After Saving Draco [ONGOING / REWRITING]

chapter twenty-one

Tala. 111 days before May 4, 1999

"So, you and Potter... are you two, er," Draco said blankly, stumbling over his words as we continued to wipe the potions tables for detention, breaking the silence. "You know — really boyfriend and, girlfriend?"

"I guess so," I shrugged quietly, avoiding his gaze by turning towards the windows, my body being greeted by dim moonlight.

"What does that mean for us, then?" He asked quietly, anticipating my answer.

I thought over his words, feeling my heart ache a little bit. I didn't have a proper answer, I didn't even understand how I was feeling. Ever since Draco kissed me the night I got hurt, I didn't feel anything for him — no stomach fluttering like it should've. For the last few months, just seeing him became a drag because every time I did, he was hurting, jinxing, and picking on students. I was sick of it.

"I don't know," I said, feeling frustrated as I threw the cloth on the table before facing him. "What do you want me to say? That everything will be okay? Because I don't know, not when you're acting like this."

"Well, how can I help it?" Draco spat as he threw a damp cloth on the table too. "We've been apart for what? Three weeks? You've already moved on and he flaunts you off carelessly, it's irritating!"

"You know that I don't have time to move on! I'm still trying to heal - not just because of you, but because of dad too... Remember?" I said bluntly, reminding him about Sercumsemptra. "I wanna take my chances with whatever time I have left, I can't spend it moping around."

Draco blew air out of his nostrils heavily as a frustrating sigh. "Does he make you happy? Do you still love m—"

"I don't know," I said irritatedly as my heart flinched, cutting him off. "Don't make this harder for me..."

A deadly silence fell between us, breaking once the last person in the world that should come into the room, came into the room.

Draco glared at them angrily before shifting his head towards me and piercing his silver eyes into me, making me shiver slightly.

"You know what, maybe I will," he hissed immaturely.

I glared at him back as a response. "And that is why we're not together right now."

We continued to stare at each other darkly, both our eyebrows furrowing fiercely. Neither of us moved as our arms kept folded across our chests, sizing each other up, too stubborn to speak again as tension grew larger by the second. It was like we traveled back in time to two years ago, when Draco escorted me to the Slytherin common room unwillingly.

"Sorry to break the tension," Harry said nonchalantly. "But I need to steal my girlfriend for a date."

I snorted out of my daze at that, finding his insensitivity amusing at times. Harry was so silly without even trying, always making me feel better when I needed it.

My stomach fluttered at his words, hearing him call me his girlfriend for the first time and so confidently. I looked back up at Draco who looked both hurt and enraged, too speechless to even move.

Good.

I gave him a sweet smile before turning on my heel and leaving Slughorn's nearly empty room with Harry, not feeling bad anymore — Draco did this to himself. We began walking at a steady pace through the dark castle, not like how Draco would drag me by the arm and leave dents from his ring. Harry led me into the greenhouses, opening the door for me like a gentleman as I gasped in awe.

The dark greenhouse had been lit up with strings of fairy lights, illuminating the hundreds of plants that ranged in sizes, along with overgrown vines that hung loosely on the glass walls and ceiling. The table for Herbology had been pushed to the side, giving the middle of the room some space as dozens of lit candles formed a circle. A mellow song began playing out of nowhere, and so Harry took my hand and led me inside the huddled candles.

He wrapped his free hand around my waist and began to sway us gently to the music, feeling my ears turn warm both from his touch and the scenery. The stars glittered brightly through the ceiling, sparkling his bright blue eyes through his glasses while the flames from the candles reflected on mine.

"I know that Slughorn's class startled you this morning," Harry said as his fair cheeks flushed. "So I wanted to do something nice for you."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a little giddy as I failed to keep a grin down. "I love it, you're so thoughtful."

We continued to sway to the rhythm of the song, enjoying each other's joyful presences and warmth. Harry spun we around a few times, both seriously and jokingly, making me laugh and snort into his jacket at times.

"I love it when you smile," Harry said genuinely as he spun me around, making my entire body turn red.

As the song ended, he let go of me and told me to close my eyes for a moment. I followed his instructions and stood still for a while, wondering what he was doing as I heard ruffles of leaves and incantations a couple of steps away.

     Ha, what if he just went and stole some Gillyweed.

"Alright, you can open them now," Harry said after a few minutes.

Once I opened my eyes, I was greeted by dozens of white rose petals floating all around us, surrounding me beautifully. A small gasp escaped my lips as my head turned every direction, admiring how the fairy lights and candles reflected off of them.

     Holy crap, this is like some — movie type stuff!

"Wow," I said quietly, my lips parting.

"I know I should've asked properly," Harry said as he took out a single white rose from behind him, handing it to me kindly. "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

I smiled greatly down at the flower as I admired the milky petals, once that matched the ones that continued to float around us. I looked up at Harry who's cheeks had flames red, feeling proud of himself. His blue eyes had creased from smiling, his glasses falling a little bit as his black hair laid messily. I found myself feeling bashful, my stomach fluttering more times this whole night than I could count.

"Yes," I shot him a bright smile as I nodded surely, fixing his glasses for him.

His eyes creased even more, squinting happily. I felt my stomach flutter harder as he cupped my face with his large fair hands, feeling warmer by the second as the distance between our faces lessened. Once our lips met for the first time as an official couple, the butterflies in my stomach had intensified that I felt tickled. Our lips and tongues met continuously, tasting as sweet as cinnamon, like his scent.

     Ah, wait til Luna and Hermione hear about this!

I felt so light when I was with him, as if my life didn't have a countdown — as if I didn't want it to end sooner. I don't feel burdened with him, like I hadn't hurt hundreds of people, tortured and killed them, like I hadn't betrayed those who have been kind and those who I considered as friends. I didn't wanna feel so dark and cold anymore, I wanted to feel warm, his warmth. For the first time, I chose light.

To answer Draco's question: yes.

Harry does make me happy.