Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters.
….
My fingers thoughtlessly played with the letter in my pocket. I had reread it so many times and handled it so often that the fibers in the parchment were starting to soften and the ink was starting to fade in the more worn areas of the paper. But I was still so surprised by the content of the letter that I couldn't help but read it over and over again as if I thought the letters would swim around the page and create a whole new message.
My initial surprise at finding Draco Malfoy's eagle owl at my window was dwarfed dramatically upon reading the letter for the first time. Having woken up in the middle of the night to receive it from the bird, I thought that maybe I was dreaming so I tucked the letter under my pillow and went back to sleep. But when the letter was still there in the morning I was hit with the reality of the situation. Unsure of what to do, I locked myself in the head girl's dorm at the top of Gryfindor tower and simply sat in bed and stared at the letter. Thinking back on it, I wasn't quite sure what I had expected to happen. I believe I was willing the parchment to suddenly change into a paper bird that would then fly around my room before finding an open window to escape through and never be seen again. But that sort of wishful thinking proved disappointing when I scanned the parchment for any hidden curses, hexes, or small traces of magic and found nothing but the neat handwriting of Draco Malfoy.
I hadn't realized that I had remained in the same manner until the boys had come up to my room to call me for breakfast. Instinctively, I hid the note in my robes, not willing to risk it chancing upon another person's eyes, especially Harry and Ron's. After, I had joined them for breakfast but I was excruciatingly aware of the feeling that I was being watched. As I already had an idea of who could possibly be watching me, I glanced at the Slytherin table. With so few of the students from the Slytherin house having returned it was easy to spot him, especially since he was staring right at me. Truthfully, it was a little unnerving because before, there had been a few times when I would catch him looking at me, but he would always avert his gaze immediately after. However, this time he held my gaze with eyes that demanded an answer. He knew that I had received the letter and he wasn't ashamed of it. In fact, he looked at me with more purpose than I had seen in him since our return to school. The only problem was I didn't know how I felt about his proposal.
Draco Malfoy's ability to be able to see what my closest friends had failed to notice was remarkable. I was indeed tired, and he understood that fully. Not even my own boyfriend could sense that, and we had been best friends since our first year at Hogwarts. Ron and Harry were content, they were finally able to relax, but I still felt like I had to continue moving on strong, if not for their sake, then for the sake of the people who looked up to us. One of the three of us still had to be an idol to the others who were still coping with the devastation from the war and with them having done so much already for all of these years, I thought it was my turn. Besides, I wanted them to focus on their studies for our upcoming NEWTS and I was confident in knowing that I would likely pass with high scores as it was.
But there were times that I wanted to cry, and break things, and to be comforted. There really was no time for me to rest and be myself and feel my own feelings because I had to keep up an image to be followed by those needing my help. Maybe, all I wanted to do was sit down with a book and have someone sit with me, not looking to me but looking at me. And if not looking at me, then looking after me.
Nonetheless, I wasn't so sure that I wanted that person to be Draco Malfoy. I hardly knew him and what I did know of him were not good things. After years of torment I didn't know if I could allow myself to trust him with me. But as I sit here at my desk, fiddling with his letter with one hand and holding a quill with the other, I think that maybe I could give him a chance. After all, I have been trying to help everyone move on from the war and into a time of peace. Why couldn't I do the same for him? Why shouldn't I allow him to do the same for me?
I brought my quill down to the parchment on my desk and began to write.
Dear Mister Malfoy…..
...
AN: Thank you all who reviewed/liked/are following this story. Honestly, I would have added more to it with even just one request. I wanted to keep this chapter short and simple so I wouldn't give away and of what she will write back to him. Next chapter will be her response letter.
