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

98. The Way We Were

Sloane and Draco were dancing around the floor more eloquently than Sloane ever remembered dancing before so she assumed it was down to Draco who guided her effortlessly. She was lost in her own little world, imaging what would happen after graduation and showing Draco all her usual spots in America that meant the most to her.
"I'm sorry if she ruined your night," Draco said sadly as he dipped Sloane and then swung her around before looking down into her eyes.

"Sorry? I was a little lost there," she shook her head and smiled.

"Everything ok?" Draco couldn't help but wonder what was going on inside her head. He wasn't getting anything off her emotions and it only confused him even more.

She nodded. "I was just thinking -"

"Oh no, this is going to be bad," he wanted to curse Astoria out.

"What is?" Sloane asked confused.

"What you were thinking. It's bad isn't it?" He twirled her around again and Sloane could feel the panic in his chest, winding up like a knot. But he was hiding it well from everyone else.

"I was thinking of all the places I want you to see of my childhood and growing up. How would you feel about travelling after graduation for a few weeks?" She looked up hopeful at Draco, but he looked lost.

"You were thinking about after graduation? Travelling?" He was confused. He thought maybe she was going to say that things were moving too fast or that he believed what Astoria said about herself. He really needed to stop underestimating her.

Sloane nodded and smiled up at Draco. She could feel the confusion but the look on his face was so sweet she couldn't help but smile and leaned up to kiss him. "America holds a lot of memories for me and I want to share them with you."

Draco sighed in relief, and he could sense the amusement in Sloane as well as an outpouring of love. It was still very strange to Draco that he could suddenly sense Sloane. It still wasn't as strong for him as it was for her, more than likely because they had not completed the bond, but he was more in touch with her now than before, and he was able to understand her emotions. "Would you ever want to live in America?"

To be honest, if he had asked this question even a year ago she would have said yes. Even though they spent their lives on the run essentially in America, and she never felt like they settled anywhere long enough to call home, it still held a sense of belonging for Sloane. But that was before her mother was kidnapped. That was before her father, without a plan or a thought for the dangers that lay ahead, packed their lives up and moved to England. She sighed and Draco could sense the sorrow she was feeling. He stopped dancing and took her hand. "Come with me," he said as he placed his hand on the small of her back, sending a tiny shockwave through her body, enough to make them both shiver.

Draco led Sloane out of the ballroom and across the hall down to the right slightly to a door on the left hand side of the hall. He opened the door and stepped in, taking his wand out of his pocket and flicking it towards the low burning fire, adding more wood to ignite the flame and lighting the lamps around the room. He moved them both to the small couch by the fire. "This was my study when I was growing up. When I was younger it was a nursery." Sloane looked around seeing the pictures of Draco on the wall and on the mantel above the fireplace. He took Sloane's hand in his. "What were you feeling? Just now in the ballroom?"

Sloane gave a small smile at the thought that she didn't have to explain to Draco that she was feeling sad or that what was wrong. He could feel it. It definitely made things easier for them as a couple. At times like this anyway. "I was just thinking that although I love the USA, and I am proud to have roots there, it will never feel like home for me. Not after everything that has happened to my family." She looked down and gave a sorrowful sigh.