Chapter 20: Overcome

It was Christmas time at the Manor, meaning twinkly lights, big green tree, the reefs on the doors, not to mention that all too noticeable holiday cheer. It had always pushed my patience to its limits, the way everyone acted even faker than they usually did. So it came to no surprise to my parents that I stood brooding in my room, not letting anyone in but Blaise and Pansy when it came time for out annual Christmas party. But my two best friends weren't very good company. Blaise just sat there seeming to be glaring at something only he could see while Pansy sat glaring at me for a reason I knew all to well.

I sat there staring at Pansy waiting for her to open her mouth, seeing as her temperament had never been her strong point. We had been sitting there for five minutes when she finally spoke, "So Draco how is your little whore, Alsworth was it, you know she is officially ruined now don't you?" Her voice never wavered showing the extent of her anger and I gave her a languid look which made her purse her lips.

"I see you've decided to choose her over me. Have you decided that everything you know about me doesn't matter for the voice of Hermione D'jore must be true…Is she is your new best friend, severed those dirty Slytherin ties I see. I am disappointed." My words seemed to have captured Blaise's attention for he was staring at the two of us with a serious expression that was a real change from the glaring that had seemed to grace his Italian features twenty-four/seven.

"Don't lie to me, Draco. I know from experience that you haven't deemed cheating on your girlfriends beneath you." She gave me an ugly sneer that I hadn't seen on her face since our little spats with the Gryffindors.

"I'm not lying, Pansy. Frankly, I didn't realize how little our friendship meant to you that you would follow the words of a girl you've barely known for a few months. A girl that used to call you Pugface with the rest of them."

"So, Draco, dearest you are telling me that all you and Alsworth ever did was have long meaningful conversations and enjoy the company of one another. This doesn't sound like the boy I've known and most importantly dated, no, not at all."

Blaise interrupted, "What I can't believe is that you thought Hermione would never find out. I mean you are a Slytherin but she's the smartest witch of our age. How long did you expect it to go on without getting caught?"

I put my head in my hands and didn't respond. They wouldn't understand and I didn't have the liberty to explain.

"Not to mention the fact that you have never mentioned her before. Why throw it all away from someone who is just a good fuc-"

"Pansy-I-never–slept-with-her. Why can't you just take my word for it?" I whispered menacingly. She gave me a hard look and I returned the gaze hoping that it was enough for her to be convinced but before I could know for sure there was a screech that seemed to come out of nowhere.

I tore my eyes away from hers to see a snowy owl outside my window. I went over and opened it and the owl flew in and then I realized, "This is Potter's owl." Disbelief was evident in my voice as I traded looks with Blaise and Pansy.

"Open it already." Pansy said with a huff.

I gave the owl a dirty look for its association with Potter and hurriedly took out the letter it was attached to and without even a moments pause the owl flew away. I stared at the letter and as I opened it something fell out.

It rolled across the hard wood floor landing at Pansy's feet and I immediately recognized it. It was the engagement ring I had given to Hermione when I proposed; Pansy picked it up and gingerly put it in my hand. Her face took on an expression of pity and I looked away focusing my attention on the letter the first words I read were these:

I no longer want to marry you.

I tore my eyes away from the letter and looked up at Pansy. Her face dropped at my expression it seemed that my face was not that unreadable mask that I had hoped it would be. I looked away once more and read on:

And I don't have to.

I shook my head because there was no way she could get out of it without the help of Dumbledore and there was no way she had gone groveling back to the Order. She had too much pride for that.

I read on to find out that she had less pride than I had expected. She hadn't gone groveling back to Dumbledore, it was worse, she had gone groveling back to Potter. I felt like I was going to be sick. After everything he had done to her it had never even crossed my mind that she would take comfort with the people that she had made it clear could never be forgiven.

I looked up to see Blaise and Pansy giving each other worried looks, "Well, Pansy it seems your best friend isn't the person you think she is." I threw the letter at her and locked myself in my bathroom. I couldn't believe she did that, I couldn't believe it and I couldn't deal with it.

I glared at my reflection. I couldn't believe she had fooled me into liking her. I felt utterly and completely stupid. I had developed feelings for her without even realizing it…. and now I was angry because she didn't want to marry me. How could she not want to marry me? I was Draco Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy fortune. In the dirtiest dreams of almost every girl at Hogwarts. Who did she think she was? Even if I had cheated on her, which I didn't, she should still be there at my beck and call. I looked again into the mirror and couldn't help but ask myself:

Was I in love with Hermione D'jore?

I boarded the train back to Hogwarts a week from receiving that eye-opening letter and it was just like every other time. By this time I had convinced myself that Hermione finding a way out of the engagement was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Everything was back to normal, my friends back by my side and on my side, and my ego still intact. The Slytherin's hatred towards Gryffindor renewed. Everything was how it should be.

We entered our usual compartment and sat down, Pansy being less sarcastic than normal due to the fact that she was still making up for the things she had said and for the privilege of knowing a secret. Blaise still as quiet as ever. I had finally told them about Tristina Alsworth. It had been the only way to end any doubt, for no matter how much they had wanted to believe me, there had still been doubt.

I slept a dreamless sleep the whole train ride to Hogwarts, waking only to the sound of Pansy's slightly irritated voice telling me that we had arrived and that of course is when it hit me that it wasn't like all the other times coming back to Hogwarts because this time I was returning to a vengeful ex-fiancé and all the people that came with her.

I walked with Blaise and Pansy into a carriage wishing the ride would last forever and when the carriage finally arrived at Hogwarts, they both faced me. I said nothing to their questioning stares until finally Pansy smirked and in a mocking tone asked, "You still the Slytherin Sex God?"

Blaise hid a grin and I couldn't help but crack a smile, "Was there ever any doubt?" They both snickered and I gave them a smirk. I was definitely still the Slytherin Sex God and no Gryffindor was ever going to change that.

We all exited the carriage in our usual Slytherin fashion, our auras of superiority over all other houses in place. I gave a quick once over and saw no sign of Hermione before separating from Blaise and Pansy heading to the Heads Dorm. I said the password and went straight to my room, locking the door behind me, and then I heard a knock.

She wouldn't dare.

I opened my door to see Harry Potter. I clenched my fist and sneered, "What do you want Potter?" He glared at me and I glared back. Just like old times.

"I wanted to make sure that you stayed away from Hermione. I wanted to inform you that she wants nothing to do with you. I also wanted to threaten you with the consequences of any attempt to get near her. We clear?"

I rolled my eyes, "I suppose you are the one giving out these so called 'consequences'."

"Don't push it, Malfoy."

"Don't threaten me, Potter."

"Just stay away from her."

"Wouldn't touch that piece of trash with a ten-foot pole."

His eyes flashed, "Rich coming from the person who cheated."

"I didn't cheat Potter, you on the other hand... I bet Weaslette has yet to be enlightened about Patil and I would be more than happy to do the honor."

"You wouldn't."

"What's stopping me?"

He stepped closer, "Hermione." I raised an eyebrow in question, "To get to Ginny you would have to be near Hermione. I think that ten-foot pole you mentioned might get in the way."

I sneered, but before I could respond Potter decided that the conversation was over and left. I didn't stop him. I watched him walk out, knowing he was returning to his little Golden Trio, and his many fooled admirers. My loathing for him couldn't be more pronounced than at that very moment.

I turned around and grabbed a picture frame, throwing it at the wall in anger. I sat down on my bed seeing the broken shards on the floor, how far i had fallen, and put my head on my signature silk pillows before letting sleep overcome me… among other things.

I woke up and quickly got ready for class, making sure I looked exactly how a Malfoy should which took longer than most people would think. I hurried down to the Slytherin dorms and was greeted by Pansy and Blaise who seemed to be waiting for me to go down to breakfast.

We walked down the corridor and I opened the door, my eyes zooming over to the Gryffindor table where I immediately spotted her and our eyes connected. There was no glaring, no mouthed words, it was expressionless really, it went so fast I wasn't sure it had even really happened. Then it was over. With Pansy and Blaise in my wake we took a seat at the Slytherin table where they all waited anxiously for the first-hand account of the news that they had received at the Christmas ball: that the engagement was off.

I gave it to them with my own added spice and once again I was their Slytherin Prince. I went to my classes and when I got to Potions I remembered who my lab partner was and I couldn't help but smirk. It was payback time.

I saw her enter, her two lackeys by her side, she took a seat saying nothing. I positioned myself so that I could take in her whole appearance: she looked like absolute crap. Her hair was tied up in a pony tail, her eyes sullen, and her posture terrible. It was all because of me and I reveled in it.

Pansy came over to out table, her eyes narrowed as she saw Hermione sitting next to me, no sympathy due to her appearance. She was still Pansy after all.

"Draco, are you coming to the common room after class." I nodded and Hermione finally turned her face to look at us.

"Hi Pansy." Pansy ignored her not even glancing at the sound of her voice.

"Make sure to bring some snacks from the kitchen because you know how Blaise is after classes. Ta." She walked away to join her partner, not even checking to see Hermione's reaction to the obvious snub.

I spoke, "You really thought she would take your side, didn't you? After what you did, you really shouldn't be surprised."

"What I did?" She asked incredously her eyes flashing, "What about what you did? You cheated on me, Malfoy, and with a common whore. You threw what was to become of our marriage away for some loose girl who would give you something that I wouldn't. The only thing I did was have morals."

"Going back to surnames now are we." I answered heatedly, "Pansy stayed by my side because she knew I was being honest. You on the other hand would rather believe me a liar because that just happens to fit your Slytherin stereotype and give you a reason to go crawl back to your pathetic friends who treated you like shit and use you."

"My friends aren't pathetic."

"Your right. You're pathetic," I whispered menacingly so no one but us could hear, "Everything about you is just pathetic. You say you have morals yet you let Potter cheat on Weaslette and don't tell her, you let them use you and then leave you when you finally need them, you end our engagement knowing that I didn't cheated on you, and- "

"You cheated on me, that's all I know for sure, that and the fact that you don't seem one bit bothered by it!" she screamed tears running down her face and catching the attention of all the students that had arrived, "How long did it take you to get over our relationship, to find someone else to keep your bed warm at night? Please, Malfoy, you knew from the beginning this marriage was never going to work. We fooled ourselves into thinking it was going to be okay. But it was all an act and you know it!"

"D'JORE!" Snape had entered and he did not look happy, "As interesting as your love life is I would like to get my class started that is unless you have anything more to add…"

"No, professor." She whispered her teeth clenched, tears still streaming down her face.

I got out of my seat, angrier than I had anticipated, "Professor if it's okay with you I think I need to take my leave." I was supposed to have controlled the conversation but she had turned it on me. Like always I had under-estimated her.

He waved a hand at me and I took a moment's pause before walking out. I leaned in closer to Hermione and whispered, "I did not cheat."

Then I walked out leaving a surprised class in my wake. I took a turn around the corridor waiting for a place to just sit and stare but it seemed that I wasn't going to receive my much needed melt down as I felt a hand touch my shoulder, "Who do you think you are?"

Hermione had run after me, obviously deciding our conversation wasn't over yet, "No longer obligated to talk to you." I said heatedly turning around to escape her grip but again she got in front of me blocking my way of escape.

"What gives you the right to judge me?! To call me pathetic?! To even speak to me at all?!" She was still crying, taking big gulps of air; she looked so weak like she could barely stand.

I stood there, saying nothing just staring at her shaking form, "This gives me the right." I threw the ring that I had been keeping in my pocket at the floor no longer able to control the emotions I was feeling that had nothing to do with anger and vengeance, "That you know it wasn't fake, that our engagement was real. That you're in denial. That gives me the bloody right." I turned away from her one last time; I felt her hand clench my arm, too weak to hold me back any longer.

I walked away and heard her last words, "I hate you Draco Malfoy, I hate you because you broke me."

Finalllly had time to update and with some considerable uplifting words from the girl who gives uplifting words on my stories. Thank you to the people who still read my story. luv you all. even if you want to say crap about this story, sorry its short. You will find out about Tristina, the whole story, i promise.