Disclaimer: Not mine. Characters, I mean.
A/N: I'm procrastinating, that's bad. Very, very bad. But I can't focus. Which is also bad. Argh, I don't know anymore. Colleges and universities tend to have that weird effect on making learning seems impossible and not-fun anymore.
I'm done complaining. I'm just gonna write something instead of studying.
The summer before Sixth Year-B: Hope
"Master," the house-elf wringed its hands together nervously. "Heir Longbottom is being in the parlour. He is angry; very, very angry. Kippy is not knowing why. Please, Master, it is not Kippy's fault!"
"It's alright, it's not your fault Kippy," Draco shushed the elf.
He purposedly took the long way to the parlour, delaying the meeting as much as possible. He fancied he knew the reason as to why Longbottom was here but he could not fathom why Longbottom would be angry at him. Surely he didn't do anything wrong in pointing out that convenient fact in the betrothal contract to Hadriana, and one would think that she should be very happy with it given that he hadn't done anything that could inspire any sort of love or affection from her or respect and approval from her godsibling in Hogwarts. Well, the keywords being 'in Hogwarts'. Outside of Hogwarts, he hadn't had any form of contact with her, as per the contract, and any deed he had done for her to ensure her safety and life were to be done in complete secrecy from her and anyone that was in close contact with her. However, with all Horcruxes destroyed and Voldemort be dealt with promptly at the end of Fifth Year, Hadriana was informed of the contract and Madame Longbottom had given her blessing for him to start the courtship with her. And he, being the self-doubting bastard he was, had told her right from their very first outing that previous afternoon that she had the right to withdraw from the betrothal contract at any point she wanted. Of course, there was still the slightest hope that he would be able to guilt-trip her into agreeing to bond with him by telling her that, but the chance was slim because she didn't know what he had done for her.
So much for the long way. He took a deep breath before throwing open the door to the parlour, hoping he didn't look too spooked by Longbottom's sudden call. Longbottom's attention snapped onto him immediately, his face absolutely livid. Draco stopped dead in his track, not sure whether to move forward to casual greet him or to flee right then and there.
He should have chosen fleeing.
He stood up, gingerly cradling his jaw where Longbottom had socked him like a common Muggle, and went cross-eyed at the wand suddenly pointing at his face.
"What did you do to the kid?" Longbottom growled.
He continued to stare at the wand that was too close to his nose for his comfort.
"I'm not patient," Longbottom's hand squeezed around his throat, just shy of choking him. "What happened yesterday?"
"What?" He looked at Longbottom incredulously.
"What did you do to Adria?" Longbottom's voice was calm again, but Draco knew better than to assume that he had calmed down. "I really do hate to repeat myself again."
"I...didn't do anything to her," Draco struggled to speak past the chokehold of Longbottom's hand around his neck. "I just told her...she is free to cancel the betrothal...anytime she...wants. Now let...me go, you oaf."
Longbottom dropped him like he was hot coals and looked at him like he was sprouting poetry about his unyielding loyalty to Dumbledore.
"Why would you do that?" Longbottom asked. "I thought you want her as your bride? The reward for the Malfoy family's effort in helping to take down Voldemort?"
"Well, I change my mind," Draco rubbed at his throat. "It's not fair to her being force into a betrothal contract, alright?"
"You? Fair?" Longbottom scoffed. "Draco Malfoy suddenly cares about fairness? You sure you're not trying to guilt-trip her into bonding with you?"
"I want a real relationship, not just a façade put on for the Daily Prophet!" Draco yelled at Longbottom, it was his turn to be angry now.
"Then that is what the last two years in Hogwarts are for," Longbottom howled back. "Build whatever relationship you want from her!"
Draco looked down at his hands, he wondered if he could choke himself to death.
"It would never be enough." He shook his head. "Even a lifetime would never be enough to fix what I've done the past five years to her. Would never be enough to 'build a relationship' with her."
The room seemed to be devoid of air, and the wave of pity was rolling off Longbottom in nauseous quantity. He really should have fled back then.
"You honestly don't know, do you?" Longbottom pocketed his wand, moving towards the fireplace to floo home. "And you don't give her enough credits."
"Don't you dare tell her what I told you just now," Draco managed to croak out.
Longbottom just shrugged and with that, he left.
Draco told the elves to turn away anyone who would call that day and went back to his room to think. He dared not to hope, but Longbottom had hinted at an impossible thing. No, he balled up his hands, it could never be true. Not with her eyes cold like that. He would rather not hope at all, than to have his hope dashed.