I stirred awake the next morning and found myself secured under Scorpius's arm and leg. His body was all around me and I was engulfed in his distinct musky scent. Mortified and embarrassed, I tried to turn and get away but he only pulled me in closer and groaned. Despite so, it wasn't Scorpius that woke me.

It was the ruckus in the kitchen.

"…fuck do you work this thing?" I heard an unfamiliar voice.

"…busted my ass all night…" said a second unfamiliar voice.

"…who in Merlin's name is Caroline?" said a third voice that sounded like someone I knew.

I lifted my head and looked over Scorpius's body and towards the kitchen. There was a wall blocking my view but I caught glimpses of a few different people as they moved around the kitchen.

I nudged Scorpius harder. "Someone's in here!" I panicked. Suddenly, the noise stopped.

I thought I had whispered.

Malfoy stirred awake and lifted his lids. "Are you alright?" He grumbled. His grip on my hip was firm. I nodded but didn't say anything. Instead I tried to pull back a little. If my parents ever saw me waking up in bed with Malfoy, they would have a heart attack each. Or ground me for a year. I wasn't even allowed to have a boyfriend until recently. I could picture the disappointment on their faces and it ate me up. But then I wondered how they would react, especially dad, if they found out their only daughter had almost been kidnapped and Malfoy had been there for me when I needed him. I pushed the thoughts away as I watched him turn in bed to look at the source of all the commotion.

"What the hell are you all doing here?" He called out in a morning voice that sounded deeper than his usually deep voice if that was even possible. He sat up and grabbed his watch off the end table to look at the time. "Bloody fuck, it's the half past two." He rubbed his eyes and ran his hands through his hair. I hadn't noticed before but he had nice, soft-looking hair that was varying shades of blond. I was lying behind him but I started to feel vulnerable. I stayed behind Malfoy as I didn't need any of them seeing me here, whoever they were.

"Waiting for you to wake up," called out the second voice from before.

"Your espresso machine is broken," called out the first voice.

Malfoy groaned, "I told you not to bloody touch it!"

Two of the three males approached and stood in the threshold between the kitchen and the living room with their arms folded.

"We need to talk about last night," said the second voice from earlier.

I didn't mean to make my presence known but I sat up in bed with a hunch that they were talking about my fiasco.

And suddenly, two pairs of unfamiliar eyes gawked at me.

They were staring and Scorpius noticed it too. "Go back to the kitchen," Scorpius growled at them. He told me to go wash up and I did as I was told.

As I walked down the hall to Scorpius's bedroom, I heard their voices, "Is that Caroline or Rose?"

"That's Rose, asshole!" Scorpius said in a heated voice.

"How was I supposed to know? Some Caroline kept calling!"

"That's my fucking housekeeper!"

…

I searched Scorpius's medicine cabinet and luckily I found a couple of brand new toothbrushes. I ripped open the packaging and brushed my teeth. I recalled the last time I was here in this bathroom. I'd been so mad at Scorpius I'd dunked the head of his toothbrush in toilet water. I suddenly felt guilty and hoped Scorpius regularly cleaned or replaced his brush. Just in case though, I plucked it out of the holder and chucked it in the trash before opening a new one for him that looked exactly the same.

After that I took a quick shower and towel dried my hair. I hadn't noticed the scent of Scorpius's hair until I noticed the scent of my own after using his shampoo. I smelled musky and manly and so much like him.

I didn't really have anything to wear besides the romper-cardigan duo and Scorpius's t-shirt so I dressed in my own clothing. Wearing Scorpius's t-shirt without any trousers would give his friends the wrong idea. Scorpius had done a good job of cleaning and repairing my clothes but I was still going to donate the duo because they reminded me too much of last night. I put on my sandals and crept out of the room. I walked down the hall and I heard their voices.

"…no, Albus nor Damien know. Don't worry Malfoy, you can trust me."

Hang on, I knew that voice!

"Lance?!" I burst into the kitchen.

"Rose," he said, a little uncomfortable.

"What are you doing here?!" I demanded. Since when was Lance part of all this?!

"I'm just here to make you're okay," said Lance with a softer tone than I'd heard him use.

My eyes widened and I turned to Malfoy. "You told him?! I didn't want my friends and family to know!"

"Actually, angel, he's the one who told me."

…

I was seated at Scorpius's kitchen table with a cup of hot tea and an untouched muffin. I was coming down from my anger at Scorpius and Lance for keeping me in the dark.

Lance was sitting next to me; the two other men were sitting or leaning against the kitchen counter behind me while Scorpius paced before me.

I sat there staring into my cup of Earl Grey as I tried to absorb the information I was just given.

"You had me followed?" I said, still unable to believe it. "All those times I thought I was going mad?" I whispered to myself, slightly hysterical as I thought of my day at the shopping centre with Ben.

"It was for your own protection. If you'd seen the photos in the envelope, Rose, you would have agreed," said Malfoy.

"Well I do want to see them so where are they?" I demanded. "What was in them?"

"No!" Said Malfoy. He looked around the room and then up at the ceiling.

"They were of you, Rose," Lance said, gently. "During private moments."

"Private moments?"

Scorpius interjected, "You out with your friends, you sleeping in your bed in your muggle home! Bloody hell you were stark naked and stepping out of the shower in one of them! Tell me, what would you have done if someone sent you those as a threat?!"

I felt bile rise in my throat and I had to swallow it back if I wanted to ask the million questions buzzing through my head. "Th-they…they were in my h-home?!"

My heart was racing as I thought about my grandparents and Hugo being in that very home at this very moment.

"No!" Lance quickly said. "They were taken from the outside. An espionage camera likely purchased in Knockturn Alley that works like a telescope. We went to the shop too to get a list of people who purchased it last and waiting for any leads to come up."

"But why are they after me?!" I demanded. "I haven't hurt anybody. I haven't done anything to anyone! Give me the photos, Scorpius!"

"They're not after you, stupid witch, they're after me. And I said no!" Malfoy slammed his hand on the table making my tea bounce in it's cup.

"Scor…" One of the boys from behind me interjected. "Take it easy…"

My eyes were blurry but I was too proud to cry in front of these patronising men so I held back my tears. "I don't understand why…"

"There were pictures of you and Scorpius together—dancing at a bar," Lance said softly. "They were originally keeping tabs on Scor until they saw you with him. They are targeting you to make Scorpius comply."

"Who?! Who's targeting Scorpius?! Where are these pictures now?! I need to see them for myself!" I said to Scorpius loudly but he ignored me and it flipped a switch in my head. I somehow found strength in anger. "I'm serious Scorpius! I demand you give me the envelope right now or I'm walking out the front door!"

"She still doesn't get it!" Scorpius yelled to his friends, frustrated.

"Scor…" the one called Dante stepped forward. "Just relax…"

"Relax?! I'm out here with my ass on the line trying to protect her and she wants to get up and leave?! Walk out of my apartment—Scorpius Malfoy's apartment and become bait?! Walk straight into the lion's den!"

"This is the lion's den!" I retorted.

Scorpius glared at me. "Lance and Royce have been following you to make sure no one attacks you or hurts you! If it hadn't been for Lance last night, they would've driven off with you stuffed in the back of their van like a cow headed for the slaughterhouse! He's the one who saw you in the parking lot alone because I asked him to watch over you! If it wasn't for them following you, you'd be raped and tortured by now."

I had to swallow the acidic bile in my throat and it burned as it went back down. I knew I was indebted to Lance and Scorpius for saving me from those monsters but I couldn't let Malfoy scare me into compliance again. I had to stand my ground and show these men I wasn't weak.

"I'm not a child! I don't need you having people watch over me! If you'd told me I would have taken precaution! I can't believe you kept all this from me. This…this mess! It effects my safety! I had the right to know!"

Malfoy glared at me again but this time it was Lance who spoke. "He didn't want you spooked and traumatised. We thought we could get rid of the threat and you'd never even find out."

"Well clearly that didn't work" I turned to Lance who cringed slightly. "Why didn't you tell me, Lance? You're supposed to be my friend!"

"I am!" Lance quickly said.

"What does wretched Malfoy have on you?" I asked him. Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Why are you even working for him?"

"Scor doesn't have anything on me," Lance said. "I just owe him a lot, Rose."

It was clear Lance wasn't going to say much more than that.

When no one spoke, I broke the silence, letting my anger speak for me. "For the record I am traumatised! Malfoy traumatises me more than anyone!"

Scorpius's eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at me. "I'll meet you three at work," he said in a low but firm voice, not tearing his eyes away from me. The three men headed for the door without another word.

I was in trouble.

I got up with the intention to follow after them because I didn't want to be alone with Malfoy.

"Not. You." He caught my forearm firmly. The other three turned around to look at me and I struggled to get out of his hold.

"Let go of me," I demanded. I looked to the three of them to see if they would help but it was clear no one dared challenge Malfoy because they lowered their gazes and hurried out. I broke free but the door swung shut before I could exit.

"Colloportus," Malfoy whispered and the door clicked to lock.

"I want to go home," I said.

"What's wrong? Don't feel so brave anymore?" said Malfoy.

"You're a jerk!"

And suddenly I was pushed back against the wall and Malfoy had both hands on either side of my head, caging me in. I squirmed and protested

"Shut up and listen to me!" Malfoy said firmly and I stilled. "I am not your enemy. I'm not out to hurt you but there are people out there who'd love to get their hands on the woman Scorpius Malfoy has so much invested in. At this point I don't care if you comply or not, if you agree or not, but I will do what I feel is best to keep you safe. There is no point in arguing with me or trying to fight me on this because I don't care for what you think or feel when it comes to your safety. You've proven to be a silly, childish dimwit and yet I still can't get you out of my fucking head. Is this understood."

I knew I was supposed to nod but my head kept still as I stared at him a little shocked, offended and confused. I didn't know which emotion to address first.

I was shocked that he saw me as silly and immature and I didn't like it. I wanted to argue it but I realised he would see it as me throwing a tantrum about being called silly and it would only affirm his views. So I did the mature thing and tried to look at the bigger picture.

"Who is targeting you?" I asked in a firm tone, looking straight at him. Scorpius stepped back and turned around to face the window but he didn't respond. "Why do you have enemies, Scorpius?" I asked again.

"It's related to what I do," he finally said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"My…career, if you will," he said rather uncomfortably.

"You're a kid. You're not supposed to have a career, not yet," I said.

Scorpius looked at me with a peculiar expression. "I turn eighteen on Halloween," He said with a small curious smile.

I turned red, embarrassed that I'd forgotten he was supposed to be a year ahead of me. Scorpius, was one of the older ones, having entered Hogwarts at eleven and turning twelve only two months in and so on. He should have been in James' year but missed a year. I on the other hand was a Cancer, born on July first and with the right class, just as it should be. I thought back to my quiet 16th birthday. It had been two days before that fateful morning my mother introduced the idea of SCSY to me for the first time.

Scorpius reached for me, his hands on my arms. "Once I get things right again, angel, I promise I'll...show you what I do, okay?"

I nodded.

"I'm sorry you found everything out like this," Scorpius came closer and his hand travelled down to hold mine.

"You weren't planning on telling me, were you?"

"I didn't want you to live in constant fear," he said softly.

"So you thought Lance should be my secret bodyguard? Clearly that didn't work, Scorpius. I did get attacked last night."

"But it could have been worse. I could have been too late," he pointed out. I shuddered at the thought and he rubbed my arms up and down.

"I didn't need Lance. If I'd known, I wouldn't have gone wandering alone."

"I deemed it necessary to have Lance watch over you. Besides," Scorpius continued. "I had the chance to kill two birds with one stone."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I saw Lance that night at Wood's party when you were hurt. He took you to Wood's room and made sure you were cared for. I hadn't asked him to do that."

I shrugged, not sure if I was following. "So? He's my friend."

"And he needed to know that's all he will never be. Asking him to keep you safe, for me, means a great deal."

I felt my face grow warm but not from anger.

"You're ridiculous, Malfoy!" I said. "Lance and I are not like that at all."

"just precaution," he smirked.

We both grew quiet and looked at each other.

"I'm not sure if I've said this yet," I broke the silence. "Thank you. For coming for me last night."

Malfoy, who I realised was now holding my hands, brought them up to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

"I would tear the world apart to find you."

…

Malfoy took me home after that but I never spoke another word of the previous night to my family.

I thought my grandparents would scold me for being out all night but it turned out a message had been sent to them from my phone that I was spending the night with my girl friends.

Scorpius no doubt. He was highly skilled at spin situations and stories.

Hugo asked me where I was so I played along with the sleepover story but he wasn't buying it. I finally had to tell him I was with Scorpius and he went on a rant about a T.V. show featuring a pregnant teenager who hadn't used protection.

I knew what he was getting at.

I told him he needn't worry about that and proceeded to kick him out of my room. Some conversations were never meant to happen between a boy and his older sister. He was so strange sometimes.

My bruises, on the other hand, were a whole different story. I had to create a convincing story about how I fell off a horse on the carousel but I couldn't tell if nana and granddad were buying it. I knew for sure they were going to talk to my parents about this.

I would have told Hugo the truth about my attack but I didn't want to torment him with the knowledge that some criminals, possible killers, knew our whereabouts. I wondered if I was doing to him what Malfoy had done to me. But after calling Scorpius later that night to discuss it, he assured me those men were only after him and would probably not meddle with a thirteen-year-old kid whose entire family was in high rankings at the Ministry of Magic.

I had to remind him his dad was high up in the International Magical Relations department too but he told me no one in his circle associated him with his father.

"Scorpius Malfoy is his own man, right," I said, remembering everything I knew about him.

"And yours, angel. If you'll have him," he said. I could hear the jest in his tone and even though he was so far away, I felt my face grow warm with embarrassment.

I didn't respond to his comment though. It was strange because we were barely friends and he was so possessive. I couldn't tell if he was delusional or a master manipulator and I decided to rule out both options for the simple reason that I just didn't know him well enough. Or perhaps I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I almost forgot how well I knew his manipulating ways and realised I could say that I didn't know him well enough anymore. I never did get the answer to what his role was in screwing up my date with Eric that night but I decided not to bring it up. Somewhere in the back of my mind, my subconscious knew to be cautious of Malfoy, that he may react violently to my showing affection to another man. It was a scary thought. I just hadn't realised it yet.

…

I was bombarded with calls from friends who wanted the juicy gossip on what happened on Carnival night. Apparently more than a few people had seen me with Scorpius and some saw him dragging me away angrily.

"I'm your best friend and you didn't even tell me!" Emma accused me over the phone one evening. She asked me, point blank, if I was dating Scorpius and when I denied it, she asked me why I was lying.

"I'm not lying," I sighed. "He's not my boyfriend."

I made myself some iced tea to beat the heat while Emma ranted in my ear. I thought she could use one too to cool that hot head of hers but I wasn't about to say it.

"Everyone saw you. Kylie and Macy said you two even had a row during the carnival. And Amelia Finch-Fletchly told me she heard from Olivia Quirke who heard from Monica Bletchly who heard from some seventh year Slytherin girls that they saw you two doing it inside the Ferris wheel car!"

I sipped on my tea only half listening. I was getting messages from Scorpius asking me if I was okay. He made a habit of asking me a few times a day. "What are you even saying?" I asked confused. "Doing what?"

"Rose!" Emma clicked her tongue. "You know, having sex."

I chocked on my iced tea. "What?! What the hell are you going on about? We did no such thing at all let alone in public! You've got a lot of nerve accusing me of something like that!"

"People saw you!" She insisted.

"It's all stupid rumours! Why would you believe them over me? And frankly, it's not even your business what I do!" I said before hanging up abruptly.

I considered that I might have been a bit harsh but my patience was wearing thin. I messaged Scorpius back saying that everything was not, in fact, okay and that I wanted to be left alone. So naturally he snuck into my room one night to find out what the hell was going on.

I was coming up to my room after dinner the evening of Mum and Dad's return. They weren't expected back until later that night so my grandparents were still here. Nana had cooked a meatloaf and potatoes and I'd done the dishes. She and Hugo were now watching television downstairs while Granddad was leaving to see his country club friends. I'd heard him mention one of them was bringing scotch and Cuban cigars so he was rather excited much to Nana's dismay.

I wasn't interested in hanging around downstairs so I bid them all goodnight and went in for a quick shower I made sure the window curtains left no edge or corner uncovered. I was in my PJ's and getting comfortable in bed with a book from my mother's shelves when suddenly I heard a knock on my balcony door.

I dropped the book, frightened out of my mind. My first thought was that those horrid men had come back from me. I could see a figure behind the glass in the doorway and the dusky hour made it dark enough to hide the figure's face.

He knocked again and I grabbed the lamp off my nightstand, ready to attack.

"Open up, angel…It's daddy."

When I gathered my wits, I sighed out of relief and then rolled my eyes as I unlocked the door and let him in.

"I don't like not being able to get in whenever I want," was the first thing he said.

"Malfoy you scared me!" I said.

He looked down at the lamp in my hand, "Clearly."

"What are you doing here?" I asked walking to my bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Just locking the door," I said.

His eyes lit up, "Oh angel, are you planning on seducing me?"

"Merlin, Malfoy, no!" I said quickly. "My grandparents would have a heart attack if they saw you in here and they're too old to survive one!"

"It was a joke. Why are you so uptight?" He asked as he sat on my bed and leaned his head back against the headboard.

"Shoes off please," I said. And he kicked them off. I wasn't going to try and stop Malfoy from laying in my bed because that bridge had been crossed and he usually did whatever he wanted in here. Malfoy got comfortable while I stared at him from the foot of the bed with my hands on my hips.

"You won't believe the most ludicrous thing I heard today!" I began.

"I'm listening," he said.

"I heard from Emma who heard from Amelia from Hufflepuff who heard from Olivia Quirke who heard from stupid Monica that some seventh year girls claimed to have seen you and I in a Ferris Wheel car!"

Malfoy stared at me blankly, as if waiting for more.

"And?" He said. "It's rather plausible seeing as we were in the Ferris wheel together."

"Not just…not just together…like together!" I crossed my middle and index fingers to show what I meant.

Scorpius did the same and looked down at his hands. "Isn't this…the girls' symbol for eternal friendship? Are we eternal friends now, Flower? I'm quite looking forward to those sleepovers."

I picked up a cushion off my chair and chucked it in his face.

"It's not a joke, Malfoy! People are saying you and I were…were engaged in…coitus…in the Ferris wheel…in public!"

Scorpius thought for a moment before saying, "That sounds fantastic…although I'd prefer you use less scientific words to describe our passion."

"Malfoy, I'm serious! People at Hogwarts think I'm some sort of trollop! My reputation! Dear Merlin if this gets back to my cousins…they'll tell my parents!"

I would have been on the verge of tears if I hadn't faced all that I'd faced this summer.

"So what?" He said. "People talk."

"Scorpius, you don't get it. If my parents thought I was…was such a scarlet woman, they'd ground me forever!"

Malfoy looked more amused than alarmed.

"You mean to say you're not allowed to choose what you do with your own body?" He asked.

I sat on the foot of my bed. "Not until I'm of age," I said.

"Intriguing," he said, sitting up. "What would you have me do about your dilemma, Angel?"

"I don't know," I sighed. "Can't you get a girlfriend or something? Can't you engage in intercourse with her in some conveniently public place."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Thank you very much but I'll have to decline. I'm not a tramp."

"Ugh," I groaned.

"Besides," he shrugged. "It would still look bad on you like you can't keep me interested."

"Fair enough," I sighed. I went around to the other side and motioned him to move over so I can get in and he lowered so we were lying next to each other. He adjusted the duvet over us and turned to look at me, hoisting his head up in his hand, his arm balanced by his elbow.

"I'm not a scarlet woman, you know?" I said, looking up at his face, hoping he believed me. "I just stopped bothering to kick you out of my bed because clearly I can't make you do anything."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed in on me and I wondered what he was thinking.

"I know you're a good girl, Rose. You don't need to try and convince me."

I snorted, "more like a boring girl…"

Malfoy other hand landing on my stomach, gently slipping under my shirt. "I can show you how to be fun…"

"I think not," I said, pulling his hand out. I turned to my side to face away from him and pulled out my phone to check my texts.

"Have you opened your new phone yet?" Malfoy asked and I realised he was watching me.

"No," I said.

"Accio Rose's new phone," My desk drawer opened and my still unboxed new phone flew out to Malfoy.

Malfoy was disappointed that I hadn't set it up yet and spent some time doing just that at my desk with my phone connected to my computer. He was still working away as I began to drift into sleep and I remembered thinking he'll probably snoop around since he usually liked invading my space. But then it wasn't so bad since him in my space meant I'd be safe. When Malfoy started making me feel cared for, I did not know, but I knew I should keep my guards up.

…

Mum and dad did confront me about my bruises and whether this was done by Malfoy. They thought I was still dating him much to dad's dismay but I assured them it wasn't him. I wanted to tell them I wasn't dating him but I decided not to say anything and let them draw their own conclusions. Malfoy liked spending hours at a time in my bedroom late at night and I needed to prepare for the worst which would be if my parents ever walked in or saw him. At least if they thought we're dating they'd be less angry than they would be if they thought we were just sleeping together like the rest of Hogwarts apparently thought.

It was rather hilarious how far from the truth these rumours were. I was a virgin. I hadn't had sex with anyone, let alone Malfoy. I hadn't even experimented on my own down there. I once tried inserting the slightest tip of my finger but it hurt and I never tried again. I was not looking forward to going back to school.

Lily called me and asked why I never told her about Malfoy while he she was trying to get Eric and me together. I told her I wasn't interested in Eric anymore but she was still more upset about being kept out of the loop. I hadn't realised the reputation Scorpius had until now. Hogwarts students feared him. Whether they loved or hated him, they all respected Malfoy. I wanted to know why. Perhaps it was because he defied all norms and labels even at his age. He was less student and more man. Lily reckoned people were starting rumours about me because of jealousy. They felt I wasn't good enough to snag Malfoy and I reminded her I hadn't done that. Malfoy could go and get himself a girlfriend and I wouldn't care because I didn't feel for him like that.

The other girls that wanted Malfoy clearly did not understand how controlling, demanding and dominating he truly was. He had all but banned me from going out on my own during the days following my attack. He would pick me up from my house and drive me anywhere I wanted to go. Mum thought he was a gentleman. What she didn't know was he had threatened to spank me which I also made really clear to him was highly inappropriate. He responded with a mischievous grin and said he was hoping I would rebel.

"Weren't you just at that store last week?" He asked once I was in the car. I had told him I needed to visit a certain shoe store again.

"Yes but they're getting new stock today and I still don't have shoes for Victoire's wedding."

"We've been to every shoe store in town," He reminded me.

"I know but it has to match. She wants it that way," I sighed. "Besides, I can get them for really cheap here. I know I'll never wear sparkly silver heels in my life again so I don't want to spend much."

Scorpius grew quiet. "You know, angel, if you're ever short on cash, you can ask me—"

"You can stop right there Scorpius." I felt my face grew warm. "I'm not poor!"

"I know—"

"I have quite a lot saved up, just so you know. And my parents support me in everything. I just don't believe in wasteful purchases," I crossed my arms, feeling rather embarrassed and angry. "I don't need charity."

"I know, I never said that," he said blankly.

"Yes you did," I argued.

"No. I didn't. I was simply going to tell you you can borrow from me if you don't have cash on hand."

"Why would I ever borrow from you?!" I asked bewildered. "Why would I even go shopping with you without having money on me?!"

"It's not a big deal, flower," he said in a stern voice.

"Yes it is, Malfoy. You're not my boyfriend! I don't expect anything from you."

We drove the rest of the way in silence. Once we arrived, I got out and headed straight in to the shopping center and to my store. I felt rather unobliged to wait for Malfoy.

I thought he was walking behind me but when I turned, he wasn't there. Instead he was headed the opposite direction towards a fancy men's store.

About half an hour later, I finally had satin grey heels to go with my lilac dress. I was rather pleased that I'd found a way around having to wear sparkly shoes that felt more nightclub than wedding reception.

I knew Dominique would happily buy the sparkly silver ones and I guessed it was probably her idea too. I had tried to call her last night, putting our differences aside for Victoire's sake. Who wants a family feud at their wedding? I wanted to ask her if she wanted to buy our shoes together since we were both bridesmaids but I couldn't get a hold of her so I let it go.

When I came out of the store, I saw Scorpius waiting for me. He was scrolling on his phone and had a large garment bag in the other hand. I didn't want to ask what was in it because I was still offended but my curiosity got the better of me.

"What's in that?" I asked as we walked towards his car.

"My tux," he said curtly.

"Why on earth do you need a tux?" I asked.

Malfoy glanced at me with furrowed brows. What could I have possibly said to annoy him, I did not know.

"For the wedding," he said, grumpily.

My eyes bulged. "Listen Malfoy, I am NOT taking you to my cousin's wedding. You're NOT my boyfriend! And besides, Victoire isn't giving any of us plus ones."

"Would you shut up!" He said harshly. I was taken aback. "I don't need you to take me to the fucking wedding because I have my own invitation, you ignorant dimwit!"

"Excuse me?! Watch your mouth, Malfoy!" I said angrily as we approached the car and split to get in at different sides.

"Teddy is my only cousin," He said once we were seated. "I'm one of the groomsmen."

"I don't care," I said. How dare he call me an ignorant dimwit?!

Malfoy looked at me with a straight face, "Then get out."

I stared at him, shocked. "Wh-What?" I finally said.

"You heard me. Get out of the car," he said.

"Malfoy, you're joking…" I said quietly, not believing he would so easily abandon me here.

"Either you learn some respect or you find your own way home. Is that understood!"

I nodded and quietly put my seatbelt on. After harassing me, and yelling at me and manhandling me, I had learned to fight him back. I hardly felt weak anymore because I was so sure he'd never hurt me too badly. I always knew I frustrated him but he had a soft spot for me. I never cried at his antics anymore or let them get to me but today I turned my face away because felt my eyes sting with tears of betrayal. After this, I was going to need a very convincing apology.