by my side¹ - d. malfoy

Seventeen

"LAURA, ARE you excited for today?" Pansy asked, a knowing grin on her face as Laura got ready.

"I mean, I'm a little nervous," Laura shrugged, bundling up, "Draco and I still aren't on the best of terms."

Laura and Draco were starting to mend their relationship, but they still weren't as close as they were before their argument. They would still work together in class as partners, but other than that, they would only exchange a few words.

"Well, maybe things today will change that," Pansy shrugged. She waited as Laura put in her contacts. "He's been waiting, and I know from personal experience that Draco can be stubborn, but Blaise and I know he really does like you, Laura."

"Maybe," Laura sighed, finishing getting ready. "Well, I'll update you on what happens. Have fun with Blaise."

"Have fun with Malfoy," Pansy grinned. "I'll tell you how things go between us when I see you."

"Oh, you better," Laura grinned, waving as she left the dorms.

Laura hummed as she walked into the common room. She was met with Draco just about to sit down and open his book.

"Malfoy," Laura said, causing him to stand back up.

"Oh, Laura," Draco said with a small smile. "I was wondering when you were going to come down."

"Well, I am now here, gracing you with my presence," Laura said, bowing, garnering a chuckle from Draco. "I'm ready to go."

Draco nodded, the two heading toward the Great Hall, where they ate a quick breakfast. Laura was excited to leave the castle, rushing Draco to Hogsmeade.

"Y'know we have all day, right?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow as they stood in line to leave. "We don't have to be rushing."

"It's been so long since we've gone," Laura pointed out, folding her arms. "I love Hogwarts, but the fact that we can only go out to Hogsmeade once every two months, you know how awful that is."

Draco chuckled, shaking his head as Filch checked them before letting them out of the gates.

"I guess I've only experienced being able to go to Hogsmeade that often," he shrugged as they walked. "I remember you telling me that at Ilvermorny, you could leave after classes, right?"

"Yeah," Laura sighed with a happy smile. "Boot's Keep is our Hogsmeade. I'd usually go to Mercury's Place to study on the weekends. Sometimes, though, Nick and I would go dancing at Miss Phillipa Piper's Dance Hall."

"That definitely sounds different from Hogsmeade," Draco nodded. He then took his jacket off, placing it around Laura. "You look frigid."

"I'm not," Laura frowned. However, she still quickly put his jacket on. "You're not getting your jacket back, though."

"I figured," Draco laughed. He fished something out of his pocket, holding it, "Could you hold this?"

Laura nodded, putting her hand out. Draco smirked, putting his hand in hers and interlacing their fingers.

"Oh my Merlin," Laura felt her face heat up. "One right after the other? Someone's a little desperate, huh?"

"Maybe I am," Draco admitted unashamedly. He held the door open for her into The Three Broomsticks. "I mean, it's working, isn't it?"

"I mean, I-"

"In a moment, in a moment!" someone said, interrupting Laura. She looked over to see Ludo Bagman rushing over to her. "Laura! How are you? Been hoping to run into you! Everything going alright?"