"I'm not an idiot, Dorian!" Hermione stares at him, eyes wide. "Do you think I'd be silly enough to think that he - that anyone - could love me after only a few months? I might be distracted now and then, I might be better at books, but I know better than to think that he really wants me because of myself. I know he cherishes my magic, he cherishes my - my power, whatever it means to him, and I know he doesn't love me." She drops back to her chair, ring in her hand, the nausea in her stomach rising again. "I didn't say yes."
"Dorian!" Hermione stands, walking around and grabbing his hand, reaching up to rest her own on his shoulders. "Nothing has happened. He hasn't done anything to me, so just - please, relax and tell me what's going on."
He steps back, but only so that he can be sure Hermione is looking at him, so she can see how serious he is.
"Hermione, he has caused a great deal of pain. In his life before, he was a tyrant king who would break his own soldiers in fighting with them for amusement and . . ." Ever the Victorian, he flushes. "And who insisted on the right of kings to a bride's first night. Regardless of desires.
"And since—I don't know the details, but Lord El-Melloi told me that in the war he was resurrected to fight, he betrayed someone and caused a murder. Conspired for it, all for his own ends. He is not evil, but he is not good, either—or rather, he is both, capable of the greatest kindness and the worst cruelties. He can't be ruled or tamed or controlled.
"If he gave you a ring, he wants you. And I'm very scared for what he'll do to you once he gets what he wants."
"Dorian. The first time I met him he was - flippant about you. That turned him against me straight away. Why would I trust someone that was so rude and careless about one of my best friends? Why would I want to be around someone that was so, ugh infuriating? Really, he was a pain in the backside from the first moment we met and it reminded me of someone from home that was really very unfortunate to be around."
Draco Malfoy was a prat but, at the same time, a very sad and broken man. She knew that now and she thinks she can see something familiar in Gilgamesh, something that reminds her of him. Shaking her head, she lifts her eyes back to Dorian, gaze stern.
"I've done terrible things too. Nothing like what he's done, of course, if what you're saying is right - which is must be, considering you are the one contracted to him, not me." And she would have a few things to say about that too, but that can come later, when the buzzing panic and fear isn't in her head any more. Slowly, her arms draw him closer, her forehead against his chin for a moment.
"I'm not going to say yes. I don't want to get married, not to someone who I don't love and not to someone who might use me."
"Just—" He takes her hand again, squeezes it. "You must be careful. He pursues what he wants relentlessly. To him, 'no' is merely the word people say before 'yes.' Be careful." He doesn't even realize he has said it twice.
Hermione's eyes slip closed and she wraps herself around him, careful and unsure. Everything is coiling inside of her and she needs time - time to think about this, about Gilgamesh, about yesterday, about the feeling of sickness that still weighs her down, all of it making her lip tremble as she fights back her tears.
She nods her head, weak and almost shy against him, even as that reminder comes.
"You should. I wish I could just forget but that's the easy way out. A child's way out."
What she had done to Death Eaters, to the people chasing her, to her parents. She had to survive this; obliviating herself wouldn't do anyone any good, not with all the things she's learned about Gilgamesh, the things she has to keep in mind.
If she knew she would offer to help; Dreamless Sleep, Obliviation... She had always been best at spells. She had always been the one to do it, to protect them, to keep them safe, and now? Now she didn't know what she was.
She smiles for him, though, stepping back and nodding her had.
She is his friend. What else is there to be? With a childlike simplicity, Dorian understands the world as far as he reaches for those he loves. And though in time he might seek to push them away, in his heart he cannot forget what he was taught here.
The world that matters is the world of those you love. Hold onto them.
Without letting go of Hermone's hand, he takes her through the castle. There is still a reckoning to be had, but for now, he will help her forget a while.
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"You don't—you don't know him as I do, Hermione. You must be careful with him. That he has taken an interest in you is dangerous enough."
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She steps closer, thumbs stroking over his collarbones.
"I don't understand. He was always... Nice."
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He steps back, but only so that he can be sure Hermione is looking at him, so she can see how serious he is.
"Hermione, he has caused a great deal of pain. In his life before, he was a tyrant king who would break his own soldiers in fighting with them for amusement and . . ." Ever the Victorian, he flushes. "And who insisted on the right of kings to a bride's first night. Regardless of desires.
"And since—I don't know the details, but Lord El-Melloi told me that in the war he was resurrected to fight, he betrayed someone and caused a murder. Conspired for it, all for his own ends. He is not evil, but he is not good, either—or rather, he is both, capable of the greatest kindness and the worst cruelties. He can't be ruled or tamed or controlled.
"If he gave you a ring, he wants you. And I'm very scared for what he'll do to you once he gets what he wants."
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"Dorian. The first time I met him he was - flippant about you. That turned him against me straight away. Why would I trust someone that was so rude and careless about one of my best friends? Why would I want to be around someone that was so, ugh infuriating? Really, he was a pain in the backside from the first moment we met and it reminded me of someone from home that was really very unfortunate to be around."
Draco Malfoy was a prat but, at the same time, a very sad and broken man. She knew that now and she thinks she can see something familiar in Gilgamesh, something that reminds her of him. Shaking her head, she lifts her eyes back to Dorian, gaze stern.
"I've done terrible things too. Nothing like what he's done, of course, if what you're saying is right - which is must be, considering you are the one contracted to him, not me." And she would have a few things to say about that too, but that can come later, when the buzzing panic and fear isn't in her head any more. Slowly, her arms draw him closer, her forehead against his chin for a moment.
"I'm not going to say yes. I don't want to get married, not to someone who I don't love and not to someone who might use me."
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"Dorian. You're his Master. I don't think you have much room to warn me about being careful here."
But she smiles, trying to hide the discomfort she's feeling by shaking her head, watching him.
"I promise I'll take care of myself, but you have to promise me the same thing."
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Even so, he leans into her touch, closes his eyes. "I promise."
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"I love you, you know that?"
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And he holds her close. They won't lose each other. They won't lose this.
Quietly, he reminds her, "I don't think any less of you."
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"You should. I wish I could just forget but that's the easy way out. A child's way out."
What she had done to Death Eaters, to the people chasing her, to her parents. She had to survive this; obliviating herself wouldn't do anyone any good, not with all the things she's learned about Gilgamesh, the things she has to keep in mind.
"I just wish I could stop thinking about it."
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"Would you care to find that piano? We can play together a little while." Push the thoughts away for a time.
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She smiles for him, though, stepping back and nodding her had.
"Piano it is."
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The world that matters is the world of those you love. Hold onto them.
Without letting go of Hermone's hand, he takes her through the castle. There is still a reckoning to be had, but for now, he will help her forget a while.