-{The Muggle and The Malfoy}-

- Part 7 -–

The rest of their walk together was pretty uneventful. Zoey told him stories of when she was young when her parents and brother's came to the park to walk on the icy river. She also told him how the play ground used to be a large wooden one but they had torn it down in favor of making the brightly colour metal monstrosity that now took away from the parks beauty. He listened to her stories in wonder. She was so nice, so innocent. He couldn't help but wonder what her life would have been like if she hadn't been a Muggle. She would have had all that innocence taken away in the war at Hogwarts. For the first time he found himself grateful she was in fact a Muggle. He didn't want to see the light in her eyes turn cold after witnessing the death of the young witches and wizard's she'd gone to school with for 6 years.

They were sat next to each other on the grass under the large oak tree resting their feet. She continued to regale him with tales of her past. He was interested in the Muggle School she had gone to and how she had to participate in strange sounding classes like Math and Science. Though the science class did interest him slightly when he'd asked her to explain what she'd had to learn there. It reminded him slightly of potions, a class he very much missed. She didn't seem to run out of interesting stories and he had to admit he did really like listening to her talk. The way she laughed when she remembered something funny, the way her nose crinkled slightly and her eyes almost glowed with the happiness.

It wasn't long until the sun began to set. Zoey suddenly grew silent as she looked to the sky being painted different shades of pinks and oranges. "I love this time of day," she said quietly almost sad, "It's like the sun is washing away all the bad with colour so that we can start new tomorrow," Draco looked over to her as a small frown marred her face. Her brow creased slightly as she looked up and he could tell something in this bright Muggle was causing her pain. She seemed to notice he was staring at her and shot him a large smile. It didn't reach her eyes though and he found himself frowning slightly. She seemed to notice her mistake and looked away quickly hiding her face behind her golden hair.

He reached forward before he could stop himself and brushed her hair away from her face. She looked up at him and he gave her a genuine smile. She blinked slowly her pupils slightly dilated as the sky darkened. She gave him a small smile or gratitude and scooted closer under his raised arm to rest her head on his shoulder. He leaned back on his free hand and dropped his raised arm slightly to rest his hand on her hip. They sat like that in silence watching the sun disappear and the stars come out one by one. The sounds of the night surrounded them. "I love the night time," she whispered as if not wanting to disturb the silence, "There are lanterns in this oak tree, sometimes on special occasions they light them and it's beautiful,"

Draco looked up into the tree and could indeed make out the old style lanterns hanging from the branches. He slowly stood up and Zoey gave him a confused look before following. He turned to her as she looked up at him. Only just now noticing she was a good few inches shorter than him. He didn't mind, in fact he found that was his new favourite height. He let out a breath as he came to a decision. "Close your eyes," he whispered. She raised an eyebrow at him confusion evident in her eyes. She studied him a moment before slowly closing her eyes. "Do not open them until I say," he whispered in her ear as he moved away slightly. He looked around cautiously before pulling his wand from his sleeve where it had been carefully stowed away.

He hadn't done any magic since before running away from Hogwarts. They were trying to refrain from using it unless necessary afraid the ministry would track them down through their wands. He let out a slow breath before muttering a quick spell and sending it up into the tree. The glow flew from lantern to lantern lighting the bulbs inside. Satisfied with his work he glanced around to make sure nobody had seen before stowing his wand away. He stepped up behind Zoey who still had her eyes closed. He placed one hand on her upper arm. She leant into his touch slightly, enough to make his insides warm with happiness. "Ok open your eyes," he whispered into her ear, his lips brushing against her skin slightly. He saw her shiver subtly against the slight touch.

She opened her eyes slowly and gasped. All the lanterns in the tree had been lit and glowed brightly in the night. "Wow Draco, how did you…?" she trailed off as she stared in wonder up at the large oak. He grinned behind her as she slowly stepped forward looking up into the tree before turning to face him a large smile on her face. He gave her a non-committal shrug though a secret smile sat on his pale face. Zoey moved so fast he almost didn't see it until she was hugging him. He went rigid at first. He hadn't been hugged since the Dark Lord had done so to show that the youngest Malfoy was indeed favored by him.

It took him half a second to relax into her arms and wrap his around her in return. "I don't know how you did it, but thank you," she whispered into the crook of his neck. It was his turn to shudder as her lips brushed his skin. They stood like that for a while just enjoying each other's company. Zoey started to hum tune quietly though he didn't know it he found himself swaying them to her music. Look at yourself Malfoy, dancing with a Muggle, performing magical romantic gestures to impress her. Look how far you've fallen. He froze as the thought crossed his mind and he stepped back from her with a small sigh.

"I should probably be getting home, my parents are probably worried," Zoey said softly. He nodded in agreement and they walked together in silence out of the park. "Will I see you at the shop tomorrow?" she asked almost hopeful as he started to walk towards the house. He looked at her in the glow of the street light. The thought from earlier crossed his mind again as he took in her small frame and bright blue eyes. He gave her a small smile, "Wouldn't miss it for the world," he replied before walking off home.

(A/N: Sorry for the late upload I couldn't get onto my account for whatever reason the past couple days...hope you liked this mushy little chapter)