Chapter 11

Persy…

A week passed and there weren't any hiccups between us. I was feeling as though we'd smoothed out the rough spots finally and settled in. Pansy didn't dare tease me when he was around and she oddly enough wasn't teasing me when he wasn't. I fancied he'd had a long biting conversation with her about it.

"No! Hold your hand out like this! If let your wrist fall like that your enemy will only laugh at you." He was standing behind me with his left arm around my waist and his right holding mine rigid. "It's all in how you hold your wand."

"I know! You act like I never pay attention in any of my classes. I've been here as long as you." I replied.

"If you know then hold your wand like you do. You're impossible sometimes."

"And you're not?"

"Fine. Cast it." He nodded, dismissing what I'd said.

"But it's only a poor frog."

"I said cast it!"

"Crucio!" The frog hopped a few times then stretched his chin out at me.

"Baby, you have to mean it."

"Say that again."

"You have to mean it."

"No, the other part."

"Baby?"

"Yes." He kissed my hair and tightened his arm around me. "First time you've called me a pet name. I kind of like it."

"I'd like to call you a few more things." He smirked evilly then pushed my hair away from my neck and nibbled it. "Baby."

"We should… concentrate… on the… unforgivable… curses..." I said in spurts between the nibbling.

"It would be unforgivable if we didn't concentrate on each-other." He whisked me around and kissed me.

"I won't improve if we keep getting distracted." I said breaking the kiss.

"Bloody hell. School can bugger off then." He kissed me again pushing it a bit deeper. His arms pulled me against him, our mouths searched, and he literally swept me off of my feet.

"Taking me somewhere?" I said. He only nodded and carried me away. At that point I completely forgot what we were doing. Maybe because I knew what we were about to do. I'm sure the frog was happy about it.

It was finally time for the dance. It seemed like it had been forever since I'd heard of it, or even the Helm of Darkness that Snape had been so obsessive over. He had never given it back to me. Yet to me it felt it didn't matter anymore. Whatever he did with it was his own business.

Maybe my lack of memory something to do with my distraction as of late. I became excited when the buzz started. I'd be attending with Draco Malfoy. Oh wouldn't I be the envy of every girl at Hogwarts! Well, every girl except that Hermione, she hated him, but I thought she had good reason.

I sat by the lake and thought about what I'd wear to the dance. There was an old silver dress that my mother gave me before she sent me off to school that year because she hoped beyond everything that I'd attend a ball or dance. Well she got her wish.

Draco sat down beside me and pulled me into his lap with very little effort. He kissed me quickly.

"I guess I should buy you a dress," he said.

"I have one," I replied.

"My lady doesn't wear hand-me-downs. I have plenty of money, I'll buy you a new one."

"I may well be your 'lady' but I have my own preference and I prefer to wear my mother's dress." He was silent for a moment then ran his fingers through my hair.

"I only want the best for the ones I love."

I kissed his neck softly.

"I know, but the best for me is the dress I already have. I'm not wearing any other."

"I wouldn't be opposed to you wearing nothing at all." He snickered.

"Excuse me?" I smacked his shoulder and he proceeded to straddle me over him.

"Yes? I'm sure you wouldn't resist." He winked at me.

"I'm sure." I giggled and kissed him.

It was two days before the dance and Draco had sent me a new dress anyway. I was a little irritated over his lack of consideration but I knew what it meant to him to have me wear the one he bought. I'd already told every girl I knew that I was wearing my mother's dress. Though, they had all objected and asked why Draco hadn't bought me one.

I just let them wonder. The dress would have to be worn now either way. Shame, I loved my silver one. The new dress was purple satin, sleeveless, with a sleek design. It was very simple yet elegant. Oh it had to be expensive.

After a morning of thinking I decided to thank him for it so I trudged out of my Muggle Studies class and planned to catch him leaving transfiguration. I waited until the entire room cleared but there wasn't a sign of him.

Panic settled in but only momentarily. Maybe he left class early to catch up with me and ask about the dress. I retraced my steps and after a few winding halls I heard loud voices. I stopped and listened. That was Draco for sure, and… Pansy?

"Come on Drakey! She's a stupid girl. She'll never suspect a thing. I miss you. Just leave the retch," said Pansy.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I believe I do. She's the flavor of the month just like every other girl you've played with."

"That is not true."

"Isn't it? You'll play then drop her like all of the others and come crawling back to me. As always."

I couldn't breathe. That conniving little troll deserved nothing but death. She'd stop at nothing to have him. My reactions were non-existent; I didn't know what to do.

"She's worthless Drakey. Until this year you thought so too. Why do you suddenly worship this misfit? Give her to Longbottom and be done with it."

"I'm done with this conversation."

"You had your bit of low-grade ass, now come back to me. We're from the same mold, you and I. Think of how angry your father would be if he found out you were with a Ravenclaw."

I was nauseous. My head was twirling. It couldn't be true. I'd finally grown to trust him and now this? Before anything else could be said and before I knew what I was doing I had entered the next hall and stared at them. Pansy saw me and threw her hand around his neck then kissed him. It was the most horrifying experience of my life.

In all of a few moments I'd lost everything I loved. Did I ever really have it? What made it worse was that he wasn't pulling away. Granted, he didn't seem to be kissing back but he wasn't pulling away either. Anger consumed me and I felt vicious. I'd had enough.

"Draco Odysseus Malfoy! What in the hell do you think you're doing?!" He turned toward me with a look of horror on his face and Pansy was grinning.

"It isn't what it looks like, baby!" He pushed Pansy out of his way and hurried toward me. When he came near I slapped him with every bit of strength I had. I didn't want to hear excuses. I didn't want any more of his long-winded speeches. I didn't even want to be near him. No matter how much I loved him or wanted to be with him this was the last straw.

I realized that I was only the toy that Pansy spoke of. Everything had been a lie. My chest panged as I realized every time he said he loved me it was a lie.

"It is exactly what it looks like."

He turned his face back to mine finally and his entire left cheek was bright red.

"It isn't."

"I'm not even going to ask you to explain. I've had it." I turned on my heel and left him with her. I didn't care what she did now. She could have him.

I decided that the lake wasn't a good idea at the moment because he knew it was my safe spot. I'd go to the most unlikely place to think, to get away, the forbidden forest. Maybe I could talk to Givesh. He was wise.

Everywhere I went there was a memory of Draco. We must have spent a lot of time together in the past months to have so many memories. I never should have let him in. He was just so captivating, so charming, his kiss could make me do anything. Oh how I wished he had really loved me.

Settling in the small area where we had first made our truce, I pulled my knees to my chest and cried. I didn't know how long I'd been there and it didn't matter really.

"Persy…" That wasn't Givesh, it was Draco. How had he found me? Then it dawned on me. He was listening to my thoughts again.

"That's Persephone to you."

"Persephone, I wasn't reading your thoughts, only searching our most memorable places."

"Figures. I should have known you'd look in the place where you'd first won your prize."

"Persephone." I thought I heard his voice choke. No Persy, that's just your imagination. "I don't know how much you heard today, but I'm not using you." I looked up from my tear soaked hands. He'd moved closer, down on his knees now. "I fucked up. I know I ruined everything. I shouldn't have even spoken to her. If it means anything at all I didn't kiss her back."

"But you didn't push her away. You're a good bullshitter Malfoy but I won't be falling for it this time." His hand rested on my leg and I pulled away.

"Don't call me Malfoy. It's so formal."

I pushed to my feet, straightened my clothes, and moved out of the clearing. I turned back for a moment.

"I don't care what the sphere said. I don't want anything to do with you. Thank you again for breaking my heart." I turned back around and started on my way back to school.

He swept toward me and grabbed me by the shoulders, flipping me around.

"You have no idea what you're saying. One doesn't take risks against what the sphere says." He shook his head. "To hell with the sphere. Persy, I love you! My gods I love you more than life itself!"

He kissed me, and for the first time I was able to pull away without hesitation.

"We're over." It had never hurt so much to say so little. Did I see tears in his eyes? I did, and I didn't care, or at least I told myself I didn't. He deserved it.

"I don't believe that." He pulled me into his arms and I pulled out of them.

"I applaud your acting skills but alas I don't believe you. Don't touch me, speak to me, or even look at me from now on. We're done." I left him. It was over. No more drama, no more rendezvous, no more heartache.

A week passed and honestly I was miserable. My chest ached constantly and I felt as though nothing mattered anymore. I didn't let it show. The old Persy knew how to hide these things. I even ignored Pansy's fawning over Draco but it was easy since he seemed not to care whether she was there or not. In every class she made it a point to flaunt her victory. Even at dinner she clung to him.

It did bother me. I'd be a cold-hearted reprobate if it didn't. It wasn't as though I didn't love him, I did. I couldn't let myself be fooled by a fake relationship anymore.

Funny, sometimes I even thought that maybe I'd made a mistake and he did love me after all. That was quickly dismissed. I knew the truth.

"So, what are you going to do now? Are you still going to the dance?" asked a housemate at dinner.

"I don't think so. There's no point really. I think I'll catch up on schoolwork instead," I replied.

"It's a tragedy, you and him. I thought you were surely destined to be," said another girl.

"You two looked fantastic together. The perfect couple in my opinion," yet another girl added.

"A shame Pansy has her claws in him now," said the first girl.

"I don't think she wants to talk about this." Cho interrupted as she moved next to me. "We should change the subject."

"No, it's okay. I'm fine with it, really. The best way to get over a relationship is to talk about it," I replied. The table fell silent. Truthfully I wanted to talk about anything but Draco. I wished Cho would change the subject.

"Persy." A male voice cleared behind me and the other girls stared impatiently. It wasn't Draco, I knew that voice. So I turned around and sure enough there was Neville. "May I speak with you alone?"

"Well, certainly." I rose from the table and nodded at the other girls. Neville immediately slid his hand over mine and guided me toward the exit.

I spotted Draco and Pansy staring at us and then she whispered something to him and he jumped angrily out of his seat, left the table, and sped toward us, much to Pansy's dismay. Her words must have backfired.

My gaze yanked from him and I followed Neville speedily. We weren't fast enough. Draco blocked the door and a few of his friends gathered behind him. He crossed his arms and stared condescendingly at me.

"Where are you going?"

"Yea, Phony Persy. Going somewhere?" added Crabbe who had appeared behind him. Draco turned on him and cast a spell sealing his lips together.

"Be careful what you say Crabbe. Next time it may just be a tongue twister." Draco stepped toward me. He grabbed my hand and attempted to pull me off. "Let's go." I was sure he would lead me off to a private place where he could feed me more lines of bull. I yanked away from him and his face grew angry.

"I don't think so."

"You've moved on fast."

"And you haven't?" I waved toward Pansy who was pouting now with her chin in her hands.

He shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"The dress you bought will be sent to your room tonight. I hope Pansy likes it. I bet she's dying to wear it."

"Are you even listening or just talking? I said I'm not with her."

"Well, you broke all three rules. Don't do it again." I pushed past him and dragged Neville behind.

As soon as we were alone I turned to him and asked him what this was about.

"I still love you," Neville said. I didn't need this right now. I needed to be left alone. A response to his comment was escaping me so I blurted out the first thing to float across my tongue.

"Okay."

"I-I was wondering if y-you would possibly give me another chance. You know, to live up to your expectations."

"I don't know. I'm in an awkward situation right now."

"Say you'll at least go to the dance with me."

"Neville I-" He kissed me. It was different than the ways he'd kissed me before, but still comforting. His kiss would never amount to the passion I felt with Draco but who needed passion when all it brought was pain?

"Please Persy. I'll be the man you've always dreamed of." As much as I wished he were that man, he could never be. The man of my dreams was sitting in the great hall with Pansy Parkinson. My heart ached thinking about it.

Then again, Neville had always been kind to me. He'd treat me right even if he wasn't Mr. Right.

"All right. I'll go. We'll meet at the grand staircase." I kissed his lips lightly. There was that familiar smell of cologne and I went back to dinner. He seemed too happy to move from his spot and I figured he'd be standing there shocked for quite a while.

I rejoined my table and was immediately bombarded with questions. This time I had answers. Was I going to the dance? Yes. Were Neville and I back together? Not quite. What had happened with Draco? Same as usual. But I was going and I was wearing my dress. Neville would treat me like the Goddess I was named after.