Chapter Five
Damn Rumors
Draco blew a bubble in his gum, letting it snap. You wouldn't think it to look at him, but Draco loved his candy, gum especially. He didn't like to eat it around others, in case they felt he was childish. He could deal with their thoughts, but he didn't want to.
He leaned over the History of Magic essay. The branches of the old Oak were the perfect place to do an assignment in early autumn. So far he was safe in his space.
A gaggle of Gryffindor girls paused beneath his tree and he resisted the urge to snap his gum obnoxiously. Girls like these were skittish, unlike Granger. Despite his war with the girl, she was much better than these simpletons.
But stupid and vapid as they were, they were good for gossip. He stuck his quill behind his ear and leaned against the tree to listen.
"... Then I said, you should watch your hands, Mr Potter!"
The girls giggled stupidly at Romilda Vane. Draco rolled his eyes. He didn't know what was more pathetic, that Potter was actually dating this girl or that both parties considered themselves lucky.
"Did you hear?" Asked Victoria.
"What?" The girls chorused.
Victoria drew up to her full height. "Ron asked me out."
THe girls tittered with good wishes and questions about Ron's attributes.
Suddenly Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil rushed up, breathless.
"Oh!" Romilda exclaimed, letting her friends lean against her.
"What's wrong?" chirped the rest of the group.
"It's terrible!"
"What is?"
"I heard it from Daphne who heard it from Theodore, who heard it from from Fred, who heard it from Lee, who heard it from Millicent who heard it from Pansy herself!"
Draco's ears pricked up at the end of Lavender's oration. Pansy? What about her?
"What?" The girls whispered, caught in Lavender's dramatic moment.
"Pansy's pregnant."
Draco almost fell out of the tree. Then he thought about it. It wouldn't be that surprising. Pansy did sleep around.
Below the girls were gasping. Finally one asked: "Who's the father?"
"Draco Malfoy."
This time Draco did fall out of the tree.
(A/N: Ave has given me full permission to update this today. She will be updating her's tomorrow.