d r a c o
His room was transformed. Stars shone from the ceiling, the wardrobe, the walls; glowing green and dim.
Belly's silhouette; her curly hair, faced him in their centre. Awaiting his response.
Draco had spent long months lying in this room, feeling nothing but apathy. Utter unwillingness to do anything or go anywhere, little care for anything or anyone. Staring at the blank walls and seeing nothing but grey.
Having her here, with him, made him feel like he had energy again. Like he could actually deal with life, again. Maybe even enjoy it.
And his breath was catching; a thousand words were hitching on the tip of his tongue, because he didn't know how to express how unbelievable it was that she was here, in front of him; that they had just stuck plastic stars to his walls together... It was astonishing. She was astonishing.
Belly drew her wand from her waistband and waved it at the stars. In unison, their glow intensified, the room became lighter, and he could now make out her features, tinged green; her dark eyes blinking up at him. "Is that better?"
"Yes," he said, reaching for her hand. "Thank you. This is good."
And then her fingers were on his again; the lightest brush, the faintest touch of skin. One that he had felt a thousand times before, but it was enough to set all his nerve endings on edge. "Thank you," he said, again, his voice low.
He stepped closer. Heard her take a shaky breath, but she too was moving closer, and her eyes darted to his lips and he knew - he knew that the world did not want them to be together and all hell might break loose if they resisted that, but all he could see was her; all he could feel was her fingers curling into his -
She took another step closer. And then his front door burst open.
He pushed Belly away, out of sight, into a corner by the head of his bed. Then he ripped open his bedroom door.
His gut tightened with anger as he caught sight of Astoria walking in.
"Astoria," he said, through gritted teeth. In the brink of his vision, he saw Belly step closer. He gave her the slightest, most imperceptible shake of his head that he could manage.
"Draco," Astoria replied haughtily. "I know we'll see one another at Christmas, but I would rather sort it out now." She combed her dark hair behind her shoulders. "Without our families watching."
Draco blinked. "Sort what out?"
Astoria stared at him. "Everything," she said, heatedly. "This entire mess. I haven't been able to focus on anything else, since our argument at the bar."
"I - fuck." Draco closed his eyes, head reeling. He knew he owed her an explanation, but Belly was standing feet away from him - feet away from Astoria, and all he could think about was getting Astoria out of his apartment and away from them.
He opened his eyes. "What's today's date?"
"The twenty-second," said Astoria. "My family is visiting yours for Christmas dinner on Saturday. Heavens, Draco, you need to get it together -"
"Let's just wait until Christmas," said Draco. "Alright, Astoria? Our families will help us figure it out."
"They're not our therapists," spat Astoria. She took another step towards him; stopped by his couch. Draco leant against the doorframe and looked steadily back at her. Prayed that she wouldn't come any closer. "We're adults, Draco," she said. "We have to figure this out on our own. They've sorted out every other element of this marriage for us; we have to take some responsibility ourselves."
