It was in front of the sunset. The man looked on in pure defeat. All of his plans crumbled like glass. His options were exhausted. Humiliated, broken, beaten.
The lone man bent his knee, he was on his knees, panting. Out of his mind. The girl leaned over, examining his expression. She had a deadpanned expression. Not a smug one. Just a cold look that cut through the man’s shaking heart. He was terrified.
Defeated, embarrassed, humiliated, he felt it all. Those raging emotions. “You won.” He croaked. She smiled, stroking his cheek with her index finger. That smile pierced the man in the chest. “And?” He sighed, dropping his head low. “I won’t go after your friends, I’ll stop terrorizing the school.” She tsked, holding his chin between her index and thumb, expecting more. Rubbing smooth circles on his chin with her thumb. “I’ll stay away from Harry, Hermoine, and Ron.” Looking up at her with tired eyes. Nodding and satisfied. She knelt, her hair was like a war general's cape, billowing in the wind. “If you gave up sooner, you wouldn’t be on your knees.” His head hung low, he looked at her, his eyes seeking retribution, begging for mercy. rShe brought her elegant fingers along with his hair. Stroking it. “Good. Good Riddle. Now get up. Time for a celebration feast.” He felt retribution. Pure retribution as he sighed in relief. She pulled his sleeve, guiding him to the Dining hall.
The dinner was spent with him eating alongside Sable. She gave him extra platters of food as she tore into his war strategy. Citing all of the things he did wrong and right. “Why are you telling me this?” She shrugged. “So you can be a better enemy next time.” He shivered. Next time. What next time?
–
Riddle was at his desk, fixing his broom. The broom he broke trying to impress someone. He pondered. His head was replaying memories of that wretched Sable girl. That girl. She’s annoying, frustrating, and ignorant. He gritted gripping the shaft of the broom. Kind, deadly, a fucking goddess. He sat up. Realizing the underbelly of his hatred.
He had a new war to plan for.
–
“Marry me.” Sable narrowed her eyes, looking up at him. What was he planning? She crossed her arms. “Riddle, come on.” She stood up from her table, her friends were gaping. Inquisitively, she looked at him. With snake-like eyes, judging her prey. “I’m serious.” He held up wrapped lilacs. Quirking her head, she was perplexed. She accepted the flowers with hesitance. He adored the sight of her fingers running through the petals, he wished on the god that it was his hair instead. He went on as the entire school was reeling. The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs braced for another feud between the two most knowledgable and ambitious houses in the school. Harry looked concerned. He disliked how this entire thing started because Sable wanted to protect him. “You’re fucking amazing.” Taken aback, she stood back. Wringing her wrists, and hesitantly meeting his eyes with hers.
“You’re an enigma. You know so much about me but I know next to nothing about you. You're ruthless but patient. Merciless but forgiving. Fuck. You drive me to the brink of insanity. So much that I want to marry you. You’re Athena when I’m Ares. I destroy recklessly but you, no you, are so elegant and deadly with it, that I can’t help myself from admiring you. Then falling for you.” His heart ran 100 miles a second as his mouth poured with words of affection and admiration. Those words poured into the shocked girl's ears, filling her heart with love.
“What are you talking-” She couldn’t get a word in.
“I declare another war.” The Ravenclaws rabble as the Slytherins sneered. The school was polarized once again. “I am going to battle for your hand in marriage. If I win before we graduate, then I’ll change my last name to Sable. If you win, then I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.” Her eyes widened. She was enticed. Nodding, she held her hand out. Riddle gingerly took her hand in his. “I look forward to beating you.” He smiled warmly. But she smirked. “Likewise.”
The Slytherins started hurling insults.
“We’ll win! And when we do, we will rub dirt on your faces!”
“Shut it snake faces! It's going to be a pleasure, beating you!”
The stage was set.
—
Tom
“What did you just do?!” Draco burst into the commons, seething. “What Malfoy?” Rolling my eyes, I was writing a list of topics to use when talking to Sable. “Why did you start another fight with Sable! You know what she did last time!”
He remembers it vividly. How I cowered in fear as she towered over me with absolute power and grace. He saw firsthand as my pride was broken by her slender hands. “So? It’s an entirely different fight.” Sighing, as I crossed off some topics. “But this one is harder! Sable has a heart of pure stone, do you think that she'll lose?” I looked up, smiling. Grinning even. “Yes, yes I do.”
Seated next to Sable, I started talking to her. “Don’t you think that Snape could be teaching in an entirely different way?” She side-eyes me. C’mon, you can’t resist a conversation like this.
“Yeah, he could be teaching the french method of brewing, not the British method.” Nodding, I started showing her what I knew about the methods. She corrected some misconceptions but she was engaged. Her hands were animated as she mused about the 16 different ways you could brew a potion. Each is more intricate and engaging than the others.
“How do you even know about this?” I gave her a journal. Something she thought she lost when she was 10. “Draco stole it.” Sighing, she spoke, “Annoying git. Thanks.” She walked away, probably knowing that she can’t spend more time with me. Smart, such a smart girl. My smart girl.
Coincidentally, I was arranged in a study group with Hermoine, Sable, and Draco. I weighed my chances. Hermoine could call me out but she would be distracted by Draco, like now. We were sitting on Sable’s bed, Hermoine and Draco shifted the mattress as they squabbled with each other, like screeching parrots fighting pitifully for dominance.
“Muggle, you’re doing this wrong!” Hermoine scoffed. “Shut it Malfoy.” Sable looked off, she was shaking, covering her wrists, she was shaking her legs. She looked scared. No, this isn’t alright with me, if she’s scared then I’m pissed.
“Bloody knock it off.” I scolded them. They turned to me, as I controlled their petty conversation. “Hermoine, ignore him, he’s trying to get your attention because he fancies you, Draco, it's either you say something helpful or you shut the hell up.” They clamped their mouths shut as Sable looked puzzled. Looking up at me, she tries to read a deeper meaning from this, but she can only look at my genuine intentions. Relaxing her shoulders, she murmured a small sign of gratitude and the group resumed their work.
I leaned my cheek against my hands, admiring her for the tenth time today. She looked so determined while flipping through the pages of a thick and withered botany research journal. Scribbling down some notes, I notice how the notes did not have English letters on them. “Why aren’t you writing in English?” Scribbling an unknown sentence down, she spoke. “My notes are better when I’m writing them in my language. I understand them.” “You're not fully British?” She nodded. “I’m part Korean and part french. My family immigrated to Britain due to conflict with my grandparents.” My eyes widened. Finally, something I can use is another fact. Another piece of the window to her life. I secretly scribbled something down. Family is complicated, comfort her when the time is right.
--
I notice that her head was drooping. She was tired and frazzled during our breakfast time so I went over, apple in hand. I sat down next to her, worried, I offered her my plate. The plate clinked against her as her head perked up from the sound. “Hm?” She groggily muttered. She squinted through her eyes. “You didn’t eat dinner didn’t you?” She sighed, taking a bite from my hashbrowns. “What's it to you?” She grumbled. Food in her mouth. “I don’t want you dropping dead on me, Sable.” She quirked her head, something she does when she’s confused. “What?” She slurred. No. She’s not in a condition to attend classes. “Get up.” I gently pulled her up. I slung her bag around my chest and stable her. “We’re going to the medical wing to get you some rest.” She nodded off as I guided her to the infirmary.
–
Sable seemed to respect me after that incident. Often engaging in longer intellectual conversations with me when I broached an idea. “Who’s a better quidditch player, Draco or Harry?” Coincidentally, they were sitting across from us, as they were assigned as our research partners for the DADA joint essay we needed to write. “Draco.” She was writing down the art of war passages in her notebook. “Mercy, we’ve been friends since children!” Harry exclaimed.
“I think it's Harry.” She drops her quill and looked up. “But he’s Gryffindor.” I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Draco makes dirty moves, repeatedly without creativity. He doesn’t play to win, he plays to impress. He isn’t a team leader and his broom skills need working on.” I told her the truth. Outlining my reasons why Draco is a shit player, and mind you, he is. I wasn’t trying to impress her. Draco glared daggers in my direction as Sable nodded. “I agree, maybe I should see things from your side.” Nodding I ask her the big question. “Wanna sit next to each other during the next game? I can show you what I’m talking about.” She looked up at me, and not hesitating she agreed.
--
"You can’t just throw me under the bus!” Draco slammed his hands on the table as I struggle with the Daily Prophet crossword puzzle. “Yes, I can. It's not on purpose, you just suck, Malfoy.” He scoffed. “Let's see how long you’ll last.” He stormed away as I filled in the last word.
H a n a h a k i
--
I met Sable at the bleachers, ready for the next game, I had steaming cups of coffee in my hands. She took a cup with her name labeled as I guided her to a suitable spot. We sat in the middle of the crowded bleachers. I looked up, admiring the weather. It was a cloudy December morning. The match was Gryffindors against Slytherins. With Draco and Harry as team captains. Sable was shivering so I put my coffee down and wrapped my scarf around her neck. She looked up at me, shooting a gentle smile, she turned and focused on the starting quarter. This makes it all worth it, to see her smile at me.
“See, Draco made a stupid power move, and now Harry’s in the lead.” She nodded, enthralled in the 3rd quarter. I discretely had my arm around her waist. I had to hold her against her body when the stray snitch almost took her head off. She had her hands on my shoulder.
“SHIT! LET'S GO HARRY!” She waved. Harry looked back. “This is for you Sable!” I narrowed my eyes, a frown formed on my face as I saw Harry catch the snitch. This son of a-
“That was so cool!” She congratulated Harry with a tight hug. He looked over at me, smiling. No grinning. I found myself another enemy. This time, I was prepared for it.
--
“Hey Draco, I think Harry has a thing for Hermoine.” Draco’s ears pricked up. “What?” He seethed. He took the bait. Smirking, I spoke. “He does stare at her, and who knows, they might end up as a couple.” Draco gaped, storming out in a blurry rage.
That will keep him occupied for now.
--
Sable was being pushed around by Ravenclaws. She tripped and fell as they laughed at her. I was enraged. I hated seeing her so pitiful. She isn’t supposed to be treated like some underling. She should be worshipped.
I flung my fists, breaking one of their noses.
--
“Idiot!” She was wrapping my torso with ace bandages. Smacking me upside the head, she scolded me. I was on the medical bench as she tended to my wounds, my battle scars. “So bloody idiotic, stupid. You’re not Harry!” I smirked. “I won.” She slapped my back as I winced in pain.
“At what cost?! A broken rib?” Rolling my eyes, my lips moved without a coherent thought. “Broken bones are worth it for you. No one should treat you like that. I abhor seeing you like that. I will burn down their dorms if they try that again.” She gritted her teeth. “Why are you suddenly honest all the fucking time.” She grunted. Shrugging, I explained. “Cause, you deserve honesty.” She stopped her musings. She was quiet as I trailed my fingers across the bruises on her neck. They choked her. “That's not good.” I took the remaining bandages and wrapped them around her neck, tying them securely with a pretty bow. Pretty things for my girl.
During breakfast, the two Ravenclaws came into the dining hall with broken bones and limps. The Ravenclaw group looked at me, deers in highlights, and they received my message. Don’t mess with my Sable or else you’ll suffer.
--
I saw her crying in the corners of the Gryffindor common room. I broke in to spy on Harry but she was there. Her shirt crumpled as she gasped in sobs. Her legs were strewed aside, there was a broken chair next to her, rope dangled over the legs. I strode and kneeled taking her small head in my stable hands.“Sable, Sable.” I shook her slightly. She looked up at me. Her eyes were puffy and widened. Her hair was misshapen, her neck was more bruised and her wrists had rope burns on them. She wrapped her hands around my torso, hiding against my tall frame. I took her in.
“Harry doused me in Veritserum but I only spoke the truth in French.” She whispered, I had my hand around her shaking hand as she leaned on my shoulder. “Why?” She looked away. “Jealousy and paranoia.” I gritted my teeth. Kissing the top of her forehead. I murmured something in french. “ Je lui ferai chercher à te venger, Athéna.” She heard, but couldn’t decode it before nodding off.
--
I was sitting in Harry’s bed. He walked in with haunted eyes and looked around his dorm. I turned all of his Gryffindor memorabilia into Slytherin colors. Banners, clothes, patches, and even his bed, were dyed in green and emboldened with snakes. “You're lucky that I am unable to hurt you.” I walked over, boots making sounds on the creaking wooden floor. I was foreboding, with clenched shut hands that stopped me from beating this son of a bitch into the ground. “I promised my Sable that I wouldn't, but, I changed everything. You’re not a Gryffindor, you’re a Slytherin with what you’ve pulled today. It will never change back. Good luck.” I changed the color of his uniform.
“Welcome to Slytherin.” With that, I shut the door shut after I walked out.
–
Harry came in with Slytherin robes as Ron gave me a nasty look. I was sitting next to Sable. I didn’t mind it. Weasley is harmless. “Hey.” I looked down at her, she was cutting precise lines in her eggs. “Want to get married?” I choked on the Orange Juice I was drinking. But she went on.
“ You won.” I was staring at her, disbelieving her statement. Trying to see a hint of hesitance, she only had resolve written on her face. “You didn’t plan a thing. Everything you did was purely reactionary. Sure you threw Draco under the bus a few times, but he was dense enough to.” I only shut up and nodded. I hung around every word of praise, melting inside. “You honored my terms with Potter, you engage me, you care about my wellbeing, dogged on Draco knowing that you might lose popularity in your house, Albeit violent, you defend me. Everything you do is reactionary. Only acting in my best interest. So yes, Tom, I’ll marry you.” I stood up. “You-Y-you can’t take it back!” I shouted, getting the attention of the great hall. My cheeks were flushed. I gripped the edge of the dining table in disbelief.
She stood up to look me in the eye. “Why would I? You won because you didn’t treat this like a war or game, you only treated this as a way to show how much you love me. Don't you?” I gaped. In pure elation, I lifted her up and out of the chairs. I twirled her around, swinging in a circle, and we both laughed and giggled. I wrapped my arm around her waist as I held her wrist with my spare arm. Pulling her towards me. I smiled widely, as I took in her grinning face. Closer and closer.
Dipping in, I kissed her, lips against hers I pressed further.
The Slytherin group erupted in cheers. They whistled and boasted as the Ravenclaws groaned.
“This is your fault! If you didn’t bully her we would’ve won!” They all threw their trash on the two Ravenclaw bullies, wallowing in shame. The Slytherins snickered, teasing my affections towards Sable. “Ayy Tom’s going soft!” A girl sneered. I flipped her off, as I slipped my tongue into her mouth. I broke the kiss.
I turned and saw Draco, with his arm slung around Hermoine. Well, something finally happened between them.
Only the spoils of war.