NEW GIRL
A Harry Potter FanFiction
Chapter Nine
I skipped lunch. In fact, I skipped the rest of my classes for the day, mostly because they were with Harry. I sat down behind a tree near the lake, the sun shining through the leaves, creating patterns on my hands.
I had no idea where Monique was. I had tried to find her, but no one had seen her. I did not even bother chasing after Harry. He would just have to get over it. He had no right to be angry with Monique for her choices. Draco was Harry's enemy, not Monique's. I felt so guilty for her taking my fall. I didn't know how I was going to make it up to her.
I sighed and looked out over the lake. There was no sound, except the quiet lapping of the lake against the bank, the breeze through the leaves and the crunching of footsteps on the ground… Wait a sec, footsteps?
I turned around to see Theo walking up to me.
"Are you ok?" He asked. All I could do was nod.
"Monique was telling me about it." Well, at least I knew she was ok. "This isn't your fault you know?" He said as he sat down next to me. "She chose to take the hit for you. You've nothing to feel guilty about." Nothing to feel guilty about? Was he touched in the head? I had plenty to feel guilty about. I felt guilty that I had lead Harry on, I felt guilty that Monique had chosen to defend me, someone she had only known for three weeks, instead of a close friend and I felt guilty that I was enjoying having Theo sit so close to me when my friends were hurting.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I don't know. I felt someone needed to make sure you were ok. Harry has Ron and Hermione, Monique has Draco. I felt you would need someone too."
I looked up at him. His face was looking earnestly down at me. His eyes enhanced by the sun.
"Well, thank you." I said and rested my head on his shoulder. Slowly he wrapt his arms around me and held me tight.
I skipped dinner and headed towards Gryffindor tower. I did not need to sit through that shit.
As I walked through the portrait, everyone turned to stare at me. I saw Harry and Hermione sitting in the corner, the turned their backs to me. Clearly, everyone was on Harry's side. I went to walk up the stairs to my dorm when I saw Ron sitting in the shadows by himself. He looked awful.
"Ron? Are you ok?" I asked, my hand resting lightly on his arm.
"Harry's pissed off I knew and Hermione's pissed off I knew and didn't tell her."
"Oh. Is there anything I can do?"
"Nah. They'll get over it quick enough… Well with me anyways. I don't know how long it'll take till they forgive Monique."
I gave Ron a long hug and continued up the stairs. Monique wasn't there. I guess she was spending the night in Draco's room. Probably a good idea, she would only be hunted down if she were in the Gryffindor tower. I turned out the light. Tomorrow everything would be better.
I woke only once during the night and that was when Monique crawled into my bed at 3am. I held her tightly as tears streamed silently down her face.
The next day Monique and I walked down the breakfast together hand in hand. Everyone watched as we entered the Great Hall. We took our place at the end of the table out of everyone's way. We ate in silence. There were no words to be said. We headed off to charms early, not wanting to endure the awkwardness any longer.
Monique slid down the wall and sat on the floor as we waited for Professor Flitwick to arrive. We had not really talked since the incident yesterday, even though we had been together for most of the night. I thought it best to wait until she was ready to talk.
"Mong, I'm a fuckwit. I really really am." She sighed.
"I feel so bad that I brought this on you."
"Don't be ridiculous!" She cried, "If I could go back in time I would still do it." She looked up at me.
"I just wish I hadn't admitted to it being Draco."
"Oh. So how was Draco about it?"
"Well, he didn't take it great. In fact he was quite pissed off. We had a massive fight, but I think we're better for it now."
"So, you're going to stay together?"
Monique nodded, "Yes," she sighed "I know you should always choose your friends over your boyfriend, but what kind of friends are they when they won't even listen to your reasoning? I mean, I remember when Hermione dated Victor, I never said a word about him being an utter prick… Mong, I'm so glad I've got you."
At that moment Professor Flitwick walked up."
"Morning Girls!"
"Morning Professor Flitwick" we said in unison. Monique took a deep breath.
"Well, here's to the start of possible the worst day ever." She smiled, got up and stepped over the threshold.