The next few weeks went by painfully. Ron believed Cho, as Harry still did, but sometimes he had his doubts. Hermione and Ginny didn't believe Cho and everybody else didn't believe anything, but they enjoyed what was going on. Though Roxanne was no longer with Harry, she didn't go out with Malfoy. That would be stooping too low. Especially since if Harry apologised to her she would take him back. Without hesitation.
It was Valentines Day and Roxanne had thoroughly decided she was going with no one. She was going to wander around Hogsmeade feeling sorry for herself, watching couples like Ginny and Mark or Hermione and Neville have a good time. Apparenlty Ginny had been going out with Dean but had dumped him over owl mail. It seemed pretty harsh but Dean didn't seem too bothered. Hermione had more of a friendly relationship with Neville, and enjoyed each other's company as that way, nothing more.
Roxanne put on some very warm clothes and went with Ron and Berenice to Hogsmeade. When they reached Madam Puddifoot's quaint, over decorated café Roxanne said goodbye. They asked her to join them, (though they had 'please-say-no' looks on their faces) but she told them to have a good time. She was just about to walk away when something gold caught her eye. It was the emerald studded watch Roxanne had got Harry for Christmas. And there it was on Harry's arm, which was on the table about an inch from Cho's hand. Cho was smiling and obviously flirting like mad. Flicking her hair back all the time and her eyes never leaving Harry's face. Harry looked like he was enjoying himself too, nervous maybe, but happy.
There was a big bang. One of the cherubs had set off a mini firework near the window. Harry looked up to see it and saw Roxanne standing in the snow.
She turned around and ran, slipping and sliding over the ice and sleet. She reached a filthy alleyway and leaned against the wall. It really was all over now. Refusing to cry, she twiddled with the ring Harry had gotten her for Christmas. It was encrusted with a large topaz, which was almost the same colour as Roxanne's eyes and her birthstone. She played in her mind whether to throw it away in protest or to keep it. Before she had made her mind up she heard some footsteps.
"What you doing here?" asked Malfoy, standing in front of her.
"Nothin'," she muttered, looking away.
"Let me guess. You saw Harry and Cho together in that sad café?"
"How did you know?"
"I saw them. Talk about loyalty!" he said, laughing derisively.
She didn't comment. "So why are you on your own? Where's Pansy?"
"Pansy? I dumped her ages ago," he said, as if it was nothing at all. "So…you're single now, aren't you?" he asked, stepping closer.
"Yes…"
He leaned against the wall, trapping Roxanne. She didn't bother trying to walk away. She wouldn't let him do anything. He put his face closer to Roxanne's but she put her hand on his arm in objection. She consequently felt a burning sensation in her palm.
"OW! What in the hell was that?" she exclaimed, lifting her hand off. "It felt like an electric shock!"
"Static electricity probably," Malfoy said quickly, returning to his normal stance.
She pulled up his sleeve, suspecting something.
"No don't," he said, pulling her hand away.
But it was too late. She had seen it. Just an outline, but still clearly visible. The Dark Mark. He pulled the sleeve down hurriedly and his pale face reddened.
"What the -?"
"I had to have it done," he muttered, squeezing the Dark Mark.
"Why?"
"I'd rather not talk about it, ok?" he snapped.
"Then I'll just keep asking."
"Because my dad is in Azkaban, I need to pass news onto him…when I visit him."
"What? Y-you tell your father what You-Know-Who has said to you?" she repeated, thunderstruck. "I can't believe I'm standing here with you!" she gasped, ready to walk away. Malfoy grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back.
"You can't tell anyone!" he growled, his eyes flashing.
"B-but…y-your helping You-Know-Who kill Harry!"
"I swear, if you tell anyone…" he warned, squeezing her shoulders tighter. "You don't know what the Dark Lord would do to me if I said no!"
"But it would be like you're a mur-murderer! Why don't you just make it up?"
"I'd be killed!"
"There are worse things than death! If we kept you away from the Deatheaters –and you'd be saving so many lives!"
"Nothing is worse than death, Roxanne. Nothing," he said, the fierceness still in his eyes. "Anyway, he'd find me."
"No he wouldn't!"
"Do you think I'm the only…the only –"
"Spy?" finished Roxanne. "No, but I bet you're the main one. Don't look at me like that! Your father is way worse than Crabbe's or Goyle's!"
"Just don't. Please?" he begged, loosening his grip.
"Fine, I won't," she said, defeated.
"Thanks," he said, kissing her on the cheek. "I'll see you later."
And he walked away as if the whole ordeal had never happened.
Harry had a rotten time with Cho. Even before he had seen Roxanne. Whenever he was with her it was just awkward. His happiness was forced and she was just trying too hard. Ok so it was fun when they kissed because they didn't have to talk. But they had nothing in common apart from Quidditch, and, as unbelievable as that was; even Quidditch can get boring if you talk about it too much.
"So when is the next DA meeting?" she asked, attempting to rub her foot up his leg.
He moved his leg out of the way.
"Next week. Friday hopefully."
"Cool," she said, fluttering her eyelashes. She leaned in and puckered up her pink lips.
"Cho, I can't do this," said Harry, standing up.
"What? Why?"
"I – I just can't. See you around," he muttered, walking out.
"Wait Harry!" she called, running out after him. He kept on walking.
"Is it Roxanne? Is that it?"
"Yes and no," he muttered.
"I don't know why you bother! She treats you like crap, Harry! You deserve someone better, after all you've been through!"
"Its not that easy!" he snapped, facing her. "Just say you were still with Cedric. If he didn't want to be with you would you go off and date someone else?"
"No…" she mumbled, blushing.
"Exactly. If you love someone you can't just walk away."
The following Friday Harry was standing inside the Room of Requirement waiting for everybody to come in. As he had surmised, neither Roxanne nor Cho was here.
"Right…everyone here? Good…right," he said vaguely. "Well…guess we'll begin then. We're going to do some more…'er…skilled spells. So…yeah, get a partner."
He taught them the diffindo curse, which slices or cuts objects. They used pillows for that but the occasional one went on the wall. Then the reducto curse. Which makes its target explode. Unfortunately, there were a lot of casualties after that so the class had to end.
"That went ok!" said Hermione after everyone had left. She was helping Harry tidy up the feathers from the pillows.
"Harry you seem…a little distracted. Mind if I ask why?"
"Its just Roxanne and Cho," he muttered, kicking a pillow into a box.
"Oh…I see. It must be so confusing," she said, re-stuffing three pillows with a flick of her wand.
"Not half."
"But you're going to have to work it out eventually. You can't go on like this," she said seriously.
"What do you mean?"
"Well its obvious isn't it?" she said.
Harry shook his head. What Hermione found obvious he usually found vague.
"Roxanne loves you Harry, a lot. But she also likes Malfoy, but that's a different like. Its more…how do I put it…'em…"
"Just say it already!"
"Well…passionately," she said plainly.
"WHAT?"
"Its not brain surgery. She loves you in a married couple way but you don't give her the passionate part of a relationship. Just the cuddly part. You know?"
"No," said Harry blankly. How did Hermione know all this?
"Well anyway," she said, rolling her eyes. "She doesn't love Malfoy, she just likes him because he's romantic and…well lets face it…kisses and hugs her more!"
"HE'S KISSED HER?"
"'Um…well I'm just assuming he has," said Hermione, biting her nails. "He's like the tall dark and…maybe in her eyes…handsome man."
"How – what – how do you know he's romantic?" he snapped.
"He just strikes me as that kind of person. And Pansy told me. Or rather, boasted to me."
"She's kissed him…I don't believe her."
"You kissed Cho," Hermione pointed out. "And I don't know she did for a fact!"
"Yeah but…that was to get back at Roxanne…UGH! Malfoy? Of all the people to – ugh!" he said, throwing a pillow hard against the wall. It exploded and the feathers fell over Harry and Hermione.