CANCER MALFOY

"What do you want, brother?" Draco asked, looking mildly irritated.

"Just wanted to know if your friend Pansy is up for grabs."

"Aren't you fooling around with that Snyde girl?"

"You know me, Draco. I'm not about to tie myself down."

"You disgust me."

"I love you, too!"

I walked out of the room, hoping Draco was distracted. Distracted enough. Hurrying out of the Slytherin dungeon, I made my way up the stairs, hoping they were where they said they were.

"Finally, you're here!"

Sagittarius grinned, his brown eyes twinkling. 'Beautiful' was the right way to describe his looks. He was so, so beautiful, with that chiseled jawline, with that smooth complexion. He looked like a god. Like a Greek hero, with that tragic look hiding behind the cheer in his face. Libra cleared her throat and Cancer immediately knew he'd locked eyes with Sagittarius for just a moment too long. He hastily looked away, turning up his nose. "I am here on time. I do not need to be lectured."

"Which girl was it today?" Sagittarius asked, laughing.

Was Cancer mistaken, or had he heard a twinge of jealousy in the Gryffindor boy's voice?

"Let me guess," Libra cut in. "Ooh, Padma! No, no, Susan! No... Pansy!"

"It was none of them. I was not with a girl."

"Oh, because your breakup with the twin sister of the girl you're currently hitting on? Has it left you reeling?"

"It has not."

"No, Libra, you have it all wrong," Sagittarius interjected. "Cancer might have the hots for Padma now, but we all know his end goal is Leo."

"Who, Leo Snyde?"

"You know any other Leos?"

"I- I don't-"

Sighing, I collected myself. Thus was not the time to break my cover. I had to make them believe that I really and truly was as shallow as I looked. Outside of the Room of Requirement, I couldn't let my guard down.

"Please. She'd be lucky to have me," I replied, running a hand through my hair.

"Typical," Sagittarius sniggered. What he didn't know was that I wanted him more than I'd ever wanted anyone else. He was perfect. It wasn't his face, or his personality. It was just his aura, I supposed. I could sense when he was near. Even if I couldn't see him or hear his voice, I could feel his presence. It made me feel as if I had uncovered something made and meant for me.

The old legend that your soulmate truly was your 'other half' came to mind when I thought of how I felt near Sagittarius. How I felt 'drawn' to him, like a magnet of the opposing polarity. He was my other half, because without him, I was incomplete.

He didn't know it yet, but he would. I had to tell him.

"Alright, let's go in," said Libra. The three of us made our way through the door to the Room of Requirement, careful not to get caught. "-revising the Bat Bogey Hex and the Disarming Charm for those of you who are still having trouble-"

Harry stopped talking as we came in, nodding toward us. "Well, let's get into it, then. Libra, Cancer, Sagittarius, practice your Stunning spells. Parvati, join them."

Libra grimaced as Parvati walked over, looking at me questioningly. It was true. We'd broken up two weeks back. It had been from her end because she'd figured me out. She knew about my feelings for Sagittarius. In fact, she'd helped me realise it. Even when I had arguably the most beautiful girl in our grade on my arm, I'd been looking at Sagittarius. "Hey, Parvati. Let's practice. The two of-"

Sagittarius cut Libra off.

"Actually, if you don't mind, I want to work with her."

Smirking, he addressed Parvati flirtatiously, flicking his wand at her. She giggled and I winced, feeling sick to my stomach.

"Wow," Libra breathed. "You want me to stop it for you?"

"Nothing you can do," I sighed, turning toward Libra. "Let's just practice."

.....

LIBRA ROSIER

"Night, Parvati."

"Night, Libra."

I pulled the curtains around my four poster shut, wanting some privacy for what felt like the first time in my life. I flicked nervously to the 'Notes' section of my textbook, getting some ink on my quill.

Hi.

My heart began to beat inexplicably fast.

Shoot.

Who are you?

No response.

Come to the Astronomy Tower in ten minutes. I'll meet you there.

I took a deep breath, slamming the textbook shut.

As much as I hated to admit it, I had caught feelings for the person on the other side of the book. I had no idea who they were or what they looked like, but the fact that I could talk to them with such ease, that they would listen so, so calmly to whatever I had to say and that they were just as trapped as I was just made me fall hard.

I had to see them.

I had to know, for sure, that they felt the same way.

Pulling on my robe, I left for the Astronomy Tower, just about holding my breath.

.....

"Hey, where are you?" I called madly before noticing a shadow behind the pillar. I ran toward it but it shifted, the person it belonged to staying away.

"Please, let me talk to you.

"I own the other book. I enchanted them so that I could have someone, anyone, by my side. It's just... I felt so alone, you know? I have nobody at home, I can't trust anyone here, and yet I spilled my guts to a stranger."

"Your father would hate it," I said softly.

The voice chuckled.

"But before you... before you see me, I have to tell you, I didn't want to come. I'm afraid that I won't be what you expected, and that you'll break my heart, because as much as I've pushed away this thought, I think I fancy you. Maybe my feelings have passed pure fancy. Maybe...

"Maybe I love you. And I'm so scared that I'll lose you if I let you in even more. You're leverage now. Or you will be. They could hurt you to hurt me. And trust me, there are lots of people out there, waiting to hurt me."

"Show me your face," I said with no hesitation. "Please. I feel the same way and you know it, but I can't go on like this. We can't go on like this. I don't care if your life is a mess, or if there are people out to get you. I want to help you out. I want to take care of you."

"And I want to take care of you," the voice replied.

"I want to be with you for real, feel your hand in mine, see your face everyday."

"And I want to hear your voice everyday. I want to sit with you by the lake and fall asleep with you under the stars."

"Then step out of the shadows. If you love me, step out of the shadows."

I watched as a figure stepped out from behind the pillar. Tall, sandy blonde hair and a smile that sparkled even in the moonlight.

"You," I breathed.

"You," he sighed happily.

And without any further hesitation, Gemini Rookwood pulled me into his embrace, placing his lips on mine.