Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but my OC's are mine.


Chapter Nineteen

THE DAILY PROPHET

HARRY'S LOVE INTEREST?

Harry has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Ira Soares, a beautiful pureblood girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school.

Following in her father's footsteps, Sigrid Soares—head of International Magic Office of Law and ex-Death Eater—Ira Soares is a Slytherin who isn't seen without the company of Harry Potter. With her father's pureblood beliefs, is it safe to say that he doesn't approve of her current romance? How does Harry feel being tied to a girl with darkness following her? Sources say that she's also peaked the interest of her ex-best friend and Slytherin housemate, Theodore Nott, as well. Is there a possible love triangle in the works?

Ira slammed the paper back down onto the table. There was a fire inside her eyes as she roamed the Gryffindor table, looking for a mop of mousy hair that she'd love to rip from Colin's scalp.

Lily looked over to read the article that had Ira so fired up.

"When I get my hands on him—"

"Ira, calm down," Lily said with a gentle hand on Ira's arm. "People will know one day if you end up being with Potter."

"Yes, but who knows if that's going to happen, so technically, this whole thing is false. And the part about Theo? About darkness following me?" Ira gripped her paper harder, feeling it wrinkle beneath her fingers. "My patience is running thin."

Lily looked downcast at the parchment she'd been working on. "Tell me about it."

Ira's eyes softened a tad, watching as Lily avoided making eye contact. "What are you talking about? You mean with Sally?"

Lily shrugged.

"Tell me," Ira pleaded softly, clutching Lily's hand.

"I'm just worried about her. Her relationship with Malfoy seems so unreal."

Ira knew what she meant. She forgot for a second there that not only did she have the press to deal with, but Malfoy and Sally's relationship as well. Only a few days had passed since Sally let the cat out of the bag to both Ira and Lily, and the two didn't know how to feel about it.

"It's crazy, isn't it?" Ira asked while picking up her quill. "To think that our best friend is dating our enemy, the kid whose bullied us—minus you—for years? I keep thinking that maybe it's a hoax, that maybe Malfoy snuck some love potion in her drink when she wasn't looking. I'm also hoping that one day she'll snap out of it and realize with disgust the poor decision she had made. I'm not being too unfair, am I?"

Lily shook her head. "Not at all. You're allowed to be angry and upset about it. You and Malfoy have a long, tense history that isn't going to just go away because your best friend fancies him. All we can do is slap smiles on our faces and deal with it."

"For now."

Lily smirked. "For now."

The rest of Study Hall passed by without interruption. Lily and Ira went back to work on their assignments, waiting for Sally to bounce in at any moment. Yet, she never showed. And neither did Draco.

Lily fiddled with the bag slung over her shoulder as they walked outside to the entrance courtyard, passing by groups of students basking in the autumn air while playing rounds of Gobstones. She focused on someone across the cloister, perched on the edge of the colonnade running around the courtyard.

Ira looked on, too, and saw Sally sitting across from a standing Malfoy, who cradled her hands in his and gave her a loving look. It made Ira sick.

Lily's jaw set together, and Ira noticed it.

Steering Lily away, they continued walking without speaking. Ira knew what was going on in Lily's head, and it wasn't anything good.

"I just want a more thorough explanation, one that can convince me that this is a good idea," Lily ground out. "I didn't think Sally could be so easily swindled."

Ira gave a half shrug. "It's part of Sally's personality. She's easy to be friends with, she's inclusive—for the most part—and is every guys walking dream. I mean look at her—she's gorgeous."

They turned their heads to look back at their friend. Under the sun, Sally's hair looked blonder and silkier, easily wound around Draco's finger that made its way into her hair. Her button nose scrunched up cutely at something Draco said, her perfect white teeth flashing beneath admirably sculpted lips. She looked like a princess out of one of those Muggle fairytales—the ones that didn't know their complete potential until someone came along and accentuated their natural beauty or captured the heart of the handsome, drool-worthy prince by chance. It made perfect sense that Malfoy was smitten with her. Sally had many guys competing for her heart.

"But why him? Of all people?" Lily turned back and started walking again, away from the courtyard.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you."

"Hey, Ira?"

Stopping, the girls turned, finding Harry standing there awkwardly under their stares. Lily didn't appear the least bit annoyed to see him there, which was a shock considering her views on him weren't that positive. Ira found this comforting as she opened her mouth to reply.

"Hey."

"Uh, I was wondering if I could talk to you?" His eyes shifted to Lily before going back to Ira. "In private?"

Lily stepped away. "I have somewhere to be, anyway. I'll catch you later, Ira."

After she left, Ira and Harry walked under the colonnade opposite to Sally and Draco.

"I just wanted you to know that I had nothing to do with that article Rita Skeeter put out," Harry said in a rush. "I mean, I did—well, some of it—but I didn't know she talked to Colin."

"Harry, it's fine," Ira reassured. "I know tabloids aren't the truest pieces of work out there. I'm a Soares, remember? We practically live in the magazines."

"Yeah, well, I don't like seeing your name in there, especially with everything going on lately."

"Going on?"

Harry looked at her pointedly. "Perks and Malfoy? I figured you'd be the last person to join their fan club."

"Oh, right, right," she said, eyes moving to the couple in question. "I didn't know they made their relationship public already."

"They didn't. But with them holding each other like that, its hard for people not to get suspicious and talk." Harry nearly cringed. "They really are together, then?"

"Unfortunately." Ira didn't want to talk about it, instead, she moved to another topic. "How are you holding up?"

Harry ran a hand through his messy hair. "Not so great. I've never been so nervous about something before." Then, as he watched Ira, he blushed. "I have, you know, been nervous about stuff…like my first quidditch match, for example. And other stuff, too, I guess…"

He was rambling, and Ira found it cute as he tried messing with his hair again. She reached up to grab his hand and place it back down at his side.

"Your hair looks fine, Harry. Who do you have to impress?" Ira giggled, watching him swallow hard.

He stayed quiet.

Footsteps approached the two of them. Ira looked up to see Draco, Blaise, Theo, Crabbe, and Goyle standing only inches away. Draco had the Daily Prophet in his hands, smirking wildly at them.

"Is it true?" Draco asked. "'Harry Potter has at last found love at Hogwarts.' Snooze. The only redeemable piece of this article is you crying over your dead parents, Potter. Now that is interesting material."

Harry narrowed his eyes.

"But back on the subject of 'love', Potter, have you really captured the heart of a Death Eater's daughter? The Ira Soares—in love with you?" Draco chuckled. "It seems unbelievable."

"What's unbelievable is that you'd be so insensitive about Harry's parents," Ira interjected. "How cruel can you be?"

Draco met her stare. "Want to find out?"

"Not in the slightest." I've already seen enough.

He looked back at Harry. "I'm just warning you, Potter. Soares isn't the least bit reliable. I mean, have you seen her around Neils? She's practically on her knees begging for some flattery."

"Shut your mouth!" Ira snapped.

He continued. "She's also got a thing for Theo, too, from what this article is saying. For the record, they have spent a copious amount of time together." He drew nearer. "Especially in her dorm."

His friends snickered, minus Theo.

Ira found her wand hidden in her robes. "Malfoy—"

"I even have Sally, her best friend, to contest to that."

"You liar!"

Draco focused on her. "Ask her. She's admitted you like to play the field, that you can't make up your mind on who you want. You mostly want Potter, don't you? You do have a disgustingly immature crush on him. Everyone knows it."

Ira felt her face go red, looking over at Harry's blank face. She couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"You're not going to defend your girlfriend, Potter?"

Harry sighed. "Even if she was my girlfriend, Ira can hold herself against you without my help."

Draco's smiled faltered, and he glanced back at Ira, clearly not enjoying the response he'd gotten. He saw her hand disappear beneath her robes, and quickly grabbed his own wand.

Instantly, they drew their wands and got into the proper stance for a duel.

"Locomotor Wibbly!" Ira casted, watching as a jet of light went for Draco's middle.

He deflected it with a shield he cast up beforehand.

"Is that all you've got, Soares?"

"No, I've got plenty."

Draco growled. "Calvario!"

Ira laughed when she put up a temporary shield, watching the red light diminish. "I know better than to let you touch my hair with that spell again."

"Less talking, Soares, more dueling." He sent another spell at her, and she sidestepped it with ease. Thankfully, nobody was behind her or they would've been subjected to a Twitchy Ears hex.

They moved outside to the courtyard, where it was more open for them to duel. A crowd grew around them, watching with anticipation. Among them were Sally and Lily, standing side-by-side with crossed arms. Sally looked disappointed, while Lily stayed the opposite. She enjoyed watching Ira put Draco in his place.

"You're going to regret doing that," Ira said, throwing up a stinging jinx.

It singed Draco's side, and he winced in pain. People gasped.

Ira didn't aim for anything major for a reason. She didn't want to permanently injure him. Just a little bit of teasing pain to make sure he knew that Ira wasn't to be messed with was all she needed to solidify her point.

Draco threw his arm back up while cradling his side. "Titilla—" He didn't get a chance to finish the spell. His wand flew from his grip.

Ira turned to figure out who had interrupted. It was her father. He casted a silent spell so her own wand flew into his grasp. She gaped.

"Off to your classes," he said to the crowd. When nobody moved, his face got hard. "Now!"

Just like that, they were off.

Ira watched Sally help carry Draco off to the Hospital Wing. He acted dramatically, and Ira rolled her eyes.

The only two left in the courtyard were Sigrid and Ira. He observed her for a moment, an unreadable expression masking his features. She tried figuring out what was going on in his head, but like most of the time, he was hard to make out.

"What? Have you come to ground me?" Ira scoffed.

Sigrid sighed. "If I could, I would, but since you're under different guardianship while at school, its up to the staff on what happens with you. Luckily, you have connections that can make this whole thing go away." He paused. "What were you doing with the Malfoy boy, hmm?"

"Teaching him a lesson," Ira said, holding out her hand. "Wand, please."

"Not yet." His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why were you dueling him?"

Now was not the time to be asking a seething Ira questions about her arch nemesis. Especially when Sigrid knew nothing about what happened over the years. Draco and Ira's mutual loathing was chalked up to indifference without a spoken word between each other—as Ira had put it time and time again.

Sigrid wouldn't take well to knowing his best mate's son had it out for his darling daughter. It wasn't like he deserved to know, either. He hardly made an ounce of effort in talking to her about anything. If it wasn't about business or social hierarchy, there was no point in engaging in a conversation. Ira wasn't like Rhys. He was a spitting image of their father, and Ira didn't know whether that was reassuring or not.

Ira tried calming herself down. "He approached me about the article Rita Skeeter put out today. He was picking fun at Harry and I, so I showed him that I'm not to be belittled."

"And more power to you," he said with a nod. "But do tell me, is there some truth to Skeeter's article? Perhaps there is a romance brewing between you and the Chosen One? Or the Nott boy?"

Her shoulders sagged. "You read the article."

"Indeed, and I don't appreciate seeing my daughter's name out there for the entire world to see."

"Why? You've never had issues with the press before."

He started to pace, something he often did when he was in deep thought about something. "I've always had issues with the press, Ira. Although I managed to keep myself composed over seeing my name—or even your mother's name—in the news, I never wanted you to have that life. I didn't want your name branded on some news article about the most rubbish of things."

"It's not like I did either!" Ira said exasperatedly.

Sigrid stopped pacing. "Well, the more you hang around that Potter boy, you will."

He did have a point. But it didn't mean Ira would stop being friends—or maybe more—with Harry just to keep her name out of the public eye. She'd deal with it for their relationship's sake.

Sigrid walked forward and placed heavy hands on her shoulders, making her look at him. "I'm just looking out for you, Ira. That boy is nothing but trouble. It follows him everywhere he goes."

Ira glared. "Since when do you give a damn about what happens to me? For all I know, trouble could be following you around—therein exposing me to this 'darkness' that Rita Skeeter talks about." She moved out of his grasp. "You are an ex-Death Eater, Father. That isn't something easily forgotten."

His jaw clenched together tightly, a hint of red blossoming across his face.

"Or should we drop the 'ex' and get right on with affirming your fealty to the Dark Lord again?"

A sound rang out across the grounds. It all happened so suddenly, Ira was unable to comprehend the pain taking over the right side of her face. It hurt so much that she knew a bruise would be there by nightfall. Sigrid never laid a hand on her before. It was such a surprise, tears started forcing their way down Ira's cheeks. She kept her face neutral though, incapable of grasping a proper emotion for what she felt in that moment.

Sigrid lowered his hand. "You will not speak to me like that, you disobedient child! You know nothing."

Something in his words stung worse than being backhanded.

When he brought his hand up again, to hand her wand back, she flinched, feeling her eyes drown in tears.

She reached out slowly to grab it, believing he'd hit her again, and let out a sigh of relief when he didn't.

One moment he was there, and the next he was trotting back up to the castle.

Ira stuck around for a few moments before following inside. She hurried to the dungeons, speed walking so people didn't get a good look at her face. Not many people were in the common room, but she took a quick look to see that Lily was one of the students present.

Lily stood up upon seeing Ira. "What on Earth happened to you?"

Ira blinked back the tears and kept herself from sniffling as she continued to the dormitories. Instead of going to her dorm, she went in a different direction towards the one she used to share with Lily, Sally, and Tracey.

"Hello? Did you not hear me?" Lily asked, now behind her.

Ira didn't respond. She was too busy raiding Sally's things for something to cover up the mark left on her skin.

Lily grabbed Ira to get her attention.

"Don't touch me!" Ira snapped, her face now in full focus.

Lily gasped. "Ira, what happened? Did your father do that to you?"

Ira shied away. "It doesn't matter."

"Ira, that could be there for days. That's not right."

Ira chuckled darkly through the sadness in her heart. "He's allowed to punish me. I am his child."

"Yes, that's true, but not enough to leave a bruise. That's abuse!"

Ira closed her eyes. "Lily, this is the first time he's hit me. I'm sure it's not abuse if it was a one-time thing."

"It could happen again," she persisted. "Ira, you don't deserve to be treated this way!"

Ira whirled around. "But what if I do? Didn't you see what I did to Malfoy? What would've happened if we continued, if I managed to use a much more powerful spell? I could've hurt him more than I did."

"You wouldn't do that. You're not like that."

"You don't know that," Ira said. "I don't even know that."

Lily shook her head. "What makes you think that?"

Ira looked back at Sally's things, grabbing a powder compact. "I'm a Soares. We're naturally born dark wizards."

"That's bollocks."

The compact didn't appear to be Ira's shade. She held it up against her face, turning to face Lily again.

"Is it my shade?" she asked, changing the subject.

Lily sighed, moving forward to grab the compact. "Not by a long shot."

Ira stepped away and allowed Lily to grab a few things from Sally's collection of makeup. She picked out a few things and motioned for Ira to take a seat.

"Don't you know a spell for this?" Lily asked.

Ira took a seat on Lily's bed. "If I did, I wouldn't be asking you to apply this for me."

Lily managed to laugh. "Don't you know how to apply makeup?"

Ira felt the brush tickle her cheekbone and tried not to flinch as Lily applied pressure. "No."

"Good, because neither do I. I've seen Sally put it on countless times, though, so I think I know what I'm doing."

It got quiet for a few minutes while Lily worked her magic.

"Is he…is he okay?" Ira finally asked.

"Who? Malfoy?" Lily nearly laughed. "It was just a graze. I'm sure when Pomfrey's done with him, there'll be just a little scar to remain."

"He acted like it was a battle wound."

"Because he's a coward."

Lily applied one last layer and stood back to get a good look at Ira's face. She cringed.

"You're far too pale for your own good. Do you not get any sun?"

Ira snorted. "You're one to talk."

Lily took her wand out and waved it until the makeup disappeared. "Unless you go to Madam Pomfrey, I'm afraid I can't do much else."

Ira didn't want to go to the Hospital Wing. The nurse would only ask questions, and then she'd have to answer stupidly that she ran into something or fell down one of the moving staircases while on her way to class. She was never a convincing liar.

"Well, thanks anyway," Ira said after she stood. "For everything, Lily."

"Oh?"

She nodded. "Besides Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I feel like you're the only other person that hasn't done something to drastically change everything."

Lily smiled. "I'm always here, you know that."

Ira did know that, but she could still feel the fear of everyone leaving still present.


Dressed in a thick sweater dress and stockings, Ira walked through Hogsmeade with her arm looped through Lily's. It was the Saturday before the first task, and the students took the afternoon off to travel to the village nearby.

They already hit up several shops, stopping in at Honeydukes to pick up some sweets. Lily suggested it would turn Ira's frown upside down, but the prospect of buying and eating chocolates still didn't bring up Ira's spirit. Lily watched her with a frown while chewing on a jelly slug.

For several days, Ira's face was left completely emotionless. She was still dumbfounded by what transpired between her and her father. The bruise was still there, blooming over her face in an ugly purple-yellow hue.

People noticed it—some people even talked about it. Students believed that Draco jumped her after what she did and gave her a good punch in the face. The rumor made Ira go numb. As sinister as Draco could be, he would never do such a thing.

The ferret hadn't spoken a word to Ira in days, which was a relief. He never looked at her, either, always sulking or glaring about something in the other direction. Even when he sat next to Sally in her classes or at meals, he didn't engage in much conversation with her—his girlfriend. The same girlfriend that was Ira's best friend, although she hadn't acted very friendly since the duel.

Like Draco, Sally chose not to speak to Ira. But instead of appearing angry all the time, she kept a smile on her face and made sure to make it known she wasn't upset about anything concerning her friend. She even appeared to be on better terms with Theo now, talking to him instead of Draco at meals. Something in Ira would always flare up when they shared a laugh or two.

Lily stopped walking just as a pair of people emerged from one of the shops. It was Rita Skeeter and her cameraman. The older woman's eyes lit up when she saw Ira standing there.

"Oh! Ira Soares!"

Ira moved her hair so it covered her bruise. The last thing she needed was an article about how she got that number on her face.

Rita got closer. "Do you mind if we have a quick chat?"

Ira removed her arm from Lily's and sidestepped the woman. "No thanks."

"But it'll only take a few minutes! Word has it that you got into a fight with Draco Malfoy? Would you like to elaborate on what happened?" She already had her Quick-Quotes Quill and notepad hovering in the air, ready for any word that would come out of Ira's mouth.

Ira shook her head again.

Lily groaned. "Will you just leave her alone already? She's got nothing to say."

Rita stared at Lily above her glasses. "And you are?"

Groaning again, Lily grabbed Ira and the two marched away.

"But it could be a wonderful story! You'd get all the spotlight!" Rita yelled to their backs.

They ignored her and walked to the Three Broomsticks. The pub was jam-packed inside, almost every table taken up. It looked like nobody stuck around at the castle that day. Ira almost did—she just wanted to cuddle up under her blankets and sleep. That was until Lily convinced her to go with her to Hogsmeade.

"We'll never find a table," Lily complained.

Ira pointed to one in the corner, where she saw Hermione sitting alone. "We can sit there."

Lily cringed. "I'm not sitting with a mudbl—"

Ira shot her a look.

"I'm not too keen of Hermione Granger."

"I know that," Ira said and proceeded to drag Lily to Hermione's table.

They took a seat across from her while she talked to herself about S.P.E.W.

"Hey, Hermione," Ira greeted.

Hermione narrowed her eyes on Lily, who remained quiet. She did, however, smile at Ira afterwards.

"How are you doing?"

Ira knew she meant how her cheek was doing. "I'm fine. It doesn't even hurt anymore."

Hermione glanced down at her notebook. "I wish I knew the spell that could help."

"It'll go away soon. Just give it another week," Ira pointed out. "What are you doing sitting here all alone?"

"I'm not alone," Hermione emphasized, her eyes shifting to the empty space beside her. "You two are here now."

Ira realized that Harry was there, too, underneath his invisibility cloak.

"Oh, I guess that's true." Ira sat back, finally looking around at the familiar and nonfamiliar faces in the crowd.

She saw Sally and Draco seated across from Theo and Daphne, both couples drinking butterbeers and enjoying appetizers. Another table over was Blaise, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Fred, George, Ron, and Lee Jordan occupied a table farther away, but Ira could see the stark red hair against the dimness of the pub. Other people Ira saw in passing or didn't really know scattered the place. For now, nobody would know she was there.

Hermione scribbled something down in her notebook. "Maybe I should get villagers involved in S.P.E.W."

Lily scoffed, and Ira elbowed her for doing so.

The Gryffindor didn't question it. "You know, I'm starting to think it's time for more direct action. I wonder, how do you get into the school kitchens?"

She was looking at Ira and Lily now as if they had the answer. They did.

Ira leaned forward. "There's a portrait near the Hufflepuff common room. In the painting there's a pear you need to tickle and voila! Easy entrance into the kitchens."

Her friend jotted this down quickly.

As the minutes ticked by, Ira felt someone watching her. She scanned the pub once more to find the culprit.

Draco stared back at her.

Sally was too busy talking to Theo and Daphne to realize her boyfriend's attention had moved to Ira. Well, more like to the bruise across her cheekbone.

Ira moved her hair for the hundredth time that day, so it blocked his view. But he continued to watch her.

His stare got too suffocating.

"Hey, I'm going to go outside and get some air," Ira said hurriedly.

She nearly ran from the restaurant. Her heeled boots clicked against the cobblestone as she tried moving through the crowd. It wasn't until she got away from the village that she was able to breathe again.

It was hard not to gain a reaction out of Ira when it came to Malfoy. His calculated stare and presence irked her to the point of no return.

A sound came from somewhere in the forest to Ira's left. She recognized the sound instantly, having not heard it in weeks. She glanced around to make sure nobody was there before pursuing the sound within the forest. Although the sun still shined high in the sky, it was still a creepy place to go wandering around by oneself. But Ira didn't mind.

Ira made it a few paces before finding the blue hummingbird again. Like always, it watched her approach and moved out of her reach when she made a move to touch it. She about gave up until it led her to a stream in the middle of a clearing. The hummingbird stopped moving, hovering there for a few seconds.

Then, it disappeared.

And that's when someone grabbed Ira.

She squealed and moved from the person's grip, falling straight into the stream, soaking herself in freezing water.

The person responsible chuckled from above. They didn't even have the common decency to help her out.

When she got a good look at who it was, she wanted to scream—and she did.

"Malfoy!"

Draco stood over her with an outstretched hand. His face was still blank, but a hint of amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Ira refused his hand and got out of the water. "It's not polite to sneak up on a lady. Especially when she's near a body of water!"

"I thought it was," he said, putting his hand back in his pocket. "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

"Why are you following me?" Ira countered.

He shrugged.

"Oh, right, I forgot. It's because you're a giant creep."

He rolled his eyes. "I wanted to ask you what happened to your face. Because I don't appreciate people assuming I did that to you. Is that what you're telling people?"

"You're on a whole new level of stupid if you think I'm telling people you punched me," Ira pointed out. "I know you're not that horrible, Malfoy. Give me a break."

"And I used to think the same thing of you and then you tried to kill me."

Ira gaped. "Kill you? I hexed you with an innocent spell."

"It left a scar, Soares. That's not so innocent."

"So, you followed me to cry about it and throw a pity party?"

"No, I want to know how you got that on your face."

"It's none of your business!" Ira snapped, marching up to his face. "Why can't you just leave me alone? For once, I beg you, just give it a rest, Malfoy!"

"I can't."

"Why can't you?"

"Because I know what it's like."

Ira stepped back. "What are you talking about?"

"Your father did that, didn't he?" Draco asked in a much calmer voice than before. "I know what it's like to have a horrible father. Although mine never went to the extent Sigrid has—"

He stopped when he saw Ira's eyes begin to tear up. She turned back to the stream and retrieved her wand from the water where it had fallen out of her boot.

"You want to have a heart-to-heart, Malfoy, is that it?" Ira asked.

She felt him move closer, could feel his body warming up her back. It made her shiver.

"I just wanted you to know that I can relate," he said softly.

Ira turned around, finding him far too close for comfort, and stepped around him. "We can't relate, Malfoy. We're nothing alike."

"That's where you're wrong."

"Quit trying to do that, Malfoy!" Ira demanded through her tears. "Just stop it already!"

He didn't reply.

Ira wiped away the tears streaking down her face. "I hate you, Malfoy. I hate you so much. Most of the pain I experience is your doing. And having you stand there and try to relate to me only makes things worse! Can't you just forget I exist? Why won't you leave me alone?"

Still, no reply.

"You don't care, so why don't you stop acting like you do and get on with your life without involving me in it? Life would be so much easier that way—for the both of us, Malfoy."

She meant every word that came from her mouth, and as she watched Malfoy begin to walk away from her, she realized in that very moment the meaning behind his words a few days back.

Perhaps she was indeed a liar.