First off, I would like to thank my beta reader for this chapter - Chessie. Yes, I finally got one! You did such a great job! Thank you!! :D
Cho Malfoy – Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, this story will have very few sappy moments. So glad that you love the fic!
mee – I completely understand what you mean…Redeemed and Fluffy!Draco. Blah! Draco is a prat and a jerk and he loves being that way. I don't see why so many people want to change him. About the logs…well…they are the ingenious works of Ferret Boy and Pamela. Actually, I think Ferret Boy's review actually provides a little snippet out of one of the logs. It's basically roleplay in the HP universe. I happened to stumble upon them a while ago and was instantly hooked. They are really Draco/Cho intense and they are soooooo good! Sooooo good that I'm writing a fic based on the logs! Ferret Boy as Draco is dead on and Pamela as Cho is so real and so touching. Love them…just love them (logs and their creators).
dollbaby – I'm glad someone else is hooked onto this story besides me! I hope you like this chapter. :)
nunce – There's action is this one too. The kind where objects are thrown. Let the fun begin! Wheee!
Ferret Boy – I know that I'm forgiven already, but I'm making a public apology anyway. Sorry for making Draco a sex god. It's really much more fun to have him this way. ;)
Dusty Wings – Draco is a mysterious fella, isn't he? Well anyways, here's more history in this chapter for you. Happy reading!
The Teenage Angst Brigade – Thanks for the enthusiasm. Hope you like this chapter too!
Ophelia Winters – Hopefully this chapter will answer your question regarding Draco's true feelings toward Blaise.
Death Eater – Hey! Thanks for checking out this fic. I'll be anxiously awaiting your third chapter. Just to let you know, you might get more exposure to Draco/Cho fans if you catalog your fic under these two characters. Who knows? You could be well on your way to hundreds of reviews!
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters.
Chapter 5 – Stupid
Cho Chang and Blaise Zabini both turned their heads in the direction of the voice to find Draco Malfoy coming towards them, his icy gray eyes expressing disdain for what they saw.
Before Cho could stop herself, she breathed out with a sigh of relief, "Draco." Although he was the reason why she was in this predicament in the first place, the sight of him was a welcome one at the present moment.
Blaise shot Cho a death glare for her transgression. However, she quickly redirected her attention to the blond DeathEater and in a whimpering, almost submissive tone tried to explain her actions, "Draco, I…I went looking for you in your room because…well, we haven't been together since you last left …and…and I found her!" Blaise gave Cho a harsh tug.
Cho grinned inwardly with some satisfaction how Blaise's tough-as-nails tone and attitude had withered considerably now that Draco was present.
"Blaise, you know I've been quite busy recently with the Lordship. You come only when I beckon you. Is that clear?" his drawl cold and stern.
Blaise's once impressive stature and situation seemed to fade as Draco scolded her. "Yes. I know Draco and I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have come, but…but…but who is this? And why is she in your room and in your bed?" Blaise wanted the focus moved from her to Cho.
"You need not concern yourself as to why she is in my bed, Blaise. It's really none of your business, now is it?" However, without warning, Draco's stern drawl lightened some and he offered, "But, I suppose there is no harm in revealing who she is…Cho Chang…Ravenclaw…a year above us at Hogwarts." The smirk made an appearance as Draco turned to regard Cho briefly before returning his attention again to Blaise.
"Cho…Chang?" Blaise sounded the name out slowly as if she had heard the name before. Blaise's eyes widened when realization finally set in as to just where and when she had heard the name before, "Cho…Cho…that's the name you always cry out when you're about to – "
"That is quite enough, Blaise," Draco said, his voice threatening.
Blaise promptly shut her mouth and glowered menacingly over at Cho.
Cho could feel Blaise's eyes bore into the side of her face. Cho had fixed her own brown eyes onto Draco's bedroom door not wanting to look at either Draco or Blaise. She wished that she could disappear and be alone…alone in her own spot in the vast universe. That lone spot of eternal solitude seemed infinitely better than where she was at this particular moment.
"No wonder I didn't recognize you. Look at you. How could I have ever thought that my Draco would want you? You skinny, filthy, little, pathetic excuse for a woman. Actually, you're not even a woman. You're a mere girl. Draco doesn't want a girl…he wants a woman…a woman who knows how to satisfy a man." Cho could feel a sharp pinch in her wrist as Blaise twisted her grip cruelly. No matter how hard Cho tried to ignore Blaise's spiteful words, the words were too biting and Cho couldn't help but hear them loud and clear.
Cho's heavy heart filled with more distress and rage as she realized that Blaise was not quite finished, "Whatever happened to the beautiful popular Cho Chang that could make any boy at Hogwarts fall under her spell with just a flash of her smile and a batting of her eyelashes? And, if I remember correctly, you were particularly taken with the Seekers of each house, managing to ensnare each with your cunning charms. I do declare that the only good thing Pansy ever did in her miserable worthless life was make Draco see the error of his ways and unveil the wretched whore that you really were. What was the nickname that she gave you? Oh yes…Ho Chang…not particularly creative, but this is Pansy we're talking about. The popular, handsome Cedric Diggory wasn't even cold in his grave and yet you had already set your eyes on the Malfoy heir. After Draco came to his senses and dumped you, you went right into famous Scarhead Potter's arms. But, you know what they say…what goes around, comes around. Honestly, not even Scarhead Potter would give a tease such as you a second glance right now. You're disgusting!" Blaise sniggered with pitiless amusement and hatred. Blaise then turned penitent eyes to Draco and simpered, "Oh Draco, honey, could you ever forgive me? I know you would never be tempted by someone so repulsive and childlike as her. She's probably disease-ridden."
Each vicious word uttered by Blaise cut into Cho and her eyes tightened with pain and anger. But she refused to be baited by Blaise and kept her stony gaze upon the door.
"Are you quite finished, Blaise?" Draco asked coolly. He pointedly offered no words of reprimand for Blaise's wicked catty behavior. "If so, hand her over to me so that I can put her back where you found her," Draco commanded.
"But Draco, she's sleeping in our bed!" Blaise resorted to a whining tactic when she realized that her reproof of Cho did not have the desired effect on Draco.
"Do not argue with me, Blaise!," Draco bellowed as his patience was quickly wearing thin. He suddenly stepped over to Blaise and grabbed a hold of her arm and jerked her so that she could face him. Blaise was so surprised by this sudden assault that her hold on Cho loosened. No longer having Blaise's support, Cho collapsed to the floor but managed to brace herself up with her arms. For a split second, a look of concern flashed across Draco's pale pointed features and he quickly released Blaise and knelt beside Cho and prepared to pick her up.
"Blaise, you are dismissed. And for goodness sake woman, get some clothes on," Draco scolded again.
An indignant Blaise stood in the hallway glaring at Draco as he carried Cho back to his room. "Fine! I'm thankful that I get to leave. It'll give me a chance to cleanse myself of the germs and disease that have surely contaminated me while in that whore's presence!"
Upon entering, Draco kicked the door shut to further stress his wish that Blaise leave.
As Draco carried Cho back to his bed, neither spoke a word and Cho dared not glance up at him. Blaise's cruel words were still running through her mind. Was Blaise right? Did Draco see her as nothing more than a selfish, gold-digging flirt that jumped from one boy to the next? Was that why he had broken off their relationship?
She knew that much of Hogwarts, particularly the Slytherins, shared the same opinions as Pansy and Blaise…that she was selfish and had betrayed Cedric's memory by callously moving on and ensnaring Draco Malfoy, a younger, affluent, good-looking replacement. Of course, many outlandish rumors had circulated the school about the unusual pairing. She could even recall one rumor where she was supposedly blackmailing Draco.
But Draco knew the truth. There was no blackmail. There was no gold-digging. There was no attempt to try to replace the love she had shared with Cedric. The simple truth was Draco needed a friend during a particular trying time in his life and she wanted to be there for him…as a friend. No more, no less. However, Fate had other plans, and feelings beyond friendship soon began to dictate their relationship no matter how hard each had tried to resist.
Draco knew the truth. Didn't he? Cho had firmly believed all these years that Draco ended their relationship on other accounts. Doubt of this belief now clouded her mind. And Draco's unwillingness to come to her defense during Blaise's tirade only added to her doubt.
But, did the truth matter anymore? Draco had severed ties with her. She had learned to forget him. He was now a DeathEater bent on ruling the wizarding world with Voldemort. She was now a prisoner used to lure in Harry Potter. The future seemed bleak from where she stood. No. The truth didn't matter anymore.
It wasn't until he gently placed her down back on the bed did Draco impart a cutting remark, "If you would actually eat some of this bloody food, you would have enough energy to get back here by yourself and I wouldn't have had to carry you back."
Cho turned her face away so that she could conceal the few tears that had already found themselves on her cheeks. "Why didn't you just leave me out there in the hallway then? I could have crawled back, you know. You could have gone off with her," hurt and disappointment apparent in her tight voice.
Draco responded in his bored drawl, "Don't be stupid. You and I both know that you have barely enough energy to make it to the door much less the bed." A few seconds later, Draco added dryly, "Besides, I'm not in the mood tonight anyways."
At Draco's comment about his 'mood' Cho closed her eyes and allowed a few more tears to escape. She hated him so much. She didn't love him anymore. She didn't care for him anymore. Yet the thought of him being with another woman, especially one so beautiful, was affecting her too much for her own comfort. She was jealous and she hated herself for it. "I hate this. I hate being here."
At Cho's outburst, Draco cocked an eyebrow and drawled, "Why? I'd say that for a captive, you have it on pretty good terms. I'm sure any one of the prisoners down in the dungeons would trade places with you in a heartbeat."
When Cho opened her eyes again, she was careful to keep them focused on the green covers in front of her. She was miserable, tired, livid and simply wasn't in the mood for his sarcasm. She clenched her jaw and continued her tantrum, putting emphasis on every 'hate', "I still hate it. I hate this bed. I hate this room. I hate being weak. I hate it that history is repeating itself. I hate it that I can't do anything about it. I hate it that I have no control over my life anymore. I hate what this is doing to me. I hate it that every time I shut my eyes, that horrible night replays itself over and over in my dreams. I hate being scolded and insulted by your crass girlfriends. I hate being called vulgar and unwarranted names. I hate it that I ever cared for you. I hate you."
The room was now as silent as it was dark outside. Cho continued to fix her gaze on the green covers. She wasn't sure what Draco would say in response, if anything. And nothing she could have done would have prepared her for it. Draco's unsympathetic, acid-filled voice finally filled the room, "You talk as though you were the only one capable of having a bad day. Do you honestly think that I would care whether or not you hate or love your life? Let me tell you something, Cho Chang, I don't."
The tears that had seemed to cease were now flowing again.
Draco continued, "Do you honestly think that my life is all roses? Do you know what it's like to have the greatest Dark Wizard of our lifetime breathing down your neck every moment of the day just waiting to see you make one wrong move? Do you know the dread I feel every single time this bloody revolting mark on my forearm burns? Do you know what it's like to witness the murder of your own father at the hand of your most hated enemy? Do you know what it's like to see your own mother spiral deeper and deeper into a world of depression with each passing day to the point where she can't or won't even greet her own son?"
The tears had ceased once again. Shock overtook her now. Almost instinctively, Cho started to offer him the one thing he had never appreciated from her, "Draco I – "
"Save it, Cho. I never needed your sympathy or compassion then and I certainly don't need or want it now. I just told you to make you aware that you're not the only one who hates their lives," a bitterness now apparent in the tone of his voice as he walked over to the large window.
Cho should have known better than to offer compassion to this particular person. He was right. It had always backfired on her when she tried to offer it to him at Hogwarts. Suppressing the tendency to have any trace of compassion in her voice, she tried to offer what she thought a logical and practical solution, "If you hate it so much, then why don't you just leave? Take your mother and flee."
Draco turned to face Cho and let out a chuckle, "Flee? Where? To the Light side? I would rather soon perish and lose all I have to the Dark side then take up with Saint Potter and that senile old fool Dumbledore. Potter murdered my father. I will never rest until I have my revenge. If I have to die to have it, I will make that sacrifice. I want Potter to feel the kind of loss that my mother and I have gone through. That's why you were the ideal candidate, Cho. To lose the one person he cares most for so that he can experience the pain…that is what I want. An eye for an eye."
The malicious glint in Draco's icy blue-gray eyes sent a shiver down Cho's spine. Once again, the mention of Harry and his ruin ignited her and she felt compelled to defend him, all traces of compassion purged from her voice, "Draco, I'm truly sorry about your father. But what makes you think that Harry hasn't gone through that kind of pain already?"
"Has he now? Please enlighten me for I was under the impression that he didn't even know his parents," Draco retorted sarcastically.
Cho set her mouth into a thin line and tried to keep her voice even, "Exactly Draco. He didn't even know his parents. At least you and I have had the fortune to experience being loved and cared for by our parents. You and I have memories that we can look back upon in reverie. Harry doesn't have that. He grew up with people who loathed his very existence. The pain that he might feel if I was taken from him would pale in comparison to the pain he's already been through."
Whirling around with anger, Draco picked up a nearby crystal decanter and threw it against the far wall shattering it into tiny shards of sharp glass and howled, "Dammit Cho! Why must you always defend him? Does he mean that much to you? Does he mean that much to you that you're willing to die for him?"
Startled by Draco's sudden act of violence, Cho sat still, eyeing Draco as he sneered at her. After a few moments, she calmly replied, "Yes, Draco. He is a good friend and he means more to me than you'll ever know or understand. He is my best friend ever since you left. He was there when you broke my heart, he was there when I went away to a foreign mediwitch school where I knew no one, he was there when my parents died. He was always there. Why, in this crucial moment, Draco, would I not be there for him? He is a friend, Draco. And I make it a habit to stand by and defend my friends. But, I can't really expect you to understand such a concept, now can I?"
The cold sneer slowly became an amused smirk, "Your best friend? And were you fortunate enough to also inherit Mudblood Granger and Destitute Weasel as best friends too? How pathetic you all are." Draco then took a moment to thoughtfully contemplate his next statement, "But then again, if Saint Potter means that much to you, why not just love the wretched fool? Merlin knows how long he's been pining after you."
Cho breathed a heavy sigh when the inevitable tiresome topic finally came up, "Fine, Draco. Is that what you want? Fine then. I, Cho Chang, do solemnly swear that I am madly and deeply in love with Harry Potter, the 'Boy Who Lived.' I must have been a fool to have denied myself these feelings for so long. What was I thinking when I fell for a cruel, heartless, manipulative bastard when I could have fallen for a supportive, caring, brave hero? Am I that stupid, Draco?"
Draco's eyes visibly tightened when the words 'madly' and 'deeply' were uttered and even more so when he was being called a 'cruel, heartless, manipulative bastard.' The smirk firmly in place, Draco decided to answer Cho's rhetorical question, "Yes, you are stupid, Cho. The choice was obvious and yet you made the wrong one. A perfect example of stupidity, in fact." Making his way over to the door, he added, "And, contrary to what you believe to know of me…I understand such a concept very well. Unlike you, I am more discriminating and only choose to bestow it on persons I deem worthy enough to receive it. Good night, Cho."
So irate at Draco's unsolicited response about her state of intelligence and his nonchalant departure that she garnered all of her remaining energy and let out a blood-curdling scream of frustration. If she had any remaining energy, she would have picked up the nearest object and set it sailing across the room aimed at the door before it closed shut.
A/N: Can we all say BITTER and JEALOUS? All three characters too! That was my aim, folks. And…those nasty Slytherin chicks…I definitely wouldn't want to get on their bad side! I realize that the story's kind of slow-going. I'm planning the next chapter to be a bit different. So far, it's been so heavy…I thought that I would make the next one a bit lighter. But, don't worry. I have a plan. Scary, I know. Just bear with me. It'll be worth it. I promise. I hope anyways. If you read this and like it…please REVIEW!!