Always, Even After Death, It Seems

It was a dreary Wednesday morning at Hogwarts, the rain pouring down on the grounds outside. Atlas had decided to sit at the Gryffindor table to avoid the blond he had fought with yesterday night, now knowing that any hope he had of someday being the blond’s boyfriend was crushed. As he thought of this, long, slow teardrops were falling down his face, clearly upset or distressed about something but he was thankful no one had seemed to notice, since no one he really knew was here yet. It was too early for both twins, or Harry to be at the table, so he decided to go to the opposite end of his own house table, sitting down quietly next to his fellow early riser, Blaise.

Blaise spotted the tears on the redhead’s face and cast a quick glamour on his face, so no one would see his tears. “Don’t waste your tears on him, il mio amico.” he softly spoke to the slightly older boy.

“Thank you, for the glamour and your friendship.” he replied quietly, not meeting the dark brown gaze of his friend, until his hand rested on his.

He put his hand on top of the cold, pale hand, “Atlas, I mean it. He’s not worth your sadness.” Blaise thought for a moment and smirked a bit at him, having seen the way one of the twins had looked at the redhead, “Why don’t you go and spend some time with those friends of yours, the twins, hm? They’ve just arrived into the hall.” he suggested.

Atlas nodded with a small smile, squeezing his hand gratefully, “That’s a fantastic idea, thanks. See you later?” he asked.

Blaise nodded, “I’ll work with you in Potions, so you don’t have to interact with his highness.” he added, scornfully referring to the snobbish blond as royalty.

The shorter wizard knew it would draw suspicion to his father but he nodded, “Alright, thanks again and talk to you later.” He walked over to the Gryffindor table, but stood up, waiting for the twins to come in before he sat down, considering this wasn’t his house table, not realising that his Italian friend had now removed the glamour that had been hiding his tears.

At that moment, Fred and George entered the Great Hall and sat down at their house table, the Slytherin sat down with them. Without the shorter wizard saying so much as a word, they could see that he was clearly upset about something, but had no idea what.

They look sternly for a moment and then with neutral expressions, which seemed strange for them, as they’re usually lively and grinning. “Hey there, Al. You okay?” Fred asked, having a few nicknames for him, looking at him with a soft but brotherly gaze.

Atlas replied sadly with a forced smile, “No… Not really, Gred.” he quietly spoke, going on to explain what had happened las night. “So you see, I don’t stand so much as a chance with him, even though I have feelings for him, but he’s straight and in a betrothal contract.” He also added with a small frown, “He only usually shows me the ‘smug aristocrat who’s better than you’ when his father has done something, but this was all him...and I’m honestly really upset by it.”

Fred hugged him from one side while George cuddled him from the other side with a smile that encouraged the shorter boy to smile too. Fred reassured him adding a jesting poke at the half-vampire to cheer him up, “It’s okay Al, we’re here. That bloody prat for hurting you though, what an arsehole You know, all this attraction to Malfoy will kill you someday.”

Atlas lightly punched Fred’s forearm and playfully scolded him, “Fred, he didn’t know he was hurting me, not about me stupidly fancying him anyways. Would you shut it, he might hear you.” He looked at his shoes, his way of blushing.

Fred laughed as George replied with a playfully arched eyebrow, “Through a brick wall? That’s unlikely, red prince,” They’d been calling him that since he had told them about his grandmother’s Potions book, so they had decided it was a good nickname, as well as his hair but also, it was their belief that Atlas was the true prince of Slytherin.

Atlas smiled a little at him and it warmed his heart to know that he’d helped to cheer him up from Malfoy hurting him, knowingly or unknowingly.

He rolled his green eyes and while trying to stifle laughter but not blocking it with his hand, told them, “You endearingly dunderheaded Gryffindor idiots are so foolhardy but chivalrous, I swear. ...How do you manage without me to think about the little things?” He had this odd little endearing idea that if he called someone an idiot it meant that he cared for them and that they were dear to his heart.

They both knew this, but played along with grins, having cheered him up, “We manage fine, little red prince.”

He smiled a little more as he replied, “You pair of smartarses are the best mates I could ask for.” he told them earnestly with a warm smile.

That warm smile made George want to wrap his arm around his shoulders, hold him close and hopefully make that adorable laugh come out as much as possible.

Fred grinned, seeing this but not saying anything.

“So, who are we pranking later?” Atlas asked with a small grin curving onto his lips, making a cup of coffee at this point.

George smiled cheekily as he replied, “Gentlemen don’t prank and tell, red prince.” He was going for charmingly mysterious, but he figured only now that he had sounded teasing, if not slightly flirty.

Atlas swatted his shoulder as he replied jokingly, seeming not to pick up on this, “Well it’s a good thing you two aren’t gentlemen then, isn’t it?” he answered them with a smirk, knowing that they referred to him as a gentleman, but never themselves.

Fred and George answered at the same time, “Oi, we resent that.” They didn’t, but the banter seemed to cheer up the shorter Slytherin boy, so it was worth it.

He threw his head back and laughed merrily at that, unable to help or restrain himself, thankful he hadn’t taken a mouthful of coffee at that point.

Fred made a mental note to ask his twin about his opinion on their partner in crime for pranks soon, because he was pretty sure this was the most infatuated he had seen his twin about anyone.

Soon after that, Draco Malfoy came swaggering into the Great Hall. He had been in the Great Hall a few moments ago, seeing his red haired friend speaking to Blaise at their house table, but had then since taken Pansy’s hand, walking with her back to the Slytherin Common Room, holding her hand. He was alone this time and looked grumpier than Severus Snape on Mondays during double Potions with Slytherin and Gryffindor students. He sat down at the Slytherin table, expecting to see Atlas sitting there waiting for him but realised that he was at the Gryffindor table, chattering animatedly to the Weasley twins. This caused Draco to think that Atlas didn’t give two left damns what he and Pansy did. He had made a grand spectacle of leaving the Great Hall with Pansy Parkinson to make Atlas jealous because he knew that he dearly loved his red haired friend, but had doomed himself to a lifetime of being a straight Pureblood lord, or so he thought. He and Pansy had gotten into a total of three fights already, the last of which had been pretty heated, and she had told him to leave her alone and find someone else, she would tell Lucius herself if she must. He had been worried, but then he realised, that he was free.

Free to pursue anyone he wanted, and he knew who he wanted, so he would pursue him. If rumours started to spread, which he hoped to avoid, since the less his father knew about his sexual preferences the better, then he would burn that bridge when he came to it. However, right now, his friend seemed to be having a grand old time with his two fellow redheads at the Gryffindor table, laughing and joking. Draco inhaled sharply and stabbed his fork into a piece of bitter grapefruit, it suited his mood at the moment, jealousy at the two redheads talking to the boy he had loved for years, but could never pursue.

Over at the Gryffindor table, things were faring better. That was until Fred Weasley spotted the sullen blond Slytherin and commented to George, “Well if it isn’t the man of the hour who made our best friend cry, Georgie.”

He whispers to Fred, “Let’s make Malfoy pay later for hurting our little red prince. What do you say, eh?” he grinned a bit.

Atlas’s vampirism helped him in that moment, as he had heard them clearly. He smirked slightly as he told them, “Don’t even think about it. I do have feelings for him, after all and I won’t permit you to hurt him. Whether he made me upset or not, Gred and Forge.”

They grinned at him putting his resourcefulness to good use, even if it was on them. They asked him in unison, “How in the name of Merlin did you hear what we said, Al?”

He smiled at them mischievously as he replied, “Have you forgotten my species? Us monsters can hear things better than other kinds of people, remember?” he added a little sarcastically, considering he resented being a vampire, very much so, and they knew this, since he had told them what he was in the early stages of their friendship, not long after he was turned.

George adamantly replied, “You’re not a monster. You’re the sweetest, funniest bloke we know, right Freddie?” he elbowed his twin in the ribs lightly.

Fred grinned, suspicions confirmed, “Right you are, Georgie.” Fred smiled and watched his brother’s eyes fill with affection for the shorter, boy who was a few years younger than them.  

Draco came over to the Gryffindor table to talk to his friend, having had enough of witnessing him laughing and joking with the twins, his emotions eating him alive, “Hi Atlas. How are you today, moon boy?” he greeted with a smirk.

Atlas replied, lying through his teeth because he didn’t want him to know that he was annoyed and upset with him, and he was good at hiding his emotions, but his father had always told him that his slight impulsive streak came out when it came to the blond. He spoke, his tone a little disdainful and cold, “I’m absolutely fine, thanks. Just hanging out with my best friends, right twins?” he forced himself to smile, biting the inside of his mouth, which was an anxious habit.

George noticed immediately that the redhead was biting his lip inside of his mouth, something he knew was a bad sign. He wanted to swoop in and protect the shorter boy from Malfoy, but he didn’t, because it’s not like he was his boyfriend or anything, he was just one of his best mates, and that’s all he probably ever would be. He nodded in order to answer his question, noticing that Fred didn’t intervene.

Draco smiled sheepishly at him, rubbing his arms a little, “My behaviour last night was atrocious, I can only hope that you can forgive me soon.” he quietly spoke, Malfoys did not apologise, no matter what. He added softly, not wanting to wear his heart on his sleeve in front of the pride of lions the redhead was sitting among, “Could I talk to you alone for a moment? It’s to discuss something vitally important.” he met his eyes, grey boring into green, to show his urgency.

The half-vampire thought for a moment and sighed, he couldn’t just shun his best friend, especially when he had just apologised, in the only way he knew how to, so he nodded, getting up out of his chair, speaking to the twins first, “I’ll talk to you both later, I’m going to see what he wants, because it’s best to find out.” He looked at Draco and nodded, “Come on then, Draco.” he took his hand and walked with him to an alcove not far from the Great Hall. When walking to the alcove, not the most graceful of people, despite his vampirism, Atlas tripped over a scarf that someone had left on the floor.

On impulse, with Seeker reflexes, he caught Atlas, not meaning to, but automatically wrapping his arms around the shorter wizard carefully.

The redhead gasped softly with shock, not knowing what to say or do, but quickly composed himself, looking up at him as he asked, “What did you want to talk about, star boy?” Truth be told, he had already forgiven him, because he was his oldest friend, and he didn’t want to lose him.

Draco smirked as he commented smugly, “Well, that was an unexpected reaction to my arms around you, moon boy.” But then he let him go, looking down at him hesitantly as he asked in a soft voice, “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that last night. You know that I can’t stand Parkinson, and that my father forced us to court. We fight like cats and dogs, which is a horrible way to think my future will have to be.” He closed his eyes and took both of the red haired wizard’s hands in his, “Especially when I don’t want her, because I’ve wanted someone else for as long as I can remember, and now that I’m aware of my bisexuality, I can take comfort in telling you this.” he blushed brightly, not caring if his friend saw him.

The half-vampire said, forcing his tone to be aloof, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Draco.” He averted his gaze from those knowing silver eyes. He tried to stay calm when the blond all but announced that he was bisexual, and that he hated the witch he was doomed to one day, marry. He smiled brightly at him, squeezing one of his hands, “I’m proud of you for being able to say that openly, that you’re bisexual and don’t want to be with Parkinson.” He dared not ask who the blond had wanted for a long time, his heart not being able to take that burden.

He smugly grinned at him as he replied, “If you say so, Atlas.” He decided to be sneaky about it and kissed the shorter man’s cheek, something he had never done before. He looked down into the shorter man’s eyes, his face almost confessing how he felt for him, but he spoke in a voice just above a whisper, “I’ve liked you since we were kids, moon boy. Since we were told to stay at my manor with Mother while our fathers attended Death Eater meetings, or yours to teach. You are the most honest, open, sensitive and strong person I know, as smart as you are handsome and about as stubborn as a unicorn at times, but that kind of resilience is admirable, as is your ambition.” He took a huge gulp of air and looked into his friend’s green eyes again, whispering now,  “I’ve been hiding the fact that I fancy you for ages, moon boy, but Pansy knows, and she lost the plot, nothing new, considering the witch has always been a few sandwiches short of a picnic. She refused our betrothal contract, and I wish for no one but you as my boyfriend. What do you say to that, moon boy?”

The half-vampire was at a loss for words at the emotive speech his friend had just laid at his feet, but he took a few deep, calming breaths before replying, kissing his cheek gently in response, “You’re brave too, and very ambitious. It was also very sweet of you to find a quiet place to tell me this. You’re not the icy Pureblood you would have the world see, dragon and I for one, am grateful for that, at least.” The next breath left his mouth in a whoosh at the blond’s whispered words, because he could feel his usually barely beating heart speed up a little to a slow heartbeat for a normal wizard but it was considered racing to him. He gasped softly as he replied, “She...she nullified your contract?” he then replied softly, his voice going silken as he replied, “Nothing would bring be greater pleasure than to be with you, dragon. I don’t even care if we have to hide, star boy.” He hugged him tightly, embracing him tighter than he usually allowed himself too, but not to a dangerous degree.

The blond hugged him back tightly, resting his head on top of his rust coloured curls, “I only show that side of me when I have to, because it’s what is expected of me. I’m glad you find it sweet, because I was berating myself for acting cowardly, but my actions were also shrewd, I knew I had to be to catch your eye, since you’re a snake as much as I am, Atlas.” he smiled slightly. He replied softly, “Yes, she did and I’m very glad she did.” He was touched that the redhead didn’t mind if they had to hide, so he whispered, his voice now hoarse with emotion, “We might have to, at some point, but the other Slytherins will be warned not to gossip about any notion that we’re together. I don’t want us to have to hide, but we might have to, prince.” He suddenly thought of something and chuckled, “Every dragon needs a handsome prince to protect, and you’ve been a prince in my eyes for so long.” he murmured.

He shook his head, “It was brave of you to so much as speak to me about this in the first place, Draco. It was very sweet of you, and thoughtful.” He would have blushed then, as he laughed softly and teased him fondly, “Careful, you’re starting to sound as much of a flirt as Blaise.” He looked up at him with a smile, but then nodded, “That’s alright, I don’t mind having to hide, as long as it’s with you, star boy.” He hid his face in his shoulder at the prince comment, even though he physically couldn’t blush, he knew for a fact he would be if it were possible right then. He mumbled, “I’m glad to have such a charming dragon protecting me, then.”

Draco snorted at his joking words, “How offensive, I could never be like Blaise in that sense.” he replied with faux-annoyance, sniffing delicately. His gaze softened again as he answered him, “I’m glad you think of my actions like that.” He then listened to him speak once again, leaning down to kiss his forehead, “We won’t until we have to, but I feel the same way, Atlas.” He chuckled at the shorter boy acting as though he was positively scarlet with blush, making him smirk, so he drawled, “If you’re not too busy hiding in my shoulder now, moon boy, I would very much like to kiss you.”

Atlas snorted at his words, “Yeah, well you’re getting pretty close, so watch it.” he winked. He nodded, “I couldn’t think of your actions as anything else, and I forgive you for your state of mind yesterday. ...Even if it was pretty atrocious.” he half-joked. He looked into the silver eyes that he loved looking at, as he replied, “Thank you, and that’s all I ask, dragon.” He let out a soft squeak of embarrassment but moved his head, coming out of hiding as he inhaled properly, “I would very much like you to kiss me.” He stayed as still as possible, so that the blond might initiate a kiss that he had been anticipating, or rather, dreaming of for who knows how long.

The blond blushed a bit at the wink the other boy gave him, but he found it cute that the redhead was this playful with him. “I assure you that I am nowhere near as close, moon boy.” he replied fondly. He smiled at his words, a rare soft smile that the other wizard was the main culprit of causing, “Then we’ll only hide if we need to, prince.” He let out a relieved sigh, “I’m glad that you forgive me, and I will try not to have it happen again.” he vowed. He smirked at the squeak, finding it cute too, as he replied in a whisper, “Then that’s exactly what I’ll do, my prince.” Draco leaned down and kissed him gently, not wanting to kiss him too harshly because he’d waited so long for this moment. He wanted their first kiss to be like snow; soft, perfect and memorable.

Atlas smirked at making him blush, knowing he had caused it by winking, making a mental note about that. “Alright, I guess you’re not.” he casually replied, listening to him speak, and would have been blushing at the soft smile if he could have. He gazed up at him knowingly, letting go of one of his hands to gently stroke his face, “I know that it’s something you can’t promise, dragon because the need might arise for your colder persona to rear its head. I just hope that it won’t have to with me for a long time.” He grinned at his words, “ The air left his lungs at the sound of Draco calling him his prince, because it felt so special and close to the blond’s heart. When the taller blond kissed him softly, he leaned into him, not even realising his arms loosening from holding hands to draping his araround his shoulders. He smiled against the taller wizard’s lips, feeling like he was floating.