Soul of Ice

14. Expecto Patronum

It was three weeks after the Yule Ball, and Abbie still hadn't spoken to Draco. She had studied in their spot in the library almost every night, but he'd never shown up. So when she saw him hanging out with his Slytherin gang in the Three Broomsticks during a Hogsmeade trip, Abbie decided to speak to him.

"What do you want, Payne?" Pansy Parkinson sneered as she approached the table.

Ignoring her, Abbie turned to Draco. "Can we talk?" she asked.

Draco shrugged as if he didn't care, but he stood up and followed her to a quiet corner.

"What do you want?" he said. "Better not be coming crying to me 'cause you've broken up with Potter."

"Draco," Abbie said sincerely, "I'm not dating Harry. We went to the ball as friends. I... I went with him 'cause I thought it'd annoy you."

"Well, you thought wrong," Draco said stiffly. "I don't care what you do."

"Then why haven't we talked since Christmas?"

"Because - fine, I was annoyed. Happy? You blew me off then went with Potter."

"I know, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone with him. It was stupid. Now everyone thinks we're actually dating, and nobody believes me when I say I don't fancy him. Everyone believes that stupid Rita Skeeter article."

"I told you," Draco said, exasperated, "you should have gone with me. Wouldn't you rather people think you were dating me than Potter?"

"No! I don't want anyone to think anything that's not true! But I can't tell anyone the truth... it's frustrating," she sighed, leaning back against the wall.

"What truth?" Draco asked quietly.

Abbie looked up at him. He was looking at her with genuine concern on his face.

"Draco... I need you to keep a secret."

"Of course."

"I mean it, Draco. If you tell anyone... I won't be able to trust you ever again."

Draco put a surprisingly soft hand on her shoulder.

"I promise," he said sincerely.

"Swear it. On something that matters. Wait, no, nothing matters to you -"

"I swear it on our friendship," he said quickly. "Not a soul."

Abbie looked up at him. He was only a few feet away from her, and she truly believed the sincerity in his blue eyes. She glanced around to make sure nobody was in earshot.

"I - I like girls."

Draco stared at her for a few moments, then let out a great sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank Merlin," he laughed. "I thought you were going to tell me something bad - I thought I might have to help you hide a body. This makes so much sense! Of course you don't fancy me if you're gay. There I was wondering what you possibly didn't see in me - I'm just the wrong gender!"

"...Yeah, sure, if that's your takeaway."

"Oh, my father's going to be disappointed," Draco said. "He was hoping you and I would get married and have little Snape-Malfoy babies -"

"Draco, I'm serious, nobody can know! No one knows!"

"Am I the first you've told? Really?"

"Well... Rosalie Beaumont from Beauxbatons knows. She knew before I did, actually. I didn't even realise - I didn't know it was possible - I thought you were just a bad kisser. But then she kissed me and it was like... everything just made sense."