Heliophilia; d.m

XIII

A little over a year later, it happened.
We were together, and we no longer had to hide our true feelings behind bickering and masks of irritation and indifference.
We were together, and it all felt so good and so right that I could hardly remember the last time I felt sad.
We did it, and even after a while, we were still together, to the surprise of many people.

—

VIOLET

It is rightly said that falling in love can change even the coldest winter to the warmest summer; that in an empty soul and a heart of stone that has hardened so that you feel nothing at all, flowers can suddenly bloom if you feel a dizzying euphoria that fills you to the very tips of your fingers, from which you want to fly high, spreading imaginary wings.

I would never have believed that it was possible for me to feel something like this, especially if the culprit was none other than Draco Malfoy.

I also would never have believed that he could be so affectionate and attentive, that he could touch me so gently, as if he was afraid of hurting me, that he would initiate us to hold hands and spend evenings on the couch by the fireplace when everyone was asleep, that he could take care of me, for example, telling me to wrap my coat tighter, or to stay in bed when I felt unwell again and again.

He was different, and this side of Draco Malfoy was unfamiliar to me, but I liked it just as much as the one when he was not serious and constantly joking, or the one when he was angry and his voice became threatening.

The day we kissed for the second time, we spent most of the rest of the day wandering around the grounds, having no desire to return to the dungeon, because we had a really good time.

And also because there was such a thing waiting for us — a confession.

I would like this to resolve itself, without whispers behind our backs and surprised questions. I would like people to just silently accept it and leave everything as it was.

But it wasn't that easy. When we came for breakfast the next day and Draco sat next to me for the first time, taking Kristen's place, it didn't go unnoticed. Kristen got a little angry and even threw apple slices at us, but later, when I told her everything, starting from the day of the third task of the tournament, she seemed... happy. At first, though, she was taken aback, to say the least, because Draco and I had barely spoken since the beginning of fifth year.

But this is how it happens. After being in a state of silence with each other for a couple of months, we still started it. And, surprisingly, time passed, and everything was almost as smooth as on the first day.

And even when I had nightmares again, or felt like I was slipping out of the real world again, he was there, right next to me, helping me deal with it.

I had another person besides my father, Mariel, and Kristen, that I could trust.

DRACO

"So, how's it going?" Goyle asked mockingly, with a sneer on his face.

I looked up at him and quickly looked around, checking to see if there was anyone nearby who could hear us.

"Stop this," There was nothing to discuss, and he knew it.

"It took a long time, but you did it, right? What are you going to do now?" He kept bothering me and I wanted to throw snow, or something heavier at him.