Too Sweet // Draco Malfoy

28

Celeste's pov:

     Today was the first day of classes. Saturday and Sunday I had gone to the pond but Draco didn't show. Pansy said he hasn't even spoken to her. My first class of the day was Potions with Professor Slughorn. He had already started class by time Harry and Ron entered the room. I missed about as much lesson as they had. I was too busy watching Draco, he never once looked back at me. Slughorn introduced the three potions he had on a desk Veritaserum, Polyjuice, and Amorentia. Then he asked who wanted to demonstrate the Armorentia since we have never worked with it before. I tried to hide behind Ophelia, but just my luck, he picked me anyways. 

     "Yes, yes you, the one hiding back there, Miss?" He said.

     "Miss Ellesmere," I say stepping from behind Ophelia. 

     "Come on up Miss. Ellesmere, tell us what you smell." He said as I maneuvered my way to the crowd. I wanted to know if Draco was watching, but I was too scared to look that way. I knew what this potion did, so did everyone in here. 

     I lean closer to the cauldron and breath in through my nose. I knew that smell, and I know he would as well. 'I smell cologne... it's woodsy but also fruity." I say trying to keep it as simple as possible. 

     "What kind of woodsy? What kind of fruit? Can't you tell?" Slughorn asks. Of course, he just had to ask. 

     "It smells like mahogany...and maybe apples or some sort of citrus." I say. I quickly step away and head back to Ophelia. 

     "That was the first time I've seen Draco pay attention," Ophelia whispers to me. 

     "Great," I say sarcastically. I zone out again and Ophelia finally gets my attention a few minutes later. 

     "Come on, Slughorn wants us to make Draught of Living Dead. We could win a vial of Felix Felicis." She said. We walked over to out desk, which once again lucky me, right across from Dracos. Slughorn was out to get me and I don't even think he knew it. I tried to pay attention but I kept glancing up at Draco. I had never seen Draco so determined. He always cared for his grades but now, this looked like it was life or death. Before the rest of us were even close to being done, Harry announced that he finished. It was perfect, of course. Draco seemed furious. 

     Later that evening Slughorn stopped me in the halls. He asked if I wanted to join the Slug Club. Obviously I had to ask what that was. He explained that it was a club he had when he was a teacher here originally. They would get together once in a while and have dinner together. Apparently my potion was very good, I may not have finished it but he said it would have been pretty close to Harry's. I asked when the first dinner was and he said just a few weeks from now. I joined hoping that it would be enough to get my mind off of Draco. 

     A few weeks later and it was time for Slughorn's dinner. Hoping it would take my mind off of Draco failed to succeed when I walked in and saw Blaise. Pansy said they weren't fighting as much anymore but he was still acting strange. Draco hasn't said anything either. What she did say is that he disappears sometimes at night, but had no clue where he went. She assumed the pond at first but I told her I had been there every night, and nothing. Every single time he disappeared she asked if it was to the pond, the answer was always no. A few others were at Slughorns as well Harry, Hermione, and Neville included. I ignored the conversations they were having and ate my dinner silently. I decided I was going to write to Draco tonight, would I regret it the moment I sent it? Probably. Blaise didn't speak much either, only a few short answers. He glanced at me a few times but didn't show any expression on his face. Finally the dreadful dinner was now over and I headed back to my common room. I barely spoke to Ophelia and sat at my desk sloppily writing a letter. 

     "Please take this to Florence in the Owelry before I regret this." I say turning to her. 

     "Is it to Draco?" She asked grabbing it from my hand. I nod my head. She gives me a sympathetic smile and slips her shoes on. I asked Draco to meet me by the pond tonight, more like demanded. Who knew if he would listen, but god did I hope he would. I changed into more comfortable clothing and waited for Opehlia's return. She eventually came back and told me she sent it. I sighed and couldn't tell if it was from regret or relief. "Are you going to the pond again?" She asked, she knew the answer.

     "Yeah, hopefully he comes tonight," I say. 

     "Yeah, just bring a blanket tonight, it's supposed to be colder." she said. 

     "I will," I say as I slip my shoes on. I grab a blanket from my bed, the one Draco gave me in Snape's office. Shockingly two years ago. I slept with this blanket every night. I headed out the door and went to the pond. 

     It seemed like hours had gone by and I was ready to leave until a voice stopped me in my tracks. I knew that voice. Now I knew my sigh earlier was with regret. Now that he was here I was terrified to hear what he had to say. "Celeste?" He questioned again. That's right, I didn't reply the first time he said my name. 

     "Draco," I said without turning around. I wrapped the blanket around me again and sat back down. He didn't say anything and sat next to me. Further then we had been sitting last year. 

     He remained silent for a few moments before speaking, "Blaise told me you were at Slughorns dinner." He said. 

     "I was," 

     "He said you seemed really out of it. Even mentioned that Slughorn asked you a few questions but you didn't seem to notice," He said. Slughorn tried to talk to me? I didn't even notice.

     "I didn't notice," I said. I hadn't even looked up at him yet. 

     "Will you look at me?" He asked. I don't reply and finally look up at him. "You wanted to talk?"

     "No, I want you to talk." I said. "Why have you been acting so distant? Is it about your dad?" I asked. I tried to sound nice but I think I sounded harsher than I wanted to. 

     "That and some other things," He said. 

     "What other things?"

     "I actually wrote you a letter, right before your owl came to me. I wanted to tell you... but you have to promise not to be mad or upset." 

     "I can't promise that... but I'll listen." I took a deep breath. I was scared of what he was going to say. Mad or upset? What would make me mad or upset?

     He took a deep breath and began to roll up his sleeve. That's when I saw it. The dark mark. My breath stopped, tears filled my eyes, but I couldn't look away. I heard him calling my name bit his voice sounded so far away. He grabbed my shoulder and I jumped back. 

     "Don...Don't touch me." I say trying to breath. I stand up and grab my blanket. 

     "Just please let me explain,"

     "No, no, no," I kept repeating. I held my blanket tighter and ran away from the pond. Draco called after me but I couldn't respond. My legs felt like they were going to give out any moment, but I never stopped running. I heard footsteps running behind me but I was a tad bit quicker. I reached my common room and whispered the password. Just as Draco reached me I slammed the portrait door shut. I leaned against it trying to catch my breath. I couldn't let Ophelia see me like this. If she saw me like this, she would ask what happened and I knew I couldn't tell her. 

     "I don't know if you can hear me... shit I don't even know if you're still there, but please Celeste. You cannot tell anyone," I heard him say through the portrait. I waited a few moments and finally got my breathing under control. I headed to my room and thankfully Ophelia was already fast asleep. 

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A/N: sorry if this chapter was weird with the time skips, I just don't want the angst to last super long.