Too Sweet // Draco Malfoy

29

Draco's pov:

     Ever since summer break I had been distant. Blaise was the only one at Hogwarts who knew why. He had been the same way. Ever since the day we received the mark, the dark mark. I knew this day would come, had since winter break. Then I tried to hide it and act like my normal self. But now it had become a reality. The plan was for me to wait until next winter break, but with my father in Azkaban, Voldemort wanted me to get it as soon as possible. As soon as possible meant the second day of summer break. I felt horrible and I couldn't tell what the cause was. Either it was my guilt for Celeste or the dark magic slowly coursing through my veins. The pain had gone away now, and now I just lived with the quilt of Celeste. I was supposed to see her this summer, but I never showed. I at least wrote her letters with some dumb excuse as to why, but those we're the only letters I sent. I had to distance myself from her. I mean I was a Deatheater now, and Deatheaters are what killed her cousin that she loved more than anything. 

     Everyday in class I tried to focus but my brain kept switching between two topics, Celeste and my task. Celeste, the way she looked in class. She was quiet and sad. The only people I ever saw her talk to were the girls. She has't even tried to speak to me since we returned. My task, to fix the vanishing cabinet, let other Deatheaters into the school, and kill Dumbledore. The day in Slughorns class, when she smelt the Amorentia, has been on my mind ever since. I would catch her glances in class, but after that she never looked at me again that day. 

     Then the day came, Blaise and I were going to tell Pansy why we had been acting weird. Then I would tell Celeste. Blaise had enough of fighting with Pansy and with her questioning why I had been distant. I knew she was asking mainly for Celeste, but there was a sign of concern within her to. We had gotten closer since she caught me sneaking in one night. Originally it would just be him telling her, but he decided that I needed to as well. 

     Pansy was furious when we told her. Sure she knew it would eventually happen, her dad was one as well, but she hated it. She knew it changed people, how the dark magic could consume a person. That's what happened with her uncle. She wanted to tell Celeste but I made her swear on her life not to, that I had to be the one to tell Celeste. I knew it would break her when I told her, but it would hurt her even more if I wasn't the one to tell her. 

     I wanted to wait a few more days, figure out what I was going to say, but when Blaise told me he saw Celeste in Slughorn's club I had to do it tonight. He told me she seemed so out of it, I had noticed it as well. She wasn't even responding when Slughorn tried to talk to her. Like she didn't even hear him. I overheard Pansy telling Blaise that Celeste had gone to the pond every night but was questioning if she even should anymore. 

     I was writing a letter to her when an owl hooted at our door. Blaise opened it and the owl flew in and landed on my desk. It was Celeste's owl. She hasn't written to me since August. It dropped the letter and flew back out the door. I opened the letter and scanned it. She told me to go to the pond as soon as I got the letter, that was it. I put the letter down and sighed. I ran through my mind what I was going to say and din't even realize Blaise has been calling my name for about 20 minutes. I cursed myself and ran to the pond. When I finally got close enough to see I saw that Celeste was standing, ready to leave. "Celeste" I called out. No response, she just froze staring out into the water. "Celeste?" I called out again walking closer.

     "Draco," she finally said without turning around. She wrapped her blanket around her and sat back down. The same blanket I summoned for her when she cried on my shoulder. The same blanket we both wrapped ourselves in as we slept on Snape's couch. 

     I didn't reply and sat down next to her. What I had planned to say vanished from my mind so I mentioned the first topic that came to my head. "Blaise told me you were at Slughorns dinner."

     "I was," she spoke. A short answer, I wondered what was going on in her mind.

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

     "I didn't notice," another short answer. No eye contact.

     "Will you look at me?" I asked. She finally turned and met my eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes. ""You wanted to talk?"

     ""No, I want you to talk. Why have you been acting so distant? Is it about your dad?" Her tone sounded slightly harsh. 

     "That and some other things," I said. For one of the first times in my life I felt fear. Fear of what my words would do to another person. I was terrified to tell her. 

     "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 had to do it, it was now or never.

     "I can't promise that... but I'll listen." She took a deep breath as she spoke. 

     I couldn't even speak, god I was a pussy. She was turning me soft and I didn't even mind it. I rolled up the sleeves of my old quidditch sweater and looked at her face. The dark mark was out, and she didn't speak. I focused in on her expression and saw tears fill her eyes. Fuck. I tried to call her name but she didn't answer.  

     I placed my hand on her shoulder gently. ""Don...Don't touch me." She was out of breath. 

     "Just please let me explain," I said removing my hand from her. 

     ""No, no, no," She kept repeating. She grabbed her blanket and ran from the pond. I called after but soon realized I had to run after her. God she was fast. She never stopped running until we reached her common room. I finally caught up and was met with a portrait slam to the face. Fuck I hope she was still there. 

     I had to let her know that she couldn't tell anyone. I know that wasn't what she wanted to hear but I had to say it. "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 took a few deep breaths. Finally catching it after chasing her through the castle. "I promise I'll explain if you let me. Fuck... Celeste I love you, and I know you love me to. I heard you in Slughorn's, I know you love me to. Fuck.. I can lose everything but not you... oh god, not you."

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A/N: shame Celeste didn't stick around to hear the rest of his words