Erica's POV

Charms had just ended and I am on my way to the Slytherin common room for free period. I enter to see Malfoy and his crew. "Malfoy, we need to talk."

"I'm a little busy right now."

"Now, you bastard!" I snap.

"I love you too, bitch," he says following me to a far corner.

"Malfoy, I can't do this anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because she-she...."

"She what?" he asked eagerly and angrily.

"She's.... I can't tell you." He grabs my hand, twists it and I let out a yelp of pain.

"Malfoy, please don't make me do this. It's betrayal. It's a code of friendship." He tightens his grip and twists some more. "Ah!"

"I don't know the meaning of the word."

"Fine! You win! On both fronts. She's jealous."

"Anything else?" he asks, refusing to loosen his grip.

"She doesn't want to see me hurt."

"I mean about winning her over." Another hard twist and another yelp is heard.

"Ok, ok," I whimper, breathing fast from the excruciating pain he's inflicting on me. "She says you're a great kisser, you just go a little crazy with the tongue." As he let it sink in, tears form in my eyes, partly because I just betrayed my best friend, but mostly because my wrist feels like it's being ripped off.

"Fine." He let go, making me fall to the floor with another yelp. He knelt down to become eye level with me. "Thanks for all your help, love." For thanks, he brushed his lips against mine, sending unpleasant shivers down my spine. He walks away.

Malfoy scares me. I run as fast as I can to my room and stay there until the next class.

End Erica's POV

It's Herbology with the Slytherins and Erica stands beside me.

"Collette. Psst. Collette," she whispers.

"Yes?"

"No matter what Malfoy does to you, don't give in," Erica warns.

"What are you talking about?"

"He - squeezed - information out of me."

"Like what?" I ask nervously.

"I told him you like him, that you were jealous, and how you like to be kissed."

"Erica, how could you?" I ask incredulous, not believing my best and only friend could betray me like that.

"I had no other choice! It was either tell him or have him rip my hand off!"

"What the hell?" She pulled up her sleeve and took off her dragon skin glove. Her wrist was red. "He did that to you?"

"Yes. I need to tell you one more thing. Malfoy and I never dated and never will. He told me to pretend to go out with him to make you jealous."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. He's apparently madly in love with you. And I mean mad!" she said whilst rubbing her wrist before putting her glove back on.

"I'll say. I'll get him good."

"No! You have to avoid him at all costs."

"I'll have a go at anyone who hurts my best friend!"

"Aww! Thank you!" I feel the mushiness coming on and stop her.

"Slytherin," I remind her.

"Right."