Of Silver and Green

Ch. 21 Misplaced Blame

Brynne made it nearly to the entrance of the common room before she was overtaken by another fit of sobs. She leaned her back against the wall and let herself slide to the floor, where she sat, her body heaving as she struggled to breathe. She pulled her legs up into her chest and wrapped her arms around them, resting her forehead on her knees. The seemingly ceaseless stream of tears poured down her face, her sobs echoing slightly against the dungeon walls and down the corridor. So devastated was she, she didn't even notice how loud she was being, and likely wouldn't have cared if she had. She didn't notice when a person pulled her to her feet and practically carried her into a small, comfortably furnished living room and sat her in front of a large roaring fireplace. She didn't notice when the person wrapped a large quilt around her shoulders. What finally shocked her out of her misery was a soft voice asking, "What's wrong?"

Brynne looked up into eyes so dark they looked black, confusion playing across her tear-stained face. She looked into a face usually so plagued with sternness and saw now only gentleness and concern. The oddity of it all sent another wave of tears running down her cheeks.

She launched herself at Professor Snape, forgetting he was a teacher, that he was the last to be expected to offer comfort, forgetting everything in her anguish except that he was a person offering her compassion, and she needed that. She buried her face in his shoulder, her sobs muffled by his thick black cloak.

Snape rubbed her back awkwardly, not used to comforting grief-stricken students. "Shh," he said hoarsely, "you need to calm down so you can tell me what happened."

Brynne took a few deep breaths, her head resting comfortably on his chest. He breathing ragged, she began to recount her tale, every so often interrupted by an escaped sob. She started at the beginning and never wavered from the truth, even telling him what she had actually been doing the night she ran into him.

"You think I betrayed him too, don't you?" she asked quietly after she finished.

"I don't know," he replied after a moment's hesitation. "That all depends. If Draco had asked you who you were with or what you were doing, would you have told him?"

"Yes," came the immediate reply.

"Well, if that's true, then there really was no betrayal. I think if you give him some time, he will realize this."

"Sir?" she asked after a pause.

"Yes?"

"Thank you so much," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Yes, well, you'd better get back to your dormitory," Snape replied uncomfortably, unsure how to react to the student hanging from his neck. As she let go, he continued. "If Miss Parkinson causes any more trouble, inform me straight away. And Brynne?" he asked, just as she was leaving.

"Yes, Professor?"

"Mr. Potter was right. Everything will be alright."

She smiled weakly in response and went to her room. She removed Aidynn from his basket and collapsed with him on her bed, cuddling him to her. She was too exhausted even to cry. As she drifted into sleep, she thought, 'Even if I was strong enough to cry, I doubt I have any tears left.'

~~~***~~~

When Brynne awoke the next morning in her own room for the first time in nearly a week and a half, she realized that the horrible events of last night had not been a nightmare as she had hoped. She looked over at her clock, noting she had a half-hour before her first class started. Potions. With Draco and Harry. She groaned and rolled over, hugging Aidynn to her and covering her head with her comforter. Snape would understand...or even if he didn't Brynne wasn't sure she cared. For the first time ever, she wasn't going to go to class.

~~~***~~~

"Hey Draco, where's Brynne?" asked Blaise, sitting next to the blonde Slytherin. Neither Draco nor Brynne had been at breakfast that morning, and now that Brynne hadn't shown up for Potions, Blaise was starting to worry.

"Don't know, don't care, don't ask," came the monotone reply.

Blaise was taken aback. What had happened since dinner last night that would cause Brynne to miss a class and cause Draco to act so indifferent towards her? Unfortunately, judging from the answer Blaise had just received, he knew there was no way he was going to find out from Draco without inciting the boy's anger. And without the other half of the equation present, Blaise was never going to get the story. Unless there was another part to the equation Blaise hadn't considered...

Draco was staring at Potter with such malice, Blaise felt stupid he hadn't noticed it immediately. And the green-eyed boy was glaring back with no less hatred. Blaise was tempted to ask Potter what had happened, and yet he knew there was no way he could even approach Potter with Draco around, lest he turn on Blaise. So he just sat through the class watching the silent war of wills between the two rivals. It wasn't surprising that Blaise didn't notice that Snape never questioned Brynne's whereabouts, or that fact that the Potions master watched the two archenemies with a knowing look.

~~~***~~~

There were five minutes left to Potions class, and Draco and Potter had made it the whole time without directing any nasty words to the other. Granted, they hadn't exchanged any words, but that really wasn't the point. Their eyes had scarcely left the other boy, however, and the pressure was becoming almost unbearable for both of them.

Class ended and as Draco and Blaise packed their things, Blaise saw Potter's approach out of the corner of his eye. So, apparently had Draco, because as Potter came closer, Draco turned to face him, his silver eyes brimming with menace, as well as another emotion Blaise couldn't place in Draco's eyes it was so foreign.

"What the hell do you want, Potter?" Draco spat.

"You are blaming this on her, and you don't know the whole story," answered Potter through gritted teeth.

"Nor do I want to. I doubt I have the stomach for it. I suggest you leave me alone before I get really angry," Draco growled, eyes flashing dangerously.

"This isn't right!" Potter practically shouted. "She loves you and yet you pass judgment without knowing all the facts. Nothing gives you that right!"

"Just give me a reason, Scarhead," said Draco, his voice so low it was barely audible.

"Malfoy," Potter said, his voice taking on a pleading tone. "Please don't do this to her. If you want to hurt me, fine, I can take it. But she doesn't deserve this. This whole situation is my fault and-"

Draco had had enough. Brynne had betrayed him, and here was Potter, who could throw salt on the wound through his mere presence, trying to talk reasonably to him. It was too much. With a snarl, he threw himself at Potter, fists swinging mercilessly, his wand forgotten. Both boys were knocked to the floor with the momentum of Draco's attack, as well as a desk and several chairs.

"Malfoy, you don't have to do this!" Potter shouted, trying to avoid Draco's fists. He caught one in the jaw before he could wriggle away.

"I do," Draco replied, panting with exertion, "if you don't stay out of my bloody business!" he shouted, leaping at Potter again.

"I didn't want to fight with you Malfoy, but you leave me no choice," Potter said angrily as another of Draco's punches connected. "Brynne is a good girl!" he shouted as he struck Draco in the mouth. "She did nothing to wrong you!" Potter punched Draco in the eye. "Nothing happened!" he asserted forcefully, throwing Draco off him and into a heap at Blaise's feet.

Potter got to his feet painfully, becoming aware of the half of the class that had been present for their little episode, Snape included. He groaned at the realization. He was going to be slapped with so much detention...

"Zabini," Snape barked. "Clean up that mess," he spat distastefully, glaring at the bloody heap that was Draco. He glanced up at Potter with something resembling respect in his eyes. "Ten points from Gryffindor," he said, raising an eyebrow. Potter realized that this was as close to getting off scot-free as he was going to get with Snape and gave a slight nod of gratitude in return. "Now all of you get out," Snape growled.

Draco was pulled roughly to his feet, still rather groggy. His mouth was full of blood from a nasty cut lip and his left eye was nearly swollen shut. Blaise pulled him out of the room and into a dark corridor, slamming him against the wall so aggressively that Draco's breath left him.

"What the hell has gotten into you, Draco?" he shouted, inches from the other boy's badly bruised face. "Well?" Draco slumped against the wall, refusing to answer. "Then maybe I should ask Potter. He seemed more than willing to tell anyone who listened. What happened between you and Brynne?" Draco flinched at her name, remaining silent, and Blaise sighed. "Draco, I'm your friend, you can trust me. I don't want to hear this from anyone but you." Draco turned his face away. "This isn't worth it," Blaise muttered, walking away.

It took every ounce of Draco's pride not to call out to Blaise. He knew his friend was right; he did need to tell Blaise, but it was too painful to talk about. He had been secretly relieved as well as slightly worried when Brynne hadn't shown up for Potions. He didn't think he could have stood the sight of her so soon after last night.

He made his way slowly to the common room and up to his bedroom, collapsing on his bed. Tears began to trickle slowly down his cheeks and try as he may, he could not get them to stop. Every time he inhaled, all he could smell was roses: Brynne. She was all over everything. He couldn't escape her, even in his own bed. And no matter how he denied it, he also couldn't escape the distinct feeling he was missing something...