He seemed a bit flustered, which I'd rarely seen. I liked he admitted he was wrong. It was courageous of him, as confessing wrongs wasn't something Malfoy was particularly good at.
"Speaking about that," I cleared my throat, "Do you want to take a walk?"
He nodded.
We walked down the long, deserted halls. Most of the students were taking advantage of the nice weather, only the ones with something in minds wandered in the halls. Just like what I'd been doing with my then friends for the past years.
I was sure if reminiscing the past was a good idea. Especially now.
"So?" I asked.
"Alright," He still sounded flustered, and slightly annoyed, "You know I'm not the kind to mingle with others' personal affairs. It's never of my interest. However, it has come to my attention recently there are somethings that need to be settled."
"Can you get to the point?" I frowned, acting serious while mocking him, "Please?"
I could tell how uncomfortable he was and how much he disliked talking about drama.
"Curiously, in the last couple of days and just now, I involuntarily received some confessions," He sighed and went on, "From Ginny Weasley and Parkinson."
"Elaborate on 'involuntarily received'," I curled my lips.
"They confided to me," He shook his head, "Intercepted me while I was on my way to my destinations and started confessing to me like I'm a muggle priest."
I laughed: "I'm surprised you remember what a priest is."
"Me too," He spoke solemnly, which made me chuckle.
"Sorry," I apologized when he gave me a brooding look. "Go on."
"What they said were similar enough, and I won't retell," He said, "The essence of the confessions was Greengrass was plotting against you."
It wasn't an unexpected statement.
"Why?"
"Because apparently, according to them," He sighed again, "It's not Longbottom who her sister has a crush on, it's me."
I shouldn't have laughed. But I did to release the tension. The matter itself wasn't funny, not at all. In fact, it made me feel uneasy. Just as I thought I'd made a friend, I discovered it was nothing but a lie, an illusion, a plan to take what's mine from me.
Draco Malfoy wasn't my property, yet I convinced myself he belonged to me. That wasn't going to change no matter what happened.
"Oh Merlin," I said, trying to find words that made the most sense, "I don't even – I – I don't know what to think, or say."
"Weasley came to me because she just couldn't take the blackmailing any longer," He continued flatly, "Greengrass threatened to expose her brother's secret if Weasley doesn't do what she's told. Naturally, the brave Weasley decided to just spill the truth."
"What secret?"
"Which leads to the next part," He talked like he was reading off a dry script, "Parkinson came to me as she also couldn't take it anymore, for a different reason. According to her, during their plan to break you and I up, she and Ron Weasley had gotten close. Very close."
"Ron cheated on Lavender with Parkinson," I stated the obvious.
"Yes," Malfoy rose his eyebrow.
"And she went to you because Ron won't break up with Lavender?" I asked, trying to get the full story.
"Sure," Malfoy shrugged, "I wasn't really listening when she went on and on about her and Weasley's relationship. What I did catch was they involved Greengrass in the plan."
"Let me get this straight," I stopped walking, "Ron, Parkinson and Greengrass got together and though, hmm I wonder how we can break them up? But they never had a set plan, and when some form of a plan – executed by Greengrass – has finally come into motion, Parkinson decided to drop out because she started seeing Ron behind Lavender's back. And apparently Ginny is involved somehow and knows about her brother's infidelity."
Malfoy shrugged: "And you've asked me from time to time the reason I resent drama."
I was sure if I should feel relieved, upset or find it hilarious.
"What do I – do we do now?" I threw my hands.
"Step one would be distant yourself from Greengrass, the same applies to me," He was back to his nonchalant self, the redness on his pale cheeks had faded, "Step two would be stop caring about these people."
Stop caring, such a strong phrase. It was something I tried and failed. Perhaps it was caring, it was simply morbid curiosity.
"It's not right," I voiced my protest, "I can't let this slide."
He squinted.
"Ron needs to pay for what he did," I smirked deviously, "It's not about me, but Lavender. She deserves better."
"You don't think that way," He called me out, "You just want to stir the pot."
"Maybe," I didn't deny his accusation.
"Not respond can be the best respond," He said thoughtfully before he switched his tone to a light and casual one, "By the way, my parents would like to meet you."
Oh Merlin.