friends with benefits - draco malfoy

chapter fourty three

draco came in the room as i came out the shower, carrying four overflowing carrier bags of stuff. i walked over to help him but he shook his head, putting them down next to the bed. 'what's all this for?' i asked, raising an eyebrow.
'lucius has got loads of death eaters coming around for a party tonight. we've been instructed to stay out of the way and he was willing to do anything to make sure we did. i've requested all of this stuff so we can have a picnic'.
'a picnic' i laughed, 'i haven't had a picnic for so long. where?'.
'my secret spot' he grinned 'it's not too far from here'. i paused for a second, my brain whirring.
'if it's a party, will the house elves be working it?' i asked. 'of course. why?'.
'do you think your dad would let phinneas come on a picnic with us if we asked?'. draco sighed so i persisted 'you said he would do anything to make sure we stayed out of the way. please draco'.
'i wanted it to be a night for just the two of us' he protested. 'i know but draco i know how mean death eaters can be, especially if they're like your father. please, please, please they'll be so awful to him'.
'fine' draco said, clearly giving in because he knew he had no other option, 'but when we're back at school you're not gonna be able to protect him you know'.
'thank you, thank you' i laughed, kissing both of his cheeks furiously.

-

i followed draco down the corridor to collect phinneas, laughing when i seen him poking his head out of the house elf door. he smiled when he seen us, stepping out proudly. he had a wonky bow tie around his neck, clearly trying to look the part. 'you look amazing phinneas' i told him, nudging draco to get him to compliment him also. 'yeah phinneas, you look really good- is that my bow tie?' phinneas ducked his head, obviously scared of getting into trouble. 'i was going to give it back. i didn't think you'd mind if i borrowed it'.
'you can keep it, can't he draco?' i prompted, nudging draco again. 'but it's my favourite-' draco started, looking at me and seeing the death stare i was shooting at him. 'yeah phinneas, you can keep it'. i smiled at him gratefully and phinneas smiled at us both, rushing forward to hold the door open for us. 'are we going on the roof?' i asked draco and he grinned at me gleefully. 'yup, i'm gonna show you my favourite spot'. phinneas paused, looking up at me. he looked pale, and an almost greenish colour. 'i don't really like heights' he whispered. draco rolled his eyes behind his back, frustrated. i knew he had already set up all the stuff up there. 'tell you what' i said to phinneas, 'why don't i make you a nice den in draco's wardrobe with my clothes, and you can have a nap while we have our picnic'. phinneas nodded and i smiled at draco, holding a finger up at him to signal i'd be one minute.

i laid a couple of my thickest jumpers on the floor of the wardrobe, along with a spare duvet and an old teddy bear i found in the top of draco's wardrobe. 'there' i said, letting phinneas go in and get settled. 'you can leave the wardrobe light on if you want, so it's not dark'. i looked up, seeing a drawing pad and some felt tips and passing them to phinneas too. 'you can draw if you want. will you be okay?'. phinneas nodded at me, curling up with the teddy bear. i smiled at him, closing the wardrobe door and draco's door so nobody would discover him.

'right' i said to draco, holding out my hand 'i'm ready'. he covered my eyes, carefully helping me up the stairs to the roof. 'open' he told me, pulling his hands away. the roof was exactly like he'd set up the astronomy tower that time in hogwarts, there was a picnic blanket spread out on the floor with candles dotted around us. in the middle was an old wicker basket stuffed to the brim with cheese, bread, fruits and what looked to be fresh pastries. 'it's perfect' i told draco, spinning around and giving him a shy peck on the lips. we sat down and he looked up at sky, pointing out the constellations to me. 'that's the pegasus' he told me, pointing up.
'how do you know all these?' i asked, looking over at him. 'i used to come up here a lot when i was younger, it was like my place. i guess i just learnt them for something to do. the stars never move, you can always rely on them. even when you can't see them, they're still there'. i smiled again, thinking about just how lonely draco's childhood must have been. 'that ones my favourite' he continued, 'right there. it's called the scorpius'.
'it's beautiful' i agreed, looking up at it. it seemed to shine brighter then the rest of them, maybe it was just because draco had shown it to me. draco had a way of making anything seem brighter and more important than the rest. 'right' he said, sitting up suddenly, 'let's eat'.

i stuffed another pastry in my mouth, laughing at draco. how he'd managed to fit three in his mouth was beyond me. i watched pastry crumbs fly out of my mouth as i laughed, i probably would have felt gross if draco wasn't currently emptying the contents of his mouth into a tissue like some kind of confused hamster. 'that's so gross' i laughed, twisting my face. 'i guess you won't want a kiss then' laughed draco, grabbing my waist and pulling me back as i started to run away from him. 'let me go' i shrieked, thrashing and trying to get away from him. i collapsed in a giggling mess, giving in and accepting my fate. he kissed me, pulling away and then licking my face sloppily. 'you're disgusting' i screeched, dropping to the floor and deadweighting myself. he laughed, reaching out his hand and pulling me back up. i accepted, letting him pull me back up. my face was so close to his that i could feel his breath on my cheek, if i moved forwards slightly our eyelashes would probably touch. 'i love you' he whispered suddenly, before turning around and jumping like a child. 'FUCK' he screamed, punching the air, 'that is so not how i planned to say that to you. good one draco, real smooth. god i'm such a fucking dork'. i laughed, walking after him and putting my hands on both of his cheeks. i gently turned his head to face me, kissing him. 'i love you too'.