Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 44

During Potions next day, it becomes inevitable to deny the truth. Draco is definitely more than friends with the new girl. He fucking helps her cut up her ingredients, which makes my mood sour even more for our DADA lesson. Times like this, I hope I get paired with him so I can hex him. As we arrive at DADA, I stand with Hermione, my back to Draco, the both of us are already looking over an assignment that we have for Potions: two rolls of parchment on truth-telling potions. I hope to high heaven that I have a decent DADA lesson.

I couldn't be more wrong.

Umbridge is not teaching material. She gives each of us a copy of a textbook, which, as Hermione points out, has nothing in it about using defensive magic. Is the Ministry purposely training us not to use magic? We're not allowed our wands out, and the lesson proves to be like serving a detention. We have to write the text as a lesson, multiple times. When Harry voices his opinion, Umbridge snaps. 'Detention, Mr Potter!'
'So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord?'
'Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident -'
'It was murder, I saw it -'
'Enough!' Umbridge shrieks, and Harry goes silent. 'See you tonight, Mr Potter. My office.' Umbridge smiles, a sickly smile which makes me pull a face. Could my day honestly get any worse? Of course it could.

-*-

'Come on, Alyssia. You haven't eaten for over twenty four hours.' Hermione pleads, seeing my plate once again empty. 'I'm not hungry.' I shrug, collecting my bag. It's currently teatime in the Great Hall, and I'm still feeling beyond sick. 'I'm going to start this potions essay and get it out of the way. If you need me, I'll be in the library.' I sigh. Hermione grabs my robe and sits me down.
'If he's bothering you that much, confront him. You look like hell.'
'It's nothing.' I mumble back, trying to get out of her grip.
'It clearly is to you.' Hermione frowns, letting go of me.
'I'll see you guys later.' I mumble, getting up and walking off.

'There you are!' I hear Draco say, and I roll my eyes.
'Bit preoccupied, Draco.' I say, gesturing to the six textbooks all laid out across the table, the long roll of parchment which contains my essay so far sprawled out over the table. 'You've always got time for me.'
'Debatable.' I shrug, snapping the few textbooks shut and looking at a stunned Draco. 'Hermione told me you haven't been eating.'
'Oh, joy.' I laugh. 'Just brilliant.'
'What the fuck is wrong with you today?' Draco asks as I throw everything into my bag. 'Why don't you ask Ingrid and the get back to the new girl?' I hiss. Draco looks beyond confused as I get up and storm out of the library. 'What the fuck?' He says, turning me around.
'Ingrid told me everything.' I snap.
'What?'

I laugh bitterly, 'The new girl? You're flirting with her quite a bit, you see. It may shock you to know that girls get uncomfortable at this. I've seen it with my own eyes, and if my boyfriend is going to cheat on me then I'd rather he finished it now!' I shout. Draco looks simply gobsmacked.
'What are you talking about?'
'You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. Now, say it. Say we're through and call me a mudblood like all the other Slytherins, and, you'll leave me heartbroken but it's better than having to be jealous and have you flirt with someone else right in front of me.'
'You've got this all wrong -'
'Do I, now? Looks perfectly clear to me! Now, are you finishing it, are not?'
'No, I'm not. I wasn't flirting with her -'

'Tell that to her, tell that to Ingrid, and convince me you weren't.' I growl, and Draco walks forward, but I back up, laughing. 'I didn't ask for sympathy, Draco. I asked for you to make a decision.'
'Alyssia, you're being ridiculous -'
'I most certainly am not! Now, good day to you, Mr Malfoy.' And I turn and run down the corridors and to the Gryffindor common room, tearing up to my dorm, snapping the curtains shut around my bed and crying for a good hour.

'Woah, what happened to you?' Fred asks when he sees me.
'What do you mean?' I sniff. Ginny hands me a mirror, which I stare into, and I laugh at my appearance. My mascara has run all down my face, giving me panda eyes, and it's smudged around my eyes from wiping it. My foundation is streaky and racing off my face, and I've gone pale. 'I need chocolate - lots of it - a projector, a romantic movie, and enough tissues to drown in. Oh, and some alcohol.'
'Oh Merlin, what did he do?' George frowns.
'Ask your girlfriend.' I sniffle, looking around the common room, seeing my three best friends nearing. Hermione instantly hugs me, whilst Fred and George disappear.

'Can we please rip him limb from limb?' Harry begs, but I shake my head.
'No, you can not.' I frown, and Hermione gives them both a stern look.
'Why are you still with him? He's not good for you!' Ron grumbles, glancing at the portrait hole, through which Fred and George have returned with all my requirements, bar the alcohol. 'Accio Firewhisky!' I wave my wand and wait as the boys hand me the stuff. 'Thanks.'
'I'm going to find Ingrid.' George excuses himself as I take myself up to my dorm. The Firewhisky flies through the window, and I immediately uncork it, drowned in sorrow. Hermione enters the dorm and looks shocked. I'm drinking, I have the film projected on the wall, I'm sniffling into tissues and eating or throwing chocolates. 'Oh my God.' She murmurs, clearly astounded.

'Is it that bad?' I groan, hugging a pillow, and Hermione gives me a sad look, which causes me to feel even glummer. 'It's -'
'Don't lie.' I add. 'What is it, anyways?' I ask, knowing something is up. Hermione gives me a long look. 'You'll want to see this.' I stand up and cautiously dab under my eyes, before following her from the dorm. Harry and Ron are sitting on the couch in the common room, Harry reading something, Ron catching Hermione's eye. She sits down, taking the only seat, so I sit on the floor instead. She takes Harry's hand and shows me the back of it, where the words I must not tell lies are etched. Harry jerks away from her grip, but not quick enough for me to see the markings. I stare, gobsmacked, at Harry. 'You have to tell someone.'
'No, okay?' Harry shouts, clearly agitated. This does not improve my mood, and I glance at Hermione. 'Harry, you know what has happened today.'
'And it doesn't bother me.' He snaps. This day is the worst day I can ever remember at Hogwarts. Ever.