Draco

"Oh, so after all this time of you pushing me away from you," Pansy snapped with arms folded, "you decide to come running back after your stupid little hook up with that mudblood didn't work out!" Her black bob wobbled as she sneered, and the corsage on her wrist lost a rose petal.

I rolled my eyes as I stuck my hand into my pocket, wrapping my fingers around my wand's handle. I wasn't going to use it, of course - unless, of course, she used hers first. I had already noticed the slender outline from the outside of her left calf. Had she tucked it into her shoe, or had she taped it to her leg?

"Well, Pansy, when you weren't out breaking world record on how many boys you've snogged, maybe I might have taken a bit more serious interest in you!" I growled. "We had agreed to go steady, that this year was going to be the year we were going to be serious with each other! And besides, this wasn't a hook up."

She threw up her arms as she laughed mockingly. "Ha! You act like I'm an idiot, Draco Malfoy! We're only fourteen! You never paid me any attention! All you did was crack jokes with your buddies before class, and then after you would work like a madman trying to beat Granger in her studies! That's how you get off!"

"No I do not!" I snapped haughtily.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "Really? You paid her so much attention - way more than you would pay me! 'Granger and Potter' this, 'Granger and Potter' that, 'I saw Weasley and Granger studying in the library today'!" Her shiny green dress shimmered as she cocked her hip to the side. "And now you brought her here to try and make me jealous, but really, everyone knows that you are the jealous one. You ruined your reputation as a pureblood, and yet I only made myself look better by coming with someone of respectable values." Pansy lifted her chin and smirked.

My eyes narrowed. "You forget, Dumbass, that she was with him before you were."

I watched as she glanced over my shoulder, which caused a ripple in her confident facade. "I guess neither of us have to worry anymore about our reputations being damaged. The lucky couple have gone to dance now."

I turned around on the balls of my feet, and for a moment, my heart dropped. Pansy was right. Viktor Krum and Granger had went together hand-in-hand over to the crowd of rowdy dancing teenagers as the beat pulsed from the stage. She seemed happy for the first time tonight. She was smiling as she twisted and spun with him, and her curls bounced frantically. Her blue dress shimmered as Krum's red fur cape flounced like a broken ostrich wing. He, too, was smiling.

Why was he so smiley? Congratulations, Bulgarian-arse - your date got back with you after you broke her heart. You must be so special.

"I guess someone didn't expect his plan to actually work."

I turned back around. If looks could kill, I hoped mine would have slit her pale throat.

"You didn't actually think that we didn't notice, did you?" Pansy shrugged. "You were practically stalking us- Hey, where do you think you're going?!"

I pushed my way through the crowd away from her, squeezing past couples who were sipping cheap punch and giggling profusely. In my peripheral vision, I saw someone coming towards me, but I picked up my pace and made my way towards the foyer.

Why was I suddenly so jealous? This was our plan from the beginning - hell, I fucking made the plan! I just wanted to piss Pansy off and embarrass Granger at the same time! For fucks sake, I was halfway rooting for Viktor Krum in the Triwizard Tournament just so that I could see Harry Potter lose! I had just brought Granger here to dance and get our dates back because... Well, because I didn't want to come alone, and she was available. She was there in the foyer, and for some reason my gut was screaming that it wasn't by circumstance that we were there at the exact time for the exact reason.

I didn't know I would actually find her (as much as I hate to admit it) interesting. Granger wasn't overly boastful nor did she demand the attention of all of her peers like Pansy did. She was beautiful in her ghastly blue dress and overly-gelled hair. I knew that every feeling I was suppressing was completely against my parents wishes for me, but I couldn't help it. I thought she was pretty, and the way I held her when we danced - even if we were only doing it to spy on our exes -, I couldn't help but feeling a little... different. I couldn't place my finger on it, but for some reason, she had changed.

A hand clapped on my shoulder, pushing me towards the exit as they hustled beside me. When I turned to shove them away, the hand clamped down harder, and I froze. Severus Snape stood beside me, with his black robes billowing as he lead me out of the hall. The hairs on my neck began to rise as we passed through the gigantic threshold.

Professor Snape turned a corner before snatching me around to face him, a snarl tugging at his lips as his shallow face was in a permanent frown. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Now I'm going to my dormitory." I pulled my arm out of his grip.

"You know what I am referring to - you bringing Miss Granger as your date, waltzing with her in plain view of every student at Hogwarts. Have you gone mad? Did you forget who your parents work for?"

I rolled my eyes. "He hasn't been around in years, and you better not say a word about this to my father or I'll tell him that you assaulted me!" I point to my shoulder aggressively with a sneer. Now it was my professors turn to scoff.

"Teaching you a lesson about the sacredness of pure blood is something I think your family especially would approve of. I saw the way you looked at her as you danced. Do remember that she doesn't hold you to the same standard." He leaned down to be eye level on me, allowing me a better view of his greasy black hair and hawk face. "Be careful, Mr. Malfoy. Ask yourself if Miss Parkinson is worth your...arrangement."

With that, he stretched out to his full height and lifted his chin, casting a disapproving look of caution before turning theatrically on his heels to return to the party. I stood in that same spot for a moment, pondering what Snape had said. He was right about my parents disapproval (if they ever found out) as well as what these actions might caught if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returns like Potter claims once a year.

I mean...

I guess he was right. Even though I guess what I felt while dancing was feelings towards Granger, Snape was correct when saying that she didn't return the feelings. She's Potter's best friend, and it's no secret about what my parents have allegedly done. Why should she have any interest in me - the son of a Death Eater and the arc nemesis of her best friend?

She shouldn't, I told myself as I tugged at the tight collar around my neck, loosening the bow tie slightly. You were just a stepping stone so that she could get that brute back.

I walked back over to the threshold and watched as the throng of teens fluttered about gaily. It only took me a quick moment to find the people I was looking for: Pansy was snaking her way back across the dance floor to try and steal Krum away from Hermione, who was giggling as she danced with him. He spun her around like a ballerina, and she seemed to glow. I saw the Weasley twins dancing with their dates, and Ron and Harry seemed to be sulking at a table alone. It seems their dates have ditched them, too.

If I wasn't a pariah to them, I might have joined them, but frankly, I was in no mood to deal with Ron.

I watched from a distance as Pansy was mere feet away, coming up slowly like a lion stalking a gazelle. I knew that I had time to warn Hermione that something awful was bound to happen, or even better stop Pansy before she could do anything to Krum or Hermione.

But instead, I couldn't bring myself to go back inside.

Intentional or not, Hermione had hurt me. Normally I blocked off my emotions as to not get overly attached or caring, but tonight, for once, I decided to let loose. Why not? It was just a dance with a girl I disliked in order to win back the love and admiration of my ex-girlfriend. Except...

Except everything turned out wrong for me. Hermione bailed when her night turned out to be a success, and never turned back around to see if everything was okay with me and Pansy. Part of me wanted to storm back in and yell about how selfish she was being, and how technically we had come in here together as a team. You can't win in Quidditch without at least a Keeper and a Chaser, and she had left me out on the field alone. The other part of me demanded that I sulk away and let her face her own problems. Congrats, you won back a cheating arse. Are you happy with yourself?

The latter won out. I turned away from the door, sealing off my emotions, and made my way towards the descending stone steps that lead to the Slytherin commonroom.

Who needed any of them anyways? It's my own damn fault that I'm hurt and depressed. I trusted too easy, and I broke one of the many rules I had set for myself. Besides, Malfoy's didn't have time to be depressed.

Suck it up, Draco, my father's voice echoed in my head. Men don't allow themselves to get down like children.