She's right in front of him.
Draco finds it impossible to avert his eyes, captivated by the radiance of her smile and the enchanting sound of her laughter. It stands out starkly against the world he is accustomed to, yet he can't resist the emotion...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
8th Year
Professor Sprout decided to take the Fuzzlewort lecture outside of the greenhouse the following week at Hogwarts. For a unique outdoor exercise, she partnered students with Fuzzleworts to help them care for them.
Y/N asked the Slytherin, "Where do you want to do this?"
Draco dug into his pockets for a cigarette and lighted it, saying, "Uhh I don't know? You choose."
As she tried to steer smoke away from the plant, she told Draco, "I think it would be advisable to not smoke infront of our Fuzzlewort."
He tried to rationalize his smoking by telling her, "It's not like it could inhale second hand smoke."
She smiled and said, sarcastically, "Well, I can. So I'd be better to put that away, thank you!"
He snorted, threw the cigarette to the ground, and stepped on it to put out the fire before saying, "Fine."
Carrying their little pot of Fuzzlewort, they walked around the Hogwarts grounds. The sun shone warmly above the castle, and the air was crisp. He listened, silently taking solace in the lighter banter as Y/N talked animatedly about her love of mythical creatures and the beauties of nature.
When they arrived to the Forbidden Forest's edge, Y/N said, "Let's find a quiet spot here. Fuzzleworts love the fresh air, and I heard they thrive in areas where magical creatures gather."
Draco arched an eyebrow but trailed behind her into the quiet edges of the woodland. The calm environment seemed to have a favorable effect on the Fuzzleworts, as evidenced by the way their colors grew brighter by the minute.
As Y/N related tales of her Hufflepuff adventures and her fascination with magical plants, Draco was enthralled with her sincere excitement. The darkness that continued to haunt his thoughts seemed to vanish with the laughter that spilled from her lips.
She instantly stopped talking about her journeys once Draco said, "You're quite tolerable."
She asked him, "Was I not that tolerable from the start?"
"To begin with, you're kind of weird," Draco said, chuckling slightly as he recalled how many hair clips she had in her hair and how he wouldn't be shocked if a Christmas light would somehow end up in it.
She smiles and nudges his shoulders, saying, "You're the weird one."
୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀
Draco and Y/N walked into the castle courtyard, holding their colorful Fuzzleworts in their hands. They strolled side by side in the crisp air, with the castle walls casting long shadows. A group of gathered Gryffindors halted their chat as they exchanged sneaky looks
The whispers became louder and the courtyard erupted in snickers as Draco and Y/N got closer. Driven by misplaced opinions, the Gryffindors were unable to contain their disgust.
One Gryffindor scoffed, glaring scornfully at Draco. "Look who's walking together-Malfoy and his little Hufflepuff friend," the other said.
The gang let out a caustic chuckle and gave Draco a critical look while speaking in an acrimonious tone. "Still clinging to your Death Eater past, Malfoy? Thought you'd slither away somewhere and hide."
Even though Y/N was uncomfortable with the accusations that kept coming, she remained at Draco's side and refused to allow the Gryffindors' insults control her.
"Hufflepuff, you're no better," teasingly said another Gryffindor. "Associating with someone who aided the enemy in the Battle of Hogwarts. What kind of person does that make you?"
Even though he was used to such contempt, Draco could feel Y/N's discomfort. Maintaining his composure, he took a long breath, but his jaw tightened at the unjustified animosity.
Y/N fired a rebellious look toward the Gryffindors and tightened her grip on Draco's arm. "Let's go, Draco. We don't need to listen to their ignorance."
As Draco and Y/N sought to flee, the Gryffindors intensified their verbal onslaught, hoping for a knockout blow. One of them, clearly the self-appointed leader, spewed poisonous words about Draco's past: "I bet your family is still involved in all sorts of dark magic. Death Eaters, the lot of you. Slytherins can't be trusted."
Draco's palm curled into a fist in a fit of rage, the desire to revenge coursing through him. However, a realization flashed across his face, reminding him of his dedication to redemption. He took a step back, swallowing his rage.
"Oh, how original," Draco remarked, a cynical grin on his lips. "I haven't heard the Death Eater insult in at least five minutes. You Gryffindors really have a way with words."
The quiet Gryffindors exchanged uneasy glances as Draco and Y/N continued on the way.
The hostility lingered in the air as Draco and Y/N walked away from the gathering of Gryffindors who had hurled insults. Y/N kept up with Draco, but as he accelerated, she exclaimed, "Wait!"
Draco came to a standstill, turning to face her with a wary frown. "You know, Draco, I don't think you still have ill intentions," Y/N stated determinedly. "People can change, and I believe you can, too."
Draco's face twitched, but he quickly retorted, "You're too optimistic, Y/N. There's no redemption for someone like me. This is my life now."
Y/N's expression softened, and she reached out to stroke Draco's arm. "I've seen goodness in you, Draco, and I believe there's a chance for you to change. Don't let your past define you."
Draco stepped back slightly, shaking his head. "You're living in a fantasy, Y/N. Some people don't get second chances, and I'm one of them."
With those words still ringing in his ears, Draco turned aside and proceeded down the corridor, leaving Y/N alone. The sounds of his footsteps faded as Y/N followed him, her face etched with anxiety and determination. She trusted in Draco's ability to change, but he appeared set in his notion that atonement was beyond of reach.
