Chapter 3
As we entered the pub, I scanned around for my friends. I spotted them over by the large glittering Christmas tree in the corner. I caught their attention as I came in and they raised their eyebrows at me, in relation to my company. I couldn't help giving them all a huge grin- I wanted to laugh. It was like I was doing something really naughty right in front of them and there was nothing they could do about it. To be honest, it made me feel quite important being in the company of someone so powerful, not to mention controversial.
Malfoy lead me to a secluded table in the window of the pub, and we sat down with two tankards of hot butterbeer. I gazed out of the window as he sat down. Snow was swirling wildly outside. I watched the crowd hurrying past, pulling their cloaks around them, heads bowed against the wind and snow. It made me feel cosy, sitting here in the warm, bustling Christmasy atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks.
I was suddenly acutely aware that Malfoy was watching me. I averted my gaze as I turned to him. His eyes had a distant look about them- like he was thinking hard about something. It made me wonder what he was thinking about. I wondered what he was doing, sitting in a pub with me, of all people. I also wonder why Ron and Harry don't like him. I wonder if I could provoke him into telling me…
"What do you want from me Malfoy? Really, I know what you're like, my brother's told me," I said, fixing him with a questioning look.
"Oh really? And what exactly has your brother said?" Malfoy's expression changed. The hazy expression in his eyes was replaced with another expression. An expression that could easily be mistaken for considerable annoyance… Still, I wasn't getting any answers using this tactic.
"You know how you stand with my brother and his friends. Surely I don't have to tell you?"
I think that may have been the wrong thing to have said. Malfoy's eyes narrowed and he seemed to be fighting to hold his tongue.
"No, you don't have to tell me. I couldn't care less. What makes their opinions so valid? Don't you have a mind of your own?"
Mind of my own? What did he think I was doing here with him, if not trying to make up my own mind about him? Maybe I should tell him that Ron's opinion of him was Ron's alone- it didn't extend to me. But then I thought, why should I bother? He's not giving me a chance. That was a downright insult that I'm sure I didn't ask for.
"I don't need your insults Malfoy, if you've got something to say to me then just say it." There. That was coolly done. However, it didn't seem to have any affect on him. He fixed me with his penetrating stare that would have rivalled Snape's best. I shouldn't have to put up with this. He obviously had nothing special he wanted to talk to me about, nothing worth dragging me in here for. Not even a "Sorry" for practically pushing me over. "I wasn't expecting much from you Malfoy. If you had any kind of decency you'd at least apologise for knocking me over back then. You'd think with a family as rich as yours, you could afford some manners. Money isn't everything, you know. You might have all the power in the world- but that won't earn you friendship. My brother and his friends were right about you, you know."
"I don't give a damn about your precious brother or his pathetic friends," he spat at me.
Oh God. I'd really upset him. I didn't mean to- I was just telling it how it was. But he'd insulted my brother. You cannot get lower than insulting a person's family. "How dare you!" I tried to channel my anger into that sentence, but I hate shouting. I could feel my voice shake even as I said it. Emotion was welling up inside me.
Malfoy rose to his feet. Anger spread across his face as snarled down at me. He was damn scary.
I rose level with him, not letting him feel power over me by looking down on me like that. Our faces were inches apart, like two dogs about to bite each other. I glared at him. But as the anger bubbled up, a second feeling almost overrode it. Disappointment.
Suddenly Malfoy dropped my eye contact and fixed on a point somewhere behind my left shoulder. I thought I saw panic shoot across his face, but I wasn't sure as it was instantly replaced with the most venomous look possible. I breathed hard and my heart pounded as he opened his mouth.
"You're pathetic, Weasley. You're not worth my time. Get out of my sight. And don't ever bother me again," he hissed. A malicious glint sparkled in his eye, relishing the effect of his words.
I couldn't believe it. Hot tears sprang to my eyes. My anger fell away. The shock and hurt were too strong. I had to get out. Away from here, away from Malfoy. I pushed past him towards the door, hidden in the blur ahead of me. I wiped my eyes and they came to focus on that girl Malfoy had been walking with this morning. She was making her way towards him. So that was it. She was his girlfriend. It made my heart jolt with an inexplicable sick jealousy that I couldn't get my head round.
*
As we entered the pub, I scanned around for my friends. I spotted them over by the large glittering Christmas tree in the corner. I caught their attention as I came in and they raised their eyebrows at me, in relation to my company. I couldn't help giving them all a huge grin- I wanted to laugh. It was like I was doing something really naughty right in front of them and there was nothing they could do about it. To be honest, it made me feel quite important being in the company of someone so powerful, not to mention controversial.
Malfoy lead me to a secluded table in the window of the pub, and we sat down with two tankards of hot butterbeer. I gazed out of the window as he sat down. Snow was swirling wildly outside. I watched the crowd hurrying past, pulling their cloaks around them, heads bowed against the wind and snow. It made me feel cosy, sitting here in the warm, bustling Christmasy atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks.
I was suddenly acutely aware that Malfoy was watching me. I averted my gaze as I turned to him. His eyes had a distant look about them- like he was thinking hard about something. It made me wonder what he was thinking about. I wondered what he was doing, sitting in a pub with me, of all people. I also wonder why Ron and Harry don't like him. I wonder if I could provoke him into telling me…
"What do you want from me Malfoy? Really, I know what you're like, my brother's told me," I said, fixing him with a questioning look.
"Oh really? And what exactly has your brother said?" Malfoy's expression changed. The hazy expression in his eyes was replaced with another expression. An expression that could easily be mistaken for considerable annoyance… Still, I wasn't getting any answers using this tactic.
"You know how you stand with my brother and his friends. Surely I don't have to tell you?"
I think that may have been the wrong thing to have said. Malfoy's eyes narrowed and he seemed to be fighting to hold his tongue.
"No, you don't have to tell me. I couldn't care less. What makes their opinions so valid? Don't you have a mind of your own?"
Mind of my own? What did he think I was doing here with him, if not trying to make up my own mind about him? Maybe I should tell him that Ron's opinion of him was Ron's alone- it didn't extend to me. But then I thought, why should I bother? He's not giving me a chance. That was a downright insult that I'm sure I didn't ask for.
"I don't need your insults Malfoy, if you've got something to say to me then just say it." There. That was coolly done. However, it didn't seem to have any affect on him. He fixed me with his penetrating stare that would have rivalled Snape's best. I shouldn't have to put up with this. He obviously had nothing special he wanted to talk to me about, nothing worth dragging me in here for. Not even a "Sorry" for practically pushing me over. "I wasn't expecting much from you Malfoy. If you had any kind of decency you'd at least apologise for knocking me over back then. You'd think with a family as rich as yours, you could afford some manners. Money isn't everything, you know. You might have all the power in the world- but that won't earn you friendship. My brother and his friends were right about you, you know."
"I don't give a damn about your precious brother or his pathetic friends," he spat at me.
Oh God. I'd really upset him. I didn't mean to- I was just telling it how it was. But he'd insulted my brother. You cannot get lower than insulting a person's family. "How dare you!" I tried to channel my anger into that sentence, but I hate shouting. I could feel my voice shake even as I said it. Emotion was welling up inside me.
Malfoy rose to his feet. Anger spread across his face as snarled down at me. He was damn scary.
I rose level with him, not letting him feel power over me by looking down on me like that. Our faces were inches apart, like two dogs about to bite each other. I glared at him. But as the anger bubbled up, a second feeling almost overrode it. Disappointment.
Suddenly Malfoy dropped my eye contact and fixed on a point somewhere behind my left shoulder. I thought I saw panic shoot across his face, but I wasn't sure as it was instantly replaced with the most venomous look possible. I breathed hard and my heart pounded as he opened his mouth.
"You're pathetic, Weasley. You're not worth my time. Get out of my sight. And don't ever bother me again," he hissed. A malicious glint sparkled in his eye, relishing the effect of his words.
I couldn't believe it. Hot tears sprang to my eyes. My anger fell away. The shock and hurt were too strong. I had to get out. Away from here, away from Malfoy. I pushed past him towards the door, hidden in the blur ahead of me. I wiped my eyes and they came to focus on that girl Malfoy had been walking with this morning. She was making her way towards him. So that was it. She was his girlfriend. It made my heart jolt with an inexplicable sick jealousy that I couldn't get my head round.
*