Loyalty

Blaise broke out of his trance when he saw a disturbing sight- Pansy Parkinson, beside whom was her loyal sidekick Astoria Greengrass.

From of the corner of his eyes he observed the person they had called whose name; Draco was still peering at his food, seemingly too busy chewing his breakfast. Blaise saw his clenched jaws, however, and the tightening of his fingers around his spoon.

Astoria had her characteristic blank expression as she sat beside her 'best-friend,' who would not think twice before dumping her when she loses her usefulness. Astoria Greengrass is honestly a nice, simple-minded girl, albeit reserved and a bit misunderstood. After she completely devoted herself to Pansy, she lost many of her friends. She never minded that, however, for Pansy had brainwashed her so.

Blaise offered a tight smile to the girls sitting before him.

He greeted," Pansy, Astoria, Good-morning. How has last year in Hogwarts been so far for you?"

Astoria nodded in acknowledgement while Pansy disregarded him.

"Draco, Darling," She cooed as she gestured Astoria to prepare a toast for her, which the side-kick hastily did and handed the buttered toast to her ivory fingers.

"Where were you during the Hogsmeade visit? I couldn't find you anywhere."

"Because I didn't want Her royal prissiness to find and disturb me." Draco mumbled under his breath. Blaise, who heard him, tried to hide his snickers as he chewed on his food but choked.

"Th-thank you," he thanked Astoria, who had passed him a glass of juice.

Pansy who only saw Draco's lips move asked in an impatient manner, which she tried desperately to hide under a false sweet tone," What? What did you say?"

Draco finally looked up from his dish and stared at the girl in front of him," I said I did not want to be found by you." He wanted nothing to do with the girl sitting opposite him and wanted her to stay far away from him for the rest of the year. He certainly wouldn't mind not meeting her for the rest of his life. Hence, he did not see any point in talking pleasantly with her anymore.

Draco's sharp tone and withdrawn manner shocked both Pansy and Blaise,

Blaise because he didn't think that Draco would act so brazenly blunt with her. It also put him at ease, for he did not have to pretend to be cordial with her anymore. This made him wonder why he ever did so in the first place. And so, Blaise wandered off in his own thoughts, unknowing of the pair of eyes that were focusing on him adoringly.

Draco's words stunned Pansy. She never believed her Drakey-poo could ever speak like this to her. She gritted her teeth," Huh? Nice joke, Draco." Her false laugh sounded weak, even to her own ears. She recalled all the times she had seen him with Granger. Anger boiled her blood like lava.

"Were you with Granger?" She asked the question that she feared she already knew the answer to.

Draco ignored her.

Her volume rose, but not enough to attract the attention of the rest of their housemates. "Answer me, Draco! Did you go to Hogsmeade with that Mudblood?"

"Yes!" Draco glared at her with hatred embedded in his steely silver orbs, "I went to Hogsmeade with my girlfriend. Have you got any problem with that?" His sneer was mocking while Pansy seethed at the word she concentrated on the most out of his full sentence. Before she could speak further though, Draco continued, "Not that I care anyway, so no need to voice it if you do." And he continued with his breakfast. He was a grown boy with an enormous appetite. Couldn't let the unpleasant company hinder that.

"Girlfriend!" Pansy was still stuck on the same word.

She let out a bitter, frustrated laugh and spoke through gritted teeth, " Has she fed you some potion or enchanted you with a spell? How could you fall under that witch's spell!"

Blaise swallowed and coughed once to gather attention," You're forgetting you're a witch too," he kindly reminded. He was rewarded with a tenacious glower. He withheld a sigh. No one cares for true facts anymore!

"What we have between us is none of your business. I suggest you stick to yours and stop meddling with us. Don't blame me for being merciless if you dare act out against us." Draco warned. As much as he knew Pansy, she won't be put off by this alone. He had to remain careful of her and remind Hermione to do so as well.

"Why Draco? How could you mingle with that lowborn? Ever since you've come back, you've changed. What about what we had between us?" Pansy has always been, as long as she has known Draco for, under the delusion of them being soulmates; perfect for each other. In her eyes, there was no one other than Draco who was good enough for her and no one more suitable than her for him. How could she accept a lowborn taking the place she should have in his life?

"You will really cast me away from yourself for that Mudblood?" Poison dropped from her tone and disbelief clouded her glare. Maybe even her mind.

Astoria and Blaise continued watching the exchange like audiences.

"Do not call her that filthy word ever again, Pansy! I will not hold back once you cross your limit. And you're tipping very close to falling on the other side of my thin patience line. I will say this once so listen carefully. There was never anything between us, and never will be. I despise you and want nothing to do with you. I am with Hermione because I love her. If you try to come between us and cause trouble, I won't let you succeed."

Pansy sneered," We'll see," before she got up fully she decided to ask something else," What about your loyalty to the dark lord? Are you not afraid of being unfaithful to him?"

"I never had an ounce of loyalty towards that creepy power-maniac. I was on the dark side only because of my fear for the safety of my parents and acting on their orders. My loyalty belongs only to myself and those I hold dear. If that is all then continue to wherever you were leaving for. I hope this is the last time we exchange words with each other. I can't be bothered to put up with you another time." He carelessly waved his hand with an arrogant expression on his face.

"We are far from over." Saying this, Pansy left with Astoria hot on her tail.

There were still a few minutes left before classes to start. But since Draco was finished with his breakfast and eager to find Hermione, he pulled a complaining Blaise up from his seat and dragged him to search for his mate.