Summary: When you're paired with Draco Malfoy for Herbology, you expected eye-rolls and dead plants. But, you don’t expect that the most sudden pairings bloom the brightest.
wc: 1.7k+
cw: Hufflepuff!reader x draco. FLUFF! FLUFF! FLUFF!, a very pouty reader who loves and names her plants.
A/N: Alright you got me. I made up some of the plants mentioned cause I got lazy going through all the canon plants in hp. I LOVE LOVE LOVE HUFFLEPUFF!READERS! 💞
⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰
You’d witnessed many botanical tragedies during your years in Hogwarts’ greenhouses—Mandrakes shrieking their way into fainting fits, Puffapods misfiring into clouds of spores, even a Dungbomb incident involving a Fanged Geranium with a grudge and poor aim—but nothing, not even that, prepared you for the quiet devastation that was Draco Malfoy trying to care for magical plants.
“This one’s supposed to be droopy, right?” Draco asked one chilly morning, holding up a miserable-looking Flitterbloom, his face in lost confusion. The plant sagged from his gloved fingers like a limp dishcloth, the edges tinged with black rot, its once vibrant fronds now hanging as though in mourning.
Professor Sprout audibly gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “No, Mr. Malfoy, it most certainly is not supposed to look like that! That poor dear is drowning in water it didn’t ask for!”
You bit down on your smile, valiantly trying not to laugh. You really did try. But the look on Draco’s face—offended, a little baffled, and thoroughly disgusted—was too much. Your shoulders shook with suppressed giggles, and Professor Sprout caught your eye with a hopeful glint.
“Y/N,” she said, a little too sweetly, “would you mind pairing up with Mr. Malfoy for the rest of the term? He could use someone with your… patience.”
You blinked, unsure whether you were being punished or knighted. “You want me to help him?”
“I don’t need help,” Draco snapped, standing straighter.
“You do,” you and Sprout said at the same time, your voices perfectly overlapped. Your eyes met. She looked vindicated. Draco looked betrayed.
And that was how you became Draco Malfoy’s unofficial plant handler.
⸻
You wore flowers like armor. Always. In your hair—violets carefully tucked into your braid, a daisy behind your ear, sprigs of baby's breath pinned like secrets. Your jumpers often had tiny embroidered petals curling down the sleeves or buttons shaped like blooming buds. When people asked, you just smiled like the flowers had chosen you that morning and not the other way around. Flowers were a part of you, just like freckles were a part of others.
“Is there a reason you always dress like a sentient meadow?” Draco asked once, squinting as you buttoned up a coat stitched with little yellow marigolds that seemed to flutter when you moved.
“It’s for luck,” you said serenely, smoothing a daffodil-shaped pin at your collar. “And it makes the plants feel at home.”
He stared like you’d just offered him a slice of moonlight for breakfast. “You think the plants care what you’re wearing?”
You tilted your head, genuinely perplexed. “You don’t?”
The first incident came swiftly. You’d barely begun working together when he attempted to nudge a Puffapod into blooming. One gentle poke was all it needed—delicate, respectful. Draco prodded it like it owed him an explanation, and it exploded in a soft-pink mushroom cloud of pollen.
You stood in stunned silence, covered in fuzz, bits of petal clinging to your braid like confetti. You tried not to pout. You really did. But you ended up cross-legged on the floor, mournfully collecting the petals and whispering soft apologies.
“She just needed patience,” you murmured, fingers brushing the frayed bloom. “A bit of kindness.”
Draco sneezed and looked utterly unconvinced. “It was a plant. Not a therapy client.”
“She had a name,” you said sharply, shooting him a glare. “Lulu.”
He gave you a flat look. “You named the Puffapod?”
You met his gaze with unflinching sincerity. “I would've told you her name if you didn't blow up her sister Lala earlier this year.
He sighed. "yeah... because plants have siblings."
The next week, he crushed a Bubotuber in a moment of casual irritation. One second he was ranting about someone stealing his socks, the next he squeezed the bulb like it had personally offended him. It responded by erupting in a burst of thick, greenish goo. Draco’s shriek of horror echoed off the greenhouse walls.
“You strangled her,” you said disappointed, trying not to frown as you dabbed away goo with a Moondew sprig.
“I barely touched it!”
“You manhandled her like she owed you money.”
“It attacked me!”
“She was terrified.”
He stumbled back, covered in yellow-green sludge. “Of what? My refined bone structure?”
You crouched next to the limp plant, wand raised, murmuring a soft charm. “Of being misunderstood. She’s very shy.”
Draco groaned. “Merlin help me. Not again.”
“She has a name,” you said firmly. “Matilda.”
“Of course she does.”
With a flick of your wand and a quiet word, Matilda shivered back to life, wiggling slightly in your palm. You leaned in and whispered something that made her glow faintly. She’d forgiven him. Barely.
“She’s a menace,” he muttered.
“She’s sensitive,” you corrected, stroking her stem.
Draco stared at you like he was trying to decide if this was some elaborate Hufflepuff prank. You smiled serenely and tucked a fallen blossom behind your ear.
By the fourth week, Draco had managed to offend a Flutterfern, enrage a Shrivelfig, and traumatize a Fanged Geranium into permanent wilt. The final straw came when he took pruning shears to a Venomous Tentacula like he was avenging a personal vendetta. It lashed out in protest, its tendrils flailing before curling in on themselves, whimpering.
You didn’t speak to him for the next twenty minutes.
Instead, you crouched beside the wounded plant, gently gathering its injured tendrils in your hands. You rocked slightly, whispering something ancient and low—more lullaby than incantation. Slowly, the Tentacula calmed. Its color returned in hesitant pulses. One vine curled around your wrist, tentative and grateful.
“You’ve got to be doing this on purpose,” Draco muttered from the other side of the greenhouse. “No one’s that bad at plants unless they’re cursed. Or a Gryffindor.”
You glanced up, your voice dry. “You think I’d hex my own greenhouse just to make you look bad?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “With great pleasure.”
You dusted soil from your cheek with a dramatic flourish. “I’m petty, Malfoy. Not suicidal.”
He eyed you, then your boots. “You’ve got roses on your socks.”
“They’re embroidered,” you replied, lifting your foot slightly to show him. “Climbing roses. Very resilient. A bit clingy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Like you?”
You grinned. “Like you.”
His ears turned pink.
The sixth time was different. He didn’t kill the plant. He merely terrified it.
A small Mandrake sat trembling on its roots while Draco hovered uncertainly nearby, brow furrowed, tongue between his teeth in sheer concentration, wondering how the hell did you manage to stop a mandrake from crying. You watched from a few feet away, arms crossed, trying not to interfere.
“If you’re going to loom like that,” Draco muttered, glancing sideways, “you might as well do it yourself.”
“I’m observing,” you said proudly. “You’re improving. That Mandrake hasn’t flinched in at least two minutes.”
“It keeps looking at me.”
“you mean, He. Well, duh he has eyes. Of course he's looking at you.”
“Judgmentally.”
“That’s a compliment,” you said. “He doesn’t usually acknowledge people he dislikes.”
Draco scowled, but the Mandrake remained intact. Which, for him, was practically a miracle. When he wasn’t looking, you snuck the plant a leaf treat. It quivered happily.
Later that afternoon, while you adjusted the angle of a sunlamp for your Asphodel, you sensed Draco stepping beside you. He didn’t say anything at first, just hovered—an odd, uncertain weight in the air. Then his voice came, softer than usual.
“You missed a spot.”
You turned, confused, just as he reached out. His thumb brushed a smudge of soil from your cheek, lingering a second too long. You froze.
The world narrowed. You forgot the cold, the damp, the faint buzzing of Pixie-flies overhead. For one suspended breath, it was just you, him, and the inch of air between your faces.
He cleared his throat abruptly and pulled his hand back. “You had… dirt. On your face.”
“Oh.” You touched the spot instinctively. “Thanks.”
He turned away, cheeks faintly pink. You didn’t say anything. Your heart was too loud.
⸻
All term, you’d been tending to a single Moonlily in the corner of Greenhouse Three. Once silver-bright, it had withered into something curled and gray, like it had forgotten what light felt like. Every class, you brought it a fresh blossom, whispered to it like an old friend. “I’m still here,” you told it. “Come back when you’re ready.”
Draco never asked about it. But he noticed. You caught him glancing at it when he thought you weren’t looking. Watching the way you cared.
And then came the last day of term.
Most students had left for the holidays. Snow pressed against the greenhouse windows, and frost dusted the vines in glittering white. You were alone, brushing a light dusting of ice from the soil, when you heard the sound of footsteps.
Draco.
He looked a little windblown, hair tousled, scarf half-untied. In one gloved hand, he held something fragile. Small. Pale.
A pot with a single marigold.
Its stem was crooked. Its petals trembled. But it was alive.
“I, uh… Professor Sprout helped,” he said quickly, almost defensive. “A bit. Mostly she just stopped me from killing it.”
You stared, lips parting. He shifted, awkward.
“It’s not perfect,” he said.
You reached out and took it gently, your fingers brushing his. The flower quivered in your palm like it knew who had grown it.
“It’s exquisite.” you whispered.
His shoulders sagged, some tightness easing in his jaw. “I... It reminded me of you. It's bright and... pretty. Very, pretty.”
You stepped closer.
“Thank you,” you murmured, voice thick with something you didn’t dare name. “I love it.”
And then, without thinking, you kissed him.
It was soft, tentative—dirt-smudged noses, cold fingers brushing warm cheeks, and the quiet, sweet hush of something just beginning. He tasted of peppermint tea and the kind of wonder that comes only after you’ve stopped pretending not to care.
Behind you, something stirred.
You turned as the Moonlily—the one you’d nurtured all term—gave a shiver, then slowly unfurled. Its silver petals caught the moonlight and glowed like a promise, blooming with the kind of gentle pride only magic, patience, and love can grow.
Draco stared, wide-eyed. “Was that... because of us?”
You clutched the flower he'd given you to your chest, heart fluttering. “She’s been waiting. I think... she felt it.”
He looked at you, the usual edge in his voice softened into awe. “You’re completely mad.”
You grinned, breathless. “You still think the plants don’t notice?”
And then, for the first time all term, Draco Malfoy laughed—really laughed. It spilled into the greenhouse like sunlight after rain, warm and unexpected.
“Fine,” he said, shaking his head. “Maybe they do.”
You reached up and tucked the crooked little flower he’d grown into your braid, letting it nestle behind your ear like it had always belonged there.
“Then they’ve clearly been paying more attention than you have.”
Draco Malfoy had many names. Malfoy heir, Slytherin's seeker, Draco, Asshole, Prat, Tosser, Playboy, flirt, daddy's boy, Slytherin's Prince or 'my precious boy' (the last one was from his grandmother).
But the most precious one to him was 'dray'. Because that was what his loving mother called him.
No one else could do so without being hexed or get a deathly glare from him.
That included his now ex-girlfriend Genevieve Finning.
She was the worst girlfriend he ever had. Because she treated him like her personal plaything. Each mood swing she had was more exhausting. It felt as if he had to walk on eggshells around her.
The worst part was that she would pull him in, shower him with affection and love and then suddenly throw him away without a second thought. As if he was her personal toy that she could use to her liking.
Draco hated it.
And he hated himself even more for always coming back to her.
You on the other hand had a similar problem. Your ex Matthew Grandole ripped your heart out of your chest and apparently thought it was the funniest thing to dance with another girl right in front of you at every party you attended.
It hurt like hell.
And you couldn't always turn away anymore.
Just like right now. You had to watch him dance all night with some girl he clearly was only using to hurt you.
His glances at you were painfully obvious just like the grin he had when he saw that you were watching.
Feeling slightly depressed and brokenhearted you went to the bar, hoping that a drink would lighten your mood and help your heavy heart.
Coincidentally Draco had the same thought and so both of you sat at the bar.
Taking your glass you turned sideways to a seat when your face crashed into a chest. The person In front of you let out a groan, clearly annoyed. Both of the drinks were now half empty. Spilled on the floor and on the two of you.
"Sorry..." You muttered half-heartedly.
"No.. it's fine." He sighed.
You looked up from the chest and felt your heart jump out of your chest in fear.
Oh no. You just spilled your drink accidentally over Draco Malfoy.
Draco sighed. Great, just his luck. As if today wasn't bad enough already.
Genevieve had tossed him aside this morning, again. After he said that he was tired of this.
Claiming Draco was controlling and manipulative she said he was 'clipping her wings' and that was more or less the end of it, again. She said it was over and Draco stood tired and a little less heartbroken there since this was at least the thirtiest time in the past two months that this had happened.
The only thing different this time was that he felt anger bubbling up inside of him. Never had he ever caged her in. It felt more like he had walked on glass shards around her, scared of when the next pieces shattered and cut him open yet again.
Meanwhile you had taken at least ten napkins and tried to dry his shirt and help him clean up.
"...you are....Hm..." he said tired.
"O-oh s-sorry... Y/n... Y/n Silvermoon."
At the mentioning of your last name a bell rang in the back of his head.
He vaguely remembered that your families had some sort of business deal.
Under normal circumstances he would have first threatened then hexed or cussed (at) you. But these weren't normal circumstances. He was just unbelievably tired.
Taking a deep breath he said quietly "listen... I am too tired for this. Just... Stop."
You froze mid movement and glanced up at him.
Taking slow steps back, you apologised again and tried to get away quickly.
The word try was very important, because not even three steps in backing away someone, a bit too drunk already, didn't realise their surroundings and knocked into Draco, causing him to lose his balance and falling onto you.
He could hear the air leaving your lungs as your body hit the ground, softening his landing significantly.
He felt the anger bubbling up inside of him. Who dared to knock Draco Malfoy down?!
His head snapped back while he slowly lifted himself up,from this very awkward position.
He was glaring at the person who caused this, but they already had disappeared.
And now the surrounding people noticed the two on the floor.
Whistles and cheers could be heard within seconds.
Great.
Just your luck.
Draco Malfoy and you just became the newest gossip theme for the next several days.
Grumbling frustrated, Draco finally stood up and while he felt embarrassed, he still had his manners so he helped you off the floor which did nothing else than put more fuel into the fire.
He was sure that at breakfast tomorrow, the whole damn castle knew what had happened.
"Are you alright?" You squeaked out before you could change your mind.
"Peachy" he said sarcastically. But when he looked at you he felt a bit bad. You were just as much of a victim here as he was.
So he nodded in your direction and asked "and you?".
"Delightful." You said even more sarcastically.
That caused him to give you a half-smile.
He glanced down to your clothes and snorted.
"Seems like we are even." It was then that you noticed Draco's drink had half spilled over you.
You laughed slightly and nodded, taking another few napkins from the bar and trying to clean yourself up this time.
He offered you a few more napkins and pulled you slightly into a more quieter corner.
"So... Who are you trying to forget?" He asked while looking into his drink, leaning against the wall.
"W-who said I am trying to forget someone?!" You asked a bit too defensive.
"Oh common... It's so obvious. The empty shot glasses on the bar table, the drifting off and staring into space."
You narrowed your eyes "You must have been watching me an awful long time by now if you noticed that."
Draco cought clearly flustered that he had been caught.
"N-no! I-i was just... Observing...uh.. the atmosphere. Yes the atmosphere!"
"That was a terrible try to safe yourself." A laugh, your laugh, could be heard. Draco blinked rapidly at first. This wasn't what he had expected. Then, slowly he laughed with you.
"Alright. I just thought you looked just as heartbroken as I felt." He admitted.
"You feel heartbroken?! Who would dare to break your heart?"
"Someone who enjoys to play with me. She probably thinks it is fun to see the great Draco Malfoy act like a pathetic fool."
"That is rubbish!"
He raised a brow while you covered your mouth wide-eyed.
"I-i just meant that anyone should feel honoured if another person offers them their heart in a sincere and trustful way. If you do not feel the same you should at least be able to let them down slowly and gently and not use their feelings to your liking."
He could feel his heart skip a beat.
"You really think so?"
You nodded. "I do."
Suddenly he had a 'good' idea. (Later you could argue about if it really was a good idea but being drunk and hurt really causes bad ideas to seem like the best Idea you ever had.)
"Say.... Do you maybe want to show them the middle finger by showing them that we are over them?"
You gave him a grin. "Sure but how would we do that?"
"Like this!" He smashed his lips against yours.
Both of your glasses went to the floor.
The stages of shock,confusion,anger, relaxation and acceptance went through you within seconds.
And it ended with your hands in his hair, his around your waist and cheers from nearby people.
After a few minutes the oxygen was getting dangerous low for both of you. After parting your lips from the other, he whispered only for you to hear "play along okay?"
A almost nonexistent nod was your response.
Draco lifted you up and turned to the nearest wall, pressing you up against it and whispering further.
"I want revenge." He played slightly with your hair. "And I think you do too. So... Why don't we pretend to be stupidly in love. Make them regret hurting us and suffer while we are thriving in this... 'relationship'. What do you say?"
"... I'm in." He smirked triumphant.
"Wonderful. Any basic rules?"
"No touching below the waist and no touching that is too sensual. Also private places stay private. The feeling stuff will be discussed later not now. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" He twirled a loose strand of your hair gently.
"What are you doing?" You said a bit flustered.
"Well it has to look like I am already flirting with you. And if we want to make it more believable I have to put on a damn good show so that everyone will believe the Slytherin prince fell for the gentle and sweet Hufflepuff sunshine."
"Um.." you couldn't get the words out.
"Shhh just let me do the work darling, I promise our revenge will be so satisfying that even your grandkids will hear about it."
"I don't want children." You said.
He chuckled. "Alright then future students will hear about how legendary this was."
He gave you a smirk. "Now... I will whisper into your ear how I imagine this plan, if you agree, just take my hand if you don't, gently push me away."
He leaned even closer.
"After tonight, we start slow. A glance here a little shy wave there. Then we get closer. More touches, a hug, holding hands, play fights. At some point I'll probably lift you up and carry you over my shoulder."
"What?!" You gasped a bit shocked.
Draco chuckled and gently pulled you a bit closer.
"Relax darling, one step at a time. For now...let me whisper into your ear."
He leaned so close to your ear that his lips almost touched the shell.
"So...I assume it is the ugly bloke who is staring or more likely glaring a hole into the back of my head ,that broke your heart darling.."
You nodded slightly, while glancing behind Draco at Matthew.
"A shame if you ask me." Slightly hurt and offended you looked back at him.
But before you could protest about Draco seemingly offending you he continued.
"He clearly doesn't know who he lost tonight. Ignore him Darling.... Just keep your eyes on me!" Draco gently moved your face back to him. Causing you to only see him.
"I promise this will be satisfying for both of us. I am sure Genevieve is fuming by now." He chuckled with a satisfied grin.
"Is that your ex?"
"Unfortunately." He tried to keep his face nonchalant but you could see the slight cracks in his usual smug and arrogant facade.
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine." He let out a sigh.
"You didn't know."
You glanced around a bit awkward, suddenly very aware of the closeness between you two.
"So...the ground rules and the plan for tomorrow and later is set... What..do we do now?" You asked a bit more excited but mostly to try and change the subject.
"We continue where we stopped. Ready?"
"Wait...what do you-" he kissed you again. More certain, more passionate, more as if his very existence depended on your lips locked on his.
Melting into it again you just went with the flow and found his head again. Your fingers ran through his hair within seconds.
You could faintly hear a glass breaking in the distance and a scoff but it didn't matter to you anymore. Because somehow this, Draco Malfoy Kissing you as if he was head over heels for you, healed something inside you, even if you knew it was just pretending, and just for show.
Draco could hear glass breaking, scoffing and the loud heartbeat of his heart pounding in his ears. He would lie if he said this intense makeout session was not affecting him at all.
Your hands in his hair, your relaxing body against his and the gentle kiss you gave him, even if he could feel that you were trying very hard to match his passion, it did something to him. He wasn't sure what but it felt so fucking right.
It never felt this good with Genevieve.
With you it felt more like a gentle and carefully asking for permission instead of begging for the slightest bit of attention and affection.
And you gave it to him so easy, so willingly. It was addictive.
It felt even better when he heard Genevieve get angry and frustrated. Her feet were stomping angrily on the ground, a habit he used to find endearing from her but now it was just a reminder of how often he had bend himself to her will just so she would give him a kiss or a hug. More often than not had she just smiled and said 'well done' before turning around while knowing that he would trail after her like a lost puppy, desperate for more.
Now that was all in the past. The stomp felt almost as if he was finally free.
And you?
You felt fucking amazing to him. As if he had walked the entire time in the dark and then you came, shining the way to a brighter future.
The knowledge that you were on his side, seeking revenge, was thrilling.
The night continued with loud music, flashing lights, a bit of drama (more like a lot of drama, this is Hogwarts after all) and teenagers who enjoyed themselves.
And so the night ended with you being dragged up by Draco to his room.
Laughing and giggling while trying to keep quiet, on the way was a nice change.
When the door closed behind the two of you Draco beamed. You never saw him smile like this before, in fact you weren't sure if you ever saw him smile at all before. Sure he smirked often and had a smug expression but a genuine smile? No. You never saw that on him before. No-one did.
"Alright alright.. I admit I went a bit overboard." He said with a grin after the door closed.
"No. It's fine." You said with a shy smile.
"Really?!" He said surprised but still happy.
"Well assuming you wanted people to talk about us, you did everything right." You said while looking around his room very interested.
Draco paused. Right! This was about getting revenge.. revenge on both of your terrible ex's and nothing more.
But the way you looked around in his room was so cute. As if you wanted to ask about everything and anything your eyes landed on.
.....cute? That was nonsense. Okay... Objectively speaking you were pretty cute. But why would he think that? He just met you.
He cleared his throat a bit awkward and tried to clear his mind by talking to you.
"Is this your first time in a boy's room?" He asked while trying to look smug and confident but it was obvious that his mind was elsewhere with how red he suddenly got. You preferred not to ask. Instead you shook your head.
Not wanting to elaborate further you changed the topic this time.
"Your room is nice."
He snorted amused. Apparently he found someone who was just as awkward when it came to certain topics and who was just as clumsy in avoiding them as he was.
Playing along he stepped to the side, and let you take a better look around.
You stepped inside a bit more comfortably, and saw that he was actually sharing his room with two other boys. So the myth that he had his own room was just a lie.
"Who do you share a room with?"
"Oh, just Blaise and Theodore." He huffed a bit annoyed. "I wanted a single room, for myself but apparently that isn't possible since there are too many students." Said Draco slightly annoyed.
You giggled amused.
"What is it?" Draco asked a bit red.
"You do realise that you still got a special room arrangement right? As far as I know most people share a room with three or four people. I heard that there are rooms with five or six people in them.
I'm sharing my room with three other girls."
"That's still less than five."
"Yes but have you ever had problems with bathroom schedules?"
"I do in fact. Theo uses up all the hot water when he showers. It's pissing Blaise and me off. But somehow he always manages to get in before we do." He sighed.
"Sorry I didn't know."
"Why are you apologising. New rule. No apologising for unnecessary stuff. For example not knowing something that was never discussed!" He said firm.
"But-"
"No! You always apologise, even for the smallest things or if you did nothing wrong."
"How do you know that?!"
"Well... I can tell. You apologised earlier when we crashed into each other, then again when you asked if she was my ex and just now, for not knowing that I did in fact know what you feel like. It is nice that you apologise but you make yourself smaller than you are. You don't need to apologise for existing."
"I-i never did that..." You said a bit flustered and defensive.
"Great. Be sure to keep it that way! You don't need to apologise for being born."
Draco looked deeply into your eyes while saying that.
Causing you to get lost in his ice like eyes.
Draco had to clench his fist so he wouldn't kiss you again,with how you looked at him right now.
As if he was somehow the light that showed you a way to find a better way in life.
Instead he walked to his bed and sat down.
Opening his bedside drawer he pulled out a feather and some paper.
"So... Now that we have come this far I think we should at least write the current rules down. Maybe even map out a rough plan." He said while looking around and walking to the table in the corner of the room.
Unsure of how to act after what just happened, you carefully walked after him.
After he pulled another chair to the table for you, he began to write.
"So we have... No touching below the waist... And no touching that is too sensual.
I'd like to add something. A 'date' every week at the weekend somewhere in hogsmeade. So that everyone will see us."
"Alright." You said while nodding in agreement and sat down.
"And I'll add flirting. No-one will believe us if we don't flirt."
"But I'm terrible at flirting." You said a bit concerned.
"Do not worry darling. I'll just flirt even harder with you so you will be a blushing mess. That should be also alright and believable." He said while writing it down, not noticing the very prominent blush on your cheeks already.
"Hm... I'll pick you up from your classes and walk you to the next. And in classes we share I will send you little 'love letters'." Draco nodded to himself as if this was the best Idea he had so far.
"Occasionally we should also spend time in each others rooms, like right now. Probably do something like cuddling. To convince our roommates."
"Quick question."
"Hm?" Draco looked at you.
"How do we do that? You are a Slytherin. I am a Hufflepuff. How exactly are we supposed to get not only into the others common room but also into the others bedroom?! If we wait for the next party it could take a while." You asked a bit puzzled.
"Good point. I believe that isn't as easy as just sitting down next to each other in the great hall or classes we share."
"Yes...so..."
"We'll think about that later. Alright... So what about after we have become an 'official couple' ?"
You shrugged and went along.
"We just continue as we did before I believe. Maybe a few air kisses or glances."
"And a lot more dates. Or actually... We should probably be inseparable. Long heartfelt goodbyes before classes, maybe a few cheek kisses or longer hugs."
You nodded in agreement and Draco wrote it down.
"Alright. I believe that we have the ground rules set."
"How long do we do this for?"
"You mean the relationship?"
You nodded.
"I suppose until Genevieve and... What was that toad's name?"
"Matthew?" You giggled slightly.
Draco smiled softly at you and continued.
"..and Matthew, explode from jealousy or anger. Feeling pretty stupid for ever messing with us." You smiled excitedly and offered him your hand.
"Very well, let the game begin."
He smirked and shook your hand.
After that Draco and you sighed the 'contract' and copied it once so both of you would have one.
The next day, you put the plan into action.
Just as you said, both of you glanced at eachother throughout the day. Each time you looked away shyly while Draco smirked. Obviously everyone noticed. The whispers about the party, that the two of you left together, could be heard throughout the entirety of Hogwarts. Even professor Snape and professor Sprout knew about them.
Actually all of the professor's knew. Dumbledore Loved to gossip.
Then began the little notes. Draco always send them across the room in form from enchanted origami cranes while you send them in form from origami swans.
It was so sweet that not even the professor's stopped them.
You blushed at his notes, causing him to grin triumphant while he smiled a genuine smile at yours, causing you to smile quite proud of yourself.
Draco was feeling a bit competitive towards you when he noticed how proud you got whenever he smiled at your notes.
So it kind of became a game between the two of you. Who could cause the other to react more.
It was a tie currently.
After classes, Draco had promised you to help you with potions while you offered your help in herbology. Currently you were sitting at the black lake. Waiting for him.
Maybe you were sitting a bit too close to the water because when Draco decided to scare you you jumped up so quickly that you lost your footing and fell right into the lake.
Water filled your nose and lungs while you desperately tried to reach the surface.
Draco was panicking and already leaning halfway over the water while sticking his arms into the cold water. When he finally caught your hand, he pulled you out with all the strength he had and secured you in between his arms. Holding you close to him, while he fell backwards into the grass.
Breathing heavy he looked down at you. Rubbing your arms to try and warm you up while comforting you.
He apologised countless times over and over again.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to-" he was shut up by you spitting the remaining water in your mouth on his face with a glare.
"Do that again and it will be the last thing you ever do." You said sounding angry and exhausted at the same time. But despite your harsh words your body clung to his, seeking the comfort and warmth he offered.
Draco chuckled quietly and nodded. His arms holding you closer as he noticed your shivering. He took off his school robe and wrapped it around you while carrying you bridal style towards the hospital wing.
Your school things laying long forgotten on the bench at the black lake.
After that he got more careful.
About two weeks in, both of you began to sit at each other's house tables. First Infront of eachother, then next to eachother.
He even began to pick up your favourite food. Saving some before you even got there. As did you. The apple tarts were already laying on his plate when he came a bit late to breakfast after Theodore had used up all the hot water again.
He smiled and gently nodded to you in thanks. You just smiled and continued to eat. A small sneeze leaving your mouth while he frowned and pulled out a healing potion, specifically for a cold. Since your little near death experience a week ago left some damage to your immune system and probably also your mental health, but one thing at a time.
Unfortunately the planned date had to be changed to a different date because of homework but after a month of this agreement, you finally managed to go on that 'date'.
Draco was waiting at the Hufflepuff common room entrance, not daring to try the cursed knocking combination again. He had already ruined three of his favourite shirts while doing so.
It did not matter how often you had shown him the pattern, he never seemed to manage it right according to the ink on his shirts.
When you opened the door from inside, Draco swore that his breath was knocked out of his lungs.
You looked not only cute but eternal to him.
Colourful butterflies were flying around your hair, you wore a cute t-shirt with little cherries embroidered and a black skirt. Your socks were not matching but somehow that made everything look just more like you. And the shoes looked quite comfortable. You had a jacket with you and a bag.
"Um...you..you look nice."
"Thank you. You do too." You said a bit shy.
Draco looked down at himself. He wore a black turtleneck with a black jacket, his trousers were also black. Actually everything he wore was black.
Usually he would feel confident in this kind of clothing but with you he suddenly felt as if he should have worn something more comfortable. Maybe his Slytherin jumper.
But before he could turn around and go all the way back to the Slytherin common room to change, you took his hand and walked towards the courtyard.
Draco let himself be dragged along for awhile until he regained his ability to think straight again.
Speeding up his pace to match yours he was walking now next to you.
"I cannot believe that it has already been three weeks." You said cheerful.
Over the past three weeks, it was quite joyful to see Matthew glare at Draco and seeing him clenching his fists while Genevieve was practically staring daggers at you. At some point you actually thought she would try and hex you.
Draco chuckled and swung your intertwined hands back and fourth.
"Almost four." He said while looking at you with gentle eyes.
It may have started as an agreement to show them that you didn't need them anymore, but now it felt like something much more.
Sure the glares from both of them still were quite entertaining, but Draco enjoyed it much more to listen to you talk about an Animagus than he ever did when Genevieve talked about her countless admirers and how hard it was for her to make time for him.
And it was the same for you. You preferred to listen to Draco rant about astronomy and the different constellations and stars than to Matthew talk about his newest business idea that clearly was just a copy of the products from the Weasley twins.
You really enjoyed your time with Draco. So much that you forgot all about the 'fake' part of this agreement.
Draco held open the door for you when you entered the three broomsticks. You had considered going to the tea shop that was popular amongst couples but thought that it wasn't fitting for the two of you.
The second the two of you entered he ordered two butterbeers and dragged you towards a private corner. The bench was small and you had to halfway sit on his lap so that it would fit, but neither of you minded much anymore. He was wrapping his arm loosely around your shoulders and when the drinks came, he simply added to the barista and looked back at you.
Draco was already taking his drink. Despite the lack of alcohol in them, he needed something warm to soothe his nerves.
Because suddenly everything you did had an enormous effect on him.
He got hyper aware of the closeness between the two of you. Just as he did the first night you made out.
You on the other hand slipped on your drink not daring to meet his eyes. Taking small sips of your butterbeer was a way of escaping the feelings that wanted to burst out of your chest and to your mouth. Telling him everything that has been building up inside of you over the past three almost four weeks.
Draco glanced at the door and froze. Genevieve and the toad stood in the doorway, looking around furiously.
When they looked your way he felt his heartbeat quicken. Not because he wanted them to come here. Not because he wanted her to tell him how sorry she was and beg him to take her back or to see the toad grovel at your feet. It was neither of these things.
He was scared. Scared that they would ruin this for both of you. What if you actually wanted that toad back?! He couldn't bare the thought. And so his mind short-circuited and suddenly his lips were on yours again.
And it was as good if not better as the first time. You relaxed in an instant against him. Moving your head so that it was more comfortable for the two of you. He gently caressed your face while kissing.
And for a brief moment, he forgot all about them. About everything.
He just knew one thing.
"I love you." He whispered against your lips.
"And I don't want this to be just an act anymore. I cannot hide my feelings for you any longer. So please.... Can we do this right? Can we turn this into reality?"
As an answer you kissed him again.
The two painful reasons why you got here in the first place, were starring angry at the love that you and Draco shared.
"This turned into reality the moment we kissed at the party dray." You whispered back."We were just too hurt and scared at the time to see that."
He looked at you with pure adoration and held you even closer to him, if that was possible. The gentle nickname you used speed up his heart rate. Especially since it was so special to him.
The uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere that was before, was leaving in an instant. It was replaced with real love and carefully crafted heart out of the remaining shards of your two broken hearts.
And both of you knew. That somehow unintentionally, you had won this Game of Heart's.
The end
(5166 words) I believe this is one of the longest oneshots I have ever written. I'm still on vacation so I don't know when this will be posted but I really like how this turned out, because I didn't know how to end it. I never wrote 'fake dating' before so I think this turned out okay. Idk. I'm currently trying to end the open oneshots that I have and it is taking quite a while. So we'll see when the next one will be posted. Until then have a good time.
Request: Yes / No hiii(I requested a little while back with a similar reader if that’s okay) Could I request a Draco with a hufflepuff who’s newt’s granddaughter (was raised by him) and he has a crush on her because she’s nice and kind to anyone no matter who they and she’s never been mean to him no matter how mean he has been (even though he can’t be mean to her because he likes her and because she can even pick up on anyone being mean ) but his parents find out and his father ends up telling him they could never be together because she’s a blood traitor who’s friends with harry and that her parents were dark wizard hunters and they were killed by a greyback infront of her and maybe it ends with Draco saving her from greyback who was going to turn her literally just because he hates her because her parents maybe killed one of his pack mates or something 🥹 (Also can reader be scared of werewolves like deathly afraid) no pressure bye 🥹🙏💕 sorry for any grammar mistakes I’m bad with spelling and stuff @lydiadeetz-666
Requests are open from this prompt list or just your own idea! <3 Have a nice day/night
Draco Malfoy x Fem!Scamander!Reader
Newt Scamander x Granddaughter!Reader
Word count: 3556
Warnings: Mentions of death and trauma
Y/N: Your Name
PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK, I WORK HARD ON MY FICS AND IT’S NOT COOL TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK!
If you want to be on the tag list for anything (My series fics, specific character fics, or just all of them) All you have to do is send me an ask and I will add you!
Masterlist
If you enjoy my work, you could also show support by buying me a coffee!
(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)
*Draco’s POV*
The first time I noticed Y/N, she was kneeling in the grass by the edge of the Black Lake, her sleeves rolled up, and her hands cupped carefully around a trembling creature. I hadn’t meant to stop. I had been on my way back from the dungeons, irritation simmering under my skin after another tedious Potions lesson, when something bright cut through my mood like sunlight through storm clouds. It was her soft, golden laughter. I paused, for just a second, but that was all it took. She didn’t see me at first. Her attention was entirely on the small, shaking Bowtruckle perched in her palm, its twig-like limbs quivering as though the world itself had offended it.
“It’s alright.” She murmured softly, voice warm as honey. “No one’s going to hurt you. You probably just got separated, didn’t you?”
I leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching. I didn’t know why. I told myself it was curiosity. Or boredom. Or maybe I was just watching to see if she’d mess up- drop the creature, or scare it off, or prove she wasn’t as perfect as she looked.
But she didn’t.
She smiled, gentle and patient, and the Bowtruckle slowly stilled, its tiny fingers curling around her sleeve like it trusted her. And that was… strange. Creatures didn’t trust people like that. Not without reason.
“See?” She whispered. “You’re safe.”
I scoffed quietly under my breath. Ridiculous. And yet… I didn’t leave.
Y/N Scamander had arrived at Hogwarts only a few weeks earlier, but somehow, everyone already knew her. Not in the loud, dramatic way people knew Potter or the irritating Weasley twins, but in a quieter, softer way. People said things about her.
“She helped me with my Herbology homework.”
“She stayed up with me when I couldn’t sleep.”
“She fixed my wand grip without making me feel stupid.”
“She remembered my name.”
I didn’t understand it. Kindness, to me, had always come with conditions, or expectations, or judgment wrapped neatly in politeness. But Y/N… she didn’t seem to work that way. And I hated that I noticed.
“Oi, Malfoy!”
I turned, expression already sharpening into its unusual cold sneer as Blaise Zabini approached.
“What.”
Blaise jerked his head toward the Great Hall doors. “Your Hufflepuff friend’s looking for you.”
My stomach did something unpleasant.
“I don’t have a Hufflepuff friend.”
Blaise raised an eyebrow. “Y/H/C, always smiling, weirdly obsessed with magical creatures? That one.”
My ears burned.
“She’s not-”
“Draco!”
I froze.
That voice. Soft. Bright. Unmistakably hers.
I turned slowly, already feeling something dangerously close to panic creeping up my spine. Y/N stood a few feet away, waving like she hadn’t a care in the world. Her Hufflepuff robes were slightly rumpled, like she’d been running, and there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She looked… happy to see me. That was the worst part.
“Hi!” She said, walking over. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I glanced at Blaise, who was now very clearly trying not to laugh.
“Why would you be looking for me?” I asked stiffly.
Y/N tilted her head slightly, studying me. I felt like she could see straight through me.
“I wanted to thank you.” She said.
I blinked.
“...For what?”
“For helping me in Potions yesterday.”
I frowned. “I didn’t help you.”
“You did.” She insisted gently. “You told Professor Snape I measured the ingredients correctly when he thought I didn’t.”
My throat tightened. I hadn’t meant to do that. It just… happened. Snape had been about to dock her points unfairly, and before I could stop myself, I spoke up. It had been instinct, and I regretted it immediately.
“I was correcting him.” I muttered. “That’s all.”
Y/N smiled. Not mocking, or smug, just… warm.
“Well, thank you anyway.” I said.
I looked away. I didn’t like the way my chest felt.
It became a problem. That’s what I told myself. A problem. Because no matter how hard I tried to ignore her, Y/N kept… appearing. In the library, sitting across from me with a stack of books, offering me a soft smile before returning to her reading. In the corridors, walking beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world, talking about creatures, or class, or anything at all. At meals, somehow ending up near me, asking if he’d eaten enough. No one did that. No one ever asked me if I’d eaten enough. It was… unsettling. And worse? She was never mean. Not when I snapped at her. Not when I ignored her. Not even when I deliberately tried to push her away.
“Why are you like this?” I demanded one afternoon, after she caught up to me outside the greenhouse.
She blinked. “Like what?”
“Nice.” I said, the word sounding foreign on my tongue. “To me.”
She considered that for a moment. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
I stared at her.
“Do you not-” I stopped, frustrated. “Do you not see how people treat me?”
“I see how people treat you.” She said quietly.
“Then why-”
“But I also see how you treat people.” She cut me off.
I scoffed. “Exactly.”
Y/N shook her head.
“No.” She said softly. “Not exactly.
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She stepped a little closer, not enough to invade my space, but enough that I couldn’t ignore her.
“I think you’ve learned to be mean before anyone can be mean to you first.”
My breath hitched.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Maybe.” She said gently. “But I don’t think you’re a bad person, Draco.”
“You don’t know me.” I said, but the words felt weaker than they should have.
Y/N smiled, small and soft.
“Then I’d like to.”
Just like that, I was completely and utterly ruined.
I tired to fight it. Merlin, I tried. I avoided her. Ignored her. Threw myself into my usual routines, my usual sneers, my usual sharp words. But none of it worked. Because every time I saw her- Helping a first-year who dropped their books, laughing with a group of Ravenclaws, kneeling in the grass, whispering to some creature like it was her equal- something in me shifted. Something I didn’t want. And yet… I couldn’t stop watching.
“Just ask her out.”
I nearly choked on my drink.
“Excuse me?”
Blaise leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too amused.
“You heard me.”
“I am no-” I lowered my voice sharply. “I am not asking her out.”
“Why not?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
Because the trust was, I didn’t know. Or rather… I did, and I didn’t like it.
“Because it’s pointless.” I said finally.
Blaise studied me for a moment.
“You’re scared.” He said simply.
My eyes flashed. “I am not scared.”
“Then what?”
I clenched my jaw.
“She deserves better.”
Blaise didn’t laugh this time; he just sighed.
“Maybe, but that’s not your decision to make, is it?”
I didn’t answer.
It happened on a rainy evening. I found her by accident, or at least, that’s what I told myself. She was sitting under one of the covered walkways in the courtyard, knees pulled to her chest, watching the rain like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
“You’ll catch a cold.” I said before I could stop myself.
Y/N looked up, surprised, and then smiled.
“Hi, Draco.”
There it was again, that feeling. I stepped closer despite myself.
“You’re going to get sick.” I repeated.
“I won’t.” She said lightly. “I like the rain.”
I hesitated, then sat down a short distance away. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The sound of rain filled the silence.
“I’ve been thinking.” Y/N said eventually.
I stiffened. “That’s dangerous.”
She laughed softly.
“About you.” She added.
That made it worse.
“Why?”
“Because you’re confusing.” She said simply.
I huffed. “I’m not confusing.”
“You are.” She insisted gently. “You act like you hate everyone, but you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.” She said, smiling slightly. “You don’t.”
I looked away.
“Why do you care?”
The question came out sharper than I intended. Y/N didn’t flinch.
“Because you matter.” She said.
My chest tightened.
“Don’t.” I said quietly.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Why not?”
“Because they’re not true.”
She studied me for a long moment. Then she shifted closer, just enough that I could feel her presence beside me.
“I think you’ve been told that for so long, you don’t know how to believe anything else.” She said softly.
“Because that’s not all you are.” She said firmly.
I looked at her, really looked at her. And for the first time, I saw it. Not just kindness, or warmth, but something stronger. Something that didn’t waver.
“You’re allowed to be more than the worst things you’ve done.” She said softly.
My throat tightened. No one had ever told me that before.
“Why do you care about me?” I asked, barely above a whisper.
Y/N smiled.
“Because you care.” She said.
I frowned. “About what?”
“About people, even if you pretend you don’t.” She said simply.
I shook my head.
“You’re wrong.”
“Am I?” She asked.
I hesitated, and that was answer enough.
The rain softened. The world felt quieter, smaller.
“Y/N.” I said suddenly.
She looked at me.
“Yes?”
My heart was racing. This was a mistake. A terrible, irreversible mistake, but I couldn’t stop.
“I-” I faltered, then forced myself to continue. “I don’t know how to be… what you think I am.”
She tilted her head.
“I don’t need you to be anything.” She said gently.
“That’s not true.”
“It is.” She insisted. “You don’t have to change overnight, or at all. You just… have to be honest.”
Draco laughed weakly.
“That’s worse.”
She smiled.
“Maybe.”
I took a deep breath.
“I like you.”
The words hung between us. Heavy, terrifying, but real. Y/N blinked, then she smiled.
“I know.” She said.
I stared at her.
“You- what?”
She laughed quietly.
“You’re not as hard to read as you think you are.”
I groaned, burying my face in his hands.
“This is a disaster.”
“It’s not.” She said.
I peeked at her through my fingers.
“It’s not?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Hope flickered, small, fragile, and dangerous.
“Why not?”
She reached out, gently pulling my hands away from my face.
“Because I like you too.” She said softly.
My breath caught. “You-”
“I do.” She said, smiling.
I stared at her like I didn’t quite believe it.
“Why?”
She laughed again, but there was something fond in it.
“Because you try, even when it’s hard. Even when you don’t think anyone notices.” She said.
I felt something in my chest crack open.
“And because you’re not nearly as mean as you pretend to be.” She added a little more teasing now.
I huffed.
“Don’t tell anyone that.”
She grinned.
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
I reached for her hand, and she let me. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn’t feel like I was fighting the world. I just felt calm.
After that night in the rain, everything changed, not loudly or dramatically. It wasn’t like the world shifted or Hogwarts suddenly looked different. It was worse than that. It became normal. Y/N and I… became normal. She didn’t make it complicated, she never did. She just… showed up. At first, it was small things. Walking together between classes, sharing a bench in the library, her fingers brushing mine ‘accidentally’ until I stopped pretending I didn’t notice. And then, one afternoon, she looked at me like I was something worth choosing, and said it.
“Do you want to go out with me, properly?”
I remember staring at her for a full ten seconds, like an idiot.
“Define properly.” I said, because of course I did.
She smiled. “Dinner, walks, sitting together without pretending we’re just ‘coincidentally’ in the same place.”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
That was it. No fireworks or dramatic confessions. Just her smiling like I hadn’t just rearranged my entire world. And me realizing I didn’t want to go back.
Dating Y/N Scamander was… infuriating. Not because she was difficult, because she wasn’t. She was patient in a way that made me feel like I was constantly on the verge of being exposed. Like she could see every version of me I tried to hide, and still chose to stay. It made no sense. We didn’t hide it very well, either. Hufflepuffs noticed first, obviously. One of them nearly fainted when she kissed my cheek after Herbology. Slytherins noticed second.
Blaise just said, “Merlin help you.” And went back to reading.
Even Potter noticed eventually. He looked like he wanted to ask questions. I ignored him harder than usual. Y/N just waved at him since they were good friends. Because of course she was…
The first real crack came at Christmas. I hadn’t planned on going home. But I had no choice. The letter arrived folded too nearly, sealed with the Malfoy crest. Return home immediately. That was all it said. Y/N noticed the shift in me before I even told her.
“You’re leaving.” She said softly that evening, sitting beside me in the empty corridor.
I didn’t look at her. “Yes.”
“Not your idea.”
“No.”
She nodded slowly, like she understood something I hadn’t said.
“Will I see you over break?”
I hesitated.
“I don’t know…”
That made her quiet, but she didn’t push. She never pushed. Instead, she just reached for my hand.
“I’ll be here when you return.” She said.
It was a promise.
And I hated how much I needed it.
Malfoy Manor was colder than I remembered. Everything was too clean, too sharp, too quiet. And my Father was waiting in the drawing room like he’s been carved from stone and contempt.
“Draco.”
I stopped in the doorway.
“Father.”
He studied me the way one might inspect a damaged object. Then his eyes narrowed.
“I’ve heard things.”
“I’m aware.” I said carefully.
He stepped forward.
“About a girl.”
My stomach dropped.
“Who?”
He didn’t answer immediately. He didn’t need to. He knew I knew.
“A Scamander.” He said finally, voice like ice. “A Hufflepuff. Friend of Potter’s little circle of misfits.”
My hands curled slightly at my sides.
“She’s not-”
“Careful, you will not speak over me!” He interrupted sharply.
Silence.
Father circled me slowly.
“You are a Malfoy.” He said. “We do not associate with blood traitors.”
My jaw tightened.
“She’s not a blood traitor.”
That earned me a look, almost amused.
“Her parents were dark wizard hunters.” He said coldly. “She has been raised among people who wouldn’t happily see our family in Azkaban.”
My chest tightened.
“She’s not them.” I said.
Father stopped walking, and for the first time, his voice sharpened into something dangerous.
“You will end this.” He said.
I didn’t move.
“No.”
The word echoed. Father stared at me like I had spoken in a foreign language.
“You will do as I say.” He repeated slowly.
My heart was pounding now.
“No.” I said again.
Something dark flickered in his expression.
“You are not thinking clearly.”
“I am.”
“She is a liability.”
“She’s a person.” I snapped.
That made the room go still. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then Father leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
“Do you know what happened to her parents?” He asked quietly.
My blood ran cold.
“What?”
A slow, cruel smile.
“They were killed by Greyback.” He said. “Torn apart in front of her.”
My breath caught. The world tilted slightly. Father watched me carefully.
“She watched it happen.” He continued. “A little Hufflepuff girl raised by her grandparents after watching her parents die.”
My hands were shaking.
“You’re lying.” I said.
He tilted his head.
“Am I?”
Something in me cracked.
I didn’t sleep that night, I couldn’t. Because all I could see was her smile, her kindness. Her hands holding mine like I wasn’t something broken. And the idea of her watching her parents die… I felt sick.
I didn’t tell her, not yet. I couldn’t. Because the moment I saw her again at Hogwarts, sitting in the courtyard with a book in her lap and a smile waiting for me… I forgot how to breathe properly.
“Draco!” She called, standing immediately.
Merlin, she looked so happy. Like nothing in the world had ever touched her. Like she wasn’t carrying ghosts I hadn’t even known existed. I walked toward her anyway, and she noticed.
“What’s wrong?” She asked instantly.
I shook my head.
“Nothing.”
She didn’t believe me, but she nodded anyway.
“Okay, but you can tell me later.” She said softly.
I should’ve told her then.
The attack happened three days later. It was late, too late. I remember hearing the screams before I saw anything. The corridors were chaos. People shouting, wants drawn, and then… her. Y/N. Standing frozen in the courtyard entrance. White-faced and trembling.
“No…” She whispered.
I followed her gaze and felt my entire body go cold. Greybak. Standing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest like something dragged out of a nightmare. His eyes locked onto her instantly.
“Oh, there she is.” He growled.
Y/N took a step back.
“No…” She whispered again, voice shaking. I moved instantly.
“Y/N, get behind me.” I said sharply.
She didn’t move. She couldn’t. Her breathing was uneven now, panicked. And I saw it, the fear. Not normal fear, something deeper. Something primal.
“Run!” I ordered. But she was shaking too hard.
“I can’t-” She choked out.
Greyback laughed.
“Oh, I remember you.” He called. “Little Scamander girl.”
Y/N flinched violently at the name. Her hands were shaking so badly her wand nearly slipped.
“No…” She whispered. “No, no-”
I stepped foward.
“Leave her alone.” I said codly.
Greyback tilted his head.
“You’re the Malfoy boy.” He said. “Interesting.”
He took a step closer.
“I heard you’re fond of her.”
My grip tightened on my wand.
“Another step and I’ll-”
But Y/N made a small sound behind me. A broken, terrified inhale. I turned just in time to see her stumble back.
“Y/N!” I grabbed her arm. She was shaking so hard she could barely stand.
“I can’t…” She whispred again. “I can’t- please- he’s-”
I understood then. She wasn’t just scared. She was terrified of Werewolves. Not irrationally, or lightly, deathly afraid. Greyback noticed too. His grin widened.
“Oh, good.” He said softly. He moved, fast, too fast. I reacted on instinct.
“PROTEGO!” The spell slammed into him, throwing him back, but not far enough. He was laughing.
“Brave.” He snarled.
I didn’t look at him. I looked at her. Y/N was frozen, tears in her eyes now, breathing collapsing into panic.
“Draco…” She whispered.
“Listen to me.” I said sharply, stepping closer to her. “Look at me.”
She did, barely.
“I’ve got you.” I said. “Do you hear me?”
Her breathing hitched.
“I can’t-”
“You can. You’re not alone.” I said firmly.
A crash came from behind us. Greyback was coming again. I turned, and something inside me snapped. I didn’t think.
“STUPEFY!”
He dodged. But I was faster than I had ever been in my life.
“Stay behind me!” I shouted over my shoulder.
“I can’t-” She sobbed.
“Yes, you can!”
Another spell, another dodge. Greyback snarled. He lunged again, and this time he got close. Too close to her. Y/N screamed, and I lost it.
“NO!” I threw myself between them. His claws scratched my chest, pain exploding through me. But I stayed standing. Barely, but I stayed. Greyback paused, surprised. I raised my wand.
“Get away from her.”
His smirk widened.
“REDUCTO!”
The blast sent him flying back into the trees. He didn’t get up immediately. I didn’t care. I turned, Y/N was shaking on the ground now.
“Hey, hey, look at me.”
She couldn’t. Her eyes were unfocused, trapped somewhere else.
“No, not again… please…” She whispered.
My heart shattered. I grabbed her face gently.
“Y/N, it’s me, Draco. You’re safe.” I said softly.
Her breathing stuttered. Slowly, she looked at me. Something in her expression broke.
“I thought-” She choked. “I thought I was going to…”
“You’re not.” I said immediately. “You’re here and safe.”
Her hands gripped my sleeves like she was afraid I’d disappear. I pulled her into my arms, and she clung to me like I was the only solid thing left in the world.
Later, when everything was over, when Greyback was gone, and the professors had taken control, she still wouldn’t let go. And I didn’t make her. Because for once in my life, I didn’t care what my Father thought. I didn’t care what anyone thought. I just held her and whispered, over and over.
warnings: draco in love, fluff, some jealousy, soft draco, flirting, making out
summary: although you're a hufflepuff, draco can't seem to suppress his feelings for you and has been asking you out since third year
a/n: i don't think i'll ever get out of my draco phase atp, its been years
song: yellow - coldplay
You were walking through the castle halls with your best friend, Cedric Diggory, wearing a blue sundress with your hair down and a ribbon holding two stands behind your head.
There were no classes today, so you decided to put on some light makeup as well and were taking a walk to the kitchens with Cedric.
"One day in the summer you need come over to my cottage, I can teach you how to bake," you announce, looking up at him as he drapes his arm around your shoulders.
"Hmm, I don't know if that would end well," he paused as he glanced down at you. "The last time you tried to bake with the house elves, you set the kitchen on fire," he laughs as he recalls you begging the house elves not to tell anyone.
"Okay that's not fair and you know it. You helped-"
"Y/n!"
You and Cedric turn around to see a smiling Draco Malfoy walking towards you both. His smile turns into a scowl as he sees Cedric's arm around you.
He quickly covers the jealousy with a charming smile as he looks back at your eyes that he adores.
"What now, Malfoy," Cedric sighs, already knowing what was going to happen.
Draco Malfoy was seen as rude to most people. So it was quite a shock to everyone when he asked you, a half-blood hufflepuff, out to hogsmeade for the first time in third year. You politely declined his offer because of some past encounters with him.
Although he has never said anything offensive to you, he has to your friends.
Your rejection didn't stop Draco from asking again. If anything, it made him want you more.
Ever since then, he has asked you out almost every week. Each time you rejected him, but it still didn't stop him.
Two years later he found himself in love with you. He has tried to get over you, but he can't picture himself with anyone that isn't you. If you were to ask him what he loved most about you, it would take more than a day to list everything. He grew up without much love, except from his mother, so it was a rather odd feeling when he first started to fancy you.
The first time he had gotten some hope for the two of you was when you had agreed to go to the yule ball with him last year. He thanked Merlin and almost cried of happiness. It was most definitely the best night of his life. You two had ended up almost kissed but were interrupted by Snape.
Back to present time, he asked if he could speak to you in private. Cedric looked over at you to make sure it was okay, you nodded and told him you would join him in a few minutes.
Draco gently grabbed your hand and pulled you into an empty classroom.
“You look so beautiful, darling” he compliments as you feel yourself lightly blushing as you avoids his eyes.
You should be use to the compliments by now since he gives them several times a day, but that doesn’t stop your cheeks from turning a light pink shade each time. He finds it adorable and hopes to be the only one to have the affect on you.
“Thank you, what is it you wanted to talk about?”
“Look, you know how much I fancy you- the whole bloody school knows. I- I just want you to give me one chance, love. If you truly don’t feel the same way about me than I’ll accept that,” he starts, his voice growing quieter as he leans towards your face.
“Please, sweetheart,” he whispers, his eyes dropping to your beautiful rosy lips as you gently pull the bottom one in between your teeth in thought.
“Um... okay,” you whisper with a small nod and smile.
He froze, before the biggest smile makes its way to his face. His lips brush against yours as he asks if it’s okay for him to kiss you.
You respond by gently pressing your warm lips to his slightly cold ones. He warps his arm around your waist pulling you closer to him as the other hand is holding your cheek. You run your hands through his hair and gently tug, getting a light groan from him.
You slowly pull back as you look at him in awe. His hair messy, his tie loose around his neck, his cheeks tinted red, his stunning eyes bright, and his lips slightly swollen.
“You are very pretty, you know,” you blurt out, turning your head in slight embarrassment.
He gently grabs your face and tilts your head so you’re looking at him. “Thats all you, angel. My pretty girl,” he whispers to you.
You peck his lips before slowly kissing down his jaw, trailing your mouth down his neck. Your gentle butterfly kisses and your teeth grazing his skin get some more low groans from him.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, love, if you keep doing that, you’re not going to be leaving this room anytime soon,” he grins.
You trail your lips back up to his, giving a quick peck before taking two steps back. “You’re right, I have forgotten about how I was supposed to go back to Cedric, do I look okay?”
“You look perfect as always, darling,” he replies while watching you straighten your hair with your hands.
“I don’t know you what you see in Diggory anyways”
“Oh knock it off,” you laugh hitting his shoulder as you start walking to the door.
“I’ll see you at dinner, yeah?”
“Mhm, bye Draco,” you smile at the boy, giving him one last look over.
As Draco enters the common room, he finds his best friend, Blaise Zabini, doing some potions work on the couch.
He walks over and drops onto the couch next to him. Blaise glances up, back at his paper, and then whips his head to the boy when he takes in his state.
"I- what have you been doing"
"You'll never guess, mate," Draco sighs dreamily recalling your kiss.
"Does it happen to do with a certain cute hufflepuff that you happen to be obsessed with?"
"Maybe, and I am not obsessed with her"
"And I enjoy doing potions homework"
"You told me you did," Draco lies.
"No I didn't"
"Yes, you did"
"No, I didn't"
"Yes, you did"
"No, I didn't!"
"No, you didn't"
"Yes, I did!"
"Aha!" Draco grins in victory.
Blaise rolls his eyes, "did you two kiss?"
"Maybe we did, maybe we didn't," Draco shrugs.
"Good for you, it took long enough"
A few months later, you and Draco were a happy couple and were so close to one another. Since that day you first kissed, he somehow found a way to be with you almost all of the time.
You two were sitting on the grass outside, you both sneaked out, and Draco was showing you the constellation that he was named after.
He suddenly turned and tickled your stomach as you fell backwards laughing.
"D- Draco! St- op, I c- an't breathe! L- let me go-" You laugh as he gives you a few seconds to take some breaths.
"Never, sweetheart," he says rolling on top of you.
"Get off of me you oaf!" You giggle trying to push him off of you.
"Let me think about that, hmm... how about no," he says pecking your lips.
You then flip the both of you so you were now straddling him as your hair surrounding your faces. You lean down and kiss him softly. Pulling back slowly, his lips follow you and you lightly laugh. You look at him with such love and wonder how you got so lucky.
Draco happens to be thinking the same thing as he kisses to again and rests his forehead on yours.
Summary: She was as sweet as honey, as warm as the sun, and as bright as the colour yellow, that would always have his legs turn to jello. Her love for him was as vast as the sea, she was his honeybee.
Genre: Fluff (a tinge of angst)
Warnings: None
A/N: I swear I'm still try na catch up with my requests but please bear with me, I need to get this stuff out of my system from time to time to relax. Please remember to show some love by ❤️ and reblogs.
With a small huff, he dropped his bag, eyes as clear as the lake before him, watching it glimmer under the rising sun. The mist around them had settled to a low veil, only adding to the chilly sensation, nipping at the tip of his ears.
Slowly, he settled down beside a warmer body, moving closer to welcome the furnace-like warmth, earning a small chuckle from the person beside him, his hand reaching to grab onto its counterpart, another half, to complete the puzzle, her hand.
"Didn't I tell you to wear a cap?"
Her voice was barely above a whisper, eyes never leaving the book, colouring book? It was at this point that his gaze moved from her alluring side profile to her lap, noticing the coloured pencils and markers on the other side in an unzipped pouch, then the book in her lap, watching her colour an abnormally large, unrealistic, geometric flower.
"Didn't I tell you it'll mess up my hair." his words came out a bit colder than he had intended to, the irritation in his tone was evident, but it was not because of her, never because of her. It was just the cold and the lack of attention he was being provided, but he didn't want her to think it was her fault, he had always tried to be gentle with her, and a tender undertone would resurface from within him around her.
"Even the one I knitted for you?" she pouted turning to look at him properly, a small gasp escaping her lips as she noticed the little kisses and nips left by Lady Winter herself, all across his face, the pink tips of his ears to the way his cheeks were splattered with pink and the tip his nose of a cute little rosy colour. "You look like you're freezing." she huffed letting go of his hand, much to his disapproval, turning to fish for something in her bag.
"You didn't knit me any....thing" his words slowly died off when she pulled out a woollen cap, with two strings on each side, it was by far the ugliest thing he had ever seen. It was by no means extraordinary, it was in no way a fashion statement or elegant, it was a simple, peasant-like - border line muggle-like- woollen cap.
"Tada! I did, " she gleamed before showing him another one, "For both of us." it was only then that he noticed the finer details about the caps, each had a customised trait. One of the caps was completely green, and in the centre was a woollen heart in yellow, while the other had a yellow base and a green heart in the centre- same design, inverted colours.
"Oh" his insult stopped before it could pour out, luckily the gears in his head had worked fast enough for it to click, their house colours and if he knew her like the back of his hand, which he did, she was going to give him the ghastly yellow one with the green heart and keep the green one with the yellow heart for herself.
"This one" Turning her upper body towards him, her hand reached up to his hair, fingers running through his hair, his eyes instinctively closing at the tender action, letting her touch and mess about his neatly styled hair, anyone else would've been burnt to death, but she wasn't just anyone. He hummed at her little comment about liking his new haircut, his bangs adding a nice flair to his aura, whatever that meant. A few minutes in and he had forgotten why she had begun to gently comb through his hair, basking in the oh-so-needed attention he had woken up early in the morning in the first place for, the need of attention that had him trudging through the damp, cold forest all the way to her, in their little corner, their little lake, just to be with her. An affectionate sensation faded away when he felt something warm sit atop his head, covering his ears, though the slightly itchy sensation forced him to snap his eyes open.
"There." tying up the two strings attached to each end of the earpiece, into a pretty bow she moved back to admire her work. His face had turned warmer, not because of the itchy woollen cap, but her little gesture, her look of admiration as if he were the prettiest thing in the world.
"Why...is it...yellow?" looking at anything but her face he mumbled out a question, he knew which one was his before she had even worded it out, but he couldn't figure out the ideology.
"Well" putting on her cap, leaving the strings undone, she smiled at him, "Because my heart is surrounded by you, everywhere I look, I see things that remind me of you like take this place, it's quiet and peaceful, and it's ours, I found this place because it reminded me of you, how you like quiet places, places where you are free from prying eyes, everywhere I go, I see you, like this lake, it's like I'm looking into your eyes, the way it sparkles under the sun reminds me of how your eyes twinkle in potions class when we learn something new, or how when we go to the library, the section way at the back, with the books no one touches, reminds me of the ample knowledge you have on topics I couldn't even think of, how you're so much smarter than everyone, yet, no one approaches you for help out of hesitance, just how no one goes at the back old isle." her eyes caught how a small smile had made its way on his face, how he was now holding onto her hand again, "That's why my heart is surrounded by you. I hope...yours is surrounded by me." peaking up at him, as he turned his face around, hiding his expressions from her, a part of her wanted to tease him for being shy, but perhaps that was for another time. Instead, she settled back down after hearing a faint whisper, "Of course, mine too, is surrounded by you, silly girl."
"Good." with that she let go of his hand and went back to colouring, letting a comfortable silence settle between the two.
It took him a good ten minutes to calm down, her little confession had his chest hammering against the walls of his chest, demanding to be set free so it could nestle in the warm, tender palm of hers, all pretty and all hers. He knew his palm was sweaty against hers, and he prayed to God that she wouldn't continue with her teasing, knowing fully well he'd either snap in retaliation or just run away to cry in joy somewhere in a corner. The noise of his pesky, beating heart rang in his ears, constantly reminding him of his undying love for her. After the ringing dyed out his attention turned towards the scratching sound, noticing the bold choice of colours she was using to colour the unrealistic flower, his curiosity no longer being confined by his sense of logic as it slipped out,
"Why are you colouring?"
"It's therapeutic."
"Colouring like a child ?"
"Hmm, it's designed for an older audience."
"So colouring is a nice way to relax?"
"Mhmmm..." Pulling out another colour she glanced at him, "What do you do to relax?"
What did he do to relax? Most of the time he'd be too frustrated with his father and grades to even care to relax. If he did ever get a moment of peace, it was with her. As she had mentioned before, he was surrounded by her, his senses were flooded with her presence, he'd be thinking about her more often these days, perhaps because winter break was upon them. Winterbreak meant that the two would have to part, he'd go back home to his cold mansion and she'd go back to her loving parents. Parents who knew he existed, unlike his own, who had no idea who she was or if she existed, perhaps if he could build the courage this time, he might tell them, he was after all in his 6th year.
"Draco?"
"I sketch." the words left him sooner than he expected, it wasn't his fault though, he was too distracted by her curious eyes, her inviting scent, her warm and tender aura, his brain would often short-circuit around her, and this was one of those times.
"Ah...that's nice, I've never seen any of your sketches before." she giggled, once again letting go of his hand to turn to her bag, missing the way he shrugged with a "Burn them afterwards."
"Well" turning to him she handed him her sketchbook and pencils, "Don't burn this one, I wanna keep it safe and close to me." she smiled at his surprised eyes, adding in a little "Please" Much to his pleasure, for she knew that would make him all putty and it did.
A few beats of silence later, all that could be heard was the gentle sounds of nature waking up around them, the sun ever so slowly waltzing up higher into the sky, trying to own the cold floor with its glow and warmth within the winter sky. The birds would often change the tune around them, from a soft melody to a high-pitched orchestra of chirps, much to their pleasure, this was what he loved most about spending time with her, everything would be so pleasant, so calming and so warm, caressing his soul with such a tender delicate touch, allowing him to bask in her presence, a feeling he wanted to lounge in for almost all of eternity if it were possible.
Ever so often she'd notice him glance at her, then look ahead, unsure of whether he wanted to ask her something, or tell her. Truth be told, she had been meaning to ask him something, something about them, but perhaps she was too afraid to do so, afraid that it would scare him away. It took so long for him to open up to her, even after they had become an official couple, at least official enough for their close friends to know, but she knew his parents were not aware of her presence. She never brought it up, even after she had introduced him to hers, admiring how he was able to hold up a conversation with her father, gushing over the way he was being forced to eat more by her mother after he had complimented her cooking. She thanked him with her whole being when he had told her how he felt about her home that night, when he lay next to her, snuggled under the covers with her on her cramped single bed in matching pyjamas, "It isn't special, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world...it's warm...and nice...mine is...cold. I like it here, I like being here with you."
A part of her wanted to ask him if he'd ever want to be with her outside of school, or what would happen to them after their school years came to an end. Would their relationship cease to exist? Would their love turn into a bundle of memories they'd turn to in their darkest times? Would she just be his secret lover he was destined to leave? Perhaps she felt this way due to the upcoming winter break, all these questions finally bottling up to the max, ready to spill over. But she couldn't, she had to be careful, for she knew no matter how cold or tough he would act, he was but a fragile soul, always yearning for the approval of his parents, for their love and admiration, especially his father's, one he barely received. So, she had to be careful and phrase it properly, because even if he feared his father, she was terrified of the man, she had seen him only a handful of times at school and if there was one thing she was sure about was that other than muggles, he hated Hufflepuffs as well. Maybe their love was short-lived, maybe she should prepare herself for the day he'd let her go, because in this situation it was not the "It's not you it's me", since it wasn't him, he was perfect in all and every sense, but it was her if she wasn't sorted in Hufflepuff, she was from a more prominent family if she was...perfect like him, maybe, then just maybe, their fates could have intertwined till eternity, if only the stars had, for once, listened to her and not decided for her, it only.
"Oh" his gasp broke her train of thought, "I'm late for practice!" he shot up, looking down at her, who was staring up at him like a deer caught in headlights, face flushed, her cap now covering her forehead, as she blinked up at him. Letting out a chuckle he bent down to brush his slightly chapped lips against hers, fingers gently gripping her chin, tilting her head to look up at him, "I've made up my mind, my honeybee, come with me this winter break, I...I don't know what to expect, but I know for sure I want you in my life, whether anyone likes it or not." With that, he knelt one last time to give her a proper kiss, "Finish your colouring, you've been on the same petal for an hour."
"Draco! Wait!" she called out, only for him to turn his head and give her that heart-stopping smile, winking at her before running off to the schoolyards, not waiting for her to speak.
"You're still wearing the....cap." she sighed before letting out a nervous chuckle, well then, at least one thing was clear, his parents may not need to wait till winter break to find out about their boy's heart belonging to a Hufflepuff, especially when his entire Quidditch team would see him in his woollen cap. Shaking her head, she turned to grab the sketchbook flipping it over to look at what he had been sketching, a soft gasp leaving her lips, as her fingers dug into the paper, eyes turning glossy at the sight. For more than an hour, he had sat there, sketching her, from every dimple to strand of hair, the details added in just made her wonder who he had sketched, for this ethereal being could not have been her. That is until she read the little sign off underneath, "My precious honeybee."
Synopsis: You and Draco have been dating for a few weeks now. When you get a PT job in Hogsmeade, he disapproves of how much time it takes away from being together.
Word count: 2k (almost)
Hello everyone 🤍 This is my first fic ever! I've been reading all your lovely stories, fingers crossed I am half as talented as you all. Sorry if it's long? I'm a thorough gal. Enjoy :)
“Ugh, do you have to?” Draco groans into your neck as he sucks on your skin lightly, giving a gentle tug. You giggle, playfully pushing him away with a hand on his chest.
“Yes, Draco, I have to go to work.” you respond, as he gives you the biggest puppy-love eyes. You shift away from him because you know the longer you look at him, the deeper you’ll be under his spell. You two had just started dating a couple weeks ago and, to your friends’ dismay, very much want to spend every waking moment together. But you had also recently gotten a job in Hogsmeade at a coffee shop to make some money for yourself, since your parents’ vault at Gringotts was not the most… plentiful.
“Why did you get a job anyways? I could think of a thousand other, better, things we could be doing…” his voice trails off as he climbs across the bed and grabs your hand, kissing your knuckles, using his other hand to tug you by your shirt closer to him.You hum and shake your head, pulling away and stepping into your shoes next to the door.
“Because if we want to spend the holidays together, I have to be able to afford it.” He gives you a sympathetic look and sighs, dramatically falling backwards onto your bed. A pang of longing hits your chest and has you turning around. “And…” you saunter back to the edge of the bed, climbing up to straddle him. You feel his hands touch your thighs, crawling their way up your skirt. Leaning down, you take his face in your hands, your noses grazing. “All the gifts I want to get you.”
He smirks and sits up, engulfing your lips with his. The kiss becomes deeper with each stolen breath, you feel his hands grab your ass as your arms wrap around his neck. He smiles devilishly and whispers into your mouth, “I still think it’s rubbish.”
—
It’s been a few weeks now, the holidays drawing nearer. Late November at Hogwarts was always your favorite, and now it’s even better with Draco constantly cuddling you and taking any opportunity to wrap you in his Slytherin robes.
You’re in the library working on yet another essay for Charms class when you feel a familiar presence looming over you. You glance up to find Draco with both his hands leaning on the table in front of you, his smile fading quickly when he notices the bags under your eyes.
“Love, you need a break. Please take a break.” He begs as he slides your parchment towards him, forcing you to stop. “You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
Your vision feels delayed, eyes moving around the room, with no sense of time. It could be midnight or five in the morning. You don’t know how long you’ve been here, working endlessly to catch up on school after your shift. You work nearly every day now until 8pm, usually starting assignments and working on them late into the night. It hasn’t become uncommon for you to fall asleep in the library or in an empty classroom.
“I’m fine, really, I just…” your voice fades to a whisper as your eyes start to close. Draco taps a finger under your chin, lifting your gaze to his.
“Sweetheart, someone who forgets to take off their work uniform before diving into hours of homework isn’t fine.” You look down and notice you’re still wearing your apron from the coffee shop, covered in tea and food stains. Sighing, you lift your hands to your face, despite being too tired to be embarrassed.
“That’s it. I can’t stand to see you like this anymore. You’re not going to work tomorrow.” You hear him speak but it sounds so far away through the brain fog in your head.
“Can’t call out…” is all you could get out before your vocal cords give up.
You feel Draco walk behind you and start to untie your apron, resting it on his shoulder as he helps you out of your seat. “Arms, love.” He says as you wrap them around his neck, submitting to his instruction. He picks you up with one arm under your knees, the other supporting your back. The last thing you remember is snuggling your face against his shoulder and breathing in the lingering scent of his cologne before you drifted off.
—
You wake up the next morning, but not in your room. You recognize the dark green wallpaper instantly as you raise your head off the pillow. You grab Draco’s watch off his nightstand and nearly fall out of bed when you see the time.
“Oh my god, shit, shit, shit,” you curse under your breath, looking around the room frantically to find you’re alone. You grab your apron off the back of his armchair and bolt for the door, trying not to think about how late you are for your Saturday opening shift. You make it to the common room and slam into someone while rounding the corner, yelling in the midst of your rush.
“FUCK, Theo!” you shout as his eyes widen and a boyish laugh comes out of his mouth as he steadies you with his arms on your shoulders.
“Didn’t know the angelic Hufflepuff could curse,” he says while looking down at you. Your face turning red, you blow past him to the common room door. He starts calling after you again but you have no time to listen.
“No need to run, cara mia…”
—
Entirely out of breath, you sprint your way off school grounds and all the way to Hogsmeade, trying to ignore the mess of hair sitting on top of your head and the racing heart beating in your chest. Right as you approach the door to the shop, you stop suddenly in your path when it opens in front of you, revealing a Draco that looks a little too pleased with himself.
“What… what are you…” you attempt to speak, choking on the dry air as it tries to fill your aching lungs. “Why didn’t you… wake me up?...” you manage to ask with a hand on your chest and the other on your knee.
Draco takes you in his arms, waiting a minute before giving you an explanation. “First, you need to come back down to Earth. Then I’ll explain. Gods, you look-”
“Careful.” You manage to interrupt him before he finishes the thought, throwing an angered glare up at him.
“Rested. Beautiful, and rested.” he says to you gently, enough to make you melt as he tucks a hair behind your ear while you catch your breath. He cups a hand on your cheek and you notice the smirk that hasn’t left his face since he walked out of the shop.
“Something’s up. What did you do?” you ask urgently, looking quickly between him and the shop.
“Why does everyone always assume I’m up to no good?” he jokes, earning him another angry glare from you.
“Maybe you are!” your eyes go a little wide as the volume of your voice surprises you. He takes a step closer to you, eyes narrowing, taking your face in his hands to make you look at him.
“Maybe I can’t stand to see you crumbling before me every night, maybe I’m tired of saying hello to my girlfriend in passing. Maybe I’m selfish and want you all to myself,” his words slow to a halt before giving you a knowing look. “And now I do.”
He lets go of your face, letting you step back with a face full of confusion. Eyebrows furrowed, you grow silent as you notice the shop owner behind the counter through the windows doing the side work you normally do each morning. Draco interrupts your puzzled thoughts by holding up a piece of paper to your face.
“I gave your two weeks.”
“You… what?” Your brain nearly shuts down. This isn’t real.
“Here.” He hands you an envelope, which you hesitate to take. Opening it slowly, your gut tells you that you already know what this is.
“I took your earnings to Gringotts this morning. The cash in your book bag. You can’t be carrying that kind of money around. We opened an account for you.”
“...we?”
“My father might have helped. Not many people can manipulate the bank, love.” You know he’s making playful banter but you’re still working hard to put the pieces together. You stare down at the check, watching a tear fall down to it, marking the paper. You didn’t have to ask about the extra couple of zeros that magically appeared next to what you actually earned.
“Don’t argue with me. You’ll lose. Let me, let us, take care of you. We can and we want to.” he says gently.
You look up from the check and receipts to the boy standing before you. A stern look on his face tells you enough. He’s right. You’re overworked, underpaid, and on the brink of failing classes. And maybe worst of all, you rarely get to spend time together. This isn’t benefiting anyone anymore. You just feel guilty that it took another person to fix it before you.
“Darling, as much as I’m a fan of the dramatics, I am starting to worry your silence is an indication of my quick and impending death.” he jokes, rubbing his chin with his hands.
“Okay.” you whisper.
He grabs a curl laying on your shoulder and twists it around his fingers. “Yeah?”
You smile up at him, quickly stepping onto your tippy toes to kiss him. His arms wrap around your waist, his fingers digging into your sides. Your kiss claims him, the only way you know how to thank him right now. This is your man, your man who provides. When you pull away, he rests his forehead on yours, relieved at your surrender.
“Yeah.” You let out a small laugh as the blush takes over your cheeks. A feeling of pride grows in you as you realize how much you’ve earned this. He took a huge risk in doing this at all, knowing how upset it could have made you.
“Good, because you really had me thinking I was a dead man there for a minute.”
“Mmm, maybe not dead but… a stupefy might have crossed my mind.” He laughs and pulls you in for a tight, warm hug.
You take his hand and lead him away from the shop, down the street towards The Three Broomsticks. He asks where you’re leading him to and, with a bright smile, turn back to him, walking backwards momentarily to face him. Your hand still clutched with his, he swings it back and forth.
“We are, finally, going on a date. And it’s on me. Yeah?” Biting your lip, you lift your eyebrows, waiting for his response. This time, it’s his face that goes crimson as he flips his hair, adjusting the buttons on his jacket to look more presentable.
“Yeah.” He stops and pulls you to him again, lifting and spinning you around this time, a loud laugh escaping your mouth. “Wait until my parents meet my girl. My wonderful, gorgeous, thoughtful, hilarious, and slightly threatening, girl. I can’t think of a more perfect Christmas present.”
“Hmm, that’s too bad, cause I was gonna buy you many, many more.” You kiss his cheek with enough pressure to make him burst into laughter again. He puts you down and looks at you seriously.
“Love, you’re smart enough to know I will beat you in that contest.” He reaches around your neck to untie your apron, letting it fall to the ground, leaving it behind.
If you asked a Slytherin, they would tell you each one has a pet Hufflepuff. If you asked a Hufflepuff though, they might tell you each one has a Slytherin assistant.
It could be the way Slytherin aren't afraid of saying what they mean and always make it creative. Something Hufflepuff appreciates since they aren't treated like innocent children. Or the way Hufflepuff tries to understand where it comes from before retorting, surprisingly, sometimes as harshly as them. Understanding Slytherin's feelings before even they acknowledge them, yet standing up for themselves.
Maybe it's the universal balance at work again. Pulling those extremes together to make them better.
Or the way Slytherin will break the rules for Hufflepuff and the latter just has to play dumb to prove the former's innocence.
You turn your head towards Draco. "When did you do that?!" An expression of shock and disappointment on your face.
He looks dumbfounded. "Never! You saw me!"
Both turn towards the teacher with looks of confusion.
"He was with me the whole afternoon. When would he have had time for that?" You ask, aghast and confused.
After some time, they leave, now unconvinced of his guilt.
You continue down the hallway, silently at first.
"You're too much of a good liar." He grunts.
"Not a liar! A performer!" You correct as you walk away next to eachother.
Few people would understand the two houses' relationship, but the only understanding they needed was from eachother.
Warnings: aftermath of Sectumsempra (it's pretty tame but still)
Masterlist
Word Count: ~5,300
Note: it's finally happening
A pop and quick sizzle signaled the imminent arrival of dinner, and a moment later a tray, laden with bread, pumpkin juice, a bowl of stew, and a treacle tart materialized over your legs as you lay in bed in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey managed to mend your collarbone within a few days, but the bruising was more stubborn. After Zacharias’s visit, during which he’d asked no less than five times when you’d be cleared to resume Quidditch practice to gear up for next year, she’d extended your stay out of spite to “monitor” the bruise that painted your chest from shoulder to shoulder.
All told, you weren’t complaining.
You ripped a slice of bread apart and dipped half in the stew, practically salivating.
The door to the hospital wing banged open, and you startled at the noise, cursing quietly at the hot stew splattering your blankets. Hushed voices argued in a hurry; you peeked out from behind the privacy curtains around your bed.
It was Draco Malfoy. And he looked terrible. Worse than usual. Professor Snape drug him over to a bed, where he slouched over, barely conscious. You took an unsteady breath in - his tidy, white shirt was pink with bloodied water.
Madam Pomfrey flitted about around him, preparing various concoctions.
“He needs dittany,” Professor Snape commanded, eerily calm. “Immediately.”
“What happened?” Madam Pomfrey asked, already halfway to her apothecary cabinet.
“He was attacked.” Your heart stuttered, and you almost stepped out into view.
“No!” she gasped.
Professor Snape’s eyes swept over the room, and you ducked back behind the curtain just in time. He said something else you couldn’t hear, and swept back out the door.
You continued to listen intently as Madam Pomfrey prepared the dittany for consumption, and grimaced at the sound of Draco’s incoherent groaning at having to take it. Then, his groaning stopped, and Madam Pomfrey left the hospital wing at a trot.
You took your chance, snuck over to where Draco had been laid, and slipped behind the curtain. He was sleeping now, sort of. But his face had been sliced in several places by something thin and sharp, and the rips in his shirt suggested the same had been done all over his torso. If you had to guess, you’d say he’d been set upon by an unnaturally large bowtruckle.
The dittany seemed to be taking effect quickly, though, and you pulled up a chair to watch as his flesh knit back together over the wounds. You pulled your knees up to your chest and waited, unsure what else to do, but unwilling to return to your own bed.
A clock ticked relentlessly as the minutes passed.
Eventually, the lines marring Draco’s face were only silvery scars, and his eyes fluttered open with a groan. He set his eyes on you and started.
“Sorry!” you blurted, rising from your chair.
He took a shaky breath and sat up. “Merlin’s bloody beard,” he swore, feeling the lines across his cheeks.
“Professor Snape said you’d been attacked.”
“I-“
Before he could answer, a shrill voice wailed down the hallway, “Draco! Don't worry, I’m coming!”
You shared an alarmed look, and as footsteps grew louder just outside, he grabbed your hand and pulled you with him behind the curtain along the wall behind the bed.
The door burst open, and you recognized Pansy Parkinson’s voice as she continued to wail, “Where are you hiding him?”
Madam Pomfrey huffed in behind her. “Please, Miss Parkinson-“
Pansy continued to badger Madam Pomfrey, while you became acutely aware of how close you were standing, looking up at Draco’s face, and the unnerving fact that he had not yet dropped your hand.
He noticed a moment later and released you. With a pleading look, he pressed a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh.”
You raised your eyebrows at him, but complied. Unsure what to do with your hands, you crossed your arms in front of you. He frowned at your chest; you glanced down, self-conscious. By crossing your arms, the neck of your jumper had puckered. Your bruise was on full display.
His fingertips reached for you, face full of concern, and lightly brushed your skin. You shivered.
“Does that hurt?” he mouthed.
You shook your head.
“What did this?”
The tension in your arms relaxed. “Bludger.”
Pansy and Madam Pomfrey continued to bicker, but you could barely untangle their words amidst the ebb and flow of your pulse that you were sure Draco could hear. There was no denying it, not now that he was here, touching you so casually, gently, even.
His jaw tensed, and his fingertips traced over your collar bone.
You knew you could spend minutes, hours maybe, behind this curtain.
Then, Madam Pomfrey’s tone reached its limit. “Miss Parkinson. Mr. Malfoy is not receiving visitors at the present time. Please, return to your dormitory at once, or I shall have to involve Professor Snape!”
Pansy huffed, and stomped away, declaring, “I know he must want to see me! I’ll be back in the morning, mark my words.” The door slammed shut.
Madam Pomfrey sighed. “You may come out now, both of you. She’s gone.”
Draco followed you out of your hiding place to face Madam Pomfrey, and asked, “How did you know?”
“Please,” she said, waving a hand, “you weren’t in bed, and Miss Y/L/N never came out to observe the spectacle. I am glad you have recovered so quickly, Mr. Malfoy, now kindly lay back down. And Miss Y/L/N, you may return to your own bed for the rest of the night. Do I make myself clear?”
Madam Pomfrey provided Draco with a clean shirt, and put fresh sheets on your bed, grumbling about stew, then locked you in for the night.
Inside your privacy curtains, you couldn’t manage to take more than a few bites of dinner; your stomach squirmed. Once you finished the bread, you gave up, and pulled out your Transfiguration textbook to prepare for your impending O.W.L.
There was a quiet whistling above your bed, and a piece of parchment that had been folded into a bird flapped its paper wings into your lap. You smiled and unfolded it, where Draco had written, “Who was it? Crabbe or Goyle?”
Well, that answered one question. You scribbled back, “Urquhart, actually,” and sent the bird back across the hospital wing.
He sent another bird, which said, “Who won?”
“Who do you think?” you wrote. “It knocked me off my broom, and Summerby’s got butterfingers. Why didn’t you play?”
This time, a thestral alighted on your open textbook. “I was preoccupied, Prefect stuff.”
Now that sounded like a lie if you’d ever heard one, but you didn’t press the issue, and simply replied, “I wish you’d been there.”
Draco didn’t respond for a few moments, during which you considered how difficult it would be to sneak out a window and flee the country. Then, “Me too.”
“Are you gonna tell me what happened to you?”
“I can, but you won’t like it.”
“Why not? Was it someone I know?”
“It was Potter.”
You gasped. “What did you do?”
He tsked from across the room. “Why would you think it was me and not him?”
“Well, was it him?”
“No. I may have attempted to curse him.”
“Draco!” you said aloud, then covered your mouth with your hand.
Before you could write a response, a paper dragon appeared that said, “In my defense, he was eavesdropping.”
“And so he sliced you open? I’m sure he didn’t mean to do that. You looked awful.”
“Why is it that you assume the best of him and the worst of me?”
“Am I wrong? And don’t get so jealous, you’re the one-“ You stopped yourself. You’d almost written ‘the one I kissed,’ but neither of you had spoken about it since it happened. “I’m passing notes with like we’re eleven again.”
“Lucky me, and I only have Potter to thank for that.”
You could hear the sarcasm dripping from his voice, and smiled as you wrote back, “And Urquhart. We’ll have to send them fruit baskets.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“So, who was that? Girlfriend?”
“No. Pansy wishes.”
“Clearly.”
A paper dragonfly flitted around your head. “I should have let you talk about it. I’m going mad trying to figure out what you were going to say.”
“Talk about what?”
“You know what.” Oh, you did. He spelled it out anyway. “The kiss.”
You stifled a groan, and buried your burning cheeks in your blankets, overwhelmingly grateful Draco couldn’t see your face. At least you weren’t the only one still thinking about it. “I’m not sure I knew what I wanted to say then, let alone now,” you wrote back.
“Now now, don’t lie. Tell me.”
“I’ve made an awful mess of things.”
He only responded with a single question mark.
You bit your lip and scribbled, “Well, we’re friends, right?”
“All the evidence seems to suggest it.”
“And friends don’t usually go around snogging each other.”
“I’d hardly call what we did snogging. Was that your first kiss?”
“No! What makes you think that? Was it that bad?”
He snorted, and wrote back, “No, no. Sorry, continue.”
“For goodness sake, you’re really going to make me say it?”
“Y/N. Say what? You’re killing me with the suspense.”
“You’re about to be impossibly smug.”
“Am I?”
You shook the tension out of your hands, preparing yourself for what you had to write. “I kissed you because I wanted to.” Then, much smaller, “I still kind of do.”
You sent the enchanted bird flying with your wand, and pulled your legs against your chest to wait for a response. However he’d respond. But he’d wanted to know. So you’d told him. Merlin’s beard, he was taking a long time to reject you. Or maybe he’d fallen asleep? You padded to the edge of the curtain to peek over, when it was wrenched aside.
“Oh!” you yelped.
Draco had appeared, indeed looking incredibly smug, and without a word slipped an arm around your waist to pull you into him. You melted together as his lips came down upon yours. His mouth tasted like blood and dittany, but you weren’t about to complain.
Then, his wrist brushed a sore point on your bruise and you winched. “Ouch.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled against your lips.
You drew your own hands up his chest, where you must’ve brushed a tender scar, and he hissed.
“Ouch.”
You pulled back and laughed. “Maybe now’s not the best time.”
“I thought you regretted it,” he accused quietly
Still coming out of a bit of shock, cheeks still burning, you looked up at him and asked, “Why would you think that?”
He gave you a look. “You kept apologizing and ran away, what was I supposed to think?”
“Well, why didn’t you tell me?”
“You may recall I kissed you back, I thought that was sufficient given the circumstances. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Herbert may have suggested you’d only been surprised.”
“Herbert should focus on his own feelings for that mu-ggleborn friend of yours. The chaser.”
“Feelings, eh?” you teased, sliding your fingers into his snowy hair.
He rolled his eyes. “Obviously. You’re about to become insufferable aren’t you?”
“No more than you are, I’d bet.”
“Fair enough, now keep your hands where they are. That’s the only part of me that doesn’t hurt.”
The door to the hospital wing banged open once again, and Madam Pomfrey stomped in shouting, “Mr. Malfoy! Are you going to return to your own bed or am I going to have to confine you there?”
Thoroughly chided, you untangled yourselves from each other, apologized to Madam Pomfrey, and retreated to your respective beds.
“Teenagers,” she muttered, before exiting the hospital wing once again.
There was a part of you that felt embarrassed for breaking the rules and being caught, but most of you still crackled with excitement as you tried to stop thinking about what this could mean for you, for Draco, and when you’d get the opportunity to kiss him again.
In the morning, after a night of tossing and turning, Madam Pomfrey came by to check on both of you and pull the curtains back for the day. She gave you a knowing look, and the same one to Draco. It was clear what she meant - she’d be watching for the duration of your stay.
He winked at you from across the room once she went into her office, and you smiled, face burning again. Then he sat up, clearly in pain, and your face fell. You pulled on a pair of slippers and pulled up the chair by his bed.
“Good morning,” he said with a grimace.
“Should I get Madam Pomfrey?”
He shook his head. “No, it’s not so bad when I don’t move. But, listen. Pansy will be back, and if she finds out about this,” he gestured between him and yourself, “she will not hesitate to make your life very difficult.”
“Ah,” you said. “So you’re saying we should keep this a secret.”
“For the time being, I think that’d be best.” You frowned and crossed your arms in front of you, feeling quite small. He saw your expression and clarified, “This will also make my life easier, but it’s ultimately for your benefit. I’d like nothing more than to strut about the castle with you, but…”
You nodded. While he could easily reign in Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini, anyone else from his house may make themselves a problem for you. Not to mention Ginny, or anyone else you knew who’d been in the D.A., and if that friendship was still salvageable you didn’t want to throw it away.
“Okay then, for now. But if this is going to go anywhere,” you said slowly. Draco’s eyebrow quirked. “We can’t hide forever.”
“I know, just give me a little time to figure something out.”
Quick footsteps approached the hospital wing, and you retreated to your bed just as Pansy burst through the doors for the second time in twenty-four hours. You pulled your curtains shut again, and tried to ignore the jealousy roiling in your gut as you listened to her fawn over him.
Once you had been released from the hospital wing, you threw yourself back into deciphering Castle Fortifications in the Medieval Magic Era, and studying for your O.W.L. exams. The Quidditch Cup went to Gryffindor, again, since Ginny had taken Harry’s place as seeker so the latter could complete a mountain of detentions for cursing Draco.
Donna was the only one who noticed immediately that something had gone on between the two of you, and pestered you until you relented.
She looked at you slyly once you confessed. “Their Quidditch captain has been looking rather green at breakfast. I wonder why.”
You rolled her eyes at her back as she retreated, still smirking, but you couldn’t stop the warmth blossoming in your chest. That Draco’s willingness to punish slights on your behalf made your cheeks heat and stomach flip in such a delicious way was something you resolved never to tell him. It’d go right to his head.
Draco himself had been content to milk the concern you had for his recovery, and once his own stay in the hospital wing drew to a close he insisted on resuming your study sessions in the Room of Requirement. They had, in part, become a welcome opportunity to snog each other, since you’d both agreed you wouldn’t on the stairs, or the great hall, or by the lake, or anywhere else someone could catch you. It was the season for snogging, apparently, and on more than one occasion you’d stumbled into the common room with a grin and swollen lips to find Donna and Wanda curled up together by the fire. Rumor had it, Ginny had recently begun dating none other than Harry Potter, but she hadn’t spoken to you since the night of Slughorn’s Party.
Just as the chill lessened from the spring breeze, every fifth-year received an appointment to meet with their head of house for career planning.
Professor Sprout was pleased to see you, and began by asking about your mum’s garden shop.
“It’s doing well,” you said, sitting in her office, watching an enchanted pair of pruning shears go to work on an overgrown vining plant.
“Good, good. Now then, what would you like to be when you grow up?” her eyes twinkled.
“I know I’d like to do something with magical creatures, but I’m not sure what my options are.”
She waved a hand. “There are reserves for dragons, unicorns and the like all over the world. If you wanted a more administrative role, there’s also the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures with the Ministry. I know dragons are a favorite of yours, and they have an entire team dedicated to their study and conservation.”
You nodded. “That sounds good.”
Professor Sprout began writing. “You’ll want Care of Magical Creatures, of course, and Herbology, History of Magic, and Transfiguration - it’s a good thing you’ve been doing extra studying there, I’ve heard from Minerva that you’ve improved significantly. I wouldn’t worry about Astronomy, Arithmancy, or Potions. But, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts wouldn’t hurt, especially if you’d like to do any field work.”
You nodded again, all of that had been what you expected. “That sounds doable, Professor.”
“Excellent. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, Professor.”
“Well, then back to studying with you!”
You received your exam schedule shortly after, and while Ernie and Wanda both made efforts to encourage you and the other fifth-years, you approached your first with trepidation.
Draco noticed your falling spirits the next time you met him in the Room of Requirement. He frowned at you over a teapot you’d been trying to vanish.
“You’re distracted.”
You tried again, and the teapot turned transparent so you could see the liquid inside. “What gives you that idea?” He gave you a look. “Fine, my Defense Against the Dark Arts exam is in two days. I’ve barely had time to study for it, and we’ve wasted way too much time snogging.”
He tsked. “’Wasted’ she says. I thought Professor Sprout said you didn’t need that one, and you didn’t learn enough from Potter last year?”
Nerves rolled through your shoulders. “I thought I had,” you confessed, “but I just feel rusty. And she said it wouldn’t hurt. I want to do well.”
“Well, alright then.” He waved his wand and the teapot vanished. You rolled your eyes - show off. The room popped, and suddenly instead of a cozy parlor, you stood on a dueling platform. “Show me what you’ve got.”
You grinned and flourished your wand. “Try not to get too sad when I kick your arse.”
He smirked and raised his eyebrow at you. “In your dreams. Do you know how to duel?”
You bowed low, wand upright at your face. He returned the gesture, and you both settled into a dueling stance.
Before you had a moment to remember you should have a plan, he cast the Disarming charm wordlessly.
“P-Protego!” you stuttered out at the last moment, and countered, “Expelliarmus!”
Draco swelled, pleased, but he was anything but deterred, and continued to outmatch you. He deflected your attack with a wave of his wand.
“Well this isn’t fair,” you remarked. “We haven’t gotten to wordless magic yet.”
“You could give it a try now.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Of course, that’s what makes it fun,” he quipped with a wink.
You laughed, and his distraction worked. Before you understood what was happening, your wand was plucked from your hand by an invisible force and you landed a few feet backwards on your behind.
Draco laughed as he caught your wand. “Point mine.”
Well, that had been impressive. Despite all your bravado, you’d expected to lose, but maybe not quite so decisively. He offered you a hand and pulled you to your feet.
“Let’s go again.”
All told, your O.W.L. examinations had gone about how you’d expected them to. You didn’t hold out much hope for Astronomy, but all of your Transfigurations succeeded within the three attempt limit, and your full bodied wolf patronus served to impress the evaluators for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Which left you with one more problem to solve - the common room. Try as you might, Draco was still being incredibly tight lipped about the whole thing, and you still hadn’t determined how to hide an effective trap in plain sight.
The common room had emptied for the night, and you sat slouched over the great cherry wood table, listening to the roaring fire, watching the candle light get lower and lower as the wax melted. Wilbur curled himself into your lap, and purred contentedly.
Idly, you swirled your wand, making the flames undulate.
Then, an idea came to you.
You waved your wand again, and the flames hopped off their wicks and swirled together, spiraling up and up, until pop! A little ball of fire exploded.
Alright, this could work. You lit the candles again and prepared to cast the spell. A simple version should do, just to test it out. Wilbur sniffed and tossed his tail in annoyance when you removed him from your lap, then slunk off to wait for you in bed.
You repeated the incantation over the candle, then over the door to the common room. When you swung it open, the magic triggered, and the candle flared. You ducked just as a bolt of candle light hissed over your head and splattered on the stone wall in the hall.
Finally, you were getting somewhere.
Summer term was drawing to a close, and you’d taken to spending most of your evenings in the Room of Requirement. Draco had his head in your lap while you read in companionable silence. The Room had taken its usual shape as a parlor, but the armchairs had slowly been replaced by cushioned benches, and eventually the plushy couches you lounged on now. The fireplace across from you burned low, since the castle had warmed significantly in the summer.
Draco had given up pretending to read, and splayed his book open on his chest. His eyes were closed, and even though he looked more disheveled than usual, his tie loose and off center, the sunken look of them had lessened in the last week. Disheveled wasn’t the right word, he looked like he’d finally gotten a full night’s sleep. The corners of his mouth quirked up.
“So,” he said, eyes still closed, “who was your first kiss then? Should I be jealous?”
You continued reading. “Justin Finch-Fletchley.” Draco snorted. “I went with him to the Yule Ball, we kissed, then I started laughing, and we’ve not spoken about it since.”
“Y/N,” he groaned, smirking, and clutched his chest like you’d wounded him. “You eviscerated him. What is a man without his pride?”
You snapped your book shut. “Oh, like you wouldn’t have brushed it off and been flirting with someone else within the hour.”
He sat up. “Did he do that?”
Your cheeks heated, and you reopened your book. “Maybe.”
Cold silver pressed against your chin as he turned your face towards him. His storm grey eyes bore into you as he said, matter-of-fact, “I would have faked my death and fled the country.”
His eyes held you in a trance with the sincerity of his words. Then, a slow smile crept across your face. “No, you wouldn’t have. You’d have been sulking quietly, plotting your revenge.”
He barked a laugh. “You’re right.” He shifted to throw his right arm over your shoulders. “I wish I’d known you back then. We could’ve gone together instead.”
“We wouldn’t have gone to anything together; you didn’t even like me when we met.”
“I didn’t like anyone when we met,” he corrected. “There’s a difference.”
“Yeah, yeah, ok. There should be another dance next year, think we’ll still be hiding then?”
He frowned and took a deep breath. “I don’t think I’m coming back next year.”
You sat up, out of his grasp, and turned to him. “What? Why not?”
He shifted uncomfortably under your stare. “I won’t need to take any N.E.W.T.s, and… well.”
You were afraid of the answer, but you asked anyway, “What does that mean for us, then?”
“I don’t know,” he said softly, fingers lifting your chin. “It’ll be your sixth year, you’ll be busy.”
“Ah, so it’s my fault then?”
“No,” he snapped, then deflated slightly, desperation creeping into his voice, “but, I’m trying to be realistic here. It’ll be even more difficult to see each other once I’ve left Hogwarts.” You crossed your arms. He had a point. His mouth quirked into a half smile. “Now, don’t tell me you’d wait for me.”
“Would you wait for me?”
He shrugged. “If you asked nicely.”
You took both his hands. “Let’s wait then. What’s one more year?”
He raised his eyebrows at you, pulling you in. “That wasn’t asking.”
You grinned. “No, it wasn’t,” you said before putting your lips on his.
He hummed and sucked your bottom lip into his mouth. Heat ignited between you, and you drew your hands up his arms, aiming for his neck, when your fingers brushed over his forearms and he jerked away from you.
He leapt from the couch, barely avoiding the low table between it and the fireplace.
You reached for him instinctively. “Did I hit a scar? I thought they’d all healed.”
“No, no,” he said, shaky.
“Let me see.”
“No,” he said forcefully.
You leaned away from him, surprised, “But, Draco if you’re still hurt you should see Madam Pomfrey.”
“Drop it, Y/N.”
Something in your gut twisted, and you asked, “Why?”
“Why?”
“Why?” you repeated. He blinked at you, anger mixed with something else knitting his eyebrows together. “Why won’t you show me your arm?” You stood, noting with frustration he stood between you and the door. But not between you and your wand.
He tracked the movements of your eyes and sighed. “Go ahead.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re going to want it. Your wand.”
Your eyebrows narrowed, and you angled towards your bag, plucking your wand from where it stuck out of the top. As Draco rolled up his left sleeve, you felt your stomach fall to your feet.
A dark tattoo had been branded into his pale skin. A Dark Mark.
Your pulse pounded in your ears, and you raised your wand.
Draco’s hands came up in surrender. He spoke calmly, “I didn’t mean for you to find out this way.”
You laughed mirthlessly, “So you planned to tell me, then? Are you planning to tell Dumbledore?”
“No, and you can’t either.”
“Why not? You have to know, if you let me live, that’s where I’m going.”
“Y/N, I’m not going to hurt you. Just listen-“
“Did you curse Katie Bell?”
“Huh?”
“Did you. Curse. Katie Bell?”
He waffled. “Technically.”
“Shit. I defended you, you arsehole! And now Ginny won’t even speak to me.”
“You’re better off without that Weasley anyway.”
You stamped your foot, furious. “She’s my friend! At least, she was, before you had to go cursing people!”
“I know how it looks, but I have only been trying to keep you safe.”
You blinked. “’Keep me safe’? You are a Death Eater. You are what I need to be kept safe from!”
“I know, I know, just. Will you stop talking and listen to me, please?”
The Room around you faded quickly, torn between your need to escape and Draco’s need to keep you here, and soon it became a void of white walls, a white floor, and a single door behind Draco’s back. The absence of the fireplace set you to shivering, and your breath came in short bursts as you reeled. He was unarmed, you could take him. Until he got his hands on his wand, which he would, and then you were done for.
You cursed your own stupidity over and over. That you’d let him touch you, kiss you, into your home, where you’d unleashed him on everyone you loved. Who all remained suspiciously uncursed and alive. Unless he’d placed them under the Imperious Curse.
You lowered your wand an inch. “Start talking,” you said coldly.
“He has my mother.”
“Who?”
“Who do you think?”
“Oh. I thought she-“
He shook his head. “Once my father was thrown in Azkaban, the Dark Lord saw his opportunity, and he took it.” He laughed bitterly. “All this time, the Ministry’s been hunting for him, and he’s been right under their noses.”
“At Malfoy Manor.” He nodded. “And without your father there…”
“He’s as bad as a rabid dog. He bites anything that moves, friend or foe.”
“The peacock feather?”
“A reminder of the cost of disobedience,” he spat. “I’ve been given a task I’m meant to fail, punishment for my father’s shortcomings. But I’m not going to fail.”
“Dumbledore could help you.”
He gave you a look. “I’ve taken every opportunity, given him every hint I could think, and the old man hasn’t spoken to me once. Dumbledore can’t save me.” His brow softened into something like sadness. “Neither can you. But I can keep you out of the crossfire, and I plan to.”
“What have you done?”
He shook his head. “You know I can’t tell you.”
“You asked me to fortify the common room, you’ve known what’s coming this whole time because you bring it with you, is that it?”
“Yes. I know you think you can’t trust me, but you can.”
“Just tell me, and it’d better be the truth, whose side you’re on.”
He stepped towards you, hands still up. “I am on your side. I will be on whichever side I need to be to get us both out of this mess alive.”
“I’ll need you to prove it.”
He nodded. “Anything.”
You poked your head into the common room. Yvette looked up from her place on the sofa where she’d been polishing the handle of her broomstick. She quirked an eyebrow at you. You waved her over.
“What?” she whispered.
“Can you get everyone out of the common room but us?”
“Uh,” she waffled, scanning over the groups of second and first years trading chocolate frog cards and playing gobstones. “Sure, give me a sec.” She approached the first group. “Oi! Go enjoy the sunshine you loafers, yeah I’m talking to you, get lost!” They filed out of the common room past you and where Draco had hidden himself in the shadows beside the casks.
Herbert looked up quizzically as you came in, Draco just behind.
“Hey, Malfoy,” he said slowly. “What’s up with you two?”
“Don’t freak out.”
“That’s usually what people say right before they do something that makes me want to freak out.”
“Yeah, I know.” You pointed at the fireplace. “Draco, if you would.”
You readied your wand. You’d have to time this right.
As he rolled up his sleeve, Herbert’s eyes narrowed. He moved protectively towards Yvette.
You looked at him and said, firm, “I know what I’m doing.”
Donna and Yvette shared a look, but said nothing as you cast the spell on the fireplace, then on the Dark Mark, then on the door. When you uttered the last incantation, and the spell was fully cast, the fireplace undulated as if from a strong wind.
“Time to go,” Draco said, yanking his sleeve back down. You followed him out of the common room quickly, before the spell could loose a fireball. “Be ready, be safe, don’t leave the common room more than you have to.”
You nodded. “Don’t do anything too stupid.”
He smirked, then pecked your cheek before disappearing down the hallway.
