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There was a trace of a light wind that made its presence known by sifting through Pansy's hair. The sun was out and green had pervaded the school grounds to announce the arrival of spring. But Pansy could have cared less. She sat on a stone bench underneath a willow tree, thinking. She was frustrated, and mad. And also empty. No matter how hard she put on her act, she still could not stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend Draco. He seemed so happy whereas she was still moping over their break-up. Of course she did all her moping in private. Can't chance anyone catching how weak she was.

There was movement to her right and when she turned, she saw Millicent Bulstrode now sitting next to her. Bulstrode was to Pansy what Crabbe and Goyle were to Draco. She was Pansy's henchman. But Pansy also thought it was something more. There was a loyalty that was present in Millicent since they first met in their first year. It was not a friendship per say, but Pansy believed that loyalty bound them. In a house full of deceitful backstabbers, loyalty like Bulstrode's was much appreciated.

"Haven't seen you around," commented Pansy, still staring off at the picturesque landscape.

"Hm. M'cat died," gruffed Bulstrode. Good ol' Bulstrode wasn't much for words. Pansy liked that about her.

"Ah". Pansy didn't need to say anymore. She understood. Bulstrode loved that cat. At times Pansy thought the animal was Bulstrode's only other acquaintance.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while.

"Draco dumped you". It wasn't even a question.

"Old news. Next you're gonna tell me that he and Violet have been fooling around the whole castle"

"You're doing it all wrong"

"What?"

"Your whole act. Should just focus on making yourself happy"

Pansy didn't deny it. There was no need. There were no lies between the two.

"I'll be happy when he's miserable"

Bulstrode shook her head. "Your best revenge is being happy. He'll see it and wonder what's up. Two birds with one stone, you see?"

Pansy cocked an eyebrow. Was Bulstrode getting all wise and philosophical on her? Damn, this year was just full of surprises.

"You'll get over it by being happy and at the same time, he'll notice how happy you are without him. Then he'll probably start paying more attention to you and then the regret leaving you"

Pansy contemplated for a while. "Where the heck did you learn all this?"

Bulstrode shrugged her shoulders. "Just observation"

"I don't know what makes me happy anymore. Draco was what made me happy"

"Hm. You used to read and write a lot. Haven't seen you do that in a while"

"Got caught up being Draco's girlfriend. Didn't have time"

"Now you do"

"Yeah"

Bulstrode seemed like she wanted to say something, but was struggling. Finally, "It's just something new. This thing with Violet. Not better, but new. But everything is exciting in the beginning. Then it becomes old and dull"

"Maybe that's how he felt about us. I got old and dull"

"Maybe. Or maybe he needs time to realize what fits, to realize all the wrong ones so he can finally see the right one"

Pansy didn't respond. She took it all in. They sat there, together, for quite some time.

The following day, Pansy did what Millicent suggested. She got through her classes, but she genuinely struck up conversations with Daphne and Nott. She flirted with Blaise and she actually smiled when Millicent confessed that she had a date with Goyle. She walked the halls teasing and goading Gryffindors, including Potter and his crew. Once, she walked by Draco and Violet but hadn't even noticed because she was too busy laughing with Daphne about one of Granger's weak insults.

She got halfway through the week and although she still felt pain at the loss of Draco, especially before she fell asleep, she found that the days had become much more bearable.

It was late when Pansy finished studying for exams. She was alone in the common room. A small fire was quietly blazing and she was curled up on the big sofa with a book. It was a history on dark arts, something she had been meaning to finish for years but was slowly forgotten when she had lost herself in being Draco's girlfriend.

"Ha. Dorotea you old crone," Pansy mumbled to herself, completely lost in the pages.

Suddenly, her book was snatched right out of her hands. She shot daggers at the culprit. It was Draco. And he was smirking.

"Indulging yourself when we've got exams soon, Parkinson?" he said as he flipped through his newly acquired trophy.

Pansy got up. "Give it back, Malfoy," she said, controlling her temper.

He held it up out of her reach. She didn't fall for it. She just stood there and asked again.

When he made no attempt to return it to her, she turned her back on him and started to leave. She wouldn't play his games.

"Fine. Keep it"

"Parkinson, here" She turned around and he tossed it to her. She caught it and returned to the sofa to continue where she left off. She noticed however that Draco sat down in the arm chair opposite her. She tried to ignore him but she felt him staring at her. She glanced up and met his eyes.

"Is there something you wanted?"

He stared at her for a while longer before he spoke. "Do you hate me, Parkinson?"

She rolled her eyes. "What a stupid question. What does it matter?"

"Because it does"

Infuriating! She couldn't wait to graduate and never ever have to see him again.

"I would say that I hate you but that would mean I still had feelings for you. So I won't say that. It's more like I don't give a damn about you". That last part was a lie. He was her first love, how could she still not care?

When he spoke again, he sounded exhausted, like before when they used to argue over and over about the same trifle things. "How can you hate me for doing what I feel?"

She closed her book. She didn't want to talk anymore but she had things to say.

"I don't. You said you wanted to date other people and that was fine. But honestly, ONE DAY after we broke up you already had someone? I mean, you didn't even stop to think about how I would feel about that. It never once occurred to you that it might hurt me, and to at least keep your new exploits discreet and to yourself! It was a slap to my face because it told me that whatever we may have had was so easy to forget in the arms of another girl. And if you had really loved me, that wouldn't have been the case". She took a deep breathe. There was more she wanted to say but she didn't want to break down, not in front of him anyways. She got up and started to leave. He tried to grab her arm but she pushed him away.

"Parkinson . . ."

"DON'T. Don't say anything. I don't want to hear anything from you because they'll be lies. I just want to move on with my life. Without you anywhere in it".

She was ascending the stairs when she felt tears streak down her face. She didn't care though since Draco couldn't see them.