No More Painted Dolls

Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter story, or characters. That is all thanks to the imagination of JKR.

Warning: None.

A/N: Big thanks to my BETA Katie for helping me with this chapter!!

Decisions

Draco Malfoy had everything: money, fame, good looks, and any girl he wanted. Okay, maybe I exaggerated there, but you get the drift. So why was he feeling so unfulfilled? Why was he to be seen brooding over a cup of butterbeer, wishing pointlessly in his mind that it would suddenly change to firewhiskey? I'll tell you why, because Draco Malfoy was, as they say, in a fit of the sullens, or to put it bluntly he was sulking. Of course he would never admit that; Malfoys did not sulk. But this one, however, was having particular difficulty in disguising that.

”Oh, cheer up mate. Things will get better.” The bartender said cheerfully.

Draco glared at the fool. Madam Rosmerta had gone on holiday, and this buffoon was looking after the shop while she was away. His name was Tim, or was it Jim? In any case, he did not impress Draco.

”I'm not your mate. And don't you have anything stronger than this?” Draco demanded angrily.

Tim, or Jim, looked at him with a kindly eye, “Ahh, is it girl troubles? I'm sorry mate but no underage drinking allowed.”

”For-the-last-time, I-am-not-your-mate!” Draco ground out angrily.

Tim, or Jim, merely gave him a small wink and walked off towards another customer.

”That man is mental.” Draco muttered vehemently.

”You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of madness.” Pansy said in an annoyingly singsong voice and took the vacated chair next to Draco.

”She's right, you know.” Blaise said as he sidled to the seat on Draco's other side.

Draco put down his glass with an exaggerated sigh. “Oh great, you two.” Draco said in anything but friendly tones.

Blaise put a friendly arm around Draco (who glared at him furiously) and looked at Pansy with a sly grin, “So Drakie, what's the matter?”

”Don't call me that.” Draco said moodily, shrugging of Blaise's arm.

”Oh, but your mummy calls you that, can't I?” Blaise asked with an annoying grin.

”You aren't my mother and therefore do not deserve my respect. Now go away.” Draco snapped.

”Ouch, someone is in a bad mood.” Pansy said smirking. “What's up, Draco honey?”

Draco glared at them with a look that could have been worthy of a basilisk. “I don't want to talk about it.”
”I know what's wrong with him, Blaise.” She said seriously, leaning over Draco to give Blaise a pointed look, “Snape broke your heart, didn't he? It's okay, Draco. You can talk to us about it.”

Blaise snorted with laughter and Draco, who had finally had enough of his friends mockery for one evening, stood up, “If you two are just going to act like a pair of immature idiots, I'm going to go sit somewhere else.”

And with that he stood up and walked toward a table that was near the far corner of the room. Of course he was not upset over anything to do with Snape. That was just absurd. The truth was that Draco was tired of being himself. Tired of living up to expectations and tired of following tradition. His so-called `friends' did not seem to understand that at all.

Draco let out a sigh of frustration and glanced around the Three Broomsticks. Two people sitting close to him caught his attention, and he realised with a smirk that silly Weasley bint was having boyfriend troubles again. Draco settled himself more comfortably, preparing to be amused.

”You can't just go off with another girl right in front of me!” Weasley shouted, her cheeks flushed becomingly with anger.

Draco had to admit the Weasley girl was quite beautiful, well, for a Weasley anyway. Her long deep red hair perfectly contrasted with her pale skin that was lightly dusted with freckles. Her large deep chestnut eyes were veiled with thick black lashes which any girl would have been envious of.

Now if only he could remember her name. He thought it was Minny, but maybe it was Whinnie?

The boy backed away from the fiery beauty, slightly wary, “Oh, come on, Ginny-“

That was it, Draco thought triumphantly, horrid common name that it was.

”Don't even try to make excuses!” Ginny retorted angrily, “You promised me you wouldn't go with another girl,” tears burned her eyes, “And I actually believed you. How could I be so stupid?”

The boy tried to calm her down, but Ginny appeared to have had enough and threw her drink in his face. “We're over,” She said firmly, “And don't even think about talking to me!”

Draco watched curiously as she walked away, angry tears falling from her eyes. It puzzled him to see someone show so much emotion. He had never really seen any girl get angry like that, where one minute they're furious and the next crying; it was puzzling, but intriguing all the same.

”Well, well,” Blaise said slyly as he placed an arm around Draco, “Now why would you be watching the littlest Weasley so intently?”
Draco blinked and looked at Blaise, who was looking at him like some particularly juicy insect. Really, Blaise could be quite creepy. “I was merely thinking how commonly vulgar she is,” Draco sneered, “Yelling about her problems for the whole shop to hear.” Draco put his cup down and raised an eyebrow at Blaise, “What do you want anyway?”

Blaise smirked, “Whatever you say, Drakie. I merely came to tell you that Pans and me are heading back to Hogwarts. You can stay here and mope, or you can come back with us.”

Draco scowled and buried his hands in his pockets; the company was rather dull, and he could see Jim or Tim looking at him expectantly. What did that fool want anyway? Draco thought angrily. Sighing, he turned back to Blaise, “Fine, I'll come back with you two.” Though I'd rather be adopted by Weasleys than get stuck listening to these two twits drone on about the latest gossip, Draco thought savagely.

Blaise hollered for Pansy to come over, and Draco reluctantly resigned himself to an hour of tedious conversations as he followed them out the door into the piercing cold wind.

OOOOOOOOOO

Draco walked into the Slytherin common room with a relieved sigh. Now all he had to do was find Crabbe and Goyle. At least they didn't annoy him with stupid conversations; all they ever did was grunt and agree with everything he said.

”Where are the oafs?” Draco muttered as he peered around the dungeon. The fire appeared to have gone out, and a damp chill clung to the air. Oh yes, Draco thought sarcastically, Slytherins have everything the best. Scowling, he spotted a vacant chair and sat down, waiting for the arrival of his tag-alongs.

Blaise sat down next to him and sighed, “You know, I don't think I've ever seen you this quiet. What's wrong?”

Draco frowned. He didn't really like Blaise, but then who else was there to talk to in this place? He couldn't exactly talk to the grunting duo or that twit Pansy, and he had to confide in someone; and even though Blaise was rather ridiculous, he at least had some sense.

”I'm just so sick of this.” Draco said frustrated. He looked at Blaise, who merely considered him curiously through his green eyes. “You know, being a Slytherin and having to be with a Slytherin.”

Blaise opened his mouth in shock, “That is so not you, Drakie; when did you have this sudden change of heart?”

Draco sighed, “I don't know. I've just realised how boring this is. Everything is planned for me; I mean, I even know who I'm going to marry!” Draco said with an undignified snort.
Blaise smirked, “Nothing wrong with a Slytherin girl. They're great; all you have to do is nod, and they come.”

Draco regarded Blaise skeptically as Blaise nodded. To Draco's surprise, a pretty brunette was suddenly clinging to Blaise's arm, looking up at him with adoration.

”See?” Blaise said, grinning.

Draco sighed, “But I don't want another unemotional doll, who simply does all my bidding and has no opinion.” Draco looked at Blaise earnestly, “I want someone who is smart, passionate, has a mind of their own, you know?”

Blaise shook his head, “No Slytherin is like that.”

Draco rolled his eyes, “I know that.”

Blaise smirked, “So you're going to go with someone from a different house, break all the traditions?”

Draco shrugged, “Why not?”

Blaise only stared at him, “But your father?”

”My father can't do anything!” Draco spat angrily, “He does not own me!”

Blaise said nothing, only stared at Draco, as though seeing him for the first time.

”Well, in any case”, Draco said coldly as he stood up, “You've been no help to me; so if you'll excuse me, I've got to go.”

Draco left the gaping Blaise and walked up to the boys' dorms. He had almost lost it down there, and Draco couldn't afford to do that. His father did not want Draco to be his own person. His father wanted him to be a `Lucius clone' as Draco called it, but Draco could not stand it; the tedious parties and the never-ending toadeaters that sucked up to him. Wasn't there anyone out there who would just see him for him and show him that there was a world of emotion and beauty and happiness?

Little did Draco know that the person he dreamt of was seven stories above him, dreaming fondly about revenge on a certain Ravenclaw.

A/N: Review please, (and I know Draco is a little OOC but you'll get over it I'm sure ;) )