Hogwarts Harem

Through the Fire

Link found Victoire inconsolable in the Ravenclaw Common Room that night. Between gasping breaths as she cried on his shoulder, she told Link about Salvatore's reaction and he grimaced. Their soulmate bond made him want to rip Salvatore's insides out for making her cry like this. He's even warmed up to him slightly tonight as they bonded, albeit forcibly, with Kit in the kitchens. 

"I promise you that if he's your soulmate and feels the way me and Kit do about you, he'll come around. You would never be mated to someone stupid enough to reject you. I have my doubts about Teddy's wits," he said, earning a sobbing laugh from Vic, "but I've seen the way Salvatore looks at you and well...It almost makes him look human. The man has no life in his eyes normally but he lights up for you. Just give him time to process everything. Not all of your soulmates can be as perfect as me and accept everything right off the bat," he teased, earning a wet smile from Vic.

"I'll keep that in mind, Link," she whispered, leaning on him more than just physically. He kissed her forehead, rubbing his hands along her soothingly as he embraced her. 

***

A few days later, Salvator was pissing in a urinal when he heard someone cluck his tongue behind him.

"What a mess you've made of things, Sally," Kit said disapprovingly, shaking his head in an infuriatingly holier-than-thou way. 

"Don't fucking call me that," Salvatore snapped. The last thing he needed while his own heart was breaking was to deal with this dumbass. "And get the fuck away from me while my dick is out, you pervert."

"Woah, dude. Big accusation. I've only got eyes for my soulmate. I don't mind getting a little touchy-feely with Link for her benefit, though - she likes when we-,"

"I don't  want to know, so save it," Salvatore hissed, quickly zippering himself up. 

"She's hurting really bad, you know," Kit said, suddenly serious. More serious than Salvatore knew Kit Stone was capable of getting. 

Salvatore had no answer for that. He himself was hurting, and he didn't want to discuss this with anyone. It required a familiarity and vulnerability that Salvatore didn't have with anyone, save for Victoire, but he wasn't ready to talk to her. He wasn't convinced that she wasn't over him already - how could she even care about him? He'd saved her the trouble of his company, as far as he was concerned. 

"Look, I know you care about her, dude. I trust her judgment, and she says she cares about you as much as she cares about me and Link and Teddy. Just give in to your feelings for her. I know you don't let people in - you've done everything you could to keep me out this past year, despite my best efforts. But don't shut out Victoire. She needs you, and I know you need her. And I'm not just here for her sake. I'm here for your sake, too. I know you must be hurting too under all those layers of macho-man, tough guy bullshit you have going on. I don't know what you were going through last year when I saw you in this very bathroom, but I do know that you seem a different person around Victoire - one who smiles and looks happy. No one can care for you unless you let them, Salvatore. So let Victoire in. Let me in. Let all of us in."

Salvatore felt as though he were being choked. Kit couldn't have possibly known what it meant to him that someone cared. That someone acknowledged how broken he was and didn't want to look away. It added another layer of fear within him that if he were to let in Victoire, he'd be letting in the other men, too. He didn't know how to let someone care for him, and was scared he'd only be subjecting more people to the disappoint that he was.

He strode from the bathroom, feeling Kit's eyes on his back as he did so.

***

Potions class was extremely awkward and uncomfortable for the next following two weeks. At first, Victoire stole covert glances at him, hoping his mask would fall. But it remained, and he didn't so much as look at her. Despite the love she received from Link and Kit, her very soul knew the balance was off. Salvatore and her belonged together, too - and to have him pretend otherwise was destroying her.