Absolute Gravity

Chapter Seven: Cruel & Heartless

A/N: Exams are nearly over! By the end of this month, I'll be exam free. *party*

At first, Hermione thought she could take it. At first, he only ignored her. It let her live under the illusion he was the one hurting, not her. It only hurt really hurt when he disappeared out of sight and she knew she couldn't chase after him because she'd made her choice. At first, she thought the hurt would disappear. Key phrase, at first.

They'd been living in a silent world for barely two weeks before something snapped inside of Malfoy. She thought she imagined it at first or maybe she convinced herself she'd imagined it? But during one of their morning Potions lessons Crabbe had tripped her and she swore she heard Malfoy snigger but when she looked up he wouldn't meet her eye.

Then the next day, Goyle knocked her books out of her hands and Malfoy had laughed, harshly and sneered, "Does your dirty blood even prevent you from carrying book? Well, Granger, you never fail to surprise me." The effect was instant, her heart hammered as she fiercely blinked back the burning tears.

"As do you," she had responded, deadpanned. She thought she saw a flicker of regret pass through his eyes but then she had blinked and it was gone again, replaced with the cruelest expression she'd ever encountered him wearing.

It continued like that. Him having no regard of her feelings and though she was tempted to pretend and say it was just like the old times, it was not. Before, when they fought there would be that hint of enjoyment and even in their fiery rage they were never this cruel and coldhearted towards each other. Or had she just imagined that? Had it been like that all along? She couldn't tell. She couldn't read him anymore. Could she to begin with? Her head ached with these constant unanswerable questions and her heart ached from something far more ugly.

She was wrenched from her thoughts by the sound of Malfoy entering the common room. She didn't look up. She focused her eyes on the book in front of her but the words made no sense and she found she was shaking. She heard the portrait creak and close but not his footsteps. Her grip tightened on her book.

"I can't take this, Malfoy. It's only been a week but I can't take it." she whispered so quietly there was almost hope he didn't hear her.

"Well that's not my choice is it?" he bit back. Of course he had heard. He had wanted her to say something.

Her voice shook, "You don't have to act like this."

"Debatable," he murmured coldly, snatching the book out of her hands and tossing it to the side. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you, Granger."

"No."

"Why afraid of little ol' me?" he drawled sarcastically.

She shook her head, her curls falling across her line of sight, "Not of you."

He snorted, "Don't speak in riddles, Granger. It's a ridiculously pathetic way of avoiding questions."

She clenched her jaw, she felt it. Snap. "Funny. I thought that was your forte, being pathetic that is." He raised her head and she noticed the tiny flinching movement. She knew her eyes now struck him just as his do her.

"Aw it's that cute, the little Gryffindor thinks she's going to brave now? Bit late for that isn't it, Granger?" he questioned causally His eyebrows raised, daring her to reply.

"You'd know all about being too late, wouldn't you Malfoy?" she breathed. She watched as her words washed over him, as he unraveled what she had meant and watched the flurry of dark emotions flush his face.

Then the mask came back but the fury flaming behind his eyes caused her heart beat to hurl out of control. "Oh you egotistical bitch. You think that's why I'm treating you like this?"

"I…" What?

He barked a laugh, something heavy dropped in her stomach.

"Oh this is just too good. Little Miss Perfect thinks I actually fell for her. Now that's pathetic," he sneered.

She froze, a cold sweat crept up her neck. The world was spinning. She felt sick.

"Crabbe's going to love this," he continued, "Not Goyle though. He just lost a bet."

A bet?!

He must have seen the horror in her eyes because his smirk deepened, "Oh are you surprised, love?" She swallowed the hiss of pain his tone had caused. "Does it surprise you that your enemy tried to humiliate you?"

Apparently, her voice wasn't working. Her mouth opened but not a sound came out.

"Do I need to spell it out for you?" he asked patronizingly but didn't wait for an answer, "We thought it would be a bit of fun to test how big your head had gotten and according to you it's gotten quite big if you thought even I was head over heels for you. What next, You-Know-Who coming back from the dead to offer you a wedding proposal?" She bit back the sob climbing her throat. "I'm almost sad this little game is over. I was quite enjoying it but watching you break right now… Well, I'm glad I haven't missed it."

"You'll never get your Head Boy badge," she choked out.

He folded his arms, "Oh is that so?"

"I'll tell Dumbledore all about this," she threatened, "And you know I will."

He smiled smugly, "No, I don't think you will." She cocked her head to side. A wordless question. "Well, unless you want everyone knowing you cheated on your boyfriend."

No.

"And considering he's an all-star Quiditch player, the news is bound to get to press eventually."

No!

"I can see you trying to work it out in your head. Potter, you think, he'll help you. Wrong."

"Harry would do-

"I don't think Potter, the short tempered git, would take kindly to knowing his best friend betrayed him by lying to him for months and getting all cosy with his enemy," he cut her off.

She couldn't breath. The world swayed more violently in front of her.

"So I think you have no choice but to keep your mouth shut, Granger," he finished.

Then the world went black.

"Shit."

She was breathing right?

He checked.

"Don't fucking scare me like that, Granger."

Great he was talking to a unconscious person like a weirdo.

He sighed. His mind wasn't the most coherent place in the world when he was freaking out. He clenched his jaw. That look in her eyes, he knew would haunt him. It had been getting steadily worse. It looked like she had just been unplugged from sanity and happiness and left with emptiness. Yet he couldn't stop himself, ramble on about some shit he'd schemed up to make her go away.

1 week ago

Draco tapped his fingers against the rim of his glass, the ramble of the Three Broomsticks became a hum of noise that eased him into a daydream. He hadn't even noticed his mother come in, let alone sit down in front of him.

"Draco." He was reluctantly drawn to attention. "It's lovely to see you, darling."

"You too, Mum," he replied politely.

She scrunched up her nose as a man knocked past her chair, "I don't see why we had to meet here, Draco. There's a lovely little tea shop up the road which is far more pleasant."

"I prefer it here," he said, pushing a menu towards her. "I'm sure you spent many good times here when you were my age."

"Yes but I am not your age anymore and I should be dining with my son in a more pleasant environment," she muttered.

He held back the sigh, "Well we're here now." She pursed her lips but said no more. He sipped his water as she scanned the menu.

"Only water, Draco?"

"Yes, mother."

"Why is that? You normally always have pumpkin juice."

"Pumpkin juice is too sweet," answered honestly. A frown creased her lips.

"How are you, Draco?" she asked warmly after deciding to skip lunch.

"I'm okay, thank you. And you?" he asked obligatory.

She sighed, "Draco, something is clearly not okay. You've completely pulled away from me."

He looked down at his half-empty glass, "It's nothing to worry about. Just a lot is… going on."

"Honey, you can tell me anything," Narcissa urged gently.

He felt a small headache knocking at the back of his head. "I know, Mum. Trust me, if it was anything serious or something I couldn't get past, I'd tell you," he promised because he honestly hoped this Granger thing would just pass.

A smile blossomed on her face, "Good. Now onto the real reason why I'm here." He knew why she was here. "As you know by the end of a pureblood's education he must finalize who he will marry."

He nodded.

"Draco do you have anyone you'd like to marry?"

His heart clenched. He didn't want to marry Granger. He didn't love her. "You know I'm not a relationship type of guy, Mum."

She pursed her lips again, "Yes well that's what I was afraid of."

"Then just let me marry whenever I want," he grumbled.

"You know that is frankly impossible. It is a pureblood wizarding tradition and after everything that happened with your father, we need now more than ever to hold up our name," she explained tiredly.

"Those traditions are out of date."

"Oh I'll think you find all of your friends will be following it. I know for a fact Blaise and Daphne will be getting married."

"But they've been dating for two years now," Draco protested.

Narcissa sighed, "Draco, honey, you're welcome to marry any pureblood girl you want, granted you find her before the year is up."

"You don't need to add the pureblood bit. Like I would think I was allowed to be with a girl who wasn't," he replied, slightly too harshly.

There was a pregnant pause.

"You told me at the wedding there was nothing between you and Miss Granger." He was pretty sure his heart stopped. "Was that a lie? Or have your feelings changed over the past two months?" He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't straight out lie to his mother nor could he tell her the truth. "Draco I suggest getting rid of these feelings before anyone finds out, especially your friends. I know they're still horribly blood prejudiced."

A thought struck him. If he had fallen for Granger… He clearly didn't give a crap about her blood, right? He didn't think she was below him or anything. He didn't think any of that. Not any more…

He'd done it.

Pansy was right, he did it.

He actually got past his prejudice.

Fear struck him cold because his mother was right too. His friends (other than Pansy) would not react kindly to this news.

"Draco did you hear a word I said?"

He nodded, "I'll sort it out, Mum. They won't ever know."

She smiled, comforted. "Now, back to the matter at hand. I have spoken to Mr and Mrs Greengrass and we think you and Astoria would make a lovely match."

"Astoria? As in Daphne's little sister?"

She nodded, "You two get on well, I hear."

"Yeah but I don't want to-"

"Then find yourself your own bride but until then, you and Astoria should start to get to know each other better," Narcissa finished. He sighed, there was no way of getting her to change her mind. These traditions had been hammered into every pureblood child's head. It was strange to most to think there was any other way.

She rose, kissed him on the head and left him to mull over his racing thoughts.

Problem A, marriage. He didn't want to get married to Astoria. As sweet as she was, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with something who he loved.

Problem B, his friends. He couldn't let them know he'd had anything to do with Granger. If they did, it wouldn't be pretty for either him or Granger.

Problem C, Granger. His problems always seemed to boil down to her.

He finished off his water and thought. Then suddenly, the idea struck him. Granger. It all begins with Granger.

Present

He gathered Granger up in his arms and brought her into her bedroom. He lay her down on her bed and tucked her under the duvet. He went to brush some hair from her face and he found her cheeks were damp from tears he hadn't noticed falling. He swallowed. Was this even worth it?

He was about to bend down and place a kiss on her forehead when his eyes caught onto a picture on her nightstand. It was picture of her and Krum, arms wrapped around each other, grinning like idiots.

Questions faded. His determination became absolute. She had chosen Krum over him, she would get over this. He shouldn't be worrying about her, she'd be fine. Hadn't she always been fine? All wrapped up with her idiotic Gryffindors. He scowled, he was doing the right thing. This was a wake up call for them both. They both had to remember the real world was cruel and heartless.

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