when they became villains [draco malfoy] {book 2}

Summer 1997 - 176

Draco Malfoy awoke with a small smile on his face. The lad clambered out of bed with a small skip to his step and got dressed for the day as he would for any other. He summoned a house-elf, asked for a cup of tea and sat in an armchair by a window. A book in hand, the boy was ready to experience a peaceful summer morning.

The book he read was a fictional one. A rarity, written by a witch who had lived in isolation in the Muggle world for years, her only escape being her own imagination and her books. A witch that had published just two books, both of which turned out to be instant hits; she had disappeared shortly after to never show up again. There were many theories of where she had gone, whether she had died. The books she had written were now only available for hundreds of galleons. 

A heist story of Wizards robbing a Muggle Bank in the times of Salem Trials, sprinkled with a bit of romance was not the read Draco Malfoy usually went for, but he had decided to try it because of its price and excessive reputation. This far, he was enjoying it.

It was only the middle of the book and the robbers had already gotten the money so Draco understood there was much more yet to come. The main character and her love interest shared a kiss and seeing the relationship blooming in the middle, Draco understood, using storyteller logic, that something would definitely go skew before he reached the end of the book.

Tragic stories did usually get the most praise, didn't they?

Draco read for a little while more, though it was no surprise it didn't take long until his initial excitement deflated. He read until he remembered he had broken his own promise. He hoped he hadn't kissed Astrid too early in their story...

All of a sudden he felt bad.

And he had an inkling Astrid was not feeling the same way he was. Quite the opposite actually. But even if so, he wondered if she would regret it. Perhaps contemplate if it had even been real. He wondered if she would've wanted their kiss to be reality.

Smile now gone, Draco stepped out of his chair and put the book away. He put on his black shoes and blew out the candle that stood on the table beside him. It wasn't early anymore. Draco had slept longer than usual after the previous night. Even if the sun was up and clear outside already, Draco liked to always have the candle lit in his room anyway. It provided more comfort than light. 

He walked out of his room and shut the door quietly. The corridors were as always empty and the hard heels of his shoes clicked as he walked. The space was dim and the torches illuminating his way reminded him much of the fire they had endured the previous night. In the shower, washing off the ash, it wasn't just one small bruise or burn mark he discovered. It surprised the boy he had not noticed them earlier, but then again, he supposed he had been too busy thinking about other things.

Like the fact he was idiot enough to break his own promise.

Though when Draco lifted his fist to knock on her door, he couldn't say he fully regretted it.

He could not get himself to regret the kiss at all.

"We need to-" Draco started as he pushed open the door but didn't manage to finish when the girl began speaking over him.

He just barely caught a glimpse of the parchment she pushed under her pillow, where she had still been curled under her silk sheets. Astrid hadn't changed into any sleepwear and by the pile of yesterdays clothing that laid in a pile by her bed, Draco supposed she was in bed in nothing but her undergarments. Her eyes were shining, but not with the triumphant glimmer they had shined with the previous night. It was quite the opposite.

"I'm not sorry for what happened if that's what you wanted to hear," she blurted, her speech a little rushed. She twirled the quill around her fingers and Draco took note Astrid already had her rings on. Or maybe she had never taken them off. Did she ever take them off anymore? "I like you, you know that, and the kiss was the most exciting thing I've ever experienced."