Sparks in the Shadows

Chapter Eight: Unmasking Shadows

The weeks after the incident in Potions passed by in a blur of lessons and secretive glances. Estelle spent most of her time either buried in her books or trying to avoid Draco. But despite her best efforts, she couldn’t escape the weight of his gaze whenever their paths crossed.

Her mind was never truly at peace. The questions he’d asked her lingered, gnawing at her thoughts. And worse—she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was on the edge of something she couldn’t control.

It was late one evening when Estelle found herself alone in the library again, trying to bury herself in her studies. The storm outside raged violently, its thundering echoes shaking the windows.

She had long since lost track of time, engrossed in her research on magical defenses, when she heard the faintest footstep behind her. The unmistakable presence of someone drawing closer.

“Still here, Veyra?”

Estelle sighed, closing her book and rubbing her eyes before she turned around. Draco Malfoy, unsurprisingly, stood at the edge of her table, his gray eyes studying her with an unreadable expression. His posture was casual, but she could see the sharpness beneath it.

“I’m here to study,” she replied coolly. “If you’re looking for a fight, you’re in the wrong place.”

Draco’s lips curled into a small smirk, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I wouldn’t dream of starting a fight with you, not here.”

Estelle raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

He leaned against the edge of her table, ignoring the space she tried to maintain. “Actually, I came to talk. I’m curious.”

Estelle’s heart skipped a beat, but she masked her surprise with a mask of indifference. “Curious about what? How long I can ignore you?”

“No,” Draco replied, his voice lowering. “Curious about why you’re still hiding.”

The words hit her like a cold splash of water. She froze, momentarily caught off guard.

“Hiding?” she echoed, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to sound confident.

He met her gaze, unwavering. “You’ve been here long enough, and yet you still refuse to let anyone see the real you. What are you afraid of, Veyra?”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, Estelle couldn’t speak. It wasn’t just his words—it was the weight of the question. She had been running from something for so long, pushing it deeper into the recesses of her mind, away from prying eyes. But now, Draco had dragged it to the surface, just by asking.

“You don’t know anything about me, Malfoy,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “So don’t act like you do.”

Draco didn’t flinch. Instead, he took a step closer, his gaze softening slightly. “Maybe I don’t. But I’m starting to think I’m the only one who’s really trying to figure you out. Maybe it’s because I see something in you… something I don’t see in anyone else.”

Estelle felt her pulse quicken at his words, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. She could feel the weight of his presence, the intensity in his eyes. But she couldn’t let herself be vulnerable—not with him. Not with anyone.

“I don’t need your sympathy,” she said sharply, pushing her chair back and standing up abruptly.

Draco didn’t move, his gaze unwavering. “I’m not offering you sympathy,” he said softly. “I’m offering you honesty. Something that most people here don’t understand.”

Estelle clenched her fists at her sides, the battle raging inside her. Part of her wanted to yell at him, to tell him to leave her alone. But another part—the part that she didn’t want to admit—wanted to hear more.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice quieter now, almost fragile.

Draco stepped even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Because I think you’re hiding something worth knowing. And if I’m being honest, I don’t like not knowing.”

Her throat tightened, and for a brief moment, she considered telling him everything. Everything she’d been running from. Her past. Her family. The reason she came to Hogwarts in the first place.

But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.

“I don’t have time for this,” Estelle said, stepping back and grabbing her books from the table. “I’m leaving.”

Draco didn’t stop her. But as she reached for the door, his voice followed her. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know.”

Estelle froze, her hand on the door handle. She didn’t turn around, but his words sank into her like a blade.

“I’m not asking you to tell me everything,” Draco continued, his tone sincere now. “But don’t think you can carry all of this by yourself forever.”

Estelle’s chest tightened. The storm outside seemed to mirror the turmoil inside her. She could feel the weight of his words pressing against her chest. She wasn’t alone. She didn’t have to be.

But the walls she had spent so long building were all she had.

With a final, forced breath, Estelle opened the door, stepping into the hallway without another word.

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Later That Night

The cold, stone walls of the Slytherin dormitory were strangely comforting as Estelle returned to her room. She locked the door behind her, flopping down on her bed. Her fingers trembled as she removed her shoes, her mind racing.

She couldn’t escape the feeling that something had changed. That conversation with Draco, brief as it was, had thrown her off balance. She had always prided herself on keeping people at arm’s length, but Draco had pierced through that armor with a few simple words.

Was he right? Was she hiding something worth knowing?

“Stop thinking about it,” she muttered to herself, pushing the thoughts away. “It doesn’t matter.”

But deep down, she knew it did matter. The more she tried to distance herself from him, the more she realized that Draco Malfoy was getting closer—and she was starting to wonder if it was something she wanted.

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The next day, Estelle barely made it through her classes. Her thoughts were scattered, and her concentration was lacking. At lunch, she found herself glancing at the Slytherin table, only to lock eyes with Draco.

He was watching her again, as if waiting for something—waiting for her to break.

But this time, Estelle didn’t look away.

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Author's Notes:

This chapter delves deeper into Estelle’s internal conflict and the growing complexity of her relationship with Draco. With the storm of her past still looming, she faces a choice: continue hiding, or allow someone in.