The Chaser and the Artist - Prinxiety [COMPLETED]

Chapter Six

When Virgil had stopped shaking, he moved away from Roman, rubbing his face to remove stray tears. "S-Sorry..." he said in small voice as he looked at the snow, his hair turning deep blue. Roman gave him a confused look, gently taking his hand.

"Why are you sorry?" he asked, keeping his voice quieter to make his questions gentle. Virgil looked at their hands for a moment before turn his head away. Roman's face dropped a little. "Virgil, please, I care about you... I really want to help you, please tell me what's wrong..."

At those words the Slytherin looked up, eyes glossy once more as he met his eyes. Seeing him so genuinely concerned made him want to open up everything about himself, but he decided to just stick with what had just happened. "I-I w-wanted to pay you back for the hot chocolate, so I thought we could go to Honeydukes and I could buy you candy. But then we got here and there was so many people..." Virgil shuttered a little bit as he remembered it. Roman's thumb traced circles on his hand as he patiently waited for him to be ready to continue. "I really don't like being around a lot of people... It's one of the reasons I draw instead of talking to people during meals in the Great Hall. I hate crowds and bumping into people. Then that kid recognized you and t-tons of o-other k-kids s-started p-pushing m-me and c-crowding m-me and I f-felt like I c-couldn't b-breathe..."

He had squeezed his eyes shut as several strands of his hair went black. The Gryffindor gently shushed him, whispering that he was okay until he calmed down again. Virgil opened his eyes, looking from Roman to the ground. "I also thought that you'd be embarrassed of me..."

The sentence had been said as a whisper, barely audible to him. He had heard it though, and felt his chest throb as he realized what he had said.

"I thought it was better if I just left... that you wouldn't want me there anymore..." he continued, still a whisper. His hair returned to dark blue. "You're so popular and amazing and a Gryffindor everyone admires, and I'm just a Slytherin everyone ignores or points at for my hair... I'm nothing..."

His words made Roman tear up. He took a deep breath in an attempt to hold back the tears, but as Virgil looked up at him, he had failed. The Slytherin was looking at him in shock. "Y-You're- you're crying," he said softly. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't," Roman said, bringing Virgil into a hug, causing him to gasp. "Don't you dare apologize. Don't you dare ever apologize for being yourself and having emotions. Don't ever think I don't want you with me. You are not nothing. You one of the most amazing people I've ever met and Virgil?"

The Slytherin was limp in the tight embrace, shocked frozen as he listened. He almost didn't catch the question. "Y-Yes?" he stammered out as Roman pulled away. To his surprise, the Gryffindor gently slid a hand under his cheek, looking him right in the eye as he continued.

"I care about you more than I've care about anyone before," he said quietly, smiling a little. "Please let me care about you... Let me help you whenever you need it... Let me make you happy... I don't care how many times I have to sit in the snow and just hold you if it makes you feel better. When I'm with you, I don't care how many people there are, it's you and me... like that day in the hot chocolate shop..."

Virgil blinked, his hair changing to be deep blue with dull hints of light pink. He moved his head into his hand, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Okay..." he said softly. His gaze went down for a moment before frowning. "What happened to your hand?"

Roman paled, trying to hide his other, injured hand. "N-Nothing-" he stuttered. Virgil was too quick grabbing it quickly, yet gently. He carefully pulled off the Gryffindor's gloves, causing him to wince from dread and the sting. His injury had healed, but not nearly as much as it should have. He hadn't stopped his private practices, causing the wound to reopen whenever he hit the quaffle harder than a gentle hit.

"How did this happen?" Virgil asked, looking up at Roman in concern. He looked away, embarrassed and defeated.

"Quidditch..." he said, not elaborating that it was his private practice. No one knew about that...

"Why didn't you go to the Hospital Wing then?" he asked inspecting it. "It looks pretty bad-"

"It's really not," Roman said quickly. He couldn't go to the Hospital Wing with a busted hand and no explanation. His secret would get out. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. It's fine, see?"

He moved hand out of Virgil's grasp, moving it around, spreading his fingers, and twisting his wrist around. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from wincing, as the movements hurt. Virgil didn't look convinced.

"Roman, if I'm going to let you care about me, that means you have to let me care about you," he said, gently taking his hand back. "If you really don't want to go to the Hospital Wing, at least let me wrap it for you back at the school."

He has a point, and I want his help, but I really hope whatever he does is easy to be hidden, he thought nervously. And what if someone sees Virgil wrapping my hand? What if my team finds out? Mary won't be happy...

The Gryffindor smiled a little. "I've got a better idea," he said, standing up and pulling Virgil to his feet. "What if we buy some bandages here and you can wrap my hand over another cup of hot chocolate? We did just sit in the snow for half an hour, and your lips are blue."

The Slytherin blushed a little at the comment on his lips and the offer for what seemed to be a date, but smiled and nodded. "That sounds perfect."