Just Friends

amortentia

Something about the way I felt about Draco had started to change very drastically. I felt different when I was around him. I felt happy to be around him. It was as though a few minutes with him could make the worst day better.

Over the summer when I went to the Manor,  I started to get excited to go. I hadn't realized it until now. I was happy. Sitting in the library reading or in the garden talking was when I was truly happy. All of it with Draco by my side. I didn't talk about that with Blaise or Pansy when they asked what I did during summer, and it was because I didn't want to realize it and to think about it.

Draco was a very complicated person. I could feel however I wanted to feel, but none of it promised a mutual feeling. It was easy to get Draco to hate you, but it was very difficult to get him to like you.

He was very closed off and shut down a lot of the time. He didn't talk about his feelings very often and I figured with time, something would happen. Six years and there is still so much left unknown. He opened up over the summer. It was the closest I had ever gotten. Them during school, when we were left alone, I got to know a little more about him.

"Y/n, hun." I felt someone shaking me. I shook my head and realized my surroundings. I was in the Great Hall, surrounded by all my friends. I had no idea how long I had been lost in my thoughts.

"Hey, yeah, um, sorry about that," I looked down, slightly embarrassed. I held up a single piece of bread that was on my plate and picked at it.

"Love, you haven't eaten anything this entire time, are you alright?" Pansy asked, putting her hand on my back.

"Yeah. Yeah, I"m good I'm just not really hungry is all." I gave everyone a small smile. Pansy nodded and went back to her food and talking to Blaise. I saw Draco looking at me. He had a worried look on. I looked away and back down at my bread.

"Hey Pansy," I leaned over to her and she leaned in. "I have to go get my books, I'll see you in class, alright?"

"No problem." She smiled at me and hugged me goodbye. I felt Draco's eyes on me as I left. I walked through the doors of the Great Hall and rounded the corner and was stopped by a hand grabbing me.

"Why aren't you eating?" I turned around and met Draco's grey eyes.

"I am."

"Not enough." He was right. Since the day of the party a few weeks ago, the nightmares have been a daily reoccurrence. It was really starting to drain me. I slept way less than I should've been and it was starting to show on my face. I've been so nauseated by the nightmares that I can barely find an appetite these days. I felt like a human garbage can. I looked down. I couldn't stand to look Draco in the face. I was embarrassed.

"The nightmares again?" He asked. I looked down the hall at a group of people talking. He put his hand under my chin and brought my face to look at his. "I'm sorry." He looked down and fiddled with his pockets. He pulled out a roll and placed it in my hands.

"They can't hurt you while I'm around, okay?" I nodded my head at his statement. He made me feel so safe. I took small bites of the roll.

"This is my favorite bread." I look up and smile at him.

"Yeah, I-I know." He smiled back down at me.

Draco walked me to transfiguration, mostly to make sure I ate the entire roll which was excessive. It wasn't like I was against eating, I was against throwing up in class from how nauseous I was.

After class was over, I walked out with Pansy and we rounded the corner to see none other than Draco himself, leaning against the wall, eating a green apple. Pansy tapped my shoulder and told me she saw "um, someone I want to say hi to," and coincidentally disappeared in the same direction McLaggen went. Draco looked over at me, then down at his pocket where he pulled out another green apple and held it out in front of him, gesturing for me to take it. I smiled and took the apple from him.