Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Greg felt a shiver of revulsion run through his whole body, but forced himself
to smile, I like that one, too, Mil.

Only three more, she huffed and went back up the stairs.

Greg grimaced and crossed his arms moodily as he sat on the couch in the
Slytherin common room the Friday night before the ball. At dinner Millicent had
informed him that she wanted him to help her pick out her dress for the
Halloween ball because she hadn't figured out which gown to wear. He'd
acquiesced, figuring she meant a dress or two. But, as he sat waiting for her
to show him her twelfth ugly, shapeless dress he wondered how he'd gotten
there.

He liked her well enough and she was very funny when she wasn't being mean or
rude. But, he knew he wasn't in love with her. Not like his friends were with
their girlfriends. He was with her more out of a need to be with someone,
rather than alone. As a first girlfriend, he figured he couldn't have done much
better. She'd shown him things and allowed him to do things when they were
alone that he hadn't thought he'd ever be able to do.

But, in a strange way, he was still kind of lonely. Hermione and Draco were
hardly around anymore, as they preferred to spend time alone together talking
and studying. And, when they were with the group, everyone could tell they just
wanted to be alone, even though they protested. Whenever Pansy and Ron were
together they laughed and teased one another. The newness of their relationship
had not yet worn off and they reveled in just being together. They were both so
happy it was kind of sickening to watch sometimes.

And, Theo and Parvati had all kinds of shared jokes between them and whispered
together all the time about their future as they made plans. At least her
disastrous parents "meet-the-boyfriend" dinner the previous Sunday at one of
the caf's in Diagon Alley hadn't pulled them apart.

'That's an understatement, Greg sneered to himself as he thought back on that
evening.

To provide moral support everyone went
with them and sat at a nearby table. Parvati had been a nervous wreck and Theo,
in his panic at meeting her parents, had been almost as stiff as if he'd been
jinxed with a Petrificus Totalus.
Then, as Parvati had predicted, her father couldn't have cared less that Theo
came from a long history of purebloods. He hadn't even blown up when Theo"s
last name was finally mentioned, though he did sniff in derision and look away
from the young man. No, none of that had been the biggest problem. The large
Indian man had looked down his nose at Theo, forbidden his daughter to see him
again and stood to leave the table when it was confirmed that he was not of
Indian heritage.

Parvati had started to cry and Padma, Pansy, Hermione
and Ginny had all gone to her aid, as everyone else started yelling about
prejudices and young love. It was then that Greg had seen Blaise sitting at the
bar watching the proceedings. He then saw the expression on Blaise's face when Padmastarted to yell at her father in her sisters defense.

Daddy, stop! Why are you acting like this?! Can't you see what you're doing to
Vati? She loves him. And, Theo loves her. They're perfect for each other! But,
you're too blind to see it. You raised us to be fair, to give people a chance,
but what are you doing now? You don't know anything about him and you forbid
their relationship?! Why? Because he's a Nott? Because he's not Indian? That's not his fault. He didn't ask
to be born to his family! Is that all that matters to you? What
about your daughter's happiness?!

As the conversation continued, Greg kept his eyes trained on Blaise's face. He
saw the moment the conversation turned personal for his friend; when Blaise's
Adam's apple bobbed with his nervous swallowing. When Parvati's father had spit
that he'd rather his daughters end up with muggleborns
or squibs than someone like that who would sully their bloodlines! Greg had watched
Blaise's face mottle in anger. But, just as he stood and looked as if he was
going to join the fray, another look, one of dawning comprehension, replaced
the fury and he sank back down on the barstool; his eyes going to Hermione.