Chapter 9: Reputations are masks we use to hide

The more Draco thought about his situation with Hermione, the more he started contemplating about breaking off their friendship. He couldn't love her if they weren't friends, right? Sure, he could admire her from afar but Harry was in the way as it was. If Draco really wanted to be with Hermione, he would have to get past Potter. It just wasn't his reputation that was setting him back; it was also his feelings and his fears. Things had gone wrong in past relationships, and he didn't want Hermione to get hurt.

"Malfoy!"

Draco craned his neck around to see Blaise Zabini jogging towards him. His insides twisted, knowing what his friend would already talk to him about.

"Oh my God! Are the rumors true, Draco?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. What he had heard was bound to have been blown out of proportion. He had heard a lot of rumors and so far none of them were proven true.

"Depends, what did you hear?"

As Draco watched an excited Blaise, he couldn't help but think of him as an eccentric small child who just ate a bucket load of candy.

"Is it true that you beat Potter into a bloody pulp? I heard that Granger girl got in the way and you were actually standing up for her!"

Draco shook his head and sighed. Blaise was his best friend and had been longer than they had been going to school. He had told him everything and all his problems in between.

"Come on, Blaise. We're going to go on the grounds."

Draco figured that his friend must have gotten the hint since he became quiet until they reached the lower grounds. He looked at Draco every now and then to see when he could talk again.

"Alright, first of all. What says here, stays here, do you understand?"

Draco said this with utmost of firmness in his voice to make Blaise sure how serious he was being.

"Yeah, man. Of course."

Draco looked around to make sure no one else was within listening distance. Once he was positive no one else was listening, he turned to his fellow Slytherin.

"Alright, Hermione and I are friends. We've been since the summer. Lucius beat me and so I ran away to Granger's house. When Warrington and me were in The Three Broomsticks, I saw Potter yelling at Hermione and I sort of...stepped in and tried to defend her. Potter and me got into a first fight, that is true, and then she tried to stop him. Potter pushed her back and she fell, and that is why she's in the hospital wing," Draco explained.

Blaise stared at him, half in disbelief and half in understanding. He was quiet for a moment or two before Draco started to regret ever telling him anything.

"For Christ's sake, Zabini, say something..."

Blaise looked at him with uncertain eyes. "I'm sorry, mate. I...I just never thought you'd be the one to ever fall in love with a Mudblood, that's all. You're telling me all this shit, and you expect me to accept it."

"You don't have to accept it, you just can't tell anyone else what I told you," Draco replied, rolling his eyes impatiently at Blaise.

"You and Granger are not a couple, are you?"

Draco shook his head. "No, not yet."

Blaise threw his arms up in the air and took his voice down to a hoarse whisper. "I can't believe you're going out with her! She's the lowest of the low, Draco! What would inspire you to ever go out with a Mudblood?"

"Blaise, we're not going out yet; calm down. To me, she's not just a Mudblood, she's my friend! If you can't accept us being together in the same room, then maybe you aren't as close as I thought you were to me. For fuck's sake, Blaise! We've been close friends since we were six. Do you really want to ruin that over an insignificant relationship between two houses?"

"Draco, you know my feelings between interhouse relations, especially between the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses. You also know my feelings about relationships with Mudbloods. I'm not going to tell you to break up, but don't not expect other people to get the hint that you two are friends. Just realize what that could do to your reputation, Malfoy."

Draco smiled and put both his hands on Blaise's shoulders, looking him in the eye.

"Blaise, my reputation doesn't matter once this year is over. Once it is over, my reputation, yours, and even Potters' won't matter. We'll all be going our separate ways and none of us will ever see each other again. I'm not even worried about my reputation this year since it won't matter in the years to come."

Blaise formed a small smile, realizing that his friend was right. It didn't matter what any of them did this year, and who they mingled with, since they wouldn't see each other once the year is over.

"Alright, I understand. Just don't fuck around with Potter anymore; he's not as weak as he was in our first year," Blaise warned.

Draco didn't need him to tell him that but Draco knew he was just trying to help.

"So do I have your blessing to be friends with Granger?"

Blaise faked a deep thinking look, and then sighed. "Go on you two, you crazy lovebirds."

Draco playfully punched Blaise, causing him to fake the pain when Draco hit his arm. "We are not in love! I do not love her!"

"Sure, sure. That's the first step in loving someone; being in denial about being in love with them."

"Shut up, man!"

Draco tackled Blaise good-humoredly to the ground and the two wrestled for what seemed like ages before the two lay on their backs, their chests heaving.

"I'm going to miss you when we leave, Draco."

"I'll miss you too, mate."

February 13

"So who do you have in mind for your secret Valentine?"

Draco looked up from his homework he was doing in the Great Hall to see Warrington hovering over him.

Draco Malfoy smiled and continued to scribble on the parchment. "If I told you, then it wouldn't be a secret, would it?"

"Alright, alright, I see how it is. Then let me guess; is it Pansy?"

Draco tried his best to stifle back a laugh. Pansy, right; like Draco would ever talk to that miscreant. He had so many run-ins with her in the past six years, the last thing she needed was a valentine. Pansy Parkinson needed someone to love her like she needed a hole in the head. Draco knew too well that she just wanted a guy to buy her things and use her for the whore she was.

"Nope, not Pansy. You can guess all you want, Warrington; you'll never get it."

To Draco's dismay, this just made Cole Warrington continue to guess.

"Hmm, is it...oh my God. Don't tell me that you stooped so low as to decide to fall in love with Millicent Bulstrode..."

"No, you stupid bloke! Use your head! No one could fall in love with that creature," Draco replied impatiently. "I'm not going to tell you who she is! You can find out for yourself."

With that, Draco got up and started walking back to the Slytherin common room. How can Warrington be so thick? Millicent? Pansy? Does he honestly think that Draco would stoop that low? As far as Draco was concerned, Hermione was out of his reach, too high for him.

I'd be surprised if Hermione actually loved me. Who could love me? My parents sure as hell couldn't. I'm stubborn and temperamental as all hell. Thanks a lot, Lucius. I hope your satisfied with what I've become...I could never make you happy, you fucking bastard.

Draco snapped himself out of his thoughts and continued to write the letter again, each feeling as truthful as the next.