard he tried to find the cold, unappealing mask he had perfectly molded, he knew there was no way he could turn her down. She was his opposite in every aspect and as much as it didn’t make sense, it also did. 

He tried to keep his usual schemes far away from her innocent ears, though she was not oblivious to his extracurricular activities. He supposed one of the things he enjoyed most is that she never judged him or tried to talk him out of his plans. She simply took him for what he was and loved every part of him. 

“Oh Tom, look! The snowflakes are so pretty!” She beamed as she caught one in her hand, shoving it toward the grumpy boy following behind her. He merely grimaced and attempted to at least look half-interested. She continued admiring the puffs of feather-light ice, paying no attention to what was in front of her, trusting her boyfriend to watch out for her completely. 

Tom sometimes wondered how different things would be had she not been assigned his partner in charms and been forced to attend several study sessions together. If she hadn’t insisted on working together as much as possible and making sure their assignments had no errors, would he be further along in his plans? 

He had been delaying releasing the basilisk for months out of fear for her. Only her, no one else he cared enough about to even consider their well-being. His closest friends had taken his distraction as an excuse to delay plans and stop attending meetings altogether. He knew he needed to make a move soon, but he also knew he could postpone it a little longer. 

“You ought to be careful, the bridge is frozen and you could easily slip.” Despite the lack of warmth in his tone, his message was well-intended and he knew she understood that. She simply giggled and held out her hand to him, allowing his large hands to encompass her small ones and keep her balanced. 

Although he sometimes found it tedious to always make sure She was in safe hands, he also secretly adored it. Sometimes he got tired of the constant anger and despise in his head, the blood on his hands, the nagging feeling of never being enough, and simply let thoughts of her overwhelm him. 

“Look, the Three Broomsticks has their lights on!” Tom reigned in the urge to tell her that they always had their lights on, instead letting her indulge in the simplistic fun. She tugged him along hastily through the crowded streets and burst through the old wooden doors. Tom snarled at those who dared looked their way and lead the girl in his arms to the farthest table in the back. 

He was not embarrassed to be seen with her by any means. However, he absolutely despised the nasty looks she received for being with him. It wasn’t his own feelings he was concerned with; hers, on the other hand, were as delicate as a blooming flower. Tom sometimes wondered if it was the mean comments or the prospect of being humiliated that made the tears roll down her porcelain face. 

“What would you two like to drink?” Tom eyed the man who had come to take their order. He was tall and lanky, probably a graduate from last year or the one before who couldn’t find anything better to do with his time than smoke and drink. She batted her eyelashes and ordered two butter beers, unaware of the blush now coating the snob's cheeks. 

She never meant to flirt, she was just a charismatic being. Tom never reprimanded her for it and never pointed it out, not wanting her to lose the joyous nature about herself for the sake of others’ stupidity. 

“So, heard anything good lately?” Tome whipped his head back to her and narrowed his eyes. She loved to gossip. 

“I heard Walburga and Orion are engaged.” He had come to enjoy passing secrets with her. Only her. 

“They are not!’ She gasped. Tom nodded his head and smirked. “Are they not cousins?” 

“Well, yes, but the pureblood families tend to interbreed anyways. Their children will probably bear all sorts of problems.” She giggled and slapped a hand over her mouth, tho the tint to her cheeks never left. 

He caught himself almost smiling but quickly scowled as the man set their drinks down in front of them. He gave her an extra long pause, telling her to call out if she needed anything, and slowly walked away from the table. 

She took a long sip of her drink, sighing happily and looking at Tom expectantly. Truth be told, he hated the damn drink. But he indulged her in tasting it every time and then letting her have the rest. He always ended up dragging her back to the castle by the end of the day but he couldn’t deny her this simple pleasure. 

He grasped the glass and took a slow sip, swishing the amber liquid around in his mouth before swallowing. Tom hated the grime that coated his teeth every time he drank something sugary and made a mental note to brush his teeth as soon as he returned to his dorm. 

Once her drink was gone and Tom had taken three nanoscopic sips of his, she downed his as well. A glassy film covered her eyes and she began laughing uncontrollably, doubling over and clutching her stomach as the drink coursed through her. 

A rough hand on his shoulder brought Tom out of his watchful stare. Abraxas Malfoy stood next to him, a sort of excitement in his eyes as he beheld the giggling girl in front of him. Tom shook his disgusting hand off his shoulder and raised his eyebrows at his right-hand man. 

“Hello, you two! Well, don’t you look as lovely as ever!” She giggled again. 

“Why thank you, Abraxas!” 

“I was actually referring to our good friend Tommy here, but you look lovely as well.” A smirk adorned Abraxas face as she laughed even harder. If Abraxas had not been one of his most trusted followers then he would have obliviated him. He still might. 

“He does look quite lovely.” Tom simply rolled his eyes and motioned for the blonde boy to tell him whatever it was he interrupted their night for. 

“I just came to wish you both a good night and check-in.” The glint in his eyes told a different story and Tom almost pulled him into the alleyway to explain. But that would mean leaving her alone, and that was something he would never do. 

“Thank you, Abraxas. Oh! Are you excited about the quidditch game tomorrow?” Although she came from the yellow house, she adorned a different color for every game. She just liked to witness the excitement of someone winning. 

“I am, I hope you’ll be in green and black tomorrow?” He gave her a lazy grin as she nodded her head eagerly. She would not remember agreeing to that tomorrow and Abraxas would have quite the time teasing her when he sees her decked in blue instead. 

“Darling, did you want to go to the bookstore before the end of the night?” The light was dimming outside, but the shops were far from closing. With darkness came cold though, and Tom would not have her out in weather worse than this. 

“Oh, of course! I thought we could pick up a few to read before bed?” Abraxas snickered but quickly stopped once he saw the sharp look Tom diverted at him. Instead of answering, he simply shrugged his coat on and offered her a hand. He made sure her scarf was wrapped tight around her neck and her coat buttoned properly to seal in any remaining warmth. 

He held her hand tightly and led her down the snowy street. The small bookstore came into view and he quickly pulled them in to fight off the cold, leading her down to the section she adored the most. 

Tom watched as her fingers skimmed the old parchments as she lazily looked for a few to bring home. He felt bad the first few times they came because he couldn’t afford to buy her what she wanted, but she insisted she had enough money for the both of them. After many disagreements (they never argued because he couldn’t stand to make her upset), he finally accepted that she would buy them and he would read them to her. 

“I want this one, please.” Tom grabbed the rather thin book off the shelf and held it out for her to tuck in her arms. 

“Just one darling? We’ll go through that pretty quickly, maybe you should pick another one as well.” She hummed in agreement and pointed to three more books. He rolled his eyes humorously and pulled them from the shelf. 

With the books in hand, she set them on the counter and bounced on her toes as the clerk rang them up. She handed them the payment and Tom took the wrapped parcels along with her hand and made for the door. 

The walk back to the castle always felt longer, though he knew it wasn’t. Perhaps it was the impending time to sit by the fire with her curled into his side or the way her scent would wash over him and lull him to sleep. It could have been the sleep-filled nights he only seemed to find wrapped around her or the quiet the castle offered only at night. 

“Tom?” He hummed and turned to her. She had a contemplative look on her face. 

“Do you think you’ll ever get tired of me?” He stopped in his tracks, pulling her back when she attempted to carry on walking. His heart beat a thousand times faster than normal and if he thought about her words too long, he was sure it would beat out of his chest. 

He carefully placed one hand under her chin, tilting those glassy eyes to look directly into his. His sharp features made him intimidating to most people, but she was never afraid of the death that could shine in his eyes. 

“Why are you asking me that darling? Has someone said something?” Merlin forbid someone else had made her think this way. They would be dead within the hour. 

She shook her head quickly, long strands of hair falling in her eyes. She pushed them back with one hand and huffed, looking at the ground while she played with his fingers. 

“No, I was just thinking. I know I’m very different from you and your friends, and sometimes I just wonder…well…if I’m too different.” 

Tom would do anything to wipe the sorrow from her voice. He forced himself to take steadying breaths. The wrapped books thumped against the snow-packed ground as he freed both of his hands to grasp either side of her face. 

“Darling, I will not get tired of you. I enjoy the differences between us. I know I am not capable of the extent of feelings you have for me, but one day I hope to learn to feel those things.” He placed one of her hands against his beating heart, letting her feel how tilted his world had suddenly become. 

“Are you sure?” She batted those long, beautiful eyelashes up at him. 

“I am quite sure.” She nodded once, the smile taking on her face again as if she hadn’t just torn his world apart and put it back together in the span of two minutes. She grabbed the books from the ground and tucked them under one arm, wrapping the other around his and pulling him quickly towards the castle. 

There was no one else he would ever consider confessing his feelings for, good or bad. No one else could destroy him if they ever decided they were tired of him. No one else held his heart as she did. Only her. Only ever her.