PART 3 -
"wait...so that was arranged?" i asked, my voice cracking as the words slipped out. i stared at him like i was seeing a ghost wearing draco's face.
"yes," he breathed, stepping forward slowly—like he was afraid i'd bolt if he moved too fast. "and i never stopped thinking about you." his hand rose gently, fingertips brushing my cheek, his touch warm against the cold air. he caressed my skin the same way he used to when we were kids sneaking around the castle... soft, careful, full of unspoken things.
"draco...this feels wrong," i whispered, heart pounding.
"it's an arranged marriage, y/n/n," he said, voice steady, eyes shining with something raw. "my parents forced me into it. i didn't want it. not then, not now."
hearing that name again—y/n/n—made something heavy in my chest melt. i couldn't help the tiny smile that tugged at my lips. "i remember you calling me that in fifth year," i laughed quietly.
flashback
"come onnn!!" draco yelled, laughing as he dragged me by the hand up the moving staircase, both of us breathless from running through half of hogwarts to escape filch.
"come on, y/n/n!" he shouted again, turning back with the biggest grin.
i abruptly stopped, nearly making him trip. "that's new." i said, squinting at him.
"oh, i'm definitely keeping it." he smirked.
before i could respond, he leaned in and gave me the quickest, sweetest kiss—just a soft peck on the lips that made my whole face heat up. i giggled, and he immediately grabbed my hand, pulling me with him as we ran up the staircase, laughing like the world didn't exist.
flashback ends
draco swallowed hard, the memory clearly hitting him too. "ever since i left after the battle," he said quietly, "i felt like a complete dickhead. i didn't send you a note, didn't tell you anything. my father ordered me not to talk to you, and then all this arranged marriage chaos happened and—" he rubbed the back of his neck, struggling for words. "i screwed everything up."
"you are a dickhead," i teased, laughing despite everything.
he laughed softly too, shaking his head as he looked into my eyes like he never wanted to stop. "you still look the same after hogwarts. still beautiful."
i rolled my eyes and lightly smacked his chest. he chuckled and slipped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug that felt so familiar it hurt. i sank into him without thinking, breathing in that same faint scent he always carried—cold winter air and something clean, expensive, and so very draco.
"awwwww!!"
the loud, exaggerated squeal behind us made us both jump. we turned around and saw hermione and pansy standing at the doorway, both smiling like they had been waiting for this exact moment for years.
"see? i told you they would never get over each other," pansy said, flipping her hair dramatically.
hermione laughed, nudging her with her elbow. "honestly, this was inevitable."
i brought my hands to my face, embarrassed but laughing. "you guys are ridiculous."
draco's arms tightened around my waist just a little, as if he wanted to show them—show me—that he wasn't letting go this time. i could feel his heartbeat against mine, steady and warm, grounding me in a moment i wasn't sure i'd ever get.
"we should give them space," hermione whispered loudly to pansy.
"oh absolutely," pansy agreed just as loudly.
they didn't move an inch.
draco snorted, resting his forehead against mine. "some things never change," he murmured.
and for the first time in years...i felt something in my chest flicker back to life.
