Chapter 8:

Good Guy

For the next week Zeta could not look at herself. She could not look in the mirror, and look at the girl who had given into the temptation, had almost lost it. Zeta could not look at Malfoy, who did not speak to her, but gave her a cold glance whenever their eyes met. His pale gray eyes still mezmarized her, but she could not stare into them, knowing if she did, she would be terribly reminded of that night. When Harry kissed her, even on the cheek, it was not the same. It was as if she had betrayed him, and she now felt not as innocent, and naive as she once was. She felt stained, a broken good that no one wanted anymore. Even though Harry did not know, it killed her she was not telling him. The detention she had gotten for being out so late was nothing compared to the guilt she felt. She wanted it to have never happened, to just go away, but it wouldn't, it would remain, and never leave.

In Care of Magical Creatures class, an exact week after she had met up with Draco in the empty classroom, they were studying Leop's (bizzare scaly creatures in which the scales were used in wands) and Hagrid had told them to partner up. Before Zeta could find Harry though, Draco found her.

"Would you like to be my partner Arwin?" He asked, smiling evilly, knowing he was getting to her.

"No.." She told him shortly.

"Well you're going to be anyway. We have to talk." He told, leading her to a tree outside the forest. He held a Leop.

"I don't want to talk to you Draco Malfoy. If anything I wish you would disappear." Zeta hissed at him, trying to stay far away. She grabbed the Leop out of his hand, and sat down on the ground.

"Arwin, I didn't mean for things to go the way they did." Draco told her, with true regret in his voice. "I honestly didn't want that."

"You are a liar Draco Malfoy, and you know it." Zeta told him coldly, ripping the scales off the Leop, as it hissed in displeasure.

"I am not lying to you Arwin." He told, sitting down next to her. "I know we got started off on the wrong foot, and I want to make it up to you."

"Draco," She looked at him, still full of hatred, "I know you are telling me a long line of lies, and I wish you would just get off it, and leave me alone. I am with Harry, and I don't need you."

"Well," He began, playing with the snow at his feet, "I truly am sorry, whether you choose to believe me or not..." He handed her a note, and looked at her, "Just hear me out..." He got up, and walked away. Zeta stared after him, wondering why he had suddenly had a change of heart. She watched him leave, and he never looked back. Zeta suddenly remembered the note he had given her a ripped it open. Her name shown in bright green letters.

Zeta-

I want to show you how sorry I am for everything. I also want to give you back your ring. If you could please meet me outside the castle this weekend for the Hogsmeade meeting, I would like to talk to you and give it back. Please meet me, I'll wait there all day if I have to.

Love Always,

Draco

Zeta stared at the letter in utter disbelief, unable to comprehend the sincerity, the kindness he had written. It was very unlike him, and Zeta found it hard to believe, and yet she wanted to believe it was true. Draco Malfoy, now a good guy, who was truly sorry. This didn't seem right, after all the years he had been a terribly cruel, and now he suddenly wanted to be friends, it was very very wrong. She continued to rip out the scales, of the Leop.

"To go.." She ripped one out, "Not to go...To go...Not to go..."

-

Zeta continued to think about whether to go or not all week. It was Monday, which meant she had five days to think about it. But instead of five days, it felt like five hours. Laying in bed Friday night, Zeta continued to think of what to do. She liked to believe the fact Draco had changed, but knew that if she believed it, something bad would happen. Zeta wanted to think that this was the new Malfoy, and he was as georgous as ever, and he was now a true canidate that she could fall for. If he was truly sorry, she wanted to believe he was, there was nothing standing in the way of her true love for him. She could love Draco Malfoy.

-

Zeta awoke Saturday morning and had made her decision. She would go to see him. If anything bad happened, she could just leave. Deciding it was better not to tell Harry, Zeta felt a pang of guilt for lying, but she knew she would have to, to get her ring back. She knew that Draco was trying to be nice, she had re-read his letter twenty times, and had decided he was sincere. There was no way this was a trick, and it did follow her love destiny. She was hesitant at first, she had already met him, she had fallen for him quite fast, and the last part could happen later. This was the way it was supposed to be. But, Zeta thought, nothing will happen now, I am only going to get my ring, what can happen?

Zeta got out of her bed, and quickly changed into an outfit. Pansy walked in, and Zeta rolled her eyes.

"Going to see Draco are we?" She asked, as Zeta couldn't help but stop, surprised she knew.

"No, and why?" Zeta asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Don't lie, he told me yesterday he had a meeting with you..." Pansy sat down on her bed, and her annoyingly high-pitched voice echoed in Zeta's head.

"A meeting?" She asked, wondering what he had said, and suddenly having second thoughts.

"Yes..." Pansy began to play with her wand, not looking at Zeta, "But I swore I wouldn't tell you what he told me."

"Parkinson, tell me, or I will tell Dumbledore you broke the Dormitory rule." Zeta hissed at her, truly wondering if she should go or not.

"Oh..." She said in mock fear, "I'm scared now. I will not tell you, no matter how you threaten me."

Zeta shot her a cold look, and walked out the door, mumbling to herself.

"Annoying, little, pureblood, cow..." Zeta made her way down the stairs, as she thought about what Pansy had said. What if this was a trick, what if this was another way to get her to regret losing it, completly this time? What if Draco was lying? Zeta walked out of the common room door.

"Calm down Zeta." She told herself, walking towards giant oak doors, "She was just trying to get to you. Draco just wants to give you back your ring. And then you can go to Hogsmeade with Harry, it will all work." She continued to talk to herself as she walked out the oak doors, to the side of the castle, looking for Draco.