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

Authors note: Here it is ladies and gentelman...The next installment. I wrote this chap really fast &w/out a beta, so it might not be my best work. As for me I think it's a little choppy, but it's for you decide what you think. So get R&R...

Unvoiced Decisions

Chapter 9: Now you See it

"Harry I……….no. Hey Harry! I'm sorry if you thought I liked you, but……..NO, definitely not!"

It was Sunday, the morning after the dance. Mary was pacing back and forth in the middle of her dorm room. The other girls had left early to study in the library. Of course, not asking her to come along, but she had more important things to do anyway.

She sat down on the edge of her bed, and desperately continued to search for the right words.

"How do you explain something like that?" she asked the blond haired boy who stood next to the door across the room.

He smiled slightly at how pathetic she looked. "You should just tell it how it is." His voice was rich with a New York Accent, so much it was almost humorous.

"But I can't! What do you want me to do! Just go up to him and say…Hey Harry! I never really had any romantic feelings for you. The only reason I asked you to the dance was to make Draco jealous. By the way, it worked, so I won't be needing you anymore!"

She stood up in a flustered motion and stormed over to the smirking boy.

"I mean that just makes me sound like a complete bitch!"

"Well maybe because you are one.

"Ha, ha very funny. I really need some support here!"

"Ok, so you're not a bitch. You're just a girl who messed up; really badly. You know, it's a shame you did this cuz' you're a really great girl, and now they're gonna have a hard time seeing that. You've created a wall that no one can see past."

"I know, and I'm scared. I've always valued friends over anything else, and as of now I'm doing a crappy job of valuing. I just can't believe a guy could drive me to do this! I always told myself that a guy was never worth getting worked up over, and that it's ok to be close, but not dependent! You don't think I'm dependent do you? Oh, god what if I am? Is there a way to become undependent?"

"Mary, Mary, calm down. It will be ok."

"Will it?" she asked, looking up into his golden eyes.

She had grown since the last time they had talked. She remembered having to look up farther to meet his gaze. She knew for a fact that he was 5' 11''. She also knew for a fact that she hadn't grown since the summer. Had it been that long?

"It will. I promise. I'm not gonna let you down. I never do. You know that."

"I know, but promise me one thing."

"Just say the words."

"Will you promise to be with me when I go through with this? I really need your support."

Worried, he placed a hand on her cheek. His long fingers and large palm looked almost comical compared to his thin frame. His hand came to rest on her neck and she smiled as he pulled away.

"Anything for you. You know I love you like a sista', and a guy's gotta be there to protect his lil' sis."

"Thanks Joey. This really means a lot to me."

She was about to leave, but was stopped with his voice.

"Ya know, you're almost seventeen now. I thought you didn't need me anymore. I thought we talked about this."

"I thought so too." She remembered smiling. "And I was getting along fine for awhile, but then this happened and well…"

"I know, I know. Just look out for yourself ok? I won't be here forever."

"That's what scares me." She said, releasing her hold on the door and taking a seat back on her bed.

"It scares me that you can leave, but it also scares me that you might not. I want you here, but I don't. I need you, but I don't want to need you. Am I making sense?"

"Yeah, I guess." He said, scratching the back of his head.

"What I mean is that you'll always be with me. There's no changing that. You just won't be with me. I'll see you, but not the way I see you now. You'll just be in the back of my head. You can still come out if you really need to, but not like when I was young."

"Yeah, you've told me before, and I've told you that I understand. I went through with my side of the bargain. Now it's time for you to go through with yours."

"I will. I'm just waiting for the opportune moment."

"Well you better get going. You don't want to put this off forever."

"Promise you'll be there?" she asked one last time.

"I already did! Now get going!" he laughed, and she did just that.

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"Harry!" Mary exclaimed as she unexpectedly ran into the very person she'd been trying to avoid.

She scanned the hallway quickly and found that they were indeed alone, almost. Joey, who suddenly appeared out of no where, was standing next to the both of them. He was dressed quite differently than he was during their earlier encounter. Instead of the blue t-shirt and jeans he had been sporting minutes before he was wearing nothing but a pair of green plaid boxers! After inspecting his clothes, or lack thereof, she didn't know whether she should laugh or run away embarrassed. She settled with a smile, figuring that this was his attempt at lightening the situation.

Harry looked just as surprised, and almost as nervous.

"Mary, hey I just wanted to tell you that last night was really fun. It really was but…Now I don't want you to think that there's something wrong with you because there isn't. Not by all means. You're funny, smart, pretty, and everything. It's just that…"

"Spit it out Harry." Mary said wondering what he could possibly be trying to say.

"It's just that I've found someone else." He flinched slightly as if expecting a slap in the face, but when none came he continued.

"I know that you just broke up with Malfoy and I feel terrible doing this to you, but well last night. Ginny and I got back together. It was all very sudden I assure you."

"Harry it's ok, really."

"It is?"

"Yeah, no problem at all."

"Are you sure?" He was definitely surprised that she was talking the news so well.

"Positive. The funny thing about this is that I was just about to tell you the same thing."

"You were? Oh well, that is kind of funny" he was finally begging to relax. "Who?"

"Who what?"

"Who did you find?"

"Oh, well I didn't really find someone new. Malfoy and I just got back together."

"Oh, well, congratulations." She could tell that the thought of her and Malfoy still bothered him.

"Friends?" she asked, sticking out her hand.

"Friends," he agreed, accepting her handshake.

"Well I'll see you later then?" he asked with a smile wanting to leave the uncomfortable scene.

She nodded. "See you later."

As soon as he was out of sight she released all tension she had been feeling with a loud, "YES!" She pumped both fists in the air while grinning for all it was worth.

When she finally returned to her senses, she realized that Joey had gone and she was once again alone in the corridor.

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"Hey!" Draco called out while running to catch up with the person he needed the most.

She spun around almost instinctively at the sound of his voice. Draco was standing a few feet away; panting slightly from his previous exertion. He was dressed in his signature black pants and an off-white polo that Mary had never seen before.

"I didn't see you on the quidditch pitch."

"Oh, I came late. I had detention with Professor Snape remember?"

"That's right, I forgot."

"Don't worry I saw the end of the match. You did brilliantly."

"Brilliantly? Since when did you start using British slang?" He asked after realizing she did so.

She laughed when she came to the realization herself. "I guess I just slipped into it on accident. It was bound to happen. I'm around it 24/7."

"Yeah, I suppose so." He said, leading her to a stone bench farther up the hill.

The sun was shining, but they felt no warmth in the chilly November air.

It had been more than two weeks since the night of the ball and things were going smoothly for the most part.

As she sat down beside him he opened the silver and green duffle bag he used to carry his quidditch things.

Unexpectedly, he pulled out a brand new basketball and a set of drawing pencils and sketchbook.

"Happy Birthday!"

"Where'd you find these?" she asked surprised that he remembered when she herself had almost forgotten.

"Well I ordered the drawing supplies through this place that my mom shops at a lot. It has all sorts of stuff, but the basketball took me forever to find. I asked around and did some research, and I thought I'd found what I was looking for when I realized that there's a difference between boys' and girls' basketballs."

"Girls' are smaller."

"That's what it is? Well anyway, I had to go looking for one that was 28.5. I didn't exactly know what that meant, but I found it in the end."

"This is great! I've been needing a new ball, and I can always use drawing supplies."

"Yeah, you're always drawing so I thought that you'd need some stuff." He fidgeted almost nervously.

"It's great. It really is. Thanks a lot." She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the lips smiling as she did so.

"Enough about me." She said suddenly. "How about you? You caught the snitch!" she said proudly.

"Yeah, but we still lost." He said defeated.

"That doesn't matter. You proved that you're better than Harry. Today at least…"

"You don't think I can keep it up, do you?"

"It doesn't matter if I think you can. It matters if you think you can, but if it's any consolation to you, I think you can." She stood up and headed towards the castle wanting to get out of the cold. She glanced back after noticing that he wasn't following her. Instead, he just sat there looking back up at her; no expression in his face.

"Aren't you coming?"

"In a minute. Go ahead without me."

"Kay. Are you sure?" she asked concerned by his sudden downheartedness.

"Positive." He answered, watching her smile and disappear from view.

What have I gotten myself into? He asked himself moments later. What have I gotten her into? He cared for her more than he allowed himself to, and it hurt. It hurt knowing how his family would react. It hurt knowing that he was living a lie; that he was lying to her. No matter how much he wanted it, they weren't living in a perfect world. It wasn't a dream. It was reality. A sick twisted reality.

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"I quit!" Draco exclaimed while throwing his hands up in surrender.

"What? NO! You can't quit. I was just about to win!"

"I know."

"You can't quit just because I was winning. You're such a sore loser."

"I am not. I just don't feel like playing anymore."

"Liar."

"I'm not lying!" He said defensively.

"Are too. You quit every game you play once you realize you're losing."

"Fine, do you want a rematch?" He asked competitively.

"You're on!" she said, accepting his challenge. As she said this, the pieces put themselves back together readying for another round of chess.

It was the middle of December and the day before everyone left for Christmas Vacation. Draco would stay at Malfoy manor for two weeks while Mary stayed at Hogwarts awaiting everyone's return. Ron had invited her to spend vacation with his family at the Burrow, but she refused his offer. She couldn't bring herself to intrude, even though Ron had insisted that it would be ok.

Just as they were about to start another round, they found themselves bombarded by a very enthusiastic blond haired boy.

"Can I take a picture of the two of you? I'm putting together a scrapbook of Hogwarts to send home to my mom for Christmas and I want to get as much variety as possible."

"No Colin!" Draco protested, but Mary insisted that he cooperate.

"Great!" Colin exclaimed. "Smile!"

FLASH

"That's going to turn out great! I can just tell. Thanks!"

Mary was about to 'you're welcome' when Colin rushed away looking for someone else to overwhelm.

Draco shook his head while turning his attention back to the game. Lots of bickering and a few moves later Draco finally had the satisfaction of saying, "Checkmate."

Later that night after he and Mary had said their goodbyes, Draco stood with a large group of students waiting to leave for home. Professor McGonagall appeared instructing the students on where to go. He had grabbed his luggage from beside him and began to head toward the empty carriages when he heard an unfamiliar voice calling him from behind.

"Draco wait!"

He stopped and turned to find Colin Creevey running at top speed toward him.

"Draco, Draco!" He continued to call enthusiastically.

For a sixth year, he's really annoying. Draco thought.

"What do you want?" Draco asked with as much civility as he could muster.

"I just developed this picture and I thought you might like to have copy. I wanted to catch you before you left." He panted, while holding out the photo.

Draco grabbed it and shoved it in his pocket without even bothering to glance at it.

"Thanks." He mumbled while walking away.

"No problem." Colin said, feeling rather proud to have talked to a seventh year, even if it was his hero's enemy.

Draco took a seat in an empty compartment next to the window, the chilly air frosting it over.

He reached into his pocket to take a proper look at the picture Colin had given him before his friends arrived.

Like all wizarding pictures, it moved. Mary was on the left smiling broadly. Draco sat opposite her with a disgruntled look on his face; he placed his hand up in attempt to cover his scowl. Mary looked over and laughed at his picture self's antics.

He laughed to himself as he placed the photo back in his pocket. He was glad to get away from school for awhile, but this picture reminded him of the one thing he'd miss about Hogwart's. The one thing that brought him so much pleasure, but so much pain….

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LiLjDpEgAsUsChIc160: Just in case any of you were wondering...Joey isn't real. He's what you might call an 'imaginary friend', but I'll talk about him in more detail later...as for now, GET REVIEWING!