Breaking Point pt.2
Chapter Fourteen
The tension within the group was palpable, each encounter straining their fragile alliances further. Despite their best efforts, the cracks in their unity widened, and with every argument, their magic grew weaker.
The Training Clash
The Room of Requirement had transformed into a rocky, windswept terrain for their training session. The group stood in a circle, their wands raised, attempting to summon shields while deflecting curses hurled at them by enchanted dummies.
Draco stood opposite Harry and Ginny, his jaw tight and his movements precise. He executed a perfect Protego charm, the shield shimmering around him as he deflected a barrage of spells.
“Impressive,” Ginny muttered, the faintest edge of admiration in her voice.
Harry, catching the look Ginny gave Draco, frowned. His irritation surfaced when Draco smirked, clearly aware of the attention.
“Focus, Ginny,” Harry snapped, launching a Stupefy charm at her to snap her out of it.
Ginny blocked it, her fiery hair whipping as she turned to glare at him. “What’s your problem?”
“My problem?” Harry shot back, his voice rising. “Maybe it’s the way you’re looking at him.”
Draco interjected with a slow clap, his tone dripping with mockery. “Oh, do continue. This is riveting.”
Ginny whirled on Draco, her wand sparking. “Don’t act like you’re innocent in all this.”
Before Draco could respond, Hermione stepped in, her voice firm. “Enough! If you want to sabotage everything we’ve worked for, by all means, keep bickering.”
The group fell silent, but the undercurrent of tension lingered.
Draco’s Discovery
Later that evening, Draco wandered the castle halls, his mind a tumult of conflicting emotions. As he neared the Astronomy Tower, muffled voices reached his ears.
He paused, his instincts sharp, and moved closer.
“Ginny…” Harry’s voice was soft but insistent.
Draco’s heart twisted as he heard her reply. “I don’t know how to explain it, but… I have feelings for him. For Draco. And I know it’s wrong, but I can’t ignore it anymore.”
“You think I don’t feel the same?” Harry’s voice trembled. “But I love you, Ginny. And no matter what happens with him, I won’t stop.”
Their voices faded, replaced by the sound of a kiss. Draco’s breath caught, his fury building. He stepped into the moonlight, his expression thunderous.
“Am I interrupting?” he drawled, his voice icy.
Harry and Ginny sprang apart, their faces pale with shock.
“Draco—” Ginny began, but he cut her off.
“Save it,” he snapped. “You two deserve each other. I hope it’s worth destroying everything we’ve worked for.”
Without another word, he stormed off, leaving Ginny and Harry to grapple with the aftermath of his anger.
Blaise’s Breaking Point
Meanwhile, Blaise found himself in the library, attempting to distract himself from thoughts of Ron and Lavender. His jealousy had reached a boiling point, and he hated how much it consumed him.
When he spotted Ron entering the library with Lavender in tow, laughing together as if the world outside didn’t exist, something inside Blaise snapped.
He approached them, his voice low but sharp. “Must be nice, pretending everything’s fine while the rest of us deal with the fallout of your selfishness.”
Ron frowned, stepping protectively in front of Lavender. “What’s your problem, Zabini?”
“My problem,” Blaise said, his tone venomous, “is watching you waste time when we’re falling apart. But I guess I shouldn’t expect much from someone who’s always been more interested in himself.”
Before Ron could reply, Blaise turned on his heel and left, his heart pounding with anger and unspoken feelings.
George and Theo’s Pact
In the kitchens, George and Theo worked side by side, their movements synchronized as they brewed another batch of potions.
“You’re quiet tonight,” George said, glancing at Theo.
Theo shrugged, adding a sprig of valerian to the cauldron. “It’s hard not to notice how close we are to falling apart.”
George nodded, his usual humor absent. “Feels like no matter what we do, it’s not enough.”
Theo paused, his gaze meeting George’s. “Then we do what we can. Even if the rest of them tear themselves apart, we’ll make sure they have the tools to survive.”
George offered a small smile. “A pact, then? No matter what happens, we keep fighting.”
Theo extended his hand, and George shook it firmly. “A pact,” Theo agreed.
Fred and Hermione
Fred watched from the shadows as Hermione walked through the courtyard with Viktor Krum. Their easy conversation and shared laughter twisted something in his chest, but he refused to admit the depth of his jealousy.
When she noticed him, her expression hardened. “Fred,” she said, her voice cool.
“Hermione,” he replied, trying for nonchalance but failing.
Krum looked between them, sensing the tension. “I vill leave you two,” he said with a small nod before walking away.
Hermione crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. “What do you want, Fred?”
“I want…” Fred hesitated, his usual confidence faltering. “I don’t know.”
Hermione’s eyes softened, but her voice remained steady. “Figure it out. Because I won’t wait forever.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Fred alone with his thoughts.
The Fading Magic
Back in the Room of Requirement, the group attempted another training session. Spells fizzled out, shields cracked, and curses landed with unintended force.
“We’re getting weaker,” Hermione said, her voice laced with worry.
Harry nodded grimly. “It’s because we’re not united. Our magic is tied to us as a group. If we keep fracturing like this…”
“We’ll lose everything,” Ginny finished, her voice heavy with regret.
As they left the room, the weight of their choices pressed heavily on them all. They had come so far, but the question remained: Could they mend what was broken, or were they destined to fail?