a snape and a Malfoy

NOT NOW PANCY!

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As the new school year at Hogwarts began, the fallout from Cera Snape's breakup with Harry Potter was still fresh. Cera had tried to make amends by promising to remain friends with Harry, but the situation was painful for both of them.

One afternoon, in the common room, Harry approached Cera. His expression was a mixture of hurt and resignation.

“Cera,” Harry began quietly, “I appreciate your honesty. I really do. But it’s going to be hard to see you with Draco.”

Cera looked down, unable to meet his eyes. “I know, Harry. I’m sorry. I made a mistake, and I need to fix it. I hope we can still be friends.”

Harry nodded, though his face was still pained. “I hope so too. I just... I need some time.”

Cera sighed. “I understand. Take all the time you need.”

As the days passed, Draco and Pansy’s presence became a constant reminder of Cera’s past mistakes. Draco seemed to take pleasure in taunting her about her failed engagement. One day, as Cera was walking through the Hogwarts corridors, Draco and Pansy confronted her, their faces set in smirks.

“Well, well,” Draco drawled, “if it isn’t Cera Snape, the great heartbreaker. How’s it feel to be a topic of gossip?”

Pansy, standing beside Draco, added with a sneer, “I didn’t realize breaking off an engagement could be so entertaining. How’s Harry holding up?”

Cera’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger. “It’s none of your business,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Pansy snorted. “Oh, but it is. It’s all anyone’s talking about. You’re quite the drama queen, aren’t you?”

Draco watched Cera’s reaction closely, noticing the tears that began to well up in her eyes. His own expression softened slightly, though he tried to hide it. “Pansy, that’s enough.”

Pansy raised an eyebrow. “Why? She’s the one who made a mess of things. Maybe she needs to be reminded of it.”

Cera’s control slipped, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. “I’ve made mistakes, okay? But I don’t need you both to rub it in.”

Draco’s face showed a mixture of concern and frustration. “Cera, we didn’t mean to...”

Before Draco could finish, Cera turned away, her shoulders shaking as she walked briskly down the hall. Draco’s gaze followed her, conflicted and troubled.

Pansy scoffed. “Looks like someone’s still upset about their own mess.”

Draco shot her a sharp look. “Pansy, not now. Let her go.”

As Cera fled down the hallway, she heard Harry’s voice calling her from behind. “Cera, wait!”

Harry caught up with her, his expression sympathetic. “Hey, are you okay?”

Cera wiped her tears, trying to regain her composure. “Not really. But I’ll be fine. Thanks for checking in.”

Harry offered a supportive smile. “You don’t have to go through this alone. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Cera nodded, grateful for his understanding. “I appreciate it, Harry.”

Meanwhile, Draco was left standing in the corridor, feeling a deep pang of regret. He realized that his initial teasing had only made things worse and that his own feelings for Cera were more complicated than he had admitted. Pansy’s bullying only added to the turmoil, but Draco was beginning to see past her actions and understand the real impact of the situation.

As the days went by, the tension between Draco and Cera remained, but Draco’s demeanor softened. He grappled with his emotions, trying to find a way to bridge the gap between them while navigating Pansy’s increasingly aggressive behavior. The emotional landscape at Hogwarts had become more intricate, and the journey of understanding and reconciliation was just beginning for both Draco and Cera.