Thank you all for reading! Especially .7334, TlynG and Lillip. Here goes another chapter, I hope you enjoy it. And don't forget to review!
Chapter 7
After days of unsuccessfully trying to communicate with Bella to no avail, I decided to visit the café where she worked, only to find out she had taken the week off for her exam week. With anxiety gnawing at me, I decided to head to her building that Friday night, determined to find her and settle things once and for all.
I arrived at the building and waited patiently until someone came out, and I took the opportunity to ask about Bella. It turned out to be her flatmate, Laura, who informed me they were having a party and invited me in. The flat door was open, which made it easy for me to enter without drawing further attention.
Upon entering the flat, I noticed the place was full of people, with scattered groups chatting and dancing to Muggle music I had never heard before. However, my mind was elsewhere. I began searching for Bella among the crowd, feeling a knot in my stomach each time I passed through a room without finding her.
Finally, on the terrace, I saw her. Bella was talking to a group of friends with her back to me. As she turned and saw me, her expression quickly changed from surprise to annoyance.
"What are you doing here, Draco?" Her voice, though tense, could not hide the slight tremor of surprise.
"I couldn't... I couldn't stay away without talking to you. Please, can we go somewhere quieter?" I said, feeling an urgency I could not disguise.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and led me to her room for privacy. Once inside, I closed the door behind us, isolating us from the noise of the party.
"Bella, before I tell you what I came to say, I need you to understand why I did what I did," I began, searching her eyes for some glimmer of understanding. "I ended things because I thought our worlds were too different, that my past and everything it entails could put you in danger. I thought it was the best way to protect you."
Bella looked at me, confused and hurt. "What does that mean, Draco? That we're too different?"
I took a deep breath, knowing it was time to reveal the whole truth. "It means that I am a wizard, Bella. I come from a world that is completely different from yours. But I've realized that I no longer care. I don't want to be without you, no matter how complicated it might be."
I saw disbelief in her eyes, and before she could say anything else, I took out my wand. With a gentle movement, I conjured a bouquet of flowers, which I then transfigured into small birds that began to flutter around Bella.
Bella watched, completely astonished, as the magic unfolded before her. When the birds turned back into flowers and delicately settled in her hands, a smile formed on her face, a mix of awe and something else, something I couldn't quite identify.
"I don't know what to say, Draco... this is..." Her voice trailed off, but her eyes spoke volumes.
Before she could formulate another word, I drew her toward me and kissed her. She immediately responded to the kiss, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me closer to her. In that moment, in the privacy of her room with the music of the party reduced to a murmur, only we mattered.
The kiss deepened, each touch seemed to ignite a fire that neither of us could nor wanted to extinguish. When we finally parted, we were both breathless, but the smiles on our faces said more than any words could.
"Bella, I don't know what will happen from here," I admitted, holding her hand between mine. "But I want to try, if you do too. I want you to be part of my world, and I want to be part of yours, no matter the challenges that may involve."
After a few minutes of staying like this, embraced and gently caressing each other, Bella took a deep breath and looked at me with curiosity shining in her eyes.
"I have so many questions, but that can wait," she finally said with a smile. "It's time for you to officially meet some of my friends; I want you to be part of this part of my world too." She tiptoed and gave me a short kiss on the lips.
Hand in hand, we re-entered the party. She told me they were celebrating the end of the exam week and the start of the holidays. The flat buzzed with the energy of the music and conversations. As we approached a group of Bella's close friends, she squeezed my hand reassuringly.
"Everyone, this is Draco," Bella introduced me with a smile that carried a mix of pride and affection. "Draco, these are my friends."
The group greeted me warmly and with a touch of curiosity. A tall guy with an easy smile extended his hand. "I've heard a lot about you, mate. Bella hasn't stopped talking about you," he joked, causing Bella to visibly blush.
Another girl chimed in, "So this is Draco! You were right; he is gorgeous, Bella," she said, winking and causing Bella to blush even more.
"Guys, enough of the 'tease Bella' game," at this, the others laughed, and I took the opportunity to hug her from the side and whisper in her ear, "I think you look gorgeous tonight."
At this, Bella looked at me, visibly more relaxed, and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek.
We spent some time talking with her group of friends. Their welcoming nature eased some of the tension I felt, and I found myself relaxing and joining in the laughter. Bella beamed at us, clearly pleased to see how I was fitting into her world. The guy who teased Bella initially was named Matt, and the other girl was Ann. I also officially introduced myself to Bella's flatmate I had already met at the entrance, Laura.
Although I managed to relax and get along well with the group, at times I remembered our differences. For a moment, I thought about what my friends would think if they saw me like this with a group of Muggles. I dismissed that thought; for now, I just wanted to enjoy the night with Bella and her friends.
As the night progressed, the music shifted to a lively beat, prompting Bella to pull on my arm. "Let's dance!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. We headed to the center of the room where others were dancing. The music was completely unfamiliar to me, but I still managed to keep up well.
Dancing with Bella felt amazing; I felt like I somehow belonged there. Suddenly she let out a giggle and said, "You dance funny," to which I frowned and said, "Not at all, you're the one who dances funny." Her laughter was contagious, and as she guided me through the dance steps, I couldn't help but think I had never felt so happy. We danced to several songs, moving from fast, lively tracks to slower, more intimate songs.
During a slow song, Bella moved closer, resting her head on my chest as we swayed gently. "I'm really glad you're here," she whispered, her voice muffled against my shirt.
"I wouldn't be anywhere else," I replied, my hands resting lightly on her back, feeling her warmth through the fabric.
As the night wore on, the party began to wind down. Some guests said their goodbyes, leaving in small groups, while others settled into more intimate conversations around us.
Eventually, Bella and I sat down on the couch, her snuggled up to my side. We talked in that position until she began to doze off sleepily.
"I think it's time for you to go to bed," I whispered, stroking her hair gently.
We got up from the couch and walked together to her room. At the door, before she went in, I stopped and asked with a smile, "Do you have plans tomorrow?"
Bella, still a bit sleepy but smiling, shook her head, "No, I don't have any plans."
"Perfect," I said with a smile. "How about I pick you up at noon and show you a bit more of my world? There's so much I want to teach you."
Her curiosity lit up her eyes, and with an enthusiastic nod, she agreed. "I'd love that, Draco."
"Great, I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night, Bella," I said, and after one last exchange of smiles, I made a discreet gesture with my wand. In an instant, I disappeared from her sight, leaving behind a light breeze that fluttered the curtains of her window, leaving a very surprised Bella.
What do you think Draco is going to show her? What will happen when Edward reappears?
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