The Dueling Professor | Gellert Grindelwald [Complete]

Reconciled Friendships

Sapphire's POV:

I spent the entire week studying alone in my dorm. Mostly because my friends and I aren't exactly on speaking terms. Ever since they voiced their opinions on me being in a relationship with Gellert, I sort of distanced myself from them. I was sad, angry, and confused. I couldn't see why they weren't happy that I actually found someone that loves me back. Gellert is a professor and older than me, but... all I really want is happiness. A certain kind of happiness that Draco and Nick can't give me. 'Just focus on your homework and studies.' I said inside of my head as I turned the page in my potions book. "Hey, do you want a cup of tea?" Gellert's voice asked me curiously as he rested a hand on my shoulder. I was currently sitting on the couch in his private quarters reading through my textbooks. "Sure. I really could use a break." I replied as I marked my pages and closed my books. He made us each a cup of hot tea, and I snuggled into his side. We drank our tea and he played with my hair. "Are you alright? I've noticed that you and your friends aren't talking or spending time together." He said, taking me out of my thoughts. I had already told him about how Nick and Draco reacted to me telling them he and I were in a relationship. But I haven't told him that my friends and I haven't talked in a week or so. "I think you should talk to them, Sapphire." He said after I explained everything to him. "Why? Why should I talk to them when they can't even be happy that I'm happy?" I replied with furrowed brows. "Don't push them away. They were probably just in shock, because you're in a romantic relationship with your professor." He said with a sympathetic look in his eyes. "Maybe..." I said, trailing off. As I continued studying I couldn't help but think about what Gellert had said. A part of me knew he was right, but I was still hurt by their reaction. 'Just talk to them. Maybe they've changed their minds.' I thought inside of my head. After I finished studying and drinking tea, I headed towards the Slytherin common room to drop my books and stuff off. But I saw Draco sitting at one of the tables doing his homework. He didn't even notice me walk in, or maybe he didn't want me to know he had seen me. 'Alright, let's just get this over with.' I said inside of my head as I walked towards the table Draco was sitting at. "Hey." I said to catch his attention. When he looked up at me I was shocked to see he looked depressed. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he looked as if he hadn't had a good night's rest in forever. "May I join you?" I asked him curiously. I suddenly felt really guilty about ignoring him over the past week. 'I wonder if Nick looked like Draco did, or worse?' I thought inside of my head. "Sapphire.... I... I wasn't expecting you to. Here... let me clear a spot for you to do your homework." He said as he quickly moved his books and papers around. "Thanks, but I didn't come here to do homework. I came here to apologize for ignoring you for a whole week. I... I just overreacted when you and Nick-" I said, but he cut me off. "No, I'm sorry. Nick and I both! We were stupid for not being happy for you. It's just... we weren't expecting you to be with.... with... well... you know who you're in a relationship with." He said as tears filled his eyes. My heart ached and I sort of best myself up a bit. I felt like an idiot to be honest. There was a long pause before I spoke up. "So... can we be friends again?" I asked him curiously. "Of course we can." He said with a huge smile on his face. We hugged each other and he wiped some tears off of his cheeks quickly, just so no one else could see that he was crying. The two of us took our books to our separate dorms before going for a walk outside. The sun was still up, thanks to the summer months that weren't too far off. "You know... I'm really glad we're friends again. I don't think I could have went through the summer knowing we weren't on talking terms." He said after a good long while of walking around. "Gellert actually talked me into talking to you. I'm honestly really glad he did." I said. "Gellert?" He said in a questioning tone with furrowed brows. "That's professor Grindelwald's first name." I replied with a slight smile. "Oh." He replied with a slight laugh as he ran a hand through his hair. The two of us headed back inside when it was almost time for dinner. On our way into the Great Hall we ran into Nick, who was ecstatic that we were all friends again. He looked worse than Draco did, which made me feel way worse than I had. But I hoped that I could make it up to them in the last few weeks of school and over the summer. Draco and I took our usual spots at the Slytherin common room. I glanced up at the staff table and when I made eye contact with Gellert he smiled; I smiled too, and I hoped he knew I was extremely thankful that he told me to just talk to my friends. I know it was simple, but I needed the push from him to actually do something that was so easy. I pressed my thoughts to the back of my mind and filled my plate with food. While I ate, Draco told me about how stressed he had been with studying. He obviously couldn't wait until summer. I couldn't wait for summer either, but I knew I'd have to do homework and stuff during the break as well. 'At least you don't have to go and stay at an orphanage.' I thought inside of my head. After dinner we met up with Nick and took a walk around the grounds. It was a warm evening with a warm breeze that rustled the blades of green grass. The wind would have blew the leaves around, but the trees didn't have fully grown leaves yet. "All of us acted foolishly. I'm just glad our friendship was strong enough to survive." Draco said. "Our friendship will always be strong enough to survive anything." Nick said in a positive tone. We sat down underneath a tree that was close to the black lake and just enjoyed the nice weather. "I'm really glad that we're friends again. It feels nice to have you guys to talk to and spend time with." I said, breaking the comfortable silence. "We're glad too." Draco and Nick said as well. Before the sun was too low in the sky, we headed back into the castle and went to our common rooms. Draco and I took a seat at the usual table we do our homework at, and cracked open one of the windows. It let in some fresh air, which was lovely. The sun now looked like a blood orange colored bar across the horizon. It looked beautiful with the trees silhouetted against the bright color. He and I talked for a few minutes before we said goodnight to each other. I got ready for bed feeling better than I had all week. 'You were right, Gellert. I'm glad you told me to talk to them, or I probably would have ended up friend less.' I thought inside of my head as I fell asleep. I woke up to the sound of birds singing outside. After I rubbed the sleep from my eyes I was so glad that it was Sunday rather than Monday. Even though I didn't have classes didn't mean I could stop studying. In all honesty, I couldn't wait until exams were over with. Once I got out of bed I changed out of my pajamas. I put on a pair of ripping black jeans and one of my Slytherin t-shirt. When I walked into the common room I noticed that Draco wasn't up yet. Instead of waiting on him I went ahead and stepped out of the portrait hole. The beautiful sunshine was coming through the windows, which gave the hallways a brilliant glow. The sky looked bright blue, and the green grass was covered in morning dew. "Good morning, Miss Vander." Snape said as we almost ran into each other. All I saw was a whispy black blur rounding the corner; I was lucky enough that I stopped before we collided. "Good morning professor Snape." I replied with a small smile. He joined me on my walk towards the Great Hall. I didn't mind, because we were talking about the plans and schedule this summer. Apparently there would be a lot of potion making and note taking, just like potions class. 'I'll probably nail this assistant position then. But who knows... there might be difficult things to all of this new endeavor.' I thought inside of my head. We said our goodbyes as we went our separate ways. I sat down at the Slytherin table, which had a few other students sitting at it. More Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were up and about than Gryffindors and Slytherins. That's all it always is every single morning, especially on week days. I filled my plate with food and started eating just as Draco walked into the Great Hall. "Good morning." He said as he joined my side and filled his plate with food as well. "Good morning." I replied with a small smile. I told him about the conversation I had with Snape, and he said I'd nail the assistant position. "Be careful though, or Dumbledore will want you to become a professor when you graduate." Draco joked. His reply actually made me think for a few minutes. 'Maybe I'd like to be a professor.' I thought inside of my head. I haven't really thought about what I wanted to be after school. My parents probably wanted me to become an auror just like them, but I wasn't so sure. Yeah, I'd get to sort of fight in their name and make them proud... but... I'd always live in their shadows. I'm not even certain that I would like being an auror; it's a very dangerous job, where as being a professor is way more safer. Not that being a teacher doesn't have any dangers. You never know what can happen when you take up a job in the wizarding world. As the owls came flying in to deliver the mail, I came back to reality. "Are you alright?" Draco asked me curiously. Obviously he realized I had zoned out. "Yeah, I was just thinking." I replied. "What about?" He asked me curiously as he opened his copy of the Daily Prophet. "What kind of job I want after school is over." I replied in a thoughtful tone. "I think about that a lot as well to be honest. Father would most likely want me to become a Minister employ... one with the highest of honors. He does like to boast even though he attempts to do so in a discreet way, which isn't discreet at all." He replied, rolling his eyes slightly. We focused on finishing breakfast and him reading the daily newspaper. While he read I looked up set the staff table to see Gellert and Snape talking. I just hoped that they were being sort of like friends rather than enemies. After Draco and I finished eating we walked out of the Great Hall and met up with Nick in the Entry Hall. "Hey, Draco! Wait up!" I heard a familiar voice say. I turned around to see Harry Potter running in our direction. "Hey." Draco said as his cheeks turned light pink color. Harry and Draco embraced and then kissed before they broke the hug entirely. Nick and I just had stupid grins on our faces the entire time. "Um.... I was wondering if I could hangout with you guys today." Harry said as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. We said that he could hangout with us today, but I was sort of wondering why he wasn't with Ron and Hermione. The three of them are practically inseparable. 'Maybe they're having a fight or something like we had." I thought inside of my head. We walked around the grounds together, and Harry talked about how Ron and Hermione actually started dating. "Really? That's great! I thought they'd always make a great couple." Draco said happily. "Me too... in a way. I'll have to get use to get though. I guess they felt the same way about me dating you, Draco." He replied with a slight laugh. The four of us headed down to Hagrid's where we were served tea and rock cakes. We took the tea, but didn't take any of the cakes. Hagrid seemed really happy that he had gotten two new visitors, and Nick really liked playing with his dog. We said our goodbyes to Hagrid before it was time for lunch. I knew I'd miss all of this over the summer, but I had a feeling that the summer break wasn't going to last too long. Especially since I had Gellert to spend time with. I'd probably be with him a lot more than being all alone like I had feared. And I knew that my friends would send me letters while they were at home. I was just lucky enough that Nick and Draco were willing to be my friends again. As we entered the Great Hall for the second time today, I pressed my thoughts to the back of my mind and enjoyed myself. I needed to take advantage of this before exams started, because all anyone would be doing then is studying. 'Hopefully I'll get outstanding grades for all of my classes.' I thought inside of my head as I filled my plate with food. But I was really nervous about my Divination exam the most.

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