The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

53. Getting to Know You

The rest of the week passed in a blur.

Neither Draco nor Sloane could have accurately described what happened on any particular day if asked. The days seemed to melt together into one long, comfortable routine. Every spare second they had was spent together, only separating when classes forced them apart or when they eventually had to go to sleep.

Even then, neither particularly liked it.

Sloane quickly discovered that she felt calmer when Draco was nearby. Not just happy—peaceful. The constant weight she carried around her chest seemed lighter when he was with her.

Draco experienced something similar. Whenever they were apart, he found himself restless. Not upset. Not worried. Just... off. As though something was missing.

The moment Sloane appeared around a corner or entered a room, the feeling vanished.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to pretend the bond wasn't affecting them.

Not that either of them minded.

The first week of their courtship settled into a surprisingly comfortable rhythm. Their afternoons were spent attending counselling sessions, tutoring younger students, or finishing homework.

The evenings belonged to them. Sometimes they sat alone in the common room. Sometimes the rest of the gang joined them. Sometimes they simply talked until the fire burned low and they realised it was nearly midnight.

There was always something new to learn about each other.

Draco learned about America. Not the version described in textbooks. The version seen through Sloane's eyes.

She told him about New York at Christmas. About driving lessons. About diners that stayed open all night. About baseball games she never understood. About Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks that lit up entire cities.

She described long summer road trips with her family and beaches that stretched for miles.

Draco listened to every word. Completely fascinated. The more she spoke, the more he realised how different their lives had been.

And yet somehow they still understood one another perfectly.

She talked about her parents often. Particularly her father.

The story fascinated Draco.

Jasper Sage had given up everything. His reputation. His career path. His family's expectations.

All to be with the woman he loved.

Years ago, Draco would have thought that sounded ridiculous. Pathetic, even.

Now?

Now he understood completely.

If someone told him he had to walk away from everything to be with Sloane, he wouldn't even hesitate. The thought surprised him. The fact that it didn't scare him surprised him even more.

But his favourite conversations were always the ones about Sawyer.

It was one of the few subjects Sloane rarely brought up on her own. And whenever she did, there was always a sadness beneath her smile.

Not overwhelming grief. Just longing. The ache of missing someone who should still be there.

One evening they sat together on the sofa near the fire while the rest of the dorm worked on homework. Sloane was curled into Draco's side with a blanket over her legs.

Draco was pretending to read. Mostly he was watching her. "Was your brother like you?"

Sloane immediately burst out laughing. The reaction startled him. "Oh Merlin, no!"