The Fire Within

The Apology

AN: Please enjoy this next part! 

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

"Okay, so the plan to get her back is to apologize?" Blaise asked.

"Yep," I said grinning.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Blaise exclaimed.

"Why? Granger likes people who are nice, thoughtful and caring. If I apologize that would show how nice I am. Then I'll give her the gift on Christmas and she will fall for me all over again!" I concluded. 

"You are daft if you think that that's going to work. For a Slytherin, you sure are acting like a...Hufflepuff," He scoffed.

"Don't you ever, call me a Hufflepuff!" I huffed as I plopped down next to him on the couch. "Do you have a better idea?" I asked grimly.

"Why yes, yes I do," He said, as a large smirk glistened across his face.

Two Days Before the Ball

"Your stupid plan didn't work Blaise!" I huffed at him. We both flopped down on the couch and he let out a sigh. "You said that I would have her as my date and girlfriend, at least TWO DAYS before the Ball. There are TWO DAYS before the Ball and she hasn't even had a proper conversation with me since...I don't even know when!" I completely exploded. I felt so defeated. No matter what I tried, she wouldn't give me the time of day anymore.

All my life, I had surrounded myself by these walls, trying to protect my emotional well-being. My father was not one to be affectionate, or allow emotions to be shown at all. I had been punished many times for not being as stoic as him, and had spent years trying to seem disinterested and emotionally unavailable. 

Granger was the first person who I allowed to break down my walls. I had fallen for her like Weasley had, like Viktor had, and like all of her friends who had gravitated towards her, because of her marvelous personality. But, I had been an arrogant jerk and walked away from her, from us. I know Blaise was just trying to help me, but this wasn't working. What could I do to make Granger even be my friend again?

"I got it!" Blaise suddenly yelled triumphantly. A couple kids looked at us and glared, before returning to their homework. "You are going to play hard to get!"

"But if she doesn't even look at me, how would that work?" I asked him, confused by his idea.

"Well, since you're trying to win her back, you talk to her everyday. But, if it was to suddenly stop, then she would start to miss that. But mate, if she doesn't like you anymore after what happened, you're going to have to let her go," he concluded.

"I know Blaise. Thanks for your idea. I will put that into action, first thing tomorrow. But what if it doesn't work?" I asked him.

"Then, I guess you guys are finished.

The Day before the Yule Ball:

"So what do you want to do for the potion. The mixing or cutting?" Granger asked me. I just shrugged.

"Dra-Malfoy?" She pushed,  sounding annoyed.

"I'll cut the ingredients I guess," I mumbled gathering up the items on the cutting board. I started chopping, scraping, and whacking the materials. I glanced and out of the corner of my eye, and saw Granger staring at me. I sighed, what could have been.

"Malfoy, can we talk?" She asked. Stopping her work to look at me.

"We are," I replied curtly. Focusing on the task at hand.