Hidden Feelings - A Draco Malfoy Love Story

Chapter Fifty-Five

A/N This story has really like blown up in the past few months and I can't be more thankful! It's gone from about 4k to almost 40k since quarantine started. I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this, as always feel free to reach out with suggestions, feedback, etc. I literally love you all so much! Thanks for being so patient with updates!

"Hey, Malfoy!"

I tear myself away from Draco and instinctively roll over off the bed. I slip underneath it and hear Draco muttering angrily as he pushes himself to his feet and moves quickly to the door where someone is aggressively knocking.

"MAL-"

"Hang on!" he snaps, and I move further beneath the bed to watch. I can only see his feet as he pulls the door open, revealing the bottom of someone else's robes.

"Where have you been?" The second set of feet pushes past Draco and into the room. I hold my breath and curl up a little tighter as he sits down on the bed. "We were supposed to meet in the library. Are you just not studying anymore?"

"When did I ever study?"

"Fine, sit at the table and complain about having to work. Happy?"

"I'm finishing up a letter, I'll be out in a few minutes. Go down and I'll meet you there," he says. There's a heavy sigh, and the door closes. I hold my breath for a moment longer until I see Draco walking back toward the bed. "You can come out, now."

"Fantastic." I pull myself from under the bed, pushing myself to my feet.

"I'll see you tonight?" he confirms, grabbing his school robes from the floor to put on over his clothes.

"Sure." I hold onto one of the posts at the end of his bed, my heart aching at how our interactions always go once our "relationship" moments end. So formal, forced; I didn't expect messing around together to feel like something that comes and goes as he pleases. In the four or five weeks we've been doing this, it's gotten to be exhausting. "Draco?"

"Hm?" He looks up, finishing buttoning the robe. I bite my lip, shaking my head.

"Nothing. Go ahead, I'll sneak out once I hear them leave for dinner."

He nods, giving a small wave as he leaves his room. I sit down on his bed, grabbing my own robes from beside me.

I didn't expect our distance to hurt this much. Being with him in the moment is amazing, and easily enough to make me forget, but the minute it's over, the minute we are no longer anything more than two separate students with two separate lives, I miss the days when things did work out.

I know I need to tell the truth; and I know I need to get the truth out of him.

••••••••••

"You're still watching him?" Hermione sighs, looking over Harry's shoulder at the map. I try not to look up too quickly, setting my quill down.

"Is he in that same spot?" I ask, wondering if I could get away with sneaking in the Room of Requirement to see why he's been in there so much.

"About to be." Along with our gradual building up of our friendship again, Harry has made more of an effort to not talk about Draco as much around me. And when he does, I've stopped letting my anger get away from me and either ignore him or discuss it. It's scary, but it helps me better understand just how likely it is he's right about Draco.

As soon as possible, I excuse myself and slip out of the library. I practically run up to the seventh floor, turning the corner to the Room of Requirement just as the door swings open. I suck in a breath and press myself against the wall, waiting until I hear his footsteps fade. I turn back as he disappears into the next corridor, and slowly follow him.