Only - Draco Malfoy Love Story (COMPLETED)

Chapter 12

Scarlet spent the rest of the day genuinely just wanting to see one Neville Longbottom. She wanted to see him because she liked him, he was lovely and he was a Gryffindor, so removed from the relationships, politics and dramas of the Slytherins. Sure Gryffindors had been summed up to have a flair for the dramatic too, but at least she felt they were more straightforward about things.

She waited for her Herbology class which she had with him like waiting for an important package and when she saw him she bounded up to him and gave him a bear hug. Of course this rather surprised the tall sweet boy as they weren't exactly at bounding up and hugging level friendship yet but Scarlet always surprised him so he just smiled and laughed and wrapped his arms around her too.

"Well hello" he said looking down at the strange girl in his arms and a little around at their spectators. He wasn't as used to having students attention as Scarlet was, her being in the popular Slytherin crowd who often had rumours spread about them and started school drama. She herself didn't start the drama but by association... Although she had raised a few eyebrows in her day being good friends with Seamus Finigan and at one point going out with Blaise Zambini one of the school heart throbs.

Scarlet looked up and smiled awkwardly bending her neck back to see him. "Sorry about that" she said withdrawing a little although Neville had seemed quite comfortable to remain there other than being watched by his peers making him feel a little awkward. "I just... I just really needed a hug today" she said laughing. "I could see that" Neville said back smiling too.

Scarlet spent the rest of the class talking to Neville. He was very learned in Herbology and so could help Scarlet a lot. She noticed that Harry Potter who was also in this class, as well as a few other Gryffindors, were giving Neville looks as if to say 'what are you bloody doing hanging around with that there evil Slytherin?', she imagined them saying this like ye olde yocals for some reason. Anyway Neville didn't seem to notice these looks as much as Scarlet did once he was focused on his plant work.

Zilah meanwhile was going to go up to her friend and sit with her as usual but seeing that she was smiling and enjoying the company of a Gryffindork she decided to give her some space. She felt just terrible. She knew obviously it wasn't her fault and cursed that Scarlet was too craven to have told her earlier about her liking Draco...

But even while knowing this she couldn't help but think of all the times Scarlet had been such a good friend to Zilah and also reminded herself that the probable reason for her not informing Zilah about her crush on Draco Malfoy was probably due to the fact that she was helping Zilah go after him instead of herself, dismissing her own wants. Which was so bloody annoying of her, but also what made Zilah love her as well.

Scarlet was happy to not have to interact with Zilah today. Of course she didn't want to waste their friendship over a boy... or not even that because neither of them actually ended up 'having' him anyway... but she did appreciate the time to just adjust and spend with Neville who wasn't part of the whole mess.

Zilah continued to give Scarlet her space the next day as well just smiling when Scarlet would look her way. Scarlet smiled back. Scarlet was so fond of her friend and she knew absolutely that it wasn't her fault that she felt this way. Scarlet remembered something her mother had said to her which was that 'nobody can make you feel anything, it is up to you to choose your reaction'. She might have been bending this a little when she decided that Draco Malfoy was no longer going to make her feel like a fool for liking him and she was going to choose to react as though she didn't fancy him at all.

After two days Scarlet approached Zilah and told her as much. Zilah looked worried for her friend as she really didn't think this was the best course of action from her own experience, but she was so glad that they were friends again that she decided to just let it slip for now without her sharing her thoughts on the matter... Although she did ask if this new plan of action was just because of the mediocre kiss she and Draco had shared.