𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 | Draco Malfoy

TWO | shuffling the cards of your game

When Blair gets upstairs after rushing to her room, away from Draco, she finds a small box on her bed. Her chest warms up. Perhaps it's another gift from Theo— or maybe one from her parents, one they asked Theo to put there for them. Or maybe, and most logically, it can be from Atlas.

Except that it's not.

Blair picks up the note that comes with the box, and her heart aches at the handwriting— writing she recognizes because of the dozens of letters she's received of it over the past year.

She lifts the lid off the small box, immediately darting her gaze towards the note, holding it with clammy hands.

'I'm not sure if your parents chose your name for this reason, but your name means 'ready for battle'. And I'm not sure if you knew that either.

I think that you, out of all people, have the strength to fight whatever you're struggling with. I am always here if you need to talk. Or if you just want to sit together— I am ready to learn to be fluent in your silence, too.

Happy nineteenth birthday, Blair.

D. M."

Moving her watery eyes back to the silver piece of jewelry inside of the box, she now sees what the letters say; I am ready.

"For God's sake.." She whispers, placing the note down. Blair hides her face in her hands, shaking her head, repeating the same words over and over to herself. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening.

But it is. And she's not sure if she's got the strength or will to fight this when it happens, when this proceeds. What if she feels more for Draco Malfoy than she thought she did? What if he's not just a family friend anymore? What if the lies she's been telling herself aren't strong enough?

Blair gasps at the ring of her phone, pulled out of this chaotic trance she's in. Lucky for her, the most convenient and comforting name pops up.

"Hey, Em." Blair says softly, wiping the tiny teardrop away from her eye, without even allowing it to roll down. "Why do you sound so grim? Did something happen, darling?" Emris asks.

"No— yes.. a bit of both, I think."

"Blair, you're really freaking me out. You sound like you're about to tell me my cat died."

Blair laughs through her distress, picking Draco's note back up and holding it in her shaky fingers. "I think you were right, Em. About my feelings. I think I've known for some time, but I just refused to give in. I hate myself so much.." Blair sniffs.

"Don't you ever say that!" Emris says fiercely. "Just because you feel human emotions doesn't mean that you should beat yourself up over it. You are human. It happens to all of us. We fall in love with the wrong people and we either stay with them or learn from it. It's not the end of everything."

"I'm not talking about love, Em. It's not— it's not love. I just.. I just don't look at him anymore the way that I used to and it's so scary, but too exciting for me to turn my back at it."

"What I think, is that you're a normal nineteen-year-old, who has hormones and who has never felt this way before, so it's normal for your body and your lady bits to act up around him. I'm sure you're not the only one. God, that man is gorgeous." Emris says with a light chuckle.