Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.
Note: This a explanatory chapter. Enjoy!
Draco's Confessions
Once I was off my broom and inside I was suddenly thankful for the warmth, never once did I really pay attention to how cold it was until I got back inside. I looked around for Melinda, spotting Matt and Abby first. Abby ran over to hug me. "That was awesome!" she said excitedly. "I can't wait to play next year!" she continued now jumping up and down a bit.
"It's all very exciting" I told her patting her on her back.
"You played well" Matt said with a playful expression as he held his hands behind his back. "You all did" he added looking pass me. The twins had just entered and were still loudly thanking those around them, but quieted down upon seeing Matt. "I'll see you later" Matt said knowing he wasn't exactly welcomed around the twins. I turned around to hug Fred.
"Don't goof off like that in the middle of a game!" I said giving him a firm punch in the shoulder moving over to George, only giving him a hug.
"Well, you gotta be ready for real life distractions" Fred explained in a matter of fact way crossing his arms over his chest.
"And what real life distractions could there be during a game of Quidditch?" I asked him as I raised my eyebrow.
"Allen, Weasley, Weasley," We turned around to see Professor Madison standing there. She still looked ill, though, a bit of color came back to her face.
"Oh, hi" I said happily, for once not feeling like my mind has been tainted with. I looked at Fred, who once again, seemed to lose most of the color in his face. "Did you see the game?" I asked stupidly as I wrapped my hands around Fred's. She smiled at me, her eyes still looked empty.
"I wouldn't have missed you. You play extremely well" she said happily. I smiled again, she sounded sincere, she looked sincere, why did I feel like it wasn't a compliment. "As does Hennings, I can't wait to see a game against you two" she said, her eyes getting bigger, as if the game was something more.
"Yeah, I can't either…" I said, merely for something to say.
"Well, I should go, I'm a bit hungry, and well, tired. I'll see you next week" she glanced at Fred and George once more before walking off.
"Tammie!" I turned to see Melinda coming toward me. Her cheeks were pink from the wind. "Great game!" she said giving me a hug. "You and Charity came through in the end I see?" I nodded happily, glad at least one person pointed it out.
"We've settled things in the sky at least, but I don't know about the common room. I'll just see what happens, you know?" I said as Melinda nodded and walked over to give George a kiss.
"You did wonderful too…" she quietly giving him another kiss.
"What about me? No hug, no kiss, great mates I have…" Fred said pretending to sound disappointed. I kissed his cheek as Melinda ran over to hug. Before I could add anything else I felt a tug on my arm. I was being dragged away before anyone else noticed.
"What the hell Draco?" I exclaimed as he pushed me into an empty classroom. "What do you want this time?" I asked as he pulled out what looked like a money bag.
"Here," he said thrusting it at me.
"Um, I don't want your money, your parents give me too much as it is" I told him pushing the bag back toward him.
"It's not for you stupid, I need you to buy something for me" he replied. I raised an eyebrow as I put a hand on my hip.
"First off, you can't call me stupid and then practically insist I buy something for you" I told him which he seemed to ignore.
"It's for Melinda, now, the instructions are—" I shook my head.
"Wait, wait, what?" I asked.
"Would you like me to say it slower?" he asked sarcastically.
"Don't give me that tone!" I shouted as he glared at me.
"Listen, just do it, okay?" he asked holding out the money bag.
"Why?" I asked looking at it with disgust. "Wasn't the messed up birthday present enough? Or do you want to keep up with the emotional damage?" I asked as he narrowed his eyes. "Besides, they're still together, it's not like you accomplished anything" I explained.
"They're still together?" Draco asked, suddenly and truly surprised.
"Yeah, you're stupid gift didn't work and Matt got them to stop arguing" I told him. He half collapsed half fell into the closest seat. He ran a hand through his hair. For once, he looked completely thrown off guard.
"She must not have gotten the idea behind my gift…" he said, his voice pained, which made me winch. I knew Draco played dirty, he was just one of the types of people, but for once he seemed to not be playing any kind of game.
"No, she—she knew what it was…" I said in a low voice. Draco slipped down in the chair a bit more putting the money bag on the desk. "I just thought if…I only meant…" he trailed off as he looked straight head. "I guess it's true then" he said not moving from his slouch.
"What's true?" I asked moving the money bag aside and sitting on the desk. Draco put his hands in his lap and hung his head. If this was another performance it was his best yet.
"What she said…" I shook my head, I still no idea what he was talking about. "Courtney…" he added quietly.
"Courtney? What's she got to do with any of this?" I asked. "Besides, isn't she still unconscious in the hospital wing?" I asked wrinkling my nose.
"Yeah, but, I mean, before. When she told me she liked me. I told her I couldn't like her, I…" he trailed off again. "It's stupid now" he said with an annoyed growl. I tried not to sigh; he was shutting me out again.
"You can tell me, we're family" I said.
"I care about Melinda, you have to know that. I care about her more than I wish" he started. I wanted to interrupt him to yell at him, but I held it back as he continued. "She means a lot me, I don't act like it, ever, and well—damn, you're going to hear me say it at some point—I love her, I'm in love with—" the door opened, Fred peeked his head in.
"Is this a bad time?" he asked cheerfully. I stormed over and slammed the door, surely he'd understand. "Anyway…" I said to Draco as I sat back on desk.
"Well, I thought if I gave her that present she'd know that she's basically the best thing to ever happen to me and I can't be without her and I love her. I thought that it was clear in that present" he exclaimed.
"It's a bit fuzzy to me. I know the flowers are her favorites and part of the first date and, well, the faucet is, well, how it all started….and…um, crystals are your thing because they're so expensive" I explained, but he just furrowed his eyebrows at me, as if I made no sense.
"No; faucet: her—no offense—arriving; flowers, bleeding heart: my bleeding heart, crystal: the only glass she can pass the many reflections to the true me. So, put it together: since she arrived, she's been the only person who can see pass my many appearances and into my bleeding heart. How is that so complicated?" I didn't respond, just pressed my lips together tightly so I wouldn't laugh. "Surely she got it—or I thought she did—but she she's still with George? It could only because of what Courtney said…" I rolled my eyes as he went back to his depressed slouch.
"What did Courtney say Malfoy?" I asked, again, but Draco only shrugged.
"She said she loves him…" he finally managed to get out, his voice cracking, which truly startled me. I had seen Draco cry, but, not breakdown and start crying, it was completely different. I felt awful.
"Okay, um, who loves who again?" I asked, merely for clarification.
"Courtney said Melinda loves George, a long time ago. They were the two that were always meant to be together" Draco explained. Suddenly, I felt as though a weight had fallen into my stomach.
"Draco…" I started as he looked up. "She lied" was all I could think to say. Though my mind was spinning in a thousand different directions. Courtney purposely told Draco the wrong information. "What did she say exactly?" I asked, though Draco shrugged again. "No, this is important, what did she say?" I asked again. Draco took a deep a sigh, his tears looked honest, real.
"She said, why am I trying to pin after a girl who's only going to love someone else? And then she said the Weasleys always get what they want, they deserve it in the end." I tried not to think too long on that part.
"Did she say anything else?" I asked after a minute.
"She said, she said she can help me, you know, get Melinda, it would just take some convincing…I'd have to get her mad enough to notice and then save the day, be the hero" he added with a shrug. "And if that didn't work, desperation."
"Draco, how long ago was this?" I asked, my mind still spinning.
"A few days before the first tea shop mayhem" he said quietly. Half of my brain seemed to click. Professor Madison and Courtney were working together, even back then, probably before then. Matt obviously never knew that. But then, that meant there was no Seal to begin with.
"Fred was probably forced those images when Madison and Courtney realized we fooled them. I just don't understand the tea shop thing if they wanted that happen…" I said quietly, but then realized something else.
"Wait a minute, you knew exactly what you were doing?" I asked, feeling somewhat betrayed. Draco slowly nodded and before I could stop myself I gave him a good whack over the head with his money bag. "What exactly do you expect to accomplish, do you think she'll like you more by your actions? You're going to have to tell her all this eventually, and then what?" I shouted.
"I don't know, I didn't think about that part. Tammie, listen, I just need your help, please?" he pleaded. I sucked in air, feeling the urge to smack him again, just for good measure. "Don't you love Fred? Wouldn't you do anything to get him back, again, if you lost him?" I shook my head.
"I wouldn't hurt him over and over, especially if he was happy with someone else" I said, winching.
"You'd let him go? If you truly loved him, and you knew for certain he loved you and went about with some other girl, you'd be okay with it?" Draco asked, his eyes drying. I stared at him as he started at me, finally, feeling defeated I looked away. "We're practically in the same boat Tam, you can't tell Fred how you feel, I can't tell Melinda—"
"Only difference is I don't keep messing up every two minutes and then completely go out of my way to make him feel lousy." I shouted jumping down off the desk and heading for the door.
"Then what's the deal with you and Matt. Why are you even still his friend? I know the twins hate it but I know it's nothing something the can exactly tell you to stop, but honestly, what is that?" I paused, with my hand on the doorknob. "I can see in your eyes, you're absolutely terrified of being with Fred, you don't want to hurt him, you can't hurt him; Matt's there, he's safe, he's an escape. George is Melinda's escape, I keep letting her go back to him, he's the only person I let her go back to. I'll fight like hell to keep her away from anyone else, except him. Because he keeps her safe." I turned to face Draco who had the money bag handed out toward me again.
"Why can't you just let her be happy with him then…" I said now feeling like I should start crying from the major headache forming.
"Same reason you'd never go to Matt. Safe isn't always best or right" he said shoving the bag in my hands before walking out. I remained standing where I was, half wondering what had happened. Finally, I pulled myself together and quickly left the room, heading back to the common room.
"There you are!" Fred shouted as he slammed his book close. "Come here…" he said holding out his arms.
"I hate Draco Malfoy…" I told him as I laid on his chest.
"Yeah, we all do" Fred replied stroking my back.
