Forced to Be A Malfoy

Chapter Five: The "Big News"

We walked down the halls of Hogwarts in silence. It wasn't really awkward, it was just us savoring our last moments of peace before we tell our friends "the big news". Once we reached the door to the Great Hall, Draco stopped before stepping in. 

I remember when I walked into the Great Hall for the first time. I knew what to expect, but at the same time I didn't. I knew Draco felt the same way.. We held hands walking into the Great Hall for the first time. We held hands secretively until he was called to be sorted. I could tell he was worried that he wouldn't get Slytherin, but of course he did. He was a true Slytherin. 

"You ready?" He asks me, holding out his hand for me to take. I take it, his hand cold. I take a deep breath and walk into the Great Hall with Draco. We find our friends at the Slytherin table. Draco sits next to his, so I usher over mine. He lets go of my hand under the table. I wipe sweat off it, even though Draco's hand is cold as ice. Pansy and Lauretta rush over, but Ivy stays behind for a second, looking confused. Then she hurries over, sitting across from me. Lauretta and Pansy raise their eyebrows like 'Why are you holding hands with Draco Malfoy!?' Ivy just sits and glares at her Ex grumpily. 

"Whats happening?" Blaise asks, "Why are they sitting with us?" 

Malfoy gives Blaise a look and says, "We thought we would try to bring both the groups together, since me and Y/N are dating now"

I cringe at how casually those words came out of Draco's mouth. I was glad he broke the news instead of me. 

"You're dating! Since when did that happen!?" Blaise asks. The girls lean in, interested in this drama. I looked at Draco, expecting him to do the talking. 

"Well, we've both liked each other for a while now and we both just confessed our feelings, and so I guess it's official now." He turns to smile at me lovingly. He is very good at acting because the "lovingly" part is so convincing. 

Blaise starts to celebrate, as if he knew Draco has had a crush on me for a while. 

"You did it buddy!" He pats Draco on the back. 

"Woah, wait!" Ivy says, "You and Draco have barely talked since 3rd year!" 

I shrug. 

"Like I said, we've liked each other for a while" Draco answers her for me. I guess I just get awkward at this stuff. I've never really been in a relationship before. Ivy rolls her eyes in disbelief, but Lauretta and Pansy really believed us. Draco was really selling. 

"So what happened?" Pansy asked. 

"Have you snogged in an empty classroom yet?" Lauretta says pointing to Draco's loose tie. I blush a deep red. Draco smirks, but says nothing more. 

Lauretta and Pansy giggle knowingly. I look at Draco awkwardly and he looks at me as if giving me a thumbs up, saying I did well, even though I barely added anything to the conversation. 

We finished up breakfast and went to all of our classes. In the halls, instead of ignoring Draco's smiles and looks at me, I smiled back at him. I knew everything was now ok with him, and we were now on talking terms. I was in peace during my classes, not looking at him wishing we hadn't drifted apart. I could look at him again and remember that we were now talking again. We were now dating.... 

In the common room we were the last ones awake. I sat on the couch next to Draco in peaceful silence. 

"Did you notice in the room of requirements that nobody fought today?" I asked, looking up at him. He smiles and nods. 

"Our plan is actually working." He smiled to himself. I then realize something.. 

"I think we need to set some ground rules.." I tell Draco. 

"Ground rules? On what?!" he asks me. 

"On our 'relationship'" I say with air- quotes on "relationship". 

"Ohhh come on! Thats no fun!!" Draco rolls his head back, jokingly annoyed. 

"It won't be anything too bad, just no actual snogging in empty classrooms." 

"Awwwhhhh" 

"And maybe no kissing at alll..." 

"What! How will people be convinced then!?" I thought about that for a moment. 

"I don't know, but we will make it believable.. We can hold hands, and you can kiss my cheek. Maybe." 

"What do couples do that isn't kissing though!?" 

"I just told you! Kissing cheeks and holding hands." 

"Okay fine.. kissing cheeks and holding hands then." Draco agreed. 

"Great." I said. And we sat on the couch for a little more. Draco sat up straight staring at the fire. I was too tired to have such good posture, so I slumped down. My head fell perfectly on Draco's shoulder and my eyelids started to feel heavy. 

It was our first night at Hogwarts. I couldn't sleep. I snuck down to the common room, where I saw familiar slicked back blonde hair. 

"Draco!" I scream whisper and sneaked next to him. He looked surprised. 

"What are you doing up!?" 

"I don't know, why are you?" 

"Can't sleep.." He said, vulnerability. 

"Me neither." I said and we sat on the couch. Draco stares at the fire, sitting up straight,  his shoulders back. My eyelids were heavy but I still couldn't sleep. I lean back on the couch, my eyes closed. But I'm still wide awake. 

We stayed like that until morning.