All I Ask Of You (Sequel to "The Point Of No Return (Draco Malfoy)"

Chapter Eight

I sat alone at the astronomy tower one mid-December night. I slid right to the edge, let my feet dangle over, and held on to the metal railing.

            I took a deep breath, the thick air cooling my lungs. I figured it was few degrees above freezing this night. The clouds had cleared earlier and the stars shone bright in the deep velvet sky.

            Suddenly I could hear footsteps. I didn’t turn. Sometimes Lucinda couldn’t sleep either and would join me up here. We wouldn’t talk, just sit and keep each other company.

            I closed my eyes, resting my chin on the bar in front of me. I couldn’t tell where Lucinda was anymore, so I guessed she’d sat down. I pulled my head back and opened my eyes. To my surprise, it wasn’t Lucinda sitting with me.

            “Sorry.”

            “What are you doing Draco?” I asked quietly. He shrugged slightly. I shook my head.

            “Remember when we would meet up here?” He asked. I didn’t say anything. I just stared straight ahead, pushing the memories back into the depths of my mind, where I’d hidden them last year.

            “I’m not one for words, but if it still counts, I’m sorry.” He said. I felt my heart skip a beat then. I didn’t know what was happening, but a piece of me that I’d locked away was breaking down the wall I’d built around my heart.

            “Why would you say that?” I asked as a shiver ran down my spine. My whole body shook for a brief second.

            He remained silent, pulled off his Slytherin hoodie and handed it to me. I took it hesitantly, unsure of what message he’d get if I took it. But I was cold, and sleeping now wouldn’t work. I probably wouldn’t sleep for months.

            He slid closer to me and I let myself rest my head on his shoulder. I could feel his hand on my back, lightly drawing circles with his fingers.

            I sat there and for once lived in the moment. It was what I wanted in that moment; therefore I saw nothing wrong with letting myself have it.

           

It wasn’t until six o’clock in the morning that I woke up. I gently slid out of Draco’s grip and sat up. Stretching my back felt especially good that morning.

            I looked back at him. He was sound asleep, with the most comfortable look on his face, despite the hard floor of the astronomy tower. It was a pleasant change, rather than the disconnected grimace he usually wore.

            I reluctantly touched my hand to his and left the tower, silently making my way back to my room.

            I closed the door and sighed, glad that Aly was still asleep. I pulled off my shoes and crawled into my bed, not bothering with the blankets.

            When I woke the second time, Aly was sitting on her bed staring at me. I blinked, “what the hell are you doing?” I asked groggily. Her face was serious and I almost forgot what happened last night.

            “What the fuck are you wearing?” She asked in a tone I’d never heard from her. She crossed her arms as I sat up and let my legs hang off the edge of my bed.

            I touched the sleeve of the sweatshirt. “I’ve had this for awhile…” I lied. She looked at me skeptically.

            “Did you see him last night?”

            “What? No… of course not.” I lied again. “We don’t even talk anymore. He hasn’t spoken to me in weeks.” That one wasn’t a lie. That was true. He hadn’t spoken to me… barely. Besides a few mumbles here and there in class, we hadn’t talked at all.

            “You’d tell me though, right? If you did see him?” She asked. I pursed my lips. “Of course. You’d be the first to know.”

            I felt bad lying to Aly. She’d been there for me when I needed it most and now I felt as if I were betraying her. But I didn’t want her to know I’d seen Draco. I didn’t want anyone to know I’d seen Draco.

            “Okay, good.” Her face broke into a grin and she left the room. I sighed in relief, lying on my back.

            Suddenly I began to hear a peculiar scratching noise on the window, followed by a series of cooing sounds.

            I pushed myself off the bed and opened the window. A large, dark owl swooped into the room and landed on Aly’s bedpost, nearly giving me a heart attack.

            I approached it slowly and gently untied the parchment from its leg. I thought it would leave, but it sat on the post, glancing around the room. I slowly unfolded the paper and read it to myself.

Next time don’t steal my clothes

            Next time? I couldn’t believe he was actually implying that there would be a next time. If things weren’t already complicated, this sent it over the edge.

            What is going on?