Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own characters.
Note: Okay, this chapter and the next chapter have been updated accordingly due to some helpful suggestions from SiobhanPhelps (thank you) but the overall chapters have always been the same. No heart attacks!
The Unwanted Gifts
We walked back down the stairs to join the couples dancing as we walked a few people smiled or nodded approvingly at our appearance. I didn't look at Melinda, she'd looked sad and uncomfortable, and I didn't dare to look at Fred, he didn't need to read into this.
"So, how did he come to be in your acquaintance anyway?" Jonathan asked nodded over at Fred.
"We're in the same house" I replied. Again, Jonathan looked surprised. "You know who Melinda is but you don't know what house I'm in?" I asked, feeling my own smirk creeping up. "And here I thought you were interested" I continued, unwilling to just the comments go. "Personally I got tired of being reminded of it throughout the competition last year." I knew I struck a nerve, his face gave the slightest twitch but he quickly recovered and pulled me closer. His robes smelled expensive, I thought as I wrinkled my nose but noticed Jonathan looking like his arrogant self again. I only had to slightly turn my head to see Fred. I was relieved to see he merely winked at me while his arms were crossed as he casually leaned against the door frame, not skipping a beat in conversation with Draco.
"So how come you didn't bring your girlfriend? I'm sure she loves dancing" I asked gaining a little confidence.
"I don't have one anymore; I dumped her, she and I started differing on our opinions" he explained lazily.
"Wouldn't that make us incompatible?" I asked.
"You're pretty," he replied simply as I sucked in air; a jacket didn't sound like an awful idea at this point. "Besides, you stand to inherit half of the Malfoy fortune, who wouldn't want to be with you based on the estate amount alone." I rolled my eyes, thinking back to the document that was given to me as my reward for winning the Q.U.E.S.T. Ownership of half of the Malfoy estate plus an unnecessary and unhealthy sum from a trust fund waiting to be inherited at twenty-one. I planned to donate part to school, part to my Gringotts vault and the rest converted to American dollars and sent home for my family.
"I don't really care Jonathan…" I said with a sigh looking uninterested.
"My father's company is planning to buy out…" I didn't bother listening to the rest of his sentence; my eyes were already glazing over.
I was only too pleased when Draco walked over. "John, let me dance with my cousin, go find someone else to slim yourself over" Draco said not even waiting for Jonathan to move.
"Thank you" I said as we lightly danced around the room.
"You need a jacket" he said with a smile. "Do you remember that girl Abby? The first year?" I nodded as he twirled me in a circle. Everyone knew Abby, hell if Draco remembered her name and year that had to mean she had a lasting impression on him. I smiled a little, I was definitely going to have the three of us hang out at some point when I returned to school "She's in the hospital."
"What" I exclaimed as the words brought me out of thought. Step, step, turn.
"Matt left school for one day, and when he got back she was in the hospital wing, she had deep cuts on her arms and legs." My mind buzzed as I started to pull away, head toward Fred, but Draco grabbed my arm, making my move look like a twirl. Abby? No, not sweet young Abby. She wasn't hurt, she couldn't be.
"Who did it? Did anyone see the attack? Does Matt know anything? Does anyone know anything?" I asked, feeling my eyes getting bigger as my chest tighten and my mind seemed to swirl at the thought, at the image.
"No," Draco answered. Turn, step, back, step, twirl.
"What aren't you telling me?" I asked. Twirl, twirl, twirl, too many twirls.
"Courtney's awake. After they brought Abby to the hospital wing Matt noticed Courtney wasn't there and when the nurse said she woke up and was allowed to leave Matt went shit crazy. He has detention for a week. " I was glad Draco had twirled me so many times, at least now when my leg's buckled it looked more like I was dizzy than shocked. My make-up was doing a fantastic job at hiding my expression. "Matt sent a letter, he wanted us to know everything first." Step, turn, step, step.
"Where was Burnner?" I asked.
"Some Slytherins said they saw her helping Courtney catch up on missed lessons" Draco answered even though we both knew that was a lie.
"Does Melinda know?" I asked quietly looking over at Melinda. She was stiff, her eyes looking straight ahead, even though the paleness didn't show I knew she was absolutely terrified, Fred was whispering beside her, his own demeanor going grim. At least that explained why he was here. "But why…" I whispered.
"She wants to break you, you know that. She's pulling out every nasty trick she can possibly think of." I was trying to listen but my focus was still on little sweet Abby. "Not here" Draco said firmly as I let out a whimper. I knew he said it to protect me, any dignity Mrs. Malfoy had left would be destroyed if I started crying in the middle of the room and they'd murder me.
"My room, two minutes" he said as we stopped, bowed and stepped away. He didn't even look at Melinda as he passed; Mrs. Malfoy was standing a few feet away. I started to go to Melinda but noticed Fred wasn't next to her anymore.
"Tammie, bring this to Zes for me" Mrs. Malfoy said handing me her glass. I took a quick look at Melinda as I started out, trying to give her a brave smile but she only seemed to welter even more. By time I found Zes it was time to head to Draco's room.
I switched on the light, almost screaming at the unexpected sight of Fred. "Fred!" I hissed, turning to mumble something at the door.
"Burnner did this" he said, his tone heavy. "I know we can't prove anything, but we all know it was her. To spite you, to prove a point, whatever, she did this."
"Do you think Abby knew that?" I asked as I walked and sat on the couch with him, taking his hand in mine.
"She knew something attacked her, Matt's letter said she had defensive wounds and little scraps and some skin and blood under her nails" he said as I shook my head, still letting the information sink in. Good, she fought.
"Burnner had to know Matt was going home, it was a last minute thing. I just don't understand why? Why Abby?" I asked, the tears forming in my eyes.
"She'll be fine Tams, she'll pull through, you know she will," he said as I sniffed and wiped my eyes.
"I did this…" I said as I focused my attention to a wall and tried to swallow the growing lump in my throat. "If she hadn't been friends with me…that first night…" I said as Fred shook his head.
"Don't do that, don't blame yourself," he said but I chocked on a cry.
"How long before you? How long before Draco or Matt?" I said as I jumped up, my sadness overtaking me.
"I don't care what happens to me, I will do anything to—"
"Don't! You don't get to say that! I can't have you end up like Abby. She was friend and I ruined her life." I said as I paced for a moment, letting myself calm down. "They're scars, they'll heal, right?" I asked, my mind needing to focus on Abby getting better. Fred let out a heavy sigh but didn't respond. Then again he probably knew I was just talking to talk.
"They're doing everything they can. Matt wrote his letter as soon as he realized everything" he explained but that wasn't good enough.
"Fred…" I said as I went over he hugged me. "Promise me you'll be careful, and if I push you away you'll stay away, for your own good, your safety" I said as Fred shook his head and cupped my face as I tried to stop crying.
"I love you Tammie," he paused as I let out a bittersweet laugh. "You can push all you want, but I'm not budging anymore. I'm right here and I'm always going to be right here" he said lightly as he kissed my forehead. I opened my mouth to reply, forming the words but the door opened, Melinda appearing first, Draco behind her.
"So, if anyone ask, you broke the heel of your shoe running after him and since you were running you have to undo the bun and then—" Draco broke off at the sight, his face covered in horror and embarrassment.
"You were supposed to be gone!" he hissed to Fred, who didn't break his eyes from me. I could feel myself blush, a new excited wave coming over me though most of it was being weight down by Abby's condition. "What happened?" he asked looking from me to Fred, suddenly noticing a change.
"I'll see you soon" he said gently, kissing me once more between before jumping out the window and onto the broom.
I walked back over to the couch, and handed Melinda the letters. She looked at me questionably but I shook my head, forcing myself to listen as she read aloud.
"'Andrew, Ravenclaw Perfect had just come from dinner when he saw a body lying still in the hallway, a small puddle of blood surrounding it. As soon as I heard the first whisper I went to see. She looked better than I expected, she was still breathing, she was—still alive—and then I noticed Courtney wasn't in the wing and once they told me they let her leave the day before—the day I left—I thought I saw red. I cornered her that evening but she and her friends swear they were with Burnner catching up on lessons. I need you all to stay close, whenever you are, and be on your guard, all of you. Please. Matt." Melinda finished, setting it aside.
"I'm visiting her first day we get back" I told Melinda who nodded in agreement as she opened Matt's second letter, this one addressed from yesterday evening.
"Tammie-I visited Abby; she's still unconscious, unfortunately she seems to be getting worst, they've moved her to St. Mungos for closer examination and observation. See you all soon, Matt." I felt my stomach knot but there was a sharp knock on the door, Draco and Melinda sprang into action, Draco walking over to the door, Melinda to the window. "I'll be back" she whispered, slipping out of sight.
"Come in" Draco said as the door opened.
"As I expected, the two beggers have left" Jonathan said with a smirk. I was trying extremely hard to control my anger as I picked up my wand.
"Can I help you with something?" Draco asked dryly.
"You used to be fun" he said disappointingly looking over Draco who was trying to hold himself together. "Anyway, I was leaving; I just wanted to say good bye and good night to the young lady. Maybe our paths will cross again in the future" he said bowing at me. This time I didn't bother to hold back the eye rolling.
"That's okay, my life is better without you in it" I said with a smile, batting my eyelashes as if I made a flirtatious comment rather than insult.
"Nonetheless" he started, pulling out a white rose with little silver specks lined around the outlines. "A beautiful rose, if not to remember me by, for the stench that Weasley left in your beautiful grace." I twitched as I held myself in place as not to raise my wand.
"Is that it?" Draco asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he walked over.
"Well, Samantha asked about you, but, I saw you checking out her friend," he said nodding to me. Draco moved closer, his body tensing. "I thought you'd do better than a Mugblood Draco or is she just your practice?" Jonathan asked wiggling his eyebrows at Draco before moving his eyes to me; suddenly the attractiveness vanished, leaving a bitter smell in my nostrils, or perhaps that was the alcohol on his breath. "Wouldn't mind a little practice myself" he added scanning my profile before giving me a wink. I raised my wand, not much caring about the consequences when a fist made direct impact to Jonathan's nose. The cracking noise from Jonathan implied just how hard Draco hit him. Jonathan grabbed his nose, stumbling backwards, his foot catching the carpet as he made a weird turn and fell, his head hitting the wall with a large thud before he slumped to the ground. I still had my hand over my mouth as I looked wide-eyed at Draco who was shaking his hand now looking more relaxed.
"This is why you need a jacket" he said, half-joking as he shook his hand while looking disapprovingly at Jonathan. I sighed and lowered my hand.
