Chronophobia | Draco Malfoy

III ~ Furious Denial

Katherine stared, fury bubbling in her stomach. She glared across the room at the Slytherin table, her crystal blue eyes almost popping out of her head. Pansy Parkinson had her lips glued to Draco's and her hand were tangled in his hair.
"Kat. Kath. KATHERINE!"
She snapped her head around. "Yes, Mae?
"What is wrong with you?" she asked.
Katherine forced a smile. "Nothing is wrong. Why?"
"Were you looking at . . . Malfoy?!" she exclaimed.
Katherine immediately contradicted her. "No! No way, absolutely not!"
"You just said that three times," Mae mused. "That means you're lying."
She gave a pained laugh. "What? No. That's not true. I don't do that."
"You just did it again," Mae pointed out.
Katherine groaned. "Fine, I was looking at Malfoy and Parkinson. How gross is it that they're together!"
"They've been together for ages, Kat," Mae said slowly.
She widened her eyes. "I meant . . . I meant how gross it was that they're snogging right in front of everyone in the Great Hall. It's foul."
"Yeah, but you looked furious," she continued.
Katherine slammed her books down on the table. "Just leave it alone, okay?"
"O-Okay," she stammered. "Sorry."
Her features softened. "Sorry, Mae. I didn't mean to snap at you."
"That's okay," she responded softly.
Katherine gathered up her textbooks. "I think I'm going to go to the library to study with Callista and Hermione. See you later."
"Bye," she waved.
Pushing her chair in behind her, Katherine ran out of the Great Hall. As she went past the Slytherin table, she brushed angrily past Draco and Pansy, who pulled apart. Draco whipped his head around but Katherine didn't turn back to see his expression, which was one of pure horror.
"Katherine!" a voice called.
Katherine looked up and saw Draco running towards her. She immediately looked down, her expression clouding. She set her jaw in a tight clench.
"Kate, I'm so sorry. It isn't what it looks like."
Katherine looked down at her page cooly. "Oh no, it's fine."
"No, it's not," he apologised desperately. "I know you're just faking and I'm sorry."
Katherine kept her eyes on the paper. "No it's really fine. I mean, I would probably be sad and hurt . . . if I actually cared about you. But I don't, because you're a cruel, selfish, cocky, idiotic prat."
"Um . . ." he stammered. "I know that you really hate me right now, Kate. But you have to understand how sorry I am."
Katherine finally looked up furiously. "Being sorry doesn't make it better!"
"Listen!" he shouted. "You have no idea how much my father pressures me! I have to pretend to be with Pansy to make my father be proud of me!"
Katherine stood up angrily. "Okay. Whatever. I don't care."
"Kate–"
"Don't talk to me, Malfoy," she told him evenly, walking past him.
He tried to run after her. "No, Kate, you don't understand!"
"Leave it, Malfoy!"
Defeated, Draco left Katherine to walk back to the Gryffindor common room.
••••
"So, how's McLaggen?" Ron asked Hermione sourly.
She shot him a glare. "Completely fine. How's Lav-Lav?"
"Great!" he said, his voice rising to a shout. "Perfect!"
Callista stepped between them. "Guys, break it up! Hermione, you're better than this, you don't need to argue with him all the time. Ron, just shut up."
"Well said," Harry agreed, walking over and wrapping his arms around his girlfriend.
Alissa looked up from her book. "I agree with Calli."
"Fine," Ron muttered.
Sienna looked over at Katherine. "Hey, Kath. You seem particularly sour today."
"I'm fine," Katherine replied, eyes not leaving her book.
Rhianna watched her carefully. "Is it to do with Malfoy snogging that cow?"
"What?!" Katherine exclaimed. "No!"
Mae piped in. "They always stare at each other."
"That's what I said," Rhianna agreed.
Alissa surfaced from her book. "I thought something was going on."
"Tell us the truth, Kath," Callista begged.
Katherine sighed. "Fine. I've been in a secret relationship with Draco Malfoy for about two years now."
"Since fourth year?!" Rhianna exclaimed.
Mae stared. "Whoa. I had no idea!"
"Has it been like, serious?" Callista inquired.
Alissa sighed. "So cute."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sienna asked.
Katherine out her hands to her head. "Holy hell. Not tonight. I'm going to bed."
"Kathy, wait!" Rhianna called, but Katherine ignored her and collapsed into her bed.