Light was already flooding through the thin blinds when Ashley stumbled out of bed. Thinking she was late for breakfast, she showered and dressed in record time and stumbled to the top of the staircase. Almost to the first step, she stopped- she smelled something. Was that- bacon?
Ashley took off at top speed down the stairs, almost falling headfirst down the second set. Arriving in one piece in the foyer, she followed the smell of delicious food into the left hallway and finally into the dining room.
"Ashley! Finally! We were just about to send out a search party!" Mr. Weasley joked as he saw Ashley appear in the doorway.
"I smell bacon." She sat down to the seat closest to the bacon plate and grabbed a piece. "What time is it, anyway?" She stuffed half the piece into her mouth.
"10:45 on the dot." Mr. Granger looked at his watch.
"This bacon is excellent, Mrs. Weasley." Ashley reached for two more pieces. Mrs. Weasley laughed.
"I didn't make it, dear. Draco did." Ashley froze.
"Should I be eating this, then? Is it poisoned?" Ashley asked. Draco scowled.
"Well, if you keel over in thirty seconds, we'll find out, then, won't we?" He answered. Ashley scowled in turn and crunched on her second piece.
Author's note: No. I wouldn't trust his cooking either.
Much to everyone's surprise and dismay, Mr. Weasley had succeeded in finding, of all things, a Muggle television set somewhere inside the mansion, including a video player and- horrors upon horrors- a video. After constant urging and an unwillingness to hurt the man's feelings, the remaining guests agreed to watch the video, A Complete Biography of Winston Churchill, that night. Fred and George had left along with the Granger parents, Bill, and Fleur that morning and were luckily spared the torture of the movie's strangely sleep-inducing commentary.
Draco shook his head and squinted at his watch as the movie before him began to blur and shift- it was very late. Everyone else, or so it seemed, had fallen asleep at least an hour ago. Ashley, whom he had his arms encircled around, was leaning against his shoulder, one of the first to nod off. Draco sighed and closed his eyes. No use trying to stay awake.
Suddenly Ashley gasped and sat up, breathing heavily. She sighed and rested her head in her hands as she realized where she was.
"What's the matter?" Draco sat up. Ashley shook her head.
"Bad dream."
"About what?" Draco persisted. Ashley gave a short laugh.
"School, actually. I had a dream that I was still in school and exams were that morning- but I hadn't studied at all. I know, I'm a nerd." She admitted when she saw Draco's incredulous look. "But I was stressed- I hate being stressed, you know that."
"Yeah, I do know that. I had to try and calm you down while you were pacing in our hideout every year the day before midterms." He recalled with a grin. Ashley pushed him playfully.
"Stop it. You were just as worried as I was." She grabbed a blanket off the edge of the couch and leaned back against him. "I'm going back to sleep." She pulled the soft blanket over her head. Draco laughed.
"Wait, hold on a minute." He pulled back the cover so her head was visible again. Ashley sat back up.
"What?" Ashley blinked. Draco drew her closer to him and kissed her, his lips gently colliding with hers for a long moment.
"Goodnight." After a pause, he leaned back again. Ashley pulled the blanket tighter around her and leaned forward.
"Goodnight." Draco felt like he was flying as Ashley kissed him softly, then rested her head above his heart.
"I love you." He let the words out without knowing what he was doing. Ashley stirred a little.
"I love you too." She draped on arm onto his right shoulder and smiled.