The Space Between The Stars: Draco Malfoy

Year One: Merry Christmas Part 2

Draco's POV

I watched her walk out of the room. Crabbe looked over at me.

"Why did you say that?"

"Say what?"

"That you didn't care."

For a slower bloke, Crabbe was awfully perceptive.

"Because I'm not worried about it, Crabbe. Truly. Belle and I have time."

Crabbe scoffed. "Why'd you do that?"

"Do what, Crabbe?"

"Call her Jacoby when she was here, but Belle when she's gone? That's what really hurt her feelings, I think. You made her feel like she's not special to you."

"She is special to me. But I cant show it anymore. That's why she started hanging out with McLaggen. She's the kind of girl who likes boys who aren't as...forward as I've been."

"McLaggen seemed plenty forward to me"

"But he wasn't really, you know? Not vulnerable or emotional. More overconfident and tough. That's how I've got to be."

"What's your goal, exactly, Malfoy?"

"Isn't it obvious, Crabbe? Father thinks we would make a good match. We purebloods, we have to look far into our future." I turned to look at Crabbe.

"I'm in this for the long haul."

Isabella's POV

While Draco and I were still friends, a lot changed the day after he found out about Cormac. For one, he now referred to me as Jacoby and Jacoby only. I didn't like it. I missed when he called me Belle. Secondly, most of his jokes were now directed towards me. And they weren't as harmless as they normally were. Of course, I always shot back at him, turning small little comments in to full blown arguments. Nevertheless, I had decided to try to clear the air with him, and I had devised a pretty good plan, if I do say so myself.

Christmas Eve, we all gathered around the huge tree in the hall to open presents.

I had bought me, Daphne, and Mia matching bracelets. They were delicate silver wire threaded with white crystal beads. Daphne was spending the holiday with her family (which was also a part of my family I guess, but we had yet to have this discussion), so we had exchanged presents through owl. I opened her package to find a beautiful pair of emerald earrings. Mia had gotten me a personalized parchment stationary with a crystal quill and iridescent wax.

I got Crabbe a cassette player and earphones so he could fall asleep in his dorm peacefully. He had painted me a picture of the two of us. He was really quite artistically gifted. Not to mention it was absolutely the sweetest gift ever.

I got Goyle a mini cooking set that he could use in his dorm. I had noticed he really had a knack for cooking, but it's rather difficult to do at Hogwarts, given the harpies will not let anyone near their stoves. He gave me a rather tasteful black leather book bag. "I suppose I'll still be the one carrying your books everywhere, so I guess this present is more for me than for you."

Zabini and I both got each other books. Mine was a large, detailed Care of Magical Creatures picture gallery, and his was a copy of a book of potions that they don't teach you in Hogwarts. I suppose great minds really do think alike.

I gave Theo a pale blue cashmere sweater. It would bring out is eyes, and I also felt he needed the self confidence. He gifted me a small hand mirror that actually fixed your appearance when you looked into it. Apparently he had made it himself, with the help of Professor Flitwick.

Draco and I were the last to exchange gifts. I leaned over to him. "My present is kind of difficult to wrap, so..."

"What a coincidence. So is mine." He smiled, and I caught a glimpse of the Draco he always was. He took my hand and sat me down in front of one of the halllways. "Wait for it,"

The door at the end of the hallway opened. As soon as it did, a tiny puppy with a ginormous bow came running into my lap. I gasped. "Draco, you didn't!"

"I'll have you know, while it may have been his idea, I handled most of the logistics." Narcissa said from behind me, smiling brightly.

"Don't forget who paid for the creature," Lucius looked rather proud, of Draco or of himself, I'm not quite sure.

"What are you going to name him?" Mia asked, all the kids now crowding around.

"I'm not sure, but when he was zooming towards me I thought it was a Quaffle for a minute!"

"Quaffle sounds like a good name to me." Draco was now sitting next to me, the puppy in my arms visibly growing sleepy. I smiled at him, glad he was back to normal.

"Quaffle it is."

"Why exactly do we have to go outside for my present?'' Draco shivered.

"You'll see."

Eventually we reached our destination. The rooftop we stargazed from in the summer. I had Priscilla put a Bubble charm over it so it was warm and dry, despite the snow. A package wrapped in brown paper addressed to Draco was in the middle. I smiled as he opened it and pulled out a telescope. His eyes lit up.

"Now you can have the stars with you wherever you go."

"Thank you, truly. You really are the only one who would ever care that much."

I paused. "Draco...I don't want to keep anything else from you."

"Okay..."

"Harry Potter and I grew up in the same neighborhood. We went to the same school."

Silence. Then;

"It should have been us. We should have grown up together."

"I know. But I'm here now."