wow it is all over it's been four years because i am such a procrastinator please leave me a review or something & thank u for reading this mess thank u so much

Chapter 19: The End

It was the last day of the term, and the Gryffindor flag hung high in the air. Usually he would've felt sad that Slytherin had lost the House Cup, but he felt no attachment towards his house nowadays. All of his Slytherin friends had abandoned him.

Draco sat on his table, eating a slice of toast.

'Can I sit down?'

Draco looked up, to see Pansy. He hadn't spoken to her in what seemed like months. She looked different, older somehow. Her hair was longer, her face was fresher. And she held herself in a different way. She looked- happier.

He nodded, making space. 'Of course.'

She took a seat next to him, and picked up the remaining slice of his toast, turning it with her fingers. 'So- how have you been?'

Draco had absolutely no idea how to answer this. Of course, he wasn't completely okay. The girl that he loved more than anyone or anything wanted nothing to do with him. But despite that, he felt calm. He felt... okay.

'I'm alright,' He shrugged. 'How have you been?'

She smiled. 'I'm alright. I've been studying, and y'know... figuring some of my shit out.'

Draco frowned. 'What do you mean?'

'I mean, look at her,' Pansy said. 'She looks so pretty.'

'Who? Pansy, what-'

'-Ginny Weasley.'

They watched her sit down on the table, surrounded by her friends. He saw Harry, and he couldn't help but notice that the boy smiled at him. Draco couldn't help returning a smile feebly.

'Why are you smiling at Harry Potter?' Pansy laughed.

Draco blinked. 'I'm- I'm not. But- why- why were you telling me to look at Ginny? I thought you didn't like Ginny.'

'She's pretty.' Pansy repeated, shrugging.

Draco watched Ginny. 'Yeah, I guess she is.'

'No, I mean...' There was a glint in her eye. 'She's pretty. Really, really pretty.'

'Oh- oh!' Draco's eyes widened. 'You mean you're-?'

Pansy bit her lip. 'Yeah. Like that.'

He grinned. If Pansy had told him this at the beginning of the year, he would've been horrified. But now, he could only feel love. Lots and lots of love. Not even a twinge of anger that his ex-girlfriend was now attracted to girls. He felt so happy for her.

But he couldn't resist one thing. 'She's going out with Potter, you know.'

'For now, you mean.' She laughed, taking a bite out of his toast.

'Pans?'

'Yeah?'

'Friends again?'

She put her head on his shoulder. 'You're my best friend.'

'And you're getting crumbs all over my robes.'

She laughed, spraying more crumbs over him. 'What's up with you and Granger?'

He sighed. 'She won't talk to me.'

Pansy sat up properly, and jerked her head towards the Gryffindor table. 'Go talk to her.'

'What?' He rolled his eyes. 'Yeah, right. I can't. She'll send me away.'

'What's the harm in trying?'

'I-' He faltered. He looked over to the table. His heart gave a funny jolt, but this was common. He felt this every time he looked at her- she was the most beautiful girl in the world to him. He had to try. He had to.

'Fine, Pansy,' He said reluctantly, and stood up. 'I'll go.'

His seat scraped back as he stood up, causing the few people in the hall to look over at him- including Hermione. He took a few deep breaths, determined, and walked over. It was a long few moments, and Draco was nervous, more nervous than he'd ever been before. It was a tense few seconds.

This is going to be different, thought Draco to himself as he walked over to her table. Hermione looked at him, and if he hadn't known her well he would've ran away in that moment. But he could see in her eyes a glimmer, a flash of something- hope maybe. A smile crept onto his face.

'Er- Hermione- can we talk?'

This time it'll be better.