| Girl on Fire |

57

VERONICA MALFOY

"Harry Potter and Veronica Malfoy" "Is that a joke?" "What are they doing?" "That's Malfoy!" "It has to be a love potion." "They hate each other." "You have got to be kidding." "No way"

"Ignore it, nothing they say matters." he said and he squeezed my hand. We entered the Great Hall and everyone's eyes fell on us. Granger and Weasley's jaws dropped. "Come on." Harry said as the room filled with whispers. Harry pulled me over to their table and he sat down. I sat next to him and it was dead silent. They just stared and stared. Then Ron spoke.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" he said. Harry glared at him. "Lay off Ron," he said. "Her! That's the girl you told us about? Malfoy!" he exclaimed. "Yes, now can you not be a prick." he said. "This has to be some sick joke, 6 years. 6 years, those twins have been foul gifts to us and now you're shagging her." he spat. "Ron!" Harry scolded. "No, it's fine. No need to hold back on my account." I said. Granger just stared at us with a strange look. "Mione, say something." Harry said. She looked at me with a scowl. "Did you poison him? Did you use a spell or a love potion?" she asked. "Mione!" Harry exclaimed. I let tears fill my eyes and I looked at Harry. "You know what, Weasley, Granger, I'm sorry. Ok? I'm sorry for how I treated you but don't you dare act all high and mighty. Don't act like you once ever treated me kindly either. If I remember correctly, Draco and I tried to be your friends in first year. And you Weasley, laughed at my brother." I said. "Well I-" he started. "None of us are innocent in this petty rivalry but if anyone ever went too far when it came to retaliation, it was you." I said glaring at them.

"What are you talking about? You are the snakes. We never-" Ron started. "Rita Skeeter. You told her everything about what happened to me last year and she published it in the fucking Daily Prophet. Then you wanna know what happened?" I said. They stared at me with wide eyes. "Draco and I were called home by our father. He said I disgraced the Malfoy name with my loose morals. He doesn't actually believe I was raped. According to him, since there was going to be an arranged marriage with Marcus, I already belonged to him. The only reason he didn't beat me was because-" I stopped. They were silent. "It doesn't matter. You don't know me or anything about my life, or Draco's. I'm sorry for how I treated you, but at least Harry tried to understand my situation. Instead of just blaming me for things he knows nothing about." I said. Granger looked shocked and Weasley stared at the table. A tear fell down my cheek and I wiped it away. " I'm sorry Harry, this wasn't a good idea. I won't make you pick between me or your friends. I'll go." I said. I started to leave when he grabbed my hand and pulled me back down. "No." he said. He gave them a look and Granger nodded. "I'm sorry too. You're right, we had no idea what we were doing and we should have stayed out of it." she said. I nodded. She elbowed Weasley and he looked at me. "Your dad hits you?" he asked. My face turned red and I looked down. "No- um- no that's not-" I stopped when Harry placed his hand on mine. "Nobody is entitled to happiness, ok? It doesn't matter." I said. Harry gave Ron a look again and he just nodded. "I'm sorry." he mumbled. "Grang-" I started. "Hermione, I'm really sorry for all the times I've called you a mudblood. It's just, you're a muggleborn and you get the highest marks in our year and every year when we get home, father doesn't take that well." I said. She smiled and nodded. "It's ok, I'm sorry for hexing your hair pink." she said. I laughed. "That was you?" I said. She nodded. "Brilliant, you need to teach me that. I can use it when Draco pisses me off, which is quite often." I said. They all laughed. "Mione, you might want to teach her now because he is coming over here." Ron said. I turned around and Draco was storming over.

"Get up Veronica" he snapped. "I'm-" I started. "Now!" he spat. I stood up and followed him outside. I made sure to give Harry a look so he would follow. We left the Great hall and stood in the hallway. Once we were sure he could hear us, Draco started.

"Ronnie, you have got to be fucking kidding me! Potter! Of all fucking people in this school, you choose Potter!" he yelled. "I like him, Draco. I really like him." I said. "It doesn't matter if you like him. You know this can't happen. What would he think? What would father think? Do you think he won't find out? He will. And when he does, it won't just be you he tortures. It will be both of us." he says. "I won't let him." I said. He laughed out loud. "When have you ever been able to stop him..." he asked. "Draco please, why can't I ever be happy?" I asked.

"I just don't get why it has to be Potter." he said. "I didn't choose this." I said. He scoffed. "Fuck you Draco. I didn't choose this. I didn't choose any of this. Ever. I never get a fucking choice. I did what I had to do to save your life and now that I have someone who truly makes me happy, you can't back me on that?" I yelled. "I never asked you to do that for me," he said. "But I did it anyway." I said. "What if he finds out? How do you think Saint Potter will feel if he knows-" he started. "He already knows-" I said quietly. "What?" Draco said. "He already knows." I said louder. Draco burst out laughing. "You told him! Are you fucking mad?" he yelled. "He promised not to tell anyone." I said. "And you believe him," he snapped. "Yes." I said plainly. "Ronnie, you are a being stupid. Potter doesn't love you. For all we know he's using you to get information. Or he just wants to fuck you. The same thing Mattheo did." he yelled. "Fuck you." I snapped. "I'm just trying to protect you. Your daddy issues cloud your judgement. You think every guy who shows the slightest interest in you, loves you. You let Marcus beat the shit out of you for years all so you wouldn't be alone." he said. "My daddy issues! Don't fucking start. We both know you are in love with-" I started. "Don't!" he yelled. I took a deep breath.

"We both know you love her. But you are too fucked up to commit because you don't want to get hurt, So don't talk to me about daddy issues!" I yelled.

"How did this even happen? Do you think it's a coincidence he took an interest and pursued you this year?" he asked. "That's not how it happened." I said. "Then how, did you fuck him first?" he yelled. "No, he saved me from killing myself!" I yelled. Draco froze and Harry walked over. "Veronica-" he started. 'I'm fine." I said. Draco just stared at him and then me. "Is that true?" he asked. Harry nodded. "You know about that too-" he said, nodding at my arm. Harry nodded again. Draco shook his head and sighed. "He's using you Ronnie. He's going to use you and break your heart just like Mattheo. And this time I won't help you put yourself back together again." he said. Then he walked off. My brother is a really good actor but not that good. That was real. Some of it at least. Daddy issues, he's one to talk.

I hugged Harry and cried. "He hates me," I whispered. "No he doesn't. You're his twin sister. He can't hate you." he said. I nodded.

I looked at him nervously. "What he said- about you using me for information or just a quick fuck- that's not true right?" I asked. He smiled. "No. You are worth far more than you believe. I don't think you realize it. How amazing you are..." he said. I smiled and he leaned in and kissed me. Then he pulled me in his arms. When I opened my eyes, I saw Mattheo standing in the distance with his arms crossed and a look of fury on his face.
There's no way that's an act either.