Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Forty-Eight

"We need to be more careful," Draco says.

"You think?" I hold up my tissue, sniffling. "Who else in Slytherin caught this?"

"Quite a few," he admits, a small, guilty smile on his face. "Crabbe, Goyle. Parkinson. Zambini."

"Who'd Pansy catch it from?" I ask quickly, my eyes widening a little once the words come out. "Wow, that was a bit...crazy jealous girlfriend...of me. I'm sorry about that."

"Girlfriend?" My eyes snap up and widen a little.

"Oh no." Is he joking? His face is serious. Shit. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean-I assumed-we've made out so many t-"

The corner of his lips quirk up a little, and I stop myself, leaning forward to smack his arm.

"You're so mean!" I exclaim as he bursts into laughter.

"Your face just drained of all color, Elizabeth. I've been waiting for you to let that slip for a while," he says joyfully, and I can't help but start laughing too; just from the happiness of seeing his smile so wide.

"So what is it?" I ask, trying not to sound as shaky and unsure as I feel when saying it.

He raises an eyebrow. "Well, I believe we define the term 'it's complicated.' But, Elizabeth, I really do think of you as my girlfriend."

I bite back my smile for a moment. "I think of you as my boyfriend, Draco."

"Even when you look like death, you're beautiful," he tells me, moving my hair back from my face.

"My voice is the best part, I'm sure," I joke, as you can hear how incredibly congested I am - well, really both of us are.

"You always say something sarcastic when I compliment you."

"What else am I supposed to do?" I cringe, looking down when he grins at me. "Okay, I am definitely proving your point by saying that."

"Most definitely." He runs his fingers down under my chin, tilting my head up. "Why do you do it?"

I shrug a little, reaching up to lower his arm from my face before interlocking our fingers. "I'm not really used to people complimenting me a lot."

"You should get used to it."

"You too, then," I say, taking a deep breath. "You have this quality to you, Draco, that makes me feel so...in place, when I'm with you. And each time it's this new, indescribable feeling that's familiar and unfamiliar all at once. It's that unfamiliarity that makes this so exciting, even when we have to hide, and it's the familiarity that makes me so sure that I-"

I cut myself off, realizing what I was about to say. My smile fades after a moment and I stand up, pulling my hand from his.

"I have a test tomorrow," I blurt out. "Just remembered that. We should probably get to bed."

"Elizabeth? What's wrong?" he asks, standing up with me. He didn't catch what a mistake I was about to make.

"Nothing, nothing. Just the fever, or something," I fib. "I don't feel great, and I'm sure you don't either. I want you to rest."

He opens his mouth once, but closes it, nodding a little. "Yeah. Okay."

Ten minutes later, I lay in bed wondering how I was stupid enough to almost let that slip. I know I feel it, but I can't. I can't risk ruining this, and despite my sureness that I wouldn't let fear get in the way of this, I'm terrified.