Yours, In Every Way That Matters

Olivia Montgomery's POV

Draco and I are walking hand in hand toward the castle, the crisp air brushing against our cheeks. Behind us, I can hear the muffled footsteps of Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny trailing along. I glance over my shoulder and have to stifle a laugh—Ron's arms are crossed tight across his chest, his ears practically steaming, his frown deep enough to fall into.

"By the looks of it, Ron still hasn't warmed up to you," I mutter, nudging Draco with my shoulder.

"You don't say," he replies dryly—right before leaning down and kissing me. On the lips. Boldly. Publicly.

Of course, he knows exactly what that'll do to Ron. That's the only reason he does it.

"Alright, Mione," I call over my shoulder, ignoring Ron's very audible grumble. "When are we heading to Hogsmeade?"

"After lunch," she replies casually. I turn back to Draco. "Wanna come with us?" He instantly shakes his head. "Hell no. And I don't think you'll be needing a dress." I blink. "What do you mean?"

"You'll see," he says with a mischievous glint, and we reach the Gryffindor common room.

I lean in to kiss him goodbye, but Ron clears his throat loudly behind me.

"Let's go, Liv," he snaps, clearly fed up. "Shut it, Weaselbee," Draco bites back. "Draco..." I start, ready to de-escalate, but he shuts me up with a kiss.

"I'm only nice to you—and for you, darling." He flashes me that signature smirk of his, then turns and heads off.

I sigh, making my way up to my dorm. But the moment I step in, something catches my eye—a giant black box sitting on my bed, with a note on top.

"Who's it from?" Ginny asks, already on her feet.

I shrug and pick up the note, reading aloud: My dear darling, You are the summer to my winter heart. ~ DM

Oh, Draco.

I lift the lid—and nearly drop it. Inside is the most stunning ball gown I've ever seen in my life. I pull it out, the fabric cascading like liquid starlight, and all the girls gasp in unison.

"It's beautiful," they breathe, and I can't stop the smile tugging at my lips.

A/N - I couldn't choose one. I love all of them. Choose your favorite.

But then my smile falters. I fold the gown gently and start placing it back into the box.

"It is," I admit, "but I can't accept it."

"Why not?" Ginny plops beside me. "For starters, he's spoiling me. The tiara? Real diamonds. The heels? Gold. And this—this has noodle straps and a low neckline. It'll show both of my marks." I pick up the box and head toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Hermione asks, emerging from the bathroom.

"To return it."

She snorts. "You'll be back. Probably with more stuff."

Ginny giggles beside her, and I roll my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Hilarious."

One hour later...

I open the dorm door and sigh.

Hermione and Ginny burst out laughing the moment they see me.

"What did I tell you, Livia?" Hermione says between gasps of laughter.

Ugh. She was right.

Because now I'm not just holding the gown—I'm also carrying its matching heels, the jewelry, and the makeup kit. Draco Malfoy is insufferably stubborn.

One hour earlier...

I knock on his door, and when he opens it and sees me, he instantly smiles and pulls me in. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" he teases, but his eyes land on the box I'm holding. "This," I say flatly, placing it on his bed. "Draco, this is too much. I can't accept it."

"What?" he says, confused, and sits beside me, one hand resting on my thigh. "You're spoiling me too much," I mumble, head in my hands. He pulls open a drawer and smirks. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?"

"Who told you that? And besides, this dress will expose my marks."

He shakes his head. "Look, I'm going to be blunt with you. If you came here to return the dress, I'm going to be very upset. And I'm not taking it back. Honestly, I should've signed it from a secret admirer. Maybe then you would've accepted it."

He pulls out two more boxes and hands them to me. One has heels. The other? Jewelry and makeup. "Draco..." I stare at them, overwhelmed. "This is too much, I can't accept it," he mocks me in a whiny voice. I swat his arm, and he just wraps both around me, smug and warm.

I glance down at the ring on my finger. "You gave me this back in first year, didn't you?"

He nods, smiling.

"That's why the wrapping on this necklace felt familiar," I murmur, touching the moon pendant he gave me last Christmas. "Well then... thank you. For everything." I lean in and kiss him gently on the cheek.

And of course—I leave with all of it.

A few days go by, and it's finally Saturday—the night of the ball.

The girls and I are getting ready in our dorm, and my stomach is a tangled mess of nerves. Both of my marks are visible. Clear as day. And while a lot of students already keep their distance, I know some of the ones who don't... will.

"Don't be nervous, Liv. You look gorgeous," Ginny says as she sprays perfume on her neck.

"Mhm," I murmur, pacing across the room, hands clenched, heels clicking on the stone floor.

"Stop!" Hermione says firmly, grabbing my shoulders. "Nothing bad is going to happen."

I give her a small smile, trying to believe it.

"Give me a minute," I say, sitting down on my bed and smoothing my hands over the fabric of my gown. "I'll meet you in the hall."

They leave, and I sit there for a few more minutes, fiddling with my hair, completely losing track of time. I forget Draco's probably already waiting. With a sigh, I slip on my heels and head out the door.

As I reach the bottom of the dormitory staircase, I see him—Draco—standing a few steps down, holding a single rose. He turns around, opening his mouth. "Finally—" He stops.

"What?" I ask, shifting under his gaze. "You look... gorgeous," he says quietly, like the words fall out of him without permission. I exhale and step forward as he holds the rose out to me. "Here. This is for you."

"Thank you," I whisper, tucking my hair behind my ear as I take it.

"Shall we?" he asks, offering me his arm.

We walk toward the staircase that leads to the Great Hall, and as I look down at the steps, a wave of déjà vu hits me so hard I stop in place. My hands curl into fists—tight, so tight, my nails dig into my palms. I can already feel the crescent-shaped pain blooming under my skin.

Draco immediately turns to me. His eyes flick to my fists and without a word, he gently uncurls them. He knows. Of course he knows. He's the only one who does.

He lifts my hands and kisses them, soft and sure.

"Whatever you're thinking," he says, his voice low, "it's not that. You are nothing like him."

It's like he reads my mind. I look up at him, at those pale grey eyes that most people find cold, but I know better. I know how soft they get when he's worried about me. I know how steady his voice becomes when he's trying to calm me. I know who he is—really is—under the snark and the scowl and the sharp edges.

Yes, he's still a rude, sarcastic little ferret. Yes, most people fear him. But not me. He acts tough because he's been hurt before, not because he's cruel. And sometimes, I swear, if he had been sorted into any other house—or raised in any other home—he might've been just like Fred and George.

I exhale and let him lead me down the stairs.

The moment we step into view, people gasp. Some edge away like I'm contagious, while others just stare. But with Draco beside me, I don't care. I don't care what they think. I don't care if they avoid me. I look at him and he's wearing that insufferable, proud little smirk—the one that tells the world I'm his and he's not sorry.

We reach the front gates and find Harry and... Cho?

Huh. I thought he liked Ginny.

"Wow, Liv. You look really beautiful," Harry says kindly, and I smile, about to thank him— But Draco beats me to it. "You know what else she looks like, Potter?" Harry sighs. "What?"

"Very taken. And very mine."

I blush. "Very possessive, Malfoy," I say, smirking up at him.

He just grins wider and pulls me toward the dance floor without wasting a second. The music is already playing, and just like last time, the crowd parts for us like magic. Everyone gives us space, like we're some untouchable, dangerous duo.

He wraps his arms around me and we dance. Twirl. Move like it's only us in the room.

At one point, he picks me up, spinning me in the air. My gown swirls around me, my heels wobble, and I almost fall—but he catches me like he always does.

After what feels like hours, we finally take a break and sit with Blaise and Theo.

"You look really pretty, Olive," Blaise says. "Thank you, Blaise. You look great too," I smile, then turn to Theo with a mischievous grin. "But... what happened to you, Theodore?" He freezes, clearly horrified. "What?"

There's nothing wrong with him. He looks ridiculously handsome. But I can't help myself. The teasing is too easy.

We all burst into laughter as he starts fiddling with his dress robes, completely flustered.

"Very funny, Montgomery," he groans. "Very," I say sweetly, and laugh until my cheeks hurt.

The slow music starts playing, soft and dreamy, and Blaise turns to me with a crooked smile.

"Dance with me?" I grin and nod, slipping my hand into his—until Draco steps in with narrowed eyes. "No funny business, Zabini."

"Jeez, mate. Relax," Blaise mutters, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "She's my best friend. You know that." Draco steps aside—grudgingly—and Blaise leads me to the dance floor.

Blaise always looks like a bad boy. Cold, brooding, all sharp edges. But really, he's one of the sweetest people I know.

He places his hands gently on my waist—Draco scowls immediately from across the room, so Blaise awkwardly moves his hands a little higher.

I laugh under my breath. "So, how's it going with you and Malfoy?" he asks. "Good," I say, smiling down at our feet before looking back up. "Really good." He nods, but there's a teasing glint in his eyes. "Did you..."

"No! Not yet." I cut him off, cheeks flaming. "It hasn't been us that long. And honestly, I think if I say 'I love you,' he'll freak out and run." I pause, lowering my voice. "Please don't tell anyone, Blaise. I mean it."

He smiles. "Your secret's safe with me, Liv." I lean up and kiss his cheek in gratitude.

But of course—Draco picks that exact moment to appear behind me.

"I think I said no funny business."

I spin around to face him. "Relax, Malfoy. It's not like I made out with him. The whole freaking school knows I'm yours." He smirks, smug and pleased. "Can I have my date back now?"

Blaise chuckles and places my hand in Draco's. I look up into those grey eyes, and just like that, I'm lost again.

The music continues, slow and enchanting. My arms wrap around his neck, his slide around my waist. We sway, just the two of us, eyes locked like there's no one else in the world.

He walked into my life like he was always meant to be there—like the missing piece of me. No one's ever made me feel this way. And if I know what love is... it's because of him.

Maybe I should just say it.

Maybe this song is my chance.

Even if he doesn't say it back, maybe one day he will—when there's no fear or hate or walls between us. I smile softly at him.

"What?" he asks. "Nothing," I whisper, blushing.

He leans down and kisses the top of my head, pulling me even closer.

Later that night, we're curled up in his bed. I'm in one of his shirts, my legs tangled with his under the sheets. I'm half asleep when I hear the tap of his owl at the window.

He gets up and reads the letter at his desk, the candlelight flickering against the sharp lines of his face. Something shifts in his expression—worry.

I sit up and go to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What is it, Draco?"

He looks up at me, and the sadness in his eyes makes my chest tighten. "My father's trial... it's in a few weeks. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. My mother and I—we've been summoned for questioning."

"Oh," I whisper, heart sinking. I already know what he doesn't. I know what's coming. What my father plans. What he wants for Draco. "And I have to lie," he adds quietly, almost ashamed. I snap out of my spiraling thoughts. "Draco..."

"Please don't hate me for this," he says, clutching the letter like it's hurting him.

I wrap my arms around him from behind. "Of course not. I... I could never hate you."

Not now. Not ever.

Not when I'm so completely, helplessly in love with you, Draco Malfoy.