Hermione was already working on a way to expose the fact that the evidence against George had been tampered with. She had a few spells and explanations in mind, which I was hopeful about. I couldn't stop worrying about George. I'd sent an owl to my parents, saying I was spending the night at the Burrow; I omitted the part about not feeling safe staying elsewhere alone. Draco hadn't been afraid to show up at my house so I wasn't going to be waiting there for him to show up again. The Weasleys had gotten word from the Ministry that George was temporarily being held in custody at the Ministry of Magic until the scheduled court hearing coming up in the next three days. I was so anxious that I couldn't sleep. I wanted to see George and make sure he was okay. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny went with me to the Ministry to visit him. When we were sitting in the visiting area, it felt so awful to see him kept there like that, like a prisoner. All he'd done was save me from Malfoy, and this was the thanks he was getting? I was furious. George wouldn't stop telling me not to worry but all I could do was cry as I sat there holding his hands, which were cuffed at the wrists in what looked like discomfort. George couldn't stop smiling, though, as Hermione was explaining the many ways in which we could debunk the evidence against him.
"Besides, you don't have a criminal record—well, maybe a permanent record as a troublemaker and prankster, but not a criminal one. Why would the judge believe that one day you woke up and decided to go use the Cruciatus Curse on Draco?" Harry explained.
"He's unbelievable. Came in here yesterday to have a chat with me, and he's absolutely mad," said George, speaking to everyone but looking at me.
"He thinks you'll want to be friends with him after all of this…you never told me anything he told you," said George, gripping my hands tighter. I closed my eyes tightly. I heard shuffling and Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione stood up.
"Er, we'll get you out of here. Straight away," Ron said, touching George's shoulder. George turned to him and nodded before the four of them stepped out to leave George and me to speak. As soon as they were gone, I felt George's lips on my forehead, and for a long moment.
"Did you believe it?" George asked, and I already knew what he meant.
"Yes," I said disappointedly; I was disappointed in myself.
"I can't believe myself...He cried in front of me, told me all about how hard his life has been, that he was never as evil as he's been made out to be, but I can hardly believe it now," I said, gritting my teeth.
"I think he's crazy," said George, looking down at me wide eyed, "No—I know it…Angie, I know it's difficult for you to talk about. You still haven't really told me all that happened. Not in detail, at least. And it's not that I want to reopen the wounds or deny it happened, but you can talk to me. You can tell me anything. I hope you know that. I won't treat you any differently. What Draco did to you wasn't your fault. He fooled you. All you wanted to do was help him, and he's pathetic for what he's done. I really hope you believe what I'm saying…it seems like every time I try to tell you, you just keep trying to bury the pain deeper," said George gently. I knew he was right, even whilst I nearly bit my lips shut. I had neglected to talk about it because it made the event too real for me. I wanted to believe that it was just a bad dream, and even if it was just that, it was a constant nightmare that wouldn't leave me alone whenever I could actually sleep. I was suppressing it because I couldn't deal with it. Back at the Burrow when I'd told everything and let it all out, I felt a bit better afterwards, but I still couldn't help wanting to suppress it; I didn't like the way everyone looked at me, though in sympathy, it felt piteous. I had always been known for my strength, not my weakness. It wasn't easy for me to tell about an instance where someone finally overpowered me. It just hurt too much, was damaging to my self-image. I let out a whimpering sob and George lifted both hands, cuffed together as they were, and maneuvered so that his arms went around my body where I could bury my face into his chest, crawling into his lap.
"You can talk to me, Angelina," he said pleadingly. I still felt awful at times, like I couldn't wash the feeling of Draco's cold hands away. It was a presence I felt whenever anyone touched me and I hated it. I knew I'd been neglecting George physically, which made matters worse. I just wanted to be a proper girlfriend, but at that moment I realized I could never be that until I felt this pain and dealt with it thoroughly.
Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and I went for very late lunch in Diagon Alley and the whole time I didn't speak. No one pushed me, keeping up casual conversation, but sparing me sympathetic or worried glances every now and then. I barely touched my plate before I announced that I was exhausted and I just wanted to go back to the Burrow to get some sleep.
"Want me to come with?" Ginny asks, putting her fork down. I had a feeling that she understood how nervous I was, but I shook my head and told everyone to enjoy themselves and not to worry. All I needed was a nap. Hermione watched after me worriedly, and I was almost sure she would get up and follow me, but Ron placed his hand atop hers on the table and I thought I saw him mouth the words, "She wants to be alone." He wasn't wrong. Though I felt much safer to stay with people at all times, I needed a breath of fresh air. I stepped out into the alley. There was that familiar before-the-rain smell that I always liked. It put my mind at ease as I stepped past witches and wizards, going about their business. It was almost four on a Saturday, which wasn't necessarily the busiest time of day for Diagon Alley, so there weren't nearly as many people around. I was walking past the apothecary when I had an idea. I stopped and turned around, walking inside. I could make a potion that would make me forget. I didn't want Draco to be among my thoughts anymore. As I looked around, it occurred to me that I didn't know the first ingredient for an oblitus potion. I went up to the front desk and rang the bell that was sitting on it. No one appeared to be around. After about ten seconds, I sighed and thought it wasn't worth it so I should just leave, when someone came out from a storage room half hidden by a curtain. I thought the awkward lanky form I saw in my peripheral vision looked familiar, so I stopped turning around to look back and see who it was. Neville looked over at me from behind the counter with a quill stuck behind his ear and a piece of long parchment in his hands.
"Angelina?" he said, almost as if he had no idea who I was, and then he smiled.
"What're you doing here?" he placed the parchment on the counter top and stared down at me. I approached the counter again, looking around. The shop was empty except for the two of us.
"I could ask you the same thing," I said with some humor. Neville grinned.
"Oh, I've been interning for a while now. It's good experience for herbology-centered careers. My boss has been out for the week with imp pox so I've been working the store all week…what brings you here?" he asks, looking me up and down in a manner that said much more than he was saying out loud.
"I hope you'll forgive me for asking," he said, leaning down over the counter and towards me, whispering, though nobody else was around to hear, "but is it true, what happened with you and Draco Malfoy?" he asked. My heart beat out of my chest for a second. How could Neville possibly know about that? He was usually the least in the know about gossip going around in the community. Before I could think of what to say, he shook his head and apologized.
"It-it's none of my business, I guess. I just can't believe you dated him."
"What?" I asked, flabbergasted, "Where did you hear that balderdash?" I asked, feeling my fists clenching. Neville laughed nervously.
"Around, but it's really Blaise Zabini who's been spreading the word, and a bunch of Hufflepuffs. You know how they like to gossip. They'll spread any rumor they hear until it turns into a game of telephone," Neville said nonchalantly. Playing telephone was precisely the analogy, because he clearly had the wrong information. I looked at him curiously and wondered exactly what he'd heard.
"…What exactly did you hear, and from whom?" I asked, crossing my arms. Neville scratched the back of his head nervously.
"I'm sorry, Angelina. I-I never believed any of it anyway—"
"Tell me," I demanded, slamming my fist on the counter, surprising myself with my sudden hostility. Neville looked confused and slightly concerned as I felt tears threaten my eyes, but slowly he started explaining.
"Well, I heard that you and Draco ran into each other at Fred's grave, which I thought was absolutely mental because I would never have expected Draco to pay a visit there…and that you were seen on a date in Diagon Alley, at Fortescue's," he said, and that much was true, but it wasn't like it was a legitimate date.
"Uhm…"
"What else?" I prompted.
"I doubt it's true," Neville began, taking a step back as if he were afraid I'd deck him if I didn't like what he said next, "but I also heard that you were seen snogging."
I exhaled angrily, my eyes closing as I held back tears.
"I-It's not true, is it Angelina?"
"No! Of course not!"
I opened my eyes and a few angry tears slipped out. Neville was looking at me with such worry at that point. He knew something wasn't right about the story.
"Who told you this?" I asked.
"I heard it through the grapevine, but I know for a fact that Blaise started it…is everything okay?" he asked, starting to come round the counter. I rushed away before I really started crying. I couldn't believe it. And then I wondered if it was just another one of Draco's sick ploys to destroy me. I vaguely remembered being in the ice cream shop with him as I passed Fortescue's, and I also remembered Blaise Zabini staring at us, Draco saying that Blaise "had a thing for me." I wondered how the hell anyone else even knew about us hanging out together. Why would Draco even tell anyone if he wanted what he'd really done hushed up? Just as I was turning the corner, too busy wiping my eyes to see who was coming, I bumped into a body.
"I'm s-sorry," I stuttered, falling back against a hard wall. Whoever I'd bumped into completely stopped and steadied me with their hands. But when they didn't say anything or take their hands off me, I stopped rubbing my eyes to see who the hell it was. My heart literally stopped for about two seconds as I looked up into Draco's tortuously cold eyes. He was staring down at me, not quite glaring, but squinting like he was trying to figure something out.
"Are you okay?" he asked so quietly I almost didn't hear. I wasn't sure what it was or why it always seemed to take me a second too long to fucking grab my wand whenever I ran into him. I guess I was frozen in fear. Once the shock wore off, I panicked and started shoving him away from me. I pulled my wand out of my pocket and without even saying it, shot a curse at him, which he was already thoroughly prepared for when he deflected it.
"You stay the fuck away from me," I said, though I was scared out of my mind. Draco frowned and glared at me.
"You bumped into me," he said.
"No, you're following me," I said, shooting another curse at him. I decided I'd just had it with his nonsense. I began throwing spell after spell at him, but he was too nimble for me to get in a good shot and it ended up being a futile attempt so I stopped. I could've just disapparated but I wasn't going to give him the power of fear over me.
"You're a liar and you're evil. George could go to Azkaban because of you," I screamed. I looked around and no one really seemed to be there to witness this. Draco raised his hands as if in surrender and slowly pocketed his wand. He took a step towards me and I shot at him again. He curtly dodged and pulled out his wand a second time.
"I'm telling you, this is a waste of time," he said, with a serious look on his face.
"I hate you," I said.
"Don't say that," he barked, closing the gap between us. I closed my eyes; I couldn't bear to look into his icy gaze a minute more. I heard him sigh and he placed a hand up against the stony wall beside my head. I wasn't as terrified as I was when he'd first attacked me; we were in public and I knew he wouldn't try anything there. He'd be screwed if he did.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Angelina," he said.
I hated hearing my name roll off his insidious tongue. How I wished to rip it from his mouth.
"I'm…sorry," he said. I opened my eyes and found his face about three inches away from mine. The tears just ran out of my eyes like pitchers of hot water.
"I just…" he suddenly looked so remorseful and I closed my eyes again, not wanting to fall for the trick he'd played on me before. But the way his voice came out, I wasn't so sure it was a trick.
"What are you playing at?" I said brazenly. I felt something in my hair and my eyes opened wide. Draco was looking over my face with an awestruck expression, his mouth agape as he touched my hair. I was becoming afraid again.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he said pleadingly.
"Yes you did," I spat through gritted teeth and snatched his hand away from my hair. But when I did this, he didn't let go of my hand and I gasped. His was so cold that I wondered if perhaps he was the living dead.
"I…I wasn't myself—I wouldn't have hurt you if I was," he said, finding my gaze and staring there, babbling.
"I wasn't myself," he said again. I slid away from him in the opposite direction and he promptly pressed his other hand against the wall at my middle, blocking my exit.
"It was you. You did it yourself," I said. He was seriously frightening me.
"I know I'm bad, but I'm not evil. I was confused, and angry and sad. I needed you and you turned me down," he said.
"Is that supposed to be some kind of excuse?" I screamed, at which point a witch was walking by, hurrying along when she understood this to be some sort of altercation. I nearly called out to her for help when I was smothered by something. That something was Draco's mouth. He was kissing me. In complete disbelief and shock, I froze up like a statue. It was almost as if I were suffering from some sort of psychotic trance. His hands were ice cold, as I unwillingly recalled, but his lips were warm and awkwardly gentle considering how tightly he was holding me. A montage of images flashed before my eyes and I felt weak in the knees, remembering what it felt like when he was holding me down so tightly, restricting my movement. I started to struggle, too stunned to scream. I pushed Draco as hard as I could and he backed up.
"Stop it," I said, barely loud enough to hear my own voice. He looked so regretful that anyone would have believed it.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he blabbed.
"Please—"
"Don't touch me again," I said, stepping quickly to the side where his arms weren't blocking me anymore. He was so delusional that it was frightening. I saw somebody in the distance behind Draco, but not far enough that I didn't recognize it to be Blaise. I glared over at him and Draco was looking at me so intently, panting as if he'd just stopped running. Finally, he whipped his head in the other direction to find Blaise who was just turning away from us as if he hadn't been looking. Draco's face became furious and he started walking towards Blaise who just stood his ground. I saw Blaise's fist go up before Draco even reached him and they lunged at each other. I wanted to walk over and kill them both but I knew it wouldn't have helped my cause to save George. Curiosity got the best of me and I started towards them.
"You're a bloody asshole! You knew I liked her," Blaise screamed, his nose running blood.
"I am? You're running about spreading rumors about me," Draco responded. I assumed Blaise had just been going off about seeing us at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, which meant that he had no idea what really happened between Draco and I. At first I had honestly felt badly for him, but by this point I just knew he was crazy.
"It was you spreading those lies about me," I said, brandishing my wand at Blaise. He stood up straight, backing away slightly.
"I never said anything to him—I swear," Draco said, turning to me. I stepped back from him and Blaise eyed me curiously.
"Don't think this changes a thing," I said glaring.
"Changes anything?" Blaise asked, looking from Draco to me and back again.
"I knew it!" he shouts, "I knew you were screwing her."
I wanted to vomit. That was a far cry from what was going on.
"You're jealous because she was with me," Draco said, the familiar evil spreading across his lips as he smiled wickedly at Blaise.
"So it's true, she cheated on the Weasley boy with you, and that's why he used the Cruciatus Curse on you," Blaise said, connecting faulty dots.
"What?" I said in disbelief. Only Draco knew the truth about what had happened and he wasn't going to tell it.
"I should kill you for spreading such lies," I said warningly to Blaise. I was just about to stupefy him when he disapparated with a crack. Draco looked over at me.
"It was Blaise who started the rumors. He's the only one who saw us together," Draco admitted, throwing his hands in the air when I pointed my wand at him.
"Angelina, I swear," he said, dropping to his knees in desperation. I started shaking my head.
"Leave me alone, or I will—"
"Kill me? Go ahead. I bet no one's watching," Draco said, looking up into my face. I wasn't sure if he was trying to get a rise out of me or if he was just being strange. I couldn't make out his facial expression.
"When I get George back, you better stay away from me, or you'll pray for death," I warned before disapparating.
The morning of George's hearing arrived and I was literally opening the door of the Burrow when I found both of my parents standing at the doorstep, their eyes full of tears. My dad looked furious and I knew why.
"Why didn't you tell us?" My mother asked, barely above a whisper. I should have known that they would've found out. It wasn't like they hadn't heard the news spreading round the Ministry. Molly and Arthur paused behind me at the door and invited my parents inside. They led us all to the kitchen and left the room so that we could talk as a family. I explained to my parents that I hadn't wanted them to be upset with me, or worry about the whole thing, and also that the Malfoys were old money and I knew I would've most likely lost had I tried to press charges against Draco. My mother was beside herself and wouldn't stop hugging me. My father looked about ready to murder a village full of people, but they both vehemently expressed that none of it was my fault and they weren't angry with me. I wanted to wake up from this horrible nightmare already. I knew I wasn't going through it alone, but I just wanted to have it done so I could attempt to resume a normal life.
