Back to Reality

Chapter 5

The next day, the tension was high on the set. Hermione was still mad at Fred and George, and Ron and Daniel were completely ignoring Harry. Draco seemed amused by everything, but he was still lashing out at anyone who tried to talk to him.

Daniel and Tom were filming a scene when Bonnie walked up behind Draco.

"Why do you hate everyone so much?" she asked him.

Draco was so taken aback by her question that he actually answered her.

"Potter's big-headed, the Weasleys are poor, Granger's a Mudblood, and Longbottom's a poor excuse for a wizard," he answered.

"That's not a very good reason," Bonnie replied.

"Who asked you?" Draco snapped.

Bonnie ignored him. "How did your family get into the Dark Arts, anyway?"

"I don't know. My family's been like this for centuries. I personally think it's stupid."

"Then why do you do it?"

Draco shrugged. "I guess I've always done what Lucius tells me to do."

"If you don't want to be like him, then you shouldn't be."

"Lucius would kill me."

Bonnie changed the subject. "How did you end up with Neville and the others, anyway?"

Draco wasn't usually the type to open up to anyone, especially a Muggle, but there was something about Bonnie that made him want to tell her everything.

"I guess it started last week when Lucius got mad at my mum and threatened to kill her. Lucius isn't one to make empty threats, so I helped her hide from him. When I got back home, he was waiting for me. He tried to use an Unforgivable Curse on me, but I stunned him before he got the chance. Then I ran into the woods by my house. When I came out on the other side, I saw a house. Nobody was home, so I thought I'd break in and get some food and money for my trip to Diagon Alley, but before I got the chance, someone called my name. I turned around, and it was Granger. I wasn't about to tell her what happened, so I started to leave. Before I could get far, Granger's parents invited me to join Potter's party. I really needed that food and money, so I joined them. Now I've been stuck with Potty, Weasel, and the Mudblood for two days, and I don't think I can take much more of it."

Bonnie was quiet the whole time Draco was talking. When he finished, she did something no one else had ever dared, she hugged him.

Draco quickly pulled away from her. He looked around to see if anyone had seen and saw Neville glaring back at him.

Just then, Alfonso Cuaron, the director, called to Bonnie. "Bonnie, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"I'll be right there," she called back.

"Don't tell anyone what I told you," Draco whispered to her.

"My lips are sealed," she whispered back as she walked away.

"Hey!" Draco called suddenly, making her stop.

"What?" she asked.

"Thanks," he told her.

"Anytime," she replied as she turned to leave again.

As Draco watched her leave, he thought to himself, maybe Muggles aren't as bad as I thought. For the first time in a week, he smiled.

* * *

Neville was watching Tom and Daniel film a scene when a flash of red hair caught his eye. He looked over and saw Bonnie hug Draco. His stare quickly turned to a glare as Draco turn to look at him.

Neville couldn't believe his eyes. "That git," he said as he continued to glare at Draco. As Bonnie left, he thought he saw Draco smirk at him. He's not getting away with this, he thought as he walked over to where Draco was standing.

"Oi, Malfoy," he yelled.

Draco turned around. "What do you want, Longbottom," he sneered.

"What was that about?" Neville asked.

"What was what about?" Draco replied coldly.

"You'd better stay away from Bonnie."

"And if I don't?"

"Malfoy, I swear, if you do anything to hurt her..."

"Don't worry, Longbottom. I won't hurt her. I like her, and I'm going to make her mine someday," Draco interjected, a maniacal glint in his eye.

Draco's words angered Neville so much that he was seeing red. He pulled back his fist and hit Draco right in the mouth. Draco fell to the ground, his lip bleeding. He stood up and glared at Neville.

"You messed up now, Longbottom. You'll pay for this one," he spat as he stormed off.

* * *

Bonnie walked back to where she and Draco had been standing. When she got there, she stopped dead in her tracks. She saw Neville hit Draco in the face, and Draco fall to the ground. "Neville, no!" she screamed as she rushed over to Neville and Draco stood. She arrived just as Draco stormed off. Bonnie rounded on Neville.

"What did you do that for?" she screamed, her eyes flashing.

"He deserved it," Neville said coolly.

"What could he have possibly have done to deserve that?" she yelled at him.

"Look," he told her, beginning to get annoyed, "you don't know him like I do."

"And you don't know him like I do," she retorted, "Draco is nice, and he has feelings just like everyone else."

Neville laughed. "Malfoy, nice? Are you taking the mickey? If Draco's nice, then I'm the best wizard in the world."

Bonnie's face turned red with anger. "Neville, you're a git, and you disgust me," she snarled, and then she turned on her heel and stormed off to find Draco.

* * *

Draco had had enough. First, he was stuck with the people he hated most in the world, now Longbottom had humiliated him. He was going to get him back, no matter what it took. Even if it meant losing the one person that seemed to care about him.

"Draco, wait up!" a sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.

Draco turned around and was surprised to find Bonnie running toward him. She reached him and slowed to a walk.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"You," Draco answered stiffly.

"Me? Why were you fighting about me?"

"Because I'm a Malfoy, and Malfoys aren't allowed to be with Muggles."

"Well, I told Neville exactly what I think of him."

Draco stopped walking and turned to face her. "You stood up for me?" he asked. "Why?"

Bonnie took Draco's hand. "Because," she said softly, "even a Malfoy deserves to be happy."

Draco looked into her eyes. Years of pain, anger, and loneliness were washed away as she gazed back into his. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she spoke.

"Let's go somewhere away from all these people," she said, and Draco allowed himself to be led away.