Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch.119

The following days went by in a blur for Céline, she told Daphne and Tracey, who just and squealed in excitement. Quidditch practice has been taking most of Draco's free time, much to Draco's dismay. Although, Harry and Ron still didn't speak with Céline. Hermione did come up to her in the library one afternoon.

"How are they?" Céline asked her as Hermione sat down next to her.

"You know, Ron. He's stubborn." Hermione said, giving her a pitied smile. "And I don't think Harry is upset, or as upset, anymore. I see when his eyes search for you in the Great Hall, I think he wants to make sure you're okay, but he's too stubborn to go and talk to you."

Céline sighed and looked down. She felt Hermione pat her on the back to comfort her. After a minute of silence Hermione spoke up again.

"You know, I noticed for a while how he looks at you, Malfoy I mean." Hermione said causing Céline to look at her. "I've never seen him treat anyone, especially a girl, the way he treats you. He listens to you, and that's saying something, because he doesn't listen to anyone but his parents. But you're the one who always seems to help him back off when he's being a prat. In the last year, he's toned down a lot. He was horrible in our first couple of years "

"Thanks, Hermione." Céline said giving her a small smile. "And you? You're not upset with me?"

"Of course I was really surprised when I realized how much you care about him. But it's like you said, you can't control how your heart feels about someone. Clearly, you've seen sides of him that we'll never see. But one thing I have seen him do, is always making sure you don't get into trouble and doing things for you that we can't. For example, he stopped you from getting into trouble our third year for trying to save Buckbeak— that wasn't the last time he did that either.— you said that helped defend you from those two girls from Ravenclaw too," Hermione paused, and winced at her next example, "he tried to stop you from coming with us at the World Cups, because he knew you'd be in trouble. That's the only time I regret ever not listening to Malfoy, had you gone with him, you probably wouldn't have been hurt."

"Again, that was my choice. But I understand. Thank you for saying all of this." Céline said.

"He's nice to you, right? Your happy with Malfoy?" Hermione asked her, looking intently at her friend.

For a moment, Céline didn't know what to make of these questions, but after a few seconds she nodded, "He cares a lot and it hasn't been long, but... yeah," Céline broke into a sweet smile, just thinking about Draco, "I am happy. I don't know what it is, but there's something about Draco that makes me feel... protected? I don't know if that's the word."

Hermione nodded in understanding, "I get it. Then that's all that matters, Harry and Ron will come around. They can't be mad at you forever." She said, playfully nudging Céline. She checked her watch and stood up from her seat, "I need to go, I agreed to help Ron and Harry with their homework before class started."

They said their goodbyes and Hermione hurried out of the library.

Céline noticed during the past week that Draco definitely wasn't like Cedric, who didn't mind to hug and kiss her in front of everyone. Draco seemed to like having some sort of physical contact with her, but it was much more subtle. An example of it would be during meal times, he enjoyed fiddling with her fingers absentmindedly as he talked with his friends.

Somehow, that made her stomach erupt into butterflies more than a hug and kiss in front of the Slytherin table, which he hadn't done yet. Draco enjoyed getting a reaction out of Céline when he would steal small kiss from her when no one was looking. He loved when her face would turn scarlet.