This Town ⇢ Draco Malfoy

SIX

S I X

"Zinnia Cross.. Zinnia like the flower?" Draco asked, releasing her hand. He awkwardly leaned against a wall, sliding to the ground. Zinnia followed on the other side of the small tower, smiling.

"Exactly. My mother thought I was beautiful like the flower when I was younger." Zinnia told him, her voice as soft as it had been before. Her personality was the same as it had been before he had seen her face, her physical features slightly throwing her off.

"Slytherin robes, my father will be pleased with that..." Draco mumbled, not realizing he was talking aloud.

"I don't plan on meeting your parents anytime soon, especially not after how your father treated you. I saw the hospital." Zinnia replied, Draco's eyes widening realizing he had spoken aloud.

"I-I wasn't thinking that you should meet.. I don't.. sorry.." Draco stumbled, his cheeks heating up with embarrassment. Zinnia laughed, the sunlight reflecting perfectly off her beautiful, silky, dark hair. Her icy blue eyes appeared even brighter than possible.

"Don't worry Draco, you've never done a proper date before. Pansy isn't a very good first girlfriend, she's too physical and doesn't care much for actual conversation. I know her kind, they're all the same." Zinnia ranted, stopping herself before she got too far into it. Draco laughed, adjusting his body at the thought of his mostly physical relationship. He didn't enjoy it much since Pansy never noticed or cared about his father's beatings.

"I don't really know how to do this, but I'll try. You're the only one who knows past my fake personality, how?" He questioned, a bit concerned she may have stalked him.

"I saw you crying first year, running down beside the lake. I saw you examine a large cut on your arm, it looked like it hadn't been intentional but not an accident either. Since then I just followed you when you were upset so I could stop you in case things took a different turn. Six years and I didn't want to introduce myself. I finally got the courage this year when I noticed your guitar playing more often." Zinnia began to explain, trying to make herself seem less and less like a creep.

"You played the instrument and sang really well, it was calming to me. When this.." She gestured to her face. "Happened.. I loved to hear your voice. That sounds creepy, but it was calming. You wrote your own music and you just played really well. It was calming. I decided I probably shouldn't just sit in the shadows anymore. I was nervous as first to show my face, hence why it was always night. But now I know who you truly are."

Draco listened contently, a small smile forming on his face. He felt flattered, not creeped out. Slowly, he moved his body closer to hers, leaning against the same wall she was. "Well, thank you. You did a good thing, if I had met you for the first time without knowing your personality and kindness, I wouldn't have been nice. Damn Malfoy persona."

"That's why I did it. You're sweet and kind, but have to be such a bully." Zinnia added, placing her hand on his knee gently. Draco tried to keep himself from blushing, but he just couldn't. He had never felt love this way before.

"Thank you. Is there anything else you wanna talk about?" Draco asked, trying to keep her center of attention. She shrugged, smiling a cute smile. The scars on her face weren't prominent once you adjusted, her skin was basically smooth.

"Are you working on any new songs?" She asked, turning to face him.

"I'm working on one. It's a bit more of a cheesy romantic one, something I would never ever usually do. Something just.. sparked it in me.. you know?" Draco answered, very tempted to kiss her. Respectable boundaries came into play first, but he was still unsure whether it was okay to kiss yet.

"Oh, nice." Zinnia replied, awkwardly staring down at the ground. Draco's brain lost his gentlemen restraints as he leaned in for a kiss.

Zinnia recoiled back, pushing her hands on his chest. Draco immediately felt bad, freaking out. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm not used to.. my mind shut off.. I should go. See you in class? You're in my potions, right?.. I never noticed you but now that I really know how beautiful.. well, not beautiful.. I mean, um um-" Draco rambled, fear really setting in.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Zinnia shouted, putting both hands on his face to get him to look her in the eyes. "It's okay. I understand. Your earlier relationship was all kissing, plus some. You don't know, this is knew. You explained earlier. Just go back to your dorm or to dinner, maybe I'll see you in the common room. Talk to you later Draco."

Zinnia smiled, walking down the steps. She darted back up, leaning over Draco and kissing his forehead quick before running down the stairs. She made her way to the Slytherin dorms, both excited and nervous to see Draco again.

Draco sighed, laying on his back to gaze at the sky. Stars sparked, constellations standing out from his studies. Tears brimming his eyes, he thought of the terrible things he had said that night. They weren't too bad, but he didn't know how sensitive Zinnia is. She could've left in tears or laughing at him, he truly didn't know.

Cursing himself for being so sensitive, Draco limped down the stairs, his right side finally feeling sore. The nurses said the more distracted he was, the better he would feel. If he focused on it, it could become a phantom numbness. That's what they thought half of it was. Grinning, he continued to the Great Hall for dinner, knowing Zinnia would be a great change to his life no matter what.