Chapter 15

I pulled Hermione and Harry into a nearby classroom that was thankfully empty. I wondered why there were so many conveniently empty classrooms in this giant castle, but quickly stored away the thought.

"You two can't tell anybody," I said immediately. I flicked my wand and the door closed. "Seriously. This is none of your business, so don't go blabbing about it."

I could see my wand being out was making Harry nervous, as he plunged his hand into his robe, no doubt grabbing his own. "Listen, I don't know what's going on here, but you don't get to threaten-" he started.

I raised my wand higher, pointing at him. I hadn't intended to threaten with it, but he was pushing my buttons. "Listen here, Potter, I'll fucking threaten you if I want to. I wasn't, not at first, but if that's what it takes for you to keep your stupid little mouth shut, then by all means, let's duel."

Harry ripped his wand out of his robe, and we both started to get into a fighting stance. Hermione stepped between us. "This isn't necessary, you guys! Shae didn't mean anything when she took her wand out, she just wanted privacy." She cast Harry an exasperated look.

"Then why is she trying to duel me right now? She's a Slytherin! And she's apparently going out with Malfoy!" Was that a hint of hurt I heard in his voice? No, I must've imagined it.

"Hermione, move out of the way, so I can hex this pretentious bastard!"

"No, I won't move," Hermione said, crossing her arms stubbornly.

I huffed, then put my wand away, one hand still on it just in case, watching Harry lower his much slower. "I just want you two to keep it secret, that's all. Draco can't be seen going out with me..." I trailed off, then blushed. "I mean, we're keeping it on the down-low for now."

Hermione turned to look at me, still with that exasperated look on her face. "See, this is what I wanted to talk to you about. I get that you like each other, but he's really not a nice person-"

"You don't know what Draco's really like, so don't talk about him that way!" And now I'm scowling.

"You obviously see something in him we don't, but if he can't get past his prejudices, then he's really just not good for you. I think you shouldn't be with someone like that." Hermione's words were gentle, but just made me more furious, since these were things that I had, obviousl, thought before. I glanced at Harry, who now had pity in his eyes as well as wariness, and felt suddenly like a cornered animal.

"It's none of your business! It's neither one of your businesses! Don't look at me like that!" I was so furious I had tears in my eyes. Or was it because what they were saying was hitting a nerve? I couldn't tell. "Just don't tell anyone!" I wiped my face with my sleeve, and saw Harry's horrified look through my watery eyes. "We're not even friends, so what do you even care?!"

Hermione just looked sad. "But we are friends."

"It's not like you'd trust a scheming little Slytherin, so how could we be?! Just mind your own fucking business! I don't care what you think you know, or what you think you saw, but either way, it's my own decision to make!" I keep swiping at my eyes, probably making them even more red, but the angry tears won't stop flowing. Like, why couldn't I be the type of girl who reacts logically when they're angry? Nope, I have angry tears.

"Shae-"

"Fuck off, Hermione. We are not friends. I do not need an intervention." I finally get enough control of myself to stop the damn tears, and swipe the last ones away. I took a deep breath. "What I need is for you two to butt out of my shit, and go do whatever it is goody-two-shoes do at night, besides fucking gossiping about ms and Draco. Just leave me alone."

Hermione, for once in her life, seems shocked silent. Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out, so she closes it again.

I look at Harry again, but his expression has gone steely, and I see no more pity in his eyes. I can't say for sure what all is going on in there, but it's clear that he's pissed, which he just reaffirms as soon as he opens his mouth. "You don't have to worry about us, we won't tell anyone your ridiculous secret." He sneered the last word, like it was something dirty. "You've obviously got this handled, and we'd hate to overstep our bounds with someone who's not our friend. Let's go, Hermione."

I feel the air rush out of me with his words, but I just purse my lips and look at the floor, listening as they leave the room. Then I close my eyes, and scream. "Fuck!"

A desk near me goes flying and splinters against the wall at my outburst, and I just...stare at it. Because if that's not a metaphor for how my life has been going ever since my eleventh birthday, then I don't know what is.

I decided to go straight to bed that night, and managed to avoid Draco, as well as all three of the Gryffindors, for a whole week. After I was finished holing myself up in my room for the weekend, though, Draco was apparently done with me ignoring him. He was waiting for me at the bottom of the girls' dormitory stairs Monday morning, glaring at me with challenge. I nearly just went back up to my room, but after a moment, I just sighed and tried to pass him by at the bottom of the stairs. Obviously, it didn't work, but at least I tried.

Draco snagged my arm in a harsh grip, walking me out of the room without a word.

"Fucking ow! Let go of me, you maniac!" He ignored me, and kept walking, past all the staring people, out of the common room, past even our secret room. When we finally reached the dining hall, I was out of breath from walking so fast to keep up, and pissed the hell off. He madched me into the room, shoved me into a seat, and then stared down at me. "You are a fucking insane person! What is wrong with you?! That freaking hurt, you Neanderthal!" I rub at my arm where he was holding me, but he doesn't answer. "So, you dragged me here just to scowl at me? No fucking thanks, I'm not in the mood for games, Draco." I move to stand up, but he just put his hands on both my shoulders and forces me back down. He looks like he's debating something in his head, but I don't care to find out what, and I'm about to try to make another break for it, but...

He leans his head down, and kisses me. Hard. In front of everyone in the dining hall. I'm so shocked that I don't even respond, I just stare, unmoving. What the fuck?

He pulls away after a second, frowning. "What, you want to break up now? Is that why you're not responding?"

I just fucking stare at him, literally struck dumb. My mouth has fallen open a little, and literally the only thought I can manage is, "What the actual fuck?" I blink at him, realizing I finally spoke out loud.

He sits down next to me, apparently satisfied that I'm not going anywhere. "You wanted to go public, correct? That's what I'm doing." He seems very self-satisfied.

I narrow my eyes at him, and turn around in my seat to face the table. "Draco fucking Malfoy." He looks at me, apparently confused by my outraged tone of voice. "You can't just drag me up here, kiss me in front of everyone, and expect me to be fucking grateful, can you?" I am quietly seething, and I look at him with fury in my eyes.

"Is this...not what you wanted?" He finally sounds unsure. Fucking good. "This is why you've been avoiding me all week, isn't it?"

I just give him a look that says does this fucking look like this is what I wanted. "Hell, Draco, I'm happy you finally made a decision, but seriously? This, this was how you thought you should go about it? Really?"

"I mean...yeah."

I facepalm so hard that I probably leave a red mark on my forehead. "Boys." I sigh, shake my head, and try to drop my anger. At least he meant well, I think. I reach for a piece of toast, and nibble on it. I sigh again. "Okay, Draco, thank you for finally making a decision, but seriously, you suck at romance." I look around finally, just to see everyone staring and whispering. Hermione looks sad and pleased at once, somehow, Ron looks confused as shit, and Harry is just glaring straight at me. I accidentally meet his eyes, and my face immediately heats up. I look away as quickly as possible.

"Well, at least everyone knows you're mine now," Draco says with a smug little smirk. I roll my eyes at him. "That was the whole point of this anyway."

This is going to be a long fucking day.