Bound by Blood and Magic

Chapter 16: The Morning After

Morning light filtered through the curtains of the dormitory, casting a warm glow over the room. Draco stirred, blinking against the brightness as the events of the previous night flooded back to him. He felt an unfamiliar weight beside him, and as he turned, he was met with the sight of (Y/N) still asleep, her hair spilling over the pillow like a cascade of silk.

A rush of warmth filled his chest at the sight of her. Last night had been nothing short of extraordinary. The way they had connected, body and soul, had left him feeling both exhilarated and grounded. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, careful not to wake her, wanting to savor this moment of peace before the reality of their situation settled in.

As he lay there, Draco’s mind wandered to the implications of what they had shared. They had crossed a threshold, and the weight of that decision felt heavy yet beautiful. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something more profound between them.

But with that thought came the realization that they were not alone in their journey. Their families would have expectations, plans, and desires that could complicate everything. He sighed, trying to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the soft sound of (Y/N)’s breathing.

A few moments later, (Y/N) stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. When she saw Draco watching her, a sleepy smile spread across her face. “Good morning,” she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

“Good morning,” he replied, feeling his heart race at the sight of her so relaxed and content. “How are you feeling?”

She stretched slightly, her body arching gracefully, and he couldn’t help but admire her. “Amazing,” she said, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Last night was… incredible.”

“Yeah, it really was,” he agreed, remembering the intensity of their connection. “I can’t believe we finally did that.”

(Y/N) rolled onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow to face him. “I’ve been thinking… what does this mean for us now?” Her expression turned serious, and Draco felt a rush of warmth at her concern.

“It means that we’re in this together,” he said firmly, wanting to reassure her. “I care about you, and I want to make this work. But we have to be careful about how we approach everything.”

She nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. “I know. Our families are going to have opinions about our relationship, especially with the engagement looming over us.”

Draco took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Let’s face them together. We’ll make it clear that we’re choosing each other, regardless of what they think.”

“That sounds good,” (Y/N) replied, her eyes softening. “I’m so glad we had that moment together, but I don’t want to hide it from anyone.”

“Me neither,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I want to shout it from the rooftops that you’re mine.”

A blush crept across her cheeks, and Draco couldn’t help but grin. “But first, we should probably get ready for class before we’re late,” he added, glancing at the clock on the wall.

“Oh no, I didn’t even realize the time!” (Y/N) exclaimed, quickly sitting up and pulling the covers around her as if to shield herself from the world outside. “We need to hurry!”

They jumped out of bed, the morning filled with hurried laughter as they scrambled to get dressed. Draco couldn’t help but steal glances at (Y/N) as she pulled on her clothes, a mix of admiration and affection swelling in his chest. She was breathtaking, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just claimed the most precious treasure.