Rating: T
Pairing: Draco/Padma
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 507
Notes: This collection will be for the 100 pairing challenge. Each chapter will be a different pairing, and this collection will end when I get to 100 chapters. It should work that each story will be under 500 words.
100 Pairing Challenge
Daily Character Appreciation Challenge
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Jewel Day Challenge – Ruby - Bracelet: Write about a sacrifice.
Colors of the Rainbow Competition: Purple - Prompt 3 - Word Prompt: Gift
Terry watched Padma as she pushed a strand of her glorious hair behind her even more glorious ear as she read from a textbook.
He was watching her so closely that he saw the way she snuck furtive glances at a neighboring table. A table that housed one Draco Malfoy.
His heart clenched at the look of longing on his girlfriend's face. A look of longing that was directed at another guy. It hurt to know that she would rather be with someone else. And it hurt even more to know that she was denying her heart's true desire because she was afraid of hurting Terry. He never wanted to be the cause of any of Padma's pain.
Yet, he was this time, even though he knew he couldn't truly blame himself.
Terry took a deep breath. He knew he could be selfish; Padma would never break up with him because of everything they had been through together since they both started at Hogwarts. He could also be selfless and make a sacrifice.
He stared at Padma and watched her watching Malfoy. And he saw the way Malfoy looked at Padma, a look of longing as strong as the one she had.
And that sealed it for him. If it had been one-sided, Terry would have kept his mouth shut. After all, Padma would have only gotten her heart broken by the blond if he hadn't been interested in her. He wanted her, though. The way he was looking at her was the way Terry looked at her. And knowing he was standing in the way of two people getting together didn't sit right in Terry's gut.
So, he braced himself to do the hardest thing he ever had to do. "Padma," he quietly said.
She looked startled and guiltily tore her gaze away from Draco to look at Terry. "What is it, Ter?"
He thought about what to say but decided to simply come right out with it. "You should go be with him."
To her credit, Padma didn't play dumb. "Terry, I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "I won't lie. I wish it was different; I wish you felt about me the way I feel about you. But you don't. You want Malfoy, and I can't lie to myself for a mockery of happiness when I know it's making you miserable. I want you to be happy, even if it has to be with someone else."
She grabbed his hand. "You're a good man, Terry, and you'll get together with an amazing girl, and she'll be the luckiest girl in the world to have you."
He forced a smile on his face. "I hope you're right."
She got up from the table and went to Malfoy's table. They talked for a moment, and then she sat down right next to him, and they clasped hands as they stared into each other's eyes. And Terry knew she was gone for good, into the arms of the Slytherin. Hopefully Malfoy would treat her the way she deserved.