CHAPTER 8

^^ Two updates in one day!! I'm on a roll. Sorry this chapter is so short, though. The next one is really cute, and long.

silenaandbeckendorf4ever: to answer your question, possibly. Aaaaaand that's all I'm really going to say. XD Evil writer, aren't I?

Anyways, thanks to all who reviewed and are going to review! I love hearing from you! Enjoy!

You can see that this broken soul is bleeding
So you can see your feelings inside yourself
And wander through my heart
Letting you see through me
Now only consumes me
Forget your pain, watch me fall apart

--Three Doors Down

Then next morning, I sat with Draco at the Slytherin table. I felt like a yellow dot in a sea of green.

I ate quietly, preoccupied with my thoughts. The mail had just come for the first time, and like every year, I got nothing. Draco's mum sent him sweets and a letter, making his good mood even better. Every time he saw Harry Potter, he would pretend to faint and all the Slytherins would laugh and sneer at the Griffindors.

I sat there thinking about how lucky Draco was to have a mother who would send him sweets and love. How lucky he was to have a mother at all.

Draco was oblivious to my mood as he always was while around his posse.

The day went on (we had compared schedules earlier), and we passed notes in Charms and History of Magic.

It was a typical first day back, until I heard someone speak Draco's name in a conversation. I peaked around the corner. Three sixth year Ravenclaws were gossiping.

"Malfoy got hurt by a hippogriff. Says he's going to make his father get the new gamekeeper fired," one said.

"What happened?" another gasped.

"Wasn't paying attention," the third growled, "and insulted the beast. Got a little scratch on his arm, but the way the git is going on about it, you would think he had his arm torn off!"

"Poor hippogriff. Just his unlucky day," the first sympathized. "Probably will just have a trial and execution. Nothing good ever happens to anyone or anything who crosses a Malfoy."

"My uncle had a hippogriff, called-"

I stopped listening at that point. I had heard enough. I was very, very pissed off at Draco. It was bad enough that he terrorized his fellow classmates (and some professors), but to get an innocent animal killed because of his stupidity and pride? And get Hagrid fired? That was unforgivable!

I had a soft spot for animals of any kind, and couldn't bear the thought of one being executed because of something Draco did.

Draco wasn't in classes until Thursday, his arm in a sling. He told anyone who would listen about how much pain he was in and how he barely escaped with his life.

I made a point to glare at him whenever he was near, and wouldn't go near him or talk to him. He was so involved with the attention the other Slytherins were giving him, I doubt he really noticed.

A couple of days passed and it finally entered his thick skull that he had upset me, but I didn't give him the chance to explain anything. I avoided him like the plague, even going to such extremes as ducking behind groups of other students so he wouldn't see me. I didn't want to talk to him.

One night, two weeks and a day after the start of the term, Draco caught up with me and pulled me into an empty classroom.

"Have you been avoiding me?" he asked. His icy gaze gave me the chills.

"Yes."

"Why?" he asked, looking slightly hurt. I forced myself not to feel sorry for him.

I glanced at the sling he still had on his arm.

"Because you're an ass," was my curt reply.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not mean to you."

"So what!? You pissed me off! You're just fine, and your own stupidity caused you to get hurt in the first place. You're willing to milk it and get an innocent animal executed and Hagrid fired." My voice rose a little with every word.

Understanding flickered into his expression.

What did he think I was angry about? I asked myself.

"So…?"

Angry, I rolled my eyes and walked out, slamming the door.

After a moment, Draco swung open the door and ran after me.

"Willow! Wait!" he exclaimed dramatically, grabbing my arm and forcing me to stop. I refused to look at him.

"Let me explain! Flint wants me to use this as an excuse so Griffindor will have to play Hufflepuff and not us."

My anger flared and I gave him the iciest glare I could muster.

"So you're using your fake injury as a way to cheat!? You're resorting to trickery because you might lose!?"

He gave me an astonished, blank stare that affirmed my accusation.

Disgusted, I yanked my arm away and stormed off. Draco didn't follow me.