Draco and I immediately Apparated to Blaise's apartment.

"WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!" Draco bellowed in Blaise's face. "YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING!"

"Draco, calm the fuck down!" I cried as Draco proceeded to pace back and forth, agitatedly driving his hands through his hair.

"You wouldn't understand!" He hollered at me, his face high in colour. "This marriage was my way to make everything right; to place the Malfoy name back where it belongs - amongst the wealthiest and highly regarded of wizarding families!"

My jaw dropped open and I found myself blanching at the hurt that ripped violently through my stomach.

"You have got to be fu-"

But my angry outburst was cut short by Blaise's fist connecting with Draco's jaw.

"FUCK THE STUPID MALFOY REPUTATION!" Blaise bellowed as Draco staggered backwards into the kitchen table. "YOU COMPLETE AND UTTER SELFISH CUNT!"

Draco blinked up at us, clutching the side of his face, wincing in pain.

"Where's Bambi?" I furiously asked Blaise, pointedly ignoring the pathetic blond ferret.

"She left about two hours ago," Blaise said breathlessly, looking pained, "she got a phone call waking us up. It was her father ordering her home. We had no idea why at the time. She just said he sounded urgent."

"Do you think she'll be okay?" I asked, as a cold fear trickled down my spine about what that man could be capable of.

But Blaise just shook his head, his face mirroring my fear. "I need to go and see if she's alright, man."

"No." I said immediately. "Blaise, I don't think you turning up will go down well. Give her a call and see if everything is okay. And if she doesn't answer then I'll go."

He nodded, immediately getting his phone out.

"Ronnie-" Draco started, as he took a step towards me, still nursing his jaw.

"Shut the fuck up, Draco." I spat venomously, holding my hand up to prevent him coming any nearer. "I'm not interested in anything you've got to say anymore."

He looked startled, taking a tentative step back.

"She's not answering," Blaise said in a strangled, fearful voice.

"Right, then I'll go," I said getting ready to turn. "I'll say I'm there on catering business."

"Ronnie wait, I don't like this!" Draco spluttered, grabbing my arm. "That man can be dangerous."

"AND YET YOU ARE SO FUCKING DESPERATE TO MARRY INTO HIS FAMILY?!" I bellowed, wrenching my arm back. "Screw you Malfoy; we're not all cowards."

He flinched, as if I'd just slapped him.

I could barely look at him, I felt disgusted; disappointed. But mostly with myself for ever thinking that this truly arrogant, conceited prick could ever love me enough to just want to be with me.

But I didn't have time to dwell on this right now, so I left him in Blaise's kitchen whilst I Apparated to Peverell Manor.

I ran up the stone steps yanking the door open. I went to call out Bambi's name, but the sound of voices coming from behind the closed drawing room door made me pause.

It was Arnold Peverell. And he sounded fierce.

I tiptoed my way to the door to listen.

"I thought I brought you up better than this, girl!"

"Please, Daddy; he's just a friend!"

"You disgust me, playing around with monkeys like you're in some kind of zoo."

"Don't- don't call him that Daddy."

"They don't belong in the Peverell bloodline! You'll do good to remember that girl! And I expect you to go straight to Draco and tell him you made a big mistake because I swear to Merlin my child, if this marriage doesn't go ahead..."

"Ouch, Daddy you're hurting me!"

I kicked the door open, anger coursing in my veins. Arnold Peverell had his frightened daughter's thin wrist in a white knuckle grip and was clearly causing her a lot of pain.

"Leave her the fuck alone!" I roared, storming over to where they stood.

He let go of her arm in alarm at the sight of my appearance. Bambi let out a tearful whimper as she clutched her wrist.

"Miss Weasley," Arnold growled dangerously. "How dare you come marching in here uninvited!"

"How dare you treat another human being this way!" I spat, standing in front of Bambi to shield her from her hateful father.

He leant right in my face, spitting and snarling dangerously as Bambi trembled and whimpered behind me.

"Look here, you little-"

"Sir!"

We all snapped our heads to the door where Draco was stood, wand aloft, and looking sternly at the scene.

Arnold blinked, stepping slightly back from me. "I assume you're here to talk about the disgusting display in the paper this morning?"

"It was a misunderstanding, sir," Draco said, his voice steady and calm. "I've already spoken to Blaise. There is no need for this upset."

His eyes flitted over to me and Bambi where I still stood shielding her.

"And you are still keen to wed my daughter despite the embarrassment this may have caused?" Arnold asked, a slight question to his tone.

Draco seemed to hesitate and I couldn't help but hold my breath. This was his chance, Arnold Peverell was giving him a way out. There was at last a flicker of hope inside of me.

And then Draco threw a huge ice cold bucket of water over it.

"Yes, sir," he murmured, his voice slightly strangled as his grey eyes looked upon me regretfully. "I still wish to."

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the wash of horrendous pain. I felt Bambi sag resignedly behind me.

"Excellent. Then we must talk tactics," Arnold was saying as he clapped his hands brusquely together. "We need to get you pictured out and about looking in love; make the public forget all this business with that- that boy."

He walked over to Draco, ushering him away with him, leaving Bambi and I alone in the drawing room.

"I- I'm sorry," Bambi quivered, her whole body shaking as tears splashed down her cheeks.

I just shook my head, feeling utterly disgusted for her.

At least I could walk away from all of this.

"Come on," I said, taking her hand. "Blaise is worried for you."

I took her back to his apartment where he greeted her with such relief and tender love.

And it hurt my heart to see it, because it was how I wanted Draco to be with me. I wanted him to love me with all his heart. But instead he was too obsessed with wealth and reputation to give a shit about me.

I left them alone, with the both of them thanking me. I didn't bother to urge Bambi to run away with Blaise. No doubt he'd be begging her anyway; but she was clearly too caught in her father's wicked clutches to go against his wishes.

When I got back to my flat, I gathered Draco's things and boxed them all up, ready.

By the time he arrived home later that day, my heart was hardened like stone.

"Ronnie," he said, a pained look on his face. "Are you okay?"

His glanced down to the box on the coffee table in front of where I was sat. "What's that?"

"Your things." I said coldly. "I packed them for you to save time. I don't want you here any longer than needed."

His face dropped in realisation of what I was saying.

"Ronnie, please, I have no choice-"

"YES YOU FUCKING DO!" I bellowed, standing up to face him. "I STOOD THERE WHEN THAT DISGUSTING MAN ACTUALLY ASKED YOU! AND ONCE AGAIN YOU CHOSE SOMETHING ELSE OVER ME! I AM SO FUCKING DONE WITH YOU!"

"Ronnie, please," he implored, his face pained as he tried to reach out to me, but I slapped his hands away. "Don't do this, I love you!"

I couldn't help but laugh. Real laughter which shook me violently. I clutched my stomach as Draco watched me in utter bafflement as my body convulsed in hysterics. And then I realised that I wasn't actually laughing but crying great big heaving gut wrenching sobs.

"You don't love me, Draco," I said shakily, when I had finally calmed down enough to speak through my tears. "You've never loved me. I've never been enough for you and that is what makes me sad. Because I realise I can't force you. I can't even ask you. And I hate that Harry was right, that I've never been anything more than a distraction to you from your fucked up life."

"That's not true, Ronnie," Draco said, "I do love you, we can make this work!"

"Just get out. I don't want to see you again. You're destroying everyone's lives for the sake of a fucking name. You've never loved anyone but yourself. You are just like your father; you selfish, conceited prick."

"Ronnie, I don't want to leave you," his voice was full of panic as he drove a hand through his hair. "I can't imagine my life without you, being here with you the past couple of months has been amazing; holding you every night in my arms, waking up to you every morning. I can't live without that."

"Why is that not fucking enough for you then?!" I cried. "Why is it so important that you marry into the Peverell family?!"

"Because I promised my mother!" He spluttered. "And just for once I want my father to look at me proudly! It's just a name Ronnie. Can't you see? If Blaise is willing to do it for Bambi, then why can't you do it for me?"

I shook my head incredulously. And I realised that Draco and I were two very different people.

"Because unlike Blaise, I have some self respect. Now get the fuck out. I'm done. It's over."

His silver grey eyes rested on mine; filled with pain, hurt and sorrow. And he knew I meant it.

And just like that, he was gone.

*****