keeping voting guys

WARNINGS: ANGST AND MENTIONS OF DEPRESSION AND TRAUMA

Friday, September 14th:

BOYS DORMITORY:

After quidditch tryouts, Blaise headed back to his room in a huff.

Yes, he made the team and was now a chaser, but he still felt so much anger, it suffocated him with each breath he took.

He didn't change out of his quidditch uniform, he just stormed out of the changing rooms and headed back to his dorm. Luckily Theo was elsewhere, leaving the Zabini wizard to spiral alone.

He paced as his taunting thoughts clawed at his brain like a predator that has already caught its prey.

Why am I angry? He snapped his eyes shut and attempted to control his breathing.

His fury was building, whispering in his ear and dragging him away from serenity.

Blaise roughly pulled off his green jersey and tossed it on the floor, hoping that would allow him to breathe.

"What is wrong with me?" He muttered as his loud pants filled the room.

His eyes snapped open and narrowed onto the nearest thing he could get his hands on. Seconds before he could grab the item the door gently opened.

"Blaise?" He immediately recognised the love of his life's voice, making him turn to look at her.

Daphne's mouth fell agape at the scene in front of her.

Half of Blaise's belongings were trashed and judging from his guilty expression, he must've not realised he had launched them across the room.

The place was a tip and so was he... mentally.

He rapidly blinked, just like his chest that rose and fell with the pace of his erratically beating heart.

"What?!" He didn't mean for his words to sound so harsh, but that didn't stop Daphne from flinching.

"What's wrong?" She asked, ignoring his tone and taking a tentative step forward.

She thought he would be happy since he had made the team, so it would be easier to talk to him about how torn up she has been about her parent's separation. Daphne sat in the stands, as usual, she clapped and cheered when her fiancé started to take part, proud at every move he made, jab he dodged and punch he connected with the faux opposition. She couldn't wait to watch his first match.

Blaise ran his hands over his face and sighed, "Daph not now."

He knew that if he was around anyone it would only hurt them as well.

He loves Daphne, he always will but he didn't want her to fly too close to him or he knew she would get burnt.

She swallowed nervously and played with her engagement ring, "I just wanted to talk to you."

Blaise vigorously shook his head, "I-I can't not now."

Daphne sighed with a sullen expression resting on her face, "I feel like we don't talk anymore," she stated and forced herself to not clean up his shared dorm.

It was unfortunately how his mind potentially felt and she hoped with time it would clear up.

"There's a reason for that," He bluntly argued and tore his gaze away from her.

Another ache collided with her chest. She had been feeling those a lot lately.

"I know-"

"Do you?" Blaise questioned, sharply interrupting her.

Daphne's brows pinched together in bewilderment, "Of course I do, I just wanted to talk."

A lot had been on her mind recently and even though she had other people she could confide in, she usually told her fiancé everything. She didn't want to keep anything from him.

Blaise exhaled deeply, before muttering, "I can't."

"Please," She pleaded.

"No-"

"It's important-"

"Merlin, Just give me some space!"

As soon as the yell escaped his lips, he instantly regretted it.

Remorse sobered his anger and turned it into guilt. He had never shouted at Daphne, even if he had a reason to, he would never do so.

Until now.

Her steel blue eyes glossed over and her throat dried up as his words washed over her face.

Blaise reached for her, only for her to take a step back, "Sweetheart —"

"Get lost!" She yelled, with quivering lips and with that she raced out of his room, slamming it shut.

Blaise didn't even flinch at the rough sound, but her broken voice only caused the taunting thoughts to grow louder.

The very thing he didn't want to ever happen just did.

The girl he loves got burnt and it was all because of him.

***

DRACO'S ROOM:

"A boy?" Draco asked with raised brows, sitting across from Theo.

The Malfoy wizard had a few minutes to spare, despite needing to focus on the tasks he gave in to Theo's pleas and decided to speak to him.

Theo shifted awkwardly in the desk chair, then answered, "Yes I have a boyfriend."

"Who?"

"Dean."

A quick look of realisation flashed across the Malfoy wizard's face, before he responded, "Makes sense."

"Why?"

"Because he's one of the best-looking boys in our school," Draco explained with a phlegmatic expression.

Theo dramatically gasped, "Hey, he's my boyfriend."

Draco rolled his eyes and settled his copy of the Grimm's tales down, "I'm engaged."

"So?"

"Shut up," he muttered, despite the smile tugging his lips.

Truthfully Draco thought that if he wasn't so stressed he would've noticed, but then again, he occasionally missed a lot due to his pride, ego and overall entitlement.

Something he was working on... or at least trying to.

Theo chuckled, "Prick."

"I know but does he make you happy?"

Draco's question took Theo by surprise.

The pair had never been the closest in the group, they argued most of the time but when they got along it was nothing but bliss. They both vowed never to return to their 12-year-old ways, because of how it affected the group, however it seemed that Blaise had taken Theo's place and now was arguing with Draco whenever he could, making the Malfoy wizard instantly match his energy.

It needed to stop, but they doubt it would be anytime soon.

Theo nodded vigorously, with a genuine smile,  "Yes."

"And he shows you off?" Draco questioned, clearly indirecting a certain Gryffindor witch.

The witch in question had seen the newly formed couple a few times and couldn't help but frown, nevertheless she kept her comments to herself and gaze away from the pair.

Theo nodded again, "Yes."

"And he-"

Theo cut him off, "He's perfect D. He's amazing and he makes me feel..." he trailed off not knowing the right words to describe Dean.

"Wanted?" Draco finished his train of thought and his mind brought him to his Arty.

Theo blushed at the feeling, "Yes."

Dean always made him feel special, whether it was with a simple hand touch, peck on the forehead or smile.

The Thomas wizard has made him feel happy, an emotion he thought he had lost along with his parents. But ever since the summer, he had built a relationship with them again, it was sweet and slow and they even accepted him being with a half-blood wizard, but not without the occasional odd comments about Dean's blood status.

Draco sighed and ran his fingers over his rings. "Then I guess I'll be nice to him."

Theo's eyes widened again, "Really?"

Draco just kept surprising him.

He glared at Theo, "I'm not that much of a prick you know?"

"You are."

Draco ignored his comment, "I want you to be happy even if I don't like who you're with."

He just wanted his friend to feel what he felt whenever he saw Artemis.

At peace.

Theo tilted his head, "Really?"

"No," Draco replied and shook his head, making them laugh, "Dean seems okay so I don't have an issue with him."

He couldn't dictate what his friends could do or say even though he felt the urge to do so. And he also was aware that if he didn't accept Theo and Dean then Artemis would deal with him and that wouldn't be a pretty sight.

Theo sighed in contentment, before a small grin tugged at his lips, confusing his friend, "I guess, me, you and Daph have a type huh?" He announced, wigging his brows.

Draco picked up a pillow and threw it at him, "Shut up."

Luckily Theo dodged it, giving him time to continue his joke, "Once you go black —"

"Theodorus!"

***

ARTEMIS' DORM:

The Seramore witch had been trying to console her best friend for the past half an hour.

Daphne burst into her room and sobbed in her chest, blubbering incoherencies that she attempted to understand.

Artemis was angry, to say the least, but she understood what her cousin was going through, however, it didn't give him the right to make his fiancé feel like nothing.

It appeared that both witches were on the receiving end of their betrothed's anger and abruptness. They had to understand Blaise and Draco didn't mean it, but the wizards' cold words always seemed to pierce their hearts. Suppose it was fitting, the winter months were soon approaching so it was down to witches to spread warmth to their souls.

"Come on Daph, I'll run you a bath and get some hot chocolate," Artemis said gently, combing her hand through the blonde's locks.

A method that often calmed Draco.

"It won't help. Blaise keeps lashing out at me," Daphne sniffled.

"He's lashing out at everyone," Artemis murmured mindlessly.

No, it isn't an excuse, it was simply an observation that didn't help the situation.

Daphne sucked in a deep breath and pulled away from her best friend's chest, "But I'm his fiancé."

Her nose was red, eyes sore, throat scratchy and lips were swollen from biting down on them to prevent any more sobs from escaping.

Artemis pushed her damp hair out of her face, before speaking, "I know I know it hurts, he shouldn't shout or scream at you. And I don't want to make excuses for him but he's dealing with so much I don't think he's going to appreciate or even acknowledge what you're doing even though he should."

"But what do I do? What if he stops loving me?" Daphne dared to ask, tears already began to pool in her eyes again.

She feared they would end up like her parents; in a loveless marriage.

Artemis' breath hitched. The thought would never cross her mind, or Daphne's, until now.

It made her understand how bad things were and they were barely even a month into the school term.

"He could never and would never," Artemis stated firmly and confidently.

"What if we end up like my parents?"

Artemis shook her head and pondered her next words.

"Do you remember the first time you met my cousin?" She asked and Daphne nodded timidly, "That same night he came home and told me a huge story about how he met a princess," she told her with a small smile, "He was staying with mum and me for a few days and he kept going on about a girl who was so beautiful she had to be a princess."

Blaise had been infatuated with Daphne ever since he was 10 when they had met at a pureblood party hosted by the Crabbe's.

Artemis continued, "We thought he was insane, mum and I," she joked, despite being completely serious. Daphne managed to laugh through her tears, "He said your eyes were as blue as the sky and twinkled with glee," she recalled, "So when I finally met you I instantly knew who he was talking about."

Daphne's heart swelled at the thought, she even believed he looked like a prince when she first saw her fiancé.

"So when he met you again in 1st year after the sorting hat ceremony, he couldn't sleep, he told me that the thoughts of your eyes kept him awake," Artemis smiled and grabbed her best friend shaking hands, "He once told me that if you asked for the moon he would get it for you. There is nothing that he wouldn't do for you."

"And there is nothing I wouldn't do for him," Daphne whispered.

She missed their playful fights, hand-holding, kisses and other intimacies, but anytime she attempted to touch Blaise, he flinched, making her feel guilty about reaching for him.

Artemis nodded, "I know."

More tears flowed down Daphne's face, "It just hurts. Why is everything going wrong?"

"I don't think everything was ever right," Artemis admitted solemnly and pulled out some tissues from a box and gave them to the blonde.

"It seemed like it was."

"I know, but you know what else?" Artemis asked, seeming slightly more cheerful.

"What?" Daphne wondered.

"You're my best friend Daph, my future cousin in law and-"

"Your first kiss," Daphne added, making them giggle at the thought.

"My first kiss yes. But you are like a sister to me even though it's weird to say, immediately after that."

The witches laughed again.

"Sisters," Daphne beamed and lifted her pinky, her mind flashed back to their very first one during 1st year.

Artemis mirrored her movements, "Sisters."

***

GIRLS' DORMITARY:

Daphne slowly opened the door of her shared room, revealing a tired Blaise.

It had been a few hours since they last talked, she had bathed and had a nice cup of hot chocolate with Artemis before Theo and Dean decided to join. The oldest Greengrass sister had only come back to her dorm to get her favourite lipgloss, but she didn't expect to see her fiance.

Blaise slowly stepped over the threshold, his eyes darted over the blonde's rejuvenated face until they stopped on her dejected eyes.

He inhaled deeply and closed the door behind him, keeping his gaze solely on Daphne's face.

She didn't expect him to hold out his arms for her, but she didn't hesitate to move closer to him and snake her arms around his middle.

It took a few seconds for Blaise to stop shaking and finally relax in her hold.

It was the first time in weeks they had touched and it gave Daphne hope that things would go back to some level of normalcy if she could ever call it that. She even felt selfish for thinking so, but being able to touch the man she loves was a privilege at this point, so she couldn't complain.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair, whilst simultaneously breathing in the strawberry shampoo she used.

He had missed it dearly.

"I just want to be there for you," her voice was muffled by his now-clothed chest.

"I know and I'm sorry. I never meant to snap at you."

Guilt wrecked his body, he felt like he wasn't in control of his emotions, but he knew that wasn't an excuse.

"Do you even want to marry me anymore?" her question made him pull away and stare at her in shock.

"Of course I do." he didn't hesitate to respond, making her frown slightly falter.

She blinked slowly, "Then why-"

"Because of my own issues, Daph and I'm sorry that it's caused a rift in our relationship."

Blaise hesitantly took a step closer to her as he was still getting used to her presence again.

"I just want to help," she murmured and turned away from him.

A smile tugged on his lips, "And I love you even more for that."

She nodded slowly, "So..."

"I pick you in every universe. I'm just being an idiot in this one," he confessed, bringing a small smile to her face.

"Can you stop being mean?" she asked quietly, she wasn't used to being this submissive.

He nodded quickly, "I will, you just have to bear with me for a bit." he hated to even say it.

His taunting thoughts started echoing through his head again and he tried to make them stop.

"Okay," she said, only agreeing because she needed to be there for him.

The pair stood near each other, basking in the closeness and warmth.

Daphne noticed his eyes harden again, bringing forth the worry in hers.

"Daph?" he asked in a low voice.

"Yeah?"

Blaise cleared his throat, before responding, "You know I wouldn't hurt our children," he exclaimed and his dark eyes burned into hers.

"Of course, I know that."

Daphne was taken aback by his proclamation, but she didn't doubt that he would be a great dad, amazing even.

"I don't want you to think I would," he added quickly.

His breathing seemed to quicken, almost like it was suddenly harder for him to breathe.

Daphne was unsure whether or not she shook close the gap between them, her worry was slowly morphing into concern.

"I would never think that," she reassured him, however, her efforts were futile.

"I'll prove that you have nothing to worry about," his voice cracked as he continued, "That you're going to marry the right man."

His drying and tightening throat made it so he didn't even feel Daphne carefully placing her hands on his face.

She cupped his trembling cheeks and turned him to face her, allowing her to see the tears that didn't stop flowing from his eyes.

Her bottom lip quivered, "I know I am marrying the right boy."

"I'm gonna be a good dad you know?"

Daphne wasn't sure if she was even talking to her anymore, the words rolled off his tongue repeatedly.

"Of course," she whispered, staring up at him with a tearful smile.

Blaise hiccupped, "You're gonna be the best mum."

"Blaise, listen—"

"I want you to know that," he whispered.

He wasn't okay.

Daphne nodded her head, "I know."

"Because I can be better than the rest," he promised her as well as himself.

"You are better than them," Daphne stated confidently.

She didn't want to think of the men who harmed him, if she did she would want to kill them again alongside Ophelia.

Speaking of the Zabini witch, she had been weakly owling Daphne, to check on both her son and her future daughter-in-law. Daphne appreciated it because the older witch listened to and actively responded to her problems, whenever she couldn't find the words to say them aloud. Daphne was also aware that Elijah was the only person that Blaise wanted to speak to or allowed himself. It was comforting as well as heartbreaking for her.

"What if I'm not-" Blaise sobbed and his knees gave out, dropping to the floor and wrapping his arms around the blonde's waist, "I just want to be a good dad."

Daphne let her tears flow as she cupped the back of his neck and pressed a kiss to his head, "You will be."

Starting a family was one of her dreams and starting one with someone who looked at her like she was the sun made her truly believe she was in a fairytale.

She loves Blaise with everything in her and she wouldn't dare to stop.

"I wouldn't hurt my children, not like them," Blaise sobbed into her chest.

"I know."

"I promise I won't hurt them."

"I know."

"I promise."

"I know," she mindlessly repeated.

Blaise slowly looked up at her, with his tearstained face and bloodshot eyes, "I'm not okay am I?"

"You're not sweetheart, but I'm here for you," she promised wholeheartedly, "I'm here."

***

Monday, October 1st:

The past few weeks had been very dull to say the least, despite the minor fights, slug club meetings as well the start of Quidditch season.

Blaise had begun to talk to Daphne about what was on his mind, although it wasn't everything, he was progressing.

Unfortunately, what was looking up for one couple, another was becoming more argumentative. Draco had been more cagy and snappy and if Artemis was her old self, she would've distanced herself from him, but he was her fiancé; her struggling and stressed fiancé, she couldn't leave him alone.

Artemis was coming up with ways to off her headmaster, methods that led to neither her nor Draco getting caught.

During this time she had also noticed how exceedingly well Harry was at potions, even though he was one of the most mediocre students she had the displeasure of tutoring. Artemis always used her instincts, whenever he knowledge was put to the test, it was one of the main reasons why Snape believed she was a natural.

Unluckily this has just caught Harry's attention as he believed something else was going on with not just her fiancé but her as well, which ultimately led him to acquire more information about her, not as if she would give it up.

Artemis seemed to be engulfed in whatever preoccupied her mind. She often thought about Voldemort and what had kept him alive all this time, other than the unicorn blood she overheard that he consumed in her 1st year, there had to be something else.

She would've asked her grandfather but they hadn't been in contact as of late, however, she did remember overhearing a conversation with her mother about something called 'Horcrux'.

The young Seramore witch has no clue what the word even meant until she deep some studying in the forbidden section of the library when she was given a pass by Snape.

And since then she had been guessing and assuming all of the objects she believed carried Voldemort's soul... and of course wrote them out in Parseltongue.

What? She had been learning the language for almost 3 years.

She's a very smart girl.

Too smart for her own good sometimes.

***

Friday, October 12th:

THE THREE BROOMSTICKS:

Draco had decided he wanted to place a cursed necklace in the hands of a random student to give to dumbledore.

Artemis believed it was the stupidest idea ever and she had told him countless times which he ignored.

She worried that someone else would get hurt in the process and that was something she certainly didn't want on her conscience or Draco's wilting one.

"You understand how risky this is, don't you?" Artemis asked again after being led into the bathroom of the shop.

Draco scoffed, "No, the consequences of this have hasn't dawned on me," He drawled sarcastically, earning a glare from the brown-skinned witch.

She cast him a look, "Tone."

Draco sighed and rolled his shoulders back, "Sorry."

He anxiously played with the sleeve of his jacket. Artemis pulled him over to the corner of the bathroom and cupped his face. He dragged his downcast eyes over the area before they landed back on his fiancé's.

His hands landed on her waist and tugged her closer, then placed his head in the crook of his neck. His jagged breathing sent a chill down her spine, almost forcing her mild panic to be sent through the roof.

It didn't help that the golden trio were also in the tavern, they even whispered to each other when the engaged couple walked in.

Very subtle, right?

Artemis combed her ring-clad fringes through his hair, "Do you need me to help you tonight?" She asked quietly.

He spent most of his time in the room of requirement, she barely saw him unless it was to sleep and sometimes he didn't even do that anymore.

Eating wasn't a priority for Draco either, instead, his stress was consuming him from the inside out.

"I'm doing fine on my own."

"Fine isn't good."

"And good isn't perfect," he argued, to which she sighed, "Listen to me," Draco pulled away from her neck and cupped her face, "I asked you for help with this, didn't I?"

She rolled her eyes, "Yes, but what curse did you place on the necklace?"

Draco tensed, "It's better if you don't know." He murmured and put his hand in his pocket, clutching the packaging of the object in question.

"Why?" She couldn't help but snap.

Secrets are not what they should keep from each other, especially ones of this magnitude.

"Because you want to protect me and I want to protect you," Draco responded.

He didn't want her to be implicit, even though she wanted to seek justice for her father and his godfather. He also never wanted her to get hurt because of him... never.

Artemis scanned his stormy eyes, but all she saw was fear and uncertainty. She couldn't help but feel the same but they didn't have time to address it.

Draco's over-irritated behaviour made her less confident about talking about her emotions, she couldn't blame him for that, however, she just wanted to prioritise his over hers.

"Okay."

They heard chatter from outside and an unsuspecting Gryffindor wandered in.

Katie bell.

Draco instantly cupped the back of Artemis' neck and brought her to his chest, and she pretended to weep.

Katie offered her Seramore witch a sympathetic smile, completely missing the feeling of her pockets getting heavier.

For the next moments, Artemis heard Draco place the unexpecting girl under the imperius curse, instructing her to take the gift to Dumbledore before she blinked back and walked away to wash her hands.

When the door opened for the 2nd time, it revealed Katie's friend, who nudged her and shot the couple a tight-lipped smile.

"I think we should get going Katie," She said, pulling on her friend's arm, then curiously stared at the package that Katie pulled out of her pocket, "Where did you get that?" She asked once they reached the door.

"Found it," Katie responded mindlessly.

The door slammed shut and Artemis slowly stared up at her fiancé, who looked right back.

"See, that was simple," Draco huffed out and all Artemis could do was squeeze his sides.

...Oh he didn't know how wrong he was.

***

a/n:

my babies are suffering.

this chapter was more centred around blaise and what he is struggling with. he doesn't exactly know how to deal with the trauma he had been told he faced but has no recollection of. him trying to balance his relationship with daphne will be hard for him but he loves her too much to ever let her go. as i said before, he will not get over it soon, his low mood will be a part of his character for a while because you can't fully bounce back unless you have help and blaise will not speak to a professional yet.

i didn't realize this until now, but i noticed some similarities between how daph and blaise argued to how tom and nova did...

also, draco didn't tell arty that the necklace, for a period of time, was on sale at borgin and burkes. It claimed to have taken the lives of 19 different muggles. since he didn't want her to be implicit he just simply stated before he placed the curse on the necklace, believing if she knew where it originated from she would've discarded it before he had the chance to use it.

the next chapter will be rough guys.

any questions?