Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter, but I do own this plot and the character Mary.

Authors note: ATTENTION! ATTENTION PLEASE! FrOgGyFuN365 has correctly identified the last chapter title as a Dashboard Confessional album title. (No I'm not a huge fan, but I like some of their songs. My older sis has the CD & I thought it fit nicely, so I used it...) So, as promised, this next chapter is dedicated to FrOgGyFuN365. I hope it's not disappointing...

Unvoiced Decisions

Chapter 7: Reality Sets in

"Fuck! Why now!" Draco was ranting to himself while pacing back and forth in the middle of the Slytherin common room.

"I mean I finally start to open up to someone and this shit happens! Where's the fairness in that!" He plopped down on the black leather couch and walked his fingers through his hair.

How, am I ever going to explain this to her? He said, this time in his head. Damnit! He mentally cursed while standing up and kicking the arm of the couch. For once things were right! For once Blaise approved, well not approved, but cooperated. For once, Pansy ignored him. For once, he felt wanted. Now with her gone, things would go back to normal, back to wrong. He had hated his life before she came along, and now once again, his father had ruined it for him.

"DAMNIT!" he screamed into the darkness. He had to do something, but what? He had to talk to her. He had to convince her that it was ok. Of course he'd be lying, but at least he'd have her back. How could she ever understand his life? How could she ever understand the pressure? She wouldn't believe him if he told the truth, nor would she believe a lie.

He flopped back down on the couch while continuing to contemplate a means of retrieval. After hours of stupid ideas and worst case scenarios, he retired to the boy's dormitories.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Please let me in!" Mary begged the fat lady. "I need to speak to Hermione!"

"I will do no such thing! It's 6:00 in the morning for Merlin sake! None of the Gryffindors are awake yet, and you shouldn't be either! Besides, I can only let those who know the password inside, and seeing as you don't, I cannot grant you entrance."

"BUT…It's an emergency!"

"I see no one dying."

"You know what? Fine, I give up! Has anyone ever told you that you make a lousy portrait?"

The fat lady looked rather taken aback.

"Whatever. I'm leaving, but could you at least tell Hermione if you see her that I need to talk to her? Hermione Granger, and I'm Mary Klein; she'll know where to find me."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We need to talk."

"I knew I'd find you here. Why weren't you at breakfast?" Hermione had just entered the library and found Mary sitting alone at a far away table.

She set down her books and pulled up a chair. "What's wrong? Is this about Dr…?"

"Why didn't you tell me he's a death eater!" She asked a little too loudly; causing some heads to turn.

"He is? Wow, Harry was right. Ron's never gonna live this down."

"What? What are you mumbling about? Did you hear me? Dr…Malfoy's a death eater!" she made sure to whisper this time, not wanting to draw attention.

"Well, I wasn't sure if he was, so I didn't want to say anything."

"You weren't sure! How can you not be sure? I know Malfoy, well at least I thought I did, but I know for sure that he's a bragger."

"With his friends maybe, but not with us. We come from different sides of the wizard spectrum, remember? I mean sure, Harry's had his suspicions, but nothing substantial."

"Well, I have all the substantial evidence I need. I was in the Slytherin common room last night and…"

"You were in the Slytherin common room!"

Again, they received sets of stares.

"Hermione, that's beside the point."

"No, I'd like to know what you were doing in there. After hours too I presume. He's a prefect he should know better!"

"Hermione,"

"Yes?"

"It's Malfoy we're talking about."

She sighed, "Yeah, I suppose your right, but…"

"I just don't know what to do. I mean, sure the relationship wasn't perfect, but at least you guys pretended to be okay with it for my sake. And I know his friends did the same. Except for that Pansy chick, but she can go screw herself. Don't you think she's a…?"

Hermione caught her eye, "You're getting off subject."

"I know I'm rambling. I've been rambling all night. At least for once I'm rambling to someone in particular."

"You've been up all night?" She had noticed that her friend looked sleep deprived. Her hair wasn't as kept as usual and her eyes were lined with light black crescents.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. My body was tired, but my mind wasn't. It sucks, and not just my insomnia. Everything sucks. It all sucks."

She slumped down in her chair placing her head in her folded arms on the table.

"What am I going to do?"

"You're going to forget about him."

"Easy for you to say, you don't know him like I do."

"Well you don't know him like you do either."

"Good point." She mumbled into her arm.

"Well, I have to get going. I wish I could help, but I have a presentation in fifteen minutes," she said, checking her timepiece."And I still have some finishing touches to add. I want to get the full extra credit."

Mary sat up staring at the place her head had just occupied intently. Without looking she lifted her hand in a small wave and glanced up in time to see Hermione disappear through the double doors.

"Well she was no help," Mary sulked as she slumped back down the hard chair.

She jumped up with a start realizing something. She had a dress, but no date for the dance. She had written to her parents the day after Malfoy had asked her, and received a beautiful dress in the mail a week later. Not wanting her parent's generosity to go to waste, she decided that it was time to move on and to find a new date for the occasion. The question was, who. It was easier said than done. That was for sure. In a perfect world she would still be going with…well…you know, but her situation proved to be far from a utopia.

Not wishing to dwell on the circumstances any longer, she grabbed her bag of books off the floor and made her way to the great hall. As she rounded a corner she ran into none other than…

"HARRY!"

Her face wore an expression of surprise and excitement.

"Mary, hey, how've you been? I haven't talked to you since…"

"Quidditch, I know. Hey, I'm sorry we haven't gotten to talk lately, but I've been busy with school work and…well…other things." She struggled to make an excuse. She couldn't tell him that she hadn't been paying attention to him because she'd been spending her time with Malfoy, even though it was the truth.

"Yeah, I've heard about you and Malfoy."

"You have?" She was surprised that he knew already. After all, she had only just told Hermione minutes ago.

"Yeah, how can I not? You two are the talk of the town."

How could Hermione have possibly told so many people in such a short amount of time?

"How are you two doing these days?" he said, not sounding interested.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, how are things between you and Malfoy?"

"What do you think? We broke up for God's sake!"

"Wait! You broke up? When?" he asked, trying to suppress his happiness.

"Last night. Wait, you didn't know?"

"No. I had no idea. Last I heard you were two songbirds, madly in love."

"Hardly," she scoffed.

"What was it about?"

"I'm sorry what?" she asked, snapping out of her reverie.

"Why'd you guys call it quits?"

She sighed, she hadn't planned on explaining the incident more than once, but Harry was someone she could trust.

"Well, I had the misfortune of coming across a certain insignia on his left forearm."

"I knew it!" he exclaimed to no one in particular. "How long?"

"Just last night, I told you."

"NO! How long has Malfoy been a death eater?" he asked in urgency.

"I don't know! I didn't stay long enough to find out. Why?"

"I just have an old score to settle, that's all."

Just then, it hit her. Like a baseball crashing though a window; shattering glass. It would work. It had to work.

"Harry?" she asked, before her conscience took the best of her.

"Yeah?"

"You wouldn't by any chance have a date to the Halloween ball, would you?"

"Actually…no…Do you?"

"I did, but not anymore. What I'm getting at is…would you like to go with me?"

"Of course, that'd be brilliant!"

"Great!" she exclaimed, with no real enthusiasm. Her scruples were already starting to kick in.

"I'll see you then. As for now, I have some homework to finish in the great hall. See ya." She avoided eye contact as she brushed past him and continued her way to the Great hall.

Yes! Harry's head screamed as he too went on his way. He smiled. His expression mirroring his thoughts, Harry: one, Malfoy: zero.

Mary sat down at the Hufflepuff table placing her bag beside her. The great hall was mostly empty, and she was the only other Hufflepuff. She reached into her bag and pulled out Advanced Potion Making, Vol. 2. Professor Slughorn had assigned them at least an hour's worth of work, and she hadn't even started yet. After preparing herself for the assignment, she got to work.

She was almost halfway done, when a small group of Slytherin boys entered stridently. She only looked up for a moment to see who had entered, but in that second, their eyes met. She pretended not to notice and tried failingly to continue her work.

Draco took a seat opposite Blaise, and had a perfect view of his 'ex' across the way. Crabbe and Goyle sat on either side of Zambini, and both had brought food along to munch on. Ashley Higgs, the younger brother of the previous Slytherin seeker, sat adjacent to Malfoy.

"Hey Draco," Ashley said, nudging him in the shoulder. "Look." Draco froze a moment, knowing that he was indicating Mary.

"Yeah, what about her?" he looked up as he spoke, staring at her as if she could feel it.

"Go talk to her."

"Why?"

"Isn't she like your girlfriend or something?"

"Yeah Draco," Blaise challenged, "Go talk to her."

"Why?" Draco asked again, getting annoyed.

"Because, we want to see you get some action." Ashley said, answering for everyone.

"Yeah, prove she's your 'girlfriend'. Because now that I think about it, we've never actually seen you to interact with her in any way, other than some chit chat here and there, but who cares about that?" Blaise smirked knowing all to well that what he had just said was true. Even though he also knew that they'd done more than talk, but he liked to see him squirm.

They all waited for a retort, but none came. He was just sitting there transfixed with the top of Mary's head. He had been watching her scribble down words on her parchment, and every so often she'd come up for air. He smiled internally when he thought of how soft her hair always felt when he had held it in his hands.

"Unless, you've been lying to us about your little encounters like we think you have. We don't believe that you've even gotten a kiss out of that girl, let alone…well, you know." Ashley smiled, nudging Draco's arm again.

"I still don't understand what this proves, but if it will make you pricks shut up than I'll do it in a heart beat."

He lifted himself off the bench, and headed slowly towards the Hufflepuff table. All I have to do is talk to her. He whispered in his head, as he continued to approach. It doesn't even have to be important. I just have to satisfy the guys' curiosity.

"Hey," he said softly, taking the seat parallel to her.

"What do you want?" she asked harshly, without looking up from her homework.

"Nothing I just…" he turned his head to look back at the Slytherin table and noticed that they were all staring in his direction. Why didn't I just tell them the truth? Why couldn't I just have told them that we're through? Because we're not through! His mind argued. We can work this out! Ask her! ASK HER!

"What can I do!" he blurted out, causing her to jump slightly.

"You can leave for starters." She stated coolly as she dipped her quill in ink and continued her writing.

"No. I mean, what can I do for us? How can I make this better?" He sat motionless while his eyes continued to scan her head.

"Dumbledore," She stated simply.

"What?" his eyebrows furrowed.

She stopped what she was doing, set her quill down, and looked him directly in the eyes.

"You can go to Dumbledore and ask him to help you."

"No. I can't do that." He refused, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Yes you can. He can help you. I know he can. Just go to him and ask him. He wants to help you."

"It's not as easy as that!"

"Why not," she asked angrily.

"Because, it just isn't; I don't know what else to tell you."

"Tell me you'll do it."

He shook his head. "Besides, how do you know he wants to help me?"

"Because I talked to him earlier this morning and he said he would be more than willing…"

"You mean he knows!" he nearly yelled, and letting his temper get the best of him.

"Yes, he does and I think it's for the best. You need help Draco, and not the kind of help I can give you. You need someone who can protect you."

"Protect me." He spat, "from what?"

"The dark lord; if you were to reform, which is the only way I'll take you back, he and all his followers will consider you a trader. You know better than I do what happens to wizards who betray him."

"You're asking too much of me." he sighed frustrated.

"Too much? All I'm asking is for you to live a decent life, a legal life. You don't expect me to just sit around and wait for the dementors to take you to Azkaban, do you! I can't do that! I just can't. That's asking too much."

"Mary, I'm begging you. I didn't sleep a wink last night. Please take me back. I need you." He had said it. He had said it aloud. She was just as surprised as he was with his choice of words, but chose not to show it.

"Talk to Dumbledore." She insisted.

"I can't." he pleaded.

"Then neither can I."

Draco, realizing it was an endless battle, got up and left.

Seconds later, Mary gathered her things, existed the great hall, and fought to restrain the tears beginning to form behind her dark brown eyes. Draco watched her leave; his heart sank as she disappeared from view.

That night in the boy's dormitory, Draco decided that it would be best to tell Blaise about the breakup.

"Truthfully mate, it's for the best. She is a mudblood after all."

"Wait a minute. I thought you said you were ok with that. I thought we discussed this."

"Draco, she was a nuisance. All she was good for was a good shag, right?"

Draco rose from his bed, "Don't ever say that again. You know that's not true."

"I don't know if it's true or not. You guys were so mysterious, so secretive, like you had something to hide.

Draco sat back down as Blaise continued.

"But I guess I'd be secretive too if I was dating a Hufflepuff mudblood."

"Enough! Why are you like this all of a sudden! Do you suddenly think it's ok to insult her now that we're through! Because if you do you're sadly mistaken. You know I can't believe that I thought you supported me." Draco spat in disgust.

"Hey, you've told me yourself that I'm a good actor. I was just putting on an award winning show." It was the last thing he said before sneaking under his covers and falling asleep.

Draco sat motionless, trying to restrain himself from hexing Zambini. A few minutes passed and he decided that sleep would help. He didn't bother putting his uniform away; instead left it lying on the solid stone floor.

As he lay in his bed attempting to rest, he glanced over at Blaise, Crabbe, then Goyle as if to reassure himself that he was not alone. They could've not been there, and it wouldn't have made any difference.

He had never felt so...

alone...

in his life...

-----

LiLjDpEgAsUsChIc160: Well, I updated a little earlier than usual...I don't know why, but I did. I hoped you liked it & weren't too disappointed. I don't know about you guys, but I'm all excited about Halloween! It's my fave Holiday. It sucks that it's on a Monday. It also sucks that I have basketball tryouts that day, so I probably will miss all the trick-or-treating. So, maybe I'm not that excited about it. What am I talking about? Of course I am! I can't wait to show my costume off at school. Guess what I'm being? A witch! A Slytherin witch...surprise, surprise huh? My costume rocks, that's all I know...Is anyone else being anything cool?

Anyway, enough of this! Get reviewing...