'Tell Me Pretty Lies,' by moongirlel

Chapter 67: The Scars Riddled With Guilt

[Colors - Halsey]

༺ 𓆙 ༻
Tue. 10th January 1995 - 1:12pm...

"How much of our conversation did you overhear?" Draco asked me, once we were both out of earshot from the Potions' classroom.

"Enough." I state, crossing my arms as we walked through the desolate hallways.

He groaned, rolling his eyes. "Come on, Jane. Don't be like that—"

"Like what?" I stop, and so does he. "You hid all of those reasons from me, from our relationship. I was completely unaware your mother had a big say in this too. When were you going to tell me about that part of our swear, Draco?"

My fingers hit off his chest, "Why didn't you tell me? And why haven't you told me that—" I lower my voice before continuing, "That The Dark Lord is involved with you? Is he in your house?"

"Jane, it's much more complex than that. He's technically not human, and yes he's in my house, in involvement with my father. Not me. I didn't tell you; Because, I couldn't."

"You couldn't? Or you didn't want to? How does that not count as lying? Why isn't your arm bleeding again? I don't understand?"

"Because we didn't swear to that."

"I was unaware the rules had changed?" I laugh in disbelief, waving my arms around as I raise my volume. "How long have you been hiding this from me?"

"None of the rules have changed." He clicked his tongue, "You said it yourself months ago: I didn't lie to you if I never told you anything to begin with."

A cold chill ran over my body, my mouth slightly hung open as I processed his words.

The feeling turned into a heated tension, and I felt my muscles tense up.

Draco lifts his hand, the moment his fingers graze mine, I slap his hand away. "Jane."

"You knew exactly what you were doing that night. Didn't you?"

"Listen to me—"

"Didn't you?"

"Fine! Yeah, I did. And I did it to protect us. To protect you." Draco paused to swallow hard, his eyes flickered between mine. "To protect me."

"Why didn't you tell me? You can trust me."

"You know I don't do well with trust."

"And you know that I don't deserve to be talked about behind my back. Or have people planning things that I'd no longer have control over, either. I don't want my boyfriend hiding these pieces of important information from me, or telling me white-lies and half-truths!"

Pain tightened around my heart; my breathing became heavier.

We stood in silence for what felt like ages — His eyes softened, and he reached out to take my hands. This time, I let him.

"...You're right. Yeah, you don't deserve that. You don't deserve any of this. And, I don't deserve you. But, Malfoy's are selfish. I'm selfish." Caressing my cheek lightly with the back of his hand, he steps closer to me.