𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 | g. w

62. dorian

Growing up, I was always careful in having people getting close to me. It seemed to me as if people held ulterior motives in wanting to spend time with me rather than just sincere honesty being the reason, and so I learned ways to prepare for what I thought was inevitable—that they'd sooner or later abandon me.

The exception was always Fred, George and Alfie. With them I felt safe and unafraid to be myself, but when Alfie died and I moved away to try and heal from the pain that it had caused, those walls started building up again. Brick by brick, I hid myself away again, not even letting the door slide open the tiniest bit to let in the light. I wanted, needed it shut in order to protect myself when no one else could. I became more and more sensitive to my perception of other people's reasons for spending time with me, and in the end, I was lonely. Terribly lonely.

So when Dorian entered my life that day and slowly but surely chipped away at my insecurity; making me laugh at his dumb jokes and wanting to know my opinions on certain book-related matters, I began to catch a glimpse of my old self. He brought me back to life in a sense, opening me up to the beauty of the world again. Those pieces of myself I had been missing, that had been torn apart, were putting themselves back together, at least for a short while.

And so I allowed him to squeeze through that tiny bit of space left by the door, cautious about the risks still, but opening up all the same.

But, I must've been terribly wrong in my assessment of his character.

How dumb must I have been to trust my own judgement?

To not see the situation for what it was? Not realising his motives were anything but as sincere and honest as I'd believed from the start?

"Oh dear. This is proving to turn out just how I'd planned it. You know, despite my imminent respect and admiration for you, I must admit I'm a little shocked you trusted me so easily. I thought it'd be a million times more difficult getting you to open up to me. I mean, we were just two strangers meeting randomly at a book shop? I expected you'd be more on guard than that."

The light surrounding whatever room he's Apparated us both to makes my head pound and my eyes hurt. The second our feet hit the ground, I recoil, the need to throw back up whatever substance he's fooled me into drinking.

Gasping for breath, I stumble back, my hands clutching the sides of my head as the world spins around me, seemingly blurred and unfocused. Dorian's sinister chuckle reverberates through the room, sending shivers down my spine.

"You really underestimated me, didn't you?" he sneers, a malevolent glint in his eyes. "Love Potions can be quite potent, Mia. This is no different. Now, you're bound to me; our connection has been strengthened and there's no escape. You won't ever get rid of me, and I'll never have to wonder what it would be like to see that horrified look on your face as the light leaves your eyes."

My heart races as panic sets in, realizing the gravity of the situation. The room appears to shift and warp, like a nightmare encroaching on reality. I muster the strength to speak, my voice strained, "Why would you do this? What do you want from me? I thought you were my friend!"

Dorian smirks, reveling in the chaos he's unleashed. "Oh, my dear, I have my reasons."

As the room continues to distort, I feel a surge of anger and determination replacing the initial shock. I can't let myself become a puppet in his schemes. Summoning every ounce of willpower, I focus on breaking free from the enchantment, determined to resist the artificial affection he's forced upon me.

Dorian watches with amusement as I struggle against the invisible barrier he's built in my mind, his arrogance unyielding. "You can fight all you want, but the bonds I've created are unbreakable. You belong to me now, and you'll do as I say."

Despite his claims, a spark of defiance ignites within me. I refuse to let his manipulations define my destiny. With newfound strength, I confront him, "I won't be controlled by your twisted games. Whatever your plans are, I'll find a way to break free."

The room darkens as Dorian's expression shifts from amusement to irritation. "You're more resilient than I expected, but don't fool yourself. You're powerless against the magic that binds us."

In the face of adversity, I draw upon the strength I found through the genuine connections with Fred, George, and Alfie. Their memories fuel my determination, and with a steely gaze, I declare, "I'll find a way to undo this, and you won't win. I won't let you break me."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. You see, you won't be able to undo any of this, just as I won't be able to undo the pain you've caused me, Mia Rune."

(...)

POV change

I hated Percy Weasley from the very beginning. From the moment I first saw him, decked out in his hand-me-down robes and with an obnoxious smile on his face that bore witness to a level of arrogance I wanted nothing to do with.

We crossed paths in the school hallways over the years and even though we never ran within the same friend group, I saw more of the up tight ginger than I would've liked.

He was always there, no matter my attempts to avoid being in his presence, and after years of both physical altercations and verbal harassment from both our sides, the hate I'd told myself was never ending, began to dissipate, fading into an unhealthy obsession. Without realising it, we grew closer, tiptoeing around whatever deranged connection we seemed to share with one another. It was doomed from the very beginning, just like a bird with a broken wing, sentenced to a life of utter misery. We both knew it; despite the many ways in which we kept trying to fight it, and despite the voices in our heads screaming bloody murder to force us further away from each other.

It didn't matter. Nothing we did ever could.

There were plenty of reasons why falling in love with your best friend and someone you previously despised was wrong. The list of cons easily extensive, and yet, we did.

Our hatred had somehow grown to be something entirely different. Something neither one of us could have ever predicted.

Dorian fell in love with Percy.

Two boys fell in love.

And then one of them died.

(...)

"But— what does all of this have to do with me? What happened was a terrible accident. I didn't kill Percy."

"You are right. My Percy died saving his brother. He didn't deserve what happened to him and I could've saved him if it wasn't for that fucking best friend of yours! He's the reason. Percy would still be here if he hadn't decided to play the hero that day! Fred Weasley should have been left underneath that rubble, not my Perce, and I can't wait to see the look on that motherfuckers face when I take his best friend and the only woman his brother ever loved from him."

His words hit me like a physical blow, the weight of his accusation sending a cold shiver down my spine. I glance around the room, searching desperately for any sign of escape, but find none. Dorian has me trapped, both physically and emotionally, and I know that I'm at his mercy.

Before I can muster a response, a sudden movement catches my eye. The door bursts open with a resounding crash, and two figures storm into the room, wands at the ready. Relief floods through me as I recognize the familiar faces of Fred and George, their expressions a mix of fury and determination.

"FRED! GEORGE!" I cry out, my voice filled with desperation and hope.

Without hesitation, Fred and George raise their wands, their eyes locked on Dorian with unbridled fury. "Let her go, Dorian," Fred growls, his voice low and dangerous. "You've gone too far this time."

Dorian's sneer falters for a moment, replaced by a flash of rage. But even as he raises his own wand, a sense of grim determination fills the air. His eyes darken, his gaze turning sinister.

Before any other word is exchanged and I have the chance to react with more than a horrified gasp, a jet of dark green light paints the room before it is drowned in darkness.

"Avada Kedavra!"