Sweetener // Draco Malfoy

volume one (year six)

"Loving you goes against
everything I've ever known."

"I'M SURE you've all heard about this partner paper- project, whatever you call it." Professor Lee, the alchemy professor, said as the clock ticked down to the final minutes of class. Her eyes roamed over faces, silently counting heads to make sure no one was missing. All the students were shifting around anxiously, "today marks the start! I want all the girls to line up in front of this bucket. One by one you'll pick a name to match you with someone, go to them once you read their name."

Some grumbles sound out of a few kids mouths, eyes rolled, and desperate pleas were made to be able to partner up with their friends.

   But Lee ignored it, placing a bucket on the front of her desk and then circling her wand over top. Then the professor cleared her throat, "for the next month or so until the end of the year, you'll be working with your partner on a twenty page paper about how alchemy and potions, and the muggle class of chemistry are all intertwined. This is always an important topic on the N.E.W.T. so collaboration on the subject will help preparation for the exam next year. Now line up!"

   The chairs where all the girls were sitting scraped back as they got up. They lined up with their feet dragging on the tile floors, arms crossed, and mumbling in whispers. Lee had begun to shout about as girls took their turns grabbing pieces of paper from the bucket which looked to be empty. Finally it was a young girl named Joanna's turn; she eagerly reached in to pull out a folded piece- opened it up and then her eyes widened. The name Draco Malfoy was in clear black ink and it made her stomach lurch. Forgetting there were still people behind her that needed to choose- her head snapped towards Draco. Her eyes land on him and she had nerves tingling through her body.

Draco wasn't paying attention though- more worried he'll get stuck with an imbecile and get a failing grade. So he didn't hear the soft footsteps coming his way and stop in front of him.

"U-uh, excuse me," Joanna coughed awkwardly as her arms hang down at her side. She felt warm and filled with dread looking at the boy sitting down. For a split second their eyes met and neither of them said a word.

"My partner?" the words hardly rolled off his tongue with ease, his throat feeling abnormally dry. He looked over the girl standing in front of him and he genuinely had no idea who she was.

Breaking the awkward silence between the two was the professor's loud voice-

   "Class dismissed! Make sure to sit with your partner until the year is over!!" Lee's voice boomed over all the small chatter. Only class of the day over and now it would be the weekend.

   Draco pushed back his seat and stood up; immediately towering over her. Other kids began to pour out of the class pushing past them.

   "Mhmm, I'm Joanna. I don't think we've ever met before.." she stuck out her hand with the kindest smile she could muster.

   With narrow eyes, Draco accepted the handshake and he instantly felt weird with her hand in his for a second. Chills ran down his spine at the contact of her smooth skin touching his own. She looked nonchalant in front of them as she then shoved her hands into the pockets of her robe with glossed over eyes, "uh no, we haven't." Draco finally responded to her question.

   "I suppose after Professor outlines the project more we can meet to work on parts.."

   "That sounds good." he nodded, barely able to make eye contact with her, "see you soon, I guess."

   "Yeah,"

   For a few seconds they stared at each other both knowing this was the most awkward encounter either of them have ever had. After much hesitation Joanna took off, head down, hands shaking, and internally yelling at herself.

   Draco watched her leave with a frown on his face. A student he had never seen before and she was rather beautiful. His breath appeared to be stolen right from out his lungs. How interesting.

•••••

hwang yeji
as
JOANNA KWON

tom felton
as
DRACO MALFOY

OTHER
Soofi Jaspal
Alyssa Garcia
Thomas Evans
Aidan Reid
+
your normal harry
potter cast!!

playlist
theme// sweetener― ariana grande
01. life itself― glass animals 02. 911― lady gaga 03. dirty laundry― blackbear 04. prom dress― mxmtoon 05. wait a minute!― willow 06. speed― kali uchis 07. no one― lee hi 08. painkiller― beach bunny 09. 8teen― khalid 10. sparks― the dø

note- hi this is going to be a "present day" AU!! I got super inspired after reading a bunch of social media fics :)

****also! BIG drug trigger warnings!!**** (and underage drinking) if you're not comfortable don't read and if u need to talk im here, i get it :) i wanted to tackle a subject i rarely see in fics