WILDEST DREAM ➛ʜ.ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡɪɴ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ

013

Class had ended, but the tension between me and Draco Malfoy was far from over. As students began filing out of the Potions classroom, I lingered behind, my fists clenched at my sides. Draco smirked as he noticed me approaching, his wand casually spinning between his fingers.

"You've got a death wish, don't you?" I said, my voice low but filled with venom.

"What's this? A lecture from the latest Potter fan club recruit?" he sneered, leaning lazily against the desk. "You've got nothing better to do than defend your brother's idiocy?"

"Why do you hate him so much?" I demanded. "What has Harry ever done to you, besides exist?"

His smirk widened, and he tilted his head as if considering his words carefully. "It's not just Potter, you know. It's your entire family. Self-righteous, blood-traitor filth who think they're above the rest of us. Pathetic, really. And as for you, well..."

Draco's eyes raked over me in a way that made my skin crawl. He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a filthy murmur. "You should really reconsider spending so much time worrying about Potter. Maybe find someone who actually notices you, though I doubt anyone would want to bother."

This is not Draco

The words hit me like a slap, but before I could even think, my hand moved on its own. The sound of my palm connecting with his cheek echoed through the empty classroom. Draco's head snapped to the side, and for a moment, he was too stunned to speak.

"I should never have spoken to you the first time we met," I spat, my voice trembling with fury. "You're not worth it."

I turned on my heel and stormed out, leaving him standing there, his hand pressed to his reddening cheek. My heart was pounding, and my throat felt tight as I made my way to the library, desperate to be alone.

The library was quiet, the perfect sanctuary to escape the storm of emotions raging inside me. I walked to the very back, sinking into the seat at the last bench. The weight of Draco's words hung heavy in my mind, and before I could stop myself, hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

Why did I let him get to me? I thought bitterly, wiping at my face. He's not worth my tears.

But no matter how much I told myself that, the tears kept falling. I hated crying, hated the vulnerability of it. And yet, I couldn't stop.

I didn't hear the footsteps until they were close. Quickly, I straightened, swiping at my face to hide any evidence of my tears. When I looked up, Summer was standing in front of me, her expression soft and understanding.

"You don't have to hide your tears," she said gently as she slid into the seat beside me.

I shook my head, my voice shaky. "I feel like an idiot for crying over someone like him."

"You're not an idiot," she said firmly, her hand resting lightly on mine. "You're human. And it's okay to cry when someone hurts you. Pretending to be strong all the time only makes it harder."

Her words were like a balm to my aching heart. I looked at her, and for the first time since leaving the classroom, I felt seen. Really seen.

"You're not weak for feeling," Summer continued, her voice soft. "You're strong because you care, even when it hurts."

Her green eyes met mine, and I realized just how close we were sitting. Her gaze lingered on my face, and in a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "You've got such a beautiful face, even with the tears. Though, I suppose they're not really needed."

My breath hitched, her words catching me off guard. But before I could react, she leaned in, hesitantly at first, as if giving me the chance to pull away. I didn't. Instead, I leaned in too, closing the gap between us.

Our lips met in a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle, unhurried, yet it sent warmth coursing through me, chasing away the lingering chill of Draco's words. When we finally pulled apart, I found myself looking into her eyes, my heart pounding in my chest.

Damn.

The corridors were quiet as I made my way back to the common room, my head swirling with thoughts. 

As I rounded the corner near the Fat Lady's portrait, I spotted Harry waiting for me. His face brightened when he saw me, and he held up a letter, his eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and seriousness.

"Look at this," he said, handing me the letter. I unfolded it carefully, recognizing Sirius's untidy scrawl immediately.

Harry, Madeline— 

I can't say everything I would like to in a letter, it's too risky in case the owl is intercepted — we need to talk face-to-face. 

Can you ensure that you are alone by the fire in Gryffindor Tower at one o'clock in the morning on the 22nd of November? I know better than anyone that you can look after yourself and while you're around Dumbledore and Moody I don't think anyone will be able to hurt you. However, someone seems to be having a good try. Entering you in that tournament would have been very risky, especially right under Dumbledore's nose. 

Be on the watch, you two. I still want to hear about anything unusual. Let me know about the 22nd of November as quickly as you can. 

Sirius.

I looked up at Harry, my heart racing. "We'll talk to him just like he said—by the fire. We'll figure everything out."

Harry nodded, his expression grim. But then his gaze softened as he seemed to notice the tension still radiating from me.

"What happened?" he asked. "You look upset."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's Draco. After class, he said... some really awful things. And I... well, I slapped him. I'm sorry for him about what he said that time"

Harry's eyebrows shot up, and then, to my surprise, he grinned. "You slapped Malfoy? Wish I'd seen that."

I chuckled despite myself. "It felt good, but... I don't know. I feel bad. Maybe I shouldn't have done it."

Harry's grin faded, and he stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't ever feel bad because of him. Malfoy doesn't deserve your guilt. You're better than that. Honestly, he's an idiot not to realize how amazing you are."

His words caught me off guard, and I looked at him, startled. Harry's expression was earnest, his green eyes bright with conviction.

"You know," he continued, "Mom and Dad would be so proud of you. You stand up for what's right, no matter what. That takes real courage."

A lump formed in my throat, and a single tear escaped, sliding down my cheek. Harry smiled softly, pulling me into a hug. His warmth and steady presence soothed the ache in my chest, and for the first time that day, I felt a sense of peace.

I chuckled through the tears, hugging him back. "Thanks, Harry. That means a lot."

"Always" he said, stepping back but keeping a hand on my shoulder. 

I nodded, determination replacing the lingering sadness. Together, we made our way to the common room, the weight on my heart feeling just a little bit lighter.