Chapter Twenty-Three: Everybody's Fool
Never was and never will be
you don't know how you've betrayed me
and somehow you've got everybody fooled
without the mask where will you hide
can't find yourself lost in your lie
I know the truth now
I know who you are
and I don't love you anymore
it never was and never will be
you don't know how you've betrayed me
and somehow you've got everybody fooled
Hey Ginny,
This thing's pretty wicked. Just hope it reaches you!
Anyway, I know it's really short notice,
but would you like to go with me to Hogsmeade tonight?
I miss you loads, Merlin I sound like a bloody sap….
-Blaise
"SAY YES!"
An ear shattering shriek burst out from behind the little red-head. Flustered, the she fumbled over her bed and landed hard upon the solid stone floor.
"Say yes!" the voice squealed yet again. Gingerly rubbing her elbow where she had so gracefully fallen onto, Ginny peeked her head over her bed, finding herself face to face with a clown. Well, no, not exactly, but with all the neon pink eye shadow and matching the lipstick, one could easily mistake either one for the other.
"Natalie!" she exclaimed, heaving herself back onto her rumpled bed.
Placing her hands upon her hips, Natalie frowned sternly in a poor attempt to disguise her bursting smile from the other girl. "And just when did you plan on telling me that my ingenious plan succeeded?!"
"Dreadfully sorry." Ginny grinned back widely, throwing her arms around the older girl in a grateful embrace. "Thank you so much."
Natalie blushed visibly from behind the mask of vivid reddish powder which she'd applied so copiously and gave Ginny a squeeze. "I was just kidding, Gin. I didn't do much anyways, just gave you a lil prod. The little Weasley pulled back and raised a doubtful brow. "Okay, a not-so-little shove off the cliff. Good thing you landed on your feet then. Will you reply to him already?!"
"Oh, right." Quickly, she snatched up a bottle of violet ink and her peacock quill, and sent her memo back to it's eagerly awaiting recipient.
"Details, details, detail! I want to know everything!" Her large hazel eyes glittered in anticipation. In her mind, since she couldn't find her true love, then the least she could do was live through Ginny and her fairytale romance.
Feeling a sudden wave of shyness upon speaking of her newly acquired beau, Ginny shrunk back, and began to fiddle with her quill. "Well, where should I start?"
Natalie thought for a moment, unsure of what she wanted to hear first. "Well, let's start with….has he kissed you yet?"
Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment, unsure of how to answer. The truth was he hadn't even tried to kiss her in the past few days they'd been together. It was rather odd, but then again, there were many things that seemed odd with their relationship. Whenever Blaise wished to see her, they'd have to meet in the most discreet places such as the farthest dungeons, the darkest corridors and the emptiest rooms. She'd also been rather uncertain of whether or not she should have told anyone of their relationship for it seemed he himself had told no one. "….actually, he hasn't. It…is a bit strange I suppose. Perhaps he's too shy."
"Hmm," she murmured to herself, curling a lock of strawberry-blonde around her finger. "Perhaps; he doesn't seem like the type to flaunt his women. I suppose it's a good thing….well, and a bad thing. A girl needs to mark her territory. Otherwise, you'll have those such as ahem, Ms. Brown stealing them from under your very nose" she said bitterly.
Ginny flinched at the sound of her friend's cutting tone. She knew exactly the reason behind it. A year back, Lavender had supposedly stolen Adiran Noles, Natalie's Slytherin boyfriend. Ever since then, there had been a straining tension between the two girls. Although Ginny had found it strange as to why Lavender would do such a thing for she was normally a lovely girl. It just went to prove that some people just weren't as they seemed. The feeling set her off ease. It meant that anyone could go and snatch up Blaise…
Just then, a familiar air memo came zooming back. Plonking itself headfirst into Ginny's arm. Smiling to herself, she carefully unfolded the note as to prolong the rising anticipation for as long as possible.
Great, I'll meet you out on the Quidditch field at 6
'Til then
-Blaise
A grimace inched across Natalie's brightly painted visage as she glanced over the note. "That's hours after the Hogsmeade trip begins. And why the Quidditch field? That's no where near the entrance."
Shrugging, Ginny turned to add the note to the large collection she'd collaborated within her wooden chest. Each time she opened the trunk, a strange flutter flew threw her system. She still found it utterly unbelievable that she had gotten Blaise Zabini. It was literally a dream come true. Ginny had absolutely no clue as to why he had chosen her, but he had; and she would never let him go.
Slowly, she turned back to find Natalie sitting upon her bed with her wand primed and a wily grin stretched across her lips. "Can I do your makeup?"
xXx
She was beautiful; inside and out.
But how could the one thing that brought him so much happiness bring him such sadness and pain at the exact same time? It pained him deeply to think that he'd given her such control of him; physically and mentally so that she could possess the power to bring him to his knees. No one had ever done such a thing before; especially not a girl. He hated the way she made him think, he hated the way she had made him doubt his beliefs, he hated the way she had changed him; for the better, but most of all, he hated the way she had broken through his defences and caused him to fall…..for her. Her of all people.
Her, of all people had hurt him. It just had to be her. The only one he had ever let in. The only one he ever trusted. The only one he'd ever….
Loved
Draco scoffed aloud at the word. How could he possibly love now? After she'd….
Kissed him
Him.
Oh how Draco hated that man. Seeing his hands on her waist where his own should have been. Seeing his body pressed so intimately against her own….where his should have been. Seeing his lips….his horrid lips….against hers….where his…..had been.
The image of the two intertwined within one another was burned permanently into his mind. Every time his eyes closed, even for the briefest moment, he would see them.
Drawing in a sharp, trembling breath, Draco raised his eyes to the girl….woman before him. She was flawless down to the very last golden spark within her eyes. Slowly, he raised a wavering hand to his chest. He could feel the steady beating of his heart beneath the bare palm of his hand; but it seemed to be missing a beat. Like a crack in the system; caused by her.
Trust.
It was trust.
He had been fool enough to trust her. Never trust. Never love. Draco had broken the two most essential rules of the Malfoys. He had loved; and he had trusted.
But never again would he make those same mistakes. A Malfoy was never tricked more than once.
Click
Upon hearing the disturbance in his peace, the Slytherin boy turned from which he was occupied; finding himself face to face with the real thing.
xXx
It was her.
Everything from her liquid copper-hued eyes to the distinctive, blood red ruby she'd worn nights before. The wide-eyed maiden stood immobile, incapable of conveying her emotions at the moment. The blood within her veins seemed to have stopped just as her mind had.
It was her.
"It's—" but she never did finish her sentence.
As Hermione's eyes fell upon his own, hardened, glacier ones, her words became lost and choked within her constricted throat. A sense of fear flooded through her body and she tensed visibly, clenching her fists until her fingernails began to bury themselves within the tender flesh of her palms.
The room was silent save for the sound of blood rushing through his ears and the eerily steady thumping of his shattered heart.
His paled lips were pressed together tightly as if trying to suppress the spiteful words that longed to dominate. Draco's eyes narrowed as the ghost of a vision previously seen flashed tauntingly before him.
The Slytherin's lips moved the barest amount, but his words were clearer than the malice that he projected from his aura. "What are you doing here?"
Hermione hesitated, her mind chasing after the reply that seemed to have buried itself deep within the back of her mind. "I-I—are you….mad at me?"
"Perfect Granger never does miss a thing now does she?" he spat scathingly, thriving in the little flinch in her petrified state at his biting tone.
His glare burned into her terror-filled eyes, searing her soul and beyond, but she kept his gaze, never once looking away. "I'm sorry I overreacted" she said in a voice far softer than she had intended.
Draco let out a hollow, disdainful laugh that filled Hermione with horrible recollections of their past, long ago together. "Do you really think that's what this is all about, Granger? Something as—as petty as that?" She gave no reply, now wholly baffled by why he was treating her in such a manner when he'd been holding her so lovingly within his arms a mere hours before. "You wound me, Mudblood, you truly do." The effect of that one single word shattered her immobile state as a boiling hate that'd been latent for so long, rose with astonishing speed back to the surface. She'd barely had time to comprehend what was happening before a familiar action took place as she raised her arm and swiped it with incredible force against his flawless visage.
But it never happened.
An odd squeak left her lips as Hermione oppressed the cry of pain that shot through her right arm. She would not show him weakness. Draco had managed to catch her arm moments before she reached his face. Never again he had vowed in third year would he let anyone defile him again. Especially not her. He knew every drop of strength he put into gripping her wrist; if she moved it even the slightest bit, it would snap. She stared up at him with defiance as he willed her to scream aloud in pain and beg for mercy.
But she would never do so.
"Answer me."
Hermione's voice became ragged and short as she repressed the cry of pain that fought its way into her throat. "Ob-obviously I'm wrong. S-so tell—tell me."
Draco's eyes travelled from her own, searching for a hint of the truth within her voice, to her hand which had turned a sickening shade of bloodless white that was even paler than his own. But still, he held on, determined to make her scream.
"I saw you" she stared back at him, still oblivious. "With him."
Then it clicked.
Just as the door had.
Draco's head whipped around, still gripping on painfully to Hermione's frail wrist and his eyes fell upon the man whom he hated so much.
A wicked smile graced itself upon the raven-haired boy's face and his viridian orbs glittered with amusement. "Should've known I'd find you here, Princess. Having an affair already are we? Traditionally they don't begin until after we're married.
Ignoring the lack of feeling within her hand, Hermione glared up at Hadrian. "What do you want, Hadrian."
"Tut, tut, what a way to speak to your fiancé, dearest. I just wanted to let you know that the seamstress awaits you in your bedchamber. Best hurry; we want everything perfect for our wedding day now don't we?" He stood with his revolting expression before Draco, and nodded his head curtly. Then, with a grin and a tilt of his chin towards his wife-to-be, he left, leaving the tension within the room, if possible, a thousand times more palpable than before.
Hermione's voice cracked as she began to speak, "Draco I—"
But once again, he cut her off, not caring what she had to say. There was nothing in the world she could say that would fix the damage that had been done.
"Get out—just get out." His voice was deadly quiet; she feared this tone of voice more than she ever did when he shouted. Shaking in anger, he released her fragile wrist as turned his back towards her without uttering another word.
For fear of sending him plummeting off the edge, Hermione left silently, fearful that he would never speak to her again.
xXx
Candyland.
That was the only way possible to describe the enchanting scene before her. The quaint little gingerbread stores aligned the flagstone street which had been bewitched to flash red and green from beneath the light dusting of icing sugar that seemed to be continuously sifted through the sheet of cotton floss clouds that hung just above their heads. The store windows had been charmingly frosted by the mischievous little man by the name of Jack and the streets were filled with the sound of wizarding carols that could be heard for miles around. In spite of the chill in the winter weather, people and creatures all around, young and old seemed bursting with warmth and cheer.
Ginny Weasley was undoubtedly one of them.
"Mmmm this is absolutely delicious." Ginny gushed as she bit into the petit chunk of maple candy she held within her two fingers.
"Who knew muggle sweets could be so good? Imagine that….candy made from trees!" Blaise exclaimed as he finished off the piece of maple candy Ginny had offered him.
Giggling, she licked the remainder of the sweet from her fingers. "It's not made from trees, Blaise! It's made from tree sap!"
"Whatever, all the same" he said waving his hand carelessly and reaching for a second.
"Hey, wait. Have a gingerbread man instead. We still haven't opened them." Ginny reached into one of the several shopping bags that hung over her arm and pulled out a colourfully decorated gingerbread cookie. "Here." She said attempting to snap off an arm.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Yelping, Ginny hastily dropped the gingerbread man onto the snow-covered ground and stumbled back. The little man glowered up at her, its little icing smile contorted into a frown and shook its rounded fist at her before scurrying off into the crowds. Confused and horrified, she stared up at Blaise who looked back at her and burst out laughing.
"You knew that was going to happen!" The little red-head accused and shoved him playfully into a snowdrift along the side of the street.
"You were the one who bought the charmed gingerbread man and then tried to break off its arm!" Blaise countered, lifting himself back up and pointlessly dusting the bewitched snow off of his white hooded sweater. "HEY!" he cried as a speeding ball of snow came flying through the air and crashing into the side of his head. "Wow, you have good aim."
"Mmmhmm, well, what did you expect? With six brothers I've got to know how to protect myself." Ginny grinned and tossed another snowball at him.
"Oh you're asking for it now Miss. Weasley." And without another word, he ran at her full speed, giving her just enough time to run ahead a few metres.
The little Gryffindor squealed and began to stumble through the snow bank in the opposite direction, dropping her numerous bags behind her.
"Gotcha!" Wrapping his arms around her arms, Blaise sent her tumbling down into the dry snow beneath him.
"Blaise!" she laughed breathlessly, her eyes shining with delight.
Blaise looked down at her, his arms on either side of her and their faces less than half a metre away. Her vivid red hair contrasted violently with the whiteness of the virgin snow, but somehow, she managed to look even purer in comparison. Her lightly freckled, rosy cheeks glowed and her smile….was incomparable to anything he'd ever seen in his life before. She was the epitome of innocence and beauty.
"What?" she asked curiously as she noticed his strange expression. "Is there something wrong with my face?" Blaise couldn't help but smile at her sincere tone of voice.
"There's nothing wrong with your face" he whispered softly. "You're perfect."
Ginny's eyes widened as Blaise's began to close, inching closer, and closer to her. Suddenly, nothing seemed to matter anymore. Mimicking his actions, her eyes began to close and she patiently awaited his lips. He was close. She could smell the sweet, maple candy scent and his own musky, minty one she adored she much.
"What the bloody hell?"
Not for the first time, the two jerked apart, mere inches away from meeting.
"Pansy!" he gasped hastily heaving himself up from the ground. Ginny stared up at him and slowly followed suit. "What are you doing here?"
Pansy narrowed her eyes and clutched the arm of her newest beau closer. "Wrong. The question is: What are you doing period."
"I-I—" Blaise had no idea what to say.
"Yes, Blaise. What are you doing." Came a familiar voice.
To his utter dismay, it was Adrian.
Excuses began to stream through his mind, but none of them, he found, was credible. "I—I was just—just taking Weasley out you know. She –she did really well on her last potions exam."
A horrid replay of the last time this had happened flashed through Ginny's mind. He was doing it again.
He was nothing but a no good, filthy, stinking, lying, cheating, jerk-faced typical Slytherin.
"I see." Pansy commented dryly. "Well, then, I expect to see you up at Three Broomsticks in fifteen minutes then. That should give you enough time to celebrate, no? Say bye-bye, Adiran." Lavender's former fling nodded his head towards them and with that, Pansy steered the two down the street.
Adrian gave the two a final glare before following in Pansy's footsteps.
Despite the crowded streets, all Blaise could hear around him was silence. Turning, he found Ginny standing beside him, with absolutely no expression upon her face whatsoever. The glint in her eyes had been long dashed by the simple, cutting words that had left his lips and her shoulders were now shaking so violently, it wouldn't have surprised him if she were to crumble into a thousand pieces right before his eyes.
"Ginny" he croaked, reaching out to place his hand upon her shoulder. She gave no response with the exception of jerking away from him. "Ginny, please, listen to me."
"There's nothing to listen to" she said, her tone indifferent. It frightened him. "Don't touch me" she warned as he tried to come close to her once more. Ginny could feel her blood running cold and her heart thudding painfully against her chest. Her mind was blank save for his horrible words that indicated clearly that she meant nothing to him. "I never want to see you again." And she walked away from him, crushing the bags filled with the sweets they'd bought together as she went.
Blaise stood standing in the snow, no longer did the glittering snow fall from the darkened sky above. No longer did the colourful lights shine gaily upon him.
Standing in the street filled with passersby, Blaise had never felt more alone.
He made no attempt to go after her.
A/N
anyway, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all in case I don't get back to you in time…and Happy New years while I'm at it. And wow, it's pretty cool that you're all from so many different places lol I'm amazed.
Song by Evanescence: Everybody's Fool
