July

Every time I went to sleep, I'd replay the scenes in my head over and over again.

Another year has ended and we would be returning in August. Although I was glad to be home, back in my room, home seemed lonely. Father was busy working at the Ministry with Lucius, and mother was always on the phone with God-knows-who. To top it all off, I couldn't see Draco everyday now, which completely lowered my spirits.

Other than that, I was just back to my ordinary life now. Of all the times I've arrived home, I've never felt so bad. I was usually quite excited to arrive back, but it just wasn't the same.

I lied down on my pink bed, staring up at the ceiling. The violet red curtains were friendly with the wind seeping in; I liked to keep my window open. Lecym, my black cat, leaped up on the bed and started to purr as I stroked her.

That's right, the little voice inside of me spoke. Lecym was a gift from Draco's family to mine on my fifth birthday. I know that had nothing to do with anything, but it wouldn't hurt to remember some things every now and then. And to think people thought I was the girl that softened Draco up a bit; I found it true.

The more I thought about the train ride back home, the more I thought about Draco. We got a compartment all to ourselves and probably spoke the entire time halfway. Then I fell asleep, except that my head was on his lap this time. We arrived back home by midnight, and Draco walked me out of the train, our fingers laced together. At Kings Cross Station, his parents waved to us. I left shortly after, looking at the raindrops dancing on the car window.

Millicent called every now and then, just to talk about the usual things girls are supposed to talk about. Gossip, boys…things like that. She never actually told me why she was avoiding me, but that slipped off my mind. I was guessing she was jealous I was getting married to Draco.

About our marriage, mother wanted us to get married in December, the same month she got married. It was a long time from now, but I could wait.

"Pansy, dear," my mother said as she opened my door. "You look bored. Why don't you take a walk outside?"

Yes. That's what I needed. A little stroll around the area should do me good. I grabbed my scarf and hat as I walked downstairs.

"I'll be back soon," after closing the door of Parkinson Manor, I picked a flower out of the ground by the lawn. It was a purple pansy. This bunch has been here ever since before I've been born.

I've been walking further and longer than I planned to. I discovered myself trying to reach Malfoy Mansion, which I did. Wiltshire wasn't very far from my own home, but I've never walked here by foot; I'd always come with my parents. I walked closer and closer and stepped on their black doormat, staring at the doorbell. I started to get anxious and was holding myself back from pressing the switch. Just as I was capable enough to, I heard voices from the other side of the door.

"Draco, dear, can you check if we have any mail?"

"Fine, mother."

My heart skipped a beat as I looked for a place to hide. I hid behind a rosebush that was fluorescent with bright white roses.

Why was I hiding from him? Was I scared that he would find me? I wanted to be with him, but this was something words couldn't explain.

I heard the door open slightly, and then another click that meant it had been closed. Draco was outside now. It seemed I picked a horrible hiding spot; it was right next to the polished black mailbox he was heading towards.

I peeped through a little clearing of the leaves. All I could see was his hands reaching into the mailbox, counting how many envelopes it revealed. Two. After he finished, he started to walk back. When I was about to run back home, his footsteps stopped. He was still there.

There was another clearing and I looked through that. I could see him waist up, and he was looking down curiously at something. He bent down and picked up something. Some kind of cloth possessing a deep red color.

It was my scarf. I must've dropped it when I was running to the rosebush.

I started to panic quietly, hoping my heavy breathing wasn't too loud.

"Pansy's…scarf?" He spoke to himself. I didn't realize he remembered it was mine. Draco carried it with the available hand and started staring at the envelopes again. Once he was back inside his house, I ran and looked back simultaneously all the way home. I was breathless and took a shower once I had arrived.

Once everything that needed to be done was finished, I plopped down on my bed. What a day, I thought.

The darkness took over and the stars were enlightening themselves. My parents were asleep and Lecym was wandering around the house. I couldn't sleep.

Bang.

I immediately shot up, head out of my pillow. There was a noise, just now.

Bang. It repeated itself.

I realized it was coming out of my window. I opened the curtains really slowly, because I really was scared when this was happening. My room was on the second floor, so once the window was completely exposed I could see a crescent moon. I opened them and felt the night chill, looking down.

I saw Draco in a black jacket and jeans.

It seemed he was throwing rocks on my window to catch my attention. This was too classic. First we share a drink, sitting opposite each other, using straws, now he's throwing rocks on my window late at night to talk to me? I felt like I was being filmed or something.

"Draco? What are you doing down there?" I whispered, only loud enough so he can hear me.

"Pansy…can you come down for a moment?"

It took me a while to respond. "…Hold on," I closed the window and placed the curtains back to their original spot. I put on a jacket and some jeans really quick and creeped downstairs quietly, hoping my parents wouldn't hear me. I opened and closed the front door quietly, and I also hoped Lecym would be quiet.

"Hello…what is it you want to talk about?"

He held out his hand and I took it directly. "Let's walk through your mom's garden," he opened the door to my backyard. "It will be better there."

I'm not sure what he meant by 'better', but I was to find out sooner or later.

I know I lived in a wealthy spacious house (after all, it was a manor). But there was also the backyard, my mother's garden. It was overflowing with beautiful flowers and in the middle of it all, there was a fountain with angels carved on its side.

Draco was still holding my hand, walking slowly, and I did too so we could keep a steady pace. "Oh, Pans, I found your scarf,"

Was this all? He came to my house at night just to give me back my scarf?

It caught my attention and I twitched. He handed it to me. "It was on my lawn, I don't know how it got there." I looked at it in doubt and giggled a little. "Me neither…it was in my room this morning." I had to lie, at least just a little one; I didn't want him to think I was spying on him.

After I took it from him we fell dead silent. The only sound now was the water from the fountain flowing. He didn't notice me, but I was looking at his pocket. There was a square shaped lump on it, and I've never seen it there previously. I didn't know what was inside, but I was pretty sure he would show me.

We reached the fountain now (the backyard was pretty big) and I sat down on the edge. Draco just stood up in front of me, looking out into the beyond. I turned around and stuck the tips of my fingers in the water, allowing the cute little yellow fishes that lived in it to nibble on them. Draco turned his head towards my direction and smiled at the little fishes and sat down next to me. He placed his hand in the water too, and even more fishes arose. We smiled at each other constantly and laughed a little.

"Pans, I don't think I'm never going to have such an exciting year. You've changed everything."

"Same goes for me," I spoke, and placed my available hand on his shoulder. "You've completely changed my life, Draco." I gave him a quick kiss on the cheeks.

He smiled, and then reached into his pocket. It was shaped like a small box, but I didn't know what it was. It was wrapped in a frilly white cloth, tied with a green ribbon. "I'm sorry, Pans, but I have to go now." He placed the box in my hands, smiling, and gave me a kiss back.

I waved him goodbye and didn't stop until he closed the backyard door. I smiled and looked up to the sky.

A light from my house lit up.

"Pansy?" My mother called out, still wearing her curlers and nightgown. "What are you doing out there?"

I grinned. "Nothing, mother. I'll be up," I stood up from the fountain's edge and changed back into my pajamas. I could sleep more easily now.

I can't wait until December. That engagement ring Draco gave me made me even more impatient for the future.