Stuck with a Slytherin

19: "How do you know if you love someone?"

You sat in a muggle hotel room, staring at the TV, with Draco beside you. He was caught up in the fact that you could watch whatever you want on this picture in the wall.

Cissy and Lucius went to the shop, because they needed umbrellas for the next couple days at the beach.

Your first day was amazing, only now ending, and you were infinitely grateful to Draco for inviting you, even after you shut him out for two weeks.

Suddenly, the TV shut off, and the lights in the room were quick to follow suit.

Draco spoke up, with a hint of fear in his voice. "Uh... what happened?"

"Oh, the power went out. It'll come back on in a few hours." You explained, reaching for your wand. "Lumos."

"Oh."

A few moments of awkward silence passed before you spoke. "So... do you wanna go back down to the beach? No point in staying up here if we can't do anything."

"We've already changed out of our swimsuits." He countered.

"That's okay, we can just go for a walk on the sand. I'm sure it'd be rather peaceful."

"...Okay."

You smiled and stood up from the couch, then made your way to where you put your sandals. Motioning for Draco to follow, you stepped out the door and towards the elevator. The lights flickered back on.

"Uh, could we take the stairs?" Malfoy asked apprehensively.

"Draco, we're on the twelfth floor. I'm not doing that."

"Could we apparate then?"

"Do you know how?"

"Fair point. I just don't want to go in there. What does it do?"

You placed your hand over the door, preventing it from closing. "It just goes down. It's safe, I promise, just step in."

You chuckled a bit as he reluctantly stepped into the elevator, immediately grabbing onto the bar on the inside once he got in.

You followed him in, pressing the 'G' button, and the elevator's robotic voice said "Ground Floor", causing Draco to jump a bit in surprise.

You watched, amused, as he gripped onto the metal bar as if his life depended on it. He let out a small whimper when it started slowing to a halt, and you grabbed his hand.

"You're good, Dray. It's safe." You sent him a smile, and he nodded as the doors opened on Floor 4, allowing a man, woman, and two toddlers to climb in. You tensed a bit when the man decided to stand right next to you, and Draco squeezed your hand  reassuringly, pulling you closer to him.

Your heart fluttered at the thought that even when he was terrified, the second you got a bit uncomfortable, his first reaction was to help you. You placed your head on his shoulder, and felt his heartbeat quicken. You couldn't help but wonder if he was also feeling like his ribs were about to explode with butterflies.

Soon, too soon, the elevator came to a stop, and the family left with you and Draco not too far behind. However, as they went to the front desk, you led Malfoy to the back doors. You slid off your sandals as you stepped outside, picking them both up in one hand, and he copied you.

You gasped as you saw the sky, sprinkled with stars, paired with the rolling black and navy waters. "Woah... It's beautiful!"

Draco laughed. "Yeah, it's definitely a wonderful thing. And look!" He pointed at the sky. "There's Cassiopeia!"

You smiled, finding the constellation in an instant before linking your arm in his and making your way to the waves.

Your feet sunk into the soft white sand, still warm from a day of soaking in the sun. As you got closer to the waves, the sand became a little bit firmer, and stuck to you. Draco walked alongside you, matching your pace easily. But while your gaze was fixed on the ocean ahead, his was focused on the stars.

You both soon reached the water, feeling the waves as they crashed over your ankles.

"How do you know if you love someone?" He asked after a few minutes of peaceful silence.

You paused for a moment, really considering the question. "Well, I think if you love someone, then you would be willing to do anything to keep them safe. Even if it means giving up your own safety. And if you lost them, you'd fall apart."

He nodded, satisfied with your answer, then asked another question. "Who do you love?"

You sighed, thinking this one over, too. "Um..." The first person that came to mind was your dad, but if he died, you knew you'd feel relief. As awful as it was, he had put you through so much pain, and knowing that he couldn't do so anymore would lift a weight off your shoulders. Your brother flitted past as well, but he was never around; you barely knew him. And your mom left you. Not to mention with an abusive dad.

"Y/n? Sorry, you don't have to answer." Draco's voice snapped you out of your thoughts.

"No, sorry, you're okay. I... don't think I love anyone." You mumbled the last part, but he caught it.

"Oh. I'm sorry." He whispered as you both continued down the wet sand. He removed his arm from yours, and for a second, you felt dread. Rejection. But then he wrapped it around you, his hand sitting at the bottom of your ribs.

You leaned into him, a small smile on your lips, and returned his question. "Who do you love?"

He hummed, and the butterflies inside of you fluttered around a lot more excitedly. "I think, just my parents? I'm not sure."

You nodded, then took a deep breath. For multiple more minutes, the only sound was the waves crashing on the shore as you made your way down the beach. After a bit, you paused, turning around, and suggested that you started making your way back to the hotel.

As the large muggle building came into view, you stopped, turning to look at Draco in the eyes. You had to tilt your chin up a little bit, since he's pretty tall, but not too much.

"Thank you for walking with me." You said seriously.

"Anytime." He returned.

You both stood there for a couple more seconds, staring at each other, until Draco did what you least expected.

He leaned down, touching your chin gently, and pressed his lips to yours. It only lasted a second. Maybe not even. But the butterflies that had been flying around relentlessly throughout the night burst into fireworks at this kiss. You felt tickles go up your legs, arms, spine.

As soon as he pulled away, you felt cold. You wanted to feel the fireworks again. But you didn't have the chance before he turned away and jogged towards the hotel, leaving you frozen in shock, staring after him.

You stayed on the beach for a couple more minutes before heading in. Draco was already asleep on his bed when you got back to the room, and you smiled, laying down on the full-sized bed next to his.

You closed your eyes, hoping desperately that tonight was not the dream that it felt like.