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THE NEXT DAY... ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK
"We need to talk." I looked up and Theo was standing over me. Enzo and I were sitting in the library studying for our OWLS's. I didn't even see him come in. Theo and I haven't spoken since before we left the holiday. At Slughorn's party. Enzo looked at me and shrugged. "Fine." I mumbled. I stood up and he led me to the back of the library, in one of the empty stacks. "What do you want?" I asked. "I heard what happened over the holiday. The death eaters took you." he said. I nodded. "So?" I said. "Are you ok?" he asked. "I'm fine." I said plainly. He nodded, unconvinced. "Is that all?" I asked. He sighed heavily. "Annabelle, I'm sorry for what I said. I just-" he started. "I don't care, alright? You are the least of my problems right now." I snapped. His face faltered. "Weasley is going to be fine." he said quietly. "Yeah, but Draco might not be." I said. He paused. "What does that mean?" he asked. "Nothing- I just- I talked to Dumbledore. He said it's ready. The place for you and Draco." I said. He nodded. "Annabelle, what's wrong? I can tell when something is bothering you." he said. I laughed. There are so many things bothering me. I could write a list but I'd run out of paper. "I told you not to worry about me. I'd spend as much time with Astoria as you can. You won't see her for a while after this." I said. "Maybe I'm ok with that." he mumbled. I looked at him quickly. "I just mean-" he started. "Don't. Just don't. You are happy with Astoria and that's the way it should be. Don't say anything...please." I said. He swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded. "Ok." he said. "I have to go." I said. Then I walked off before he could say anything.
I sat back down with Enzo and waited for Theo to leave. "What was that about?" he asked. "He just wanted to apologize for what he said at Slughorn's party." I said. Enzo nodded. "Did he say anything else?" he asked. I shook my head. "Are you doing ok, Anna? You seem- not ok." he said. I forced a smile. "I'm fine." I said. "You could tell me if you weren't...you would tell me, right?" he asked. "You're a good friend, Enzo." I said. He looked at me curiously. "I just needed to tell you." I said. He nodded, giving a small smile. "Thank you, Anna." he said. I nodded. "You're a good friend too. I'm lucky to have you." he said. I smiled. If only he knew... "We should get back to studying." I said. "Ok." he said quietly. Then we continued studying.
THEODORE NOTT
She's right. I'm happy with Astoria. Not her. We're over. I love Astoria. Not Annabelle. She sat back down with Enzo and I walked past them and out of the library. As I walked back to Slytherin, I spent every second convincing myself I love Astoria. I got to her dorm and knocked on the door. "Tori!" I called out. A minute or two passed and she opened the door. "Hi babe." she said. I pushed my way inside, dropping my bag on the ground. I crashed my lips onto her and we stumbled back to the bed. She pulled off my shirt and fumbled with my belt as I tore off her clothes. Her moans were over exaggerated and she tried far too hard. But I just closed my eyes as I thrusted into her. I imagined she was Annabelle. My beautiful Belle. Her long brown hair and big brown eyes. Her full pink lips and soft skin. The way her lips part into an O as she breathes out heavily as she comes. I imagined making her come. Merlin, she was perfect. "I'm close." Astoria moaned. I thrusted harder and faster and buried my face in the crook of her neck. "Fuck Belle." I mumbled. Astoria's body stilled beneath me and she went quiet. I finished and pulled out, laying next to her. I watched the tears fill her eyes and a wave of guilt washed over me. "Tori, I-" I started. "I'm going to shower. I promised Daphne I'd help her study." she said as she stood up, pulling the sheet around her body. She walked into the bathroom and I heard the shower turn on. I sat up, rubbing my temples. Maybe she didn't hear it. Maybe she thought I said something. Maybe it'll be ok. Maybe she'll be ok.
When she finally came out of the shower, she got dressed and grabbed her bag. "Tori, I didn't mean to-" I started. "I have to get going. Love you, babe." she said, kissing my cheek. Then she walked out, shutting the door. I exhaled heavily. I got dressed and left her dorm, heading to Draco's. I walked straight in and he was sitting by the window, smoking. "I screwed up, mate." I said, shutting the door. "What's wrong?" he asked. I sat on his bed and he tossed me a cigarette. I lit it and inhaled deeply. "I just fucked Tori and- well, I sort of said Annabelle's name." I said. He grinned. "It's not fucking funny." I grumbled. "Did she hear you?" he asked. I nodded. "She pretended not to, but I know she did." I said. He nodded. "What do I do?" I asked. "Stop pretending to be in love with her when you clearly still love Anna?" he said casually. I exhaled a shaky breath. "I- I can't do this again." I said quietly. His face fell and he walked over, sitting next to me. "I just- I want her. I want her so bad. But what if she breaks again? I can't go through that again. I can't watch her suffer." I said. "I know you're scared but Annabelle has changed. She has this fire in her, this light." he said. "I know. It's the light that I fell in love with." I said. He nodded. "But she wants me to be with Tori." I said. "She only wants that because she wants you to be happy." he said. "But I'm not. I mean- Tori is great. She really is. But I'm not happy with her. It's not real." I said. "Then tell her that." he said. "I can't. I just- I can't." I said. "Why?" he asked. "Because I'd rather be with Tori, halfway happy, than with Belle, watching her suffer again." I said. He shook his head. "Ok Theo. If that's what you want." he said. I nodded to myself, almost as if I was trying to convince myself. "It is." I said.
