Can He Save Her? (Draco Malfoy)

80.) Adrian Pucey: Laylas POV

Draco and I were sitting in the library, poring over our potions textbooks, when he suddenly turned to me with an excited look on his face. "Layla," he said, his eyes sparkling, "I have the most brilliant idea. Let's throw a pool party in the Room of Requirement on Friday, and I want you to be my date!"

I blinked at him, somewhat taken aback by his unexpected proposal. I had to admit, the idea of a pool party with Draco sounded like a lot of fun, but I couldn't help feeling a bit hesitant. I had been to my fair share of parties before, and almost every time, something went wrong or it turned into a disaster.

"I don't know, Draco," I replied cautiously, a note of uncertainty in my voice. "I appreciate the invitation, but something always seems to happen whenever I go to parties. I'm just worried that it might not turn out well."

Draco's face fell slightly at my response, but he quickly regained his composure. Determination filled his eyes as he leaned closer to me. "Layla, I understand your concerns, and I want you to know that I'll be there, by your side, watching over you the entire time. I promise to make sure nothing goes wrong and to take care of you," he assured me, his voice filled with sincerity.

His words touched me deeply, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance at his promise. Draco had always been protective of me, and it was comforting to know that he would be looking out for me, especially in an event that I was somewhat apprehensive about.

"Alright," I finally relented, a smile playing on my lips. "I'll go to the party with you. But only under the condition that you truly keep your word and ensure my safety throughout the night."

Draco's face lit up with joy, and he reached across the table to take my hand in his. "I promise, Layla," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I won't let anything happen to you. This party is going to be amazing, trust me."

As I looked into Draco's eyes, I couldn't help but believe in his conviction and his ability to make the party a success. With his reassurance and unwavering support, I felt a surge of excitement and anticipation about attending the pool party with him. Maybe, just maybe, this time things would turn out differently, and we would have a memorable and incident-free evening together.

As we wrapped up our Potions studying, Draco turned to me and asked, "So, what do you want to do now?"

"I have to train with Pansy," I replied, grabbing my bag.

Draco's face lit up. "Can I come with you?"

My heart sank at the thought of him seeing me in pain. "I don't know. You've seen it before, and it's not pretty."

Draco took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I've seen you in pain before, and it doesn't change how I feel about you. I want to be there for you."

I knew he was right. He had seen me in dragon form, and he still loved me.

"Okay," I said, nodding. "But just a warning, it can get pretty brutal. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

Draco just smiled at me and kissed my forehead. "I'll be right there with you every step of the way."

I couldn't help but feel grateful for his love and understanding. Despite my painful gift and the challenges that came with it, he never once judged me or made me feel inadequate. Draco truly was the sweetest boyfriend a girl could ask for.

●

It had been a long day of classes and training. Pansy, Draco, and I had just gotten back to our dorms to change for dinner. Pansy and I headed out first, but I told her I would wait for Draco before heading to the Great Hall.

A few minutes after I sat down on one of the couches, I suddenly heard someone sit down next to me. I looked up and saw Adrian Pucey, a Slytherin in the year above us. He had always had a sleazy reputation, and I immediately felt on guard.

"Hey there, beautiful," he said, leering at me. "Mind if I keep you company?"

I tried to give him a polite smile, but he made my skin crawl. And then I felt him reach out and put his hand on my knee.

I jumped up, instinctively pushing his hand away.

"What do you think you're doing?" I said, my voice thick with anger.

Adrian just laughed. "Relax, Layla. I was just trying to have a little fun."

But before he could do anything else, Draco stormed in. He saw Adrian's hand on my knee, and his eyes went cold.

"What the hell is going on here,  Pucey?" he demanded.

Adrian stood up, smirking. "Just keeping your girlfriend company," he said, his eyes flicking between us.

I felt my face burning with embarrassment and frustration. And then Adrian said something that made my heart sink.

"I know all about you, Layla," he said, looking right at me. "I know what you did to Regulus, and I know how quickly you moved on to Draco."

Draco's fists clenched, and I knew he was about to lose it. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he snarled.

But Adrian just laughed. "Whatever, mate. All I'm saying is that Layla seems to be giving herself a reputation. And you'd better watch your back."

Draco didn't hesitate. He punched Adrian hard in the face, sending him staggering backward. "That's enough," he growled. "No one talks to her like that."

I felt a burst of gratitude towards him, even as I held my breath in fear.

Adrian lunged at Draco, clearly wanting to fight back. But he didn't seem to realize how strong Draco actually was.

Draco slammed him against the wall, hitting him again and again. I knew it probably wasn't the "right" thing to do, but I had never felt so happy to see someone get their comeuppance.

Finally, Draco stepped back, panting.

"Stay away from her," he said, his eyes on Adrian. "Or you'll regret it."

As Adrian limped away, probably nursing a few broken bones, I realized how lucky I was to have Draco by my side. He was always so fiercely protective – and I knew that he would always be there to defend me.

Draco grabbed me and pulled me close to him. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded, snuggling in closer to him. "Yes," I said. "Thanks to you."

He kissed the top of my head and held me even tighter. "I'll always be here to protect you," he said. "No matter what."

I smiled, feeling comforted by his words. "I know," I said. "And I'm so lucky to have you."

He smiled back at me, his eyes shimmering with affection. "I'm the lucky one," he said. "To have you by my side."

We stayed like that for a few seconds, just holding each other. And I felt the weight of the day slowly start to lift from my shoulders.

Finally, Draco pulled away slightly and looked down at me.

"Hey," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "I know what would make you feel better."

"What's that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He leaned in and kissed me softly at first and then with more urgency. I felt myself melting into the kiss, feeling the love and passion flow between us.

As we pulled away, I felt myself breathing heavily, my heart racing.

❤️