friends with benefits - draco malfoy

chapter fourty seven

'is this the shop?' draco said, letting go of my hand to peer in the window, 'is it open?'
'yeah. it looked like this last time, i don't think anybody really knows about it'. he tried pushing the door, obviously not expecting it to open and almost falling flat on his face. 'that was on purpose' he straightened his collar, attempting to play it off. 'i thought so' i nodded at him, smirking.
'oh, you're back' the dress shop owner rushed over, embracing me and giving me air kisses on each cheek. 'and who's this?' she asked, turning to me and wiggling her eyebrows 'is this the lovely boy that accompanied you to the ball?'
'yes, it is' i laughed 'though he's not always lovely'
'hey' draco pouted, walking over and wrapping his arm around me. 'oh! would you look at that' she gasped 'young love. i'm madame christina, but everybody calls me crystal, it's much more fun isn't it' she stretched her hand out for draco, and he paused before shaking it politely 'i'm draco, draco malfoy'. she paused, looking between us for a second 'you're with a malfoy? no, no, no this is all wrong, the malfoy's are dangerous y/n. you have to believe me, i saw it in the stars. he'll break your heart'.
'he takes good care of me, i promise' i reassured her, 'he's buying me a dress today, for a ball next week'. she eyed him doubtfully, and draco stepped towards her slightly 'crystal, you have to believe me, i would never do anything to break y/n's heart'. she clearly still didn't believe him, taking a slight step back from him. 'what's your budget?' she asked stiffly, turning and walking back towards me. 'there is none, go wild' draco smiled at me, stepping towards the chairs at the front of the shop and sitting down 'i'll be here, you girls go work your dress magic'.

i followed crystal in to the dressing rooms, sitting down and waiting as she headed out with her crystal to 'check the vibrations of the dresses'. she came back with four, telling me that the crystals had chosen them for me. i tried them all on, but as soon as i tried the fourth one on i just knew. it was a deep black v necked ballgown, with a netskirt. the skirt was embellished with delicate flowers, just enough to not enough to make it over the top. there was a slight glimmer to the dress when i spun, but the glitter wasn't noticeable when i was still. crystal stuck her head around the corner of the curtain, gasping when she saw me. 'oh y/n, you could be a princess. the crystals were right with this one'. i smiled at her, 'can i show draco'. she hesitated for a minute before smiling at me warmly 'of course'. i walked out back on to the shop floor, stopping nervously. he looked up from the book he was reading, blinking at me in silence. 'well? do you like it'. he nodded at me furiously, blinking hard.
'yeah' he choked out eventually, his eyes misting over 'i really do'.
'you're not crying' i snorted, walking over to him and grabbing his hand. 'of course not' he scoffed harshly 'i just have something in my eye. it's this shop, it's so old and dusty that my eyes clogged up with dust particles'.
'sure' i laughed, spinning back to the changing room. i got changed back into my clothes, passing crystal the dress through the curtain as i finished putting my shoes on. i came out, seeing draco waiting by the door stiffly. 'do we not need to pay?' i asked, looking around for crystal. 'i already did, it's getting delivered to the manor next week. come on, let's go'. he put his arm around me and guided me out the shop, the bell clanging behind us.

we stepped out back in to diagon alley, heading over to get a butterbeer. 'draco? what's wrong?' i asked, looking up and seeing his lips were set in a harsh line. 'that woman, is mad' he spat, 'told me to stay away from you or she'd hex me. said she'd seen in the stars i was going to hurt you'.
'draco' i laughed, putting my hands on the sides of his face 'it's fine, you don't have to come back to the shop with me'.
'it's not that' he sighed 'what if she's right? what if she's had an actual vision and i'm going to hurt you in some way?'.
'draco' i said pointedly 'she's not a witch, she's literally a muggle. she just owns a shop here because her sisters a witch with a position in the ministry. there's no way she's predicted anything, she's about as magic as that rock over there'. he sighed again, looping his arm back through mine 'if you say so'.

we sat down with our butterbeers and i took a sip as i looked around. 'when we go back to school, can you do me a favour?' i asked, turning back to draco. he nodded eagerly, licking his lips. 'you have butterbeer on your nose' i smiled, dabbing it off with a napkin.
'what's the favour?'
'when we go back to school' i hesitated 'obviously i want everyone to know that you're my boyfriend, because i'm so proud of you, but- can you not say anything until i've spoke to harry and the others? it's just gonna be a shock to them, that's all'
'oh yeah, potter and his fan club have never liked me' he rolled his eyes, taking another sip of his drink. 'i mean you did antagonise them for four years' i said pointedly. draco waved it off, looking back across to the door, his eyes widening. 'um, well. don't look now, but one of us might want to get under the table'.
'what?' i gasped, spinning to see ron, hermione and harry coming in the door 'crap'. i dropped to my knees, crawling under the table and tucking myself right up against the wall. 'hellooooo' draco said, raising one hand up to the trio. 'are you talking to me?' ron sniffed, looking him up and down.
'um, yes?'
'why?'
'i'm just being friendly' draco grinned 'i can do that, can't i?'
'i s'pose so' shrugged ron, looking at hermione and harry. 'why have you got two butterbeers?' asked harry, looking at him with equal suspicion as ron did. crap. 'saves me going back' draco replied cheerfully. 'and you've been drinking out of both of them?' hermione added, picking up one of the butterbeers and checking it. 'yep' draco nodded 'i like to make sure neither of the cups feel left out'.
'well' said ron 'as thrilling as this conversation has been, i've just remembered that i hate butterbeer, what about you mione? harry?'
'me too' hermione smiled.
'yeah' added harry 'see you draco'.
'bye' draco waved at them frantically, looking like a lunatic. 'they're gone' he sighed, and i stood up hitting my head off the table with a bump. 'ouch' i moaned, flopping down on the chair and rubbing my head. 'you wanted to make sure neither of the cups felt left out? seriously?'
'what was i meant to say?' draco said adamantly.
'something normal? like you were here with someone and they're at the bathroom?'.
'i panicked' draco laughed, downing the rest of his butterbeer, 'let's go before they come back'. i chugged the rest of mine too, putting my cup down on the table with a bang and wiping the froth from around my lips.