Chapter Text
Draco knew he shouldn’t want her. He would soon be betrothed to her sister. He had witnessed her and Weasley flirting many times since their eighth year had started. Daphne had been one of his best friends since they were children, hiding from the house elves with pilfered cookies. But none of that mattered when he looked at her. It had been stewing inside him for years; this need to be even closer to her. But since the war was finally over and he could breathe again, it had become harder and harder to fight.
Watching her talk to Weasley was too much. He walked tall now, as a war hero. Didn’t carry the same shameful past that Draco did. He and Daphne made sense in a lot of ways. Both were easygoing and funny. Draco knew he should let her be with the man who was good for her.
But suddenly one crisp April night that didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was her shining eyes and sweet smile. He couldn’t help himself. He leaned over and kissed her, right in the middle of their shared common room. She seemed surprised for a moment, but then just as she was kissing him back, Weasley walked in and they broke apart.
Unable to handle the fallout of his rash decision, Draco took off out of the common room, down the many stone steps, until he was outside. He grabbed his broom from the Quidditch shed and took off, not realizing where he was flying until he landed by the lake near the manor that he loved as a child.
Out from behind a bush, Daphne came forward.
“How did you know I’d be here?”
She smiled and sat by the edge of the water. “Because I know you.”
Draco sighed and joined her, knowing there was no point in running now.
“I’ve wanted that for years, you know,” Daphne admitted quietly. He looked up suddenly from the water in surprise.
“What?”
“We all knew that you were supposed to be for my sister, but my heart told me you were mine long ago.”
“But - what about Weasley?” Draco spluttered.
“You are so ridiculous! He’s just a friend,” she laughed.
“Well what if your sister wants me?” he asked with a smirk.
“That would be too bad. I’m not letting you go,” she said as she practically tackled him to the ground.