Being His Daughter

Back at the Manor

As we all proceeded to the Great Hall, I was merely drifting along mindlessly with everyone else, trying to tune out the same questions my friends had been asking me over and over again ever since the night of the third task. Even though I wanted to answer them because I felt like they had a right to know, I knew I couldn't...

"Shut it, will you?" Draco snapped at Theodore after he had asked me why I was mad at Potter for the fifth time.

"I just want to know!" Theodore said defensively. "I expect you know already, don't you, Malfoy?"

Draco scowled at Theodore and was about to give him a heated response when I grabbed onto his arm and shook my head. Then I looked over at Theodore and attempted a small smile. "I'll tell you later, alright?" I said to him.

Theodore's eyes brightened. "Really?" he enthused. "Oh, good. I thought you didn't trust me or something—"

"Well you trust me too, right?" Blaise interjected, squeezing between Theodore and I and swinging an arm around my shoulders. When I attempted to shrug him off, he tightened his grip. "I mean, I was the one you came to when Draco betrayed you—"

"I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING WITH POTTER!"

"Enough of your excuses, mate," Blaise said, holding up the hand that wasn't clutching me to him.

Draco was seething through his teeth as Jalen laughed quietly. Draco's malicious gaze flickered to her, but she simply raised one of her eyebrows challengingly and he directed his anger to shoving Blaise's arm off of me instead.

When we all entered the Great Hall, I immediately felt the difference of the atmosphere. Usually everyone was laughing and taking with their friends, but now there was a gloomy and depressing aura emitting from everyone, especially the Hufflepuff table. Even most of the Slytherins were just staring off into space, minus a few who really had no heart and were snickering quietly.

I tried to avoid looking at the staff table; I didn't want to see if Dumbledore was looking at me or not. I was sure I would either roll my eyes or scowl at him if he was, so I simply plopped down beside Draco. Airam and Jalen filled in on the other side of me while Blaise, Theodore, Crabbe, and Goyle took their seats in front of us.

To all of our surprise, Pansy marched right over to us and squeezed herself roughly onto the other side of Draco, leaning her head on his shoulder and huffing dramatically. We all stared at her strangely; she hadn't sat with us — or had even came near us —since the Yule Ball. Airam had told me that Pansy said it was because she was too busy with her new 'best friends', and even though I didn't think that was it, I didn't say anything.

When no one addressed Pansy's upset behavior, she huffed louder and more dramatic, her head still on Draco's shoulder as she pouted. She finally sat up and glared at all of us. "Well?" she shrilled loudly. "Aren't you all going to ask what's wrong?" She glared over at me. "I wouldn't tell you, of course, but anyone? Drakey Poo, don't you want to know what's wrong with me?"

Draco blinked at her. "No—"

"Well if you must know," Pansy cut in, whipping her short hair over her shoulder and sniffing. "Millicent and Tracey are both irritable morons."

"Well how else would you three have gotten along for so long?" I questioned, cocking my head to the side and smirking at her. My comment sent snickers around the table.

Pansy gasped loudly and pushed Draco backward in order to look at me better. "I said not you, which clearly means don't respond! Are you really that dumb? And for your information, it's obvious that I no longer get along with Millicent and Tracey, so ha! You're wrong, miss smarty pants!" She crossed her arms and sat back in her seat, a satisfied sneer on her face.