Enchanted By The Thought

SEVETEEN: WHY THE CHANGE OF HEART?

The worst thing about being lied to is knowing you weren't worth the truth.

Elizabeth and Maggie tagged along after the Golden Trio, whispering to each other about the pros and cons about Draco's proposal. Maggie had been suspicious at first, wondering why Draco had so quickly changed his mind. "What's in it for him?" She asked Beth, both of them periodically checking to make sure the other three wouldn't overhear.

Beth chewed her cheek, shivering at the cold air. "Well, I don't know. I just assumed he didn't want me mad at him. He's so much more different than I thought he was, Maggie. He actually has feelings." Beth answered and they both laughed at the statement.

"Who has feelings?" Harry's voice sounded right behind them and the two girls whirled around, their eyes wide. Somehow, they'd gotten in front of the trio and Hermione was staring at them suspiciously. Beth's mind blanked and she dumbly glanced over at Maggie, who looked just as clueless.

"Colin." Maggie blurted out and looked at Beth for help. The lightbulb went off and she nodded in agreement, turning back around. She could feel the suspicion boiling in her brother and knew that he was growing aware to what she was doing. It was only a matter of time before he figured out about her friendship with Draco. She wondered if Hermione and Ron would be mad. She could see where Hermione was coming from, considering that Draco had bullied her for the longest time. Ron would just side with his friends because they were friends. And her brother's obsession with the fact that Draco was a deatheater would not help her case at all.

Harry followed closely behind them and Maggie complained loudly about the cold air. They shot looks to each other, knowing that the conversation would have to wait when her nosey brother was gone. They all reached The Three Broomsticks and sat down, warming themselves up. Maggie and Beth attempted to sit next to each other but at a glance from Harry, Hermione squeezed her way between them, apologizing profoundly at the glares they gave her.

Harry tried to get Beth to talk to him but she plainly ignored him, picking at the table angrily. He couldn't just pop up and decide that he suddenly cared about her. "Liz." She heard Harry whisper and she looked up at him, letting her annoyance be shown on her face. "I've heard... some things..." He started hesitantly and her heart jumped to her throat. He knew. She could feel his revulsion. "About you and Malfoy..." the revulsion grew and she felt bile rise in her throat. "Are they true?"

She could feel the other three looking at her and she closed her eyes. "We're just friends, Harry." She mumbled and she felt the anger in him rise. "It shouldn't bother you at all, big brother. You're too caught up in your own problems to remember that you have a twin who can feel everything that you do." She snapped, bristling as her own anger was amplified by his.

Harry's eyes darkened in his anger. "He's a death eater, Liz. His aunt killed Sirius." He hissed, his jaw working. She felt pain ripple through her as she remembered her godfather. She rose to her feet at the same time he did and they stood there, facing off. The tension between them crackled and she turned around, stalking out of the pub. Why was she always made into the bad guy? How did he always manage to twist the scene around to make him look like the victim?

Maggie rushed after her and together, they went to a different shop. Beth needed to cool herself down before she exploded. "He had no right." Maggie told her softly and Beth nodded once, closing her eyes.

"Beth!" She heard Draco's voice and her head turned instinctively. She saw Draco with his group of friends and they were all watching her. Draco jogged over to her, smiling. "Hey, friend." He greeted and slung an arm around her shoulder, meeting Maggie's shocked expression. "Maggie, isn't it?" He added and Maggie nodded slowly, looking at Beth.