After Saving Draco [ONGOING / REWRITING]

chapter nine

Tala. 178 days before May 4, 1999.

     The first Quidditch game of the season soon arrived. And just like always, it was Slytherin vs. Gryffindor.

      I skipped into the Great Hall cheerfully, carrying a sign that I made. It had Harry's name on one side and Draco's on the other. So whenever either team would score, I would just flip the poster and support them both.

       My friends were already eating lunch at the Gryffindor tables, all coupled up so I sat next to Harry and ate alongside him next to everyone else. I flipped the poster on the side with Draco's name on it to tease him, letting it rest on the table as we ate.

      Two years ago before the very first game of the season, Ron was so nervous that Harry pretended to slip him Liquid Luck. But now, he looked so smug as he ate with Hermione beside him, not shutting up about how he'll kick my house's "arses".

      "Wanna make a bet, Tally?" Ron tested me as he took a bite of his chicken.

     "Sure, Ronnie," I tested him back, eating a spoonful of rice.

      After we made a bet, we shook hands to seal the deal as everyone else got excited for what may happen tomorrow. Either way, the Great Hall was gonna enjoy a show.

      Luna had on her lion's head hat like usual for when Gryffindor would play. She got me the exact same one for my birthday so I felt a little sad, knowing my replica got destroyed in the war.

      When we finished our meals, the boys began to leave since the game was about to start. So then I quickly moved to the Slytherin table, catching Draco before he left for the game too.

      Draco looked so nice in his green uniform, it was the same kind of sweater he wore when I found him crying in the bathrooms — it was the night of the first quidditch game of the season back then too. But the sweater he wore was bigger now, gaining muscle while we ate healthily at the cottage over summer. I didn't know it then but Draco confessed at the manor that he played in that game because he knew I would watch, he already liked me then. And I didn't realize it but that night was when I started liking him too, the moment after I kissed him to stop his panic attack.

The moment he said my name, I liked him back.

      "Hi Tiny," Draco greeted me sweetly as he rest his chin on the tip of his broom. "Come to kiss your boyfriend a good luck?"

      "You better win!" I poked his chest playfully, giving him a sweet peck on the lips. "Ron and I made a bet and me getting embarrassed is an extension of you getting embarrassed." I encouraged jokingly as I held up the sign I made for him.

      "Of course we'll win," Draco reassured me arrogantly, his cheeks reddening. "I'm a brilliant seeker."

      "Mhm," I nodded my head as I turned my heel, prepping to head back to Hermione and Luna.

      "And you're my lucky charm," Draco said behind me, making my ears turn red.

      When I turned around to look at him, he was already leaving the Great Hall with the rest of the Slytherin team. Draco carried his broom over his shoulder as he held his quidditch bag with his other hand, showing off how strong he is. And before he left the door, he smirked and his pale grey eyes gave me a wink, his bleach blonde hair a little messy.

      I sat back down with Hermione and Luna, my cheeks blushing and my ears warm from Draco. He was so different than when I first met him, the way he carried himself now was new to me even though everybody else wasn't fazed by it. They all keep telling me that Draco's been this way all his years at Hogwarts before Year 6 came, but I couldn't believe it.