A Restless Night
The three new professors settled in their own rooms for the evening. The hearth in the main living room fizzled out into embers as the moon rose higher in the sky. While the old castle fell silent, Persephone could not sleep. She had tossed and turned for hours, yet no matter how exhausted she felt she couldn’t find peace in sleep. With a wave of her wand she turned on the lamps in her room. She sighed heavily brushing her hand through her hair. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand reading the time, she groaned as it stared at her, 2 am. Admitting defeat she threw the covers off her and slipped on a hoodie. She envied the sleeping Mors that was curled up on her desk chair. Slowly she pulled her door open, creeping into the main room. She clutched her wand in her hand and she tiptoed out of the common room. Just as her hand reached the main door handle the sound of a voice caused her to startle.
“Can’t sleep Ms. Ellesmere,” Malfoy asked, sauntering out of his room.
Persephone sighed as her hand fell back to her side. Turning towards him she watched as Malfoy lit a light on the end table.
“Obviously.” She rolled her eyes, “what are you doing awake Malfoy? I thought pretty boys needed their beauty sleep.”
A sharp chuckle escaped his lips, “so you think I’m attractive?”
Persephone tried to open her mouth to reply but no words came. Nothing could come to mind at his response.
“Relax Ms. Ellesmere, I am not here to torture you. I am simply here to settle in and prepare for the school year. Just like you and Mr. Potter.”
“It’s always been hard to relax around you, Malfoy.” Persephone responded quietly.
No further quips passed between them, so they stood in silence. The warm light of the lamp illuminated the space between them. Persephone stared at Malfoy taking in the features of his face. His always styled hair was now unkempt, a sign that he too could not find sleep. Her eyes traveled over his face, taking note that his gray eyes were doing the same. Her eyes traveled to his lips. The same lips that had tortured her throughout her school life, and had haunted her dreams.
“Take a photo Ms. Ellesmere. It’ll last longer,” he said in hushed tones.
Her eyes moved back to his own. “I could say the same to you, Malfoy.”
The smirk he had on his face faltered for only a moment that anyone else would not recognize the slip.
“So, where were you going this late at night?” his gaze shifted now not wanting to look at her.
She shrugged, “a walk down memory lane I guess. I’m not really sure. I figured walking might help me feel less… restless.”
Without waiting for his response she turned towards the door handle again. As the door gave a small click Malfoy spoke, “could I join you?”
As Persephone pushed the door open she looked over her shoulder, “sure.”
The odd pair walked the empty halls of Hogwarts. Persephone thought back at how if they were still children it would have caused havoc on Malfoy’s social life. Two Slytherin’s yet both on opposite ends of the spectrum. The chosen child, and the disgrace. It wasn’t hard to notice that Persephone was guiding the two, and yet she had just let her feet carry her. They stood before the door that led to the main courtyard.
“Why here?” Malfoy asked, looking over at Persephone.
“I came here a lot by myself.” She mentioned nonchalantly as she pushed the door open.
The warm summer air wrapped around the two. The moon illuminated the courtyard, casting shadows from the looming castle and statues. Persephone took in a deep breath as she stepped outside. Malfoy stood inside watching her. He watched in almost awe of her. The moon shone brightly off her auburn hair that fell down her back. Persephone, who stared at the night sky above her, was oblivious to Malfoy’s eyes that took in the curves of her frame. Taking his own deep breath Malfoy emerged from the shadows of the castle and into the light with Persephone.
“Do you ever wonder that, if something seemingly minor were changed, where you would be?”
Malfoy just stared at her, but considered her question, “sometimes.”
She didn’t look at him as she continued, “sometimes I wonder if the sorting hat was wrong. Maybe I am not the ambitious Slytherin, but anything else. Yet, I’m not quite the courageous Gryffindor. Maybe I could’ve been a good Ravenclaw, maybe even a kind Hufflepuff.”
Malfoy said nothing as he stared at her. It seemed that the late hours brought out a painfully truthful moment for Persephone. She dared not look at Malfoy as she overflowed with imaginary possibilities.
“Maybe life would have been different. My father would have been disappointed in me regardless of what house I was sorted into. Even as a fellow Slytherin I could never live up to his expectations.”
“That much we have in common.”
“How are your parents?” Persephone now turned her attention to Malfoy.
“My father is still in Azkaban. My mother is thriving, she is very much active in the community. She loves giving to charity when she can.” She watched as his expression slightly softened at the thought of his mother.
“At least your mother cares. I am grateful that at least mine does.”
A quiet moment between two who were at certain points the opposite of the other. But this restless night, they were the same. Two souls who were drifting and yearning to belong to something. It’s almost as if they still felt like those lost children chasing at the coattails of their fathers, doing anything to be acknowledged.
“Why did you want to come back here?” Malfoy asked, meeting her eyes.
“Why? Surprised to see me?” She joked.
“In more ways than one.”
Persephone decided to ignore his reply and simply responded to the question, “I didn’t quite have a plan after the war like some others did. Many still had a fire in them that kept them going. I can’t say for sure I had much in me after the war. We lost so many, too many. So I threw myself into studies. Something that I could always escape to when everything became too much. I thought since I can’t make a difference like the others then I could at least foster a new perspective of life in the younger generations. Change has to start somewhere.”
“And you say you aren’t a Slytherin.”
She furrowed her brow at Malfoy, “I fail to see how I am.”
Malfoy took a step closer to her. She could smell his cologne faintly in the summer breeze.
“You are more ambitious than many I have met, you are just subtle. You have always been a clever witch Persephone.” His voice was low as he looked down at her.
Her breath caught in her throat. The deep rumble of her name rolling off his lips brought her back to a time she wasn’t sure she wanted to remember at times. She wondered if maybe, this had all been a dream. Malfoy wasn’t standing in front of her and she was tucked in bed and sound asleep.
She lifted her hand to cup his face. He flinched ever so slightly before pressing his face against her hand, closing his eyes. She rubbed her thumb ever so slightly over his skin, she could feel the stubble rough against her skin.
“What a beautiful dream you would be,” she whispered. Malfoy’s eyes fluttered open.
Persephone felt like those eyes that she once feared so much as a young witch, would now swallow her whole. Her body now felt too warm, her head spinning as she pulled herself closer to him. Malfoy’s arm snaked around her waist holding her in place. He leaned down closer to her face. Persephone closed her eyes as his lips brushed softly over hers.
THUMP. The jarring sound of the courtyard door being opened caused the two to jump apart.
“There you are,” Harry called relieved.
“Potter.” Malfoy scoffed as he quickly walked inside. Disappearing into the dark castle once more.
“Are you alright? He wasn’t giving you any trouble was he?”
“No, we just ran into each other. Couldn’t quite get any sleep.” She gave a sheepish grin.
“Well I’m glad you’re okay. I saw your door was open but noticed you weren’t there. I guess I thought you would’ve left.”
Persephone chuckled at how boyish Harry seemed to stay. He had always cared deeply about her and even now it showed.
“Let’s head back in.”
Persephone and Harry said their goodnights as they returned to the common room. As the door closed behind Persephone she placed her hand tenderly over her lips. They still felt aflame from the mere touch of Malfoy’s lips. Maybe it was a dream. For one night she was a teenager again sneaking away with the notorious bad boy. She chuckled at the ridiculousness of it all as she crawled back into bed. This time sleep finding her quickly.
Morning came fast. Persephone was rustled awake by Mors rubbing his face against hers. She rubbed her eyes as the morning rays streamed in through the curtains. She sighed rolling out of bed. She picked up Mors giving him the attention he had begged for.
“I wonder if maybe it really all was a dream Mors.” She said quietly.