By the time it was the weekend, Draco had damn near gone through every bloody emotion on the spectrum. Happy and in love, hurt and confused, annoyed yet accepting, and worried out of his goddamn mind. And, of course, all of these emotions came from one black-haired woman that he was hopelessly in love with.
Draco was whipped. Blaise had told him as much after their interaction with Dennis Creevey but Draco had just sneered and ignored his friend. Who cared if he was whipped? If he was going to kneel for anyone, let it be Astoria Greengrass. Hell, she had him on his knees for her half the time anyway. The only woman Draco Malfoy would set aside his pride for, the only one worthy of setting aside his pride for.
But his pride, it seemed, was due for another beating.
She began to ignore him, avoid him, and did her best to forget everything that had transpired between them. It was almost worse than before they had ever even kissed when Astoria told him that he needed to be a proper fiancee for Daphne. Then, at least, he had her as a friend. Now, it seemed she was determined to be nothing.
Not that he would accept that, of course. It hurt when she didn't come to his room. It hurt a lot. He immediately went to her dormitory, convinced that something bad had happened to her. But when he got there, he found Astoria and Aria giggling through the doorway. Draco didn't want to be the man that stepped between her and her friends so he left her, figuring that she would either come to him later or that she simply needed a night with her friend.
But then the next day, Astoria sat far away from him at breakfast despite the fact that he had saved her a perfect seat for her in between Daphne and him. She did the same thing at lunch and then at dinner, taking different routes to her classes so she didn't run into him in the corridor.
By the time night rolled around, Draco knew she wouldn't be coming. He had done something—he'd no idea what but whatever it was, it was probably his fault completely (Astoria never did anything wrong, at least not in his mind). He was hurt, hugging one of the pillows for some small sense of comfort, though it felt nothing like the girl he was missing. It didn't let out little snores throughout the night, it didn't sigh and move closer to him, it didn't wake up with the most glorious smile he had ever seen. But it wasn't mad at him like she was so, at the moment, it was all he had to work with.
Draco missed her terribly. Terribly. He wanted more than anything to seek her out and beg on his knees (in more than one way) for her forgiveness. He didn't care what he did wrong—he would remedy it in whatever way he could. He didn't care if it took a million galleons. It was pennies compared to Astoria's worth anyway.
But he didn't have the chance to make it right because she never let him get within 50 meters of her. Normally, Astoria would sit and stew on whatever bugged her until it burst out of her. She was never very good at holding her emotions in, so very unlike her roommate in that regard. But this time, she just didn't. She held everything in. She turned around when he entered the room. She acted like he wasn't in love with her with every ounce of his being.
So he waited. He waited until the moment she would start to speak with him again, the moment when she would explode and he would finally learn what was wrong. Then, he'd beg for her forgiveness and do everything in his power to correct it. He absolutely hated it—bloody hated it more than everything—and longed for her with every spare moment he had.
Needless to say, it gave him considerable practice in the art of patience, something he was severely lacking.
Draco sighed and ran his hands through his blond hair. It was looking considerably messier these days, a result of his constant turmoil over the situation. He didn't like being away from Astoria. Actually, he loathed it. Every second not spent in her presence—not spent touching and feeling her and making her feel like the goddess she was—was a second wasted. But for her, he would wait. He would wait an eternity. She was worth it and more.
He slipped on his prefect badge and prepared for a night of monitoring the halls. He offered to pick up more shifts since his nights weren't exactly spent with his lover. Normally when Draco patrolled, he would slip into the room late into the night. Astoria would make a happy hum before nuzzling her face into his bare chest and kissing him softly. "Hi, Dray," she would murmur, her voice all sleepy. Her normally kept hair was scattered all over the pillows but he always thought it looked like a halo. "Hi, my love," he would murmur before kissing her hair. "Go back to bed." Then, she would fall asleep in his arms until they awoke all tangled together. Honestly, it was how he wanted to fall asleep for the rest of his life if his stupid ass didn't ruin it first.
Now, the green badge just felt heavy. It was just another reminder that he would be going back to a cold bed and a lonely dorm.
Draco made his way down but hesitated when he reached the common room. There on a table by the fireplace was Astoria's book. She never reads outside of her room... is everything alright? He wondered with a furrowed brow. Draco grabbed the book and quickly brought it to his dormitory before deciding that he would look for her. To hell with accepting her avoidance. His primary concern was her safety. She could curse him out later.
Astoria, Astoria, Astoria, his mind thought over and over as he searched for her in the hallways while patrolling. She was all he could think about anyway but during these long nights in the corridor, she was especially on his mind. Raven hair in smooth curls, bright green eyes like the color of green grass, glossy lips that tasted like strawberries, a smile that made his toes curl, a laugh that made his heart stutter, a voice that sounded like a songbird's, a woman that was just incredible.
Of course, as with any other eighteen-year-old boy, his thoughts weren't just PG either, especially during the long nights. They hadn't had sex yet (Astoria wanted to wait until marriage and he didn't mind that since he intended to make that very, very soon) but they did plenty of other things to occupy themselves, things that occupied his mind almost as much. Breathy moans that filled the room, thighs that clenched around his fingers, toes that curled into the sheets, eyes that clouded with lust, a mouth that worked him to the bone...
Snap out of it, he told himself. He didn't need to be caught with a raging hard-on during his prefect patrols. And he couldn't miss her more than he already did. His chest ached enough.
But then, he saw it. Jet black hair, a voice that made his heart stop. She was here.
With fucking Berkshire.
Draco began to see red when he saw Astoria and Lorenzo in the corridor together. Alone. At night. After curfew. Standing far too close together. Actually, Astoria was on the ground and Enzo hovered over her, which was worse.
With clenched fists and a voice that snapped more than he intended it to, Draco strutted over to them. "Berkshire? What's going on here?"
Astoria avoided his eyes. Has she moved on that quickly then? He couldn't help the stab of pain in his heart at the thought.
Enzo looked at him with a relieved expression. "Malfoy! Perfect timing. Something's wrong with Astoria but I need to get to my sister. Do you mind taking care of her?"
Something's wrong? His stomach sank. He no longer cared about Enzo. Actually, he knew for a fact that nothing was going on between them anymore just based on the fact that Enzo was willing to leave her and no man in his senses would leave his girlfriend when she needed him.
Draco's gaze slid over to the woman on the ground. She's so beautiful, he thought before he was immediately filled with concern. She was clutching her chest and panting with a glazed look in her eyes. She's having an attack. She needs me.
"Yeah, I've got her." I've got her. I've always got her.
Astoria let out some shaky breaths that only increased his worry. Then, Enzo left them, running off toward the dungeons while Draco immediately began to fuss over her. He leaned into where she lay and ran his eyes over her body. No visible injuries. So it's definitely her condition. "My love? Are you alright?"
"A- am I alright?" she hissed with shaky breaths. "You're a git, Draco Malfoy! A right prick!"
He couldn't help the smirk that came to his face. Yell at me all you want, Astoria. I'll take it as long as you're here and speaking to me. "Well, I'm glad to see you are well enough to rip into me. I've been looking for you ever since I saw your book in the common room."
"W-what?" Her eyes looked shocked. "You've been looking for me?"
Of course I did. My eyes search for you in every room. "You don't really think I've let you be on your own for a few days, did you?"
"Y-you m-mean—"
"That I've been watching you from afar, giving you the space you've desired while waiting for that little ticking time bomb in your head to go off and finally tell me what was wrong? Yes." I mean that I love you endlessly and I will never part from you, not even when you pull yourself away.
Realization flashed on Astoria's face but it left all too soon for a blank expression. Then, she closed her eyes and fell to the ground.
He quickly leaned over to catch her, cradling her head gently. Draco picked Astoria up, carrying her bridal style quickly to the dormitories. Or, more specifically, his dormitory.
His steps were long and swift. Worry filled his every pore and yet he couldn't help but think how right it felt to hold her in his arms again. Astoria. My Astoria.
"D-Dray?" she said with a shaky voice. Her eyes weren't open; she must have either felt his familiar arms or smelled his familiar cologne. She leaned into his chest.
"Shh, my love," he whispered. "We're almost home." Home. Because that was what his dormitory felt like when she was there.
"It hurts, Dray," she said softly with a wince he didn't particularly enjoy seeing.
Draco bent down and kissed her head just as they reached the staircases to the Slytherin dungeons. "I know, darling. I'll make it better."
She remained quiet, her eyes still closed. He quickly passed the common room before reaching his door. Draco strode into the room and laid Astoria on the bed. He noticed she instinctively curled deeper into the comforter like she always did. The sight of it made him smile. Right where she belongs. Because nothing could convince him that Astoria didn't belong with him and he with her. Not even something as silly as an engagement.
Draco began to dig into the cupboards before pulling out some chocolate and crackers to go along with the pill he had grabbed. Then, he procured a water bottle and a cold washcloth. When he walked back over to her, Draco noticed that her face had evened out. It wasn't scrunched in pain and her breathing was even. Still, he wasn't taking any chances. "Here. Eat and drink this. But take that pill first."
She looked at him with furrowed eyes. "W- what is this?"
His lips pulled up at the corners. "I looked into your condition. These are things that are supposed to help when you have an attack."
Her eyes widened. "You did all of this for me?"
"I would do anything for you."
With that, Astoria stood up from the bed and quietly walked over to him. Arms snaked around his waist before her head started to lay on his chest. He returned her embrace immediately, pulling her as close as she would let him. Astoria. My Astoria.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you," she whispered. "I- I heard a rumor and I should have asked you instead of just assuming it was true."
He frowned. "What rumor?"
"That you bullied first years. And muggle-borns. And... Neville."
"Longbottom? I haven't spoken to him in years." He paused and debated his words before saying, "I will admit that I haven't always been the most civil to them in the past. But that all stopped the moment I met you. I wanted to be better for you Astoria. I want to be someone you deserve."
"I don't deserve you," she said softly.
Draco immediately gripped her chin and pulled it up so she was looking at him. "Don't ever say that. You deserve the whole bloody world and I'll do anything to give it to you."
"But—"
"But nothing." He put a finger on her lips. "I am so desperately in love with you, Astoria Greengrass. The past few days have been hell but I'd go through it all again if it meant ending up exactly like this."
She sighed and leaned into his arms. "I don't know why I can't say it back," she whispered. "But I feel it too."
Draco kissed the top of her head. "You never have to say it back. I know how you feel. That is enough for me." Then, he pulled back and smirked. "So... what have I missed?"
She pulled him to the bed where she told him all about her week, about meeting Neville, about Aria's love life, about something hilarious that happened to a Ravenclaw in Transfiguration. Apparently, his hair was still blue. Draco listened and laughed as she animatedly took him through her week. The most mundane things felt like riveting epics when told by Astoria. Her eyes would widen when things became interesting, her breath would hitch right before she laughed.
I am so in love with you, he thought as she recounted her meals one by one. The two of them spoke well into the night—the corridors would be less patrolled but he didn't particularly care when she was with him. By the time Astoria and Draco had readied themselves for bed, it felt like no time at all had passed. She had always been his. He had always been hers. They had always been us.
Draco laid back in the bed wearing only his pajama pants. Astoria was in her nightgown, a sight he had terribly missed. He would have to use the morning to make up for lost time. He smiled to himself when he realized how much time had been lost, how much there was to make up for. She would be screaming his name by the time he was done.
Astoria soon crawled under the covers. She rested her head on his torso and sighed happily. "I missed this," she said, nuzzling into where his shoulder met his chest. His arm around her tightened.
Draco's head turned toward her. He kissed her on the forehead and pulled her even closer. "I missed you."
He muttered "Knox" under his breath. The lights went out right as Draco closed his eyes. When he took in a deep breath, he could smell the faint hints of strawberry and linen that lingered in her hair. He smiled. Astoria. My Astoria.
"I love you," Draco mumbled right before sleep overtook him.
She yawned and curled into him, bringing one of her legs up to straddle him. "I- I..." she mumbled but she never finished her sentence.
No matter. One day she'll say it. And he was confident that it would be a day that changed his life completely.
He didn't realize at the time just how right he would end up being, how his life not only changed but shattered when Astoria said those three little words.
But that was all in due time.
Draco is just head over heels for Astoria and I'm living for it. Let me know what you think! Feedback is always so so soooo helpful, plus it makes authors feel over the moon :)