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Note: So glad you loved the last chapter SiobanPhelps. Spoiler: She doesn't die! lol. Here's another chapter to those reading or those just getting into. Thanks for the continued support toward all/any of my stories. =)
YEAR 3 (Draco Malfoy)We Are Family
"I'm glad things are good with us again Draco" Pansy said as she went to reach for my hand but I made it look like I had a stretch on my chin.
"I still don't think we should push for anything, besides, doesn't Fletcher like you or something?" I asked, pulling out the first name I could think of. Tammie had warned me about Pansy, not to lead her around, it was cruel to women in general but Pansy would especially would have an uproar about it.
"So, are you really telling her today?" Pansy asked, either ignoring my question—compliment really—or actually asking because she was curious.
"Yes" I said simply. I wrote home the third day of classes, asking why Tammie had no books, clothes, permission slip to Hogsmade—and then when I found out she was trying out for Quidditch—no broom. Mum was the one to send the stuff, she attached some little note, she was excited I was taking my duty as cousin well. Though some little part of me was starting to see as just something I should do and not as a duty. She was starting grow on me. All because of her stupid humming in class. It didn't help that she knew Melinda. It was impossible to gauge what she thought of me.
It felt weird when I attempted to talk to her, I usually succeeded if I asked Tammie to do it. By succeed I meant it didn't sound like I was an insensitive dick. Still, Melinda no idea I thought she was cute, that I liked how she smiled, that I mostly went to the library to watch her study, that I secretly liked when she glared at Andrew when he stated an impressive "fact" about muggles. I could only hope telling Tammie I was her cousin would help.
"I'll see you later Pansy, wait in Three Broomsticks or something" I told her as we handed over our permission slips and headed through to Hogsmade. She nodded and wondered off. I glanced around, wondering where the girls would be. Did they get my note? Would they be able to understand it? Would they even want to come? I mean, it wasn't like I gave them a reason. Yes I attempted to be nicer to Tammie in class but sometimes I wanted to shake her, she more often than not had bad judgment. I was supposed to be taking George's words to heart too, but, I hadn't really talked to her about it. I figured it might've sounded strange and uncalled for if I bluntly told her I said to stay away from Fred. She probably had the wrong idea already, no thanks to Pansy, Lavender and Sour Face—who apparently went by Charity.
I guess I kind of assumed Tammie would stop whatever she had going with Fred, Oliver seemed to take an interest in her. He wasn't an awful person, minded his own business, Quidditch Captain, sane. He'd be good for Tammie. Granted I had a little problem with him being a seventh year but he knew I was Tammie's cousin, he knew I'd kill him if he hurt her. I wondered if Melinda would agree with me, would get her friend to stop things with the Weasleys. Yes, she was flirting with the other one, but she knew her friend better than any of us, if George first mentioned it Melinda probably already supported it.
I paused at the sight of Harry, Ron and Hermione. I opened my mouth to make a comment but nothing came out. Huh, must be nerves. I told myself as I adjusted myself but decided against saying anything further. I continued looking, hoping to maybe see Tammie and Melinda walking but they weren't in sight. What was taking them so long? I wondered as I started to walk again.
"Oi!" some girl said as I bumped shoulders with her.
"Watch it" I mumbled back as we spun around to look at each other. She glared at me and pushed her thick yellow headband back in place. "What?" I sneered at her as she raised an eyebrow at me.
"Just thinking" she replied with a shrug. "How can a girl like Tammie be related to someone like you?" she asked as I scrunched my nose.
"Who are you?" I asked, not meaning for it to come out as an actual question.
"Hmph" she said as she tossed some of long jet black hair over her shoulder. "You wish you knew." And that was it. She walked off. Again, I opened my mouth to call after her, to say something hurtful but my mind seemed to take too long to dig for anything and she kept walking further and further away.
"Damn it Tammie…" I said as I gritted my teeth. I had no feelings or compassion, I was Draco fucking Malfoy. People feared me. Yet, twice, twice I had failed at upholding my reputation, because of Tammie. Well, as soon as I told her we were cousins her mood would instantly change and she'd fall in line and everything would go back to how it's supposed to. Maybe—with any luck—she'd stop being friends with Melinda and I could clear all the ridiculous thoughts that had been building. Yes, that's all I had to do. I thought as I entered Hog's Head, I just had to crush Tammie's spirit. Good god I'm an asshole…I thought as I spotted Melinda and Tammie. I started to walk over, but quickly grabbed some drinks, knowing them they didn't have any money. The bartender took my money and went over them.
"You girls want anything?" she asked as I stood behind them, though they didn't seem to even notice.
"Um, well, we have no money, so, er, no thanks…" Tammie replied as the bartender shrugged and walked off. "No money, no clothes, no books…" she said with a tired laugh as Melinda sighed and shook her head.
"Hmph, might as well call you a Weasley then." Tammie was the first to turn around, thought she didn't look like she was going to instantly say anything so I moved over to her and sat down. "But that would be an insult since you're a Malfoy" I added with a simple nod in Tammie's direction.
There wasn't exactly, shock when she stared back at me. Disbelief and annoyance and fear but not exactly what I thought. Some part of me was a little, disheartened. Malfoys had such a bad name to her mind that she wasn't even close to looking welcoming at the idea of her herself being a Malfoy. Did this mean no humming? I wondered as I twitched a little.
"I'm sorry, but what did you call me?" she asked swinging around to get a better look at me as I raised an eyebrow at her as she just missed knocking her drink off the table.
"A Malfoy," I replied simply as she stared at me blankly.
"My last name is Allen…" she said glancing at Melinda who nodded but she too seemed a little more shocked. She was probably wondering how. "And I thought, we thought—" she cut herself off to shake her head, the not accepting clear on her face. "I'm a Malfoy? Are you sure?"
"Yes" I said as I rolled my eyes, mainly for effect and because I knew it annoyed her. Something about annoying her made me smile.
"But I'm black" she stuttered out as I held back a snort. Did that really matter? I wondered but explained.
"So, we're half cousins or whatever?" she asked when I finished. I nodded and launched to how she came to be at Hogwarts, that explanation a little quicker than the first, though she didn't seem any better at wanting to her hear. We continued talking, I mentioned Hennings and then sat in silent for a moment.
"So she's basically your cousin?" Melinda asked after what seemed like an hour. Slowly I nodded, we had to get pass that. "So, you don't have a crush on her?" Melinda asked really slowly, her face turning bright red. I felt myself go rigid. I knew there were rumors, I just didn't know how far the rumor had gotten. Clearly it reached to a distance that made me feel sick.
"No" I said hoarsely as I blinked away the thought.
"I told you" Tammie hissed with a similar disgust as she glared at Melinda who was still red with embarrassment.
"Why would you think that, either of you?" I asked.
"I didn't, granted I thought it was a little weird that you were so nice to me, I mean, you're never nice to people" she said as I snorted, suddenly the reminder didn't make me smile or happy.
"Yeah, but you're my cousin, I have to be nice to you" I explained.
"Technically you don't" she protested. I grunted with annoyance, why the hell was she so stubborn? I wondered. "So, if you gave me a broom, why did you give one to Melinda?" she asked.
"I thought it would be nice, and I didn't want to hear you complain about her not having a good broom and you having one, fair treatment or whatever" I said feeling my own cheeks heat a little. Please don't see through me. I begged as Tammie seemed to roll her eyes as Melinda said something I couldn't hear.
"Well, thanks" Tammie said trying to give me a smile. "Last question—"
"I swear if you ask me if I'm your cousin one more time…" I asked feeling my annoyance with the question rising.
"No, no, I was going to ask, what were you doing outside the Ravenclaw common room that night?" she asked instead as I felt my face red. I didn't think she'd remember, it wasn't my finest moment.
We continued talking, Tammie's expression changing every five seconds, thinking of the big picture, probably thinking about telling Fred. I rolled my eyes at the thought, she'd eventually push him away. And she looked okay, she didn't look like she was going to kill me, she didn't run off crying. She honestly looked like she could take it. That part made me happy.
"And you have money in the bank" I started as I put a few galleons on the table. "Both of you do. Hennings, yours comes from the family trust. I'm sure your mother knows about it. Tammie, mum's been putting money in your account, so if you need anything before the holidays just send her your key" I explained as she nodded, she was doing well, both of them were, I had to give her some credit.
"And you think the rest of the school knows?" she asked in a whisper.
"Think?" I asked more sarcastic than I had meant to but she only rolled her eyes. It was hard to suppress a grin.
"Oh!" Melinda said slapping her hand to her forehead "That's why the twins got all quiet in the library!" she exclaimed.
"And why Fred said Draco must have been upset that I'm in Gryffindor…" Tammie added as Melinda nodded.
"I am upset, the entire family is" I replied though for the moment I didn't care what house she was in, she was my cousin.
We continued talking a little more but once the shock seemed to die we slowly wrapped up the conversation. I stuffed my hands in my pocket, just remembering I had the money bag. "Oh, here, I'm supposed to give you this, so you can shop if you like" I said handing it over as she looked over it, examining the gallons instead, her face full of shock again.
"Draco, this is too much" she hissed trying to give it back but I pulled out another one, this one I had filled myself, and handed it over to Melinda.
"Here" I said as I handed it over. "Hogsmade is a treat, it would be stupid not to spend money" he said simply as he got off his stool. "I'll see you in class" I said as I stood up. Without waiting for either to respond I walked out.
I sucked in the fresh air, my lungs filling with a new kind of excitement. She was my cousin and she didn't slap me, or punch me, or start crying. She was my cousin, she accepted me. Far from accepting herself as a Malfoy but she didn't appear to hate me. That was something; that was a start. She had family now, she knew that, that had to bring her some comfort. Melinda didn't seem too afraid either. I winched at the thought, afraid. Such a foreign word. I didn't want her afraid. Especially not of me. Malfoys were good, Tammie was good and she was Melinda's best friend. Maybe Tammie could help me win her over. Not exactly what I came to do, but, I had to have someone. I thought as I neared Pansy and the others. There had to more to friends than these guys.