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

Authors note: Sorry guys Ireally am! I'm really finding it hard to find time to write this thing! I'm sort of dissappointed in this chap, but what are you going to do? I might go back later on when I have more time and fix it up a bit but we'll see...

Unvoiced Decisions

Chapter 11: Battling Life

The sun was shining through the closed glass onto Mary's sleeping face. She groaned with dissatisfaction as she flung an arm over her eyes to deflect the incoming rays. She quickly decided that her arm was a poor shield, so she rolled over onto her side and buried her head deeper into her pillow. She was lying halfway between consciousness and sleep as she opened one eye unwillingly to the world.

"Joey?" She mumbled into her sheets.

No answer.

Both eyes shot open; sitting up she looked around.

"Joey?"

The room was empty.

"He must have left." She concluded with much disappointment, "Without telling me. Oh well, none the matter."

She stood up halfheartedly and shuffled over to the bathroom in order to take a quick shower.

"I don't need him right now anyway. As long as he's here when…Oh, NO! Oh no, oh no, oh no…"

She ran into the bathroom checking her face in the mirror. Then, ripping her pajamas off, hopped into the shower. As the warm water engulfed her she prepared herself for the course of the day. For today, Draco returned.

"Honestly Ronald! You just can't expect people to do that for you."

"Why not?" The red haired boy wined as they entered the great hall.

"Because, that's why! It's just not natural. You need to learn to do things on your own!"

"But you're always telling me not to be so stubborn and ask for help."

"It's not the same thing!" The brown haired girl yelled as she slammed her khaki bag onto the bench; sitting down beside it.

"It is too!" The boy answered mocking her actions as he slammed down his books.

"Oh, poppycock! You're hopeless. I don't know why I ever even tried to talk you out of this."

Mary sat uncomfortably next to Ron as she watched Hermione reach into her bag and pull out a large stack of school books.

"Is it ok to ask how vacation went?" Mary asked the fuming couple.

"Yes!"

"No!" Ron shouted cutting Hermione off and giving her a death glare.

"Yes!" Hermione stated again this time looking at Mary.

"It was fine for the most part. Christmas itself was great was always. It gives you something to think about other than the war. Ron got me this new rucksack and quill case to match. It was all really lovely."

"Yes, it was all so peachy." Ron chipped in.

"Well, it was until someone decided it would be a good idea to have Harry ask you about your business with Malfoy!"

"Why'd you have to go and tell her for!" Ron asked more embarrassed than anything.

"Because she deserves the right to know that she's being spied on!"

"We weren't going to spy! I was just going to have Harry find out a few things and report back to me that's all!"

"You don't call that spying?"

"No! It's more like friend to friend help."

"What! That doesn't even make sense. Honestly I worry about you sometimes."

"Look, guys don't worry about it. It's not worth fighting over."

Ron agreed with Mary and gave Hermione a told you so look. Which Hermione quickly answered with a glare of her own.

"I'm not saying that I'd like it if you used Harry to spy on me. Not by all means," Again the two exchanged looks, "What I am saying is, is that you probably have a right to. I have been acting kind of strange lately and in a way almost distant, and I'm sorry. I've just been caught up in so much at once."

"Don't worry about it." Hermione said placing a hand on her friend's. "We all make bad choices that we regret making, but you'll always have a second chance, right Ron?"

"Right. Thanks Hermione."

Mary looked from Ron to Hermione than back again. Confused she asked, "Wait, did you guys just make up with each other, or were you talking to me?"

"Both, I think."

"Yeah, I'd say both. You know what? I just realized that I left Harry waiting in the common room. I'll be right back."

"Ron, how could you forget something like that?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"Well, I was so busy with our little row that my mind got preoccupied. Can you blame me?"

"No, but just go. You don't want Harry to think you've forgotten him."

"But I did forget him." Ron stated bluntly.

"I know, but he doesn't…Never mind just go!" Hermione yelled, shaking her head as they watched him run along. "I hope you never have as much trouble with boys as I do. I swear I'm cursed. I'd bet money that Malfoy's easier to date than Ron. He's such a handful. By that way, how are things going between you two?"

"They're not really going much of anywhere anymore."

"Are you going to break up?" Hermione asked.

"We already did. I think."

"Did your feelings change over the holidays?"

"No, his did." She sighed, "I found this letter in the inside pocket of my robes shortly after you guys left. It was pretty self explanatory, but it still leaves me cold."

"Do you have it with you?"

"No, it's up in my dormitory. I'll bring it down to dinner it you want."

"No, that's ok. I can imagine what it says. Something along the lines of, 'I cherish our relationship dearly, but not enough to change. We're too different, but it's not your fault'. Something like that?"

"Almost word for word," Mary laughed almost meaningfully, "Were the cracks in our relationship that obvious?"

"Well, to me they were, but maybe that's just because I've come to know you pretty well and Malfoy's always been an easy one to figure. Though I must say for a while there I actually believed that you'd really done it."

"You're not the only one."

"Hey look on the bright side. At least you can't be blamed for ruining thousands years of inbreeding."

Hermione got a full fledged laugh out of that comment. "I guess you're right. I wouldn't want to break that impressive streak."

After their quick giggle fest had subsided, Hermione grabbed her books and shoved them rather fiercely into her bag. "How bout we catch up with Harry and Ron. I'm pretty sure I know where they'll be headed. Are you coming?"

"I'm right behind ya."

Grabbing her book off of the seat beside her, Mary followed Hermione out of the massive double doors and into the hallway beyond.

Once they had discovered the two boys lurking in a deserted corridor (Hermione always knew where to find them; Mary called it her maternal instinct), they decided to take advantage of their extra time and visit the 'lounge'. This was the nickname the four of them had given to the Head boy and girls' dormitory. Since Mary belonged to a different house they couldn't use the common rooms as a place to relax, so they decided to take advantage of Hermione head girl status. Much to Hermione's disapproval of course, but they convinced her that they were doing no harm.

The walk to the dorm was a rather cheerful one; everyone was laughing along the way. The mood soon changed however once the foursome stepped through the portrait hole.

"Well if it isn't the fantastic four." Blaise scoffed as he sauntered over from the fireplace towards the new arrivals.

Crabbe and Goyle snickered on cue, but Draco sat silent on the sofa.

Hermione nudged Mary on the arm, "Maybe we should go."

"Yeah, maybe you should. We wouldn't want your dirty blood stinking up the place Granger." Blaise said advancing.

Harry and Ron instinctively pulled out their wands.

"Watch your tongue Zambini, or I might just hex it off!" Ron threatened defiantly.

"NO, Ron, don't! He's not worth getting detention over, or even worth or time. I can see that Draco has decided to let his friends spend some time in here, so let's not ruin the moment."

Hermione made to leave with Mary at her back, while Ron continued to defend himself.

"Wait a minute. Just because Draco's head boy that doesn't give him the right to let anybody he wants into the head boy's dormitory. Don't you think Professor McGonagall would like to hear about this Harry?"

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Draco who had left his spot on the couch and was standing just short of Zambini.

"Weasley you idiot! What do you think Granger was doing letting you three in here? Besides, tattle-tailing is more what I'd call a first year trait, but I guess we can't expect a lot from you. After all, look at the lot you choose to associate with. Hanging around with wonder boy and the two mudbloods. Almost makes me ashamed to say I'm a pureblood…almost."

His words hung the air like death in a graveyard; no one made an effort to retaliate. Mary found it most uncomfortable to see Draco in his 'true form', and found it most unsettling how easily he insulted her and her family without as much as a flinch. Although she did notice that he failed to meet her gaze and locked eyes with everyone but her.

Having had enough, Ron turned to leave motioning for Harry to follow. He did, but was stopped in his track by a sudden observation.

"Wait a minute. Did you just call Mary a mudblood?"

Ron stopped as well and turned back to face Harry and Draco.

"Yeah, yeah he did. Am I missing something?"

"You're not the only one." Harry said over his shoulder.

Draco was thinking of a smart comeback when Mary took the liberty of addressing the issue.

"Look guys, it's not important. Draco and I are no longer whatever we were before, so he can call me whatever he wishes. The feeling is mutual so you can call him whatever you please. I think it's fair to say he's an arrogant self pleasing jerk who only cares about himself, but that's just me. C'mon let's go."

Mary made the initiative; Hermione, Harry, and Ron followed.

Back out in the hallway the tension receded.

"Well that was sufficiently awkward." Ron said; Harry agreeing.

"Why didn't you tell us you guys broke up?" Harry asked.

"Because it wasn't that important and I figured you guys would find out soon enough anyway." Mary sighed.

"Ok, so it's not really any of our business," Ron admitted, "But it would've been nice to know that we didn't have to pretend to like Malfoy any more. Ow!" Ron exclaimed, rubbing his arm and glaring at Hermione. "What'd ya go and do that for?" Ron asked angrily.

"Honestly Ron, I mean really!" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

Harry and Mary just smiled.

Meanwhile, Draco just stood on the other end of the portrait hole hoping deep down that Mary would come running back through asking for him back, but he knew better. Blaise on the other hand was making jokes left and right about the whole situation, and Draco could do nothing but listen.

This was the way it was meant to be, no matter how much anyone liked or disliked it.

When she had insulted him her expression reflected her anger and hate, but her eyes told him otherwise. He wasn't the only one fighting an emotional battle. She seemed to be having as hard a time as he coming to grips with life, but she was just as gifted as he when it came to masking her emotions. Somehow this thought did nothing to comfort him.

LiLjDpEgAsUsChIc160: See what I mean? It's very short. At least to short for me. I wanted to put a lot more information in this chapter, but didn't quite work out. I know where I want to go with this, so it's not a matter of writer's block. It's more a matter of time. I hate making you guys wait. It drives me nuts, but if you could be patient I could write a lot more next time. Tell me if that's ok. You'll have to wait longer, but you'll get more all at once. (Does that make sense?) Anyhoo, REVIEW!