Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development. M rating for sexual content anticipated.

**Apologies for the hefty hiatus. I have had quite the writer's block for some transitions in the story. But it has been interesting to see how things have developed from the original plan. Hope you all are still with me and enjoy how this is turning out. **

The Doting Rival

Chapter 33

Draco

Draco let out a guttural yell as he hurtled the lamp and potted plant from the end table. The second years sitting on the adjacent sofa shot up and staggered away from the sudden outburst in the Slytherin Common Room.

"Draco! What is it?" Pansy Parkinson hurried to his side. She reached for his arm.

Draco jerked, tossing her arm away. "Don't touch me!" he hissed.

Pansy stood there dumbfounded, mouth hanging open, eyes wide. "What is with you lately? You aren't acting like yourself. . ."

"You don't know what you're talking about." He brushed off her words, stomping across the room to the water pitcher. He continued his raucous, slamming the pitcher and cup on the table in between gulps.

"Yea, Draco. You okay?" Vincent Crabbe leaned toward him.

"Oh, piss off! The lot of you." Draco stormed across the Common Room and climbed the stairs two at a time to the boys' dormitory. He slammed the door behind him before falling onto his bed.

What WAS wrong with him? He should be happy after what he just saw. There's someone else for her. Draco recollected on multiple occasions when Fred was there. The Quidditch World Cup; how swift he was to replace Draco tending to her wound. Hogsmeade; every visit, Fred was there. Even last year, when she had to sneak in under her cloak, Fred knew. And most evenings at supper, he sat close, if not, right next to her. Draco had to interrupt him from asking her to the Yule Ball just two and a half weeks ago!

Adelyn was always with the Weasley family. It was a natural match. And the Malfoy name would not be tarnished by connection with a half blood, let alone The-Girl-Who-Lived. The Weasley parents would be pleased. And Draco's father would be pleased. It truly was ideal.

Yes, this is right. It all makes sense. Draco had assured himself he was not making a mistake. Even against the ache he currently felt in his chest as he succumbed to sleep.

Luckily, it was the weekend. There were no classes until Monday. Students were free to congregate as they pleased, of course, preferring indoors as it was actively snowing. Many opted to continue studies for their final essays that were due before Christmas holiday. Draco usually would not choose to do so himself, but found he needed a distraction that his fellow Slytherin's couldn't seem to provide.

He made his way to the library, a bit surprised at how busy it was. He went to the west end in search of the Transfiguration section. Once he acquired reference books, he settled at an empty table. Father would be please my study habits have improved. I guess that is something good to come of all this. No! Draco shook his head, pushing the memories of all his study sessions with Adelyn from his head. That was the exact opposite of his being there.

Focus, Draco. He dived into the books, refusing to stop reading. Anything to keep his mind from wavering. Unfortunately, the sound of her hushed lilting voice broke all his concentration. He tilted his ear in the direction it traveled from. . . the other side of the bookshelf behind him.

"It's alright. Is there something I can help you with?" Adelyn had a hesitant tone to her as she replied to a question Draco had not heard. She was cautious. No, nervous. Draco's breath quickened.

"Yes, actually. I, uh – well, you see – I mean, I was just wondering. . ." A husky male voice was having difficulty not breaking. Impulsively, Draco left his chair to peer stealthily around the bookshelf.

Adelyn was sitting on the opposite side of the table, facing Draco's direction. She was sitting back in her chair, twiddling her thumbs in her lap under the desk. She's so nervous right now. She meekly looked up at a brunette fourth year Ravenclaw who could not stay still whatsoever.

". . . would you like – I mean – would you care to be my date to the Yule Ball?" The last half of the question was rushed out in a slurred tumble. Draco had to process a moment to make sense of what he just heard.

"Oh!" Adelyn was caught off guard. Her eyes widened and she quickly averted her gaze. "It's very kind of you to ask, but, I'm sorry. I can't." She cleared her throat, stealing small peaks back up at him.

That's your cue to walk away now. Draco glared at the Ravenclaw's back.

"Oh, yea. Yea. Of course, not." He became even more of a garbled mess trying to reply unscripted.

Real smooth. Draco rolled his eyes and chuckled under his breath.

"It was silly of me to think you wouldn't have a date at this point. Sorry to have bothered you." Just as quickly as he came, the fellow fourth year scurried away, trying desperately not to make too much noise.

Once gone, Adelyn released the breath she was holding and slumped forward onto her books. Draco caught himself stepping forward. No. He abruptly turned around to find Hermione making her way in his direction. They briefly met eyes. Bollocks. Draco knew he must look odd, standing at the corner of a bookshelf, no book in hand. Hermione made an inquisitive squint before continuing past him. Draco hurriedly shuffled his belongings together. He couldn't help overhearing a bit of the conversation before leaving.

"Adelyn? What is it?" Hermione was concerned. "Was it Draco?" she said in a more hushed tone. So, she HAD put two and two together. She was far too clever.

"What? No." Adelyn replied promptly. "No. Another guy just asked me to the ball."

"Adelyn . . ." Draco heard a chair be pulled out. Hermione must be sitting next to her. "You've got to say yes to someone at some point. . ." She spoke gently, trying to be supportive without pushing her.

"I know. I know." Adelyn's sigh was the last Draco heard as he left. He could not stay so near to her. Not right now.

This should be better. Draco reassured himself as he entered the study hall. It was close to the library should he need additional books, but far enough away not to be distracted by her. Adelyn.

"Well! I never anticipated seeing you here, Mr. Malfoy." Madame Pince's pretentious falsetto voice pierced Draco's ears as he entered the hall.

"Yea, been doing a lot of new things lately," he replied with indifference.

"You mean, yes," she corrected.

"What?"

"The correct word is yes. Not yea." She forced a smile.

"Okay." He turned away to find a table. He was unlikely to come back here a second time.

Draco was relieved for supper. The study hall was not as quiet as the library. He barely got any work done. What a waste of time.

"Draco! Over here." Theodore Nott waved to indicate where he sat. "You look peeved," he stated as he approached.

"Thanks for pointing it out," Draco replied sarcastically, taking a seat next to him. "My entire day has been a waste."

"Sorry to hear, mate."

"Could be worse, I suppose. Pass the jacket potatoes, would you?" Draco piled his plate. He had worked up a large appetite this afternoon.

"If you say so. . ." Nott eyed him momentarily, noticing he was focused on something across the hall. He followed his line of sight to quickly deduce what had him distracted. Adelyn. "Something you need to get off your chest?"

Draco shook his head, catching himself staring. He looked at Theodore before refocusing on his food. "No. What makes you ask that?" he scoffed.

"Come, now, Draco," Nott answered boastfully. "I am far more perceptive than many of our fellow Slytherins." He nodded his head in her direction. He was courteous not to say it aloud.

There was no point in denying it. People had previously made comments about his interactions with Adelyn. It only made sense an actual friend would discern there was something more.

"Though, I admit, I didn't believe it when that post came out in the Daily Prophet," Nott nonchalantly continued as he ate dinner.

Draco had not expected this. Nott was acting as though this was any other simple conversation they were having. Where was the disdain? The judgement? The mocking? They were strung from the same cloth: high society purebloods. And yet, he didn't seem bothered whatsoever.

"That's because things didn't really start until after that." Draco mimicked Nott, casually working on his plate. Any passersby would not suspect they were having such a serious conversation.

"And now?" Nott asked quietly, only giving a slide glance at Draco, verifying he had his full attention.

Draco let out a long sigh. He peaked up past his eyelashes to where Adelyn sat. She and Hermione were huddled together, lost in conversation. Were they talking about him as well?

"I don't know." Draco took a swig of his pumpkin juice, frustrated with the inner turmoil he was currently fighting. "She won't talk to me right now. . ."

Nott gave a sympathetic partial smile. "That explains a lot."

Draco redirected his gaze to Nott, silently asking if it were true.

"Honest," Nott continued in confirmation. "You haven't been yourself lately."

Draco's lack of response was him admitting it to himself. He had convinced himself last night to let it go. But he couldn't stop thinking about her. Everything he did was influenced around where she was or what she was doing. When did he become so consumed with one person?

Subconsciously, Draco noticed Adelyn stand from the Gryffindor Table. He hadn't realized he had been watching her. She was leaving on her own.

Nott saw the change in Draco. He was completely distracted from their conversation. "Why don't you go talk to her now?" he suggested.

"I don't think she wants me to." He kept his eyes locked on her as she made her way toward the exit.

"Do YOU want to?"

This was the insight Draco needed. He reacted instantly, jumping from his seat, hastening in pursuit of Adelyn. It was still fairly early into dinner, which meant, luckily, there were not many students in the halls. With her head start, Draco had to bound the staircase two steps at a time. Fate must have been on his side as the staircase began to shift while approaching the second floor. "Adelyn!"

Adelyn was waiting for the staircase to settle when he called to her. She turned around at the sound of her name, her face hard to read. He could have sworn he saw the faintest smile start on her lips. Maybe he just hoped he had.

Instead of waiting, she abruptly continued down the hallway of the second floor. Was she avoiding him?

"Wait! Adelyn, please. Wait." Draco caught up to her and gently grabbed her by the arm.

"Don't." She froze, jerking her arm slightly from his grasp. She had never reacted this way toward him before. The twist in his stomach started to creep up again.

He hesitantly dropped his hand. "I just want to talk. . . please."

Adelyn slumped against the wall, ever so slightly turning her head in his direction. Eyes downcast to the floor, she replied, "Why?"

Draco hadn't expected this question. "Why?" he repeated. "Because, I never got to explain myself." He took a step towards her, stopping when he saw her take a step back in response. Like she had done the other night with Fred. Is she uncomfortable with me?

"I don't need to be told why you don't want to be with me, Draco." With heavy shoulders, she turned to continue down the hall.

Draco rushed in front of her to block her. "I never said I didn't want to be with you."

Adelyn looked up and locked eyes with him. "Your actions did." She held his gaze.

She had him there. She had been straight forward with him, telling him exactly what she wanted. And being patient when he asked for it. Yet, he had not given the same courtesy. "I'm sorry."

A few moments passed before Adelyn broke the silence. "That's it, then?" An audible gulp followed and her eyes began to glisten. "I thought you wanted to explain yourself." Her voice trembled. Was it anger or pain?

"I did – I mean, I do," Draco replied quickly. "I'm just not sure exactly how. . ."

"This is what I'm referring to. THIS!" Anger. It was definitely anger. "I don't know what you want from me." Her breathing quickened and she threw up her hands in exacerbation. She flung her arms around as she let everything erupt. "You say you want me. How you've wanted me for so long. But only on YOUR terms. Why do you want me to remain hidden?"

"I don't -"

"Is it because of your father?"

"No -"

"Does my half-blood bother YOU, then?"

"What?! No -"

"Is it an image thing? Because, if you aren't aware, I'm The-Girl-Who-Lived! Pretty big deal amongst wizards!"

"I know -"

"Then, what is it?!" Adelyn was practically yelling. "Because it's hurting me, Draco." A single tear broke free and trickled down her cheek. She sighed, trying to contain the sob threatening to follow. "You're hurting me, Draco. . ."

An ache in Draco's chest called to her. He cupped her face, wiping the tear from her cheek. He watched as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Suddenly, he had no words. He couldn't understand it himself. He pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair as she let a few more tears escape.

"I never meant to hurt you, Addy. . ."

"What do you want from me, Draco?" she asked shakily.

"You," Draco admitted aloud. "Just you." He pulled her away to look her in the face.

The sorrow on her face turned to resolve. "You've been saying that for a while now."

"It's true!" His eyebrows furrowed as he defended his words.

"Then prove it."

"How? What do you need me to do?" Draco urged.

"If I have to tell you that, then we are back where we began." Adelyn gently freed herself from his hold before rounding the corner of the corridor.

"Adelyn." Draco turned around to follow her. As he turned the bend, he found it empty. "Adelyn?" Where is she? "Adelyn? Did you use your cloak on me?" There was no movement. No sound. Draco sighed heavily. "I'll prove it. I promise."