You ambled down the hall while lost in a daze, your leather jacket pulled tightly around you as a cold winter draft seeped into the long corridors of Hogwarts.Slowly plodding down the hall you spot a certain Griffindor sitting with his back against one of the window panes.
"Neville?" you questioned. "Why are you still here, it's Christmas holidays."
The boy sighed and sat his large tome of herbology down. "Things just feel so dreary with you-known-who looming. I just don't feel like Christmas."
You nodded, a sincere smile gracing your lips. "Things will get better, I know it."
Neville tried to smile back but only a sad half frown managed to mask his pained expression. He cracked back open his textbook and presumed his reading signaling the end of your conversation.
You continued back down the hall without much thought to where you were going or why, you walked like you were in a daze no even bothering to focus on where your feet planted themselves.
You climbed a flight of stairs and found yourself staring up at a pair of shoes tied together and thrown over a ceiling banister.
"Odd. They wouldn't have taken them this far. Must be something else then," a girl mumbled as she stood below the hanging pair of sneakers.
"Luna? Are those your shoes?"
The girl smiled wistfully and pushed a stray strand of pale blond hair behind her ear. "They were, I'm not to sure now."
You nodded. "Luna really, who put your shoes up there? This is no time for games and trivial pranks we have much bigger issues.
"You mean Voldemort? Yes I've heard things too."
"You have? Well I've noticed Draco Malfoy becoming more and more isolated from his peers and he seems more irritable and pale than before. I think something's wrong with him or maybe I the rumors are true and he is a death eater."
"You don't think?"
"I don't want to accuse anyone of anything before I know for sure."
"I see well, best of luck. May your Hufflepuff intuition guide you. I'm sure your heart knows what needs to be done."
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"Nothing in particular."
Then she trotted off, her sock clad feet slapping against the wood floor as she turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
A long sigh escaped your lips. You continued walking down the corridor until you stood before what you recognized to be the Room of Requirement. You hadn't really been inside the room before but you had heard things about it and the thought of the place made you a bit uneasy. You took in a deep breath and entered the room.
Quietly as a mouse you creeped in and shut the door behind you.
Making your way around the room full of old artifacts and books and things you heard a chirp. Puzzled and a bit curious you made your way towards the source of the sound.
You were just about to walk around a book case then movement caught your eye. Ducking back behind the bookcase you held your breath. Maybe it was nothing? You hoped.
A crunch of an apple being eaten made you flinch. Your elbow knocking into the glass door of the cupboard and slamming in closed.
"Who's there?" A boy asked.
"It's just me, Aria."
The boy came towards you, his steps ringing out in the quiet room. He came out from behind the cupboard with a green apple and a frown.
"What do you want?" He asked, but not unkindly.
"Nothing, I was just wandering. What are you doing in here anyway?"
He shrugged while taking another bite of his apple. His blond hair and dark clothes told you immediately it I was Draco, not that his voice didn't give him away before.
"I see well let's see what you were up to then," you said with an easy smile. You walked away from him and tried to walk around to the other side of the cupboard.
"No, wait!"
Draco caught you up against the cupboard, one of his arms on either side of you caging you in. Still in one hand was his half eaten apple as the other hand moved to touch your
"What's this all about?"
"Um, well."
"Spit it out, Draco."
"I can't how about you just say it so we can get this over with."
"Say what? Draco you're not making sense."
"Just admit you have feelings for me. I know you do."
"Well fine I suppose. I've been meaning to tell you something for a while now. I have feelings for you, romantic ones."
"There, all said and done."
"But what were you doing in here? Can't I see whatever it is you're doing in here all the time, whatever is making you look so stressed and ill?"
"You wouldn't like what you see, and the why is probably worse."
"Draco... Are you a...?"
"Death Eater, yes. I didn't want to tell you, I didn't want to tell anyone."
"But why? Draco, please."
"I didn't have a choice, I'm sorry."
You placed your forehead into his chest, his heart beat audible and racing so close to you.
"I can't love a Death Eater."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He pulled you into a hug to which you wrapped your arms around his neck.
"Kiss me, just once in case I never get the chance again."
Draco leaned forward and kissed you sweetly, his lips tasting of green apple. You kissed him back feverishly until you need to stop to catch your breath.
"I think I love you but I know I can't, I'm sorry," Draco said sadly.
"I know, just don't die and I'll try my best to do the same. See your around Malfoy."
"Yeah see you," he called after your retreating figure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yay I did it! Sorry it took so long to post. I promise the next on will be up faster. It's kind of sad but still cute so whatever, hope you liked it!
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