The one
Draco Malfoy x Reader
Snow fell from the tree tops as you began the walk down the steps of your shared apartment. London in the winter felt like another world and considering the old magic world was thriving with life at the most recent engagement of the century, it really made everything feel like a dream. The streets were lined with Christmas lights. Santa Clause's filled the walkways trying to make a profit for the charities needing help at this point of year. You smiled to yourself. Old memories flooded into your mind.
Siting in the Malfoy manor on Christmas morning awaiting for your parents to arrive in order to open presents with your long time best friend. Even though you two were only six at the time, you had already spent half of your life making fun of each other and growing together. Draco sat next to you break off a piece of a candy cane to hand to you. You smiled and gladly accepted only for him and o bring it back to himself and begin to suck on it himself. You shoved the immature boy and he laughed at you. Just as you began to pout your mother entered with a man similar to your father but in a Santa costume. You and Draco laughed excitedly being granted the ability to start opening your presents.
You stepped onto the curve leading down the long paved walkway to the ministry. Things use to seem so simple and easy. After the war you found yourself at a lost trying to hold onto your dreams and defy your parents subtly in terms of an arranged marriage. Being alone in a war was the hardest thing you've ever endured but you made it out, able to work for the better future alongside friends like Hermione and Luna. As you made your way to the transportation unit for the Ministry you noticed a store selling sweets. Despite it being 7 in the morning you found yourself wandering in. There's always time for sweets after all. As you scanned the candies on display you came across an old sweet which you thought had been discontinued ages ago. It was a berry found specifically in France coated in the sweetest chocolate imaginable. From the looks of it they had begun to also sell it in dark chocolate. You chuckled to yourself remembering all the dumb dares you and Draco made for the other to buy a box for you two to share. Whoever lost had to pay up and lucky for you Draco almost always gave in towards the end.
"I dare you to go lay in the snow with no jacket for five minutes" Draco launched a sugar coated sweet in his mouth while smirking to himself. "You do realize if I get hypothermia it's your fault right? I'm not paying up loser". You took off your coat and fell into the pile of snow just outside the castle along the path to Hogsmede. With Umbridge in power neither of you were sure how many trips you'd be allowed that year so when able to get the castle you both made it count with a number of ridiculous dares built over time and things you wanted to buy for both family, friends and of course each other. Your mind wandered to what you could add to your transfiguration paper to make it better than it already was. It helped your mind slip away from the cold feeling encapsulating your body. You almost didn't realize Draco was yelling that it had been five minutes or that you had won due to your laser focus on your already finished paper. He grabbed you tightly, lifting you off the ground shoving your coat around you while casting a spell to warm you. "You need to listen." You stared at his focused face, a smile creeping its way onto your lips. "And you need to stop daring me to do such simple things". He stood blank stare at you for a moment. His eyes wandering from yours to your lips back to your eyes. He rolled his eyes letting go your coat shoving his hands into his pockets annoyed at the fearless quality you seemed to possessed. He walked on without you for a moment turning back to ask if you were coming. With a grin on your face you jogged to catch up with the paying loser.
You grabbed two boxes of each chocolates along with other goodies you missed and payed thanking the cashier. As you excited the building the snow began to fall harder. You let it cover your face in the cold refreshing feeling for a moment before continuing on. Moments like these almost made you wish you had someone to spontaneously cast a heating spell on you. But you had decided long ago it would be better to be alone than with someone who could betray you again. The streets were dead with a lack of urgency for anyone out. Very few in the Ministry had to come in this early. Your department was a special one consisting of three of you with more work than imaginable. You made your way into the ministry taking a moment to absorb the peace and quiet in the main center. It was peaceful which helped with the kinds of stories, documents and papers you had to deal with in your work. You made your way down a dark corridor leading to your departments offices. Inside your two co workers sat beginning to find files. They seemed tired already. A chorus of good mornings rang out amongst you all. "Shall I get the coffee today at 9 then?" You asked as was tradition for each of you to get coffee for all of you. They both smiled gratefully at you. You nodded and started on the files. By 9 you had already gone through twenty five cases, your coworkers only ten each. You got up to get the coffee not bothering asking for their orders as you already knew. The dark corridor leading to your department made your mind wander.
Sixth year with Draco was significantly harder than any others. You followed him through the corridors of Hogwarts late at night. He wasn't sleeping so neither would you. He disappeared into the room if requirements and you sat wondering how you'd get it to open to you. At the moment your only thoughts were I want to check on him and make sure he isn't getting hurt. It took awhile but eventually the doors opened. By then however you were asleep against the wall. Draco walked out, having a feeling someone was following him during the nights of his work on the cabinet. He spotted you and sighed. He carried you back into the room as there was a comfortable couch for you to lay on while he continued working. He wasn't concerned if you knew what he was doing in fact he wanted to tell you. You woke to the sound of a very angry sounding Draco slamming things slightly. His hands covered his face as he sat down muttering to himself that it has to work. "Draco what are you doing" he sighed and sat next to you. He waited for you to wake more, grabbing your hand as he began to explain his situation. You sat in silence for a moment. "Draco I-" he cut you off before you could say anything. "I love you, but this is going to get you hurt. I'm sorry I can't give you a safe or normal life". By this point Draco knew your feelings. You made them clear time and time again. Even your parents wanted you two to be engaged but you fought it not because of Draco but because of the concept itself. You laid your head against his shoulder. He called it a night on his work and you both fell asleep except by the morning you had left.
You let out a deep sigh remembering your actions. If you had stayed with him through the battle would things have been different? You made your way to the coffee shop ordering the three of your drinks. Thanking the worker you made your way back to your corner of the ministry. It was just in time to run into the man of the hour himself. Draco was speaking with Harry and the minister probably working on a case or something. Hermione approached them catching sight of you and waving you over. "Morning everyone, nice to see you're finally in" you joked with your friends turned colleagues. "Not our fault you have the most important job in the ministry my dear" you laughed at the minsters words. He excused himself to take his leave and get back to work. Harry saw the opportunity to force you to speak to Draco and dragged Hermione off with some made up excuse like always. You stood quietly between each other finding the air to suddenly be thick. "Congrats by the way. I saw the engagement photos. Astoria looks stunning as always." Draco let out a choked chuckle. "Right yes she's certainly one of a kind. She makes things easier" you smiled at him. Easier was what he deserved. "Though I have to be honest, it still lingers in my mind we were something don't you think so?" You laughed at him. "We were trouble. We both know that. Besides my work requires me to be alone. It was always meant to be like this." There was nothing you could change. You knew it from the start your line of work would mean being alone for a long time for everyone's safety. That's why only three of you were in the department after all, alone together. "Still it would've been fun if you could've been the one." A movement of silence fell between you two. Draco was honest with you more than ever these days but sometimes it was heart breaking. "I hope I'm getting an invitation to the wedding Mr. Malfoy. I want to greet the new Mrs. Malfoy first" you said as you punched his arm playfully. "Please she's dying for you to come." You both shared a laugh and began your goodbyes. As you wander to the dark lonely department again you felt a tinge of happiness inside. If you're wishes came true it would've been him.
