Title: Not the First Choice
Rating:T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Draco/Romilda
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 538
Summary: Romilda gets chocolates from a surprising person.
Notes:
Valentine Fluff Competition: Easy - Romilda. Prompt - Chocolates
Ultimate Patronus Competition: Class G - Birds: 7. Duck: Write about Draco Malfoy
Romilda stared at the chocolates in front of her. She remembered how she one time gave chocolates to Harry Potter, only for Ron Weasley to think they were for him. The chocolates had been a bit special because of the fact they had a love potion made within them. She had been such a fool to believe she could make the savior of the wizarding world love her. And she realized that now.
Still, that didn't tell her who sent her these chocolates. No boy ever showed interest in her. She knew she was cute, but she wasn't what anyone would describe as pretty or sexy. She wasn't smart like Hermione Granger or flirty like Lavender Brown. In comparison to the other Gryffindor girls, she didn't have a lot going for her.
So, who would see her and think she was worthy of chocolates?
She got her answer in the form of the Slytherin prince. "I wasn't sure what kind you liked," Draco Malfoy mumbled. "I figured everyone likes caramel chocolate, though."
Romilda slowly blinked. "You sent me these?" she asked incredulously.
She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, but Draco had a light red dusting his cheeks, as if he was blushing. "Yes. Why? Were you expecting them to be from someone else?"
Romilda quickly shook her head. "Of course not. I just wasn't expecting to get anything. Boys typically don't notice me."
Draco's silver eyes stared at her with a riveting intensity. "It's their loss then. And there loss is my gain."
Now Romilda knew she was the one blushing. "If you don't mind me asking, why? I mean, you never showed me any interest before. This seems rather sudden."
Draco looked away, and Romilda was afraid she wasn't going to get an answer. Maybe she pushed too much too soon.
Then Draco was once again looking at her. "Both of us know what it's like to go unnoticed by the one we desire. And we happened to go unnoticed by the same boy."
"Harry," Romilda breathed.
Draco nodded. "In your case, he just doesn't see you. In my case, he hates me and would never even consider me as anything more than his enemy. I know that's pretty much my fault, but I never expected to fall for the boy-who-lived. If I had thought this would be my future, I might have been nicer to him right from the beginning."
"So, I'm just a substitute. You don't actually like me," she concluded sadly. It wasn't like she was into Draco, but it still hurt that she thought a boy finally saw her, and it was all a lie.
"No, it's not that all. Yes, maybe I first noticed you because I realized we were both overlooked, but that's not why I sent you the chocolates. You're pretty and fun. You're hilarious and loyal. You're sneaky and ambitious. I like you. A lot."
Romilda bit her bottom lip. Maybe Draco Malfoy wasn't her first choice when it came to paramour, but he definitely wasn't the worst guy at Hogwarts. "So, do you want to be my Valentine's date to Hogsmeade?"
He took her hand. "It would be my pleasure."