It's OK To Not Be Ok...Right? **Complete**

61. I Want You To Want Me

Yesterday's argument still didn't sit right with Draco. He felt he needed to apologise to Sloane. Now that he had time to reflect as he watched her sleep until he could keep his eyes open no longer, he could see that he was an idiot. And she proved him wrong by being the hero once again.

From the sounds of it, the group needed her down there, and she needed him. But he hadn't gone down. He was a damn fool. When he was released from Azkaban and given a second chance, he always felt like he didn't deserve it, but he was determined to make the best of it. To prove to everyone that he could change. He could be a man. A good one. And when he started to see Sloane as something more than the sarcastic American who plagued his every thought. When he started to see her as the amazing person she was, well then he knew he was going to prove to everyone, even himself, that he was worthy.

And so far he felt he was fucking it up royally.

But his mother always said that failure was giving up. And he wasn't giving up. He would never give up where Sloane was concerned.

"You know the way you look at her tells a lot," Blaise said from the opposite side of the room. Draco tore his eyes off Sloane to look at his friend who was smirking. "I was beginning to think you would never find anyone to look at like that."

"Like what?" Draco tried to scoff.

"Don't even," Blaise almost laughed. "You go all googly-eyed when you look at her."

"No I don't," Draco defended but he knew it was a lie. He did.

"Don't worry mate. I won't point out the blatantly obvious to anyone." Blaise looked down at Ginny who was curled up against him.

"I think you may know this particular feeling all too well," Draco smirked.

"You know, I think I do." Blaise smiled. "I have liked Ginny for quite a while. Last year while you were off with...him...for the first few months I was here at school. I watched as she stuck up for students, took punishments for them and stood up to the Carrow twats. She is a little firecracker with a heart of gold."

"I wouldn't want to fight her anyway."

"Nor would I. She'd most definitely kick my ass!"

Draco laughed and moved a stray strand of hair out of Sloane's face. "But you're not wrong. I never in my life thought I was even worthy of this. Someone who has seen me at my worst and still accepts me. Still wants me."

"Kind of restores your faith in humanity, doesn't it?" Blaise smirked.

"Fucking right! She is incredible. She has such a pure soul. It's impossible not to love her. And she chose me. I feel like nothing else I accomplish in my life will ever come close to being as wonderful as that."

"Well bless my soul. Draco Malfoy is in love." Draco looked up curiously at him. "You are mate. You just said it yourself."

Holy sweet Merlin and his fucking left testicle - he had said it. And better yet, he had meant it. He bloody loved her. Unconditionally, irrationally, and irrevocably. "I do," Draco finally admitted aloud. "I think I have for a long time. Maybe since that night, she saved me. But I didn't want to. I wasn't ready then. I didn't feel like I deserved it."

"No one deserves it more. You've been through a shit tonne of fucking crap. The never-ending abuse from your father, your aunt. The pressures from him and his bloody lap dogs. The tasks you had to do, the things you had to witness? Mate, I'm surprised you're still fucking sane!" Draco blushed. "But it's good to see you happy. To see you actually free of stress and worry and getting to relax. I know it's not been easy for you and I am beyond glad you found Sloane and grateful to her for what she has done for you. Allowing you to be yourself and prove to everyone what I already know. You're kind of alright when you want to be." He chuckled.