Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 41

The third task is nearing us, and the usual excitement is upon us once again. Today shall be the last task to be completed of the whole tournament, and I, like so many others, am cheering for Harry. He has not been voicing his nervousness, but I know him well enough to know that it is there. I have to admit that I am nervous for him, but Harry has my full confidence.

Draco has hardly spoken to me since the last task. For a period of time, I began to feel like he wished we were broken up. I didn't mean to make him angry when I kissed Harry, that's not my style, and he knows that I don't view Harry as anything more than a friend. Word is that he has been having several problems as well with Ingrid King, which could well be the cause of his feeling glum. Nevertheless, I'm still angry that he won't speak to me entirely, and I am quick this morning in attempting to talk to him.

I stand from the Gryffindor table and make my way over to the Slytherin one, rudely gesturing to any Slytherins which glare at me. I tap Draco on the shoulder, and he turns round to face me. 'Could I talk to you . . . alone?' I mutter. Draco nods and stands from the table and follows me out of the Great Hall, up a few flights of moving stairs and into an empty classroom. 'What's going on with you recently?' I ask him, sitting on a desk. Draco shrugs. 'Speak to me, Draco. You won't talk anymore . . . did I do something wrong?'
'Let's think about that,' Draco scoffs, 'it's not like you kissed Potter right in front of me.'
'As a friendly gesture! I don't think anything more of Harry and if I did I wouldn't be seeing you!' I shout, suddenly fuming. I try to calm down but I can't - Draco loves seeing me mad, and I hate giving him the satisfaction.

'Anyways, I heard about things with Ingrid.'
'What about them?' Draco asks sharply, looking up at me. Suddenly, he looks quite worried. 'I know you two haven't been talking much since she started to see George.' The night Ingrid and George went to the Yule Ball together was when George kissed Ingrid. A few days later and they were a couple. Draco didn't take it too well. 'It's non of your business.' Draco spits.
'I know that, but I'm looking out for you. If you need the space, just say it. And if you want to break up with me because you don't want to be with me anymore then say it, because Draco, you're killing me here.'
'Don't even mention the Weasley - King stuff, okay?'
'Fair enough. Your move. Are we - are we done?' This isn't happening.
'I don't want to -'
'You've sure as hell been acting like it!' I bellow, trying to calm myself. Draco stands there, clearly enjoying winding me up.

'My point is, I can't keep playing the game like this. I need you to be honest. If you don't want us to be together, say it so I can deal with it sooner rather than later. If you want to, I don't know, take a break then tell me. I generally can't have a relationship in which my boyfriend won't even talk to me. Is that it, then?' I finish, folding my arms. Draco doesn't say anything, just stands there, and I run my hands over my face. 'Suit yourself. Get back to me soon.' I storm from the classroom and tear my way along the hall, holding back my tears. When I reach the girl's bathrooms, the out of order ones, that is, I burst in through the door and lock myself in a cubicle, sobbing. 'Who's that?' I hear Myrtle call, and she flies into my cubicle without warning. 'Oh, it's you. How are you, Alyssia?'
'How do I look?'
'Upset.' Myrtle replies, picking at her nails.
'Well, you got that much right.'

'Why?' Myrtle asks, tilting her head.
'Be-because I think my boyfriend might have just broken up with me. We've b-been seeing each other f-for almost two years.' I wail, my tears unable to stop.
'Ugh! Don't waste your time with boys, they're pointless!' Myrtle gags. I wipe my eyes and stand up straight. 'Thank you, Myrtle.'
'If you see Harry, tell him I say hi.' She giggles in response.

I leave for the Great Hall and find Harry, Ron and Hermione seated with Ginny, Fred and George, who is talking to Ingrid. I try to act like nothing is wrong as I approach the bench and sit down, sniffling. 'Is something wrong?' Hermione asks.
'Uh-oh. What did he do this time?' Fred groans. I shoot him a look, my eyes filling with tears. Hermione is staring intently at me, and Harry and Ron are exchanging looks. Even George and Ingrid turn to look at me. Hermione's hands go to her face. 'Did he -?' My robes start to collect little puddles of my tears as Hermione speaks. 'I - I'm not sure. Pretty much, y-yeah. I - I think so.' Hermione throws her arms around me and lets me cry into her robes silently, the feeling that Draco might have cut us off and left me hanging with no explanation settling over me.