Begin Again (George Weasley/Draco Malfoy)

Ten.

Before I knew it, it was October, and nearly Halloween. The contestants from the other schools for the tournament were going to be here very soon. By the time the end of the month came around, we found out that on Christmas day there was going to be what they called a Yule Ball. That was the perfect opportunity for Draco and I to go public. Absolutely perfect.
   
About a week before Halloween I brought this up to Draco while we were in the library. “You know, I was thinking, this Yule Ball would be perfect for us to go public but in a subtle way.”
   
“Oh, yeah, about that,” says Draco, not looking at me, but down at his books on the table, he seemed to have a grip on something that I didn’t. “I asked Pansy to go with me last night, and she said yes.”
   
“What?” I ask, taken aback.
   
“Well, come on, Adelaide, you didn’t expect to go together did you?” He asks, his tone casual. He obviously didn’t see the problem here. “Everyone would know about us, and right before the holidays like that. We can’t do that then. I’d rather you not be fighting with your friends on Christmas Day because of me.”
   
“What part of I don’t care, do you not understand, Draco?” I ask, my tone very serious with him. I was so hurt right now. “I have been patient and kind to you when all you have done is keep me a secret from everyone.”
   
“I told my parents about us, Adelaide,” he reminds me.
   
“Because they courased it out of you,” I remind him right back. “You can’t keep anything from them. You even told me that yourself. Draco, I’m sorry, I need some space from you while I calm down about this.” I stand up and I start to pack up my things. It takes me a minute, and Draco doesn’t even try to get me to stay. He’s really going to let me go right now. It was so unlike him. Usually, whenever I get angry or upset with him he tries to get me to stay.
   
I head out of the library, but I see Jude is here alone. So, instead of leaving, I sat with her at the table she was sitting at and I said, “Draco asked Pansy to go to the Yule Ball with him without talking about it with me first.”
   
“Oh my,” she says, her bright blue eyes on me. “I’m sorry Adelaide, what an arse.”
   
“I know he is,” I say, sighing. “He won’t go public with me, now matter how much I beg him. It’s been over a year now. You’d think that he would be ready by now. I was patient with him in the beginning but I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
   
“Maybe you need to think about your relationship with him,” she says, shrugging. “Maybe you need to reevaluate what you want from him, and he wants from you. If it doesn’t line up, maybe it’s time you move on. I know you love him, but he’s keeping you in the dark for a reason.”
   
“He is,” I say, nodding. He’s ashamed to be with me. A weak old Hufflepuff that is the daughter of a blood traitor and a werewolf. He’d be the laughing stock of the Wizarding World if he was public with me. A Malfoy, dating the daughter of a werewolf. It was despicable behavior. His father even commended him of his bravery of being with me, in front of my face, while I was staying with them. Maybe Draco Malfoy wasn’t the kind of person I should be with. I deserve much more than what he’s giving me. Anyone does. I just can’t believe it took me this long to realize it. I guess deep down I always knew.
   
I stood back up, and I proudly announce, “I’m going to break up with him.”
   
“You go girl,” urges Jude and I walk away from her back into the restricted section where I knew Draco still was. I placed my hands down in front of him loudly so he knew I was there.
   
“I’ve decided that I’m done waiting for you,” I tell him, keeping my voice as calm as I can. “If you don’t want to show me off to the world, and tell everyone you’re proud to have me by your side, then you don’t deserve me. I’m breaking up with you, Draco. Have fun at the ball with Pansy.”
   
I walk away from him again, and I can finally breathe. I was free. It felt good, but yet it didn’t. He didn’t even try to stop me, or come after me in any way. He just let me go. That was all I needed to know. He didn’t care. He got what he wanted from me, and I let him use me for so long. But not anymore. He was out of my life now, I was free and ready to take my power back from him.
   
I was starting to feel overwhelmed. My chest was starting to feel tight. My emotions were all over the place as I left the library. Then I was met by a literal cloud of Black smoke. I couldn't help it, it sent me over the edge, and I started crying. I was holding in everything and this prank broke me. I couldn't stop the tears once they had started. George Weasley started apologizing right away saying, "Oh Merlin, Adelaide, I'm so sorry. Don't cry. It was just a prank. A joke. I was testing out a product for the joke shop. Please don't cry."
   
I pull myself together enough to speak.
   
"It's not the prank," I assure him, wiping my eyes, "I'm sorry, George, I didn't mean to start crying."
   
"What's wrong, kid?" He asks, crouching down to look at me in the eyes, "Why are you so upset?"
   
"I don't want to talk about it," I say, looking past him and not at him.
   
"Okay fine, but I'm not leaving you until I make you laugh. I'm not letting you out of my sight until you're smiling again. Want me to dance for you? I promise you I'm dreadful."
   
That actually makes me chuckle. The thought of that was undoubtedly funny.
   
"You can tell me, you know," he assures me, his tone slightly serious, "I promise you I won't tell anyone anything. Not even Fred."