entanglements | d.m.

10.defence

September '98 | H E R

"How is Noah, Devy?"

Devyn shoots Tarquin a look, knowing what he's up to. Malfoy is sitting not three table away from them with his own set of friends. He came into the library five paces later than her and chose, oh so willingly, this very position amongst the countless free tables.

Is his sheer presence the reason her Transfiguration essay is only half done? Maybe, but the bloke is clearly having an ear for what she, her best friend and Sue are talking about. Granted, the latter is as diligent as Devyn can only dream of being in their free lesson.

Tarquin grins in reply, encouraging to play his little game.

Devyn edges the corner of her parchement, quill hovering over the blank space she has to fill before next lesson. "Noah is awesome. He made me a present for christmas already."

"That's awfully early, isn't it?"

"He's rather thoughtful, he is."

In the corner of her eye, she can see Malfoy's jaw tighten—the only sign of annoyance he is letting on.

Playing with him is too much fun.

"So he'll be spending christmas?"

The roll of her eyes to him is genuine. "You know he is."

"Tell him I'll expect a present as well," Tarq winks, dipping his quill in the bottle of ink.

"Noah," Sue lets the name roll around on her tongue, putting a finger on it. Her eyes spark at Devyn for a second at the recognition. "He's just adorable. The pictures you showed me... gosh he has melted my heart already and I haven't even met the guy."

Maybe Devyn is cheap for saying this, knowing where it'll hurt, but a flash of Malfoy's stone-faced expression the day of the battle has her mouth saying loud enough, "Truly the sweetest. He would never hurt a soul."

Sue hums in agreement, Tarquin tapping her foot under the table in approval.

"You know what I find odd," Sue wonders quietly to her nearly finished essay. "Not to step on your toes, Devy, but you and Malfoy have history—and whatever differences you have, that is none of my business—but you still won't call him by his first name."

Devyn waits, not knowing what or how to respond.

"Is it a kink of his?" she asks, not even aware that he's listening in—or in close range. "Calling him by this powerful name, like some guys want to be called daddy or master."

Devyn clamps her lips together, from laughing and other reasons. A muscle twitches in Malfoy's cheek.

Sue's dark eyes sweep up to her, utterly casual. "You did share a bed, didn't you?"

Her lip will be bruised from how hard she bites down on them. Sue is the only person Devyn has heard call sex sharing a bed, ever, and she finds it lovely.

"We did sleep together, yes."

That was about the only thing I was good for, an ugly voice says in her head.

Realistically, she knows there had been more aside the physical aspect of their... relationship—not that either of them would dare call it that. But...

Past the painful twist in her chest, Devyn says, "And he liked hearing his own voice more, anyway."

Tarquin snorts, so loud other students around shoot daggers, Madame Pince being the one with the deadliest. She is just strolling by and Tarquin sinks in his chair long after she is gone.