Draco Malfoy and the Girl Who Hid

56

The moon was full, casting silver beams over the dark, twisted trees that lined the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Yn slipped through the shadows, her footsteps silent as she made her way to their designated meeting spot. She felt the familiar hum of nerves beneath her skin, an anticipation that had become almost second nature now.

She caught sight of Draco's silhouette, standing in a small clearing, half-hidden by the overhanging branches. His shoulders were rigid, his posture alert, but as soon as he spotted her, his face softened, and he stepped forward, his hand reaching out to grasp hers.

"Yn," he murmured, his voice a warm breath against the cool night air. "You made it."

They didn't speak for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them as they absorbed each other's presence. Yn allowed herself to be pulled into his embrace, pressing her face against his chest and feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her cheek.

"Did anyone notice you leaving?" he asked quietly, his fingers brushing through her hair with a tenderness that belied the intensity of their situation.

She shook her head, pulling back slightly to look up at him. "No. I've gotten good at slipping away without anyone realizing. Besides, they think I'm in bed, recovering from my 'ordeal.'" She said the last word with a hint of bitterness, but Draco's gaze held hers, grounding her.

"It's not forever," he promised, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. "Once we've done our part, once this is over... we'll be together. Properly."

Yn's heart ached at his words, the part of her that longed for normalcy, for safety, stirring to life with a fierce, desperate hope. She allowed herself to cling to his promise, to the quiet determination in his voice, because without it, she wasn't sure she could continue with the deception.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "What do you need to know?" she asked, switching to the practical side of things. "I've overheard some conversations, nothing too specific, but they're planning something big. The Order is rallying their strongest members for it."

Draco listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers as he absorbed every detail she provided. When she finished, he nodded, his face a mask of focused intent. "That's valuable information. I'll pass it along."

They had become something of a well-oiled machine, a seamless partnership where every exchange was equal parts strategy and intimacy. It was as though they were bound by an unspoken pact, a promise to see this through together, regardless of the risks.

Draco reached into his pocket and produced a small vial of shimmering liquid. He held it out to her, his gaze softening as he placed it in her hand. "This is for you," he said. "In case you need it. It's a protection potion, strong enough to shield you from most curses. Just drink it if things get dangerous."

Yn's fingers closed around the vial, and she looked up at him, surprised. "You... you made this for me?"

He nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I need you safe, Yn. I need you to come back to me."

There was a raw sincerity in his words, an unguarded vulnerability that tugged at something deep inside her. For a moment, she forgot about the role she was playing, the delicate web of lies and secrets that surrounded them. In that moment, there was only Draco, the boy who had given her a reason to keep going when everything else felt uncertain.

She leaned up, pressing her lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. It was a silent promise, a way of saying everything she couldn't put into words. Draco's arms tightened around her, and he pulled her closer, his fingers tangling in her hair as he deepened the kiss, a quiet desperation coloring his every movement.

When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they regained their composure.

"I wish..." Yn began, her voice barely more than a whisper, "I wish we didn't have to meet like this. Sneaking around, pretending..."

Draco's eyes darkened, and he cupped her face, his thumb brushing across her cheek. "One day, we won't have to pretend anymore," he said fiercely. "One day, we'll be free of all of this, and we can live the life we deserve."

Yn held onto his words like a lifeline, letting herself believe in the future he painted for them. She wanted it—wanted it with a ferocity that scared her. She wanted a life where they didn't have to hide, where they could be together openly, without fear or deception. But that life felt so far away, like a dream she could barely grasp.

They spent the next hour together, going over the details of their plan, ensuring that every piece was in place. Yn shared what she had learned about the Order's defenses, their weak points, and the potential openings they could exploit. Draco listened intently, offering his own insights and refining the strategy as they went.

When they had covered everything, they sat in comfortable silence, watching the moonlight filter through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Draco reached for her hand, his fingers lacing through hers. "Do you remember the night we first met?" he asked, his voice soft, a hint of nostalgia coloring his tone.

Yn smiled faintly, her gaze drifting to the darkened sky. "I remember thinking you were insufferable," she teased, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

He chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I remember thinking you were impossible to impress," he countered, a playful glint in his eyes. "But here we are."

Yn's smile faded slightly, and she looked down at their intertwined hands, her heart twisting with a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite name. "Sometimes I wonder how things would be if we had met under different circumstances," she said quietly. "If we weren't... tied to all of this."

Draco's expression softened, and he reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We might not have had a chance to know each other at all," he murmured. "Maybe this is the only way we could have found each other."

His words hung in the air, and Yn felt a strange sense of peace settle over her. She didn't know what the future held, didn't know if they would survive the path they had chosen, but in that moment, none of it mattered. All that mattered was the steady warmth of Draco's hand in hers, the quiet certainty in his gaze.

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, until the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. Reluctantly, they parted, knowing that they had to return to their respective lives, to the roles they were playing in the larger game.

Draco leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Be careful," he murmured, his voice filled with a tenderness that took her breath away. "I'll be waiting for you."

Yn nodded, swallowing against the lump in her throat. "I will."

As she made her way back to the Order's headquarters, Yn couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. She had always been wary of Draco, always kept him at arm's length, but now... now she wasn't so sure.

For the first time, she felt a spark of hope, a fragile, flickering light in the darkness. She didn't know if it was foolish to believe in it, but as she walked through the quiet, empty halls, she clung to it with everything she had.

They were in this together, bound by more than just a shared goal. They were bound by a promise, a promise to see this through to the end, no matter what. And for Yn, that was enough.