Take.

Chapter 24

Elena.

As Lupin finished telling the story of everyone taking Polly juice Potion to turn into Harry in order to move him - safely - I couldn't help but gaze over at the long lost love of mine, Draco.

We had been through alot, growing up and recently. I just couldn't believe he would treat me this way after all that. I shifted a little as Nicole began to laugh out loud and make fun of the Weasley twins and being able to tell them apart now - due to a ear incident?

How should I know?

I wasn't paying attention.

My gaze stayed on Draco, and his eyes flickering with the fireplace as he and Blasie continued their own conversation in the corner.

I was overwhelmed in the moment he appeared by my side and fought with me for once, not against me. Amy had really put shit into perspective for him.

I took another swig of my butterbeer and sat it down on the bench I was sitting and gave a polite nod to Ella, who had caught my action, as I rose and moved across the room to take Draco by the hand.

"Rude, we were in the middle of a conversation." spat Blasie, glaring at me.

"Oh well, I need to talk to him and you've had all night to get out whatever the bloody hell it is that you're running your mouth about." I glared back at my big cousin as I lead myself and Draco out the front door and down the stairs and through the woods to a clearing and took a seat in the dry comfortable grass. "We need to talk."

"About?' he questioned, tipping his fire whiskey to his lips and taking a seat in front of me, instead of next to me.

"Us." I simply stated, as his eyes got a wide. 

"Look, if this is about that Jake mate -"

"- Jake has nothing to do with us. What would make you think that I want to talk to you about Jake?" I barked, insulted.

He scoffed and took another swig of his whiskey. 

"Something Blasie said..."

"...Blasie? What the fuck did that idiot say now?!" I growled.

"Don't call him that!" He spat back, pointing at me with his bottle.

"I can call him whatever I want, I'm his cousin. Besides, he's been fucking with Nicole all year - as her best friends, I have the absolute full privilege to say whatever the hell I want." I rose an eyebrow.

"I get it." He gritted his teeth.

"Now, what did Blasie put in your head?" I asked, leaning back in the grass a little, watching his every move.

"That we had potential replacements around you and Nicole." He stated, downing the rest of his whiskey and chucking the bottle across the field and out of sight. "I couldn't let that happen, El."

"Why?" I chimed, causing his face to drop as gaze shot over to me. "You've literally led me on all year...no letter, no messages of any sort...no nothing!" I explained, sitting back upright. "How was I suppose to know if you were even alive?"

"Well, I am." He spat, looking up at me.

"Draco..." I frowned, feeling my heart drop. "...are we almost finished?"

"Finished?" he asked, looking truly confused.

 "This is the most we've spoken all year...and when I was asked about you - I couldn't even answer them." I frowned, causing his eyes to soften. "Do you have any idea how hard that is?"

Draco remained silent, but his gaze said enough.

Sympathy.

"Look, I just need to hear if you're ready to walk away from me..." I started feeling my throat begin to close a little and my heart dropped at the words leaving my mouth. "...I need to know if you'll be on my side tomorrow...when we hit Hogwarts...I need to know if you're just going to leave everything we have, we feel...?"

Draco sat there.

He pulled his knees closer to his chest, but dropped his head so his forehead was touching his knee.

"Look," He sighed, causing my heart to rise a little. "I did what I did, to protect you Elena. You're a Deatheater and you're aiding his enemy...and I have my parents down my throat 24/7! How was I suppose to act?"

"Thats where you're wrong." I stated, taking in his words.

"Which part?" 

"All of it, really - but the Deatheater part - I'm a double agent." I confessed, causing Draco's face to drop and go white. 

"Are you fucking serious?!" He shouted, leaning away from me in disbelief.

"Yes." I nodded, sighing heavily. "Also, there are many ways you could have handled this situation - many, but you choose this way..." I shrugged then crossed my arms.

"I know I hurt you Elena..." Draco frowned. "...I didn't mean to, but I distanced myself to save you -" He paused, seeing I was having a hard time accepting this. " - you don't have to believe me, but know this..." He stated, rising to his feet and pulling me to mine as well. "...maybe I am selfish, maybe I'm not the smartest guy ever, maybe I should have handled this differently - but the point is, I'm here now...and I'm not going anywhere." He declared taking my hand.

I looked into his eyes, with a part of me struggling to accept this reasoning.

I closed my eyes, attempting to fight back my conflicted tears.

"And Maybe..." his voice rang as I heard the grass shift around me. "...I'm not ready to walk away..."

I opened my eyes and my heart leaped into my throat and I almost fell back in a faint at the sight.

"Draco Malfoy on one knee?" I almost squealed, attempting to remain calm. "I must be a big deal..."

"You are...and always will be..." He stated, shifting a little and pulling out a ring box. He clicked it open and as the ring shined from the moonlight back into my eyes, his eyes just shined and his smile was magnetizing. "...Elena Zambini, sweety - will you be my wife?"

"Become Elena Malfoy?!" I asked, looking between him and and the ring. A apart of me paused this moment and had a repulsive thought;

Is he only purposing because he was scared that I would end up dating Jake?

I shook my head, losing the thought.

"Yes!" I almost screamed.

He slide the ring on my finger and took me into the deepest kiss, i believe we've ever shared, minus our first one.

"This..." He smiled, playing with my left hand. "...is what me and your idiot cousin were talking about inside." 

My eyes went wide and I just smile.

I couldn't stop smiling.

"So...if we survive tomorrow," I smiled, causing him to giggle. "will you marry me?"

He took my hand and kissed it, then my neck, then my forehead then pulled my chin into another deep kiss.

"Even in the afterlife baby!" He winked, kissing my forehead again.