This is an interesting chapter, lots of emotions. I hope you enjoy it ;)

Chapter 8

Saturday noon arrived, and punctually, I found myself at Bella's doorstep. Seeing her, I felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation. With a smile, I extended my hand and proposed, "Would you like to experience some real magic first-hand?"

"Definitely yes," she replied, taking my hand confidently.

In an instant, we vanished from the spot, reappearing moments later in a magical park hidden from Muggles in a secluded section of Hyde Park. The sudden transition seemed to affect Bella more than I had anticipated; she staggered, so I quickly supported her by the shoulders. "Sorry, I should have considered that apparating for the first time can be quite intense," I apologized, feeling a twinge of guilt for not having foreseen it.

"A warning would have been nice," she said, still unsteady and closing her eyes. "I think I need a minute."

I helped her sit on the grass, and I waited with her, rubbing her back with one hand, until the color gradually returned to her face. "Better?"

She opened her eyes and remarked, "Yes, though that was awful. Please, let's go back the traditional way when we return." She then noticed her surroundings and her eyes lit up. "What is this place?" she asked, looking around in awe.

"This is a little more of my world."

We were in one of the magical parks most frequented by the magical community in London, and at this hour, several families and couples could be seen walking and enjoying the site. The park featured paths illuminated by enchanted stones to guide visitors through a forest of ancient trees that change color with the seasons and the feelings of the walkers. There were also many magical plants, including some Dirigible Plums, and colorful and striking food stalls offering Mead, Butterbeer, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, among other things. In the background, there was a small changing labyrinth and a lake inhabited by some magical aquatic creatures.

We strolled through the park while Bella bombarded me with questions about the magical world. Enthusiastically, I shared details about Hogwarts and the different subjects taught, talked about magical creatures, and each answer seemed to fascinate her even more.

I bought two butterbeers and led her to a quieter area of the park, with fewer people around. I knew I needed to address more serious matters, but I was struggling to start. Taking a deep breath and looking towards the tranquil pond, I said, "Bella, there are things about my past that are difficult, but you need to know them." I paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "There was a war in the magical world, and... I was on the wrong side, with Lord Voldemort."

"Voldemort?" Bella asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

"Yes, he advocated for the supremacy of pure-blood wizards over all others," I continued, my voice trembling slightly as I remembered. "I was raised to follow those beliefs, to support that cause without question. That's why I became a Death Eater at 16," noticing the doubt on her face, I hastened to clarify, "a follower of Lord Voldemort. But over time, I began to doubt. I saw the pain and suffering we caused... and I started to question everything I had been taught."

Bella listened silently, her expression soft and understanding. I took another breath before continuing, "My father, Lucius, was a fervent follower of Voldemort and is now imprisoned in Azkaban for his crimes. My family... our entire history is tainted by these decisions."

Bella took my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine, a gesture of support. "Draco, we all have a past. What really matters is what we choose to do now. And you're trying to do the right thing, that's what counts." She paused for a moment before asking gently, "Is that why you had so many doubts when we first met?"

"Yes. You have to understand, I grew up my whole life thinking that pure-blood wizards were superior to other wizards, and especially superior to non-magical people," I explained. With our hands still intertwined, I began to make small circles with my thumb on her palm, and continued. "A few months ago, this, you and I, would have been an impossible idea for me," I lifted my gaze from our intertwined hands to her eyes, "but now I realize my mistake. You are an incredible person, Bella. I love the way you think, the passion with which you speak about certain topics, and your way of seeing the world. I don't care who has magic and who doesn't, I care about you, and I would love to have you in my life."

Bella took a minute before responding, and said in a calm voice, "Draco, I can't pretend this doesn't scare me a bit. The idea of everything you've been through, and what your family represented... it's a lot to take in. But I also see the man you're trying to be now, not the child you were forced to be. That says much more about you than your past."

She squeezed my hand a bit harder, emphasizing her words. "I admire your courage to face those mistakes and try to amend them. Not everyone has the strength to question their entire life and change it."

Bella paused, searching for the right words to express her feelings. "I also want you in my life, Draco. Ever since I met you, you were a mystery to me. I wanted to get to know you and understand you better. That first time when you said you hoped I wouldn't be disappointed by the world when I came to understand it, yes, it hurt, but it also made me understand that you are a person who has seen pain, and who carries that weight of the past with them. But despite that, I could see that you were a good person, a good person who has lived through bad things." She stopped for a moment, her eyes filled with emotion, before continuing. "You are a very special person, Draco, and not just because of your magic." She finished with a slight smile before closing the distance between us and kissing me softly on the lips.

How had I done to deserve someone as understanding and wonderful as Bella? How did I get so lucky to find someone whose capacity to empathize was so deep that she could see beyond the scars of the world and people? Bella's understanding and acceptance made me feel a kind of relief I had never experienced before. Despite the burden of my heritage and the decisions of my past, she saw me as the man I was trying to be.

"Thank you, Bella," I said after we separated, joining our foreheads, "for accepting me despite everything."

Bella smiled softly, maintaining our closeness while responding warmly, "You don't have to thank me, Draco. We all have our own past and battles. What's important is how we choose to move forward."

Then, she paused, seeming to contemplate how to continue. "In fact, I think it's only fair that I also tell you about mine, although it's a bit complicated," she began, her voice reflecting a mix of caution and a need to be open. "It's related to Edward, my ex-boyfriend. I can't reveal all the details, but I can tell you that the period I was with Edward involved many dangers."

I decided to clarify my own knowledge about vampires before she continued. "Yes, I know Edward is a vampire," I said softly. "I learned about vampires at Hogwarts and recognized him immediately that day in the café."

Bella appeared surprised for a moment, then somewhat relieved. "Well, that simplifies things a bit," she replied with a small smile.

She took a deep breath and continued, "My relationship with him and his family was... intense. There were beautiful moments but also many dangers. Even though he and his family feed on animals and not humans, my blood was always more appealing to Edward, so our first months together were a constant danger. However, we managed to get through it. An incident occurred when some nomadic vampires arrived though, and one of them became obsessed with me." The seriousness with which she said it sent chills down my spine.

Bella gauged my reaction and took my hand in hers comfortingly. "Remember, this is in the past and I'm okay now," she said with a small smile before continuing. "To sum up, this vampire wanted to kill me. He tortured me in a ballet studio, and almost succeeded if not for Edward and his family who arrived in time."

I felt tension run through my body. I wanted vengeance on that vampire who had hurt Bella so badly. However, I couldn't help feeling gratitude towards Edward for stepping up and saving my Bella from that fatal fate.

"And that wasn't the end. On my 18th birthday, I had a small accident; I cut myself with paper, but that was enough for Jasper, Edward's brother, to lose control and almost kill me," she paused before continuing, "After that incident, Edward decided to leave me. He lied to me saying he didn't love me and that I was just a distraction to him."

"The months following his departure were the hardest of my life," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly with the memory. "But gradually, I began to improve. One day, his sister Alice came asking for my help to save Edward. He had tried to provoke the Volturi, the vampire royalty in Italy, to kill him out of desperation. Going to Volterra, to the Volturi castle, was incredibly dangerous, but eventually, they let us go. Even though we returned together to the United States, and Edward begged me for a second chance, I decided I needed to continue my life without him," she said with determination in her gaze, "even though I still loved him, I grew during that time apart. I realized I had become dependent on him, and although I thought he was perfect, he is far from it. He lied to me repeatedly, always with the excuse of protecting me. After so many lies and all the danger I went through because of him, I understood that I had to let him go and find out who I really am."

Bella paused, making sure I understood the gravity of the situation. "Edward is in London now because the Volturi expect me to be transformed into a vampire, due to laws that protect the secrets of their existence. Edward believes he can protect me better in America, away from them and with his family."

I listened to her entire story silently, feeling a mix of admiration and concern for what Bella had faced. "It must have been incredibly difficult for you to go through all that and then decide to move forward on your own," I said softly, offering support.

Bella nodded, her gaze firm. "It was hard, but necessary. I learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of handling. And although I appreciate Edward wanting to protect me, I have made the decision to live my life on my terms, not those dictated by fear or danger."

Her story revealed not just the depth of her past but also her innate strength and determination to live authentically, qualities I couldn't help but deeply admire. "You are incredibly strong, Bella. You truly are," I said sincerely.

After a moment of silence, Bella addressed a topic that had clearly been bothering her. "Draco, when you decided to end our relationship to protect me... that reminded me a lot of what Edward did. If there's one thing I learned from that whole experience, it's that I don't want anyone making decisions for me. If one day you decide you don't want to be with me, that's fine, but I want it to be an honest and open decision, not just you deciding for both of us."

Her comment made me reflect on my own actions and the way I had handled our relationship until then. I realized that, like Edward, I had tried to protect her in a way that took away her ability to decide for herself. "You're right, Bella. I apologize for making that decision and taking away your right to decide," I said sincerely. "From now on, I promise to try to make our decisions shared."

Bella smiled approvingly, "That sounds fair."

We finished our drinks in comfortable silence, both emotionally drained after sharing such intense parts of our pasts. However, we felt palpable relief and a renewed closeness after the revelations. We lay back on the grass, with Bella leaning slightly on me as she played with my hair. I lost myself observing every detail of her face and her changing expressions. Suddenly, she looked at me with a spark of excitement. "Could you do a bit of magic for me? Something special, please." She sat next to me expectantly.

I feigned offense, placing a hand over my heart. "Am I your circus magician?" I joked, though the smile on my face belied any seriousness in my complaint.

Despite my joke, I leaned my body up, leaning on one elbow while with the other hand I took my wand, and with a flick conjured a series of multicolored sparks that rose into the air, forming animal figures that danced around Bella. Then, with another movement, I made wildflowers sprout at her feet, creating a small garden around her.

Bella laughed, amazed by the display. "It's incredible, Draco."

Then, struck by an idea, I said playfully, "Ready for something a bit more thrilling?"

Bella, still awed by the magic she had just witnessed, nodded curiously. "What do you have in mind?"

With a smooth gesture of my wand, I performed a non-verbal "Wingardium Leviosa" pointing at Bella. In seconds, she began to rise from the ground, floating as if gravity no longer affected her.

As she ascended, her surprise turned into concern. "Draco, wait, this is too high!" she exclaimed, looking down a few meters above the ground.

Noticing her discomfort, I tried to reassure her. "It's okay, I've got you," I said, preparing my wand to adjust the height.

I began to lower her slowly towards the ground. However, instead of placing her gently by my side, I guided her directly towards me, calculating each movement until Bella was floating right above me, our bodies just inches apart.

She took a deep breath, still in the air, and her hands instinctively sought support on me. "That was scary," she whispered, her voice trembling from the adrenaline.

"Can you finish putting me down?" she murmurs and smiles flirtatiously. Her hands are gripping my shoulders.

"Gladly," I reply, finishing her descent on me and then capturing her waist with my hands. "Is this better?"

"Definitely," she replies, gently biting her lip as she looks up at me from beneath her lashes at the short distance we're now.

I can't resist any longer and kiss her on the lips. This time the kiss wasn't soft and slow, but passionate and erratic. Her whole body is on top of mine, and it feels incredible. I move my hands from her waist and start to run down her back. As my hands explore the curve of her spine, Bella's fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer. The kiss deepens, and I feel her heart racing against my chest.

I begin to feel my erection becoming more and more prominent, and the smile that forms on Bella's lips while she's still kissing me tells me that she notices it too. Bella's hips instinctively grind against me, sending waves of pleasure through my body. I let out a low groan, my hands gripping her tighter. The world around us fades away, leaving only the intoxicating sensation of our bodies pressed together.

Suddenly, we heard the murmurs in the distance getting louder, someone was walking in our direction, jolting us back to reality. We break apart breathless.

Reluctantly, I loosened my grip on her. "We should probably head back," I say, though every fiber of my being wants to stay right here with her.

Bella slides off me, smoothing down her clothes and running a hand through her tousled hair. I stand up, adjusting my own clothing and trying to calm my body's reaction.

Bella, with a flirtatious smile, comments, "You definitely know how to impress."

"Impressed?" I asked with a crooked smile. "That's just a preview, you haven't seen anything yet."

Thoughts?