Enchanted By The Thought

SIX: Promise A Promise That's Actually A Threat

You were red. You liked me because I was blue. You touched me and I became a lilac sky. And you decided that purple just wasn't for you.

Beth wanted to yell at Pixie and curse at her for being so idiotic to hook up with a git like Malfoy. But something held her back. She couldn't help the small twinge of jealousy that hit her like a truck. Why her? What was so special about her? Beth's hands clenched and she felt her nails dig into her skin. She did not understand this new emotion but all she knew was she wanted to stomp over and rip her away from him.

This was good blackmail though. Unable to help herself, Beth banished her strange thoughts and smirked before leaving the safety of the classroom. She attempted to make herself look confident and unafraid. Malfoy immediately pulled farther away from Pixie, glaring at Beth challengingly. She crossed her arms, smugness radiating from her smile. "Watching me, Potter? See something you like?" Malfoy sneered but his tone was tinged with a hint of fear. If there was something Beth had learned about Malfoy, it was he treasured his reputation. Above all, his reputation was his crown.

"There's no reason to jeer at me." Beth answered, allowing her position to show she was relaxed. "What I just saw could possibly ruin your reputation, correct?" She picked at her fingers, looking uninterested. But she was fully aware of what was happening.

Just as Beth had guessed, his cold glare looked panicked. She had broken through his tough exterior. "Tell anyone and I'll-" he began but Beth cut him off before he could finish, raising her finger in the air to silence him. Surprisingly, he fell silent.

"You'll do what exactly?" Beth said pleasantly, tilting her head to the side to gaze at him. Pixie looked a little frightened as she glanced back and forth between Malfoy and Beth. "Try to ruin the Girl Who Lived? Oh please try. You cannot touch me. Hate to break it to you, but I'm more important than you." Beth pointed out; it was true. She hated using her label but Malfoy had gone too far. Going after her brother? Hell no. He was good as dead.

"I will ruin you. I can assure you that." Malfoy snarled, advancing towards Beth. Pixie gave the two one last look before she bolted, obviously not wanting to be dragged into the brewing fight. "Tell anyone and I will ruin you." He repeated but now he was right in front of her, his hands on both sides of her head. Beth hadn't noticed that she had been backing away and he now had her backed against the wall. Their faces were inches apart and she could feel his cool breath brushing against her cheeks. Her heart had began to thump loudly again and she desperately tried to focus.

Malfoy's reputation consisted of shagging girls within his own house. "Purebloods only." He'd bragged once. "No mudbloods and blood traitors." Of course, Beth now knew who Pixie was; a muggle born who also happened to be a Ravenclaw. Not that it was bad to her but to Malfoy, it would crumble his carefully put together reputation. So if Beth was correct, he would want to save it.

Beth stared boldly up at him, refusing to back down. His grey eyes were burning with sharp intensity. "I'll make you a proposition. You apologize to my brother for stomping on his face and the secret stays between us." She shrugged nonchalantly and pretended to pick something off his robes. Secretly, she was terrified that she was stepping too far but she couldn't back down now. Her palms grew sweaty at how close Malfoy was and she suddenly had the urge to kiss him but she denied that feeling. She was in the middle of a bargain. His smoldering grey eyes were staring directly at her and he looked pissed. "Oh and also, bully any of my friends and it just... might... slip!" Beth added venomously in a low, menacing tone. "So when Harry tells me that you have apologized, then I will forget what I just saw. You have one day."

His arms dropped and he stepped back, the fury gone from his eyes. Instead, he looked utterly surprised. Beth dipped her head before she casually walked away from him in the direction Pixie had run. She left him in the hall in a state of astonishment. She mentally high fived herself. Progress of stepping out of Harry's shadow. But she still couldn't shake the feelings he had stirred up inside of her. What was wrong with her?