#{ they were off my path || astoria }

[draco-dormiens]

THE STRANGEST OF PLACES - Chapter Nineteen

draco x fem!ravenclaw reader / postwar au series

a/n: sorry for the wait guys. its a long one so get a cup of tea x

warnings: swearing, angst, description of harm

wc: 4503

masterlist

pls let me know if you want to be tagged!! if your name is bold, i couldn't tag your blog :( tags at the end ♡

Chapter Nineteen: It's a Purebloods World

As Draco approaches the doors to the Great Hall, he can feel his stomach swirling. McGonagall's unexpected arrival has given him much to think about, especially when she asked, where did it lead you, exactly?

When the entrance to the hall came into view, he saw Astoria just inside, leaning against the archway, the party slowing dying just beyond her. He feels sad at the sight of her, dressed to the nines, undeniably beautiful, and yet waiting for a man who wants anything but to marry her.

She certainly deserved better.

Her head snaps up as he approaches, as if she sensed him there, and her green eyes light up. He was expecting her to be angry, but she seemed anything but that.

"Draco," she says, rushing to his side, her hands lifting her gown off the floor, "is everything alright? You rushed off so suddenly. I didn't think you were coming back."

I didn't plan on, he thinks. How selfish of him.

"Sorry, 'Storia," he mumbles, "there was something I had to do."

"Is she okay?"

Draco furrows his brow at that question, utterly confused as to why she would ask such a thing. Was it that obvious he was running after you?

"W-what do you mean?" he stumbles, and all Astoria does is smile weakly.

"Your friend," she says softly, "that's who you ran after, isn't it?"

Draco feels speechless. Astoria eyes him curiously, awaiting his answer. Perhaps part of her was wishing he would say no.

"She's fine," he eventually said, "I just went to see if she was upset."

"That's good, then," Astoria speaks quietly, looking down at her hands as if disappointed, "you missed most of the ball. It's almost over."

She then looks back over her shoulder, and students are leaving the hall, adults stumbling merrily out into the cold of the night. Draco feels yet another pang of guilt.

"I'm so sorry for spoiling your night, 'Storia," Draco says sincerely, "I honestly didn't mean to."

"Your heart called to you," she said, still looking back at the hall, "nothing more to it, really."

"Really, I am-"

"When I was little," she interrupted, returning her attention back to him, "I had a crush on a muggle boy who lived in our village." Draco was confused at the sudden change in subject, but allowed her to continue regardless, "and I was utterly besotted with him. Well, as besotted as you can be at eight years old," she chuckles sadly, "but nevertheless, I watched him play with his friends in the park just across the road from our house. I would always hear my parents talk about muggles, and how they were lesser than we were, but I just couldn't understand what they meant."

She took a moment to pause, and then wandered over to a stone bench by the wall and sat down. Draco followed suit, cautiously, and took the space beside her.

"I couldn't understand," she repeated softly, "when all I could see was someone so wonderful. His hair was a soft brown colour, and he always wore a green jumper. Maybe that's why I was drawn to him," she pauses once more, "then, one summer afternoon, I snuck out the back garden and followed the path to the park. We played all night long, and neither of us spoke of our origin, or our families. He just invited me to play, as if he had known me his whole life. This muggle, who my parents said were scum, despite living in the very same village as them, accepted me as one of his own."

Draco listened intently, not wanting to interrupt her reminiscing. He could vaguely see where the story was heading.

"The next morning, my mother found out where I had been," Astoria continued, but this time her voice was much more serious, "because the little boys mother had posted a note through our letterbox, inviting me over for dinner. She tore it up in front of me, and banished me to my room for three days. The house elf would push my meals through the gap under my door. Even to this day, I can remember how that felt."

"Why are you telling me this?" Draco asks quietly, but he knew the reason.

"Because that feeling has stuck with me my entire life," Astoria looked across at him, "so, Draco, I understand, to some degree, what you must be feeling... the pain, the anger, the questions of why. But, the truth is, that's just how things are. It's an unwritten rule: purebloods stick with purebloods."

"That shit again," Draco mutters frustratedly, and put his head in his hands, "we just fought a war and yet I'm still being pushed around by the same, stupid ideals."

"Once upon a time, you believed in those same ideals," says the pretty brunette, "you saw no reason to argue against it, did you not?"

"Things are different now."

"You may be, but our families are not," Astoria points out, and Draco heaves a heavy sigh, "our days of freedom were always numbered, Draco. At some point, we were going to be married off. To a pureblood."

"Why are you so okay with this?" Draco then bursts out, getting up from the bench, his face full of frustration, "after what you just told me, you're going to lie down and accept a marriage to appease someone else?"

Astoria laughs through her nose.

"Who said I was okay?" she said, "I have merely come to accept that my voice has no volume," she pauses briefly again, averting her gaze from him, "I'm also aware that your mother is keen to have us marry. My mother wrote to me about a meeting between them recently."

"Great," Draco huffs, pacing with his hands on his hips.

"I understand that is not ideal for you," she says, a hint of sadness in her tone, "I only wish for you to accept it. I have no doubt your mother is the reason you asked me to the ball tonight. Back when we went for lunch that afternoon, I already knew you had fallen for that Ravenclaw girl. I could see it in your face. I didn't expect you to change your feelings from one simple luncheon, and I still don't."

Draco has no words. He's simply run out of things to say, because his voice, too, has no volume. No meaning. No worth. Solemnly he takes the spot beside her once more.

"Did you know then," Draco asks, his voice empty, "about my mother's wishes?"

"I had an inkling," she sighs, "why else would she arrange a lunch for us both. Like I said back then, I was surprised when you agreed... given the circumstance." Her voice trails off at the end, as if she had become caught in her thoughts, "I didn't mention anything to you because I was only picking at straws then... plus, I felt you deserved some more time... to be ignorant."

There was a stale silence.

"And what about your feelings?" Draco says, "sounds like you've been busy worrying about mine."

"That doesn't matter." Astoria says shortly.

"You deserve better than this, Astoria," he then says, in all serious, "you shouldn't have to settle. You deserve to marry a man who loves you."

"That was never an option for me," she said sternly, "you are not a stranger to how these marriages work, and yet you still fight. Why, Draco? We have no cards left to be dealt."

"I can't give you what you want."

"I'm not asking for anything," she turns her whole body to him, and their eyes lock. She really is beautiful... if only he could make himself love her, "all I wish is that you find it in your heart to accept this partnership, because our parents have decided. It's set in stone."

Draco narrows his eyes at the girl before him.

"Do you know something, Astoria?" he queries, and she visibly gulps, "because if you do, I would very much appreciate you sharing it."

She falters. She did know something. Draco suspects she's known a lot more than him this entire time. Astoria shuffles uncomfortably in her seat.

"My mother's letter didn't just speak about the desire for our marriage," she goes on to say, and Draco's eyes are glued to her, "our parents are arranging a dinner, a few days before the end of the school year. A sort of... engagement party."

"A what?" Draco yet again rises from his seat, his voice echoing down the corridor.

"Your mother should be writing you soon," Astoria explains, refusing to meet the fury in his eyes, "I can only assume they expect you to propose on that day."

"This is fucking ridiculous," Draco spits, pacing once more before her, "I can't seriously believe they're plotting behind our backs. Well, at least behind my back. What a fucking joke."

"It's final, Draco-"

"Fuck this," he yells, and throws his fists against the stone wall. Astoria rises quickly, but holds back, not wanting to get in between his rage, "this is such bullshit," Draco slumps against the wall, holding his fist in his other hand. Clearly, he had damaged it somehow. It was silent yet again, the air thick. He was defeated, it would seem. Astoria eyes him carefully, noticing how his shoulders slump. Draco was out of options.

"I've got nowhere left to run, have I?" he mutters helplessly, his voice almost cracking. Astoria moves across the space, and gently takes the hand that had collided with the wall in hers. She soothingly runs a thumb across the visible gashes on his knuckles. He allows her to have this moment of calmness.

"I'm sorry."

"Please, don't be," he says softly, and their eyes meet once more, but this time hers are lined with tears, "we're both in this mess, right? It's not just about me."

"There's a difference, though," she whispers sadly, "I'd be happy to marry you."

"Don't say that," Draco breathes, shaking his head lightly, "I feel terrible enough as it is."

"I mean it," she then lets go of his hand, "I don't expect you to feel the same, and I surely don't expect you to stop loving that girl, but if you can, please try and accept me. That's all I ask."

"Astoria-"

"There isn't much more to say," she turns away from him, as if to leave, "we will no doubt see one another soon. Please, take care of yourself, Draco."

He has no fight left in him. She floats down the corridor towards two girls that had emerged around the corner, no doubt in search of Astoria. Draco remains slumped against the wall, his knuckles throbbing.

"It was Astoria."

Hermione words has swirled in your head ever since she had spoken them. She went on to explain what Edward had told her.

"Astoria approached him, out of the blue," Hermione had said, "somehow she heard that he was thinking of asking you to the ball, so she told him about the dress. Even though it's strange, I don't believe it was done with bad intentions... I think she was trying to help you."

Help you? In what way, exactly. The thought kept you awake most of the night, that and the fact Edward was so kind to you once you had finally returned to him. You sat him down and explained that it wasn't him, he was a lovely boy, you just weren't in the right headspace, and then apologised profusely for leaving him on the dancefloor. He said he understood, and that he had an inkling you may have eyes for someone else. That only made you feel worse. After bidding him a goodnight, he kissed your knuckles and said, "If you ever change your mind, I promise to take good care of you."

And then he retreated to his dorm room.

You weren't sure if him shouting at you would have somehow felt better. The fact that he just accepted it made you feel like the world's most terrible person. For a moment, when Hermione said that Astoria was mixed up in all of this, you thought she might have orchestrated the whole thing, but Edward was genuine. He really did like you.

Which was a shame, really, because you were hopelessly in love with Draco Malfoy, who you were partly dreading seeing again because you knew he'd bring up the kiss, and you weren't entirely sure what to say. You wanted to tell him that it was magical, and that it's only made you love him more, but the reality of it was that it only made things more complicated. As the bright morning sun woke you from your troublesome slumber, you figure you may have slept a grand total of two hours, if that. Groggily, you push yourself up, to see everyone had already left to make the most of the sun.

You wash last night off your skin. Wash his kisses from your face. Really, you had no energy to see people today, but if Draco was looking to talk, you thought it was better to get it over with. Your head was so fuzzy, full of suppressed feelings and a million things you can't say. If he wanted to talk, it was time to get it all off your chest. After pulling on the first thing you came across, you headed down to the common room, where a voice called out to you.

"Y/N," calls Emilie as you pass her, a fellow Ravenclaw student and sixth year, "there's a Slytherin student waiting outside for you. Not sure what she wants. Been out there since breakfast."

She?

"Oh," you sound, still half asleep, your brain not registering who your visitor may be, "uh, thanks, Emilie. I'll go see to it."

Heading for the stairs, you descend the tower to be met with the big oak doors that lead to the rest of the castle. With a light push, they open, to reveal the last person you would imagine standing outside the common room, waiting for you. You almost rubbed at your eyes to make sure you weren't stuck in some twisted dream. Then she spoke, which only confirmed that this was indeed real.

"About time you showed. I think we need to talk."

Astoria stood there, looking like a million Galleons in her everyday clothes. She really must have been there since breakfast, because she looked rather impatient.

"Talk?" you raise an eyebrow, "if this is about Draco-"

"It's not," she cut you off, "well, partly it is. I just think we need to get some clarity."

You don't refuse her, instead you both walk to a more secluded area to speak in private, without gawking eyes wondering what you were doing together. She walked before you, her long, silky brown hair gently swaying as she went. There was a green ribbon keeping it in a neat ponytail, her clothes freshly pressed as if they were straight off the hanger. Astoria stopped before an unused classroom, checked both ways, and then ushered you inside. You followed. As soon as you shut the door behind you, an uncomfortable atmosphere fell over the damp-smelling room.

"I'm not entirely sure how much Draco has told you," she begins, walking to the other side of the room, not facing you. She stops at the window, looking out, "but there is something I think you should know.”

Intrigued and also worried, you walk halfway across the room, swipe your hand across the surface of a dusty desk and perch on it. Astoria was still facing the other way.

"Its you, isn't it?" you then say, and she doesn't respond, "you're the one he'll end up with."

"So, you know that much?"

"It's rather obvious," you say shortly, "his mother arranges lunches, you ask him out for drinks, he asks you to the dance, kind of self explanatory, wouldn't you say?"

Astoria keeps her eyes trained on the outside world. Her voice is bitter.

"I'm not here to argue with you," she says curtly, "we both want the same thing, don't we? We both want Draco to be happy."

Your stomach swirls at the mention of his name on her lips. It almost sounds foreign coming from her, like it doesn't belong on her tongue. You feel a little angry that she is implying her goal is Draco's happiness, because if she is anything like the other purebloods he's told you about, that isn't even on her agenda.

"You care about his happiness?" you almost scoff, "if that's true, then you wouldn't be so compliant about all of this. Or do you ignore his feelings too?"

Astoria spins on her heel, a look of thunder in her face.

"I do care about his feelings, that's why I'm here, talking to you," she takes a deep breath in, and then exhales, calming herself, "you understand what is expected of him, don't you? No matter what your relationship is, he will inevitably go with his parents wishes. That's just what purebloods do."

"Let me guess, I wouldn't know, because I'm half-blood, right?" you narrow your eyes at her, "do you want to know what I think? I think you purebloods care more about your reputation than those closest to you. Draco is in turmoil. He's being forced down a path he hasn't chosen, being pushed into a courtship he didn't ask for, and now you're, what, going to tell me to stay away from him?"

"Exactly," she says, "I'm not a cruel person, Y/N. I understand that this is affecting you just as much, and I'm sorry that you have to go through this, I really am," her voice is sharp, but the look in her eyes is genuine. You feel a stab of pain right through your chest, "but Draco's life is different to yours, there are things he must do, and his love for you is keeping him from doing them," her voice wobbles slightly at the latter part, "can't you see? Keeping this up is only making it harder for him... if you care for him like you say you do, then please... not for me, but for him... call it off. Please."

Call it off. You weren't even together. One kiss in the ladies toilet is all you had to claim.

"Draco and I aren't seeing each other," you then mutter, swallowing the lump in your throat. You couldn't help but notice how she perked up slightly at that, "so, there isn't anything to call off.  I'm not entirely sure why I'm telling you this, but we've been trying to keep our distance, for a long time. Draco knows the repercussions, believe me. He's not stupid. But I can't stop caring about him, that just isn't doable I'm afraid. I made a promise to always be there for him. I won't break it."

"You must," she paces forwards. Now she's closer, you can see the tears lining her eyes, "if his parents ever found out about this, he'd be punished, and who's to say you'd be in the clear? Purebloods are ruthless, Y/N. I'm only trying to help you... you can find someone else, you're smart, pretty," she starts to sound desperate, and you feel slightly sorry for her, "I know it isn't my place, but I care about him... I know the shunning he'll face.... please, Y/N. I'm begging you, because I know he won't. He'll keep fighting if you do."

Tears start to sting the corners of your eyes. You fight the urge to break down, because showing her your weak side was the last thing you wanted to do.

"Astoria," you breathe, "I know why you're doing this, I really do, but it's not that easy."

"Don't you think I know that?" she says bitterly, "I know what it feels like to be shunned for not following the protocol. I don't want that for him," she wipes her eye on the sleeve of her jumper, "besides, you already have other boys that like you."

She looks back out of the window, as if she didn't want to face you. Her words lit a fiery feeling in your chest.

"You mean Edward Chambers, by any chance?" you hop down from the desk and storm over to her, "I hear it was you who told him about the dress I liked. Care sharing how that came about?"

For a moment she doesn't respond, but then her voice, much smaller and weaker, spoke.

"Please don't think I was interfering," she almost whispers, "I overheard some Ravenclaw girls in the bathroom. One of them was crying about Edward turning them down, and then I heard one of them mutter your name and how he never stops looking at you. So, I just thought if you had attention off another boy, then you would-"

"Forget about Draco?" you finish her sentence, and when she turns to face you again, her tears are black with mascara, "because it didn't work, Astoria."

"I know," she sniffles, "it sounds terrible, but please believe me when I say that I was only trying to help you. Far too many people get hurt in these circumstances... I thought I had a chance to save you from it."

She looks a little tired, as if this has been playing on her mind. Her night was ruined last night too. She was left out on the dancefloor, just like Edward. She was right, too many people are getting hurt.

"I'm sorry last night was ruined, it as my fault," you say, leaning against a different desk, "he ran after me, after all. Not that I wanted him to... I'm not trying to make his life difficult."

"I understand," she whispers, "and I know he loves you, Y/N, I can see it in his eyes, but it's that same love that will be his downfall. I'm asking you as someone with the same interests in mind, that you be the one to put an end to this."

Your head is spinning. For some relief, you begin to massage your temples to try and think clearer. Astoria's words make your body feel both tingly and numb. Could he really be in love with you, as you are with him? Is this really all coming down to you?

"I need some time, Astoria," you finally say, "I can't hurt him. I won't. He means far too much to me, do you even know what you're asking of me here?"

"Of course I do," she said, her voice louder, "I'm not heartless, Y/N, I'm no stranger to the weight of what I'm saying here, but we don't have time for you to think. Draco has spent too much time ignoring the inevitable," Astoria huffs, clearly drained, "he'll be mad I've told you, but two months from now our families are holding a dinner, and they are expecting Draco to propose."

Your stomach drops to your feet. Two months. Near the end of the year. That's exam season. Are they serious? The fiery feeling in your chest erupts, and all the suppressed feelings you've been storing away begin to bubble; love, frustration, anger, sorrow. You stand up straight, ready to implode.

"Are they seriously putting that on him? During exams? Graduation?" you snap nastily, "where the fuck do you people get off?"

"This is our life, Y/N," Astoria shouts, "this is how we've been raised, Draco is no exception. In two months time we will be engaged, and before the end of the year, we'll be married. I cannot change that, you cannot change that, and the longer you are in the picture the harder this will be for him. I'm begging you, for the sake of his sanity, let him down gently."

"I love him," you blurt, the words falling out of your mouth like water. Astoria's eyes widen as if horror stricken, "I'm in love with him, and I cannot, will not hurt him, do you understand? The only people causing him grief is you and that pathetic excuse of a family," you breathe heavily, breathless from shouting, "if I'm to do this, I do it my way. Got it?"

Astoria's cheeks are stained with black mascara tears. She takes a moment, but nods stiffly at your terms. She seems too exhausted to fight with you.

"So, you agree to put a stop to your relationship?" she asks quietly, eyes on the floor. You try to swallow the ever forming lump in your throat, and then speak with the last bit of strength you have.

"Draco means everything to me," you mutter, defeated, cornered. Your little haven had been shattered, the delusional hope that something might change had been swallowed whole, and you were left in a dusty, damp room with the man you loves future wife. At this point your life feels like a tragic soap opera, "and I want him to be at peace, and if what you're telling me is the truth, then I guess we're out of options. Draco's too good to go against them, I've known that from the start," the two of you lock eyes once more, both filled with defeat, "I won't ever stop loving him. That's the one thing I will not do."

"I understand," she rushes out, "I know it's the same for him."

You nod, and then turn towards the door. Wiping the tears from your eyes, you want nothing more than to be out of that dingy room.

"I can't promise when I'll do it, but if it's the last thing I can do to help him, I guess I have no choice." You say, empty and lifeless.

"I appreciate it-"

"Don't," you cut her off, "I'm not doing it for you."

With that, you leave the Slytherin girl alone in the classroom, falling back against the door as you close it. You try to take some deep breaths, praying that you can make it back to your dorm without running into him.

As you walk alone, the castle feels different. It's as if the world is somehow much duller than before. The sun doesn't illuminate the giant tapestries, or shine on the marbled floor. The sound of students laughter makes you flinch. The world is a cruel mistress, and you had a front row seat. These corridors that you once ran through, on your way to see his handsome face waiting for you at the top of the highest tower, were now hollow, cold, and most of all, lonely.

If Astoria's words were true, then you really had no chance, did you? There was never a single ray of hope for the two of you. It was always going to end up this way, but it still feels too soon. You hadn't had enough time with him, you still craved for more. To think, you finally had the moment you'd been waiting for, aching for, and now it's being snatched from your hands like it was never yours to begin with. The one memory you'll have of expressing your feelings for him is overshadowed by Pansy Parkinson and the girls loo.

In that moment, you realised you've been living for borrowed time. Every second you spent with him was one second closer to him leaving. You may love Draco Malfoy, but Draco Malfoy was not his own person. He belonged to someone else.

It was a purebloods world, and you were simply living in it.

disclaimer: i do not own hp or any of the characters in this story

tags:

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[elliebyrrdwrites]

Chapter 13

in its entirety.

The estate was quite nice. Draco appreciated the abundance of trees and debris blocking a clear path from Flamel’s home to Zabini’s.

“So many windows.” Granger expressed with a bit of awe in her voice. Windows, for a home, were good. They let in natural light, prevented the place from feeling drab and dreary.

But for their purposes, there were just a bit too many, for Draco’s liking. He would make sure to charm them all to prevent anyone from seeing in.

“The kitchen!” Ginny gasped to Granger, and the girls immediately started to explore the cabinetry and refrigerators. It was fully stocked, of course, which Draco appreciated.

“There’s a gym in here!” Harry announced from down the hall during some point of the tour led by Zabini himself. “And a pool,” Seamus had exclaimed as he looked out the massive windows overlooking the terrace and outdoor pool.

Theo rolled his eyes, often, as Zabini continued to charm all his newest tenants with the vast beauty of his (second)home.

Draco had these sort of luxuries before in his life. A time that, now, seemed so long ago. Granted, he wasn’t hurting financially as a grown man free from the constraints of a pureblood high society.

He had quite a bit of money in the bank and he did well for himself(obviously). But it wasn’t anything compared to the wealth he might have gained if he had agreed to marry Astoria. If he had gone through with it.

Granger found him in the kitchen sometime later, pulling a pack of chocolate chip cookies from the pantry.

She smiled at him and it was that bright, open smile he had become accustomed to. He had to admit, as he leaned his hip up against he grand kitchen island and watched her open the fridge, that he had had a moment of doubt last night. When her eyes had, for a brief moment, showed him something more than the usual light and joy that she exuded around him.

He had been openly flirting with her. Both he and Theo had been and it was the first time she looked flustered around them. The first time she had looked withdrawn. Even if it was for only a second.

She pulled out a bowl of fresh blueberries and strawberries and set it on the kitchen island in front of him. Her brow lifted before she accioed the cookies and sent them back into the pantry.

“Here,” Her hand pushed the bowl closer to him.

Draco grimaced but obeyed. He picked up a fat little blueberry and popped it into his mouth.

Draco watched her as she ran a hand over the counter, appreciating the intricate veins of white marble beneath the surface of the rock. He appreciated the way her lashes fanned over her cheeks as she stared down. The slight curve to her nose. The beauty mark on the the side of the bridge, near the corner of her eye.

“My family disowned me,” He said it, without really understanding why. But something about this house and the way she seemed to admire the beauty of it propelled the truth from him.

Her eyes lifted to his and they were wide with surprise.

“Because of Astoria,” he added before biting into a strawberry.

“Even your mother?”

Talk of his mother wasn’t something he did openly. Or even at all. Not in at least fifteen years. Whenever anyone of his family came up, he usually clumped everyone together into the same category. His father, his grandfather, cousins...his mother.

Because, while she had not openly expressed that he should be cut off, his mother had not fought his father. Who was viciously angry with Draco, of course. His mother had been disappointed, cried even, when he had returned to the manor after running out on Astoria. But when his father swore to disown him, she had said nothing and Draco had accepted it as his fate.

“Even my mother.”

She frowned and glanced down at the bowl of fruit he continued plucking through. “Why did you wait until the day of the wedding?” Her voice was gentle but cautious.

Draco chewed on a strawberry as he considered the promise he made to himself the other day. The day he had learned something about her she hadn’t herself shared.

He swallowed and shrugged. “I was only twenty and I was terribly stunted, emotionally that is.” She almost smiled and so he did. “Still am.”

Granger shook her head, her lips pulling up. “Aren’t we all?”

Draco nodded and looked down at his fingers as they picked up a blueberry, rolled it around between them. “I was ordered to do things, sometimes by my own family, that I never wanted to do. And the day of the wedding, I realized that it was just another thing I was being ordered to do. I was going in, blind. I realized that the rest of my life was going to be a series of things I didn’t want to do. So, I began to panic. Hyperventilate, twist your stomach in knots until I puked kind of panic. You know it?”

She nodded furiously, her lip caught between her teeth. Her bright eyes on his.

“Theo found me like that. On my hands and knees, in front of the toilet. Instead of trying to talk me out of marrying her, or trying to convince me that everything would be fine, he asked me if I wanted to go with him to Monte Carlo.”

“And you did.”

He nodded. "Not initially. I walked up to that alter, and stood there, watching her walk toward me. Then I turned to Theo, who was still standing at my side and told him that I wanted to go to Monte Carlo." He frowned, sheepishly.

"I could have been more honest with Tori but,” he paused and looked around the kitchen. The crown moldings, the large windows and fancy appliances. “She was already planning on building a home like this.” He gestured to the kitchen around them. “She was planning what kind of charity events we would go to, where to donate our money. It was like listening to my mother talk. And Just like my mother, she was also trying to ensure that my family remained in good standing, socially. And my mother was doing it, so that my father could continue to do what? Be vile? I don't know. I might be a thief but don’t want to be vile. Not anymore.”

Granger shook her head.

“I was vile to you once upon a time.”

Her eyes softened as she tilted her head. Granger’s hand reached for his. “You’re not vile.”

He smiled at her as he continued to graze and they shared a moment of quiet as her hand remained clinging to his.

“Theo is my family.” He said, smiling gently at the confession. Because no matter what, through every shitty decision Draco made, and every life altering event, Theo had been there.

“I obliviated my family.” Was her response. “When I was seventeen.”

“Because of...?” He didn’t finished. He still didn’t speak the dark wizard's name. Not out of fear, nor respect. But out of shame for a past he was unable to escape, no matter how hard he tried.

She nodded. “They don’t remember me, or who they were. I tried to reverse it but,” She shrugged. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were downcast, in shame. “I don’t have any family.”

“You do, though.” He turned his hand, so that their palms were pressed together and his thumb began to soothe the backs of her knuckles. “You have Potter and Ginny.”

She shook her head. “I sometimes have Harry.” She paused and watched as she threaded their fingers together. “I have Theo.” She admitted it, quietly. Cautiously.

“And you have me.” Draco lifted their linked hands to his mouth and grazed the tips of her fingers to his lips. “You and I have been through the wringer, yeah? I was, at one point, unworthy of your affections.”

She put his hand to her cheek and leaned into it. “Not anymore.”

Granger’s bright, brown eyes settled onto his and he knew it was only a matter of time before whatever was between them would ignite. It was like a fuse, slowly initiating a charge between two explosive components.

There was something inside of him that was growing and gnawing at him. It was uncomfortable and exciting all at once. He wanted to wrap his arms around his chest and keep whatever it was, there. Because really it felt like it might burst out of him one day. And he wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it.

Theo erupted into the kitchen, sufficiently pulling their eyes away from one another. But Draco didn’t let go of her hand. And that micromomentary look from last night was back. Only, it wasn’t so micro. It remained, etched into the corners of her eyes and heavy in the deep set of her brows as they pulled down in thought.

Draco realized then, that it was concern! she felt.

“Does that man ever get tired of blowing his own trumpet?” He paused when he saw Granger. “Granger?”

She lowered her eyes to the floor but Theo moved fast, and his hand was on her chin, guiding her eyes back to him. “What’s the matter? What’s going on?” His voice was low and soothing. They flicked to Draco and back to Granger.

“Nothing.”

“Liar.” Theo teased gently as his hand smoothed over her hair, the curls that smelled like sweet tangerines but her hand remained firmly clasped in Draco’s.

“Potter already threw his fancy cloak on and is testing out the boundary line between Zabini’s wards and Flamels.”

Teddy sulked into the kitchen, appearing very much dejected as Theo continued to pet Granger’s hair from her face while Draco continued to play with the tips of her fingers. Brushing them over his lips over and over.

“What’s the matter, Teddy?” Granger asked, that concerned look erased from her face.

Theo slid his arm around her shoulders and scoffed. “He’s mad because we wont let him go with Harry to check the wards around Flamel’s home.”

Teddy slid into a stool at the island and sighed. “I didn’t mean to fuck up.”

“Teddy,” Granger chastised.

“But we got the cross in the end, right?” He reached for a strawberry. “I learned my lesson.”

Draco looked at the boy, considered the young mans eagerness to prove himself. “But, you don’t need to hide under a cloak, Teddy.”

He scoffed and stuffed the strawberry into his mouth.

“Though,” Draco tilted his head. “I do wonder...if I asked you to morph into, I don’t know,” He paused and grinned. “Theo, for example. Could you?”

Teddy looked at Draco with interest and nodded. “Yeah.” He jerked his head at Theo. “Even his distinct eyes.”

Granger snorted and turned her head, stifling her laughter into Theo’s chest. Theo grinned proudly down at the top of her head.

“Well, then cousin, it seems that I have just the job for you.”

Teddy visibly pepped up and

The Potters entered the kitchen with Seamus.

“Zabini left.” Seamus said as he slid into a stool at the massive kitchen island.

“Finally.” Theo rolled his eyes.

“As you well know,” Ginny began to rifle through the cabinetry, pulling out pots and pans. “I am a mother and Harry is a father.”

“You don’t say.” Draco grinned and nipped at the tips of Granger’s pinky.

“And children, you know, they grow hungry.”

“Where are your children?” He tilted his head to look at Harry.

Harry slid into the stool beside Teddy. “They’re with George and Angelina. But I’m due to pick them up.”

“And?” Theo looked bored as he prompted them to get to their point, his fingers now combing through Granger’s soft curls.

“I’m going to bring them here for dinner.”

“Your children?” Theo shook his head. “This isn’t a place for children!”

“Oh, come now, Theo.” Draco was now looking over Ginny’s shoulder as she began to assemble produce onto middle of the island. “This place is perfect for them. There’s a swimming pool, lots of beds and I think there’s a swing set somewhere on the premise.”

“Are you suggesting we have a sleepover with the Potter children?”

Draco shrugged and reached for a juicy looking cherry tomato. “What do you think, Granger?” Draco asked her.

She nodded before she turned her gaze up to Theo who groaned, clearly outranked.

Draco chuckled and reached for another tomato as Ginny set down a stalk of celery.

Her hand smacked his greedy fingers away. “Go wash your hands if you want to help.”

“Help?” Draco watched her tie an apron around her waist.

“Yes, quick. I need you to start tenderizing the brisket.”

He frowned and stepped back, slightly appalled, dropping Granger’s hand. “I’m sorry, what?”

Ginny shooed him over to the sink prompting him to wash his hands.

But it was Granger’s laugh that launched him into action.

Dinner with the Potter children was a lively and educational event. For example, Draco learned that children tended to ask a lot of questions but didn’t ever actually wait for an answer. When Theo or Draco would attempt to answer the youngest's questions about their time as Slytherins, their words were lost to the musings of his own time in the Dungeon common room.

Often, conversation was lost to the chatter of the three children or the little bickering that would occur between the two boys. Teddy and their eldest, James, often fell into deep conversation about other children at school, mainly other witches.

But the Potters didn’t stay over at the massive house. Instead, Ginny forced the children to clean up the dishes before saying goodbye to each adult in the room. Draco never considered children before, but when he watched the way Granger beamed at the little ones, combined with their rather amusing antics, he started to understand the appeal. 

“It’s going to take at least two days to break those wards.” Granger said after dinner from her spot on the corner of a desk in one of the three studies in the manor.

Harry had told her that Flamel’s wards went at least 400 km out from his property line in every direction. Except for where his and Zabini’s property line met.

The group had tried the other two and found both of them lacking in comfort.

Theo was pacing the bookshelves on the east side of the room with a frown. “There’s no personality to these books,” to which Seamus snorted. Theo flipped a hand toward the shelf. “It’s all generic crap. Leather bound academic journals and I honestly think some of these are props.” He pulled a random book out and made a show of opening one. It didn’t open. He tossed it over his shoulder, and into the fireplace. “Prop.” He said in confirmation.

“This desk is too high.” Granger’s feet were dangling rather high from the floor.

Draco grinned because in his study, her feet didn’t reach the floor either, but she could easily slide onto it when she wanted.

He would most definitely not go down on her in this study. But he would most likely kiss there. Here, in this study, or in the kitchen, or the gym. In the halls in between each rooms.

Adjusting himself in the chair behind the desk, Draco frowned. “This chair doesn’t recline enough.”

There was, however, plenty of candy in the house. Draco had found a dish of squishy, fruity bear-shaped gummies that he found to be more enjoyable than the Flavored Beans he normally kept in his home.

Teddy was sprawled out on a chair, his feet propped on an ottoman. “Leather seats” he shuddered and shifted.

Draco lifted a brow at him.

“Too sticky.” He supplied with a grimace.

“I can probably weave a hole into the section of ward that butt up against Zabini’s.” Granger continued to muse.

She had that book in her lap. The one she was writing in back in his study. It was closed but she kept playing with the edges of the pages, as if eager to open it up.

“Theo and I can help while Seamus gets his station set up.” Draco nodded to where Seamus was currently tapping away at the keyboard.

“What about me?” Teddy asked as he fidgeted in his chair. The leather creaked and moaned beneath him.

“You’re going to disguise yourself as one of Flamel’s guards. As one of his guards, you’re going to find your way into his home and learn the ins and outs of the staff.”

Granger looked at him in alarm. “That’s risky.”

Teddy sniffed. “I can handle it.”

“Like you handled the museum alarm?” Theo frowned at him as he moved toward the desk.

“Teddy can handle it. Can’t you, cousin?”

Teddy grinned at his cousin with confidence. He jumped from his leather chair and nodded. “Don’t look so worried, aunt Hermione. This is my specialty.”

Draco realized, as Teddy swept from the room that he did have family but it wasn’t a family he grew up around. He had grown up around Theo and even Granger. His aunt Andromeda was not someone he knew. He wasn’t allowed to know her as a child but now, thanks to Potter and Granger, he was beginning to know someone who shared his blood. Someone who didn’t care what kind it was that ran through their veins.

Theo slid onto the other edge of the desk and eyed the book in Granger’s lap. “What is that you got there?”

Her fingers tightened around it and pulled it closer. “It’s my journal.” She sniffed, her chin jutting out.

“Liar.” Theo snorted.

It was true, he had seen her scribbling in the pages but when he had peaked over at the book, there was nothing but blank pages in front of her.

“You’ve charmed that book.” Draco noted as he picked out a little red bear.

“What do you write into that little book that has caused you to charm it?” Theo leaned closer as if eager to snatch it from her grasp. “Dear diary, today I got to hold Draco’s hand. I wondered what it might feel like on my bum.” Theo pitched his voice to try and match Granger’s range. “Dear diary, I found myself thinking of Theo’s distinct eyes while touching my—”

“Theo!”

Draco laughed openly at the blush that spread quickly from her cheeks to her neck. Seamus shook his head as his fingers stalled over the keys of his laptop.

“You’re a pig.” She sighed and opened the pages of her book. But Draco could see the deepening of the blush as she avoided their eyes'

Reaching over the desk, she grabbed a quill and began to scribble onto the page.

Hello, Harry. The words she wrote faded and began to reform text.

Hey ‘Mione. Did you see the note I sent earlier?

Draco hummed in appreciation. She had somehow charmed this book and allegedly one in Potter’s possession to pass notes without them ever being discovered.

“That’s quite useful.”

Granger nodded. “I thought so. I got the idea from Tom Riddle’s diary. Harry and I use it to pass information about the sex trade. He’s recently been tipped off from his contacts in South America that there has been an increase in activity over the last week with Flamel’s people.”

Theo scoffed. “And everything you write just vanishes?”

She nodded, clearly quite proud of herself.

“How come you and I don't have one?” He pushed his lip out in a pout.

“Why would I need one of these with you? We’re together every day.”

“Not at night.” Theo murmured with a sniff, causing Draco to chuckle.

“So, Flamel’s already moving to replenish his...inventory.” He noted gesturing down at the book where Harry’s handwriting had already vanished.

Granger grimaced. “Looks like it.”

“And you want Zabini to befriend him...” Draco started.

“So that he can be invited to one of these parties.” Theo finished.

She nodded. “I think that it may come in useful to have someone we know welcomed into the fold.”

Draco plucked up an orange bear and nodded as he leaned back in the chair. “Clever girl.”

Granger grinned and closed the book.

“I still want one of these.” He tapped on the cover of the book. “I’d never grow tired of it.”

“You’d end up abusing it.” Granger snorted.

“Writing to her at all hours of the night.” Draco agreed.

“Telling me how much you miss me.”

“Oh, you’d love it.” Theo swatted at the air between them. “Get Draco one, too. We could three way.”

Granger giggled, shaking her head.

Seamus sighed loudly and stood from the couch, holding his laptop. “Why don’t the three of you just do it already? Get it over with, so I can bloody concentrate!”

All three watched him stalk from the room, disappearing down the hall that led to one of the other studies, leaving Granger to erupt into a snort that quickly devolved into a hearty laugh.

Theo met Draco’s eyes and grinned.

[dhr-ao3]

Sex Drugs & Cinnamon Rolls

Sex, Drugs & Cinnamon Rolls https://ift.tt/y2A8iF6 by Anya_Maria This story takes place 5 years after the final battle of Hogwarts. It contains explicit content that may be inappropriate to underage readers. Summary: In the underground scene of magical London, Draco Malfoy has successfully established a fine reputation for himself over the last few years. Amidst routine business dealings with fellow underworld elites, a surprising addition to their inner circle disrupts his otherwise calm countenance: Hermione Granger joins their ranks of criminal enterprises. As their paths intertwine, Draco finds himself drawn into a gripping but dangerous game under the shadows, where lines blur and nothing is as it seems. FYI: English is not my first language. The characters do not belong to me. They were created by J.K. Rowling in her novel series Harry Potter. My story is merely a fanfiction, which I don't profit off financially. Words: 3140, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Categories: F/M Characters: Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, Astoria Greengrass, Walden Macnair, Original Characters Relationships: Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy Additional Tags: Drug Dealing, Secrets, Inappropriate Behavior, Rings, Explicit Language, Explicit Sexual Content via AO3 works tagged 'Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy' https://ift.tt/zmM2QRU April 22, 2024 at 12:47PM

[fateunwritten-if]

So this story has been in the making for almost 2 years which is quite a long time. Sooooooo I wanted to show you guys the original draft I had for the story in the first week of brainstorming.

Prologue 

    Silence. That's all she heard. The lovely sound of birds gone and left behind. She hesitated, not sure if she wanted to go further. But she knew that it was fate she couldn't run away at least not yet. The darkness of the forest swallowed her slowly as she walked in deeper. Her footsteps echoed through the night. The deeper she went the more she felt she was being watched. She brought out her flashlight hoping to shake off the feeling. But it was only a temporary fix. It wouldn't last for long but she didn't know that. She still continued on her merry way as if her problems had been solved.

    After that night I never saw that clueless girl again as that girl was me. In that forest I felt a piece of me slowly vanish as if it never existed. My innocent nature was gone and replaced with hostility reminding me of how my father used to be. His unfriendly character was necessary with his job but even when he came home it still was very evident that he was tired and irritated. I never wanted to be like him but it seems I couldn't escape fate this time. 

Chapter 1

    “Astoria! It's time to go.” My mother called out to me. I quickly grabbed my bag making my way down the stairs. “What took you so long?” She asked curiously while she grabbed a small satchel. I was the first out of the house. My brother stood there waiting for me. I would be joining my brother as he had become a part of the royal guard which meant moving into the castle.

    The ride there was quite calm. Me and my brother had small conversations to pass the time. When we arrived in Nyland I looked out of the window in awe. It was beautiful like it was gifted by Aphrodite herself. The sun shined bright, almost blinding. We slowly approached the palace. The palace grounds were vast and the architecture was so intricate. 

    The carriage came to a stop. Me and my brother exited the carriage, we were met with the queen and her son. Prince Ivan looked at me intrigued. I swear I saw him smirk. But I simply dismissed it. I greeted the queen almost perfectly since my mother made me rehearse how to act as if I was a princess. “Welcome, I hope your trip went well” The queen’s face held a soft smile. “Yes, Your Majesty the ride was quiet and calm thank you” My brother had always been slightly awkward with his words but he seemed to put that aside. He looked pleased with himself. “I’m glad”. There was a small pause as I greeted the prince. He was 13, one year older than me but held himself high as if he was more mature than he really was.     The queen led us inside, passing us over to a servant of the house to escort us to our rooms. As I entered my room I started to realize that my life is going to change. From the way, I would be treated to the style of living. I looked out the window seeing almost all of the palace grounds. The door slowly opened revealing my brother. “How are you feeling?” He always worried about me since I was the youngest of the family. “I’m fine Aiden don’t worry.” 

Chapter 2

    I woke up in the morning to a few maids entering my room informing me that I had much to do today. They helped dress me into my gown. Tomorrow was my eighteenth Birthday which was very important in Nyland. It was the point where you were able to choose your path. One of which was becoming the Queen's possible successor. My brother was anxious he knew how much the Queen had grown to care for and trust me. 

    I walked down the hallway only to be stopped by Ivan. “Hello there Astoria” when I first arrived here we weren't the closest but as we got older we got closer. “Oh hello Ivan” I stopped to talk to him only to be rushed by a maid. “Well I suppose we’ll have to talk later then…Bye Ivan”. 

    I quickly made my way towards the carriage in front of the palace entrance. My first stop was Mrs. Pemrose since I had to make sure that the dress didn’t need any adjustments. As she started her usual routine she tried to make some small talk.

[dangerouslyclosetothesurface]

Thursday

I'm back! Gotta update the bike blog because I hate when other blogs suddenly drop off and die. Haven't been biking much lately so nothing to report, but trying to get back on the bike now.

Things I did that I haven't posted:

August 2023 biked around Portland, ME and mid-coast Maine

March 2024 biked to Hakone in Saratoga

Adopted the Mamachari, which was found abandoned in front of the apt building. Fixed the rear flat and now it's my work bike. It has no controls for its electric assist, but it has a rear rack and a front basket, so I just use it as a very heavy (unstealable) single-speed bike when I need to transport plants and such things. It is not easy to ride any grade over 3%. On every other terrain it is fine.

Today we are back in Queens doing a casual ride. Strava here. It was very hot today.

First we went on 20th Ave towards our bagel spot, but Nate went too far and passed it and by then we were at ConEd and we were like let's keep going I don't care about bagels right now. Then my chain fell off right as we got into Astoria Park (at 20th). We biked through AP and then of course we had to ride to Socrates Sculpture Park (it was closed at that time), then doubled back to get on the Triboro Bridge entrance (rode behind a stinky schoolbus for part of that), finally got on the bridge, then crossed to Manhattan via Ward's Island Bridge, which was VERY gross and trashy :(. I would once again like to reiterate how I have previously failed to bike this bridge due to steepness, and this is very much a thing of the past. HA HA!!!!!

After that we went downtown via 2nd Ave and I hated it because too many mopeds, ebikes, potholes, they were repaving from E49th to like E42nd ugh, and too many peds not paying attention who had to be yelled at LOL. We went all the way to Katz's because Nate wanted a pastrami (at 8am). Then I got angry about being in that neighborhood (too hectic!) so we biked across Houston and went on the WSH to eat the sandwich.

Sitting and eating pickles and pastrami looking at New Jersey

Little Island aka Diva Cup Park

Then we kept biking up WSH and went past 125th! Which I've rarely done (the few times documented on this blog for sure)! And I stopped to learn about the Little Red Lighthouse. Nate missed it because he was busy climbing the steep part that comes right after that. We both had to dismount at the next steep part immediately following that.

Then we kept biking and saw that pillar thing that I used to have a photo of on this blog until TinyPic shut down:

Then we kept going until the path led us to this place, and we biked along it until it dead-ended. We also tried to go the other way but it was another dead end. We saw a groundhog! It was moseying along next to the path. I tried to take a photo but it ran away.

What seems to be the end of the WSH bike path?

We got off the WSH bike path, went on Dyckman, then Harlem River Drive (where we saw volcano-mulched trees!!!!), then stopped at Holcombe Rucker Park, and wiggled our way over to the Bronx. My chain fell off for the second time while going towards the Madison Ave Bridge.

After that, finally got back onto Randall's Island where I tried to blast up the ramp up to the bridge. Just checked my Strava and I am literally 1 second slower than my PR and I HATE it!!! wtf!!!! So close to beating it. I knew I could've kept accelerating, too. Dammit.

Then stopped at Lidl for snacks before going home. I had a Zoom interview. (It didn't go that well but who cares.)

After that, we went back outside (Strava here) to go to Kickstand Bicycles and buy pedals/get my chain and potentially chainring replaced. Riding down 2nd Ave for the second time today, yuck! Still too many mopeds. My chain fell off 11 blocks away from destination. Ben and Andrea remembered us and also said the chain would be fine if I just tensioned it by pulling the wheel back. I still bought a bunch of shit from them in case I need it in the future and because I like to patronize their shop. So now I have a spare chainring and chain. I'll bring the cog and tools I have in SF next time I'm here and make the upgrade. Oh and I also bought a front brake :( Yes I am here to admit defeat because it's supposed to rain this weekend and I am not trying to die if my skids or footbrake fails in unfamiliar territory.

Then rode back home; stopped at Athens Park, another must-visit fave.

Who knew this was an actual gift from Greece to Mayor Giuliani (I guess anyone who bothered to read the plaque. It's a good gift.)

Also couldn't resist attempting 75th St Pop but I was 2 seconds slower than my PR! Ugh I will try again.

Anyway we logged a bunch of miles today and I am not that tired but it was very hot today (which only sucks if you stop moving) and I am very sticky from being sweaty and accumulating dust.

[softersinned-arc]

@xfindingtrouble said: ❝   i’ve made mistakes. but they were mine.   ❞ from percy, maybe one of the nights they stay up together? maybe they're trading vague sentiments about their lives, dancing around the entire truth but sharing little bits of themselves.

But this time is different. He doesn't need to say it for her to hear it; she could swear for a moment that his eyes flicker towards the twins' sleeping bodies, and her own eyes settle on the rise and fall of their new Champion's chest, each breath deep and slow and rhythmic despite the circumstances surrounding them. Astoria scrapes her teeth over her lower lip, bites down just hard enough to pierce the skin, comforts herself for a moment with the taste of her own blood.

"It's the nature of living, I'm afraid. We never stop making mistakes, no matter how much we learn." Old enough to know better, too young to be taken seriously, at least as far as vampires go, but Astoria knows enough to know that much. "They won't all have such dire consequences, but—there will always be mistakes. And some will be much harder to claim." A few meters away from them, Vax'ildan frowns in his sleep, shudders, rolls onto his side.

If she were Percy, she would want to know. She has learned by now that she and Percy are often alike enough that it's a safe bet to assume he wants to know, too. She worries her lip between her teeth until she tastes another droplet of blood, and she leans forward, as if to further take Percy into her confidence.

They look so tired. The urge to reach around the fire to smooth her thumbs under their eyes and stroke their hair back is near overwhelming. She pretends not to notice it.

"I am, perhaps, not the most objective source of information." Her lips twist into a crooked, angry smile, and she shows too many teeth. "But I did love her, once. I loved her dearly, as I imagine most children love their mothers. And if I had lived as I expected to, and only died once, I think I would have loved her eternally." Her expression, more grimace than gladness, softens into something gentler, something sorrowful. In a rare show of trust, she makes no effort to hide it.

She doesn't speak of this. To speak of it is unquestionably painful; she remembers all of her foolish, youthful hopes, and the agony of having those hopes stripped away. Unconsciously, she clasps her right hand around her left wrist, thumb stroking where the scar from her devotion should still be, underneath the ink on her skin.

"Service to her isn't easy—you bleed for it. Often quite literally. But when you choose her, you would gladly give your life for her. And when she loves you, there's nothing like it. It's simply that her love can—did, for me—transform into indifference. I sometimes think it would have been easier had she taken a more active role in rejecting me. If she were angry, or hateful, or cruel. I could have had something to be angrier about, perhaps, or something to crush all hope, but I was an abomination in her eyes and so she simply ceased to care. She took the proof of my devotion and she wiped my name from her books, as though I'd never mattered to her at all.

"But I don't think that's what she intends for your friend. To choose someone to wear her champion's armor is profound, but to do so when it would mean violating her own most sacred laws? We believed that death was inevitable. Death is the natural end of life. Grieve the fallen, but do not pity them. Exult in the time they were granted." She numbers each of the commandments she recites with a raised finger of left hand. The words come as easily to her as any prayer could. She wishes she could scrub them from her mind. "The path of Fate is sacrosanct. Those who pridefully cast off destiny must be punished." She raises her third finger, and her expression shifts again; though she tries to keep her tone even and her face calm, there is a murderous fury in her eyes, a barely-audible quiver to her voice, as she speaks the final commandment. "Undeath is an atrocity. Death is too good a punishment for those who pervert the rightful transition of the soul. And yet she allowed Vex'ahlia to be resurrected in her temple, granted her favor to a man who would gladly have rejected fate and death and everything attached to it for the sake of his sister—"

She catches herself before she can speak more, and she raises her right hand from her wrist to press two fingers over her lips. She has shown Percy much of herself, but not yet this anger. "She has already broken all of her rules for him. My guess is that she favors him, though I don't know why. And while it bodes well for your friend remaining in her favor, I don't know what this means for his service. I don't know what she'll ask of him, but I know it will someday amount to everything." Astoria shivers, suddenly cold, and the urge to touch Percy now is almost painful: she wants the comfort, the ease, of their presence.

Instead she shrugs a shoulder, and she fists her hands in her skirt, her movements quick and almost mechanical. She rarely feels so far from life than she does right now. "It is terribly human of her," Astoria says finally, quietly. "To be so inconsistent. To have such a capacity for indifference. To be so cold. I will always love her, more than I could have dreamed myself capable of loving, and I will never forgive her for that exact reason. For what it's worth, dear heart—" And here she softens considerably, and she does stand, now, moves around the fire to sit closer to him, facing him. "—if she wanted him, your mistake was only the opportunity she waited for to claim him. It would have happened regardless. Vex'ahlia is alive. Vax'ildan is protected in ways we cannot begin to imagine. And you're alive, too, and you are left with your guilt."

Her hand is ghostly pale in the dark and she reaches forward, presses her palm over Percy's chest. He is so fragile, so warm, so alive. So human. It strikes her only then, when she feels the thrum of his heartbeat against her hand, in perfect rhythm with the song of his blood, that she has told him more, now, than she has ever told another soul.

"Someday you'll have to forgive yourself for it." She lifts her hand now to gently knock two knuckles under his chin, though she finds herself stroking the backs of those fingers along his jaw instead. "But—if, to achieve that, you need to know more, I'll answer whatever questions I can. And," she adds, eyes flickering back towards Vax's sleeping form, "if he has questions—you may extend my offer to him." Her hand falls, and she clears her throat, flushing a gentle pink. She can only hope the light of the fire isn't so bright as to reveal it. "Much as I enjoy the company—do you need to sleep?"

[s1ater]

my boyfriend doesn’t love me. slytherin boys x reader

summary : in which draco can no longer keep the secret of cheating on you, revealing it to his slytherin friends causing a whirlwind of anger

warning/s : swearing, credits to a tiktok i saw, lorenzo is nicknamed len, cat fight

slater’s note : i always forget to finish this

the slytherin common room was warm and dimly lit with the small chatter between blaise and enzo filling the calm air. a nice, quiet background noise to ease you deeper into your studying, despite you longing to join their light laughs and conversations.

you tucked a strand behind your ear as your eyes continued to scan the small and long paragraphed words beginning to dance across the page with how tired your eyes began to get- and how they began to sting.

you blinked a couple times before wrenching your wrist under your eyesight, scanning the minute and hour hand. it made you blink back in surprisal, a feeling of grief filling your chest like a glass of water with the realization of it being three in the morning.. meaning you wouldn’t be getting much sleep.

“i’m going to bed,” you mumbled hesitatingly, stretching your back out as you stood from the floor and before your six friends, all preoccupied in their own activities and thoughts.

“already?”

“it’s five past three, len,” you gave the brunette boy who seised his conversation with blaise a sheepish look, before shifting over to draco who sat in a desperate chair, pressing your lips against his pale cheek, “goodnight love.”

he hummed, seeming to grip the arms of the chair tighter when you had gotten closer, almost dreading and tensing at your touch and presence full of love for him. mattheo quirked a brow, picking up on body language unlike the rest of your friends, causing a feelings of confusion and amusing concern to enter his chest.

“i’ll see you all in the morning,” you nodded off, heading to the path of your room while the rest of them all hummed their goodbyes and good nights quietly.

draco watched you up until you reached the staircase, his eyes then traveling to back to where they were before; the faded out patterned carpet. mattheo’s eyes stayed on him, watching and analyzing, trying to guess what he was thinking about.

usually draco would have followed right behind you after a couple of minutes, biding his own good nights, but ten minutes had past and he had stayed in the exact same position.

“i need to say something,” draco mumbled, adjusting himself up in the black leather chair to a straight posture. his abrupt movement had caused a chain reaction of sudden adjustments and looks of curiosity.

it’s silent then again, his eyes still on the carpet before pansy called for him to speak out.

“i fucked astoria over the summer,” he mumbled, his ringed fingers pressed against his forehead as he thought in shame and spoke unemotionally. “multiple times.”

it’s silent and definitely none were expecting those words, especially enzo who’s eyebrows raised and then once more lowered, allowing anger to overcome him, “i’m going to kill you.”

most eyes staggered to lorenzo, his words so sudden and almost seemingly in an unfit tone that made pansy cringe and clench her jaw with how stern and hard they were.

it’s silent again until:

“what’d you say to me?”

draco hadn’t seemed to process it until then, his head turning slightly and finally looking away from the carpet, now to lorenzo who already stared back.

“i’m going to fucking kill you, asshole,” he looked as if he was about to fly from the leather black couch. his knuckles tightened and jaw clenched up to the point his jaw was shaping his skin sharply.

no one had ever seen enzo so angry. sure, he was easily upset, especially when drunk, but never had either of the five of them seen him so angry.

“you cheated on her?” theo breathed out, putting out his cigarette on the ash tray sitting on the stool beside the couch. he suppressed his own anger. still very unsure of it and whether or not if he should have been so concerned. “you’re telling me.. you cheated on the very lovely girl waiting for you upstairs that is willing to give you everything with the drop of a hand.”

he was trying to reason it to himself. trying to understand it the best he could and if he was hearing draco right. theo’s statement had made the rest of them think through the whole thing more deeply, now fully processing.

“you’re an asshole,” mattheo laughed inappropriately, shaking his head with a cigarette in his mouth. he had never wanted to choke the fuck out of a person so much more than then.

“how could you do this, how could you fucking do this,” enzo had always adored you. it was a different kind of love that he only found he could sum up for a sister. he felt obligated to protect you, kiss your boo-boos, and he was sure all the other boys felt that same way until this moment, seemingly proving otherwise with him the only one showing his concern and anger.

“it just happened. it didn’t mean anything.”

“oh?” theo nodded his head, as if understanding. but really, he didn’t.

he himself, like enzo, loved you. he just didn’t know how to show it with the missing piece in his brain, never had learned to show affection for a lover or a friend. he would rather observe, and watch, and share small, educated advice made specifically for you, and only you. he had never known a female friend so well, or rather any female at all. not even pansy, he had never found any relation to her snobbish attitude even though he was rather similar to her in that way.

“it was truly an accident,” draco felt pressured to explain himself due to the silence and harsh stares filling his vision. “i love y/n. i love her. i would never try to hurt her.”

“well you did. you’re going to,” mattheo hummed, shaking his head. he had never expected draco to cheat on you. the same draco who had practically made every one of them swear to never make a move on you, the same draco who filled your room with flowers from floor to ceiling after the first date, the same draco who had gave you a promise ring after your one year anniversary. “and you’re a goddamn fool for doing so.”

“listen,” draco extended his arm in the direction of mattheo who sat far right across from him. his tone became hard and his eyes crinkled as mattheo’s short, but insolent words hit his heart. “i don’t need to be lectured by the unfaithful himself, alright? i don’t need to be lectured by any of you, i just had to say it.” 

“i’m not in a relationship, mate,” mattheo grinned like a sick dog while taking a hit of his cigarette. “can’t be unfaithful if i don’t have a girlfriend. you.. on the other hand.”

“fuck you.” 

“you are fucked, pal,” blaise shook his head, “you’re gonna tell her, right?”

“fuck, why would i?” 

a look of astonishment crossed all of their faces as they stared at draco, not understanding his word at all. 

“how could you not?” pansy stared at him wide eyed, “you drop that bomb on us and then expect everything to continue on like normal? fuck that draco, i’ll tell her myself.” 

“fuck you won’t,” he gets to his feet fast just as she does, “sit down, parkinson.” 

“suck my dick, malfoy,” she shoves him out of the way just as he grabs onto her arms, practically throwing her into the chair mattheo sat in; who caught her the best he could without inflicting pain on either one of them. “fuck is your problem?” 

she gets to her feet fast again, now prepared to sock him the face, “grow up, draco. learn to deal with the consequences of your actions.” she takes two steps and he once again is on her, gripping her arm so tight to the point she makes a sounds of anguish. 

“alight, enough,” mattheo pushes him back once to his own feet. “step down, draco. we both know you won’t do anything.”

“oh really?” “really,” he nods, his eyes going hard before looking behind draco to your figure that stood on the staircase, “especially if you want to help your case in front of her.” 

navigation!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- idk if i should keep tagging people for the general slytherin boys

[the-sinking-ship]

Happy birthday, Lynn!!

New fic announcement!

I’ve got another one on deck, friends! And I'm dedicating this one to one of my favourite people on planet earth in honour of her day of birth (which is TODAY).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, @fictional!!!

Alas, I’ve never been on time once in my life, so it’s not ready. It’s so close, but I’m a perfectionist, and Lynn is endlessly patient, so here’s hoping it isn’t as late as last year’s gift (no promises). Instead, allow me to offer a snippet — a teaser of what’s to come, featuring Lynn's 5 Favourite Tropes: pining, jealousy, fake dating, only one bed, and praise kink.

For now, enjoy a little (unedited) snippet from the first chapter, wherein Draco and Harry both find themselves woefully dateless at a destination wedding in Italy. The scene picks up as they hide from the masses, and commiserate over their rotten luck.

Coming soon (in like... 2 weeks): Nights With You

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

“Do you love him? McLaggen, I mean,” Draco asked, because even though they'd split, it was all he wanted to know.

Harry’s head snapped up, and he looked at Draco with wide eyes.

“I —” Harry’s mouth worked, but no words came out, until, “I thought I did.”

“And now?”

“Now, I don’t know what to think.”

Draco took a breath and then nodded. “Maybe give the thinking a break. Clearly not your strong suit. And anyway, weddings make everyone feel strange; all twisted up and confused, worried you’ve picked the wrong path, made a left turn with you ought to have gone right, and bungled the whole thing up. Something about seeing everyone paired off and making plans. But once it’s over and you go back to your normal routine, you’ll probably realise that life with an insufferable prat in possession of no redeeming qualities and who is fucking the yoga instructor isn’t worth your time.”

Harry frowned, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Cormack didn’t do yoga.”

Draco sighed. “That’s what they want you to think.”

“Is that… is that what happened to you?” Harry asked with a grimace. “Erik left you for the yoga instructor?”

Draco took another swig from the whisky bottle, coughing lightly. “What, Pansy didn’t tell you yet? Thought she’d told everyone by this point.”

“I learnt to ignore Parkinson years ago.”

Draco snorted, then dared a glance at Harry. “Pretty embarrassing, don’t you think?”

Harry shrugged. “Reflects worse on him than it does you.”

“How do you reckon? Because I’m feeling like a right arse.”

“Should be used to it by now,” Harry said with a smirk, and Draco pinched his arm hard enough to make him yelp. “Ouch! I just mean, it shows he’s not in it for the right reasons if he’s ready to jump from one pretty face to the next.”

Draco lowered the bottle and leaned in, close enough to feel Harry’s surprised exhale. “You think I’m pretty?”

Harry licked his lips, but his smirk widened. “Sure. As if you didn’t know, the way you peacock around.”

Draco worried he might be putting off light, because on the inside, he was absolutely glowing. “I’m telling McLaggen you said that.”

“God, he’d hate that.” Harry huffed a laugh.

“Is that so?”

“Oh yeah. He always kept an eye on you.” Harry tugged the bottle from Draco’s hand, and Draco was forced to withdraw slightly as he took a drink.

“I’m flattered he considered me a threat.”

“Malfoy, everyone considers you a threat.”

Draco’s left brow twitched up.

Harry rolled his eyes. “You flirt with everyone.”

Draco gasped, indignant. “I do not! I’m very choosy.”

“Hermione’s date was not pleased to meet you. And didn’t you see the way Nott scowled when you kissed his girlfriend?”

“Granger? Really?” Draco flapped a dismissive hand. “At least Theo has reason. Astoria and I were betrothed, after all. She’s a lovely girl, but it would never work between us, and Theo knows it. She lacks the necessary… equipment.”

Harry blinked at him.

“A cock,” Draco clarified, twitching his hips up, which drew a burst of surprised laughter from Harry.

“Yeah, I get it. You’re not interested in women.”

“Are you?” Draco asked without thinking.

“Interested in women?” Harry shrugged. “It’s more about the person than the… equipment.”

“Liar.”

Harry’s mouth fell open. “What do you mean? I’m not lying. Why would I be lying?”

“Because McLaggen has all the substance and intrigue of a shapely rock. There is no way you were with him for anything more than his cock. Was he that good in bed?”

Harry choked out another laugh. “I’m not talking to you about that.”

Draco gave an exaggerated wince. “So he wasn’t good? Bloody hell, Potter, sounds like you’re better with nought but your hand. I’m sure it talks back less.”

“The mouthy ones aren’t so bad if you know how to shut them up.” Harry smirked as he lifted the bottle to take another drink, but Draco stilled Harry’s hand with his own and leaned back in. The smirk melted away.

“And how do you do that? I’m dying to know,” Draco purred.

Harry’s eyes darkened and dropped to Draco’s mouth. Draco’s breath stuttered in his lungs because Harry was actually considering it, considering him. And he never thought — he never imagined —

“Harry?” A voice echoed from around the side of the building, and Draco clenched his jaw to keep from hissing. He pulled away just as Weasley rounded the corner. To Draco’s surprise, he had Pansy in tow.

“Oi, Harry, there you are. Daphne is demanding photos of the wedding party,” he said, then scanned Draco with narrowed eyes. “What are you lot doing back here?”

Harry held up the bottle, now a quarter empty. “Drinking.”

“And hiding from the unnecessary pity party, now that it seems everyone at the wedding knows of our unfortunate predicaments.” Draco’s attention swung to Pansy. “Might you know anything about that, darling?”

“People ask questions, Draco. Do you expect me to lie?”

Draco sighed nosily, then watched with displeasure as Weasley snagged Harry by the elbow and tugged.

“See you,” Harry said. He shoved the bottle into Draco’s hands, gave them a little wave, and allowed Weasley to pull him away.

Draco watched him go, appraising him from the back with his bottom lip clamped between his teeth. “Potter’s fit, don’t you think?” Draco asked.

Pansy clicked her tongue and extracted the bottle from Draco’s loose grip. She took a swig and didn’t even flinch, simply dabbed the corners of her painted lips with her fingertips.

“Yes, Potter is fit. Everyone knows Potter is fit,” she said.

“Do you think I could… you know?”

“Do I think you could fuck Potter?”

“Well, I rather fancied he’d fuck me, but yes. Same idea.” Draco chewed his lip. “Do you think he would, though?”

Pansy’s face softened for only a moment, then she wiped it clear. “You're gorgeous, darling,” she said. “He’d be crazy not to want you.”

Draco beamed and took the bottle she held out to him. “Cheers.”

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

(proceed beyond the cut for the VERY soppy dedication)

I’m going to warn you now, this dedication is going to get emotional, not because I’m an emotional person, but because today is @fictional’s birthday, and talking about her gets me feeling things. So if this reads like a love letter, that’s because it is.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that not only is Lynn one of my favourite people in fandom, but she is one of my favourite people in the entire world. She is a fixture in my daily life. I spend days without her feeling as though something is missing. Like I’ve left the house without my keys, wore my shirt backwards in public; a morning without coffee, a brunch without champagne.

Lynn is such a unique talent. She’s so original it makes my head explode. Some of my favourite artists are those whose personality bleeds into their work, not as a performance, but because they just shine that brightly. And Lynn’s artwork is dazzling, intelligent, and tender. It’s fun, and fucking funny, and hot as hell. She creates a magical world in a rainbow spectrum as vibrant as she is (where everyone also has really great eyebrows).

I know that when you meet a person like her, one whose soul touches yours, you give them whatever you can for as long as they allow it. And in my case, all I know how to do is write a lot of stupid words. So, I wrote her another fic and tried to cram in everything that she loves. If she cracks a smile once, I’m calling it a win.

Thank you, Lynn, for being my friend for over a year. For deciding me worthy, and showing me who you really are. For listening to me vent, holding my hand when my heart hurt, for being one of the main reasons I keep writing, even when it seems pointless. Darling, you’re a real one. And I’m your biggest fan.

I hope this rotation around the sun gives you what you deserve, which is fucking everything.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

[shespeaksinsongs]

Wish I Were Her | DM

read part 2 >>

A/N: My first angst! I had another idea for a separate fic, but I'm thinking about tying it to this one, seeing as they could relate together well. So look out for part two!

Summary: Y/N watches as the love of her life slips away from her and makes his last vows before her best friends are married together in holy matrimony.

Warnings/content: Angst, Fem!Reader, BestFriend!Draco

Word count: 1.67k words

masterlist | request form

It was a beautiful wedding. The cobblestone path leading to where the groom stood impatiently was lined with tulip petals, Y/N's favorite flower. The dress was one of a kind, chosen by her closest friend, Daphne Greengrass. And who could forget the look on Draco's face when he saw her walking down the aisle? It was a moment for the history books.

"Everyone may be seated." The marriage officiant said, prompting everyone, dressed in either beige or pink, to sit down. It wasn't a color scheme Y/N would've chosen, but hey, it wasn't her wedding either.

"We are gathered here today to join these two lovers in holy matrimony under the will of Merlin. Traditionally, the groom says the vows first. Draco, if you please."

"Right." Draco cleared his throat, nervously shifting in his stance as all eyes were on him and his bride. His hands were trembling as he took his soon-to-be-wife's hands in his own. "Astoria -" His voice cracked a bit, and there were quiet laughs among the crowd watching them. He looked to his best friend, Y/N, who was standing right behind her, first in line. The world had never seen a maid of honor so beautiful.

"Relax." Y/N mouthed, tears glossing over her eyes as she prepared to watch the love of her life swear himself off.

Draco nodded and continued. "Astoria - no amount of time would ever be enough for me to tell you how much I love you in words. But, I'm hoping you'll give me the rest of your life to show you." He blushed, and people applauded, cutting him short of his speech, not knowing he had planned to say more. Y/N, having read his vows beforehand, thanked her lucky stars that even though she had to watch her soulmate get married before her eyes, at least she didn't have to hear his full wedding vows.

"Astoria, you may say your vows now." The officiant said calmly, mediating a sense of tranquility in the nervous pair.

Astoria opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled the blond close for a passionate kiss. She tipped her forehead on his, not caring about the annoyed murmurs coming from the posh Malfoy family's side of the ceremony. Giggling, she let him pull her into another soft kiss before the officiant separated the two with his words.

"Well, let's just cut down to the chase, shall we?" He said, making everyone laugh and Y/N gnaw on the inside of her cheek nervously. "Do you, Draco Malfoy, take Astoria Greengrass to be your lawfully wedded wife so long as you both shall live?"

"I do." He grinned, holding her waist close to his body. Y/N took one last look at him before turning around to face Daphne, one of Astoria's bridesmaids. She couldn't bear to look at either of them at this moment.

"And do you, Astoria Greengrass, take Draco Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband so long as you both shall live?"

Y/N felt butterflies, no, more like daggers bouncing around in her stomach. They twisted and cut her organs with every stop they made on their way to her heart. "I do." Astoria said, her eyes glimmering as she wiped away a tear from Draco's face.

"Then I now present you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

There it was - the main act; the murder of Y/N's remaining joy and the robbery of her heart.

Everybody clapped, and some even whistled, but Y/N wouldn't be able to know unless she looked at them. A ringing in her head and a quivering pain spread to her legs, which were bound to give out soon. Daphne took a look at Y/N, who was as pale as her skin tone would allow her to be and carefully guided her to the restroom stall.

Once there, Y/N couldn't take it anymore and collapsed on the floor. Her sobs filled up the echoey room, and her tears were enough to save a drought. "It's alright." Daphne repeated, stroking Y/N's head which was resting on Daphne's neck. "It's okay, darling. I promise everything will be okay."

"How can-" Y/N choked, dismissing what she was going to say and just clinging onto Daphne a little longer.

Pansy came in the restroom in matching attire; only she was wearing a suit. "My sweet girl. Come here." She said, sliding down to the floor and holding Y/N tight from her other side. "My goodness."

Y/N's broken cries and prolonged absence were enough to make Astoria wonder where she and the rest of her bridesmaids were. "I'll be right back, love. I'm just going to go look for Y/N." She said, her chipper voice close enough to where Y/N could hear it. Y/N shuffled and scrambled inside a stall, praying that Astoria wouldn't come in.

And just like all the other things in Y/N's life, her prayer was not heard by the universe. If anything, it might have just been ignored. The door opened, and Astoria's graceful steps glided across the bathroom tile as she asked where Y/N was.

"Um, j-" Y/N cleared her throat, it being coated with mucus. "Just touching up my makeup." She said, mentally kicking herself for the horrible excuse, seeing as her feet were still visible from under the stall.

"Oh, okay, I'll just wait for you here, then." Astoria's voice almost showed Y/N the smile she carried on her face, and her heart broke at it. Not at the fact that she wished it was her that had that huge grin plastered on, but that she couldn't even take the time to be happy for one of her dearest friends, even if she wished she was her.

"No!" Y/N half-yelled, her voice repeating itself due to the room's poor acoustics. "I mean, go spend time with your husband! I'm sure he's eager to see you again." She forced a laugh, palming her forehead out of frustration.

"Draco will still be there in a few minutes." Astoria laughed, making her way to the stall Y/N was cooped up inside. "I need some time with my girls right now." She said, tapping her expensive heels restlessly against the floor, waiting for Y/N to come out.

Surrendering, realizing she'd never find a way out of this, she unlocked the door, taking a moment to look at Astoria. She truly was a vision in white. In fact, she was born to be a bride.

"Oh, my Merlin." Astoria said, seeing Y/N's puffy eyes and lips, which were pulling salty tears onto the tip of her tongue. "What's wrong, darling?" She said, pulling Y/N into a warm embrace.

Y/N sobbed into her shoulder, not caring about how miserable it was that she was crying to the source of her problem. At this moment, all she needed was to cry and to be held.

"N-nothing." She tried to say, but it only forced more sobs out. Daphne and Pansy began crying, too, watching how broken Y/N was becoming. "I'm just not having a good day. You should get back." She whispered underneath her breath.

"No, not until we fix this. Stay here. I'll be right back. You two take care of her while I'm gone." Astoria instructed her sister and sister-in-law, leaving Y/N to get someone she thought would cheer her up in an instant.

Seconds later, Draco came into the girl's restroom, concerned and panicked at the urgency with which his wife had called him. "Astoria, what's-" His eyes softened, and his heart stopped in his throat. "Oh, my Merlin, sweetheart, come here." He said, effortlessly covering Y/N's body with his own. It was almost like a shield from the pitiful looks she was receiving. "Sh, sh, it's okay..." He repeated over and over, gently caressing her hair. "Everything's going to be okay." He said again, beginning to hum their favorite song and softly swaying her side to side.

Just the two of us

We can make it if we try

Just the two of us

He sang, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, forgetting that his wife and two best friends were standing behind him. Every time he held her close like that, it was just them two and the world.

Soon enough, Y/N decided to put her ego aside for a moment and removed herself from Draco, murmuring a spell that would fix the makeup stain she had caused on his shirt.

"Thank you." She feebly whispered. "You two should go. Enjoy your wedding!" She tried to smile, but it came out all wobbly. "I'll be okay." Y/N promised, looking between Draco and Astoria.

"Well, if you're sure..." Astoria started.

"Just call me if you need anything. I promise I'll be there." Draco said, kissing her cheek promptly and walking out the room with Astoria around his arm.

As they walked out, Y/N sighed, having no tears left to cry. Then, the toilet flushed in one of the stalls, and the door swung open, revealing Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy in all her fashionable glory.

"Hold your head up high, dear." Narcissa said, washing her hands and watching Y/N through the mirror in front of her. "You have something she cannot mimic - authenticity. Nothing about your heart is anything short of extraordinary. Someday, the truth will spill out." And with that, she strutted out the bathroom, smiling courteously at Pansy and Daphne, who were still watching Y/N sadly.

Y/N sniffled, wiping another tear away from her face. "What did she mean?" She asked Daphne, now disoriented from the previous phrase.

"I don't know." Daphne wondered. "But whatever she meant, Astoria is hiding something. And honesty will come out sooner or later."

Y/N sighed and took one last look at herself in the mirror, peering at the girl who longed but never leaped. And almost like magic, she was gone in an instant.

"Okay," She said, adjusting her dress and fixing her lipliner. "let's go to this party."

READ PT. 2 HERE!

Taglist: @Malfoyswifeyy @daedreamss @happygalaxymilkshake

[elliebyrrdwrites]

The Heist ch. 13 snippet

The estate was quite nice. Draco appreciated the abundance of trees and debris blocking a clear path from Flamel’s home to Zabini’s.

“So many windows.” Granger expressed with a bit of awe in her voice. Windows, for a home, were good. They let in natural light, prevented the place from feeling drab and dreary.

But for their purposes, there were just a bit too many, for Draco’s liking. He would make sure to charm them all to prevent anyone from seeing in.

“The kitchen!” Ginny gasped to Granger, and the girls immediately started to explore the cabinetry and refrigerators. It was fully stocked, of course, which Draco appreciated.

“There’s a gym in here!” Harry announced from down the hall during some point of the tour led by Zabini himself. “And a pool,” Seamus had exclaimed as he looked out the massive windows overlooking the terrace and outdoor pool.

Theo rolled his eyes, often, as Zabini continued to charm all his newest tenants with the vast beauty of his (second)home.

Draco had these sort of luxuries before in his life. A time that, now, seemed so long ago. Granted, he wasn’t hurting financially as a grown man free from the constraints of a pureblood high society.

He had quite a bit of money in the bank and he did well for himself(obviously). But it wasn’t anything compared to the wealth he might have gained if he had agreed to marry Astoria. If he had gone through with it.

Granger found him in the kitchen, pulling a pack of chocolate chip cookies from the pantry.

She smiled at him and it was that bright, open smile he had become accustomed to. He had to admit, as he leaned his hip up against he grand kitchen island and watched her open the fridge, that he had had a moment of doubt last night. When her eyes had, for a brief moment, showed him something more than the usual light and joy that she exuded around him.

He had been openly flirting with her. Both he and Theo had been and it was the first time she looked flustered around them. The first time she had looked withdrawn. Even if it was for only a second.

She pulled out a bowl of fresh blueberries and strawberries and set it on the kitchen island in front of him. Her brow lifted before she accioed the cookies and sent them back into the pantry.

“Here,” Her hand pushed the bowl closer to him.

Draco grimaced but obeyed. He picked up a fat little blueberry and popped it into his mouth.

Draco watched her as she ran a hand over the counter, appreciating the intricate veins of white marble beneath the surface of the rock. He appreciated the way her lashes fanned over her cheeks as she stared down. The slight curve to her nose. The beauty mark on the the side of the bridge, near the corner of her eye.

“My family disowned me,” He said it, without really understanding why. But something about this house and the way she seemed to admire the beauty of it propelled the truth from him.

Her eyes lifted to his and they were wide with surprise.

“Because of Astoria,” he added before biting into a strawberry.

“Even your mother?”

Talk of his mother wasn’t something he did openly. Or even at all. Not in at least fifteen years. Whenever anyone of his family came up, he usually clumped everyone together into the same category. His father, his grandfather, cousins...his mother.

Because, while she had not openly expressed that he should be cut off, his mother had not fought his father. Who was viciously angry with Draco, of course. His mother had been disappointed, cried even, when he had returned to the manor after running out on Astoria. But when his father swore to disown him, she had said nothing and Draco had accepted it as his fate.

“Even my mother.”

She frowned and glanced down at the bowl of fruit he continued plucking through. “Why did you wait until the day of the wedding?” Her voice was gentle but cautious.

Draco chewed on a strawberry as he considered the promise he made to himself the other day. The day he had learned something about her she hadn’t herself shared.

He swallowed and shrugged. “I was only twenty and I was terribly stunted, emotionally that is.” She almost smiled and so he did. “Still am.”

Granger shook her head, her lips pulling up. “Aren’t we all?”

Draco nodded and looked down at his fingers as they picked up a blueberry, rolled it around between them. “I was ordered to do things, sometimes by my own family, that I never wanted to do. And the day of the wedding, I realized that it was just another thing I was being ordered to do. I was going in, blind. I realized that the rest of my life was going to be a series of things I didn’t want to do. So, I began to panic. Hyperventilate, twist your stomach in knots until I puked kind of panic. You know it?”

She nodded furiously, her lip caught between her teeth. Her bright eyes on his.

“Theo found me like that. On my hands and knees, in front of the toilet. Instead of trying to talk me out of marrying her, or trying to convince me that everything would be fine, he asked me if I wanted to go with him to Monte Carlo.”

“And you did.”

He nodded. "Not initially. I walked up to that alter, and stood there, watching her walk toward me. Then I turned to Theo, who was still standing at my side and told him that I wanted to go to Monte Carlo." He frowned, sheepishly.

"I could have been more honest with Tori but,” he paused and looked around the kitchen. The crown moldings, the large windows and fancy appliances. “She was already planning on building a home like this.” He gestured to the kitchen around them. “She was planning what kind of charity events we would go to, where to donate our money. It was like listening to my mother talk. And Just like my mother, she was also trying to ensure that my family remained in good standing, socially. And my mother was doing it, so that my father could continue to do what? Be vile? I don't know. I might be a thief but don’t want to be vile. Not anymore.”

Granger shook her head.

“I was vile to you once upon a time.”

Her eyes softened as she tilted her head. Granger’s hand reached for his. “You’re not vile.”

He smiled at her as he continued to graze and they shared a moment of quiet as her hand remained clinging to his.

“Theo is my family.” He said, smiling gently at the confession. Because no matter what, through every shitty decision Draco made, and every life altering event, Theo had been there.

“I obliviated my family.” Was her response. “When I was seventeen.”

“Because of...?” He didn’t finished. He still didn’t speak the dark wizard's name. Not out of fear, nor respect. But out of shame for a past he was unable to escape, no matter how hard he tried.

She nodded. “They don’t remember me, or who they were. I tried to reverse it but,” She shrugged. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were downcast, in shame. “I don’t have any family.”

“You do, though.” He turned his hand, so that their palms were pressed together and his thumb began to soothe the backs of her knuckles. “You have Potter and Ginny.”

She shook her head. “I sometimes have Harry.” She paused and watched as she threaded their fingers together. “I have Theo.” She admitted it, quietly. Cautiously.

“And you have me.” Draco lifted their linked hands to his mouth and grazed the tips of her fingers to his lips. “You and I have been through the wringer, yeah? I was, at one point, unworthy of your affections.”

She put his hand to her cheek and leaned into it. “Not anymore.”

Granger’s bright, brown eyes settled onto his and he knew it was only a matter of time before whatever was between them would ignite. It was like a fuse, slowly initiating a charge between two explosive components.

There was something inside of him that was growing and gnawing at him. It was uncomfortable and exciting all at once. He wanted to wrap his arms around his chest and keep whatever it was, there. Because really it felt like it might burst out of him one day. And he wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it.

[fluffbyday-smutbynight]

Love hits you unexpectedly, sometimes

[a ficlet about the tragic end of the SS Andrea Doria ocean liner - read on Ao3 here]

Love hits you unexpectedly, sometimes. If anyone would know, that would be me.

I was just going my usual way; something I had literally done a hundred times before. Sailing, light as a breeze, to my destination. Loaded with promises of a brighter future, with dreams and hopes of a new life for many. Inebriated with the lavish divertissements I had provided my passengers over the seven-day trip to America.

You see, I was the pride and joy of my country. A jewel of engineering, the envoy of modern progress. 

I was the SS Andrea Doria, for God’s sake. Sleek. Elegant. Unsinkable… 

… Little did I know, that on a warm starry night of July, my bright career – and existence – would come to a tragic end. All because of a momentous, accidental encounter.

I suppose we all have the romantic tendency to see the hand of fate at work, when we can’t make sense of unpredictable, life-changing events. “It was meant to be”, we tell ourselves, wistfully looking back at the past. Rationalising the errors of our ways. But, believe me, MS Stockholm and I weren’t meant to meet. Everything was designed, and rightfully so, to keep us apart. We were going in opposite directions, in fact.

Was it the fault of some cursory carelessness? Of the sum of unforeseeable conditions? Alas, it doesn’t matter now, and it didn’t matter then: by the time we crossed paths, there was nothing we could do to undo our misdeeds.

MS Stockholm hit me, and I crumbled under her massive deadweight tonnage. 

A fatal kiss.

Granted, I should have been the strongest one – perhaps, I overlooked my own weaknesses. And like many an intense, sweeping love, she didn’t announce herself before striking me in my tenderest spot. 

After that, I was left battered and adrift. A shadow of my former self. Inevitably destined to go down in history as an egregious disaster.

Oh, I cried for help. I did, and some answered at the best of their possibilities. 

Among them, which I’ll be forever grateful for, SS Île de France: a dignified old-guard of the seas. In what can be described only as an heroic effort, they rushed to my rescue. A light in the dark, they tried to salvage what they could.

But, like most rebound stories, it didn’t work out in the end. I had too much baggage and too many wounds to be saved. Last I’ve heard, they pursued a career in the film industry. All my best wishes to them.

And MS Stockholm? Where was she, you might ask? She mumbled some excuse – something about her anchors getting stuck – and deserted me. And of course, she didn’t even take responsibility for the wreck she had caused. She’s still out there, somewhere, like nothing happened. Probably (hopefully!) ashamed of her wrongdoings, she changed her name and reinvented herself.

I’m afraid there isn’t a happy ending to this story: while my name lives on as a legend,  and as a cautionary tale; and sometimes I get visited in the hopes of glory and riches… I found my eternal rest in the embrace of the sea. 

Dreaming of all the travels I could have had.

Weeping for all that was lost, on a warm starry night of July.

~~~

(notes and context under the cut)

For anyone who may not know about this: on 25th July 1956, on its 101st crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, SS Andrea Doria was hit and sunk by MS Stockholm right off Nantucket.

The swedish ship had been left in the hands of an inexperienced officer, had strayed off-course, and had failed to signal its presence.

SS Île de France was among the few ships coming to rescue - rushing to the site though it was already two hours off-shore - and the only one with enough lifeboats to make a difference.

Thanks to that, of the 1700+ people on board, there were "only" 51 casualties (most of which had unfortunately died on impact).

MS Stockholm got actually stuck upon the accident. And the naval company refused to take responsibility. And the ship's name was later changed to MV Astoria.

Right before being scrapped, Île de France was used as a prop in the film "The Last Voyage".

Due to its valuable cargo, the SS Andrea Doria is the frequent target of treasure divers and has been dubbed "the Mount Everest of scuba diving".

[desiredmalfoy]

I’ll Be Here, Always

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Reader

Genre: Fluff! (I feel like I’m on a roll with the fluff!)

Universe: After Hogwarts :)

Word Count:  0.9 k

Summary: Draco loves to talk to his son, before he is born and after.

{Draco Masterlist} { Main Masterlist }

(Credit to gif owner)

Here is something short, sweet & fluffy! More dad Draco to come :)

Ever since you found out you were pregnant, Draco’s need to make sure you were okay amplified. You weren’t allowed to lift anything he seemed too heavy. Which usually meant even just a bag of groceries was too much for you according to him. 

One thing that Draco loved to do since you found out you were pregnant was to talk to your baby. He would lay his head on or near your stomach. Gently rubbing it while talking about everything in your life. He told your baby about both of you. How you met, description of the both of you, about both your parents and your friends. Anything and everything he could think of.

You were currently eight months and ready to give birth. You not only wanted to meet your son but you wanted some relief from being pregnant. Being able to see your toes again was something exciting to look forward to.

Your husband was currently laying down next to you in bed but he got up to sit next to your bump for his nightly routine of talking to him and reading him a story.

“Let me tell you about how your mom and I first truly talked to each other.” Draco spoke directly to your stomach. Placing a quick kiss where he felt the kick of your son. 

“Yeah because your dad wasn’t the nicest to me in the beginning.” You laughed at the memory of your years at Hogwarts. Draco wasn’t one who was exactly good at expressing his emotions. Love and care for another person being some of the emotions he just did not know how to express. He was never mean to you like he treated the Gryffindors but he wasn’t exactly Prince Charming in the beginning. He would make little comments here and there to try and annoy you. A way to try to get your attention. 

“Hey! I was fourteen and didn’t know how to properly express my emotions.” He lifted his head, stuck his bottom lip slightly, and playfully rolled his eyes at you. “Plus I thought that was one way to get your attention.”

You grabbed his face and pulled him close to you, placing a longing kiss on his lips. “I know love, I’m glad you worked through them though.” 

Draco pulled away and went back to your belly. Tapping lightly on it where your son was currently kicking. 

“Like I was saying, I was walking right behind her when the stairs started to shift. She lost her balance from the sudden movement.”

“Luckily for her, someone was there to save her. I grabbed her before she fell off. Can you guess who saved her? You got it! I did.”

“I could’ve died Draco ”, you groaned at your husband.  You ran your fingers through this platinum hair. You wondered if your son would have his hair color. “ I saw my life flash before my eyes.”

“And you say I’m dramatic darling. You’re very lucky that I was able to save you.” He leaned into your touch, cuddling you. Once he was comfortable, his hand went back to your belly.

“I can't wait for him to get here and finally meet him.” 

“Only less than a month now and he’ll be here.” You sighed happily while continuing to run your fingers through his hair. “Before you know it he’ll be keeping up all night.”

“I can’t wait to actually read him bedtime stories when he gets here.”

“I’ll always be here for both of you.” Draco said sleepily as he rubbed your pregnant belly. “Always.”

——

The birth with Scorpius was generally smooth. You labored and delivered pretty quickly. Which you consider yourself to be extremely lucky compared to your friends. That didn’t mean it was all a flower path. You both had your ups and downs in parenthood and you were still learning along the way. 

But there was one thing Scorpius absolutely adored, his father reading or talking to him before bed. 

It would instantly soothe him. No matter how fussy he was, Draco talking to him immediately calmed him down.

“The princess was the prettiest in the land. She had the biggest heart ever known. She even managed to melt the heart of the most bitter people out there. She captured the heart of this one prince.” Draco sat in the rocking chair and whispered softly to your son. He placed a delicate kiss on his head. “She was able to show him how to love and what it truly meant.”

You stood in the entrance of the room looking on towards your two loves. You couldn’t ask for anything more in life. Draco continued to rock him to sleep while continuing his story.

“Is he asleep?” You walked carefully to the pair in the corner of the room. Careful to not wake him up. Scorpius was finally sleeping through the night and you did not want to interrupt that.

“Yeah, he fell asleep just a while ago.” Draco got up from the chair and went to place Scorpius in his crib. 

“You’re such a great father you know?” You wrapped your arms around his torso as you both stared down at your sleeping baby. 

“I try but I’m afraid to mess it up.” 

“We‘ll both make mistakes. But as long as we learn from them and keep trying out best, we’ll be okay.” You reassured him. He would still have moments where he was worried about becoming like his dad. But you knew Draco would be the best dad. 

“I know love.”

“We’ll be here to show him unconditional love.”

“I’ll be here for the both of you, always.”

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[wh0reifyoudontexist]

Hi!! I am unloved with "Traitor" I was wondering if you can make a part two in which Astoria sees Y/n and Draco relationship through the year, and one day Y/n and Astoria cross path, and you can take it from there.

time

draco malfoy x bi!fem!reader

past astoria greengrass x bi!fem!reader

no voldy au

angst > a little bit of fluff at the end

request: yes | no

summary: in which Astoria sees Y/n and Draco relationship through the year, and one day Y/n and Astoria cross path, and you can take it from there.

warnings: somewhat toxic!reader, heartbreakk oml, few curse words,

a/n: im so sorry this is late, i was drowning in my school work,,,, not that proud of this but its okay igg

read this first: traitor

masterlist | navigation

time flies by, they said.

opposites attract, they said.

everything will get better, they said.

lie, lie, lie, lies.

for astoria, time seems to be always frozen whenever she passes you. in every hallway she turns in, in every classroom she enters.

and her eyes always manages to find yours already looking at his silver ones.

she would say her eyes are magnets, always wandering off to you, and her heart would break-- bit by bit. but that's okay, she's used to it.

magnets attract the opposite, north to south, south to north. and i could say you were both magnets, once. it didn't matter what pole you were, you always attracted her. genuine question, does spending too much time with someone make you want to repel from them when too much time has been wasted just being in that person's comfort? because if yes, then we know the reason why you don't want to be in her presence anymore. but that doesn't answer astoria's side of the story.

september 1, 1996

all she could do was glare as you entered the compartment, hand tucked within someone else's.

her arms were crossed as her vision left yours and instead focused on the scenery outside the express. but she couldn't focus, she's itching just to take a glance at you, to see you and your perfect face, with your perfect hair, talking with that perfect voice.

her eyes turned just a bit to see you talking to draco malfoy, who has this smile on his face, he couldn't wipe even if he tried.

what happened this summer?

a few months back, you were so happy with her, your hands intertwined under the table, hidden from everyone else's sight, as you gushed about your family, your vacations.

and astoria's face couldn't have shined brighter than it did during that time, a total contrast to her now.

she tried writing to you, all she got in return was nothing. she always waved it off, saying you were probably busy with your family.

she was just hoping to see you on your first day back. and she did, but you didn't even spare her a glance. as if she doesn't even exist, as if you've never met her.

and all she could do was glare.

october 31, 1996

ah, spin the bottle. perfect game for halloween, no? not for you, or so she thought.

you once told her you didn't like these types of games, you said they're for 6th graders.

but she saw you, jumping and face glowing when you pulled draco to sit beside you as people started gathering around the bottle.

was everything else you told her a lie?

december 12, 1996

she entered the common room, wanting the fire's warmth. hours spent writhing in bed, trying to find that perfect position to travel off to sleep. and failing.

that's all she wanted. warmth. yet she received something else, something she wants to wipe off of her memory. you cuddled close to him, your legs intertwining with his as he wrapped an arm around you.

she gasped, and you turned your head to face her.

"greengrass" your boyfriend had said.

"malfoy," she paused before looking at you, tears starting to pool in her waterline remembering the sight she was bestowed upon "l/n"

you nodded your head, hands tightly grasping draco's shirt. "i'm sorry, i just- couldn't sleep, it's freezing, and i thought the common room would be empty, guess not." she laughed awkwardly, her arms behind her back.

"wait" you spoke and she caught your eyes. finally. "you can stay here, we can just go to his dorm. c'mon dray," you pulled yourself up, your dress hiking up your thigh, as you exited the room, draco in tow.

"thanks..." she sat on the couch frozen, tears leaking out of her eyes. oh the envy that she felt.

she didn't get to sleep that night.

february 13, 1996

"i love you" your voice sounded through the wooden door as you told draco,

she wanted to hear you say that, to her. not to him. and she broke all over again.

june 4, 1996

you were planning to surprise your boyfriend for his birthday tomorrow, when you ran into her.

"tori"

"glad to know you still know my name."

"i- what are you doing up?"

she was angry beyond relief, "couldn't sleep. i guess i don't need to ask what you're doing." she said as she turned her head to look at the streamers hanged around the common room.

"yeah, it's his birthday tomorrow. i wanted to surprise him."

"i know, i went to some of his birthday parties at the manor"

then it was silent. and it was deafening.

"can we stop, please?"

"what?"

"let's just stop pretending that everything's fine between us-"

"oh im not pretending, i know that everything's shitty, especially between us. i'm just tired, and all i wanted was to go to sleep but you're here." she turned to walk away, but you grabbed her wrist and she froze. you haven't touched her in forever. and she missed your touch.

"so what, are we not just going to talk about this?"

"what exactly is there to talk about? weren't you the one that left me, pretending that you don't even know me?"

"tori if you would let me explain"

"explain what? that you fell in love with the person who's been treating you like shit ever since first year? what is up with that l/n?" she used your last name. the last name that you once promised her, she would use.

astoria l/n.

you decided not to answer that, "tori, listen he's changed," she scoffed at that but you continued, "if you won't forgive me, then just let me get this off my chest."

"i liked you, you know that" astoria pulled her hands away from you, crossing her arms over her chest instead. and she could've sworn hurt flashed from your eyes. "but i guess a part of me inside have always known that we won't last. tell me you felt it too,"

"i actually haven't. i thought you were my soulmate y/n/n.." she paused wiping her tears frustratedly with her sleeve. "so," you turned your head to face her, grabbing a hold of her hands to let her continue, "you just decided not to talk to me? not even giving me an explanation?" she laughed hurt evident in it.

you let go of her hands, instead grabbing her body and pulling her close to you, so that you were chest to chest. "i hate myself for ever hurting you." you sighed into her head, kissing it with your eyes closed shut. you rubbed your hands on her cheek, astoria immediately melting into it.

"i'm so sorry. if i could take it back i would. i wouldn't think about ever leaving you, i would give us a chance and if we fall by nature, then we fall. i wouldn't be the one that would break us up." she wrapped her arms around your waist again, needing your comfort, and you returned it burying your head on her shoulder.

you decided not to tell her that even if you could go back, you don't want to.. you've already fallen in love with draco.

[missdawnandherdusk]

Love Story

Draco X Reader

Request: @dracofeltonmalfoy​: your heart breaks at seventeen when you realize that Draco doesn’t love you enough to not marry his betrothed, Astoria. It’s years later and though you’re still hesitant and bitter about what occurred, you still answer the call that Ginny makes to you to help Draco. 

A/n: Look at me posting!! And during midterm week no less!! Thank you so much for this request! (I promise I’m getting to the rest of them). And can I say that I am in love with grown up Draco? Like yes ma’am I’ll take them all. Maturity is attractive. Let me know what you think! I love y’all so much. 

“You don’t understand,” Draco paced the small room. “I have to marry her,”

“Sure,” I spat. “Marry Astoria. I don’t give a damn anymore Malfoy,” I hadn’t used his last name in such a malice tone in years. I could see the effect that it had on him, his face fell.

“Don’t say that,” He begged softly, “Please, I love you,”

“But not enough,” I raised an eyebrow at him. “What happened to everything that we planned? All of the things you promised me? Where did that Draco go?” My voice became thick with tears. “No, you’re so paranoid about your reputation... I’m not waiting around for you to figure out who you want or who you want to follow. I don’t care.” A heavy silence and I had decided. “Have a nice life, Draco.”

“Y/n,” He called as I stood to leave.

“No,” I snapped. “Just... no. I deserve more than this.” 

“I know,” He confessed in a small voice.

That was the last time I spoke to Draco Malfoy in years. At first, I was okay with it. I felt free. I had moved on, found someone new that made what he did to me hurt a bit less. It wasn’t the same, nor what I felt when I was with Draco, but it was enough for the moment. He didn’t last long, and my heart still waited for Draco on some nights, but I had grown up. I had grown confident. I was independent. I didn’t need anyone to tell me they loved me because I loved me. And that was enough. I had healed from having to walk away or face being cut off forever.

I assumed that Draco was happy. His union with Astoria was in the paper. The invitation I received was burned. Why he’d think to invite me left me aggravated and loathing him more than before. But that night I was weak. I cried for Draco Malfoy that night. I almost went. But I refrained. I knew nothing would change even if I did go, so I’d rather be left wondering than left crushed.

The next time I saw Draco’s name in the paper, it was splashed across the front page. A scandal that Skeeter couldn’t wait to publish and get her hands on. Astoria Malfoy caught in an affair with Blaise Zabini. I saw Draco’s stoic face, and though the image moved, and the small child in his arms squirmed, he remained static. I threw the paper down because though it was just a photograph, his eyes still bore into mine, in the same pleading look that he gave me before I left him. I wonder if he knew that I see the photo.

I wonder if he knew that I still loved him even after all these years.

And I had no intention of crossing paths with him. Though I thought about it. A lot. And maybe I had actually written the letter before I burned it... but I decided that no. I was not interfering with his life.

I just never thought that he’d interfere with mine. Well, Harry interfered with my life. Well, Ginny did.

Ginny and I got lunch every once in a while, to catch up along with Hermione. Now that our Hogwarts days and the war was over, an amity fell between the three of us. And it was nice to see some old faces that didn’t cause my heart to rabbit trail into painful memories.

It was a phone call that I had gotten that interfered with my quaint Friday night. 

“Are you in town?” Ginny’s voice sounded strained and frantic.

“Yes, why?” I set down my book, standing.

“Can you come over? We... have a situation...” She voiced.

“What sort of situation?” I pressed, going looking for my shoes and cloak. “Harry just did a spell wrong and now he can’t speak English situation or Ron and Harry tried to do something stupid on their brooms and need medical attention sort of situation?” I teased lightly.

“It relates more to the former...” Ginny sounded almost hesitant to give me details. Her voice was suddenly far from the receiver and muffled. “No, Scorpius, put that down! Harry! No don’t encourage him!” That caught my attention.

“Ginny, what in Merlin’s name!?” I demanded.

“Please just get over here, you were better than we were at potions,”

“Ginny,” I baited.

“Thank you!” Was all she got out and I heard a crash before the line disconnected.

Utterly shocked and standing in deafening silence I let out a frustrated growl. After grabbing my carpet bag of miscellaneous counter curses, antidotes, and talismans I took the Floo network to the Potter’s.

And the sight before me was something that I would not have ever imagined. Draco was slung over Harry’s shoulder, looking intoxicated and completely out of it. Nothing like the cold refined man that I knew him to be. Then Scorpius was running around with Albus all trying to be corralled by James and Ginny while Lily laughed in the background, sitting on the counters.

Deciding that Harry could help with the children more than I could, I rushed to his side and took Draco off his hands, supporting him.

“What’s wrong with him?” I bit out, watching as Harry scooped up Albus as Ginny swooped in and caught Scorpius.

“Nothing, well, he’s been drugged but we’re sure it should wear off in a few hours.” Harry appeased, almost nonchalant.

“Drugged?” I demanded, leading Draco to a well-loved recliner.

“I’m finnnnne,” Draco slurred, his fine blond hair hanging into his eyes in a complete mess. “You have such pretty eyes Y/n,” Draco’s head lulled back against the recliner back as his half- opened eyes gazed into mine.

“Yeah, okay,” I smiled sweetly and gave an alarming look to Ginny—Harry having disappeared into the house with the three other children. “You’ve got to be bloody joking,” I hissed, nearing her.

“I know! Harry was filming him. You should have heard him on the way over. Wouldn’t shut up about you.”

“Get him upstairs.” I begged, exasperated and rubbing my face. “I’m going to find Harry.”

“What? Why?” Ginny’s eyebrows furrowed as she set Scorpius down now that he was calmed with the lack of the other children.

“Because no one makes fun of Draco!” I shouted, not realizing the depth of my words, or how much I sounded like I did back at Hogwarts... when Draco loved me.

Ginny and I both seemed to grasp this as I went red and sighed, going to find Harry. After throwing his phone out the third-floor window, I headed back down a level to where Ginny had taken Draco to a spare room. I found Draco asleep in the bed and Ginny leaning against the doorjamb.

“He’s still asking for you,” Ginny muttered. “He wants to know where the ‘fairest maiden has gone and when will she return’” She raised an eyebrow at me.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned, distressed. “How am I supposed to deal with him like this?”

“You probably know better than any of us.” Ginny pointed out. “Isn’t there a counter curse? Or something that you have or know?”

“In all my years I’ve seen nothing close to this. It’s like he’s drunk and on Veritaserum and Amorentia and believe me there is no legal potion out there with that sort of affect.”

“So... what do we do with him?” She asked.

“Wait it out? That’s all I know to do.” I paused. “I’ll stick around and make sure he doesn’t start to die or anything... but I can’t fix him,”

Ginny nodded and gave me a pity look. “Are you going to be okay?”

“That is not the question to ask right now,” I muttered, shrugging off my cloak. “Go on up to Harry and your little ones. Make sure Scorpius is alright, I’ll look after him,”

“If you need anything,” She baited.

“I’ll call,” I smiled.

Alone in the room, I sighed and stared at him before heading to the edge of the bed and sitting gently on the edge.

“Draco?” I asked softly, trying to hide the hurt that sparked in my chest. 

“Y/n, my fair maiden,” He slurred, trying to get up.

“No, no, you need to lie down,” I scolded, pushing him back down, pressing my hand to his forehead—he didn’t have a fever.

“As my lady commands.” He mumbled, causing me to withdraw my touch.

“Don’t.” I inhaled sharply. “You need to sleep Draco. You need to get better.”

“I’m already better with you here,” A dopey smile crossed his face.

“Oh my god Draco!” I snapped, standing, pacing the small room. “Stop saying things like that! You don’t mean them, and I don’t want to hear it!”

When I didn’t get a response from him, I looked over and he was fast asleep at an awkward angle. Sighing, I brushed the stray strands of silky hair from his face and slowly righted him, taking off his shoes and socks positioning him in the center of the bed. After I laid a blanket over him, I sat in the lone chair that was in his room and taking my book from my bag, started again.

It neared eleven at night, and he still hadn’t woken back up. My book finished, I sighed again and stood, stretching. Leaving his room, I saw Harry nodding off in his chair downstairs, Scorpius in his arms, also asleep.

“To bed with you,” I smiled, helping him up.

“Draco?”

“Still asleep.” I informed. “I’m gonna change and I’ll be back to watch him.” 

_______________________

Draco blinked, his head pounding, trying to keep up with the blurred image around him. The first thing he noticed was the blanket over him and his shoes were gone and that you were asleep in the chair next to his bed and this bed was most certainly not his—neither were you for that matter. His memory was fuzzy, and he didn’t remember much, and he didn’t like not remembering.

In an attempt to get up, he woke you, not sure why some part of him cared. He didn’t ask to be taken care of like a child. He processed that he was at the Potter’s for some godforsaken reason, and that you were next to him. Some part of him wished he was just having a really awful nightmare.

“Draco?” You asked sleepily.

Who else would it be?

“Yes,” He spoke quietly.

“Are you... you again?” You mumbled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He snapped, defensive that you were there, or anywhere near him. The nightmare continued.

“You were drugged... were acting weird for a while... I had to throw Harry’s phone out a window.” Your words made some sense... except the last part.

“Why would you do that?” He mused, enjoying your half-asleep state.

“He recorded you... was making fun of you... wasn’t right...” You stretched and rubbed your face yawning.

“I see,” There was a pang in his heart at your words. Something reminiscent in them. Maybe this wasn’t a nightmare after all.

You nodded and stood, staggering slightly. “How long have you been there?”

“What time is it?” You asked weakly. 

“Five in the morning,”

“Mhmm... twelve hours? Finished my book.” You gestured vaguely and yawned again. “M’gonna head back home.”

You started to walk towards the door and almost fell. He was there to catch you though. Your hands clutched at his shirt, running the fabric through your fingertips.

“Okay, yeah. You’re going to stay right here,” Draco muttered. “Because I am not dragging you down those stairs or back home.”

“I’m fine, I’ll get Ginny to take me home,” You yawned gesturing vaguely, your eyes still didn’t open all the way.

“No, you’re not. You’re sleep deprived, and whereas I can handle it, you can’t.” However long he had been asleep—twelve hours apparently—had given him enough rest to be completely awake and alert.

“You’re bossy.”

He chuckled at your sleep ridden words and moved you to his bed, tucking you under the blanket he had been under. You smiled and inhaled them deeply, relaxing instantly. He wondered why you thought of him as a reason to relax.

When he got up to leave, your eyes opened partly.

“Where are you going? You need to rest more. You were drugged.” 

“I’ve dealt with worse drugs Y/n,”

“Mmm I don’t think you’ve ever been like that. I’ve seen you high and drunk and that was... something else.” You mumbled. “Please rest Draco. Stay with me and sleep.”

Your words were like daggers to his heart. Were you aware that you were saying them? Surely you couldn’t be, because surely you wouldn’t ever mean them. It had been too long since you ever murmured those words.

“Am I not allowed to find to where my son has gone?” He mused, knowing you’d let him go for that and then be too far into sleep to notice that he didn’t come back.

You hummed in agreement he supposed. Just as he went to close the door, he heard you jumbled words again.

“Why would you say that?” There was hurt and confusion in your tone. “Why would you...?”

Not knowing whatever that was about, Draco closed the door softly behind him and sighed. He felt disgusting. He wanted nothing more than a warm bath and some fresh clothes and for Merlin’s sake a comb. But those things would have to wait, because bright blue eyes blinked up in the early morning as they always did.

“Good morning my little birdie,” Draco smiled, pulling Scorpius into his arms. “Quite a change of scenery here isn’t it?” He mused, to a nodding giggling Scorpius.

“Draco, you’re awake,” The tired voice belonged to Ginny, who sounded surprised even in her weary state.

“I am,” A quiet pause. “Thank you... I’m not quite sure what happened last night but...”

“Do you have any memory at all?” Ginny asked, taking out a jar of applesauce, setting a bowl and spoon for Scorpius.

“I... no. I was at the Gala, next thing I know, I wake up and Y/n is asking if I’m me again,” Draco thanked her and began to spoon feed Scorpius the apple puree.

“Are you, you?” Ginny asked, leaning against the counter before setting off to brew a pot of coffee.

“Quite,” He clipped. “What does that even mean? What happened last night?”

Unbridled terror set in Draco’s chest as Ginny recounted the night back to him. The only thing that kept him from breaking something was the toddler in his arms, clinging to him.

“I... I was asking for Y/n?” Draco asked, his voice shaking.

“Honey, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say even intoxicated and drugged, you knew she’d be there for you,” Ginny raised her eyebrow at him. “You wanna explain that?”

Draco shot her a cold look and went back to aiding Scorpius eat. Maybe that had been why you asked why he would say something like that... and that was a valid and honest question: why would he? He had gotten over you. That was that. He moved on.

Not that he loved Astoria. No, he could never see her as more than someone who drove you away from him. And perhaps that was the reason behind her affair. Maybe it was because she knew that he didn’t love her, and she didn’t love him. Some part of him wished that she had just been honest with him... then it wouldn’t be such gossip in the Wizarding World. They could have divorced and gone on their own ways. But perhaps not. The marriage was arranged. It would take more than a divorce to end it. Perhaps the scandal was for the best after all.

“Thank you for your hospitality, but I’m afraid I have to go,” Draco said softly. 

“Draco,” Ginny chided. “You can’t just leave her here,”

“I can do as I please,” Draco snapped harshly before remembering himself. “Thank you, once more,”

Draco only hesitated when he went to fetch his shoes from the spare room, and caught sight of you sleeping soundly, a soft smile on your face. Something in his chest distorted a bit more.

_________________________

I woke in the late morning, semi remembering why I was at Ginny’s, then it all came flooding back. I didn’t even have to ask where Draco had gone because I knew he had gone. I knew he’d leave at the first chance he’d get.

Apologizing and thanking Ginny, I headed back home to shower and don clean clothes. Ginny gave me a worried look and said to call if I needed anything. I assured her I was fine and wasn’t going to have an emotional breakdown. Crying while I showered meant nothing.

I was fine.

Monday at work, Harry found me in the staff room fixing a cup of tea.

“You’re going to have to talk to him eventually,” Harry nudged my shoulder as we stood at the mini coffee bar, not even having to specify who he thought I should speak to.

“I’m not gonna follow him around like a lost puppy Harry, I’m done with that.” I shifted the weight on my feet. “He’s grown, he can handle himself,”

“Well I get that, but you can... act human at least. You’re shutting him out completely.” Harry pointed out. “And I don’t think either of you want that,”

“I wouldn’t know what he wanted,” I sighed in vain. “It’s not that easy Harry,” I pressed, cradling my mug in my hands. “I haven’t worried about him before, why should I now?”

“Because when he was drugged all he could do was ask for you and you dropped everything to make sure he was alright and slept in a chair for a night to keep an eye on him?” Harry raised an eyebrow.

“And maybe it was the drug and maybe I’m a decent person,” I refuted.

“All I’m saying I’ve been his work partner for a better half of five years and I’ve never seen him like this. He’s shutting everyone else out since the affair... everyone but you,” Harry’s green eyes reaffirmed his words.

I stared at my tea and didn’t say a word. I didn’t want to believe Harry’s words. I didn’t want to entertain the idea that maybe there was something left between Draco and I. But no matter how much I didn’t want to, I still thought about it all day during work, despite my best efforts.

How fitting it was that it was raining as I stepped onto the London street. Typical of London, no doubt, but it seemed as a sign all the same. Going to cast a shielding charm I froze when I saw in my peripheral pale skin and near white hair. I tried not to pay him any mind, but it seemed that whatever intentions I had were stopped by the words Harry had said earlier. My eyes wandered out to the city streets as rain started to fall slightly harder.

“Y/n?” Draco called my attention, his use of my name barely having any life in it.

“Yes?” I tore my attention away from the view.

“It’s raining,”

“Stellar observation,” I commented, remembering my shielding charm, creating an umbrella over me.

“Perhaps you would like to get out of it?” His voice was hesitant. “I suppose I do owe you for Friday night,”

That caught my attention and I finally turned to look at him. His was reserved, guarded. Yet there was something in his eyes that he couldn’t hide. A hope. A wish. A fantasy that I had written myself out of.

“You don’t owe me anything,” I finally whispered.

A sad sort of smile played at his lips. His eyes still didn’t leave mine as if we were transfixed on another, the stars wishing us to remain connected.

Screw the stars.

“Have a nice evening,” I ushered out before Apparating back home.

It was that night that I gave in. For the first time in almost ten years I gave in. There was a small fabric box tucked into my closet, collecting dust. Green and black with silver engravings. Tears streaming down my face, I sat on my bedroom floor and opened it.

It was every letter he wrote me. I should have burned them long ago, but I never did.

~

My Dearest, Y/n,

In the midst of this darkness, you are the only light I need. I’d face a world full of demons for the sake of you, my angel. I know it is dark now, and this path isn’t ideal, but I will fight for you, I will fight with you. Stand by my side my dearest angel. Be the fairytale maiden in this narrative and let me be your hero. I’ll never leave you, my love. And when morning light comes, I shall be in your arms again and my world will be complete.

Look after my heart, I’ve left it with you, 

Your Draco

~

My Beloved, Y/n,

Do you know what my paradise would be? You and me, away from it all. Free and able to love and live freely. Rainy days and warm cups of tea. Even without a fire to keep us warm, the warmth of your smile will keep me from freezing even on the coldest night. And though it may be nothing more than you reading a book or watching the sun rise, you’d be my goddess, the reason I existed, the one that I praised and prayed to each morning and evening. My paradise would be you and I, in a heaven of our own when I could worship you in every way, in every language known to man.

Your Draco

~

My Darling, Y/n,

How this summer grows longer with every day that passes. I wish that I weren’t away in Paris having to accompany my parents. I’d much rather be in your arms. And each night I watch the stars and the moon, knowing that you are doing the same. We are watching the same moon after all, no matter how far apart we are. That gives me more hope that you are true, and not a dream that I’ve let run wild.

And just as the night that I could not see the moon because of the clouds, I know that even now, though I do not see you, I know you are still there and that you still love me. You are my moon, my darling. You are my stars, my night sky. You hold every bit of majesty and wonder as they do.

I shall be back soon my love, 

Your Draco

~

Though the pile of unread letters was still tall, my vision was blurred by tears and heart wrenching sobs that broke from my chest. Hugging my knees and hiding my face in my arms, I wept. For the first time in years, I let myself mourn Draco Malfoy. For the love that I had for him. For the love that we shared. For the boy I knew in Hogwarts and for the man I resented. For the Draco Malfoy that called to me while drugged and inebriated. For the Draco Malfoy who had tried to make amends. For the Draco Malfoy I had turned down.

I mourned the girl in the mirror as well. For her broken jaded heart. For the years she spent alone and in denial. I mourned the girl who would still do anything for him if he’d only ask. I mourned the girl who was tired of trying to be strong on her own. I mourned the girl who craved companionship even though she was confident in herself.

I cried for the lovers in the letters. I held them close to my chest and cried. Tears dripped off of my cheeks and onto the faded aged parchment. Senseless words left my lips as I tried to rationalize these emotions. As I tried to make sense of this feeling—something that I had neglected for too long.

The hour was late as my fire burned lower and lower in my hearth. I sat curled up under a blanket on the floor with a mug of tea. Watching the flames, I let myself reminisce about the past. About Draco. About what could have been. A small smile lingered on my lips as gentle tears fell occasionally.

The rest of the week, I didn’t run into Draco. Not that I sought him out. Or that our departments ever crossed. Or that I cared.

I did however run into a former Malfoy in Diagon Alley a week after having to babysit Draco. 

“Astoria,” my voice was calm and gentle as rage lurked beneath.

“Y/n,” she seemed almost happy to see me as she came forward to hug me. My cold step back stopped her, her eyes finding my judgemental gaze. Her demeanor changed. 

“Of all the people I know, I thought you’d understand,” her voice was guarded and hurt.

“Thought I’d understand?” I nearly gasped, surprised at my anger towards her. “I know Draco like I know my own mind. I hope you’re happy because you’ll never find someone that trusting and kind again.” Our glares combatted another as tension grew between us.

“You walked out on him same as I did.” She accused. “Who do you think had to pick him up from that?” Her words were sharp as I took a breath in.

“I walked away because he had to marry you!” I snarled. “I’d never walk out on him if I had another choice!” We were starting to draw attention of passersby. I didn’t really care. “I chose his happiness over mine,”

“Oh really?” She didn’t seem convinced.

“I chose your happiness over mine, even.” I realized. “He had to get married. He had to marry rich. A pureblood. Someone his parents approved of. He desperately wanted their approval...” my voice fell as the memories came flooding back. “That made him happy back then, doing what he thought was right...”

“You should be thanking me then!” Astoria exasperated. “I gave him his happiness!”

“Are you serious?” I demanded. “You broke his heart! You left him with a child alone! You publicly humiliated him! In clearing your name from the Malfoy’s you’ve ruined his life! And you think he’s happy now!?”

“How about we ask him?” She countered; her gaze fixed on someone in the distance.

I whirled around, meeting curious jaded blue eyes as he strolled down the lane. 

“Draco,” The soft gasp left my lips.

“What’s the meaning of this?” His voice was calm despite the firmness it held as he addressed me, not Astoria.

“Nothing,” I answered softly. “It’s nothing,”

“Sure, defend his honor and call it nothing,” Astoria sneered.

“You don’t get to talk,” I snapped, turning back to her. “You’ve done enough.”

“Y/n,” Draco chided softly, taking a place beside me. “I can handle this,”

“Draco,” I argued, looking up at him only to be silenced by a steady pleasing gaze from his eyes.

“Astoria,” He finally greeted, and I could see his guard go up. There was a warning in his single word and something passed between them.

“Draco,” She nodded then turned to leave without another word. He went to leave as well, and I caught his arm.

“Draco, hang on,” I called.

As he faced me, a sadness lingered in his eyes. I wondered about Harry’s words and how he was shutting everyone out. Everyone but me.

“If that offer is still open...” I tested. “I’d love to get out of the rain with you,”

Calculations ran through his eyes and I could see each one. For a moment I thought my request was a lost cause. That he was about to turn me down as I turned him down not a few days ago. Our eyes locked and the stars seemed to draw us back together. Now... now I felt something different. Something new in my heart towards Draco. It wasn’t what it had been before, but something morphed, changed, unyielding.

“Alright,” He nodded with a sigh.

“If you don’t want to... you don’t owe me anything Draco,” I rushed out, taking a small step back.

“Publicly defending my honor might count for something,” He mused softly. “Shall we?”

“I think I mentioned tea,” A soft chuckle left my lips as we entered Florean Fortescue Ice Cream Parlor.

“This is a favorite of Scorpius’,” Draco murmured. “I’ve grown accustomed to it...” He paused. “You used to like it as well,” A small smirk lingered on his face. “Has that changed?”

“No,” I admitted, flushing a bit pink.

“Butter pecan, waffle cone?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Waffle bowl,” I amended. “I’m not a child,”

“Oh, I’m sure,” He let out a soft laugh and ordered for the two of us. He hadn’t changed either, he still chose mint chocolate chip in a sugar cone.

“So, where’s Scorpius, he’s not old enough for Hogwarts, is he?” I asked as we sat at a small table outside.

“Merlin, no,” Draco chuckled. “He’ll be six in January, and at the moment he’s with my mother. She watches him while I’m away at work,” He said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“How’s he doing with—um...” I asked timidly,

Draco’s smile sobered as his gaze dropped to the table to the used napkins that had gotten the stickiness off of our hands and left colorful wrappings from the cones.

“Or not,” I whispered. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It wasn’t my place,”

“Still the apologetic I see,” A sad sort of smile hit his lips. “And he’s taking it hard... harder than I am, I think. I knew she didn’t love me... I don’t think he ever understood it all...”

“I’m so sorry,” I offered.

He shot me an amused look.

“I mean it,” I insisted. “It’s not fair for either of you...” 

“Thank you,” Genuine gratitude held in his voice.

“Oi, Malfoy! Lunch ended twenty minutes ago!”

I heard a familiar voice and turned to see Harry walk into the small shop. As soon as Harry saw me sitting across from Draco, his demeanor changed and a grin grew on his face as if to say: ‘I told you so,’ but to which one of us I wasn’t sure.

“Hi Y/n,” Harry said cheerfully.

“Not a word, Potter,” Draco and I said simultaneously before catching the other’s gaze. Harry and I began to laugh, and I heard the gentle sound of Draco’s true laughter—something he rarely did, even when I knew him, but I cherished the sound all the same.

“I’m glad you two got to catch up, I am, but Draco, Mulligan has my arse because you’re missing,” Harry air-quoted the last word.

Sighing, Draco stood. “Y/n,” Was all he said as a goodbye before he and Harry set off.

I sat and stared at the empty space he left for a while, wondering what was going on between us. Was something going on between us? My heart said yes but my mind said no. I had forfeited the right to have anything with him. I walked away.

But still I wondered.

The next morning my phone kept chiming. Again, and again it wouldn’t stop with notifications and calls. I groaned and grabbed it off my beside table and squinted at it. A lot of the notifications were from friends and people I rarely talked too. One of them was from Ginny. I opened that one.

“How was your date?” It read and showed a picture of Draco and me at the ice cream parlor yesterday. We looked happy. The headline read:

Malfoy Moving On? Head Auror Caught with Old Classmate Sweetheart After Scandal

Then it dawned on me. This made the news. National news.

Scrolling through my phone, I found a number that I had but never called before. I had gotten it from Harry and Ginny long ago for emergences if Harry got injured on a case. I don’t think he knows I have it.

“Hello? Auror Malfoy,” A slightly tired voice answered, and it drew a smile on my lips before I remembered why I called.

“Draco,” I began, not knowing how to start this conversation.

“Y/n? How did you get my number?” In his weariness his tone was a lot harsher and blunt. His words stung.

“Harry gave it to me in case I needed it if something went wrong on one of your cases,” I explained softly. “I can delete it if you want... I was just wondering if you’ve seen this morning’s paper yet,”

“I have not,” He replied.

“Oh,” Anxiety grew in my chest. “Call me when you do?” I squeaked out. “Or don’t. Yeah, bye,” I quickly hung up and screamed at the ceiling, throwing my phone across the room. “Stupid Draco Malfoy!” I shouted at no one. Staring at the ceiling I wasn’t aware of how long I sat there.

Then my phone started ringing across the room. Of course, it was Draco.

“Hello?” I answered timidly.

“When can you be at the Manor? We need to talk,” Nothing scared me more than those four words.

“I—uh... half an hour?” I fumbled for words. “Draco—” The line disconnected. “Draco!” I yelled in frustration.

My body trembled as I got ready, knowing that that last time we had “talked” had ended our relationship and set us on different paths. I hoped to the stars that that wouldn’t happen again. I... I liked having Draco in my life. I wanted to be there for him, because according to Harry, I was the only one he would let in. Then there was the matter of whatever happened the night he was wasted and calling for me.

Taking the Floo network, I stepped into Malfoy Manor—a place I hadn’t been in over ten years. Draco was waiting for me in the grand foyer, appearing quite unkept, his hair a rumpled mess and his dress shirt still untucked, the tie hanging loosely around his neck.

“Hello,” I offered softly.

He hummed a greeting and motioned for me to follow him. I thought that I was going to throw up with the amount of anxiety bubbling in my stomach. I didn’t like this at all.

Leading me into the grand kitchen he nodded to the island bar where two mugs of tea had been set out. My heart panged as I looked at the warm liquid that held the right hue of creaminess and I wondered if Draco remembered how I took my tea after all this time.

“I’m having Mulligan and Granger take care of it,” was all he said as he took a careful sip of his tea, his gaze fixed upon the newspaper on the counter before us.

“Take care of it?” I pressed, frowning.

“The photos. The newspapers.” He filled in.

“No, I get that,” I almost rolled my eyes, “But why? It’s just gossip...” 

“Why?” Draco almost snapped. I looked to my tea ashamed. He took a breath. 

“Do you regret it? Yesterday?” I barely spoke.

“Why would I?” He acted if I were the insane one here, “We went out. We enjoyed each other’s company. It was fine.”

“Then why would you tell Mulligan to— “

“I didn’t.” He stopped me. “He told me he was doing it. He was supposed to have stopped it from ever happening.”

“You knew. You knew this was going to happen,”

“Yes, or something like it, and I tried to stop it. The press has been... unforgiving of my name and business as of late and I didn’t want to drag anyone else into it,”

I nodded and looked down till I heard him sigh.

“Especially not you,” He tacked on.

“What?” My sleep deprived brain was trying to catch up.

Draco pursed his lips and stared at the photo of us smiling at another on the front page.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe that I have forfeited the right to ask anything of you or hope to include you into my life in any way,” Melancholy riddled his words and my heart fell as I yearned to reach out for him.

“So, you’ve been avoiding me?” I didn’t understand the frustration I felt. “I... You—God above Draco.” I hissed. “Why don’t you let my make that choice myself? I forfeited that right just as much as you did,”

“I don’t see how,”

“I walked away from you... I made that choice.” 

“But did you have a choice?” Draco countered softly.

I didn’t have a response for that. Not a good one that I could defend well. Sure, I could claim I did and that I made the choice... but back then, our hands were tied. There was fear and war and uncertainty, and perhaps I didn’t have a choice after all.

He spoke before I had the chance to form a sound argument.

“As you know work with Harry as well.”

“Yes,” I acknowledged.

“And that a week ago Friday was a bit of a disaster for the both of us,”

“Wouldn’t be one of my least favorite nights, but a disaster... sure.” I drawled, raising an eyebrow. He ignored my taunt and pressed on.

“Harry suggested that I take you out to make it up to you. Hence the invitation that one day and then our date yesterday,” His explanation made me pause.

“That was a date?” I asked, anxiety growing in my chest of where this could go.

“I mean... it fit all the perimeters of a date.” He was testing the waters as much as I was.

I let out a short laugh.

“I suppose it did,” I nodded to the paper in front of us.

“He also said that perhaps I shouldn’t have to be inebriated to figure out and express my emotions toward you—or anyone for that matter,” He tacked on, a mumbled mess.

“I... you—”

“You asked me why I would say something like what I said,” Draco gave, pressing on, not giving me a moment to process. “I doubt you remember it—you were half awake—but... No matter how much I’ve lost the right and privilege, I want you in my life, Y/n. Apart of it, if you’re willing,”

They talked about time freezing around you and how everything comes into focus. And that there are moments when all of the heartache and pain will one day count for something, and perhaps this was it. This was that moment. That point that I could make all of the pain and tears mean something beautiful. Something not quite new, but no longer old and forgotten.

“I... I want you in my life too,” I whispered the confession. “It’s... it’s really nice... to have you back,” My gaze dropped to the counter and the tea in my hands as guilt pierced through me.

“Can... can you ever forgive me? For all the hurt and pain I’ve caused you? Have I done too much that there’s no hope?”

“I... I never blamed you.” I admitted. “Or if I did, I don’t now. But Draco, we’re both different people now. I... I need your patience. Because as much as I want to say yes, I... I don’t know. I don’t know what hurts are going to come back up or what scars might reopen... If you’re willing to deal with that...”

“If you’re willing to deal with the rumors and gossip and stuffy life that I lead... I’ll wait a thousand lifetimes for you to be ready again,”

________________________

The kindness and forgiveness in your eyes brought him back. Way back. To the Yule Ball when you had been introduced to him. It was a dance of formalities and posture. He knew that you were a bit of a flirt, but after spending time with you, he could see that your bright over-friendly personality earned you such a reputation.

When Draco was younger, when he was at Hogwarts, when you were by his side, he thought he knew three things that would never change.

The first was that he was a Malfoy. He had to marry rich, marry whoever his parents picked out for him. There was no debate about that. It was the way things were. Keep the pureblood line going and the wealth in the family, if not expound upon it. He was the only son of his parents and it was his duty to carry the name on, carry it higher. He was a Malfoy.

The second was that as soon as he saw your face, that all changed. There was no one quite like you. He had never met anyone who matched him heart and mind and yet somehow you were kind and gentle at the same time. Your intelligent eyes that made him forget his name. He knew there would never be a day that he didn’t love you. That freedom you gave. He loved you.

And thirdly: he was betrothed to Astoria Greengrass.

That was about a decade ago. Now, only one of those things held true. Blinking away the memories and thoughts, he met your intelligent determined eyes once more. Everything came crashing down around him. The truth.

Draco didn’t have to marry rich. He had and the girl he married had an affair with another man and he was free from the obligation. He was no longer engaged to Astoria. He no longer had to entertain her listless petty stories or her frivolous shallow needs. He had a son. That kept the family name going, that kept the pureblood line alive.

But Draco still loved you.

And God damn him if he wouldn’t find every way to express that to you.

Maybe that was the reason behind his further actions. It was the reasoning behind why he reached out to you, stroking your face softly as he did long ago. He caressed your cheek as if it were precious marble, a sculpture given to him by the gods.

And for the first time in ten years, Draco didn’t have to fantasize what it would be like to kiss you again. He didn’t have to desperately cling to how your lips felt against his. He didn’t have to deny how much he missed you.

Frozen under his touch, Draco worried that perhaps this was something he should regret. That he should stop. That he should deny still.

But your hand came up slowly, not to push him away but to hold him close as he held you, cradling his face as if he were the most precious thing to you. Your fingers curled into his hair, causing the butterflies in his chest to set flight. Your soft sounds were met with his steady purrs.

His tongue danced with yours in a forgotten waltz. Even after all this time you still tasted the same: sweet, alluring, and faintly like chai.

But you pulled away all too soon for his liking.

“You’re gonna be the death of me one day, Malfoy,” A smile curled on your lips.

“‘Til death do we part,” He jested lightly, earning a slight giggle from you as you pulled away and rebalanced yourself on the barstool.

“So... are we doing this? Like actually doing this?” You asked, fear lurking in your voice.

“I will do everything I can to make this right. To do this properly. To give you what you deserve,” He couldn’t quite understand why you laughed this time.

“I know you love your rules and traditions, but Draco I don’t need any of that and I don’t want any of that. I just want you. To get to know you again. To get to know Scorpius. I want my friend back,”

The desperate plea in your voice mirrored in your eyes and maybe he understood you a bit better and maybe himself, because he wanted that as well. He wanted you in his life. Woven into it. And possibly the first step to having that, was to get to know you again.

So, he would wait. He would learn. And he would love you till his dying day. 

“That would be enough,” Draco smiled softly and took your hand into his.

A few months of dates and quiet nights and lunches together in the break room and the rumors in the papers seemed to fade and the shock value seemed to wane to others. But Draco was still amazed that you decided to stay by his side. That you let him back into your narrative. That you completely adored Scorpius more than his own mother ever did.

As you crouched beside Scorpius and a peacock on the Manor grounds as the three of you took an evening stroll, the smile you gave him made him believe that the past ten years were nothing but a terrible dream. A trial to prove that he had earned this reward.

Though you had asked for patience, it turned out that he needed some as well. Draco had no idea how deep seeded the betrayal from Astoria and his supposed best friend affected him. There were times that he grew angrier than he meant to. There were times he was harsher than he wanted to be. There were times he was more distant than he needed to be. There were times that he was more reckless than he should be.

And there were times when something lingered in your eyes that he didn’t quite enjoy. Fear, or hesitancy. There were new boundaries that you had, and he had learned to respect. You weren’t the same girl he knew at Hogwarts. You were independent, confident, self-made, but still kind and gentle. You didn’t depend on him for everything. You didn’t lean into every touch. You didn’t smile at every jest. His perspective of you changed, and he loved every change made.

A weekend when Scorpius had gone to his parent’s house in Paris for a weekend was the night that Draco truly felt alone for the first time in a long time—since you had been back in his life. As the hour grew later, he paced his study, debating on going to see you, knowing well you’d still be awake.

As the ghosts of his past came to life and overpowered your gentle voice in his mind, Draco was decided. Drawing his wand, he apparated straight to you.

“What in Merlin’s name!?” You demanded, wand drawn, looking frantic, only relaxing when you saw that it was him.

“I... couldn’t sleep. Everything is...” His voice was small, like a frightened child.

You lowered your wand as he stood in the doorway of your bedroom. Running a hand through your hair you sighed softly. He knew he was asking a lot—too much even. It had been a boundary of yours. You weren’t ready to sleep with him—innocently, not sensually—yet.

“Well, come on then,” You smiled softy, sliding over in your bed. “Just like old times,” His memory flickered back to the sleepless nights in the dorms at Hogwarts behind drawn drapes.

“This isn’t me trying—” Draco started, not wanting to push your boundary. He’d sleep on the couch for Merlin’s sake. He just wanted to be near someone who cared for him.

“I know,” You replied softly, reading him like an open book, as you were always able to. 

“And I don’t—”

You rose from your bed, going over to him.

“Still trust me?” You whispered, your hands running up his arms, earning a shudder from him.

Draco nodded; his gaze transfixed on you. He knew what the question meant. It had been a routine of yours at Hogwarts. When he couldn’t seem to get a grip on the day and came to you at night, you were always there to care for him.

And you were there now.

Slowly you unbuttoned his shirt, leaving it to the floor. Going over to your dresser, you pulled out one a shirt that he recognized as his and placed it in his hands. He gripped the fabric tightly.

“You kept this?” His eyebrow furrowed.

A shrug left your shoulders as you neared your dresser again, opening another drawer. “Cotton or fleece?” The question was soft.

“Cotton,”

“I have flannel?” You offered, pulling out a pair of plaid sweats.

“That’ll do,” Draco smiled as you handed him the pants; he gripped them tightly as well.

“You’re safe,” You encouraged, stroking his cheek. “No one’s going to hurt you. No one expects anything of you. You’re alright here... You’re with me,”

“You knew I was coming,” It wasn’t an accusation.

“Eventually, yes. You hate nights alone.” The warmth of your eyes was intoxicating. 

“I prefer it when you’re here,” He admitted.

“Then go change and we can get some sleep, yeah?”

That night had been quiet. It had taken some time, but eventually you laid in his arms, holding onto him as he held onto you. Silent tears fell for the both of you—of fear and acceptance and a new beginning. A step forward.

..........

Draco paced the floor, keeping a close watch to his temper as you arrived, looking confused and worried. And with the scarce information that he gave to you, it was well placed. Without a word—fearing that it might not be a kind one— he led you into the den, to where Scorpius was sitting on the couch, looking guilty and repentant.

“Scorpius,” Draco’s voice was concise and controlled. “Would you care to explain exactly what you told me to Miss Y/n?”

Some anger leaked through. A gentle hand on his shoulder reminded him to find calmness. A gentle smile on your face appeased and welcomed Scorpius as he began to speak.

“I... well... mother left. And papa had these letters... I found them and...I didn’t know who she was... but I thought—” the young boy stammered. “Father always has potions on hand down in his study... I thought that—if I just... he could be happy again,” Scorpius’ voice broke as he started to cry.

Your face crumpled softly, and Draco could see that you yearned to reach out to Scorpius and gather him into your arms but you refrained.

“So, you’re the one who drugged Draco,” You understood his son’s words, not nearly as upset as Draco had been because something else held your attention. “You kept my letters?” You seemed baffled. “All this time?”

Draco scoffed and his face remained stoic, but his cheeks tinged pink, affirming what you had said. And possibly it was the right thing to call you over to deal with this because with calmness and kindness that he never could find, you reprimanded Scorpius.

“Do you understand how dangerous that was?” You scolded. “Potions are not something to be played with or mixed. You could have really hurt your father.”

“I know,” Scorpius cried out, tears falling. “But—he... I thought I could get some answers. Find out who he loved—”

Your eyes met his with wonder and curiosity. There was no escaping that one. Draco wasn’t sure he wanted to avoid it.

“Okay,” Draco pinched the bridge of his nose, his face folded into a pained expression. “We’ll talk about this later young man, now go start your studies.”

“Yes sir,” Scorpius nodded and disappeared into the house.

“Draco don’t be hard on him,” You pleaded, reaching out to him. “He’s just a kid,”

“I know,” Draco sighed, taking your hands. “That’s why I called you. I knew you’d handle it better than I ever could.”

“I’m not his mother, Draco,” You reminded him softly. “I don’t have authority here,”

Draco held his tongue before he really did ask you to be Scorpius’ mother but Merlin he wanted to. And maybe you could see that in his eyes because you looked down, flushing.

“He does seem truly sorry,” You changed the topic quickly before something was confessed after all.

“I think so,” Draco looked to the door from Scorpius had exited. Sighing softly, a hopeless chuckle left his lips. “As livid I am that he got into my stuff, and that I was drugged by a six- year-old, it brought me back to you,”

“I suppose it did,” You smiled. “As long as he promises to keep from your stuff, and to come to talk to you instead of taking matters into his own hands... I don’t see any harm.”

Draco nodded and pulled you into his arms, finding comfort in your solace and steady compassion.

“So...” You drawled, pulling away from him. “You kept my letters?” A mischievous smirk fell upon your face as you raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yes,” He admitted, defeated. “I know, I know. It’s wrong and—” You burst out laughing, causing him to pause.

“I kept yours too,” Beaming at him, you reached up and stroked his cheek. “Granted I didn’t read them until again the day we got caught in the rain...”

Draco chuckled softly and drew you in for a kiss, marveled that you were even standing in front of him.

______________________________

There was a day that Draco did ask me. Another four words that made my heart soar and want to scream from the rooftops that he was truly mine. It had taken some time, make no mistake. It was redefining what it meant to be married and figuring out what it meant to marry for love and not advantage, but we made it. There was love, patience, and a strong foundation.

“Ginny, I can’t do this,” I whispered, tearing my eyes away from the mirror. “I... I’m not a wife... I—”

“Hush,” She ordered and fixed a hair that was out of place. “You’re the perfect one for him,” 

“But... me? Getting married? I can’t.”

“You love him, don’t you?” She tested, and I nodded, not trusting my voice. “And you can’t see a day without him in your future?” I nodded again, fighting back tears.

Ginny’s face softened. “I know,” She took my hand. “It’s a lot and it’s scary sometimes, but you deserve this. You deserve a happily ever after with a man who is willing to do what it takes to give it to you,”

I looked down at the floral lace of my dress, blinking away the moisture in my eyes. 

“Maybe you’re right...” I murmured.

“Of course, I am,” She smiled and picked up my bouquet, offering it to me.

Cannon in D began, and the door opened. My veil hid the water in my eyes and the fear on my face. Fears that faded when I saw him at the end of the aisle. He looked just as nervous as I did. It made me smile. It was so like him to be nervous about this. I almost laughed.

I took Harry’s elbow and inhaled deeply.

“You look beautiful,” He murmured.

“Thank you,” I mumbled back as we made our way down the aisle.

Harry placed my hand into Draco’s, and I felt secure. I felt safe and sure of my future. My eyes darted to Scorpius who I had seen grown up the past couple of years. He waved to me and I giggled before turning back to Draco.

There were tears in his eyes as he beamed down at me, our vows exchanged, and rings placed. 

“Don’t you cry,” I scolded quietly. “Because then I’ll start crying,”

“I’ve waited so long for this day,” He defended. “I’m allowed to cry,”

I laughed as my husband leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, sealing our promise to each other.

.

masterlist

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more like this:

beautifully beastly

together in paris

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[valiantsword]

     truth be told, arthur had tuned out of their conversation several blocks back.  he hated to do it because every word from astoria’s lips was an absolute gift the would cherish until the end of time.  but, he’d caught a flash of something out of the corner of his eye.  at first he thought, maybe, coincidence.  then, they rounded a corner and noticed the same face had trailing them.  glass store fronts were amazing things, especially at night.  people tended to forget they could be used like a mirror.  even then, arthur did his best for due diligence.  last thing he wanted was to alarm astoria despite the fact they’d already had to fend off an attack previously in the trip.

     the immortal did his best smile and nod.  when he caught a few interesting words he tried to converse back.  for instance, who’s terrified of rabbits?  unless that was after the weird child’s book about the vampire bunny.  who tells children about a blood sucking bunny?

     “ i was afraid of my father’s horse at first.  when i was little i was afraid of getting trampled.  never saw it happen.  never heard of it happening but i would see that giant horse and just think about getting steamrolled. “  arthur shrugged.  he even managed a grin because the memory almost made him forget about the blurry face from that storefront window.  there was also a time he’d been too busy running towards his mother to notice a horse riding by and he did almost get trampled.  that story was a little harder to blend into a modern scenario, though.  arthur worried that divulging too much of nimue would somehow turn on the neon immortal sign over his head.

     in theory, the alley was the perfect place to be.  astoria could protect herself if it came down to it and arthur needed to be more confident than he was about being followed.  everyone walked in europe.  so, being on the same path as another or even several others for long stretches of time was not uncommon.  he didn’t want to alarm her if it was just a matter of coincidence.  at this point, though, there’d been too many turns.  too many things that sat funny in his stomach.  even if he turned out to be wrong he wanted astoria to be prepared.

     “ i would be terrified of tories if i lived in london, so i don’t blame you.  when i’m home in cornwall i cringe to think what those nasty politicians have been up to.  half are still more irritated about being under the jack than they are of taking care of the people. “  the smile returns more easily than it should considering the circumstances  but arthur manages it all the same.

     with their stop, he takes the opportunity to move in front of her.  before looking down he looks behind in time to see a shadow kick into another.  hiding, perhaps.  if they were being followed he had to wonder how amateur the tale was.  or, he was being highly paranoid after the first attack.  either way, the immortal takes the opportunity to lean in, planting a kiss that is not only gentle but dares to linger several seconds longer than he is comfortable.  then, he comes in for another.  as arthur leans in for a third he stops just shy in order to start whispering, “ i think we have company. “

     standing straight the smile returns but it’s a little tighter as it’s meant for show as opposed to anything genuine.  “ i’m hoping to know for sure once we get to the other side of the alley.  not sure if you’ve been able to determine intention either way.  but, if they take one more turn after us i will do some punching in order to ask questions. “  one more kiss for good luck.  “ ready? “

@valiantsword said: ❝   you can’t be serious.   ❞

"Deadly serious, I'm afraid," Astoria reports, her voice and expression both grave. "When I was a little girl I was absolutely terrified of rabbits."

Another night courting death, and it feels less like danger and more like, well, a date: they stroll through the city, or a park, or a garden long after the sun has set and the streets become less crowded, enjoying the comfortable evening chill and waiting to see if someone takes another shot at them. She'd be irritated by their failure to draw out an enemy were she not enjoying the process quite so much. Arthur, always close by, was excellent company even before she gave herself permission to be as absurdly attached as she is, and now that they've had that conversation, it's only gotten better.

Then again, it means that there have been all too many moments when they really should have been targeted—the evening they spent in Volksgarten, wrapped around each other like teenagers, Arthur pressing her back against a tree while she slipped a hand under the hem of his shirt and forgot what they were doing there; or the night they spent sitting on a bridge in Aigner Park, feet dangling over the edge while they talked, so enraptured with their conversation that they'd completely lost track of time until the sun started to creep over the horizon. Or tonight, deliberately ducking down every poorly-lit alleyway and seedy backstreet, looking so like clueless tourists she's almost shocked that they aren't getting jumped.

And she's sure now that their cover holds: she looks the part of the enamored new bride, she knows, sneaking glances at Arthur when she thinks he's not looking, letting her lips curl up in a slow and sweet smile when he calls for her attention, even going so far as to slip her arm around his waist and her hand into the pocket of his jeans as they walked one morning. She practically shimmers with excitement when he calls her Birdy, at this stage. She sleeps well with company, she's learned, and she wakes morning after morning feeling safer than she thinks she probably should.

Superstition keeps her from questioning it. Something about the mouths of gift horses. Tonight her fingers are laced into his, and the expression she wears when she looks his way is the same one that made the concierge at the current hotel ask her, in uneven and accented Italian, if you always stay so in love after being together for a while. She tries not to give over too much time to daydreaming about clearing out room in the bathroom off her bedroom back in New York for whatever he uses to keep his hair that soft. She fails miserably.

And, hell, maybe it was a fluke. Maybe it was a wild coincidence, a particularly violent mugging that would have done irreparable damage to any other set of tourists. Either way, tomorrow, they go after the book, and she finds she's actually excited at the thought of it. It's so much less frightening to not have to do this alone.

(She wonders sometimes why she bothered spending so many years on her own, before she remembers that it's not always like this with someone else. This is because it's him. She tries not to think too much about that, either.)

"You're the one who said you wanted to know me better. Now you know my deep, dark childhood fear." The street is slick from rain, and she hardly notices, enamored as she is with the company instead. "I got over it by the time I was about five, for what it's worth. After that it was normal things, like axe murderers. And, after I moved to London, Tories. Your turn." She tugs lightly at his hand, stops in the middle of the alley they'd been wandering down, raises her eyebrows with a mischievous grin. "Unless you want to distract me."

[holden-caulfield]

Stairway To Heaven

↪︎ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

Summary: draco and reader are best friends. Or so she thinks.

Warnings: one swear word i think.

Word Count: 1555

This is not inspired by the song in any way, but the title was fitting sooo

//

You and Draco had been friends for a very long time, since you could remember, and yet it wasn't unusual for you to be found arguing with the blond at least once a day. Sometimes you would argue about his rude attitude or the latest student he had bullied, but most of the times you simply wanted to tease him. Apparently, seeing what new witty remark he could come up with was the highlight of you day. You loved the banter that characterized your friendship and you couldn't really imagine your life without it.

"I'm telling you, you two are made for each other!" squealed Pansy from the big couch in your common room.

"We are just friends, Pansy! Friends!" you replied incredulously as you plopped down beside her.

"Yeah, just friends... Y/n, it's so obvious!"

"Are you sure you're okay?" you asked feigning concern as you put your hand on her forehead to check her temperature.

"Oh, shove off!" she scolded, swatting your hand away. "Don't tell me you've never thought about it!"

"Of course not!" you lied.

You had thought about you and Draco being something more quite a few times now, but the prospect of ruining everything was enough for you to put that thought aside. You found yourself daydreaming about his soft blond hair and his sharp jawline more than you cared to admit. Not to talk about his eyes, always looking at you and making you feel as if you were the most precious thing in the world.

But you couldn't ruin your friendship. He probably didn't feel the same way and even if he did you couldn't risk losing what you had. The ease, the trust, the teasing.

In that moment, someone descended the stairs of the boys' dormitory, Draco. You and Pansy looked up at him, eyes wide. He stopped behind the couch, confused by the weird stares that you and Pansy were giving him.

"What?"

"Have you heard us?" you asked, slightly panicked. You didn't know why you were feeling this anxious, maybe some part of you wanted him to feel something for you other than friendly affection.

"Why? Were you talking about me?" his face instantly lit up with a smug smile and he leaned on the couch with his elbows.

"Why yes, in fact. I was just telling Pansy how immensely insufferable you are." you retorted, feeling incredibly relieved knowing that he hadn't heard you.

He got up from his previous place and resumed his path towards the door of the common room, scoffing. Before exiting, he added another comment, smirking playfully, "Oh and Pansy, me and y/l/n? Really? I hoped you thought more highly of me."

You knew it was nothing more than a joke, but why did it hurt? He had obviously heard you, he heard you saying that you couldn't even picture him as your boyfriend and he had said the same thing, yet it hurt more than you imagined. Maybe Pansy was right.

The next few days, you tried to forget about your new-found feelings for your best friend and your last conversation, but it was easier said than done. You felt as if you owed him some kind of explanation even though he expressively said he saw you just as a friend. Nothing more.

"Draco, wait a moment!" you began, preventing him from entering your first class of the day. He simply raised his brows and you continued.

"I wanted to apologize. For the other day. I shouldn't have said that."

"Said what?" you rolled your eyes, he was one of the smartest people you knew and yet he could be really daft sometimes.

"About you. That i could never see you as something else."

"But you are right. We are friends, nothing else." with that he left you alone and entered the classroom. You didn't know whether his answer cheered you up or devastated you. Definitely the second.

You tried behaving as always, but he seemed to be ignoring you. You had almost all of your classes together and yet he managed to avoid you every single time. Even when you could actually talk to him, he was different, he was suddenly very cold. He was with everyone but he had never been with you and this really bothered you. So you decided to confront him, you decided that you would have told him what you felt: your friendship was already in jeopardy, might as well completely ruin it. The idea terrified you, Draco had always been by your side and imagining a life without him seemed impossible. Maybe you did like him. Maybe you did love him.

"Draco! Draco, we have to talk!" but Draco sped up, not even glancing up. He had no right to ignore you like that so you quickened your pace to match his.

"Draco, we need to talk!" but the boy continued on walking, ignoring you completely.

"Fine! If you don't want to talk, you are going to listen." you asserted and Draco simply covered his ears. Mouth agape, you stared at him, still walking, almost running. The audacity of this man.

You swatted his hands away and he glared at you. He had never glared at you, not in that way. Pure hatred seemed to dance in his icy eyes, even colder than usual. You took a deep breath and started your speech which eventually turned in an incoherent mumbling.

"Listen Draco, i don't know what i did to deserve this, but i highly doubt i did something so spiteful to earn this kind of treatment." he still wasn't looking at you and continued his way towards the common room, but in his eyes something changed, he looked almost ashamed.

"You are incredibly important to me, you've never shown me anything but support and that's why i could never forgive myself if i involuntarily hurt you in some way. You are my best friend, for Merlin's sake!" Draco's eyes seemed to harden again and a scowl started to paint on his face.

"And i won't deny you that you're even more than a friend to me." Draco finally side glanced at you as the two of you were now walking up the stairs, surrounded by hundred of paintings looking at you curiously.

"I care about you so much and you don't even look at me. Every day i look forward to see your stupid face and hear your stupid voice, to have one of our usual stupid conversations and hear your stupid laugh so that every night i can go to sleep and think about your beautiful face and your beautiful voice, about our conversations and your laugh that i wouldn't trade for the whole bloody world." Draco was proceeding increasingly slower and you were walking side by side, trying to get him to look you in the eyes as you kept on going upwards.

"At least look at me, you stupid, unbearable, prissy, arrogant, pretty, handsome git!" your face was red with anger but he didn't stop. "Because what i'm trying to tell you is that i l-"

Draco abruptly grasped your waist and pulled you closer to him. You had been so engrossed in your discourse that you hadn't even noticed that the stairs were changing and that you were about to fall, one foot already dangling in the air. But Draco caught you and you were now pressed against his chest while he gazed at the void you were about to fall in. His chest rose up and down wildly and you could hear his heart thumping at a ridiculously quick pace under your cheek.

The stairs stopped again in front of a corridor but neither of you seemed to able to move. Then, Draco grasped your shoulders pulling you away from him but still exceedingly close.

"Are you ok?" his eyes searched yours for any signs of hurt and you just stared back.

"Are you talking to me now?" you asked sternly, making his expression go from one of concern to one of sorrow in a matter of seconds.

"I'm sorry, y/n." he admitted, eyes glinting as he held you firmly in front of him.

"For what? For being an asshole?"

"For not telling you before that i never wished for us to be just friends." his unexpected confession caused you to stare at him for a few seconds before a huge grin spread on your face and you took his pale face in your hands, which turned bright pink at the sudden contact. You kissed him, you finally kissed him.

"I advise keeping such displays of affection for closed doors." boomed a voice in front of you and you and Draco leapt backwards, clinging to the railing behind you with both hands. Snape eyed each of you with scorn before passing between you two and descending the stairs. "10 points from Slytherin."

As he got out of your sight, you couldn't help but burst out laughing and Draco followed swiftly. You then looked down at your feet, a big grin still plastered on your face. He inched closer, lifting your chin up to face him.

"So... you think i'm handsome." he said smugly.

"I also said that you are unbearable."

"Yes, but you think i'm handsome."

"But i-" he cut you off by reconnecting your lips together.

"I have to admit that i kinda like this new way of shutting me up."

//

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