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This was not my fault.
The fact I am even out here in the middle of the forbidden forest for detention, for something I didn’t do, must be against some rule or another. Yet here I was; trudging through the forest looking for wolfsbane and honey fungus for detention. Snape wasn’t even the potion’s professor yet he had me and Zabini gathering ingredients for Professor Slughorn.
I wiped my forehead with my arm feeling totally exhausted. Leaving my robe behind in the dorm room was a good idea but with the sudden weather change I felt like it was boiling hot. Rolling up my sleeves and putting my tie in my back pocket did nothing but prevent me from overheating faster.
We had been out here for what felt like ages. The bag I had been given to store the plants was the size of a pillow case and only partially full. At this point I would be out here past supper since I was supposed to do this without magic. My stomach growled in protest at the thought of missing out on dinner. I didn’t look up pretending nothing happened and hoping Zabini didn’t hear it either. It was his fault we were here in the first place and I didn’t need him to goad me into another fight. One that would inevitably wind up with us in another detention.
I grabbed another wolfsbane plant and yanked as hard as I could, ripping it from the soil. Dirt fell from the sudden force but I paid it no mind, tossed it into the bag, and reached to grab a few more that were nearby.
A few feet to my right I could see Zabini also moving along, grabbing what looked like more honey fungus. Despite also having his sleeves rolled up the smug bastard looked like this wasn’t affecting him at all. In fact he looked rather pleased with himself since his bag was almost full, the cheating slimy git.
I scowled and turned my head away. The sooner I got this done the better. I moved quickly and gathered more wolfsbane and some honey fungus. As long as I focused I could get back to the castle and forget this stupid detention.
“Doing alright there Weasely?” called Zabini.
My head shot up and I looked over at Zabini giving him a withering look. He just smirked and crossed his arms, his bag set on the forest floor. No doubt he wanted to get a rise out of me, as if I would give him the satisfaction. Instead of responding I turn my head away and continue on.
I barely make it four steps before before he calls out again.
“Ignoring me are you?” Zabini calls, his tone was light and sounded amused. “Now Weasely that’s not very brave of you.”
‘Don’t give in, don’t look at him.’ I think to myself. ‘Attacking him would just get you into more trouble.’
Zabini chuckled at my continued attempts at ignoring him. It sounded deep. How long has his voice been this low? It was enough to send shivers down my spine. I wonder what it would sound like if…
No. Focus. Ignore him.
I was not going to have weird thoughts about a Slytherin! Not today. I was also not going to let my temper get the better of me. Hermione and Harry have been working so hard to help me get it under control. I didn’t want to let them down more than I have already by getting detention. But I would be lying to myself if I said I didn’t want to hex Zabini into next week.
“It’s not very King like either.”
That’s it.
I dropped my bag to the ground and stormed over to him. Already I could feel my face turning red from fury but I was behind caring at this point. Harshly whipping my wand from its holster I pointed it at Zabini, just under his chin. The slimy git was taller than I was by a few inches but I wouldn’t let him intimidate me.
“Shut your mouth Zabini.” I snarl furiously.
Zabini looked down at me, that same smug expression on his face. It was the same face everyone has thrown at me all my life. Acting as if he was better than me.
“Put that away Weasely.” Zabini said. His voice was low, serious, and there was a gleam in his eyes I hadn’t seen before. It seemed darker… and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“Or what?” I growl. I had a hex on the tip of my tongue ready to put him in his place.
“Expeliarmus!”
I barely had time to blink before my wand was wretched out of my hands. I didn’t even see him draw his want. But there was no time to react or process what happened. My back slammed against a tree nearly knocking the air from my lungs as Zabini shoved me back and pinned me to a nearby tree.
The impact of my head against the bark had my head spinning. I reached up grabbing his arm to try and push him off, to hit him, anything to get him off. But Zabini was strong.
In one fluid movement he grasped my hands and pinned them above my head. I struggled to get free cursing and thrashing but it was useless.
Zabini moved to hold my wrists with one hand and used the free one to gently stroke my jaw and lift my face. I glared at him furiously, I didn’t know what kind of game this was but I wasn’t having it.
Yet he looked back at me with that same dark look. Zabini leaned down and whispered into my ear. “You should have listened.”
The sound of his voice in my ear sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I had no idea what he was going to do. Hex me like I was going to do to him. Kill me like the Death Eater he probably was. Either way I was determined to not go down without a fight.
“I don’t obey you!” I say, glaring at him. I pulled harder to get my wrists free wanting to punch him. Even if it would be seen as a ‘muggle move’.
“No I imagine not.” Zabini chuckled. He moved his leg to nudge mine apart, pressing himself impossibly close against mine.
If my face wasn’t already red before it was certainly more now. From anger or embarrassment I wasn’t quite sure. Too much was happening at once and it was making my head spin.
“A King never submits to his subjects.” Zabini continued to whisper. Then a sharp sting ricocheted through my body as he bit my ear.
The bloody bastard bit my ear! I struggled with renewed vigor to get free and to beat him to a bloody pulp. But it was no use. I was fighting against someone bigger and stronger than I would ever be.
Zabini pulled back slightly to look down at me. He wasn’t smiling but that dark glimmer was still in his eyes. With his free hand he held my head up in place forcing me to look him in the eyes.
“But who cares for the king?” Zabini murmurs.
“I’m not a king.” I reply harshly. I was done with his games, these strange feelings. “Let me go Zabini and maybe I won’t hex you.”
Zabini chuckles again. Whatever this game was it seemed I kept playing into his hands. Figuratively and literally.
“Why would I do that,” he murmurs leaning in closer. “When I have you right where I want you.”
“What…”
My words were cut off once again. But not by a hex or a different spell. Without warming Zabini leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. My eyes widened in shock and I tried to pull away. But I was locked in place as he continued to kiss me.
I grimace and my lips tightened into a firm line but that only encourage him more. Zabini pressed his tongue against my lips attempting to coax me into participating, to opening my mouth. I had no experience with this kind of intimacy but I had no intention of encouraging Zabini in any way.
He was a Slytherin and I am a Gryffindor. There was no way. Absolutely none!
Zabini pulled back for a moment. His eyes were lidded and he gasped for air looking down at me. It was then that I recognized what that look was. Hunger.
“Delicious.” Zabini whispered as he licked his lips. “I always wondered what you tasted like and now…”
I averted my gaze to the ground. I didn’t want to see him like this. To see a Slytherin longing for me in such a way. I should be revolted. But for some reason I felt something else.
Zabini lifted my chin forcing me to look at him again. “Don’t look away from me,” he murmured. “I want to see every expression on your face as I claim you.”
Claim? My head felt like it was spinning again. Was this some kind of prank? I wasn’t going to let him make a joke of me.
“That look, I want to see it again.” Zabini leaned in again. I closed my eyes expecting him to kiss me again but instead of kissing my lips he pressed a kiss against my forehead.
“We will have to go back any moment. Professor Snape won’t expect us to fill the bags entirely.” Zabini glanced over his shoulder toward the treeline toward the castle. Then he returned his gaze to me. “But I’m not done with you yet.”
His voice became darker and he pressed his body against mine. I could feel practically everything through his clothes. This couldn’t be happening. Perhaps it was a nightmare, or a weird dream and I would wake up back in the Gryffindor dorm room. And I would be able to pretend this wasn’t affecting me. That I wasn’t pressing into him feeling his leg close but not quite hitting exactly where I wished it would.
“After dinner. Meet me in the Room of Requirement.” Zabini whispered. “If you don’t…”
The unsaid threat rang clear through the air. Then he released me, grabbed his bag, and walked toward the treeline toward the castle.
I remained against the tree where Zabini held me. My arms slowly lowered to my sides but I could still feel my heart racing.
What just happened? Did he… did I… Nothing made sense. I slowly moved away from the tree and ran a hand through my hair. Bloody hell.
After composing myself I retrieved my wand and bag then made my way toward the treeline. My heart felt like it was going a million miles per hour. Even after I turned in my bag, got scolded for not doing half as much as Zabini, and being allowed to go back to the castle I couldn’t stop thinking about him. About what happened.
I just walked back toward the castle and made my way to the Gryffindor dorms. When I reached the dorm room I collapsed on my bed.
I rolled onto my back and stared up at the four poster ceiling thinking about what might happen next when I went to the Room of Requirement after dinner.