S I X T E E N

Draco Malfoy sat with a firewhiskey in his hand as he gazed out his office. The very office that he'd kissed Eclaire—

God fucking damn it, how does she appear in my thoughts while I'm trying not to think of her?! He thought angrily as he drank the remainder of the intoxicating liquid in one gulp.

Was she home by now? He thought.

It had been an hour since he'd left her at the muggle store. Well, technically he'd followed her to make sure she entered her home safely and left only after securing her place with enchantments but she didn't need to know that.

Was it wrong of him to want her? To want her to be his? The silver haired wizard thought bitterly. He knew he'd never wanted anyone as much he did her. He'd never longed for anyone the way he did for her and it wasn't just desire he felt for her, no, he craved her entire being, her very presence.

He'd never wanted to belong to anyone before he'd met her.

He was enamored by her very existence, her laughter, her voice, her touch, her heart—he wanted it all. Especially her heart.

But do you deserve it? He found his conscience asking and he paused.

Did he? God knew he didnt. Then who was he to get mad at her for not wanting him as he did her?

Eclaire had been nothing but kind to him even when he'd been a complete arse to her. She'd never taken his vile words to heart, she'd befriended him, she'd defended him. She did not see him as a monster that society believed him to be. She'd believed him worthy of redemption. And that was a whole lot more than anyone had ever done for him. Did it matter if she didn't love him? As long as she would be with him, it didn't matter. He would love her enough for the both of them, and some more.

But would she still have you? His conscience voiced out his deepest fear.

She will. She has to. He whispered back, his voice hoarse.

And if she doesn't? His conscience argued back. You've given her enough reason not to.

Draco did not want to answer that question, he did not even want to consider it. For, he didn't know what he'd do without her. He would beg, he would grovel, he would do anything she asked of him to make her stay. Because she has to stay. Giving her up was like giving a starving man a morsel of food and then snatching it right out of his hands—the thought of it was just cruel.

So what was he doing here sulking for? Draco clenched his fist as he stood up.

The very fact that Eclaire was willingly sharing a part of herself with him was enough, it was more than what he deserved. Who was he to demand more?

His resolve hardened as he strode out his office door. Beggars can't be choosers. I'll have whatever that she gives me and take it gratefully. It was better than not having her at all. He shivered at the thought.

Just as the silver haired wizard reached out to touch the handle of the main door of the Malfoy Manor, it slammed open.

Eclaire Adams stood in all her angry glory in front of the gates of the Malfoy Manor, drenched from the top of her hair to the tip of her toes as the thunderstorm raged behind her.

"Eclaire?" She heard the silver haired wizard whisper in disbelief as she stared up at him. "What are you doing here?! And you're drenched! Do you not give a damn about your life woman—"

"You left." She stated simply.

Draco halted, at a loss for words. "Come in, first." He said moving out of the way. Eclaire stepped in slowly as the silver haired wizard closed the door behind him. "Eclaire—"

"You told me if we ever had a falling out, we would find each other and talk it out." She said plainly, looking at him through unexpressive eyes. Why is she looking at me like that?

She's going to leave—like your mother, like your father. His conscience called out.

"I'm sorry." The silver haired wizard said and he meant it. "I shouldn't have left you in that manner a-and I won't do it again—" He stuttered out, trying to convince her, surprising himself. Draco Malfoy never stuttered.

"Why did you say that?" No anger, no contempt, no expressions. A cold tone that he'd never heard Eclaire use.

"Say what?"

"That I pity you." Eclaire said, her eyes fixed on his.

"Haven't you ever?" Draco asked slowly. It was then that he saw emotion flash through her soft brown eyes.

"No! Why would—"

"I get it Eclaire! You do not have to deny it! The truth is I always knew it and I didn't mind it, not until I saw the same emotion in your eyes for him." He grit out.

"Him?" Eclaire asked incredulously.

"Yuko." Draco whispered. "But it's okay." Draco smiled at her taking her hand in his. "As long as I get to be with you, I don't care. Beggars can't be choosers and just having you in my life is more than what I deserve. As long as you are with me, I don't care. I will take whatever scraps you give me willingly and gratefully. It is better than not having you at all." He whispered kissing the top of hands, his blue eyes boring into hers.

For a second, it was silent between the two with the both of them staring at one another before it was broken by a sniff as the short haired witch snatched her hand from his.

"You blithering idiot!" She cried as she slapped his shoulder. "You-you absolute rotten chocolate chip cookie!" She slapped his shoulder again. "What do you mean 'I don't care'?! I care! How can you think this way?!" She cried out.

"Darling—"

"No! Don't you 'darling' me!" Eclaire called out as she glared at him. "What do you mean pity on you? Who do you think I am? Do you think I go around romancing every pitiable man I meet?!" She exclaimed.

The very thought of Eclaire with any other man made his skin crawl. Saying he would be fine with her scraps and actually being fine with it were two different things. His disdain must have been visible on his face as he received yet another slap on his shoulder from the short haired witch.

"You're actually imagining it, aren't you?!" She glared at him as Draco opened his mouth to deny it but closed it shortly after on seeing her glare.

"You're cruel, Draco Malfoy." She whispered, her eyes glimmering with tears. "You claim to care for me, to adore me, yet you do not trust me."

"It isn't about trust, Eclaire." He said cupping her face in his hands.

"Then what is it?" She asked looking up at him through her lashes.

He looked away for a moment before looking at her again. "You called me a friend." He finally stated and even to his ears, it sounded childish. Her brows furrowed.

"Isn't that what we are?" She asked confused. Draco sighed.

The silver haired wizard's arm snaked up behind her waist as he tugged her forwards snug against his body. Leaning down next to her ear, he slowly licked her earlobe as he whispered, "Is this what friends do, midget?"

He felt her shiver against his arms as she pulled away to look at him, blushing. "Well, in my defense, we never discussed what we were." She said wiggling her index finger. "And you did introduce me to Astoria as a friend!" She huffed as her cheeks tinged pink.

"Is that jealousy, love?" Draco quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes." Eclaire replied instantly, shocking Draco. He'd only meant to tease, he hadn't expected her to readily accept it.

"What?" Eclaire glared at him. "You get to throw a tantrum about my nonexistent relationship with other people and I don't get to be jealous of your ex-fiancee? That hardly seems fair." She huffed out, pouting.

"You were...jealous of her?" He worded out slowly, a warm feeling blooming in his chest.

"Why are you so surprised?" Eclaire asked cocking her head. "Would you not be jealous if I had an ex-fiancee roaming around somewhe—" His fingers tightened around her waist. "See?" She asked with a knowing grin.

Eclaire sighed as she placed one of her hands over his chest where his heart lay and and the other cupped his face.

"Have you ever stopped to think that I am with you because I like being with you?" Eclaire whispered staring into his icy blues that widened a fraction.

"Why would anyone like being with me?" Eclaire's heart broke on hearing him ask that with a resigned shy insecure voice, not the confident tone that oozed out of Draco Malfoy.

"Because you—" Eclaire said turning his face to face hers. "Are amazing and brilliant and smart and confident and you walk around with that devil may care attitude but deep down, I know you care." Eclaire said smiling at him softly. "And because I love you." She whispered to him. "I love everything about you—from tresses of your silver hair to the icy blue in your eyes, from the cocky tilt of your smirk to your rare ever-blooming laugh, from your big hands," Eclaire slowly moved the hand that was covering his heart to hold one of his hands that rested on her waist, "to that birthmark on your back. From the top of your head to the tip of your toes. I love you."

Draco.exe has stopped working.

"I am yours as much as you are mine, Draco." Eclaire said finally, smiling softly up at him.

And it was then, that the silver haired wizard's decade strong walls came crumbling down. The blue eyed wizard pulled the short haired witch towards him as his arms wrapped around her, face buried in her hair, holding on for dear life. Eclaire's hands buried themselves in his hair as she slowly ran her fingers through them. It was only after she started to soothingly rub his back that he realized he had been shaking.

It was then, surrounded by her presence that he realized that he belonged. He wasn't an outcast, not with her. Engulfed by the sweet smell of vanilla, he'd found a home he didn't know that he'd been searching for.

I'm home. He thought as a lone tear fell and intermingled with Eclaire's already damp hair. I belong here.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"Is this really necessary?" Eclaire pouted but before Draco could answer, she sneezed.

"You answered yourself." He deadpanned as he put her down on the bed.

"Dracooo—" Eclaire said as she sneezed again. "—this is too much, I can't even move my hands." She pouted and wiggled as if to prove her point.

"Serves you right for going out during a thunderstorm again." He said, crossing his arms. "I thought I told you not to risk your life for me."

Eclaire grinned as she shook her head, her hair bouncing with her. "You told me not to risk my life trying to avoid you. I wasn't trying to avoid you, I was trying to find you!" She grinned, proud of herself.

Draco flicked her forehead. "Ow! You're not supposed to hit the sick person!" Eclaire said pouting.

"Oh, so now you're sick?" He looked at her with an amused smirk.

"Oops."

"Shut it and drink this." He said sitting down next to her holding a tumbler and pointing the straw towards her. She moved her forward and took a sip and her face lighted up in an instance.

"Pumpkin Spice Tea!" She exclaimed with glee as she took a sip again, eagerly.

"Are you sure you're sick?" Draco asked moving the tumbler away from her.

"Hey!" Eclaire pouted as Draco laughed at her expression. "You're mean."

And amidst their laughter, a single thought emerged in the minds of both the witch and the wizard.

I would die for him. She thought as she glanced at the silver haired wizard laughing, his eyes crinkled.

I would kill for her. He thought as he watched her pout wiggling in the blanket trying to reach for the tumbler with her mouth.

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^^Here's the picture I based the tumbler scene on~ Credits to the rightful owners~

^^I just made this Declair fanart inspired by a Yuri on Ice fanart by the artist Hachi! I suck at digital art k bye 🤣

It had been a while since I wrote an entire chapter exclusively on Eclaire and Draco so here we go~

Thank you for reading! Your votes and comments make my day~