Enchanted By The Thought

THIRTY SEVEN: TRUTH IS OUT

Be the change that you wish to see in the world

Beth laid on her bed, curled up, hugging her pillow to her chest. At least now you won't have to worry about hurting Seamus when you had to tell him your choice. She squeezed her eyes shut, her chest hurting. But now you're stuck between George and Draco. "Beth?" She heard Maggie's voice and lifted her head, quickly wiping away her tears. She winced when she accidentally brushed against her bruise. She heard Maggie's gasp. "What happened to you?" She asked and Beth knew she would have to tell. She couldn't hide it from them anymore. But she was scared. Wasn't there a way of telling the truth without telling the truth? "Beth?"

She sat up, avoiding her gaze. "Seamus." She answered quietly and fidgeted. "We got into a fight about something and he got mad."

"That fucking asshole." Maggie muttered and she was lifting Beth's face to hers, her eyes squinted as she examined the bruise. "What were you guys fighting about? You never fight, he's always protecting you."

"A-about Draco." She stuttered out and Maggie's eyebrows rose. "He was just suspicious about me, he thought I was meeting up with him again. You know, since I've been visiting Hagrid so much." She added quickly and Maggie stared at her suspiciously.

"Have you been meeting up with Draco again?" She answered slowly and Beth shook her head quickly. The door flew open and an enraged Kat appeared in the doorway.

"Who the fuck had the nerve to hit you?" Kat yelled and Beth flinched back, remembering Seamus's angry voice before he backhanded her.

"Seamus. They got into a fight." Maggie answered, sounding just as pissed. Beth felt terrible; they only knew half of it. And if they knew the real reason as to why they fought, she was certain they would abandon her too.

Kat puffed up like a blowfish. "Where is he? Where's the fucker?" Kat whirled on her heel and left the room, leaving a cloud of dust behind her. "Seamus Finnegan!" She heard Kat's shout and she sent Maggie a look.

"I'll find her." Maggie assured and left the room as well. Beth sighed, closing her eyes. She wished George were here; he would know what to do. She stood and walked over to write a letter.

George,

I've done something terrible and I'm sure you will hate me for it as well but I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

Elizabeth

She left her dorm room, looking for her friends who had mysteriously disappeared. She closed her eyes, wishing that she were far from here. But she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself. Sooner or later, she would be forced to choose. And that was okay with her because she knew, deep down, who she would choose. She was just too chicken to admit it to herself yet.

Draco

Pansy came into the room, her eyes wide. "Kat's here for you." She told Draco, looking worried. "She has something to tell you. And she told me to tell you that she knows."

His stomach flipped and he stood up from lounging on the couch. Blaise joined him, drawn by Kat's name. He knew how bipolar the two were; he hoped that he and Beth weren't like them. But he knew that his relationship mirrored Blaise's. He stepped outside of the common rooms, seeing Maggie and Kat. "Hey-" he started but she slapped him, hard. He was too surprised to react.

"How dare you have the nerve to beg for her back. I told you to stay away from her, Draco. I warned you. She's not one of your fuck toys that you've collected." Kat raged, batting Blaise's soothing hand away. "I've seen what you can do to her. You're a drug to her, you know that? A drug. And she's so hooked on you she doesn't see how much she's changed since she's fallen for you. Haven't you noticed it? How she can barely smile unless you're around her? How she gravitates towards you without thought? Just like all the others."

Draco's eyes slid to Maggie, who was staring at him with a hard expression. He saw no love there; but he remembered when he had. He remembered their relationship. He'd cared for her, truly, but he didn't want to be with her for the rest of his life. Not like he did with Beth. Maggie was grouped with the 'others' that Kat had snapped about. He'd taken Maggie's virginity, just like he'd taken Beth's. He felt sick to his stomach. "She's not like the others." He answered hoarsely.

"Bullshit." Maggie finally spoke up, her eyes blazing. "Your relationship destroys everything around it, Draco." His heart skipped a beat when she said his name and he cursed himself for it. It had been a long time since she'd even looked at him, let alone said his name. "She's exactly like the others. You keep her in the dark, depriving her of the sunlight she needs. She's grown to depend on you for that light. And it's a wretched thing for you to do. She's completely to your control. She refused to tell us about you, even thought Seamus hit her when he caught you two together. Because she was more worried about your fucking reputation!"

Draco flinched back as if she'd hit him. "When are you going to realize that she deserves better than you?" Kat added, glaring at him. "You keep treating her like shit. She's so confused about what love actually is and you're taking advantage of her."

He opened his mouth to defend himself but Maggie beat him to it. "Before you say you love her, tell us this. Would you take her home to introduce her to your parents? As your girlfriend? Would you let everyone know that you love her?" She asked and his mouth closed.

Would he? Kat smiled sadly. "Right there, there's your answer. You shouldn't have to think about it, Draco. Certainly not when it comes to her. Not when it comes to those choices. You really are fucked up. Stay away from Beth, Draco. This is your last warning. Or I'll tell her, for her own good."

The two friends left him there, shocked and angry. Because he knew they were right.