heedless by romanshome

apologies

Athena wanted to do good.

The guilt had been weighing in on her. She understood that Draco didn't want her anymore. That hegrew tired of her already—which did break her heart. He was like the one good thing that came outof Scorpius and her's breakup, and it heavily impacted her chest whenever she saw him in class. Itwould take everything in her to not start crying just by looking at him—because she managed tosomehow fuck another thing up again. And although it seemed that Draco wasn't bothered at all,she wanted to return the favor for him healing her.Obviously, he didn't want to sleep with her. He viewed her as vulgar and desperate, when in reality—sex was the only thing that Scorpius ever wanted from her. It was the only way she knew how tokeep someone...in love with her. And she had to admit, Draco did help her get over him—but a newproblem had evolved.

She now liked Draco.But he didn't want her.She knew that. But she still wanted to become a better, selfless person. And she had rememberedher father saying once that men loved food. Or perhaps he was just speaking about himself.Regardless, she had the perfect idea. She was going to stop by at Honeydukes down in Hogsmeadeand retrieve a cauldron cake for him—with the words thank you iced onto the top. It was her onlyway she knew how to at least make him not angry or disgusted with her.She had made sure to keep this little venture a secret, because her friends weren't supposed to knowand Draco and Athena's time together during the last few days of break. So she forced herself towake up in the wee hours of the bitter, bone—chilling morning, pulling on a puffy sweater over hertiny shoulders before sneaking out over to Hogsmeade with the use of apparation. Her nose wasbright pink as she shook in the frightening cold, and it didn't take long for her to pick up the cakesbefore returning back to the dorm.

She carefully placed the cakes into her school bag with a faint smile on her face. Hopefully he likeschocolate. Her eyes twinkled as she went down the dark halls of the castle, holding the bag close toher chest to assure herself that it wouldn't mess up. Once she reached the empty class, she pulledout her wand before uttering the incantation."Alahamora."She heard the lock twist, making her smile proudly. She ducked her head before the bulky doorpushed open, and noticed that the temperature had been freezing. The unlit classroom filled withsilence as she shuffled her feet inside, and spotted the wide desk right in front of the chalkboard.Pulling out the bag, she placed it onto the platform, staring at it in its glory. She hoped he wouldaccept her apology, and perhaps stop acting so cold towards her. The white—cream had frostedover the crumbled chocolate layer, and in harsh big words, it stepped out THANK YOU.Biting her lip, she turned swiftly before exiting the class, reversing the lock charm before headingback to her dorm.

As she walked to class, Albus by her side, she couldn't stop chewing on her lip—purely out ofangst. He should have been at the class by now, since teachers usually arrive prior to their students.She had tuned out what her friend was telling her as they sluggishly headed to their first period, herhands clutching the strap of her bag as her eyes fogged up into a daze. But then she felt someonenudge her with their elbow, and her brown hues snapped over to Albus' green ones.They narrowed over at her. "Hey, you good? You seem...out of it."Her brows rose. "Oh—yeah. I'm just a bit tired," she muttered, a yawn surpassing her lipscoincidentally right after the words left her mouth. Her eyes hooded in tiresome. "I woke up earlyand could really go back to sleep."

"You should take a nap after fifth period," he advised her, a worried tone in his voice. She smiledat how kind he was to her. His thin brows rose as his cheeks dotted with pink blobs. "You look—really tired. Bug only if you want to, though."She shoved him playfully, suddenly in a better mood. And that was because she was excited to seethe look on Draco's face when his eyes landed on the cake she had gotten him, knowing just howapologetic she truly was. That she did care for him—but she didn't know how to show it. Helaughed nervously as she giggled, both walking into the class. "I probably won't. I have aTransfiguration essay du...."Her words drifted off into the air. She had paused in the doorway, noticing that the cake hadn'tbeen on the table. Her eyes glided over to Draco, and saw that he was flipping through somepapers, encased in his work as students walked pass her. Her brows furrowed as she looked for thegift she had gotten him—and then she spotted it.