A Heavenly Betrayal (Draco Malfoy Love Story)

Making Decisions

The following week went by very slowly. Maria had resigned to waiting and hated every second of it. She even sometimes found herself hoping Malfoy would just refuse to tell her his secret to put an end to it. But those moments were, indeed, rare. On his side, Malfoy felt terrible. He wanted to tell her for the sake of it, but also didn’t want to for her own sake. Every day, that was all he could think of. Should he take the risk of putting her and himself in mortal danger? It was a huge risk... yet pushing her aside was impossible. He wanted her by his side... but was he that selfish? She had been honest with him and he felt like he owed her something for that. It would just be fair, and only what she deserved; the truth, no matter how much it pained him or her. Even after everything he had done to her friends and her in the past, she still wanted to help him. Maybe telling her wasn’t such a bad idea after all? But only if she respected one vital condition: she would have to be extremely careful. Malfoy knew she wasn’t stupid, he knew she would understand; still, could he really tell her what he had been hiding all year? A tight, reckless feeling seized his heart.

Friday night finally came, and Malfoy showed up purposely early for their prefect duty. He had set his mind that very afternoon on what he was about to do and he couldn’t help but feel nervous – something Malfoys weren’t used to feeling. It had been a week since the last time they had spoken: they never spoke to each other in public. For the millionth time, he started to doubt his decision when he saw Maria walking down the corridor towards him...

Maria instantly knew something was wrong with him; his greyish eyes were round – with anxiousness? She felt him uneasy, and she thought she knew why. He started talking, his tone grave:

"I know it took a long time, but I don’t regret it. I really had to think it out."

Maria had a hunch of what was coming. He just looked so solemn and sorry; he was clearly going to refuse. She had been foolish to think he would suddenly change his mind when all year he had insisted on the importance of keeping it to himself. She couldn’t believe how much time she had wasted just to hear a no. She looked down, bracing herself against the final blow.

"I’ve decided to tell you; everything."

Maria looked up with big eyes in shock. She couldn’t believe her ears, but she indeed saw Malfoy was being honest; a tiny crooked smile hooked the corner of his mouth as he looked at her, hesitant. She couldn’t help it: she threw herself into his arms. He had no choice but to catch her, a bit bewildered but nonetheless delighted. Maria was simply in heaven... or very close to it. This meant so much to her; now she knew that he trusted her and that she too meant something to him. She couldn’t believe things were finally coming together... however impossible they may seem. Only then did she realize she was still in Malfoy’s arms; but she didn’t want to let go, and neither did he. She could feel his heart pounding unevenly in his chest and smiled warmly at the thought. He truly liked her.

She shivered pleasantly as his arms slid down to her waist. They both pulled slightly back to get a better look at the other.

"I should have told you before, knowing this is what I’d get." He was smirking crookedly, slightly boastful.

"And you still haven’t said anything," she reminded him, letting her hands slide down his arms, breaking free against her will.