Back to Black- Draco Malfoy

28| into you

The castle loomed above as the four of us stepped through the grand stone archway, shadows stretching long across the courtyard as the sun dipped behind the towers. I stifled a yawn, my feet dragging just a little as I tried to match the guys' pace.

Theo glanced back at me with a smirk. "Long day already?"

I rolled my eyes, shrugging off his teasing. But just then, I felt Draco's gaze settle on me, a flicker of concern barely concealed in the way his usual smirk softened. His voice was quieter than usual as he asked, "You look tired. You alright?"

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me at his notice, though I tried to play it off. "Fine. Just...a lot of walking today." My words came out more exhausted than I'd meant, and I could see Draco's frown deepen.

"Maybe you should take a break," he murmured, falling back a step to walk beside me as Blaise and Theo carried on, trading a few snickers ahead. Draco's hand brushed my shoulder briefly, a reassuring touch that was gone before I could fully process it.

"Let's get you to the common room," he said quietly, almost as if the others weren't there. And for that moment, it felt like it was just the two of us, the warmth of his concern tugging me forward, one step at a time, back into the heart of Hogwarts.

We walked in silence for a while, the sounds of our footsteps echoing through the dim corridors. Theo and Blaise had drifted ahead, their voices blending with the distant chatter of other students returning from Hogsmeade. But Draco stayed beside me, matching my slower pace, his presence steady and grounding.

As we rounded the corner towards the entrance to the dungeons, Draco spoke again, his tone softer. "You know, you don't always have to keep up with them. It's alright to slow down every now and then."

I glanced at him, caught a little off guard by his gentleness. "I know," I murmured, managing a small smile. "Guess I'm just not used to slowing down."

He let out a quiet, knowing laugh, his gaze fixed ahead. "You don't have to prove anything, not to us. We already know you can keep up." His eyes flicked back to me, his expression more serious. "Besides, it's not exactly safe to push yourself too hard around here."

I felt a surge of warmth in my chest, realizing how much he noticed-even things I tried to brush off or hide. I wanted to say something, to thank him maybe, but the words felt caught in my throat. Instead, I just nodded, grateful he was there, the silent reassurance easing some of the tension I hadn't realized I'd been carrying.

We reached the portrait of the Slytherin common room, and Theo and Blaise had already disappeared inside. Draco waited as I spoke the password, then held the door open, letting me step in first. As we entered, the flickering green light cast shadows over the room's dark stone walls, the cool air welcoming after the long walk.

He hesitated, then spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, "Get some rest, alright?"

I met his gaze, feeling an odd mix of relief and something unspoken tugging at me. "Thanks, Draco," I said softly, heading toward the plush armchairs by the fireplace, sinking into one with a sigh.

Before I closed my eyes, I saw him give a small nod, lingering for just a moment before heading over to join Theo and Blaise, who were already throwing cards around in an animated debate over some game. And as the warmth of the fire settled over me, I felt Draco's quiet concern, a presence that seemed to linger even as my eyelids grew heavy, pulling me into a much-needed sleep.

The crackling of the fire was soothing, its warmth wrapping around me as my eyes drifted shut. The exhaustion I'd been fighting all day finally overtook me, pulling me into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Across the room, Theo glanced over from the card game, noticing my head resting on the armchair, eyes closed. He smirked, nudging Blaise with his elbow. "Look who's finally out," he whispered, nodding in my direction.

Blaise chuckled, setting down his cards. "It was about time. She looked ready to drop hours ago." But as he looked back at Draco, his laughter faded, a knowing look crossing his face.

Draco hadn't touched his cards in a while. Instead, he was still, his gaze fixed on me, his usual guarded expression softened. His eyes traced the gentle rise and fall of my breathing, his usual mask slipping just enough for Blaise and Theo to see something deeper there, something unspoken.

Theo raised an eyebrow, shooting a sly grin at Blaise before leaning in, his voice low. "Looks like someone's got other things on his mind tonight."

Blaise smirked, stifling a laugh as he muttered, "Reckon we should leave him to it?"

Draco snapped out of his trance, catching their amused glances. He shot them a glare, but his cheeks held the faintest hint of color. "Shut it, both of you," he muttered, forcing his attention back to the cards, though his gaze flickered once more in my direction.

Theo just shrugged, still grinning. "Just saying, mate. Didn't realize you were so...attentive."

Draco rolled his eyes, trying to brush them off, but his fingers drummed against the table, a restless habit they'd seen a few times before. Despite his attempts to seem indifferent, his attention wandered back to where I slept, soft and peaceful in the firelight. It was a rare moment when he could let his guard down, when he could simply watch over me without anyone knowing-except, apparently, Theo and Blaise.

"Well, let's give him some space," Blaise said, barely concealing his smirk. He stood up, collecting his cards, nodding for Theo to follow. They slipped away to another corner of the common room, but not without a final, shared glance at Draco, who only shook his head, muttering under his breath as he watched them go.

Once they'd settled across the room, Draco allowed himself to relax again. His eyes softened as he looked at me, his expression a mix of fondness and something deeper, a silent promise that he'd be there. And as the flames cast gentle shadows, he kept his quiet watch, a protective presence against the dark.

Draco stood up and made his way over to me while I was passed out on the couch. I could sense him taking a seat on the empty cushion next to me and placing his hands in my hair. The feeling made me lean into his touch and groan the slightest.

Before I knew it, Draco lowered his head down and placed a kiss on my cheek with the words,

"Goodnight, pretty girl. You have a strong trance on me, love. Maybe one day I'll be able to show it." He walked away back to his dorm.

Once I knew he was fully gone, I peeked my eye open slightly. I wasn't asleep that whole time.