ficlet
Another Doriana, because I know Emily and Molly liked the first one. I'm telling you, this one's crap compared to the other, but because I'm running on very little sleep and not feeling so well - I'll use that as an excuse. My creativity has limits, you know!
The Great Hall erupted into cheers and groans, smiles and scowls, laughter and tears. It was the third week of June, the last week of Hogwarts for some, including a certain seventh year Slytherin with blonde hair and an indifferent expression. Whether her house won the house cup or lost miserably to those she considered lesser in nearly every respect, Adriana Winters could not bring herself to care about the end of term feast in the slightest. Her thoughts kept wandering back to a memory formed just the night before, neatly placed in the forefront of her mind. Another exchange of playful words, another snog session in a secluded place, another piece of her heart, one she didn't realise she had, given unwillingly to a wizard as unpredictable as her mood. The chance of her keeping in touch with Dorian Grace after this evening were slim to none. As hard as she tried to remember that their relationship was based on boredom and urges with no strings attached, some deeper part of her screamed out in frustration, seemingly begging her to make him change his mind and see things the way she did now. It was an impossible task, this she knew, and yet her feet moved without her consent, quietly and softly leading her away from the Slytherin table.
She didn't bother to look back as she entered the deserted corridors, leaving the very last of a significant portion of her life behind her. She had never had difficulty letting go of things that no longer seemed of importance, and in her rather distressed state she could hardly focus on saying goodbye to a bloody castle - to a completed education. She was much more inclined to find the auror she desperately wished to claim as her own, the man who'd unknowingly managed to crawl beneath her skin.
She stopped in front of Dorian's quarters, hardly breathing as she listened for signs of life. The soft sounds of shuffling feet could be heard beneath the doorframe, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up somewhat uncomfortably. Closing her eyes for a moment to gain composure, she lifted a hand to reveal her presence with a knock. After a silence that seemed to drag on forever, the door hesitantly opened, Dorian Grace's cold eyes emerging from the dark.
"I've no time for this now, Miss Winters," Dorian warned, though his body language said otherwise. He stepped aside, opening the door with just enough space for Adriana to slip through. She contemplated her next move as he glared, eventually taking the opportunity that had presented itself and entering the room in one swift motion.
"Yes, and time has always been an issue with us," Adriana scoffed sarcastically, raising an eyebrow as she turned to face him again. He'd always made time for her in the past, too many times to count, and she didn't see why now should be any different. If he was going to sacrifice time, this was the right situation for it.
Dorian locked the door behind him, now accostomed to doing so, and crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. He normally would make time for her, but perhaps she'd forgotten they were leaving in the morning. Unlike the boisterous lot in the Great Hall, he wasn't about to welcome a reminder of what he was giving up.
"That was before our discussion yesterday evening. If I recall correctly, we've both agreed to go our separate ways, and in order for me to do so... I need to pack my things," Dorian explained, brushing past her to place a few loose items in the trunk he had lying open on the sofa. He frowned at a few wrinkles that had appeared on one of his shirts, but shoved the clothing hastily into the proper spot anyway - if only to avoid the gaze of the young woman walking closer to him.
Adriana moved with determination, not letting him get too far a distance away from her. While she wished she could express what this was doing to her, she was far too stubborn to let him know just what she thought about this 'separate ways' plan. If he wanted to keep his reassignment a secret, to move on and forget all about her, she was going to accept it no matter how much it pained her. She was strong; she could survive without kisses and caresses, without hidden smiles.
"I suppose my being here completely prevents you from.... folding a few dress shirts," Adriana stated with narrowed eyes, waiting for him to turn around. She knew she had no real reason to pick a fight. She'd had her window for expressing her opinion the night before, and she'd chosen not to say a bloody thing.
Dorian groaned, clenching and unclenching a fist in frustration before staring daggers at her once more. She wasn't making this any easier on him, waltzing into his room without a rhyme or reason. If he could take a guess, he'd say she was simply beside him out of habit, too bored with the evening's festivities to be around those her own age. She was wasting her time if she thought he'd play along. He'd promised himself that he'd shake whatever thoughts he had of her from his mind, resist the temptation to go against the system he'd created for himself regarding relationships. She'd never be willing to take things to a more serious level. She was far too young, too careless, and he was too... convinced she'd find someone she considered more acceptable, pleasing, worthy.
"I suppose your being here means I should be jumping for joy, snogging you senseless? I thought I'd made it perfectly clear I've had enough of you," Dorian responded, immediately regretting his words. This, however, did not show on his stoney face. A twitch of the eyebrow was the only sign of an internal struggle.
Adriana's jaw dropped in horror, her cheeks becoming flushed in anger. She wanted to call him every terrible name she could think of, hex him into oblivion, make him pay for the harshness of his tone. Despite what he claimed, Adriana knew he'd not used her as a mere distraction. She loathed herself for still wanting him, for still longing to be near him. If she could have things her way, she'd already be on a train to London without a care in the world, happy to be rid of him.
"I got the message. I thought I'd return the favor, inform you of the magnititude of my loathing of you," Adriana hissed, turning sharply to head for the door, holding back a scream as she realised the door was still locked. She was stuck, in more ways than one.
"Damn it, Adriana, you're lying to me," Dorian stated as if the argument were far from over, though a motion of his wand now allowed her to exit if she pleased. How funny he should call her on her bluff when he'd started the denial in the first place.
She shot him an icy glare, hoping for words but finding none. Before she lost her motivation to do so, she quickly made her escape, slamming the door behind her, breathing hard as she leaned against the wall just outside his room.
Dorian slammed his hand into the wall beside him, knuckles aching with pain as he reevaluated his decision. How could he allow himself to be with her when his job, his reputation, his position as a spy were at risk, but push her away at the first glimmer of freedom? Why was it so difficult to simply admit that she'd gotten the best of him, that he was feeling something much more complex than a mere adoration for a snog or two? It seemed ridiculous to him now, that he should find himself caught in such a state of confusion.
If he was going to lose her, he'd be daft to not get a proper goodbye.
Pushing himself forward, he flung open the door and prepared to run after her, but he easily caught sight of her against the wall and sighed. There was no point in apologizing, no time for excuses and confessions. He looped his arm around her waist, leading her back into his quarters, lips attaching themselves to hers as he pulled her along.
"You know bloody well I want you, Adriana," Dorian said softly before kissing her with more intensity, feeling her arms reach up and around his neck.
She knew.
Blegh. Erm... enjoy?
- Ferface ♥
The Great Hall erupted into cheers and groans, smiles and scowls, laughter and tears. It was the third week of June, the last week of Hogwarts for some, including a certain seventh year Slytherin with blonde hair and an indifferent expression. Whether her house won the house cup or lost miserably to those she considered lesser in nearly every respect, Adriana Winters could not bring herself to care about the end of term feast in the slightest. Her thoughts kept wandering back to a memory formed just the night before, neatly placed in the forefront of her mind. Another exchange of playful words, another snog session in a secluded place, another piece of her heart, one she didn't realise she had, given unwillingly to a wizard as unpredictable as her mood. The chance of her keeping in touch with Dorian Grace after this evening were slim to none. As hard as she tried to remember that their relationship was based on boredom and urges with no strings attached, some deeper part of her screamed out in frustration, seemingly begging her to make him change his mind and see things the way she did now. It was an impossible task, this she knew, and yet her feet moved without her consent, quietly and softly leading her away from the Slytherin table.
She didn't bother to look back as she entered the deserted corridors, leaving the very last of a significant portion of her life behind her. She had never had difficulty letting go of things that no longer seemed of importance, and in her rather distressed state she could hardly focus on saying goodbye to a bloody castle - to a completed education. She was much more inclined to find the auror she desperately wished to claim as her own, the man who'd unknowingly managed to crawl beneath her skin.
She stopped in front of Dorian's quarters, hardly breathing as she listened for signs of life. The soft sounds of shuffling feet could be heard beneath the doorframe, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand up somewhat uncomfortably. Closing her eyes for a moment to gain composure, she lifted a hand to reveal her presence with a knock. After a silence that seemed to drag on forever, the door hesitantly opened, Dorian Grace's cold eyes emerging from the dark.
"I've no time for this now, Miss Winters," Dorian warned, though his body language said otherwise. He stepped aside, opening the door with just enough space for Adriana to slip through. She contemplated her next move as he glared, eventually taking the opportunity that had presented itself and entering the room in one swift motion.
"Yes, and time has always been an issue with us," Adriana scoffed sarcastically, raising an eyebrow as she turned to face him again. He'd always made time for her in the past, too many times to count, and she didn't see why now should be any different. If he was going to sacrifice time, this was the right situation for it.
Dorian locked the door behind him, now accostomed to doing so, and crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. He normally would make time for her, but perhaps she'd forgotten they were leaving in the morning. Unlike the boisterous lot in the Great Hall, he wasn't about to welcome a reminder of what he was giving up.
"That was before our discussion yesterday evening. If I recall correctly, we've both agreed to go our separate ways, and in order for me to do so... I need to pack my things," Dorian explained, brushing past her to place a few loose items in the trunk he had lying open on the sofa. He frowned at a few wrinkles that had appeared on one of his shirts, but shoved the clothing hastily into the proper spot anyway - if only to avoid the gaze of the young woman walking closer to him.
Adriana moved with determination, not letting him get too far a distance away from her. While she wished she could express what this was doing to her, she was far too stubborn to let him know just what she thought about this 'separate ways' plan. If he wanted to keep his reassignment a secret, to move on and forget all about her, she was going to accept it no matter how much it pained her. She was strong; she could survive without kisses and caresses, without hidden smiles.
"I suppose my being here completely prevents you from.... folding a few dress shirts," Adriana stated with narrowed eyes, waiting for him to turn around. She knew she had no real reason to pick a fight. She'd had her window for expressing her opinion the night before, and she'd chosen not to say a bloody thing.
Dorian groaned, clenching and unclenching a fist in frustration before staring daggers at her once more. She wasn't making this any easier on him, waltzing into his room without a rhyme or reason. If he could take a guess, he'd say she was simply beside him out of habit, too bored with the evening's festivities to be around those her own age. She was wasting her time if she thought he'd play along. He'd promised himself that he'd shake whatever thoughts he had of her from his mind, resist the temptation to go against the system he'd created for himself regarding relationships. She'd never be willing to take things to a more serious level. She was far too young, too careless, and he was too... convinced she'd find someone she considered more acceptable, pleasing, worthy.
"I suppose your being here means I should be jumping for joy, snogging you senseless? I thought I'd made it perfectly clear I've had enough of you," Dorian responded, immediately regretting his words. This, however, did not show on his stoney face. A twitch of the eyebrow was the only sign of an internal struggle.
Adriana's jaw dropped in horror, her cheeks becoming flushed in anger. She wanted to call him every terrible name she could think of, hex him into oblivion, make him pay for the harshness of his tone. Despite what he claimed, Adriana knew he'd not used her as a mere distraction. She loathed herself for still wanting him, for still longing to be near him. If she could have things her way, she'd already be on a train to London without a care in the world, happy to be rid of him.
"I got the message. I thought I'd return the favor, inform you of the magnititude of my loathing of you," Adriana hissed, turning sharply to head for the door, holding back a scream as she realised the door was still locked. She was stuck, in more ways than one.
"Damn it, Adriana, you're lying to me," Dorian stated as if the argument were far from over, though a motion of his wand now allowed her to exit if she pleased. How funny he should call her on her bluff when he'd started the denial in the first place.
She shot him an icy glare, hoping for words but finding none. Before she lost her motivation to do so, she quickly made her escape, slamming the door behind her, breathing hard as she leaned against the wall just outside his room.
Dorian slammed his hand into the wall beside him, knuckles aching with pain as he reevaluated his decision. How could he allow himself to be with her when his job, his reputation, his position as a spy were at risk, but push her away at the first glimmer of freedom? Why was it so difficult to simply admit that she'd gotten the best of him, that he was feeling something much more complex than a mere adoration for a snog or two? It seemed ridiculous to him now, that he should find himself caught in such a state of confusion.
If he was going to lose her, he'd be daft to not get a proper goodbye.
Pushing himself forward, he flung open the door and prepared to run after her, but he easily caught sight of her against the wall and sighed. There was no point in apologizing, no time for excuses and confessions. He looped his arm around her waist, leading her back into his quarters, lips attaching themselves to hers as he pulled her along.
"You know bloody well I want you, Adriana," Dorian said softly before kissing her with more intensity, feeling her arms reach up and around his neck.
She knew.
Blegh. Erm... enjoy?
- Ferface ♥