Woman Scorned

Woman Scorned

CHAPTER 2: Fire in Your Eyes

Pansy looked away as if she didn't care and started her conversation with Daphne again. She did it with such composure that Daphne actually felt as if it wasn't THE Draco Malfoy who just entered but some unimportant first year.

"So I still have the green dress that I had planned to wear when I was going with my ex, but now I want a new color scheme. I mean I should probably consult Blaise first just because he might have a color preference. I was thinking about doing a classy black . . ."

But Pansy did not get to finish because a shadow had fallen over her. She looked up to see Draco standing right beside her.

"Can I have a word, Parkinson?" he said. Pansy shrugged, but Daphne silently got up and left the sofa. He sat down and stared at her.

"Well? I haven't got all day you know"

"Parkinson, you know damn well I'm the one taking you to the ball. Or, is this some sort of revenge cause you're so hung up on me still?" he smirked. She hated that arrogant smirk.

"Get over yourself, Malfoy"

"Oh? As I recall it, you were the one who'd been fawning over me since the first year of Hogwarts" He smirked again. Damn that smirk!

"If I'm the one still hung up on you, then why is it that you still want to go to the ball with ME? I've already found a replacement. Seems to me like you still want me". She smirked right back at him.

He started laughing. "Convenience, of course! I can't waste anymore time on this damn ball when I know you had everything planned out for us already. I mean, why else? I meant it when I said I wanted to date other people. And I know you too well to think that you're already over me"

Her face flushed and her voice dropped to a whisper. "You asshole. I can't believe I actually loved you. Not for your money and not for your surname. Just because you were you. I AM over you, but I'd like to see you try and find someone better than me, if not as good"

She stood up and left. She went straight to Zabini, grabbed his arm and whisked him away.

He watched her walk out the common room. He sat in silence for a moment. Truth be told, he wasn't sure if he had wanted to see other people. It just happened to dawn on him one night before bed that he had been with Pansy for a very long time. Years. And frankly, it was a scary thought. He was not even 18 yet and there he was getting comfortable with the one girl he'd ever known. Sure, she was good at sneering, taunting and shit-talking. Heck, she always put her money where her mouth was and always had an acrid comeback to all of Granger's smarty-pants remarks. And true to her title, she commanded attention like the queen that she was.

But was that what he really wanted? How could he be so sure? He wasn't. That was the problem. But his mind wasn't wired to delve into the situation to figure it out. He was rich and of pureblood. The problem should fix itself, not require any effort on his part.

With that last thought, he got up from the sofa and signaled to Crabbe and Goyle to follow him.

"Time to choose a new date for the ball," he said to them.

Later that evening, Pansy sat pensively on her bed examining a dress magazine. She needed a new one for the ball cause she sure as heck wasn't going to use the one she had purchased before. That one was for when she was still going with Draco. She sighed deeply, still unable to make up her mind. She lied down and stared at the ceiling.

Draco wasn't at dinner but rumors had floated to where Pansy was sitting that he was caught making out with Violet Wronk in some classroom. When Pansy heard that, she rolled her eyes and played it cool. But really, it killed her inside. Already?

For once in her lifetime Pansy felt insecure. The possibility that another girl was better than her was more than her pride could endure. What was it about the girl that made Draco choose her instead of Pansy? Violet Wronk for crying out loud! She was thin as a broomstick and her eyes were set too far apart.

"Pathetic," she mumbled.

Just then, the door swung open to reveal her roommate and best friend Daphne. Or, as close to a best friend a Slytherin can have anyways.

"Um, Pans? How ya feeling?"

"Indecisive. Black or red? I can't figure out which dress I'm going to go with!" Pansy feigned, trying her hardest not to show her concern over the recent news of Draco.

Daphne walked towards her. "You are very much in denial," she told Pansy.

Pansy looked at her lazily, as if already bored with the conversation. "Oh? Who says?"

"Fine. Deny it all you want. But you should know that Draco did ask Violet to the ball."

"Congratulations to the happy couple. Though why he'd want to be seen with a hag like her hanging off his arms is beyond me," Pansy said, picking up the discarded magazine and once again flipping through the pages. Her heart was pounding fast and her temper rising. But she kept her movements calm and her demeanor cool.

Daphne wasn't buying it.

"You are SO very jealous right now! I can't believe you're trying to pull that "calm, collected and cool" act with me!" Daphne declared.

Pansy stared at her and finally gave up. "Okay! Fine! I'm a little jealous. It hasn't even been a day yet! But don't worry. I'm not here to sulk. I want to rub it in his face how much better off I am without him. I want him jealous and fawning over ME for once. I want him to regret casting me off like some old broom!" Pansy said, all in one breath.

Daphne was silent for a moment, and then sat down next to her. "Well, if that's the case, you should go with this pretty little number," Daphne said as her finger pointed to a dress in the magazine.