9:41 PM

I was dancing to the slow music with both hands joined with Draco's. We weren't as close as the other couples, but it was close enough for me. I noticed that he was much taller than me, by at least five inches, and I felt overpowered by his gaze. As he moved one step to the right, I followed. My heart was pounding madly, and it was funny, because I could feel his racing too. I knew he felt a bit nervous dancing with me by the way his hands had shaken when he had attempted to take mine. I still wondered if this was reality or a fairytale, to be with the man that I had liked, maybe even loved, since I was eleven. Maybe all my dreams would come true.

"It's funny." Draco said, as we swayed to the music.

"What is?"

"To be dancing with you again. The last time we danced was in the-"

"Yule Ball."

"Yeah. I didn't have that great of a time, though."

"If you'd spent half the time with me than you did chasing other girls, then you would have."

I was surprised when he blushed a bit, "You're still mad about that? I'm sorry. I wasn't really into you then-"

"It's okay. We were young and foolish and made a lot of mistakes."

"Hey, speak for yourself."

I giggled, getting an inch closer to him. I could smell his breath, which wasn't a good one from what they had just eaten.

"I know I was pretty annoying when I was at that age, so I'm sorry."

Was this Draco Malfoy, apologizing to a girl? It was amazing.

"It's okay."

12:34 AM

We strolled many streets in the night for at least an hour, talking about the past and the silly things we had done in Hogwarts and in the summer when I had visited his house. It felt good to talk to him about anything, because I hadn't had a friend that I could do that with for a long time. For one second, I swear he had tried to hold my hand, but had retrieved it for some reason. Maybe he was scared. I was.

"…Remember when we put that rat in his stew?" Draco reminded me, speaking of Hagrid.

"Yeah, that was really funny, although I felt a bit sorry for him when he started crying."

"I didn't. The stupid oaf didn't even notice things floating in his food."

"You are so coldhearted, Draco."

"No I'm not. I'm very loving."

I shook my head, "Then why did you stop talking to me that fifth year when I spread that rumor? I apologized about a million times. That really really hurt."

"I'm sorry. I guess it was my pride preventing me to say it."

He kicked a stone with his shoe, "So, you want to come back to my flat and have a cup of tea or something?"

Uh oh. I knew what that meant. He was giving me an invitation to his bed, but there was no time. I checked his watch and saw that it was 12:40. Forty-four minutes to live…and then I would be gone…

"Uh…sure," I said. "Let's go."

It took us twenty minutes to get there. It would have been shorter if Draco had walked at my pace, but he was slower than a snail.

1:05 AM

"Whoa, whoa, what's the hurry darling?" He slurred as we both entered the living room.

Oh, nothing, just that I'm about to die very soon.

"I'll make that tea. Just give me a few minutes." He told me, and then went into the kitchen. I didn't have a few minutes. I needed to express my feelings now, or it would remain a secret forever. My knees started shaking from the horrible fright inside of me, and my hands followed. I began breathing heavily, and was almost ready to hyperventilate if Draco hadn't come in and calmed me down.

He took my hands into his, sitting close to me, and said, "Pansy, what's wrong? You've been acting strange ever since you got here."

"I'm…fine…really." I spoke in heavy breaths.

"No, you're not. Come on, tell me." He quickly got a glass of water and put it in my mouth. I felt a little better afterwards.

"Look, Draco…I know why you brought me back here…"

"You do?"

"Yes. You want to…"

"Oh no. That wasn't my intention at all, but I can see why you would think that. I wouldn't do that to you, Pansy, take advantage. You are…very special to me."

Our eyes met for an infinitesimal second, and they both said it. We loved each other. He knew it and I knew it, and it was time to get it out in the open.

"Draco…ever since I was young, I've always-"

"I know."

"What?" I said, taken aback. He tightened his grip on my hands.

"I know…that you love me."

There was complete silence. Not a breath of air or a fallen leaf. We both stared at each other. Had he just said what I thought he said? I swear I was in a dream.

"How can you know?"

"It's pretty obvious. The way you talk about marriage, love, and care that I should have a better life. I don't know anything about love, but if there was one word to associate with with, it would be your name."

1:22 AM

Tears rimmed up in my eyes and slowly dripped down my cheeks. I didn't know if I was crying from Draco's words or for the fact that I had about two minutes to live.

"Pansy? Why are you crying?"

Suddenly, I broke into sobs and retreated in his embrace, with his arms around my back and an astonished look on his face.

"Oh, Draco, I wish I could tell you how I felt, but I can't."

"Why not?"

I cried even harder, and the excruciating pain inside my ribs built up, adding to my tears. Draco wiped away my tears with his hand. It was a gentle touch that I wish he could keep on me forever.

"Shh…don't cry…you don't look good when you do it…and I get sad…"

1:23 AM

He levitated my chin so my face was mere inches away from his. We locked eyes, and I gazed deeply into his blue sea of vision, and felt him getting closer. His soft lips brushed mine. It lasted for two seconds, but it was the most beautiful feeling I had ever felt inside my heart. We kept close and stared at each other.

"Why can't you tell me that you love me?" He whispered, a tear producing of his own.

1:24 AM

"I can…I love you…but that's no use now…" I breathed, still inches apart from him.

"Why?"

"Because…I'm dying…" I had fallen quiet now. No sobs and no croaks. Just silent tears finding themselves on Draco's shirt. For a second, he observed me as if I was kidding, but when he found out that I wasn't, he pulled away.

"What?"

"Yes…my father-"

And it came. The horrible coughing. I jumped out of the couch and collided with the floor, coughing up the tea, the dinner, mixed with blood. I could hear Draco screaming my name and asking me desperately what was happening, but I couldn't talk. I felt consciousness drifting far away as everything around me turned dizzy. I saw the lamp and I saw Draco's delicate face, fell down to the floor, and knew no more.

THE END

Message of this story: Live life to the fullest because you never know what tomorrow may bring! Thanks to everyone for the lovely reviews! I love you all! Happy reading! 