Determination| 𝐴 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛 4, 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 2)

Chapter Thirteen | Be Alright

Be Alright, by Dean Lewis

Once Draco had made his way back to his dorms, he approached Theo and spoke under his breath. "Astronomy Tower." Theo nodded and Draco walked in the opposite direction, trying not to draw any of the other Slytherin's attention. But unfortunately, as he was leaving the Slytherin common room, he was stopped by Pansy Parkinson. She had something in her hands, hidden behind her back and a strange expression on her face. Draco let out an exasperated sigh. "Yes Pansy?"

Her expression hardened. "You still love her, don't you? The mudblood?"

This caught Draco off guard. Pansy had always denied that he loved Hermione in the past. She thought that if she ignored it, it would go away. But it never did, and she chose to remain ignorant. Still, Draco couldn't help but realize that now that he and Hermione were broken up, Pansy was actually acknowledging that he had feelings for  someone other than her. Draco was somewhat upset that she had referred to Hermione as a mudblood, but he couldn't expect any better of her. That's how she was raised after all. Draco had once been oblivious to the truth too, so he couldn't blame Pansy for something he was guilty of himself.

   Still, Draco raised an eyebrow and tried to look indifferent. "Did you not see what happened last year? We're over. It doesn't matter anymore." Draco said flatly. "Besides, what does it matter to you?"

"You're not answering my question, Draco." Pansy said while crossing her arms, whatever was in her hands earlier, no longer there.

Draco was taken aback slightly. Since when was Pansy Parkinson so straightforward? What happened to her baby talk? What happened to her calling him Draky-Poo? It was all very sudden and unlike her. Draco raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms too. "What do you want me to say, Pans? That I'm still madly in love with her? That I can't live without her? That I'm heartbroken over what happened even though it was my own damn fault?" He asked sarcastically, while waving his hands around dramatically.

   Pansy didn't look offended or upset my his response which caught him off guard once again. She simply titled her head and sighed. "You act so indifferent towards me. Like I'm some nuisance who isn't worth your time. Everyone treats me like I'm stupid, yet I know more than any of you think I do." She reached into her bag and pulled out a book. Draco froze when he saw what the title was. He reached out to snatch it but she pulled it away from his grasp. "How very interesting that you carry her book around even after you 'broke her heart'." Pansy said, opening the book and pointing to the inscription. She closed the book with a loud snap. "I found it in the Great Hall. It fell out of your school bag during supper."

Worried that she was going to destroy the book, Draco lunged for it. But once more, she pulled it away from his reach. "I'm not as dumb as everybody thinks, Draco. And I'm certainly smarter than you give me credit for." Draco clenched his fist and grit his teeth. "Oh, and by the way..." Pansy smiled and leaned forward, close enough that could feel her warm breath on his nose. "I know that saving that little girl isn't the only thing you did the night of the Quidditch World Cup. I was there. I saw what you did with her."

   In just that moment, Draco's heart dropped. He was at a loss for words and couldn't think of a response. Fear gripped him by the throat as he swallowed. What would she do? Would she tell their fellow Slytherins? Or the Ministry? Or worse, his father? As the possibilities racked his brain, anger slowly rose in his chest and he sneered. After considering all his options, Draco sighed. He was going to have to comply to whatever her demands were. Draco took a deep breath, wondering what Pansy wanted from him. What was she going to make him do so that she wouldn't destroy the book or tell anyone about what happened that night? Or would she just destroy it and tell everyone regardless of what he had to offer her just to spite him? "What do you want, Pansy?"