The Abuser

Pumps and Trainers

"Love is not lust. The two are poles apart. Love liberates while lust binds."

- Swami Narayanananda

....Draco's POV...

I shift on the couch, narrowing my grey eyes at Blaise Zabini. I know that Zabini had had a "thing" with DeLuce last summer, and if I'm successfully going to destroy every chance of a date that she has, I had better start with the obvious. I absolutely cannot believe that she turned me down! There's no reason in the world—she just must really hate me.

"So, Zabini. Have you got yourself a witch for the ball?" I ask casually.

Zabini chuckles softly. "Not yet. I've been asked several times. That's all part of the burden of good looks." He flexes his tanned biceps and I fight back a sudden wave of disgust and jealousy. "I've turned 'em all down, though. I've got a special witch in mind, you probably know her. That Hazel DeLuce, mate, she's hard to miss. Even harder to get! Now that she's single, though, I figure that she'll have no reason to turn me down, even if we just go as friends."

I make my best sympathetic noise and shake my head slightly. "Single? Oh, mate! You must not have heard, I'm so sorry! She's going with a 7th year from Dumstrang. He asked her just a couple of days ago. I saw them snogging in the hallways myself. Tough luck, hope you find someone else!" I hop lightly from the couch and hurry up the stairs to the boys dormitories before Zabini can get to inquisitive.

Score! Sorry DeLuce, but when I make promises, I intend to keep them.

....DeLuce's POV....

"Hey, beautiful! So, who is the lucky man who'll be wearing you on his arm in a few weeks?" Fred and George run up behind me, tossing their arms over my shoulders.

I blush and look at my knees. "More like lucky nobody." I sigh. "I haven't got a date. No one's even asked me! Maybe I shouldn't have turned Malfoy down..."

"What's this I hear about a certain Mr. Malfoy?" George ruffles my hair affectionately.

"Nothing." I say softly.

Fred gives me a tender hug. "Love, you are the most beautiful girl in Slytherin, one of the best in the school! There's absolutely no reason for someone to not ask you out. Just wait, they'll come. I bet half the boys in the school have considered you; they're just off trying to get the courage up to ask you."

Beautiful? Yeah, right. I know exactly why nobody's asked me—it's because I'm ugly and unpopular. I'm not even funny or clever! I have no redeeming qualities... and why would any boy want me if they could have someone like one of the Patils, or Cho Chang? I bite my lip and smile up at him in vague thanks.

"You know what?" George pitches in. "If we didn't already have dates to the ball, I'd ask you. Fred would too!" They both wink at me and I can't help but giggle. These two are really nice- it's undeniable. If they had asked me, I would not have hesitated to say yes. I don't entertain romantic feelings for the twins, but they are real sweethearts.

"Look, we've got to go stir up some trouble, but just remember this: even if no one asks you." Fred says firmly, "You've got to promise us that you will still go. A brave, lovely, amazing, witch like you doesn't need a boy to make sure she has a good time."

"Plus," George adds in a fake whisper, "I'll bet that there will be heaps of lonely guys there, just waiting for the perfect witch to stumble into their arms. So do you promise?"

I smile, albeit a bit gloomily. "Of course I do."

....Draco's POV....

I cock my head, trying to catch wafts of the animated conversation between Potter and Weasley.