Beautifully Damned (A Draco Malfoy Fanfic)

Chapter 18 - The beginning of something more

So I almost kissed Draco Malfoy last night.

I never thought I would start to feel this way about him. I keep catching glimpses of a different side of him. He's deeper than he appears. 

Though its ridiculous to believe our late night meet ups could ever result in anything other than that. 

"Jesinta?" I'm pulled out of thoughts and back to the reality of the Great Hall.

"Huh?" I say realising I haven't been listening. 

"I just wanted to know if you wanted to come study with me today?" Hermione says. 

"Oh, no thanks. I don't really feel like studying." I look down at my full plate and use my fork to push around my remaining food. 

"You've barely touched your breakfast!" Ron says to me through a mouthful. 

"Not hungry I guess."

Not eating, barely sleeping, unknowingly unresponsive... the last time I was like this was when I first met Jackson. My ex. I fell for him hard and fast and ended up getting hurt. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Our relationship was poison. I promised myself I wouldn't let my guard down ever again. 

This thing with Draco is just a minor crush, it has to be. 

I try to stop myself from looking over to the Slytherin table but finally succumb. I see him sitting with his usual posse. Crabe, Goyle, Zabini and of course Pansy Parkinson. 

As usual she’s strategically placed herself next to him. Laughing at everything he says, finding excuses to touch his arm and casually drooling all over him really. 

Was she actually the type of girl he goes for? If so I couldn't be further away from what he wants. I guess that’s a good thing. 

"Jesinta?" Harry says. Ron and Hermione must have already left for the Library.

"Oh um, sorry what did you say?" 

"Are you ok? You seem a bit out of it this morning." 

"Yeah, I guess I didn't get much sleep last night. It's nothing really." I smile at him to assure he doesn't continue asking questions. 

He pushes his plate aside, "Well do you want to come back to the common room with me? We could play some wizard chess?" Harry asks. 

"That sounds great." I genuinely smile at him. Hanging out with Harry would help me take my mind off of Draco. 

I get up and leave the Great Hall with Harry and we make our way to the common room. He sets up the chess board and I sit across from him. 

"Be warned Harry, I trash talk when I play wizards chess." I say

"Bring it on." He says. 

"Are you ready to get your butt kicked?" I say narrowing my eyes on his playfully.

"You can try, but you won't succeed." Harry says returning my challenge. 

"Oh you wanna bet on it?" 

"Yeah, how about loser has to do the winners DADA homework?" 

"You're on!" 

We cautiously play for the next 30 minutes.

"You're not gonna win this one Harry! Queen to G7." I say with confidence as my queen  breaks down his King with her sceptre. 

"Good game Jesinta." Harry says reluctantly. 

"Thank you! I would like to collect my reward now good sir." I say as if I was the Queen on the chess board. 

"Alright, lucky the steaks weren't too high." he says, "Where's your homework?"  

“I’ll grab it for you.” I walk up to my room and rummage through my bag until I find it. Proudly handing it over to Harry when I get back downstairs. 

He leans my book against the right arm of the couch, “I’ll get started on it now then.” 

I sit next to him and recline my head against the back of the couch staring up at the ceiling. I really was tired and found myself trying to avoid slowing drifting off to sleep. 

I later woke and realised I had snuggled into Harry during my accidental nap. His arm was gently draped around my back and my head was leaning on his shoulder. 

"How long was I asleep?" I say lifting my head and rubbing my eyes. 

"Bit over an hour." Harry says. 

"Sorry, you didn't have to stay here this whole time." I say looking at him, realising he must have finished my homework ages ago. 

"Its ok, I didn't want to wake you. Besides you're a cute sleeper." 

"I doubt that." I slightly blush. 

Waking up comfortably against Harry was sort of nice. It felt good to have his arm around me. I loved how sweet he was to me and I'm starting to realise that his feelings for me may not have fully returned to just friends. Somehow that thought doesn't bother me though. In fact it makes me smile. 

I slowly rest my head back down on his shoulder as his hand reaches around and traces gently up and down my left arm. 

We stay in the common room for the remainder of the morning. Just relaxing, talking and enjoying our day off.