Home To You (a Draco Malfoy Love Story)

No More Secrets

Once they had returned to Hogwarts, Draco wondered if Mel could tell things were different. He felt more tense than he'd been since they were together. He would have to start thinking about how to get out of killing Dumbledore - or how to do it if he couldn't.

"Hey - is something on your mind?" Mel asked, across the table in the library. He squeezed her hand.

"Just thinking through some things," he said. Blaise joined them.

"Have you started this essay for Potions?" he asked, groaning. "Why does it feel like all of my professors are conspiring against me?"

"We're trying to do it now," Mel said. "You're right though, we have been getting a lot of work lately." Draco didn't respond. His head was elsewhere. Blaise and Mel exchanged glances, wondering what was up with him.

"Draco, do you know what we haven't done in a criminally long time? Snuck out of the castle and to the club in Knockturn Alley. We need to blow off some steam," Blaise said.

"That sounds fun," Mel said encouragingly. "So dangerous." Even Draco cracked a smile. 

"Friday - after classes? We'll meet in the common room and go through the tunnels," Blaise said. "Now Mel, would you please help me write this? Honestly, I'm going to fail if you don't." Mel laughed and opened her textbook, while Draco stared off into space.

"Draco - you are not flaking. Mel is on her way here, she's probably going to look all pretty because she's worried about you. You're getting dressed." Blaise said, practically dragging Draco out of bed. He groaned.

"I'm not feeling up to it, honestly."

"This is exactly what you need, Draco. You're in a funk. You need to let loose and relax. Now get up, put on your depressing black outfit and get going." With that pep talk in mind, Draco did in fact, get up and get dressed. Two shots of firewhisky later, he was feeling better. Once Mel arrived, wearing red lipstick and the fishnets he had gotten her, he was feeling pretty good. The group - consisting of Pansy, Flint, Blaise, Noah, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, a few girls the other guys had brought - he, and Mel,  entered the tunnels through the common room, and dodged cobwebs until they eventually came up in Knockturn Alley. The bouncers at the club recognized them - this was a frequent Slytherin hangout - and let them inside, where the dim lighting, loud music and made it hard to think - soothing Draco's nerves.

"You look stunning," he said to Mel, running his hands over her.

"Hey, there he is," she teased. "I thought I'd lost you there for a bit. Is being a bona fide Slytherin helping at all?" He nodded.

"Nothing like a dimly lit room filled with strangers and liquor to make you feel better." They made their way onto the dance floor. Pansy immediately ended up in the arms of some guy who looked somewhat like Viktor Krum. Many of the others had brought dates - other girls in Slytherin, and Blaise had brought Noah, so he turned to Mel. "I forgot how much I like it when you dance," he said, smiling. He spun her around and she ended up snug to his body, grinding against him. Between the music, the alcohol and Mel, he wasn't sure how long they'd been there. But he was having a great time - he reminded himself to thank Blaise later. Especially after Mel led him into the depths of the club, off the dance floor, where they found a secluded corner and kissed for what felt like hours. Before long, Draco checked his watch and realized it was 1AM. He whispered to Melanie, "Want to get out of here?" She nodded, and they trailed back across the club, finding the others. "We're going to head back."

"I think we're going to come," Blaise said. In the end, the remainder of the group left out the back door, hanging over one another and enjoying the night.