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You were sitting in the Great Hall with your friends, laughing at a joke Ron had just made. But even more, you laughed about the fact that Hermione rolled her eyes, acting as if she was really annoyed by Ron´s childish behaviour, while she actually had to try really hard not to smile herself. Your eyes were watering and your stomach hurt, while you wondered how you deserved those friends.
Little did you know someone else just thought the same. And that certain someone was currently watching you from the other side of the room, turning green with envy when he saw you placing your head on Ron´s shoulder, looking at him in admiration.
“Draco? Draco, did you even listen?”
Draco flinched as someone grabbed him by the shoulder. He untied his gaze from you and turned around.
“Sorry. What did you say, Pansy?”
The girl next to him rolled his eyes before she exchanged a knowing look with Blaise Zabini who had watched the unilateral conversation of his friends with a small grin on his face.
“Honestly Draco. I don’t even know what you see in her. I mean she is cute and all, but you haven’t even talked to her.”
“I have. Many times.”
“Oh yeah, one time you apologized after bumping into her after you had been too busy staring at her to watch your own feet and one time you called her out after she had dropped her quill. If you want to call your stutter talking.” Pansy sighed dramatically.
“Don’t forget all the times he had insulted her when she was with Potter and his friends.”, Blaise added in a deadpan voice..
“I never insulted her.”, Draco defended himself, stressing the last word of his sentence.
“Oh yeah, just her friends and her house and probably everything else in her life.”, Pansy giggled.
“It´s not my fault. She would be better off with me. I mean with us. In our house and everything.”, Draco mumbled, hoping no one would notice the slight rosy shimmer on his cheeks.
“Isn´t it lovely how he cares about his fellow human beings?”, Pansy teased in a sweet voice.
“I don’t.”
“You probably don’t care about anyone, do you?”
“Exactly.”
“Anyone but her.”
“If you keep on saying such nonsense, I will definitely stop caring about you.”, Draco snapped, slowly losing his patience.
“Lovely, he cares about me. Seems like (Y/n) made his heart of ice starting to melt.”
Draco sighed in resignation. It was useless to discuss with his friends. Besides, if he was honest, they might be right. Since he had met you, he had actually changed. He still remembered how he saw you the first time, walking down the hallways of the castle with a sweet smile on your face. You were one of those people everyone just had to love. But it might had hit Draco harder than the others. Because since he saw you smiling for the first time, he looked for it ever since. In every class, in the hallways, and during dinner. And when he heard your laugh for the first time, he knew he was doomed. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard, more beautiful than any music, more beautiful than any birdsongs, more beautiful than anything that existed in this world. And when his eyes had met yours for the first time, he was absolutely sure that there was no going back. He still remembered how he had seen you, walking in the opposite direction. He had been so busy admiring you that he hadn’t watched where he was going, had somehow stumbled over his own feet and fell practically right into your arms. He also remembered how you had asked him in a concerned voice if he was okay and how your eyes had widened when he had looked up to you, realizing that it was no other than Draco Malfoy, you had just held onto, preventing him from falling to the ground. And when he had mumbled an apology, as far as it had been possible, since his head felt completely empty as he stared into your beautiful eyes, you had just given him a sweet smile, assuring him that it was alright. He had seen your smile so many times before. But this had been the first time you had been smiling for him and him only. And he wore that smile in his heart ever since. But he also knew that it was foolish to think like this. It had been months since that incident and you had probably forgotten him by now. Still, he knew that he would remember your beautiful face and the sparkling of your eyes until the day he would die.
His friends soon had noticed that something was going on with him. Draco had always been moody, but since he had started falling for you, it had only gotten worse. He got angry with them when they distracted him from staring at or daydreaming about you. But as soon as you were close at hand, he turned into a completely another person, acting like a stupid love-drunk teenage boy, who he, in fact, was. When he had finally admitted to Pansy and Blaise, saying that he didn’t know himself what was even going on, they were quick to say that their best friend, the cold-hearted Slytherin king Draco Malfoy, was undeniably and irreversibly in love with you, even though he always stressed that this was drastically exaggerated. But that didn’t change the fact, that he simply couldn’t take his eyes off you, not even speaking of his thoughts.
“Why don’t you just ask her out?”, Blaise asked the thousands of times.
Draco sighed again and just shrugged his shoulders.
“How do you think she would even be interested in me? I mean she is… perfect and I am… me.”
Those self-conscious words weren’t usual for Draco. Normally he was one of the most confident people around, sometimes it was even a little too much, but when it came to you all of that vanished into the air.
“You will never know if she is if you don’t ask her.”
“Maybe I will. Someday.”, Draco mumbled, before he grabbed his belongings and stood up. “Nevermind. I am going to leave. Still got some homework to do.”

“We have to do something about it.”, Pansy whispered as soon as Draco was out of earshot. “I can´t even look at him behaving like this. He´s making a complete fool out of himself.”
“Any plans?”, Blaise asked her.
Pansy just smiled evilly.
“I might.”

(Y/n)! (Y/n), wait for me!”
It was a few days after the conversation in the Great Hall of which you were still completely unaware. You stopped your way and turned around. Pansy Parkinson walked up to you, with a big smile on her face, you had barely ever seen on her. When she had reached you, it only grew wider.
“Hey (Y/n).”
“Hey Pansy.”, you answered with a small smile, unsure of what the Slytherin girl might had on her mind.
“I watched you back in charms class. You are really good at this stuff.”
“Thanks?” It was more a question than an answer.
“I was wondering if you might help me out. I still have trouble with this water-making spell and you are really good at it, so I thought you might help me practice after class?”
You raised an eyebrow in surprise. You had never been one of those students who got caught up in their house pride and got along with the students from the other houses, but Slytherins were of a different calibre. They had always been hard to get along with and you knew that Pansy was one of those people who took the principles of her house very seriously. Even though you were pure blood, you were still hanging out with people like Hermione, who was, in the opinion of some Slytherins, less worthy than pureblood wizards, making you a blood traitor.
“You want me to help you?”, you asked in disbelief.
Pansy nodded.
“You are on top of the class and I know you helped others out before and they told me you were great at explaining so I thought it might be worth a try.”
What if this was some kind of joke? But on the other hand, why should she choose you out of all the Gryffindors? You had never had trouble with her before. Plus, what joke would it be asking for help? And you were good in school, especially charms, indeed.
You nodded.
“Okay. At five in the courtyard? I don’t think we should try this inside, plus the weather is really nice.”, you suggested.
Pansy nodded eagerly.
“Great. See you at five (Y/n)”
Then she left, but before she disappeared behind the next corner, she turned around, raising her hand to wave at you happily.
When she was out of sight, you shook your head. This was by far one of the strangest things that had happened to you in a long time.

It was five to five. You were sitting on a wall of the courtyard with your wand, an empty cup and a book about charms, in case you would have to look something up. When you heard some footsteps behind you, you saw Pansy walking up to you, her book bag over her shoulder and a happy grin on her face.
“Are you ready?”, she greeted you, when she stood in front of you.
You nodded.
“Are you?”
Pansy lifted her chin proudly.
“I was born ready.”
Her comment made you giggle, earning a confused look from Pansy.
“Shall we?”
“Well, this one looks way better.”, you said, while Pansy looked at you hopefully.

The two of you had spent over an hour practising the spell. The muddy liquid that gushed out of the tip of her wand at the beginning had become more and more clear. This time it actually looked quite drinkable. You took the cup to your mouth, taking a sip, before you spit it out again, immediately.
“Brine!”, you wheezed, coughing and disgorging in a desperate attempt to get rid of the disgusting taste on your tongue.
“By Merlin´s beard, I´m so sorry (Y/n).”, Pansy said in a genuine voice.
With a quick motion of your wand, you filled the cup with some fresh water on your own, non-salty this time, gulping it down your throat quickly.
“I guess that´s one of the risks of helping others out.”, you rattled. The smirk on your face told Pansy that you weren’t mad at her.
You took a deep breath and dried the tears that had welled up in your eyes. Pansy, on the other hand, grabbed her book bag that was laying on the bench next to her and opened it. She pulled out a small box and handed it to you.
“As a reparation.”
You opened the box curiously. Inside were lying some delicious-looking and smelling cookies. You felt your mouth watering.
“My mother sends them to me every month. I don’t have the heart to tell her I don’t even like them. But maybe you do.”
You eyed Pansy suspiciously. At first, she was asking you for help and now she brought you cookies? But they looked far too good, especially since your throat was still burning.
“Thanks.”, you said, while you grabbed a cookie.
At the first taste, you sighed and closed your eyes.
“They are amazing! How can you not like them?”, you asked, while enthusiastically chewing it, before taking another bite.
“I don’t have that much of a sweet tooth. But Draco likes them a lot.”
Pansy glanced at you from the corner of her eyes, but you didn’t notice, since you were still focused on the food in front of you.
“How couldn’t he? This is one of the best things I´ve ever eaten.”
“Then I suggest you share them with him from the next delivery on.”
“If I have to, I will fight for every single one of it.”, you laughed.
Then you saw Pansy looking at you expectantly.
“What is it?”, you asked. “Do I have something on my face?”
But Pansy just shook her head and smiled.
“Nothing. It´s nothing. Just take another one.”
But you shook your head and placed the box with the remaining cookies by your side.
“At first we will continue practising. But this time you will try whatever comes out of your wand.”
Pansy laughed.
“Okay, I will do my best not to poison anyone again.”
“Great. Now try the movement a little bit more fluent.”, you said as you showed Pansy once again how to fill up the cup with drinkable water.
Pansy nodded with a frown and tried to copy your movement.

Not even fifteen minutes later, she had actually managed to produce some drinkable water three times in a row.
She smiled at you proudly as you took a sip from the cup. This time without spitting it out again.
“Great! You got it.”, you smiled, glad that your student had finally achieved her goal.
“Thanks to you.”, Pansy said, but you just shook your head.
“This was all you. I was only the support.”
“Anyway, you were very patient with me. I think I would have lost it after ten minutes.”
Pansy and you laughed.
“Well, Hermione and I are practising with Harry and Ron pretty often. And they are way worse than you. Not to mention you didn’t blow anything up like Seamus always does.”, you chuckled.
“Well, you Gryffindors aren’t that smart after all, are you?”, Pansy couldn’t resist the small tease.
You raised an eyebrow.
“So you´re telling me no Slytherins ever need help with some spells?”
Pansy shrugged her shoulders.
“Most of us don’t. Except for Crabbe and Goyle maybe. But they are just stupid.” She grinned. “Really stupid.”
“Don´t you say.”
“But Draco always helps them out. I think he is the only reason they are still in this school.”
“Wouldn’t have taken him for a merciful Samaritan.”, you said. You couldn’t hide the surprise in your voice.
“I don’t think that´s the right account but he isn’t that bad at all.”
“Well, you aren’t either. And both of you got a certain… reputation.”
“So do you.”
You looked at her in surprise That was news to you.
“I do?”
“Of course sweetheart.”, Pansy chuckled.
“And what kind of reputation?”, you asked carefully, trying to make your voice sound incidental.
“C´mon (Y/n). Don’t you know? You are literally the sunshine in person. I don’t think there is a single person in this castle who doesn’t like you.”
You felt your cheeks redden. It was true, you got along with many people, but you had never thought that this was what even the Slytherins thought about you.
“Well, I always thought you didn’t like me.”, you said, glancing at Pansy. “You and your friends.”
Pansy laughed in amusement.
“Believe me I really tried. But it seems like it is impossible. Especially after you helped me out today. And everyone else likes you too. Even Draco absolutely adores you.”
She glanced at you again, but you just let out a small chuckle.
“Let´s not exaggerate.”, you mumbled, while your cheeks only grew darker and darker.
“This is probably still understated.”, Pansy answered. “You have no idea.”

You chatted for a few more minutes before you decided to get back to the castle. Still happily chatting you walked down the aisles when Pansy suddenly stopped.
“Look, it´s Draco and Blaise.”
“Oh well, I think I can leave you alone now then.”, you said, expecting that your ways would part again now, but Pansy seemed to have different plans.
She grabbed you by the wrist and pulled you with her, heading towards her friends. When the two boys heard the footsteps, they looked up to you, a smile breaking on their faces when they saw you.
“Finally learned it Pansy?”, Blaise asked, when you stood in front of them.
Pansy nodded eagerly. “Do you want me to show you?”
“Rather at another time. I really thought you were a hopeless case.”, he chuckled.
You couldn’t help but feel surprised when you heard Blaise making such a noise. To you, he had always appeared very serious. Or maybe you were just surprised he could speak that much at all since in class his answers were mostly taciturn.
“I had a great teacher.”, Pansy smiled, pulling you even closer to the group.
You threw the boys a shy smile, slightly intimidated by the three Slytherins.
“Oh yeah, feel kind of sorry for you.”, Blaise said, turning to you now.
“No need to be sorry, she did great.”
“But without you, I would still be producing some mud.”
“Or brine.”, you giggled.
Blaise raised an eyebrow in amusement.
“Sounds like you didn’t do so great after all.”, he mocked.
“Oh I did.”, Pansy stated, before she added quietly: “After I nearly poisoned her.”
“It wasn’t that bad. And I also got a good reparation.”
“Looks like Draco was right after all. You´re way too smart and way too kind to be in Gryffindor.”, Blaise said.
You looked at him in surprise. But before you could react, Draco did.
“Just shut it Blaise.”, he grumbled. “I don’t think I have ever said that.”
You looked at the blond boy with slightly rosy cheeks, shooting a deadly glance at his friend. The thought that Draco Malfoy at some point might had actually complimented you, made you blush.
Little did those people know that you had a crush on the Slytherin boy for quite a while. You had always thought that Draco was quite handsome, but since he had always been such a prick, especially among Harry, you decided to not give it any more importance. But then, a few months ago, he had practically fallen in front of your feet. You still remembered how he was holding on to your arm, in a desperate attempt not to fall. When he had caught his balance again, he mumbled a quick excuse, before he disappeared again, probably embarrassed about himself. But for some reason, the warmth of his hands and the look of his grey eyes were carved into your mind. And when he, only a few weeks later, had called you out, because you had dropped your quill, all you had done was stare at him in awe. Since that day, you were wondering if Draco might not be as bad as everyone always stated. But still, you were trying to tell you that you were just slightly attracted to him because he was, objectively speaking, quite attractive. But a part of you knew, that the way your heart skipped a beat, whenever his gaze unintentionally met yours, wasn’t normal.
And now you were standing right in front of him, while his presence made you feel dizzy once more. You had the sudden urge to tell him how stupidly attracted you were to him, but you were already used to having to resist the feeling of making a fool out of yourself whenever he was around.
“Oh yeah, about what should we talk about then? The way you always stare at her? Or how you…”
“Enough Pansy!”, Draco´s voice was sharp as he interrupted his friend. Then he turned around to you. “Sorry for that. She´s just making fun.”
“Am I?”
Pansy wiggled her eyebrows.
You felt your heart drop, harder than you would have expected it to at his confession. But you forced yourself to smile and shrugged your shoulders.
“Friends can be very annoying sometimes.”, you said.
Draco let out a sigh of relief and nodded.
“You have no idea.”
You laughed. A laugh that made Draco think some choirs of angels were singing. And it was because of him. He made you make that sound. Now that he knew he was able to make you laugh, he could die as a happy man. Unfortunately, you had no idea that he was feeling like this. Because if you would, you might have stayed a little longer, maybe forever, but you simply just didn’t know. And that was the reason you were now ready to go before it would get any more embarrassing.
“I think I really have to go now.”, you stated.
Pansy and Blaise looked at you in disappointment.
“Already?”, Pansy asked with puppy eyes.
You nodded.
“Need to freshen up before dinner. But if you need my help again, just tell me. This was actually quite fun.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
“You´re welcome.”, you smiled, before you turned around, relieved and sad at the same time you would finally get out of this situation.

“Didn’t you give them to her?”, Blaise whispered, as soon as you were out of earshot.
“I did.”, Pansy replied.
“Did she eat them?”
“Two of them. This was more than enough.”
“Then why didn’t it work?”
“What didn’t work?”, Draco interrupted his friends as soon as he had liberated from his rigidity, staring at the spot you had just been standing and processing what had just happened. “And anyway. What is wrong with you? Did you want to make me a fool in front of her?”
But Pansy quickly shushed him, a move not many would have dared to make.
“I don’t know. Maybe it lost its effect?”, she told Blaise, ignoring Draco´s questions.
“But why?”
“I have no idea.”
“But you came up with the plan.”
“I know.”
“Well, it wasn’t that brilliant after all.”
“You don’t have to tell me, Blaise.”, Pansy hissed. Then she sighed. “Not only that it didn’t work, but I also lost all the cookies to her.”
Blaise groaned. “What now?”
“I don’t know.”
The two remained silent until Draco spoke up.
“Okay, what are you talking about? And for the love of Salazar please tell me by cookies you didn’t mean those of your mother.”

“Okay, so let me get this straight. She didn’t just ask you for help, she also gave you cookies?”
You could hear the disbelieve in Hermione´s voice. You were sitting in the common room with her, Ron and Harry. You nodded.
“I really don’t know what to think about it. There was nothing wrong with anything that had happened, still, it feels… strange.”
“Maybe they poisoned the cookies.”, Harry suggested.
You shook your head. “I´ve already eaten some of them. They are nothing but tasty. You can try them if you want to.”
Hermione and Harry declined, but Ron gladly grabbed one and shoved it into his mouth.
“Bloody hell, they are amazing!”, he stated.
You nodded in agreement and took another one as well.
“Maybe they want to gain your trust.”, Harry continued.
“Okay, but why me?”
“You´re a Gryffindor. You´re the enemy.”
“But why me and not someone else?”
“You´re way too trustful.”
“I´m simply not as paranoid as you.”, you snapped back, slightly offended.
“It´s not paranoid if it´s about Malfoy.”
“It wasn’t Draco it was Pansy who asked me and if…”
“Draco? Did you say Draco?”, you suddenly heard Ron´s voice from the armchair next to you.
Confused about the interruption, you stopped and looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Draco Malfoy?” The sound of Ron´s voice was strange.
You frowned.
“Do you know another one?”
“The pretty one with the nice blond hair?”
You nearly choked on your cookie.
“If you want to put it this way…”
“What, do you think he isn’t pretty?”, Ron sounded quite angry.
“Ron, is everything okay with you?”, Hermione asked carefully.
A silly grin spread across Ron´s face as he nodded.
“Never been better. It just feels so good to be in love, you know?”
You could see Hermione blushing.
“In love? You mean…”
“Yes. In love. How couldn’t I be? He is so amazing, don’t you think?”, Ron said in a dreamy voice.
You exchanged a confused look with Hermione and Harry.
“Who are we talking about again?”
“Draco. Draco Malfoy of course. I mean, just listen to the sound of his name. There is no other way than that he is an amazing human being.”, Ron sighted.
Harry hid his laugh by simulating a cough.
“Ron, are you serious? It´s Malfoy we´re talking about. You hated him since the first grade…”
Harry couldn’t continue, as Ron sprang to his feet, slapping Harry on the arm.
“That´s not funny!”, he yelled. Then he sank back into the chair. “I think I love him.”
He stared into the fire burning in the fireplace, lost in his thoughts.
“What do you think?”, you asked Hermione in a low voice.
She just shrugged her shoulders.
“Maybe a curse or a potion. We should get him to Madame Pomfrey.”
You nodded, looking to Harry who by now seemed to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. Then he stood up.
“C´mon Ron. We´re getting you to…”
“To Draco?” Ron looked at you hopefully.
“Exactly, to Draco.”

“How do I look?”, Ron asked.
“You look great Ron.”, Hermione said.
“Do you think he likes me too?”, Ron asked.
“Yeah, he does.”, Harry said.
“Do you know I really love him?”, Ron asked.
“Yes, you truly do.”, you said.
Those were the conversations you had while you walked through the castle, trying to shield Ron from all the curious glances of the few students who were still awake. You just prayed you wouldn’t meet Draco on your way to the hospital wing since that would probably be the most awkward encounter ever.
That´s what you thought when you turned around a corner. In the next moment, you groaned in resignation. Obviously, as soon as you thought about him, he needed to appear. In the most unfavourable moment. You tried to stop and turned Ron around, but that´s when Pansy, who was standing there with Draco and Blaise, saw you.
“(Y/n)!”, she yelled, while waving at you. “What are you doing here?”
Somehow Pansy sounded as if she would exactly know why you were still out now. Maybe Harry had been right. Maybe you were too trustful.
When Ron heard Pansy´s voice, his gaze shot up. When he spotted Malfoy, his hands started to shake and he bounced his leg up and down in anticipation.
“Bloody hell. Bloody hell! It´s him. Harry, it´s actually him. He looks beautiful, doesn’t he? I´m so nervous. What do you think? Should I just walk up to him? What am I supposed to say? Should I tell him I´m in love with him or should I just play it cool?”
Harry and Hermione looked at each other frantically. What were you supposed to do? But then you had a flash of genius.
“Okay, Ron. You should really tell him you love him. But I think you need a little bit more privacy. So I am going to talk to Pansy and Blaise, so they will leave the two of you alone. Okay?”
Ron nodded nervously.
“Okay. And what am I supposed to do?”
“You just stay here with Harry and Hermione and try to calm down. Maybe you could practice what you want to say.”
“Yes. Yes, I will do this.”
You glanced at your friends one last time before you walked up to Pansy, Blaise and Draco.

Pansy and Blaise grinned knowingly, while Draco looked just confused at what was going on. His friends still hadn’t told him what they had done.
“(Y/n), are you already missing us? Or at least one of us?”, Pansy smiled.
But you didn’t have time for her games.
“What have you done?”, you hissed at her.
Pansy´s face fell, as well as Blaise´s. Draco just stared at you in awe.
“I… I don’t know what you are talking about.”, Pansy stuttered, obviously surprised by your reaction.
“Oh, you don’t? What have you done? Did you try to hex me or smuggled something into my food?”
“Why would we do this?”
“I have no idea. You can tell me. But whatever your plan was, let me tell you it didn’t work out.”
“Obviously.”, Blaise mumbled under his breath.
You turned around to him.
“So Harry was right. You had a plan. You played with me all along.”, you tried to keep your voice low, so Ron wouldn’t hear you, but it was hard since you were as angry as you had never been before.
“No, that´s not what… We didn’t mean to harm anyone. We wanted to… Well, let´s say we wanted to help someone out.”
“Lucky for you no one is harmed yet. But that will change if I´ll get Ron.”
Pansy narrowed her eyes. Now all three of them looked as if they had no idea of what was going on.
“Ron?”
“Yes Ron, because he is very desperate to meet Draco.”, you smiled sweetly.
“Why? What does Weaselbee even want from me?” He sounded genuinely irritated.
“Declaring his love for you.”
Against your will, you had to smile. This situation was just absurd.
“He wants to what?”, Draco spit out. “(Y/n), you´re kidding me, right?”
He looked at you intensely, making a shiver run down your spine, but this wasn’t the right time for those kinds of feelings.
“Do I look like I am?”, you asked.
“Well, you must be. For what reason should he do this?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.”
You glared at the boy in front of you who just shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
Then you heard someone clear his throat.
“He can´t.”
You spun around to Pansy and Blaise, who looked by now very guilty.
“Why´s that?”
“Because he doesn’t know.”
You looked at them with narrowed eyes. Should you actually believe them?
“But you do.” It was an assessment, not a question.
“Ron tried the cookies, didn’t he?”, Pansy asked.
“Yes he did, but why…”
Now you realized.
“Love potion?”
The two of them nodded.
“You smuggled love potion into the cookies you gave me?”
“It was only meant for you. We thought it might be worth a try, since Draco… Nevermind.”, she said as she saw Draco staring at her with dangerousness in his face you had barely ever noticed.
“Doesn’t matter now. We need to keep Draco away from Weasly.”, Blaise stated and you nodded in agreement.
“If it has been a potion, we should go to Professor Snape.”, Draco suggested.
The thought of going to the one teacher who detested you with every fibre of his body jibed you, but since he was the potion master, it was probably your best option.
“You go first. Tell him what happened. I´ll get Ron. We´ll talk later about how absolutely disgusting it is trying to force someone to think they are in love.”
The others nodded in agreement, Pansy and Blaise shooting you some apologetic looks, and then they turned around, while you went back to Ron and the others.

Ron was already craning his neck to watch Draco, as he disappeared around the next corner.
“What happened? Doesn’t he want to see me?”, Ron asked. Tears filled his eyes at the mare thought of it.
You were quick to shake your head.
“They are preparing a surprise.”
“A surprise?”
Now Ron´s eyes were sparkling excitedly.
“Yes. A date for just the two of you. They told me where. Just follow me.”
And while Ron reeled behind you as if he was drunk -it was for a reason you said love-drunk-, talking to himself how lucky he was to be in love with such an amazing human being, you told Hermione and Harry in a low voice what had happened.
“Changes of plan we are going to Snape. It was a love potion. Some kind of sick joke. They are already waiting for us."

You knocked on the door of Snape´s office. Only a few seconds later, he opened the door. His face was blank, showing no emotion or what he thought.
“In.”, he sneered.
You threw him a thankful smile, which he didn’t react to -you hadn’t expected anything else- before you turned around to Ron.
“Let´s go. He is in there.”
Ron´s face got red in excitement, as he pushed behind you threw the door. Draco was standing in a corner, hands in his pocket and looked as if would rather be anywhere but here. You somehow understood.
Still, you would have given anything to keep the next moments on camera.
When Ron saw Draco, he froze.
“Draco.”, he whispered.
Draco looked as if he had given in to his fate and just gave him a short nod. That´s when Ron started to move again, rushing forward to the blond boy, who moved back until his back hit the wall. When Ron had reached him, he wrapped his arms around him, pulling him in a tight embrace. Draco looked as if he wanted to murder him right here and now, but somehow he managed to just stand still and not react to any actions of Ron at all.
“I need to tell you something Draco.”, Ron purred.
Draco just shrugged his shoulders, looking as if he weren’t exactly interested in what Ron had to say.
“I love you.”, Ron said, who was all smiles. “You are the love of my life.”
Since Ron couldn’t quite stand on his feet anymore, he slowly slid off, until his face was pressed against Draco´s chest. Draco kept him there with a sight, preventing him from sliding down any further. Ron looked up to him in admiration, while he fluttered his eyelashes.
Draco looked desperately to Snape, who was looking for the right antidote.
“Professor, hurry. I am begging you.”
You looked at Pansy, Blaise, Harry and Hermione, who stood next to you, trying to hide their grins at the view in front of them. You were pretty sure none of you would ever forget this day.
Finally, Snape had found what he had been looking for and pulled out a small vial. He walked over to Ron and Draco and handed it to Ron.
“Drink.”
Ron looked at the vial in his hand, then up to Draco, then to Snape.
“You aren’t half as pretty as Draco, you know this? I mean no one is, but you are in fact very ugly.”
You held your breath. The others did too. How would Snape react? To your surprise, he didn´t at all.
“His eyes look like diamonds but yours are just black. Black as your soul. And your hair is so greasy and dark, but his is so fluffy and nearly white.”
He tried to touch Draco´s hair, but since his balance was damaged, he somehow managed to grab his hair but then sunk back down again. Draco whimpered in pain as Ron pulled him on his hair down with him.
“Drink that stuff or I´ll kill you.”, Draco hissed.
Ron looked at him with widened eyes.
“I thought you love me.”, he whispered.
Draco took a deep breath, trying to control himself.
“Please drink that. Okay? Do it for me.”
Ron smiled at the last words.
“Anything for you.”, he said.
Then he grabbed the vial and drank it in a gulp.

Now you would just have to wait. But within seconds you saw the antidote doing its magic.

Slowly, the stupid smile vanished from Ron´s face and gave way to a confused face. Ron blinked a few times. Then he looked up and saw Draco´s face. Looking back down, he realized his face was still pressed against his chest.
Quicker than anything you had seen him do ever before, he jumped up, stumbling away from Draco.
“Bloody hell, what was that?”, he cursed, while finding shelter behind Hermione´s back.
“I was thinking just the same.”, Draco muttered as he tried to fix his robe and hair again.
Ron shook his head as if he wanted to get rid of what had just happened. Then he looked at Pansy and Blaise, who still looked slightly amused.
“You? It was you, wasn’t it? I swear to Godric, I..”
“Now that Mr Weasley is healed, you may as well continue this somewhere else.”, Snape interrupted you.
You nodded and mumbled a thank you to Snape, but just as you were about to leave, he held you back again.
“Mr Weasley, for your insults you will receive detention for the next month. As well as Mr Zabini and Mrs Parkinson. Also ten points from Gryffindor for eating something poisoned, since you had been so stupid. Also, Mrs. (Y/l/n), ten points from you since you were the one who gave it to him. You may leave.”
Harry wanted to protest, but Hermione pushed him out of the door, saving him from getting detention too for what he would probably have said.

Just as you crossed the doorstep, you heard Pansy speaking up.
“Professor. Are there any reasons why a love potion doesn’t affect someone?”
“If it was brewed the wrong way.”
“And if it had affected someone else?”
“It is always depending on many different factors how the potion works. The quantity of the potion for example, or in this case the attraction of the object of the desire. These are all factors that might influence the effectiveness.”
“And if someone doesn’t respond at all?”
“In the case of this potion, it is simple. It creates a rapture, it is neither strong nor long-lasting. Also, it only affects the feelings the victim thinks it has for the other person, not their behaviour. If the victim for example already feels some kind of attraction towards the object of desire, they may not behave any different.”
You felt the eyes of the other students burning on you. Your face heated up immediately. You felt Draco´s gaze lingering on you, but you didn’t dare to look up at him, so you just stared at the ground in front of you.
“Now get out of here before you all receive a detention.”, Snape sneered.
Quickly you left the room before Snape slammed the door behind you.

An awkward silence spread across you. It was Pansy who broke the silence.
“Weasley? We´re sorry about… what happened. And now I was just wondering…” She paused. You thought she wanted to ask for Ron´s forgiveness, but then you saw the sparkling in her eyes. “If you have already planned a second date.”
That´s when you broke. The entire situation was too odd to not be funny. Hermione, Harry, Blaise, Pansy and you were laughing until the tears were running down your cheeks. Ron and Draco on the other hand glanced at each other hatefully.
“Let´s just forget this ever happened, okay?”, Ron mumbled as you had finally calmed down again, whipping away the last tears.
“Agreed.”, Draco said, giving him a short nod.
“We will never let them forget this, will we?”, Harry whispered and Hermione and you shook your head simultaneously. And right next to you, Blaise and Pansy planned just the same.
“Okay, let´s leave, before Snape actually gives us detention.”, you suggested and turned around to leave. The others followed you.

“(Y/n)?”
You froze. A part of you had hoped he would just forget about a certain little detail Snape had mentioned, but maybe he didn’t.
Hermione turned around to you, raising her eyebrows, silently asking if you wanted her to stay, but you just shook your head and gave her a small smile. Then you turned around to Draco, who looked just as nervous as you did.
“I´m sorry about what happened.”, he said, rubbing his neck.
You shrugged your shoulders.
“It wasn’t your fault. Pansy and Blaise did this.”
“Yes, but they wouldn’t have if…” He stopped.
“If what?”, you asked curiously.
You would have expected him to tease you about the fact that you obviously had at least a small crush on him. In your thoughts, you had already planned how to disappear and take a new identity, so you wouldn’t be reminded about this for the rest of your life. But for now, this didn’t seem to be Draco´s intention.
“I think they did it because I might have mentioned one or two times that you are kind of cute?”
Your jaw dropped.
Draco Malfoy thought you were cute?
“You… You think I am cute?”, you asked in disbelief.
Draco turned slightly pink, which made him look even more adorable.
“Way easier to admit this now that I know… now that I assume that you might feel the same about me.”, he mumbled, still he didn’t sound as if it had been easy for him to tell you this.
“Well, I actually think you are kinda cute too Malfoy.”, you chuckled.
Draco looked at you with narrowed eyes.
“I´m serious (Y/n). Don’t make fun of me. I already regret telling you.”, he muttered.
“I´m serious too.”, you smiled. “But for real Draco. I… I really like you. I mean we barely know each other but I think I could grow into… well, more than just like you.”
Draco looked at you hopefully.
“You do?”
“I do.”
And your smile only grew wider as you saw his face lighting up at your words.
“So… Would you like to go out with me sometime?”, he asked, still nervous about your reaction, even though the look on your face already told him the answer.
You nodded eagerly.
“I would love to.”
“Great.”
“Great.”
Silence.
“Do you want me to walk you back to your dorm?”, Draco asked after a few moments.
“Well, if you don’t mind.”
“I would be honoured.”, he chuckled and bowed lightly in front of you.
The gesture made you giggle and the giggle made his heart beat faster.

When you reached the entrance to your common room, you were slightly disappointed. Not because of Draco. Actually, it was quite the opposite. In the few minutes he had walked you up here, you had had much fun. By now you were sure, that whatever was going on between the two of you, wouldn’t end with this day.
“Well, I am already looking forward to our date.”
Draco gave you a smile which you returned sweetly.
“If you want me to, I can also bring Ron. I´m sure we would all have lots of fun.”, you teased him.
Draco rolled his eyes.
“Please, just let me forget this ever happened.”
“If you really think for one second, I will ever forget this you may not know me as good as you think you do.”, you answered with a cheeky smile. “The way he hugged you and looked up to you and, pulled your hair…”
“Oh, just shut up.”, Draco grumbled.
You raised an eyebrow, looking at him in amusement.
“Make me.”
And before you even knew what was happening, Draco grabbed you by the waist and pressed his lips on yours. You returned his kiss immediately. His thumbs were drawing some small circles on your hipbones, while your hands traced along his chest. You sighed into the kiss at the feeling of his skin on yours.

When you finally let go of each other, panting heavily, you smiled cheekily again.
“Well, that wasn’t what I meant but still…”
Draco just chuckled bashfully.
“Sorry, I just couldn’t help it. I wanted to do this since forever.”
“I didn’t say I would mind.”, you grinned, placing a small kiss on the corner of his mouth.
Draco took that as an opportunity to pull you into a kiss once more.
It was a sweet and innocent kiss. Careful and tender.
You couldn’t help the smile that crept back on your lips when he took a step back and admired you.
“I really love your smile you know that?”, he whispered.
The smile only grew wider and you blushed madly, lowering your head, trying to hide behind a curtain of your hair.
But Draco was quick to cup your cheeks into his hands and make you look up to him again.
“Don’t hide love. You are so beautiful. You know that? The most beautiful person I have ever seen.”
“You don’t look in the mirror often, do you?”, you asked, making him chuckle.
“I do, but do you?”
When he saw the smile on your face again, he started placing short, sweet kisses all over it, making you giggle again.
“Draco, that tickles.”, you squeezed out.
But Draco didn’t care about your protest since he could hear in your voice, that you didn’t mind his actions at all, and so did your arms you wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him closer.
“All mine.”, he whispered in your ear, when he placed another kiss shortly under it, making you shiver.
“Maybe you should take me out before you claim your ownership.”
“I will. Every day. Wherever you want. As long as you are mine.”
“Yours.”, you whispered.
Draco placed one last kiss on your neck before he pulled back and looked into your eyes again.
“Yes, you are. You are mine. And I am yours.”
He pulled you into a tight embrace and you nuzzled your head into the crook of his neck.
“Draco?”
“Hmm?”
“If I mean so much to you, you will leave Pansy´s cookies from now on to me, won´t you?”
“In your dreams my love.”