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
Y/N sat alone at the Hufflepuff table, her gaze lingering on the bustling activity in the Great Hall. Despite her attempts to make new friends, the connections remained surface-level, leaving her with a sense of isolation.
The laughter around her emphasized her solitude, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of loneliness. Y/N missed the comfort of familiar faces, the kind of friendship that more than casual conversations.
A tap on her shoulder sent a shiver down Y/N's spine, and a hushed voice whispered near her ear. "Mind if I join you?"
Recognizing Draco's voice, she tensed. The memories of the close encounter during the Defense Against the Dark Arts class yesterday lingered, creating an underlying tension. Y/N turned to face him, her expression a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
Draco, seemingly oblivious to the unease, slid into the seat across from her. "Hope you don't mind the company."
The eyes of nearby students flickered between them, catching the subtle change in dynamics. The air between Y/N and Draco held a complex mix of unspoken sentiments and the lingering effects of their recent connection.
Y/N, breaking the quiet tension, finally spoke, "What are you doing here, Draco? Why sit with me?"
Draco met her gaze, his expression sincere. "Well, you looked a bit lonely sitting here all by yourself. Thought I'd offer some company."
Y/N, surprised by his straightforwardness, couldn't help but appreciate the gesture. Despite the complexities that arose from their recent interactions, Draco's willingness to sit beside her in a moment of solitude felt oddly genuine.
As they continued their meal, a tentative conversation unfolded. The air, initially charged with uncertainty, gradually shifted into a more relaxed atmosphere.
Y/N tried to steer the conversation toward lighter subjects. "Have you ever tried Butterbeer, Draco? It's a Hogsmeade staple."
Draco, sipping on the drink, smirked. "I've been there a few times. I prefer Firewhiskey, though. Stronger kick."
The whispers in the background grew more audible. Y/N noticed Draco's unwavering gaze, and an unspoken understanding lingered between them.
Y/N, attempting to break the tension, teased, "I never thought I'd see the day when a Slytherin would brave the Hufflepuff table. What brings you here?"
Draco chuckled, his tone suggestive, "Maybe I'm starting to appreciate a bit of Hufflepuff warmth."
The comment hung in the air, and Y/N couldn't help but feel a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The surrounding students, sensing the underlying tension, exchanged glances.
Y/N, enjoying the banter with Draco, laughed at one of his sarcastic remarks. "You Slytherins do have a way with words, don't you?"
Draco grinned, "Comes with the territory."
Their playful banter, however, was abruptly interrupted when a piece of food was flung across the hall, hitting Y/N square on the shoulder. The laughter around them halted, and Draco's expression darkened.
"What the hell was that?" Draco snapped, his eyes narrowing at the culprit.
Y/N, wiping off the mess, tried to downplay it. "It's okay, Draco. Just ignore it."
But Draco, unable to contain his anger, rose from his seat. "No, it's not okay. Who did that?"
A few students shifted uncomfortably, but no one admitted to the act. Draco's frustration grew, and he took Y/N's hands, a protective instinct kicking in. "Let's get out of here," he muttered, guiding her away from the prying eyes of the Great Hall.
As they left, Draco shot a scowl at the indifferent students. "Don't think this is over," he warned, his protective demeanor contrasting sharply with the earlier playful banter. The tension that had simmered beneath the surface now boiled to the forefront, leaving Y/N both grateful for Draco's intervention. Draco, his protective demeanor lingering, walked with Y/N to the Hufflepuff common room. The atmosphere was charged with an unspoken tension, a mix of concern and the lingering anger from the dining hall incident.
Reaching the common room, Y/N turned to Draco. "Thanks for helping me, Draco. I appreciate it."
Draco nodded, his gaze softening. "Of course. Nobody deserves to be treated like that."
Y/N gestured toward the staircase leading to the dormitories. "I'll just go change real quick. You can wait here."
Draco, seemingly hesitant, followed her upstairs. As they reached the corridor leading to Y/N's room, he was about to enter when she stopped him with a playful smile.
"Wait outside, will you? I need some privacy," Y/N teased, the air thick with unspoken implications.
Draco, a subtle smirk playing on his lips, leaned against the corridor wall. "Privacy it is, then."
As Y/N disappeared into her room, the air on the other side of the door became charged with an unspoken energy.
Draco leaned against the corridor wall, his mind swirling with a mix of thoughts. The echoes of laughter and casual banter from the Hufflepuff common room drifted through the air, but his focus remained on the closed door in front of him.
The seconds ticked by, and Draco found himself unusually conscious of the anticipation lingering in the atmosphere. The playful exchange between Y/N and himself earlier had left an undeniable mark, and the mere notion of her changing on the other side of the door added a layer of complexity to their evolving dynamic.
The sound of the doorknob turning interrupted his thoughts, and Draco looked up to see Y/N, now changed, standing before him. A subtle smile played on her lips, and the air seemed to shift once again.
"Ready to go?" Y/N asked, breaking the charged silence.
Draco, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes, nodded. As they walked back downstairs, the unspoken tension between them became a quiet undercurrent.
