𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐞 || 𝐃.𝐌

Chapter 3 - Soft spot for you

*The next day*

Draco's POV:

Sleep was impossible last night.

I tossed and turned in bed, staring at the dark ceiling of the dormitory like it owed me answers. My body wouldn't settle, tight with something I couldn't name. Restless. Irritated. And the worst part? It was all because of Ivory.

I don't know why I care. I don't do caring. That's never been in the Malfoy manual. It's always been easy, cold, clean, controlled. But now she's everywhere, stuck in my head like a curse.

And then there was that moment in Potions. Amortentia. I should've lied. I should've said something vague. Instead, I let it slip. Coconut. Vanilla. Flowers.

Her.

As if the Astronomy Tower kiss hadn't already made things complicated enough.

She said she smelled grass and red apples.
Sure. As if I'd ever believe that pathetic little lie. She's trying to get under my skin. And Merlin help me, it's working.

I sat at the Slytherin table that morning, eyes flicking to the doors of the Great Hall every few seconds. Waiting. Watching. She didn't show. Her Mudblood friends were seated at the Gryffindor table behind me, laughing and celebrating because that Pottah had managed to do something 'noble' again.

I leaned back, trying to catch fragments of their conversation behind me, straining to hear anything that might explain where she was. But Pansy's screechy laughter nearly drowned it out.

"Draco?" Pansy tapped my shoulder, snapping me out of it. "Are you even listening?"

I turned slowly, letting my eyes settle on her. "Shut up, Pansy. You're being loud." I muttered, too tired to pretend I cared.

Her face dropped, and she recoiled like I'd slapped her.

"What the hell is your problem?" Blaise cut in, leaning forward now. His voice was sharp, protective. Eyes flicked from Pansy to me, and I could feel the weight of his stare. "You've been weird all morning."

With a loud scrape, I shoved my untouched plate toward him and stood up. "None of your business, Blaise."

He shoved the plate right back, meeting my glare without flinching. "Starting to seem like it is my business. You don't talk to your friends like that."

"Whatever. I've got more important things to worry about than listening to her ramble."

Blaise scoffed. "You're acting like you've got a secret life or something."

I didn't answer.

Because what the hell could I say? That I'd rather be chasing shadows of a girl who might not even trust me than sitting here, with the people who claim to know me?

I scoffed, stepping back from the table. "Stay out of it."

Blaise said something under his breath, but I was already walking away. It shouldn't have mattered, where she was, who she was with, but it did. More than I wanted to admit. And the longer I didn't see her, the more it gnawed at me. Was she avoiding me? Was this all a mistake?

I scanned the hall and spotted the last person I wanted to talk to, but the only one who might know.

"Granger," I said flatly, approaching the Gryffindor table.

She looked up from her book, instantly suspicious. Her eyes narrowed like she was preparing for a fight.

"You know where Ivory is."