A Harry Potter Fanfic

Chapter 22

---------- Chapter 22 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The footsteps get closer, and I yank the pillow from under my head and throw it over my face, trying to drown out the sound.

Then a hand closes in around my shoulder, and the stranger shakes me vigorously.

“Deidre! You must wake up!” she whispers.

I groggily sit up, blinking against the light floating in from the corridor.

“What’s going on Hermione?” I croak, trying my best to keep my eyes open.

“It’s Draco. He’s down stairs, shouting his head off at Pansy Parkinson,” she explains, trying to hide her smile.

Pansy? What is Pansy doing here?!

I kick off the blanket and hurtle down the stairs with Hermione on my tail.

“You are a vile creature Parkinson!” Draco’s voice drifts up towards me.

“So is your girlfriend!” Pansy hollers.

At the rate the two of them are screaming at each other, it’s only a matter of minutes before everyone comes down to check out what’s going on. Which means, it’s only a matter of time before Ron and Harry find out Draco is around. And that is one encounter I would be more than glad to avoid.

“Leave Deidre out of it!” Draco shouts, I can almost picture his livid face.

“When did you become a mudblood lover?!” Pansy retorts snarkily.

“You will not call her a mudblood!” Draco sounds almost deranged.

I can hear the slamming of the doors from the higher levels. A string of grumbles and mumbles seem to be approaching. Great! I just have to hope Harry and Ron are still asleep.

“What’s going on down there?” Harry asks, suddenly appearing behind me making me jump in shock.

“Fight. No big deal. We should head back to bed,” Hermione squeaks, her eyes darting from Harry to me.

“Who’s fighting?” Harry asks thickly.

“The truth is the truth, Draco! She is a mudblood! No better than the Granger girl!” Pansy yells.

“Malfoy is here?!” Harry demands, his eyebrows setting.

Great!

“Did Parkinson just insult Hermione?!” Ron demands, coming up from behind Harry.

Fantastic! Why did I even think I would be able to avoid this?!

“And yet, you will never even be half the witch Granger is!” Draco seethes, causing both Harry and Ron’s mouths to hang open in shock.

“Bloody hell! I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” Ron mumbles to himself, blinking.

“I don’t think so...and the other girl Parkinson meant...it’s you, isn’t it De?” Harry asks quietly.

Hermione nods her head in response to Harry since I’m fixed on listening to the conversation.

“Draco, be reasonable! You’ll be ostracised from all the other pure blood families! Is the mudblood worth all of that?” Pansy pleads, her voice dropping immediately.

And there’s silence. Oh my god! Is Draco considering her words?!

Hermione rubs soothing circles on my back as I try to keep the tears in. As I’m about to lose control, my ears suddenly perk up. “Pansy, that’s a stupid question! I would give up more than the company of pure bloods to be with her,” Draco admits quietly.

“And the fact that she would let you do that shows what a b*itch she really is,” Pansy says triumphantly.

I can’t stand it anymore. I hurtle down the remaining steps and run down the corridor to the dining area. Draco and Pansy stand facing each other, both of their faces blazing in anger. They stand separated by a long wooden table, both of them leaning over the table to scream at each other.

The moment I enter the room, both their heads snap up to stare at me. Pansy’s eyes get hooded and she grimaces. Draco assesses my distressed face before giving me a tight smile.

“Draco, if us being together would cost you so much...I don’t think I can do that to you,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

Pansy rolls her eyes at me and crosses her arms.

“De...” Draco whispers, his eyes questioning me.

“Deidre!” Hermione calls softly from behind me, her face full of concern for me.

I’m so lucky to have become her friend!

“Great! It’s a mudblood reunion,” Pansy murmurs condescendingly.

“Silencio!” Harry shouts, pointing his wand at Pansy.

Pansy stares at him in horror, lifting her hands to her mouth.

“Brilliant! Maybe now you will learn to watch your mouth!” Ron cheers, walking into the room.

“You will never be the witch Hermione is, and petty name calling doesn’t make you superior,” Ginny continues, leaning against the wall.

Draco’s eyes hood slightly and I know I’m not the only one who realised she only mentioned Hermione.

“De? Can we talk?” Draco asks quietly, causing all the heads to turn in his direction.

I nod my head, and he holds out his arm to lead me upstairs. I gingerly take his arm, painfully aware that Harry and Ron are glaring.

We get to the room and Draco closes the door behind us.

“Look Draco, I meant what I said. I don’t want to be the reason all the pure blooded families avoid you,” I mumble, deciding that it’s best to get this over with as fast as possible. Once it ended I could break down.

“Silly De,” he whispers, closing the gap between us. He cups my face and kisses me gently. Way too fast, he breaks away, his beautiful eyes unfathomable.

“I have something for you,” he whispers. “Close your eyes,” he instructs gently.

I swallow deeply and close my eyes. Draco lifts my hand up and slides a ring down my finger. I open my eyes in shock, staring at the pretty little plastic ring on my finger.

“Draco?” I ask quietly.

“I know it isn’t much. But do you know how difficult it is to convert wizarding money into muggle currency?” he asks, grinning.

“It’s beautiful. That isn’t what I meant...what is it for?” I ask him breathlessly.

“It’s embarrassing and all...but I heard that muggle guys would give their girlfriends a promise ring. And I thought it would be a nice gesture. I figure...maybe it would have been something you would have wanted to get...?” he murmurs quietly.

I smile at him and tip toe to kiss him.