walking to the ravenclaw common room with my best friend lucas, the hallway was quiet, cold, and mostly empty. once we slipped inside, the fire was still burning low, lighting up the room with a warm orange glow. we sat together on the couch right in front of the fireplace.
"when are we leaving to the library?" lucas whispered, leaning closer.
i glanced around; fellow ravenclaws were packing up their things, heading toward their dorms. "when they all leave." i whispered back.
"i can't believe harry is making us go to the library just to find that stupid book." he groaned dramatically.
"it is what it is." i said with a shrug.
we waited about five more minutes until the common room emptied out completely.
"can we go now? please? i want to get this over with." lucas complained.
"don't be a wuss." i laughed, grabbing his hand as we walked down the moving staircase.
he squinted into the darkness. "i can't see anything. we should just go back—"
i cut him off, pulling out my wand. "lumos."
my wand lit up the stairwell instantly. lucas sighed. i smirked and kept moving.
near the great hall, i nudged him. "the library's right there. don't be a scaredy cat."
"if you wanna go, go. i wanna go!" he snapped.
"then go!" i snapped back.
"see you tomorrow!" he yelped, hugging me quickly before running for his life.
"fake bitch." i muttered under my breath.
i scoffed and walked to the library door. i pressed the handle—it didn't move.
"great." i whispered.
footsteps echoed in the distance. i panicked, shoved my wand behind my robe, and squatted behind a shelf.
after a few seconds of silence, i stood again and tried the handle. this time, it opened easily.
"okay...convenient." i mumbled, stepping inside. i turned on a lantern near the front desk, lighting the long aisles of books.
i ran my finger along the spines of books, whispering titles. "come on...where is this dumb book harry wants..."
"looking for something?" a voice said behind me.
i flinched so hard i nearly dropped the lantern. i turned around slowly.
draco malfoy was sitting on a chair like he owned the place—legs crossed, expression bored, holding the exact book i needed. draco malfoy, who i'd had a crush on since fourth year.
"draco?" i forced a smile. "heyy."
"what are you doing here?" he asked, rising from the chair.
"just...looking for a book," i said awkwardly. "for my dada class. yes. dada." my eyes flicked to the book he was holding. "oh! look at that. you found it."
i tried to grab it, but he hid it behind his back.
"stop. why are you really here?" he asked.
i groaned. "fine. i'm getting a book for harry for something. i have no idea what it's for."
"are you sure?" he said, raising a brow.
"why? so you can tell your dad?" i snapped, walking to a chair and sitting down.
"no," he scoffed. "because i saw you walking and overheard your conversation with the trio. plus lucas. speaking of..." a smirk spread across his lips. "where's your little boyfriend?"
"he's not my boyfriend. he's my best friend, for your information," i said sharply.
"whatever." he muttered.
"jealous?" i teased.
draco immediately turned his back toward me. "why would i be jealous." he said quickly, voice slightly strained.
i stared at him. something was off.
"draco..do you have something to tell me?" i asked softly.
"no." he said, sliding the book across the table toward me before walking toward the door.
i grabbed the book and ran after him. "draco, stop."
he paused but didn't turn around. "what."
"what's wrong?" i asked gently.
"nothing, y/n."
i stepped in front of him, blocking the exit. "draco. look at me."
he clenched his jaw. then—finally—he lifted his eyes to mine.
something was there. something he'd been holding back for a long time.
"fine," he said quietly. "i like you. alright? i like you."
my breath caught. my heart practically jumped out of my chest.
i hadn't expected it—not tonight, not in a quiet library, not like this.
i swallowed, my voice barely working. "draco...i like you too."
his eyes widened, stunned. "you...you do?"
i nodded with a shy smile. "yeah. i have for a while."
for a moment, he just stared at me—completely speechless, completely soft. he stepped forward slowly, placing a hand gently on my arm like he wanted to be sure this was real.
"i didn't think you'd ever say that," he whispered.
"well...i didn't think you'd ever say it," i laughed softly.
draco let out a quiet breath, eyes locked on mine like he was memorizing the moment. then he pulled me into a warm hug—gentle, careful, but full of everything he didn't know how to say yet. i hugged him back, feeling his heartbeat against mine.
"hello!" a voice echoed through the hall.
we jumped slightly.
draco immediately grabbed my hand—my hand—and i clutched the book tighter.
"run." he whispered, grinning as we sprinted toward the back exit of the library, hearts racing but lighter than ever.
