star shopping ✰ d.m.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Arabella was extremely restless for the entirety of the next days lessons. While she did have most of her lessons with Draco, she didn't want to just spring it on him in the middle of class. So, at the end of their last class, she asked him to accompany her to the library so they could talk.

"I told you not to involve yourself, Belle," said Draco once the couple had gotten to the back of the library where they wouldn't be overheard if they spoke quietly enough.

"I'm not involving myself in anything," Arabella said, trying to think of what she could have possibly done now.

"Don't bother lying, Blaise told me you asked him about me. I don't know why you thought he wouldn't."

"Well, to be fair, Draco, I wouldn't have to be asking your friends what's going on with you if you would just be honest with me."

"I'm being as honest with you as I can be. Actually, I'm being more honest than I should be."

"Draco, whatever it is, I swear you can tell me. Whatever trouble you've gotten into, I can help you out of it."

"Not this time, Belle. Not with this."

"Why don't you try me?"

"No. Absolutely not."

"I don't see why you won't just tell me."

"It's for your own good."

"You sound like my parents when they won't let me do so much as step outside."

"As they should! In case you've forgotten, we're in a war! Nothing is sunshine and rainbows anymore, Belle! And it's not going to be. It's time you accept that."

Arabella scoffed. "I have accepted that, Draco. You forget that I was in the battle that is the whole reason everyone knows You-Know-Who is back!"

"Yes, I know, Belle, that just so happened to be the battle that got my father arrested and sent to Azkaban!"

"Your father got himself arrested and sent to Azkaban! If he had just not been there attacking schoolchildren, he'd still be sitting in that nice manor of yours with his squeaky-clean reputation that he bought!"

"Quiet down!" Madam Pince hissed at them. The two had raised their voices at each other, completely forgetting they were in the library. They just stared at the old woman until she shuffled away.

"Look, I'm sorry for bringing that up," Arabella said in a much quieter voice, "but Draco... whatever this is, I don't want you doing it."

It was Draco's turn to scoff. "Well, it's a bit late for that, Belle."

"Fine, then let me help you."

"God, when are you going to get it through your head? You can't help me, and I don't want you trying. You'll be bringing attention to yourself that you don't want, Belle, and I don't want you having it, either. I've told you over and over that it's dangerous, I don't understand why you still want to be involved so bad."

"Because I love you!" Arabella admitted, her voice once again raised as tears welled in her eyes. "And I don't want you hurt or in danger, and if there's anything I can do to stop or prevent that, I don't care what happens to me, I'll do it!"

Draco just looked at her for a moment. "What did you just say?"

Arabella swallowed and repeated in a voice that was almost a whisper, "I said I love you." There was a silence amongst them for a moment. "You don't have to say it back if you don't want to-"

"No," he stopped her, "I love you too. I love you so much and that's why I... I can't be doing this to you anymore. I can't continue seeing you when I know it's putting you at risk, it's just selfish and you deserve better than that... than me. Associating yourself with me... it's dangerous and you shouldn't be doing it. No one should, but you especially. You're too good and you've got too much to lose."

There was no denying the lump in Arabella's throat. "Draco, please don't do this."

"I don't want to, Belle, but I have to. I know you know that, you're not stupid."

"But you don't, Draco, I can help you, please let me help you."

"No. It's too late. And you can't be pretending this isn't in your best interest, either. Your friends and your family, they've been telling you for years that you shouldn't be dating me and they've been right this whole time."

"That's not true."

"It is. You know it is. And you know that if you continued to date me, you'd not only be putting yourself at risk but your family as well and I know you don't want that. It would have to end either way, Belle. You've always deserved someone better than me anyway. Now you can get that."

"No, I can't. I can't be with someone that isn't you, Draco, it's not right."

"It's got to be."

"It's not."

"Belle, please don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Arabella had been staring down at her hands as she tried her best not to cry in front of him. She knew if this continued any longer that she would fail. "Fine," she said, looking up at him just for her heart to break even more when she saw that he had tears in his eyes too. "But just know... after this war is over, I'll still love you no matter what happens."

Draco didn't say anything. He wasn't looking at her. Arabella knew it was over, so she got up and left, allowing the tears to flow once she left the library.

She burst into the common room a few minutes later, found Harry and grabbed his wrist and pulled him to a quiet bit of the room, ignoring Ron's protests at his sister taking his best friend away mid-conversation.

"We're figuring out what Draco's doing if it is the last thing we do," she said seriously before walking away, leaving Harry alone with his confusion at the suddenness of the statement and concern over the tears falling down her face.

Arabella's next destination was her bed, which she flopped down upon, buried her face in her pillow, and began to sob. Just moments later, Hermione and Ginny entered and sat down on either side of her, trying to comfort her the best they could.

[word count: 1035]
[written: 9/9/20]
[published: 9/9/20]
ok this broke me i'm sorry