Chapter Twenty Five
“Tessa,” the addressed looked up with a faint look of surprise on her face, she then smiled weakly at the person who had called her. “How are you?”
“I'm fine.” She responded to Sydney, who retaliated with raising her eyebrows, crossing her arms and sat down across from the Head Girl.
“Yup, now what's bothering you?” Sydney persisted, and Tessa gave her friend a sad look before continuing.
“I nearly used an unforgivable curse, I was going to.” Tessa shuddered at the memory, Sydney, who hadn't been prepared for this, nearly shrieked in surprise.
“On who?” Sydney couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
“Michael Turner, I remember him now, he was the one that helped Lucius kill...” Tessa looked away, not being able to speak anymore.
Sydney's mouth fell open into a perfect o, and several emotions crossed her face. “I don't really blame you, if it was me I would have avada kedavra'd him as soon as I realized who it was.”
“I was going to crucio him.” Tessa mumbled looking down at her feet.
Sydney was once again rendered silent, she knew just how much Tessa hated that spell. “Tessa, what I'm really curious about is, why didn't you unforgivable him?”
“Orion stopped me.” Tessa fought back the tears in her eyes. “I would have crucioed Turner if Orion wasn't there, and then I wouldn't have been able to live with myself, I'd have been a law breaker, a, a.” Tessa then burst into tears and Sydney was reminded (not that she needed a reminder) as to just how serious this was. Tessa never, ever cried. And Sydney wasn't quite sure how to deal with a crying Tessa, she never had to before.
“Tessa, it didn't happen, Orion was there, you don't need to dwell on those memories.” Sydney said as she tentatively placed a hand on Tessa's shoulder.
“I know, but I can't stop thinking about it.” Tessa, thankfully in Sydney's opinion, didn't push her friend away. “I don't know how to stop, help me Sid.”
“I can't stop you from thinking about it Tessa.” Sydney paused, not sure she was saying the right thing or not. “Only you can, I really wish I could help you.” Sydney collected her books and then left Tessa sitting at the table in the library alone.
“Thanks Sydney.” Tessa muttered to herself, saying it honestly, not sarcastically. She began to pack her own school books up, when she noticed a figure standing in the corner. “Oh, hey Cadence, isn't a bit late for you to be up?” She couldn't help but ask of the person, who shrugged in response. “Come on, I'll walk you back to your dormitories.” The two began their way through the winding hallways of Hogwarts.
“Hey, Tessa.” Cadence suddenly asked, and Tessa stopped, curious. “I've been meaning to ask you this for ages, well not ages, ever since I heard. Do you really love Orion?”
“Cad-” Tessa stopped in shock. “I, it's to soon to tell Cadence honey.”
“But I thought people said they would know when they're in love.” Cadence raised her eyebrows suspicously. “At least that's the way in fairy tales.”
Tessa couldn't help but chuckle softly. “Cadence, it's hardly ever been that way out of fairy tales, now come on, we're at your common room, and I should be heading back to mine.
“Bye Tessa, sleep well.” Cadence stood on her tippy-toes and kissed the head girl on her cheek, gave her a brief smile then quietly said the password to the Slytherin common room before entering.
A small smile found it's way to Tessa's face and she turned around and made her way to the Head's rooms, she had arrived outside the door at the same time as Orion had. “Gobble.” Tessa said to the portrait before turning to face Orion. “Hey, Orion.” Her smile had already faded away by the time she had actually arrived at the quarters.
“Tess, you know everything will be okay, Lucius, Bellatrix, Michael and Christopher are all locked up in azkaban, no one else is going to come after you. And I'll always be here for you.” Orion said calmly, pulling Tessa into a hug.
“No you won't, we'll both move on, I'll date a different guy, you'll date a different girl.” Tessa shuddered inwardly at the thought, and tears were finding their way to her eyes.
“So this is just a relationship to pass the time to you?” Orion's voice had become cold and Tessa winced, she shook her head, immediately.
“I didn't mean it that way.” She mumbled hurriedly. “That's just the way the world is Orion.” His face had softened, hearing these words.
“It doesn't have to be that way for us Tess, we can make our own destiny different then everybody elses.” Orion whispered, then kissed Tessa, who immediately kissed him back with just as much passion. The broke away at the sound of a little squeal.
Tessa whirled around, knowing that sound. “Carla! What in the world are you doing here?” She demanded angrily, her sister had just interrupted an extremely nice moment.
“I, you, Orion, I.” Carla blurted out in surprise. “I thought you were joking when you said you loved Orion.” She somehow managed to get the sentence out with jumbling the words together. “I didn't think you were, actually dating.”
“Carla, I really don't want to go through this with you.” Tessa sighed, and turned to rest her head on Orion's shoulder.
“I'm telling mum.” Carla snapped, then left them there.
“You told her you loved me?” Orion raised his eyebrows at Tessa, who blushed.
“We were at the hospital, and I needed to get out, I knew what Bellatrix could do, I couldn't leave you. And I told Carla I loved you.” Tessa murmured, still faintly red. “And I meant it.” She added, not wanting to make things worse.
“I love you too Tessa.” He smiled, and she smiled back.
*** One year later
“You are both to young!” My mum rapped out immediately, but my face didn't fall, not even for a second.
“Mum, I've been an adult for over a year in the wizarding world.” I sighed, hoping she would attempt to understand me.
“But, your only eighteen here in our world, your only a child, what do you think my friends would say?” She countered, not wanting to let me grow up, as usual.
“Mum, please.” I pleaded and she shook her head angrily.
“I don't like this wizarding stuff at all, and you know that, I want you to marry a kid like you, not some gallavanting wizard, your not allowed to speak to him.” She commanded, then walked out, I stared after her in shock.
She really hated wizards and witches, as I drew a long sigh, Carla plopped down next to me. “I heard what she said Tessa, and you know I disagree with her, if she'd give Orion a chance, she'd surely say yes. You two are so cute together.”
“Don't remind me Carla.” I muttered, drawing my knee's up to my chest and wrapping my sweater and arms around my legs. “Why does she have to hate magic so much?”
“You two could always elope.” Carla then suggested airily, and I nearly fell over even though I was sitting, did my sister, just tell me that Orion and I could elope?
“No, I'm not going to elope.” I finally said, and Carla rolled her eyes at me. “Mum said no, I don't want to hurt her.”
“Tessa, you just said that you'd rather give up all chances of you getting a happily ever after and a bunch of cute little Malfoy midgets?” It was Carla's turn to stare at me in shock.
“Family comes first.” I murmured softly, tears coming to my eyes. “Family always comes first.”
“T, I'm talking to mum.” Carla said, she pushed herself up and stormed out of the room before I could stop her, I groaned and returned to my room, not wanting to hear them talk.
I didn't hear anything for a few minutes and next thing I knew, Carla was shouting, I ran downstairs, what was going on now?
“YOU ARE DEPRIVING HER FROM LIVING HER LIFE!” Carla screamed, neither her or mum noticed me enter the kitchen. “Your depriving her from her happiness, she loves Orion, and Orion loves her, why can't you let them get married?” Carla continued to shout. “And because your family, and you've drilled it into her brain her whole life that family comes first, she won't listen to me when I suggested her to elope with Orion, your destroying her.”
“Carla!” I hissed angrily, what was she trying to do, I ran up and clamped my hand over Carla's mouth. “Shut up, it's worthless, nothing you say will change mum's mind.”
“Why is Carla shouting at your mother?” My dad asked, entering the kitchen, having arrived home from work.
“It's nothing, really, she's just flipping out like she does occasionly.” I said quickly, but Carla pushed my hand away from her mouth.
“Mum said no to Tessa and Orion getting married because she hate's magic.” She churned out immediately.
“Well, at least I know your mother's take on all of this.” Dad muttered.
“What do you mean George?” My mother turned to face him, crossing her arms.
“A certain young man showed up during my lunch break and asked if he could have the hand of my eldest daughter. I told him that he had my full permission.” Dad responded, and I paled.
“You didn't bother asking MY opinion on this?” My mother nearly shrieked.
“Honey, I already knew it, besides, he's fun to play golf with.” I was totally confused right now.
“Dad, who are you talking about?” I had to ask.
“Orion Malfoy obviously, who else?” My dad played golf with Orion, what else did I not know?
Next thing I knew I was squishing my dad in a hug. “Now I've got to get your mum to agree, Tessa.” He whispered into my ear, and I smiled, not jealous of that job at all.
“Good luck daddy, and thank you a million.” I grinned at him, then went and apparated to Malfoy Manor.
“Tessa, hello, he's in his room.” Astoria smiled at me, somehow I had won the heart of Orion's mum, Draco still didn't really like me though. Smiling at her I made my way to his bedroom and knocked.
“Come in.” She heard, and then pushed the door open after turning the knob, Orion was laying on his bed with a bunch of papers infront of him. “Hey, Tess!”
“You actually asked my dad if you could marry me?” Tessa said, getting straight to the point. “You said you'd never, ever do that.”
“I did not!” Orion protested, and Tessa raised her eyebrows. “Okay, maybe I did, but I had to, you know, it wouldn't have been nice if I didn't.”
“I'm a little worried.” Tessa muttered as she walked over to him and placed a hand on his forehead.
“Um, Tess?” Orion asked, confused.
“A Malfoy is worried about not being nice, are you sure your not an imposter?” Tessa responded, an Orion rolled his eyes at her.
“Tess, you know what I mean.” Orion laughed, and Tessa giggled a little bit, she sat down on the bed next to him, still smiling widely. “Oh, I just remembered something.”
“Remembered what something?” Tessa couldn't help but question, but Orion didn't answer at first.
“Close your eyes.” Tessa could tell that he was smirking even though she had just shut them.
“Now what?” She asked irritibly, not liking the total darkness.
“Will you marry me?”
“I WILL KILL YOU!” Tessa shrieked, she had opened her eyes when he finished, and found Orion kneeling infront of her with a ring. “You insufferable prat!”
“I knew you'd say that.” Orion chuckled, getting up and slipping the ring on her finger, as he resumed his seat next to her, the door flung open revealing an angry Draco and a worried Astoria.
“We heard shrieking, what happened?” Astoria glanced at the two of them, now bemused.
“I proposed.” Orion did his best not to laugh, and Tessa hit him, hard.
“Oh, congratulations! But why the shrieking?” Astoria was still slightly confused.
“Um, she told me she didn't want me to propose, on my knee.” Orion was fighting back laughter even more now, and Tessa hit him harder.
“Right.” Draco turned around and left.
“Congratulations again.” Astoria said, smiling at the two of them. “Let me go talk to your father Orion, he'll come around eventually.”
“If he doesn't can I hit him?” Tessa whispered to Orion who glared at her.
“Be my guest, that is if there's anything left of him after I'm finished.” Orion smirked, he stood up then helped Tessa up as well. “Hey, you don't loathe anyone anymore, does that mean this the end of Tessa's loathing?”
“Darling, I'll always loathe people.” Tessa smiled wryly, planted a faint kiss on his lips then spoke again. “There will always be a Tessa's loathing.”
THE END 
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Final Chapter 
