Nyctophilia ➳ Draco x Reader

XIX;

THE SILENCE WAS ALMOST DEAFENING.

There was only the click-clack of his polished shoes against the ground as he leisurely strolled to the library at late. His left hand held onto the pass tightly, mostly out of the slowly building excitement inside the pit of his stomach. He pondered if Phoenix was aware of the taunting and studious night ahead of her.

Tonight, he was truly exceeding her. Even if it was as a tutor, he still had a sense of self-importance.

After quite a few more strides, he was met by the entrance to the library. Of course, Madam Pince was right there to greet him with suspicion painted on her shriveled face as he walked in. It was five minutes before library closing time. The Malfoy proudly presented the pass written by his professor, in which Madam Pince immediately snatched away. She held it up, as if to examine it for any evidence of forgery. Seeing that there was none, she mumbled under her breath in approval and continued on to care for her books.

Draco hummed in satisfaction as he proceeded to a small but comfortable study area near the section filled with all sorts of books on Potions. He sat down in one of the leather chairs, setting down his bag beside it.

He took out a piece of parchment, his quill, and a bottle of ink. While he was at it, he decided to check the time on his pocket watch, too. He was still 5 minutes early. With all of this spare time, he decided to get up and look for a few books. He took his wand and whispered "lumos," hovering it over a few book spines. The library was quite dark at this hour.

"Ahem."

The boy raised a brow and turned around. He smirked, seeing a confused little Phoenix in front of him.

"Just on time, aren't you?" Draco said.

"You don't happen to be my tutor..." She began, but trailed off. Draco could see the building frustration in her tone, even if she was trying to be less... hostile.

"Things seem to be in your favor as of late because I am." He smirked. He looked at the bookshelf next to him, grabbed the biggest book, and walked back to his seat. He gestured his hand telling her to follow. She reluctantly sat down next to him.

"I thought I was going to be tutored by Granger."

"Why? She's not even in your house."

"She's the top of the class"

Draco winced as a nerve was pinched by that comment. "No, no, she's not the only one at the top of the class, Phoenix."

"Malfoy, there can be only one person at the top of the class. That's why it's called, top of the class. You would be the one on top of everyone else."

He felt himself fill up with frustration himself. Instead of retorting, he plopped the Potions book in front of her. It must have been rather hard, because the book made her jump. "Turn to the eighth chapter."

Phoenix gave him a look of disgust before rolling her eyes and obligating. At this point, it was either her pride or her school marks, and her school marks are far more important than any petty relationships with other students. Even if one of those students was Draco Malfoy. Draco knew this, too.

She turned to the table of contents, and gasped.

"This book is eighty chapters!"

Draco turned quickly to her and hushed. "Shhhh! Don't be so loud."

"We're the only ones here." She said in a quieter, but irritated voice.

"I don't want that mad library witch complaining. And you need all the help you can get... I've seen you brew potions. They're awful. You're stirring too fast or slow, you cut things in bulky pieces when it asked for diced, and you leave things on simmer for far too long. If you knew the basics, then maybe you would get higher marks." The boy hissed. He played the angry card, but inside he was snickering.

(Y/N) was speechless. Malfoy had never talked to her like that, before. He was surprisingly serious this time, and she wondered why.

"Why is any of that so important to you?" She inquired, and then a thought dawned upon her moments later. "Did... Did you volunteer to tutor me?"

Now, Draco did not want Phoenix to think he was doing this to be closer to her or anything. So, he leaned back smoothly, relaxed even.

"No, no. You see, Phoenix. You arrogant girl. You think everything revolves around you. You walk around thinking you're so great. But you see, how can you be?"

She was taken aback. Her mouth hung open in disbelief. But he continued.

"You can't even brew a simple potion. You think you're better than me? You think you're above me? Well, you're not. I'm the one who's far above you, Phoenix. I'm more cunning, intelligent, and unlike you, my class does not come from pushing people away out of snobbery."

She didn't know what to say, how to respond.

"So did I volunteer? Of course, I did. But not for what you think. It's for myself. Because like you, Phoenix, I am selfish."

♛

It was hard to get up the next morning. He tutored her all night and now he was absolutely exhausted. Luckily, there were no classes that day. Draco now sat in the dining hall with the rest of his Slytherin friends, almost trying not to let his eyes fall heavy while eating.

"Malfoy? You look awful." Theodore Nott chuckled, patting Draco's shoulder and sitting down next to the him.

"Nott is right. You're a sight this morning. What happened to you?" added Zabini.

Draco looked up with a disgusted expression, seeing Zabini and Nott both take a sip of pumpkin juice while analyzing the bags under his eyes.

"It's nothing. I was awake most of the night, that's all."

That kept the boys silent for only a few minutes.

"Doing what?" Nott inquired.

"What's my business to you, Nott?"

"Must have been a difficult night for him, aye Zabini? Malfoy's in more of a foul mood than usual." Nott said, smiling.

"Indeed." Zabini smirked. "Phoenix must have been quite rude last night."

"Actually she was quite -" Draco started but then came to a realization, "How did you two you know I was with her?"

Zabini swirled the cup of pumpkin juice in his hand. "We were playing Wizard's chess in the common room and saw you two leave not too far apart... passes in hand. We connected the dots, you know."

"The question is, why?" Nott chimed, a smug smile on his face.

Draco sat up taller now, feeling a little frustrated. "I was tutoring her in Potions."

"Ah. Tutoring..." Zabini continued. "Tutoring until midnight?"

"Enough with the questions." Draco said.

He was too tired to deal with his foolish friends this morning.

♛

Draco sat under a tree outside alone. It was one of those days where he needed to think. He held a book in one hand and an apple in the other, feeling more relaxed now that he had his lunch and breakfast.

It was one of those days where he had to get away from all of the commotion of the students and even his own friends. Zabini and Nott were too teasing, and boring as they always talked about the same things.

Class, chess, and... Well, when Draco Malfoy was around, (Y/N) Phoenix.

He wasn't annoyed by her, specifically, rather it was the fact that the boys thought Draco had some sort of puppy crush on her.

It was a silly thing, really. At least, that's what Draco thought. He hadn't even thought of anyone romantically before. Let alone, (Y/N) Phoenix.

But anyone who has never had feelings for another wouldn't know if they did until it was as obvious as black and white.

And currently, it was gray.