8: A Good Night

As you walked closer, Draco didn't seem to notice at all. He was lost in thought, so much so until it was like he was holding his breath.

Draco jumped a little when you put your hand on his shoulder, but he relaxes when he sees that it's you.

"Why aren't you at the party?" he asked.

As if it wasn't obvious already, you had to answer him, because he clearly isn't in the mood to think.

"I got worried when you didn't come back, I had to ask your best friend Potter to find out where you went," you said, clearly attempting to tease him using his rivalry with Harry.

But Draco wasn't in the mood to say anything, he was silent.

"What happened back there?" you asked, acting like you don't know.

Once again, he stayed silent. He was ignoring your questions, clearly didn't want to answer them. But when you look at his eyes, there were hints of fear, along with frustration and guilt.

Draco was afraid of failing the task that was given to him, if he does he will put his parent's lives in danger. And if you-know-who learns about you, you would be in danger too. Draco has been telling himself to distance himself from you ever since his time to become a death eater getting close. But you somehow always draw yourself back to him.

He's frustrated that he couldn't do anything about this situation, he wanted you to stay away after hearing the rumours about his father and the one about him being a death eater. But you didn't care about the rumours and still stuck to his side. He knew very well that you understood the fact that his father is a death eater, he knows that you probably have already figured something yourself. But despite all that, you still think that he's innocent and don't think that he will be just like his father. He's frustrated that he couldn't get you to stay away from him, instead both of you somehow just got closer. If he doesn't quickly figure a way to keep you away, your life will be in grave danger.

He's also guilty for keeping his secret from you, he knew that you have been worrying about him for these past few months about him, but he couldn't bear to tell you, afraid that you will think differently about him. You did tell him once that if he was one of them, you won't change your mind about him. But he was still insecure about telling you, fearing that you wouldn't keep your words.

Draco felt your hand on his arm.

"Do you want to be alone?" you asked, he looked like he needed some time alone to think.

Before you could pull away, he brought his hand to yours that was on his arm.

"No, stay. I could use some company." Even after you sat down, Draco still kept his hand on yours. It was like he was afraid if he let go, you would leave him.

You tried to start a conversation to break the silence.

"You know; this Christmas party reminds me of the Yule Ball." You said and watched as he took your hand that was originally on his arm to his lap into his other hand.

He casually played with your it as you continued.

"I remember watching you dancing with Pansy, you looked miserable." You laughed, and for the first time tonight, he did too.

"I was. She was insufferable." He agreed

"For the whole night, she bothered me to no end. I almost strangled her right then and there at the Yule Ball."

"Why did you brought her anyway?" You asked.

"It just seemed like a good idea at the time. I regretted it after when she was complaining for the whole night while also attaching herself to me." He furrowed his brow remembering that night.

"Who did you brought to the Yule Ball anyway, I don't remember seeing you," Draco asked. At the time, both of you just started being friends for about a month. You weren't that close to asking each other to the Yule Ball. You only started getting really close at the end of your fourth year.

"I went alone." You just answered honestly.

"Why? No one asked you?" He asked, still surprised to know you didn't go with anyone. You were considerably popular and well-liked by other people. There's no way that no one asked you.

Was it because you were friends with him that no one asked you?

"No, I just rejected them, that's all." You said easily.

"Why?" he asked curiously, but also relieved that he didn't ruin that night for you.

"I hate parties as it is already, I thought I wanted to be alone and enjoy myself. If I went with someone else, I would probably feel pressured for entertaining him rather than enjoying myself."

You remembered about one of the balls your grandmother brought you to attend, she introduced you to a boy your age. That boy was very prideful, to the point that you had to agree to every compliment he said about himself. If you didn't, your grandmother will reprimand you for not entertaining and that will cost the future relationship they could've had.

Draco understood how you felt, his parents asked him to do the same at parties. That was how he, Pansy and some other purebloods were acquainted. But then, a thought caught up to him.

"Wait, what about me?" He wondered if you felt exactly the same tonight with him coming with you.

That's when you were caught off guard, whenever someone else was with you at parties or balls, you felt obliged to entertain them. But when you think back to the party with Draco, surprisingly, you didn't felt the same as the other times.

Draco watched as you thought back to Professor Slughorn's Christmas Party, nervous for your answer. Afraid that you did felt it, then his idea to come with you to this party only burdened you.

"You know what surprisingly, no. I didn't felt that way with you." Draco finally released the breath that he has been holding, relief quickly hit him.

"If anything, I think I should be the one that has to be entertained. Since you did kind of forced me to let you come with me." You joked.

"Hey! You should be thankful you didn't have to handle Professor Slughorn alone." He fought back.

"Technically, you just stood there. You didn't help me at all." You glared at him, but still with a smile on your face.

"I supported you mentally. It was better than nothing." He grinned, knowing you are still pissed that he just watched you awkwardly talk to Professor Slughorn.

You laughed at his statement, you knew that he was right. You were actually glad at the time that Draco was by your side. If he weren't there, you would have a much harder time talking to the potions professor.

"If I'm being honest, I'm actually glad that you came with me." You admitted to him.

"Really?" he asked, he couldn't believe his ears.

"Yeah. If you didn't ask me if I felt pressured to bring you, I probably wouldn't have realised that. Now I know, I feel comfortable with you." You told him sincerely. Because of your grandmother, if there was someone with you at parties or balls, you would always feel pressured to start an awkward conversation with that person. But being with Draco tonight surprisingly didn't felt that way. Now you knew that the feeling you felt earlier made sense.

You look at Draco, he was smiling, a genuine smile. You suddenly thought that it was the first time in a long time Draco actually smiled like that. It might also be the first time you see Draco smile like that.

"So, thank you, Draco. For coming with me, I had a good time." You give him a squeeze with the hand that he has been playing with.

"The pleasure is mine, Amorlia." He squeezed back.

The two of you fell back into silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but it wasn't comfortable either. It wasn't long until Draco decided to break that silence.

"It's getting late; we should head back to our dorms." He stood up and gave you his hand.

"Goodnight, Draco." You stood up with his help, but Draco didn't let your hand go.

You looked at him, confused. He just smiled at you.

"I'll walk you back to your common room." He just started leading you back without even waiting for you to give him a reaction.

"But your common room is the other way." You protested. But Draco just ignored you and just led the way back to your common room.

You didn't say anything the way back, Draco was acting a little weird with you. He was so gentle and kind recently, it was like he thought that it was your last moments together.

You finally made your way to your common room.

"Goodnight, Lia." He said with a gentle smile.

At this point, you are very worried about him. Your gut tells you that there is something very wrong bothering him as if that wasn't obvious already for the last few months. You've been asking him what was wrong too for the last few months, but he never tells you anything. So you decided to ask him again, to see if he will tell you this time. You doubted that he will tell you, but you had to try and ask again.

"Draco." You called him.

"Hmm?"

"What's bothering you?" You asked.

Draco stopped in his tracks, you watched him anxiously.

"What do you mean?" He asked, trying to mask his lie.

"I know there's something bothering you, Draco. And I know it's been going on for months. Every time I ask you, you either just ignore me or just avoid the question." You stated the facts.

Knowing that you were right, Draco looked away, not being able to look into your eyes truthfully. You use the hand that was not holding Draco's hand to hold his arm that was holding your hand.

"I know, I'm sorry." He apologized.

"Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong, I just wanted to know what was bothering you. If anything, I should be the one to apologise for pestering you about it." you quickly replied, not wanting him to feel bad about this.

"I'm sorry because I can't tell you." He said with a guilty expression hanging on his face. You observed his facial expression, trying to understand what he felt about this. You were quiet, so he continued.

"I know that you are very worried about me, but I really can't tell you. I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about anything." He said. And as usual, you look into his eyes and find exhaustion and guiltiness. You can tell that he doesn't want to talk about it anymore.

You sighed, you let him go again without telling you what was wrong.

"Alright... Good night, Draco." You turn to look at him.

However, he didn't reply the same back. Instead, he just pulled you into his chest with his arms around you.

"Draco?" You were confused. You could feel his breath at your neck. As a reaction, you hugged him back with your hands reaching to wrap around his neck.

"What's wrong?" you asked. You could feel him tighten his grip around you.

"Nothing. I just wanted to thank you for everything." He said, still isn't willing to let you go.

You feel yourself smiling and gave the gesture back by also squeezing him back.

"The pleasure is mine." You continued. Somehow, you could tell Draco is trying to tell you something.

"I'll always be here for you if you need me, alright?" you assured. You felt him nodded at your neck.

Both of you finally let go of each other.

"Goodnight, Draco." You said again.

"Goodnight, Lia." He said and leaned forward with his hand at the back of your head.

You felt his lips on your forehead. You were shocked by the sudden affection. You didn't know how to react so you let him do whatever he wants. Draco stayed in that position for what feels like a long time.

Draco wanted to show you that he cared about you for the last time before Christmas break starts. He decided on something that would probably hurt you and also himself. But he convinced himself that it would be the best for the both of you.

When Draco finally pulled back, you didn't know what to say. But when you gazed into his eyes, you find sadness. But you were too caught up in the moment that you just watched Draco walked away.