Secrets (D.M)

can't you see them?

"Draco's never hanging around me. Do you think he's fallen out of love?" Adeline asked Hermione.

It was approaching Christmas.

"I don't know. He is very... distant recently."

"Yes, how are things with Ron and Lavender? Are they doing okay together? I'd like to know at least one person's relationship is going well."

Hermione looked down. "Uh, I don't know. I'm not talking to Ron at the moment."

Adeline frowned "You're best friends though?"

Hermione wiped her cheek and walked out of the dorm.

Adeline sat down on her bed. Did she say something? Did they fall out? Did Lavender do something..?

"Draco." Adeline ran up to him.

"Oh, hello."

"Yeah, hello. What's wrong?" Adeline asked.

Draco bit his lip.

"You can speak to me, you know. You're not going to be laughed at or anything." Adeline looked at him. "I know something's up. Just say, please don't hide things from me."

Draco looked at her, sympathetically. Then looked away, closed his eyes and got up.

"Draco?"

He walked off.

Adeline stood there for a while. Why was he acting like this?

Luna ran up to her. "Would you like to go to Hogsmeade tomorrow? Halloween's the first weekend we can go!"

"I'd completely forgotten, but yes."

* * *

"I wish I brought more money. I can't get butterbeer now." Adeline complained, biting in to a fizzing whizzbee.

Someone ran up to her and grabbed her waist. "I'll get it for you."

Adeline turned around quickly, startled. "Draco! You scared me."

"Sorry, and sorry about acting angry and weird. I was getting overworked about something."

Adeline looked at him. "It's fine. I just wanted to know though."

Draco coughed and changed the subject. "Yeah, I'll buy you and Luna a butterbeer."

"Oh no! You don't have to get me one. It's fine." Luna smiled.

"Neither, I should've just brought more money." Adeline told him.

Draco shook his head. "Come on, we can sit together cubby!"

Adeline sighed and accepted.

Draco grabbed her hand and pulled her along the street to The Three Broomsticks.

"I'll get a table." Luna took her hat off.

"Okay, I'll order with Draco and bring the drinks over."

After they'd ordered, Adeline took Luna's butterbeer over, while Draco took his and Adeline's.

"Here you are Luna. Thank you Draco." Adeline sat down.

"It's okay." Draco took a sip. "I wanted to get a butterbeer anyway."

Luna wasn't in the moment, she was smiling and looking up.

"What's wrong?" Adeline asked.

"Look up at the ceiling!"

Adeline looked up, there was nothing there. "What? I can't see anything."

"You can't see them? Oh, that's a shame."

Draco frowned and shook his head. "No wonder everyone calls her loony." He said under his breath.

Adeline shot him a dirty look.

"Alright. Sorry." Draco's eyes widened.

"They're quite weird, but they stay silent." Luna says.

"Um, yes. I can't see them.. I'm sure they're lovely though." Adeline takes a guzzle of her butterbeer.

* * *

"Is Draco acting weird for you, too?" Adeline asked Pansy.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, he was acting all moody and idiotic around me.. Then yesterday at Hogsmeade, he was all friendly. Calling me nicknames and buying me butterbeer."

Pansy shrugged. "Everyone knows something's up with him. He's barely hanging around with us anymore. He sits alone, keeping his thoughts to himself."

Adeline nodded.

"He normally is in the common room. You see, he used to practically 'own' it." Pansy shifted her feet along the cobblestone. "But now.. He's never in the common room. He's either wandering around the castle, or resting in his dorm. He's panicking a lot recently."

"I knew something was up with him. I just wish he'd talk to me more."

"He's quite secretive." Pansy chewed on a chocolate wand. "But he really isn't acting the same, I agree with you."

"Yes, he'll probably tell me soon enough. He can't keep something to himself that's concerning him for that long."

Pansy nodded. "He will. Draco needs time to process it, I think."

* * *

That, he did. It was April. Draco had not told Adeline anything yet. Despite how long he'd been hiding it.

"Addy? Why's Malfoy sitting alone?" Neville asked.

Adeline turned around. Pansy, Blaise and Theo were all laughing at the other side of the table. He wasn't eating.

"I'm not sure.."

Adeline tried to make eye contact with Pansy. Pansy caught her eyes. Adeline moed her eyes in Draco's direction, then back to Pansy and frowned.

Pansy shrugged, and mouthed the words 'he refused to sit with us.'

Adeline got up. "I'll be back, Nev."

Adeline sat next to Draco.

"Hey!"

Draco looked up at her, teary eyed.

"Woah- what's wrong?" Adeline frowned.

"I can't say. I want to, I really do.. I just can't."

"Surely there's nothing stopping you telling me what's wro-"

"Yes, there is." Draco got up and left.

* * *