disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters, It Can Only Go Up From Here is a work of fanfiction and all mine :)
Chapter 18: You Don't Have To
"Draco's in love. I never thought I would live to see the day, but there it is." Hermione told her friends that morning.
"Are you joking? He probably just wants to shag her- I mean, she might not be mindblowing but she's still-" Ron stopped, seeing Hermione's arched eyebrow.
"Are you sure 'Mione? Who could ever ove him?" Harry said, unbelieving.
"I can tell. It's like how I knew you loved Ginny. He's just.. different around her, like he's- like's he normal." They all shuddered at the thought of Malfoy being normal.
"Selena's been talking to me about her sister and him.. that guy that was with her yesterday afternoon? He was Alina's ex."
"Blimey."
"And apparently he still loves her, according to Selena."
"Oi" Ron said.
"Yeah- there seems to be a whole lot of history between them. Selena doesn't want them to get together again though,"
"Why not?"
"Something about him being a delusional, idealistic, selfish pretty boy."
"Oh."
"Anyways... do you know what you're wearing to the Christmas ball?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"For once, yes. But it's a secret."
"Girls and their dresses." Ron rolled his eyes.
"At least we have dates already." Harry smiled, squeezing Ginny's hand underneath the table.
"Uh... right..."
"Ron? You've got to be kidding. You haven't-?" Ron said nothing, his face turning the shade of his hair. "Hermione, do you have a date to the ball?" Harry turned towards her.
"Uh no- not really," she stammered.
"Do you mind being Ron's date? Would you like to be Ron's date, I should say,"
"Um.. yes- yes I would."
"Good. It's settled then. Ron will escort you the Great Hall at 8 o' clock Christmas evening. Right, Ron?"
"Uh, yeah" said Ron, flustered. They were silent for the rest of breakfast, though Hermione seemed a tad bit cheerier and Ron more polite, not gulfing down his food like a pig like he did normally.
"Oi," Ron said as a a girl in only an oversized t-shirt and boxers entered, practically dragging a tall and somewhat guilty looking guy into the Great Hall.
"Eat." she ordered. She hadn't had time to cahnge- she had heard Draco and David bickering as soon as she had left.
"How did I get so lucky?" Draco wondered aloud to himself.
"That's what I keep wondering." Draco whipped around.
"How did you get in here?"
"Through the portrait- how else? And to think you're Head Boy." he smirked. Draco grit his teeth- no one smirked but him.
"Any reason why you're here without permission?" Draco said, drawing himself to his full height. He was as tall as David, but leaner.
"Just trying to figure out what she could see in you."
"Apparently more than what she saw in you," he spat.
"Listen- I know your family ties with Lord Voldemort- Alina may be convinced that you aren't involved but I'm not. If you ever do anything to hurt I swear I will-"
"Swear you'll do what? Your threats mean absolutely nothing to me- and don't try to assume what you don't understand or know asshole." Draco was fuming, but so was David.
"Well I know that Alina loved me- I'm sure you didn't know that- and I'm positive you didn't know that we're supposed to be wed. Her family's so poor that they agreed to give their blessing to me- and I went through hell to persuade my parents that Alina was worth it. Tell me, would you ever do that for her?"
"What, make her family financially dependent on me and forcing her to choose to marry me?" Draco shook his head in disbelief. "You're right, I wouldn't ever do that for her."
"Just know that she's mine- and that she doesn't give a damn about you." David snarled.
"And just know that she doesn't love you." he retorted.
"Not yet, but she will."
"The hell she will," Draco scoffed.
"Just wait and see- the next time you mess up I'm going to be there for her and you'll realize that you had no freakin chance."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Draco bellowed.
"David Christopher Blake." Draco twinged. "Well you seem to be brighter than I thought- my uncle was the one to kill your cousins.. traitors to our ministry and slaves to the 'Lord Voldemort'. From what I understand you were quite close to them both, weren't you? It's a shame that such a family can be filled with so many murderous, conniving, filthy traitors. My uncle gave them exactly what they deserved, to be eaten from the inside till nothing was left. You should really consdier changing your name-" he had not time to finish as Draco grabbed a hold of his throat and aimed his wand at him.
"If you contain a single ounce of intelligence you'll be the one to stay away from Alina," Draco said through clenched teeth.
"Draco-stop- let go of him." David smirked again as Draco released his grip.
"What's going on? Draco-" It was too late; he had stormed off, slamming the portrait door behind him.
"What did you say David? What the heck did you say?!" Alina shouted. "Tell me a-"
"Don't worry yourself about it," he said.
"What do you mean, 'don't worry myself'? What did you do?"
"Nothing, Alina- didn't you see what that son of a bitch was doing?" Alina suddenly snapped and slapped him hard across his face, his face left stinging and red with pain. He bit his lip in anger.
"You're going to come with me to breakfast and tell me what happened and you're going to calm down and stay away from Draco," she said forcefully, and he reluctantly went with her.
Now she watched him eat, furious- he had told her remotely what had happened.
"David, you should leave." she said finally. He looked up.
"I'm not leaving Alina."
"Then when are you leaving?"
"I'm not leaving without you,"
"What? Have you completely lost it?"
"Your parents gave me their blessing to marry you, and I'm going to Alina,"
"What are you talking about- why-"
"Your family needs money Alina, you know that. I got my parents to give up some for them. You'll be able to go back to the Academy."
"David, you are insane-"
"Am I?" he caught her hand and she tried to struggle free but he held firm, crushing her hand. "You and Selena can go back to your normal lives again- your parents can keep their house and raise Lilith, Andrew, and Michael. Isn't that what you want?"
"Why are you being so thick-headed? David- you are so much better than this. You at least know better than to think I would agree to marry you out of a bribe," she said, disgusted.
"Alina- this is the only way we can work out-"
"David, no- we are never going to work out. No matter how much you or I want it to."
"So that's it then, you're not going to think about your sister, your family, you're just going to give up-"
"I'm thinking about them all the time damni!" she nearly yelled. "What do you think I'm here for? To learn here for free and then find a job to help them."
"You don't have to Alina-"
"I don't care. David- leave. For your sake and mine, just go."
"I'm not going to."
"Then don't bother me, or Draco." she demanded .
"You'll see what a mistake you've made later," he said nonchalantly and let go of her hand, which she was sure would be brusied the next day.
"I don't know you anymore." she whispered, and within a second she had left.
a/n: reviewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!