The rest of the summer went by in a blur.
Between cleaning up the house, early mornings spent full of laughter and fun, the days had all somehow merged together. Anna had barely noticed time was flying by until Mrs. Weasley had finally announced that they needed to purchase new supplies for the new year.
It made her wish for more time, even though she knew it was impossible.
And now they were on platform 9 3/4 - about to be shipped off for another year bound to be filled to the brim with more drama than Anna cared to acknowledge.
“Is that a delinquent I see?” She heard a voice call from behind her.
Low and behold it was Draco - as gorgeous as ever. His chiffon hair handsomely tousled and a blinding white grin that made her secretly wonder how much time he spent using beauty potions to freshen up his look.
She sent him her own smirk as she crossed her arms. “I could say the same to you. Weren’t you the one who was turned into a weasel just a year ago?”
“You should be careful how you address me now, Potter.” He responded, though there was no venom in it. Drack demonstrated his badge - unable to mask the pride radiating right off him. “I’m a prefect now - I could give you detention anytime I wish.”
“Just don’t mention that to Harry - I think he’s still salty about the fact that both Hermione and Ron were chosen for prefects and not him.”
And with that, Anna finally opened her arms and the two met in a warm embrace.
She relaxed into his arms - trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “You know, I probably would’ve missed you more if you hadn’t just reminded me of how big of a head you’ve got.” Anna muttered into the fabric of his cloak.
She felt his smile against the skin of her neck. “I missed you too.”
Anna had promised herself not to go and catch feelings. After all, he was her best friend and she had just been in a long-term relationship. She needed time to herself to heal. Not to go a date the next guy she saw.
But at that moment, wrapped in his arms, she couldn't help but feel safe.
“What have you been doing all summer?” Anna asked instead as they finally separated and began to cart their things over to the loading dock.
Good thing Ginny offered to take Boudica with her to find us a seat first. She thought wryly as she glanced over at Draco. Or she wouldn't have let us get a second of conversation in.
Boudica was nothing if not one of the most jealous and petty panther in existence.
“This and that I suppose - nothing you wouldn’t know about, from all the letters we’ve been sending.” He added. Draco then looked around before leaning down towards her ear - speaking lowly. “Do any of them know yet? Have you told anyone?”
It wasn’t impossible to guess what he was hinting at.
“No. And I plan to keep it that way.” Anna answered quietly. She eyed him suspiciously. “It’s the same thing I told you the last time you brought it up: Cedric’s a bloody fool, but it’s not like he deserved to die. I’m not going to dredge up past things just to attach them to the name of a dead man.”
Draco gave her a deadpan expression. “Well, you haven’t talked to me about it exactly - and according to you, I’m the only one who knows. Which means you’re holding in all of your emotions.”
“Can we stop talking about this?” Anna tucked a piece of hair behind her ear uncomfortably. “I told you - I’m fine. Really. Obviously I’m salty about it, but who wouldn’t be? I mean, it’s not like I have to…”
Her gaze shifted and her spirits fell. “...face..him.” She trailed off.
Standing by one of the entrances to the train was the one and only Cho Chang - talking with her group of girlfriends.
Cho was not Cedric by any means, but seeing her made her feel just as horrible - like a used, squashed up piece of trash.
What did he see in her? Anna found herself thinking - her eyes glued to Cho’s perfect makeup, plump lips and her dark silky hair.
Pretty much the exact opposite of everything she was.
“What’s wrong? You look like a kicked puppy.” Draco deadpanned, craning his neck trying to see where Anna had been looking, but she had already forced her gaze away.
“Nothing - nothing!” She insisted.
“What did you see, Anna?”
“It’s just-” She flushed darkly. “Do you...do you think I’d look better wearing makeup?”
“Makeup?” He asked quizzically - appearing to be caught by surprise. “But you’ve always said you’ve never had the time to do makeup.”
Anna shook her head rapidly - immediately regretting her question. She should’ve just waited for Ginny before making things 100 times more awkward. “Never mind - it was just a random question, that’s all.”
She shifted her feet. “Um...I should probably go look for Ginny. You have to go sit in the prefect compartment, right?”
“Anna-”
“I’ll see you at school, okay?”
“Anna, wait-” Before she could run away, Draco’s hand was on her upper arm, stopping her in her tracks.
All at once, she wished she had just opted for her jacket, as the area where his skin touched hers began to tingle.
“You...you don’t need makeup.” He finally admitted after a long silence. Draco’s face was beet red. “You’ve always been a natural beauty.”
He removed his hold as he started away. “Yo-you’re right. We should - I should go. I’ll see you at school.”
And with that, he left Anna by the express doors - face equally pink and her mind spinning with deliria as she watched him walk away, her heart racing with exhilaration - leaving her to wonder if Draco Malfoy had really just called her beautiful.
YOU ARE READING
Lillian 'Anna' Potter || Order of the Phoenix
Fanfiction"SOMETIMES, IT'S EASIER TO FORGIVE THAN IT IS TO FORGET." It was revealed by J.K Rowling that when Lily Potter originally died, she was with child. What if Lily had her second child before Voldemort showed up at their house in Little Whinging? H...
