𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒

Chapter 19

Draco was glad to finally be heading upstairs for the privacy of his room. He had spent the remainder of the day with Harry, Ginny and Ron and was mentally exhausted. The two Weasley siblings had been giving him glaring looks since 'the incident', which he ignored for the most part. It was when Ron decided that he needed to continually make some kind of snide remark or another that finally wore on Draco's nerves. He couldn't even escape to the relative relaxing company of Fred and George as they had left to go back to their small apartment over their shop after lunch.

It had all started innocently enough. Everyone seemed to be getting along well until Draco had sat beside Harry...in the seat that Ginny had just vacated when she went to get something for everyone to snack on.

The Slytherin had just wanted to show Harry a card trick he had learned from George when he had been with the Vanner's, so had come over to sit beside the boy. The card trick was the main reason, but it wasn't the only basis for the move. He was also a tiny bit jealous of the attention that Ginny had been receiving from The-Boy-Who-Lived.

When the girl had returned, Draco had made no indication of vacating the coveted spot on the sofa, and Harry hadn't seemed to care as he didn't ask him to give Ginny her seat back, so he had just stayed put. That was when Ron started frowning, seeing as this slight had upset his sister. This was when the comments had begun.

At first Draco had parried insults back and forth with the red head, but this seemed to upset Harry so he had kept quiet, not wanting to make the brunette pick sides. Ron, however, didn't seem to have a clue and kept badgering and needling at him, seemingly getting worse when the Slytherin refused to rise to the bait any longer.

What had agitated Draco the most was when Ron had started going on and on about his father. How uncaring and manipulative the man was, and how some people, he wouldn't name any names, were just like him and wouldn't be changing anytime soon.

Harry had finally told Ron to give it a break, becoming irritated that his friend wasn't taking the many hints he had been giving to get him to either shut up or change the subject.

Draco had finally had enough when Ron had leaned over to his sister, when he knew Harry wouldn't hear, and whispered to her that Draco was such a bad person that his own father didn't even care for him. Even though the remark had been whispered between the two red headed siblings, Draco knew Ron had made sure that he would still hear it.

The comment had hurt, more than he thought it would have. He knew his father probably didn't love him, not like how he easily saw how Molly and Arthur loved their children. But to hear it put so bluntly made him feel that forgotten emptiness that he had always been able to hide behind his confidently arrogant, egotistical and cocky attitude.

Draco pretended that he hadn't overheard the commentary, and instead feigned fatigue, excusing himself from the large couch he had been sitting on and the game of cards that they had been playing.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked seeing the look of dismay on Draco's face as he stood to leave. "I'm just tired. I'm going to bed," Draco replied shortly and stalked out of the room trying hard to swallow the large lump that had formed in his throat. He'd be damned if he was going to cry in front of the 'Weasels'.

Draco closed his door and flopped onto the bed. He lay on his stomach, his arms embracing the pillow that his head was resting on, sniffing softly as tears stung his eyes. He had become so used to being accepted without question out in the muggle world that Ron and Ginny's distaste for him was hitting him hard and he had a sudden bout of home sickness for the small gypsy wagon and his muggle family.

Draco supposed he did deserve their hatred. He had never been pleasant to Ron and had ridiculed his family enough. Maybe this was just payback for that. It still didn't make him feel any better because, in truth, he really was sorry for what he had said and done in the past. He also hadn't meant to monopolize Harry, but the looks of adoration on Ginny's face had just irked Draco to the point that he just couldn't stand watching her around the dark haired boy any longer.