Love, Deryah | Blaise Zabini

16

a/n: just gonna say in advance sorry that this chapter is shorter than usual. i just needed to establish some key points for the plot before we could really move into the story so i wouldn't have to explain it later lol. hope you all enjoy it though! xoxo

TW: mention of a form of self harm

i present to you...

"bee mine"

narrator's pov

lunch was over, and after the laughs and giggles they shared, deryah decided that it was for the best that she just let it go. if draco really did want to be with her, he would ask her out when he was ready. and if he wasn't, deryah decided that she wasn't going to wait around for him, she'd confront him, or just move on all together; it was now or never.

she was now walking down the corridor, trying to forget about all the events and conversations that took place, until she saw draco laughing and joking with his friends. there was that voice again. just confront him you idiot. what's the worst that can happen? you'll never know if you don't say anything! she argued with herself. she shook these thoughts and took a deep breath. she put one foot in front of the other and began to slowly stroll towards the groups of teenage boys, holding her head down as she tried not to draw too much attention.

anyone who was on the outside looking in, would've assumed that deryah was either probably running from the ministry or just used one of the unforgivables. her facial expression was a mix of nervousness and seriousness. every step she took, the more she fidgeted with her fingers, pulling and picking at the skin around her cuticles. she could feel her stomach churning and twisting, but not in the ways she dreamed. what is wrong with me? i need to calm down. she was freaked out for no reason. it's not like draco was going to bite her head off just for asking a simple question. remember to breathe or you'll faint. she warned herself, rolling her eyes at how anxious she had been.

she stopped in the middle of her tracks, and took a nice big deep breath. come on athena, don't freeze up now. it's now or never. you can do this! she tried her best to encourage herself that it would be okay.

'now or never'

with the exhale of one last deep breath, she started her steps again, but this time she was holding her head up high as she tugged on the strap of her satchel. her now taken steps were more determined than before, and she looked as though she was on a mission. she had always hated confrontation, the feeling of not knowing what the other person was thinking whether it being judgmental or agreeing; she just hated it all. she told herself that she just needed a little push to rev her engine.

just a few steps later, reaching the groups of boys, deryah noticed how their postures stiffened and they looked like they were hiding something. she narrowed her eyes, then pulled them away from the suspicious bunch, and focused on the main reason she was over there in the first place. she smiled stiffly, ignoring the signs of furtive acts, and began to speak. "can i speak to you for minute? there are some things i need to get off my chest." her tone was demanding, powerful, as though she was in charge; just the way she liked it.

draco smiled, flashing his teeth in response, before changing the topic. "i was actually coming to look for you too. i've got a lot to say too."

"okay well perfect because i-" she agreed, ready to go on a rant.

"let me go first. please." he intercepted, stopping her from finishing her sentence.

"um- okay go ahead." she was taken aback by his sudden approach and straight-forwardness.