The Weight of Secrets and the Touch of Trust

Olivia Montgomery's POV

It's Saturday, and thank Merlin we don't have any classes. I sleep in later than usual, warm and cozy under my duvet. Draco and I agreed to meet outside my common room at exactly 1:15 PM—right when everyone else should be at lunch. Perfect.

I wait for the girls to get ready and head down early like they always do. Ginny stops at the door. "You coming?" she asks. I wave a quill in the air and fake a yawn. "You guys go ahead. Just want to finish this one thing. I'll be down soon." She shrugs and leaves.

The second the door shuts, I throw off my blanket and jump into action. Outfit—on. Makeup—light, just enough. Wand—grabbed. I scribble a quick note: 

Gone home to relax for a few hours. Don't worry, I'll be back soon.~ Love, Olivia

I leave it where they'll see it and slip out. Draco's waiting outside, of course dressed in all black like a walking temptation. He turns the second the door creaks open, eyes scanning the corridor before pulling me into a kiss.

"You look absolutely beautiful, darling," he murmurs, lips brushing my temple. I grin, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Thanks. You don't look half bad yourself, Malfoy."

I loop my arm through his. "So, where to?" He smirks down at me. "First, your house. Then we take your car, go to a nice restaurant, and come back like nothing happened." I nod, heart racing with excitement. We apparate straight to my house. I unlock the door, grab my car keys—but of course, he snatches them. 

Gentleman mode fully activated.

He pulls the car out of the garage, then steps out just to open my door. "Such a gentleman," I tease, kissing his cheek again. "Only for my queen," he replies with a wink.

I plug the GPS to a quiet, authentic restaurant outside of town. As we're driving, I remember something. "Oh! Can we stop by Celeste on the way back?" He glances over, then nods. "Sure."

We arrive. Draco hands the keys over to the valet, and as I go to open the door, he rushes over, shutting it before I can. "What do you think you're doing?" he scolds. I laugh. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're in your gentleman era."

The restaurant is perfect. Intimate lighting, soft music, amazing food. For once, I feel light. Safe. Happy. Draco doesn't stop looking at me, his fingers tracing circles on the back of my hand. Every few minutes, he lifts it to his lips. I'm melting.

When the bill arrives, I reach for it, but he grabs it first. "Hey!" I protest. "You said next time I pay." "Exactly. This is our first date, darling. Next time, you can." He grins as he places the money down.

On the drive back, still nibbling on my leftover dessert, I say through mouthfuls, "I... wanna stop at... Celeste... to meet Andy." He rolls his eyes, but doesn't protest.

We walk in, and I head straight to the receptionist. "Hi! Could you let Andy know Olivia's here?" She grins, eyeing Draco like he's a snack. I roll my eyes.

A minute later, Andy appears. "Olivia!" he beams, pulling me into a hug. I feel Draco stiffen beside me, so I gently pull away.

"You remember Draco," I say, stepping closer to him. Andy extends a hand. "Of course." We catch up briefly before Andy asks, "So, did you consider my offer?" "I did. I'll start once I graduate," I say while Draco slides his arm around my waist.

Andy's called away, but not before kissing my cheek. Draco instantly wipes it. "So jealous, Malfoy," I tease, sipping my drink.

"Er... there's something I've been meaning to ask you," he says, eyes darting from mine to his drink. "Go on," I say, setting mine down.

He grunts, frustrated. I gently touch his arm and he blurts out, "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

I blink. Did Draco Malfoy just get nervous?

"Wow," I say, laughing. "Draco Malfoy, nervous. First time for everything." He glares. I nod.

"Yes, of course, Draco. I'd love to." He wraps me in a hug, the kind that makes everything quiet and still.

Later, we apparate back toward Hogwarts, stopping in Hogsmeade so he can grab something. I head back to my dorm, change into my night clothes, and settle at my desk to prep for OWLs.

About an hour in, the door opens. Hermione and Ginny walk in—with a box. Ginny's grinning. Hermione places it on my bed. Black and white roses.

There's a note.

To my dear darling,

Sometimes, I get lost in the dark sky,

My mind roaming through the stars.

Little did I know,That I was the dark sky,While you were my stars.

Sometimes, I get lost in the deep blue sea,My mind searching for a green forest.Little did I know,That my eyes were the sea,While yours were the deep green forest.

You are the white roses to my black roses' life.

You are the perfect moonlight to my dark night.

And just like this bouquet, it shows the perfect meld of our relationship.

My heart swells. I don't need a signature. I know exactly who it's from.

Ginny grabs the note before I can stop her, both girls reading it and glancing back at me.

"So... who's the mystery guy?" Hermione asks, nudging me. I blush harder than I thought possible. "Just... someone," I mumble, grinning like an idiot.

"Ugh, fine. Keep your secrets," Ginny says, handing back the note. I tuck it in my drawer—right next to the others from him.

That night, I fall asleep smiling like a fool. But being a light sleeper, I wake in the middle of the night. I toss, I turn. No good. I grab a book and head to the common room.

I'm halfway through a paragraph when I hear it—singing. Soft. Distant. Beautiful. Someone trying to be quiet, but the voice... it tugs at me.

No one else is in the common room. So I follow the sound.

It gets clearer near a particular wall. But there's no entrance. No door. No trick bricks.

I lean in, placing a hand—and then my ear—against the cold stone. There's faint piano. The voice sounds familiar, achingly so. But I can't place it.

Who's singing in the dark? And why does it feel like they're singing to me?

I can't believe it, but I actually fall asleep to the voice. Curled up against the cold stone wall, knees hugged to my chest, I drift off faster than I have in weeks. It's the best sleep I've had in... I don't even know how long.

That is, until someone starts shaking me gently.

"Olivia," a voice whispers, pulling me out of my dream.

I blink awake to see Draco kneeling beside me. "Draco," I mumble, sitting up slowly. My legs are stiff from sleeping in that position. "What are you doing here?" he asks, brows furrowed with concern.

I yawn and rub my eyes. "Erm... I couldn't sleep. I heard someone singing, so I followed the voice. Ended up here."

"And?" he presses, watching me closely.

"And... I don't know who it was," I admit, still dazed. "I couldn't see them. Draco, it was like heaven. Their voice was... I don't even have the words. If you had heard it, you'd say it was better than me—and it was. It was otherworldly."

He places a hand on my waist, and I feel the heat of his touch through my pajamas. "I wouldn't say it was better than you," he murmurs, almost too soft to hear. "Sorry?" I ask, tilting my head. He shakes his head, brushing it off. "Nothing."

I raise a brow. "What are you doing here?"

"I—uh—was patrolling," he stammers. Not his most convincing lie.

I don't push it. We walk back to my common room in a comfortable silence until I stop by the door.

"Thank you for the roses," I say softly. "And the poetry. I didn't know you had such a way with words." He takes both my hands in his. "There's a lot you don't know about me, darling." He pulls me closer, his arms sliding around my waist as mine wrap around his neck.

"Then tell me someday," I say, not quite a question, not quite a plea.

He only shrugs.

A few days pass, and everything turns dull again. I'm not teaching the D.A. anymore, but Draco's tutoring sessions continue. We meet every day in the library now.

I'm already at our usual table, completely surrounded by a mess of books, notes, and quills. It looks like a paper explosion—and I don't even care. OWLs are closing in, and we're running out of time.

I'm scribbling down another set of notes when Draco finally shows up.

He stares at the chaos with wide eyes. "No, no. I did not sign up for this." He turns as if to leave, but I grab his wrist. "Sit. We need to pick up the pace."

He groans but drops into the chair next to me. "Only because I like seeing you in control."

We end up studying until 3 a.m., the longest session we've ever had. But with Draco, I don't mind. Hours blur when I'm with him.

The next day, the four of us—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and me—are standing on the bridge chatting when we hear a familiar voice. "Psst. Psst!" Hagrid waves us over from the far end of the bridge.

We follow him, curiosity getting the best of us. "Where are you taking us, Hagrid?" Harry asks as we make our way deeper into the Forbidden Forest.

The sun is long gone now. Shadows stretch between the trees. I stick close to Hermione.

"Sorry to be all mysterious," Hagrid mutters, fidgeting with his hands. "But with Dumbledore gone, I'll likely be sacked any day now." Hermione and I exchange a worried glance. With Umbridge in charge, he's probably right.

"And I just couldn't leave without telling someone about him." We stop—and something massive stands behind him. A giant. Tied to a tree. "He tried to grab us!" Ron shouts, stumbling back. But the ropes hold.

"I couldn't leave him," Hagrid says, his eyes soft. "He's my brother."

"Blimey," Ron mutters. "Well, half-brother, actually," Hagrid adds.

Before we can process that, the giant—Grawp, I think Hagrid called him—suddenly reaches out and grabs Hermione. She screams. "Hagrid, do something!" Ron shouts, grabbing a log and trying to hit the giant's leg. Useless.

Grawp barely notices and kicks him away. Ron crashes into the dirt and I rush to help him up. He groans, rubbing his side. "Grawp," Hermione says sternly. We all look up. "Put me down." She points a finger. "Now."

And—surprisingly—he does.

He even backs away and starts fiddling with something by the tree, like a child who just got scolded. "Just needs a firm hand," Hermione mutters, brushing off her robes.

"I think you've got an admirer," Harry says under his breath beside me.

Hagrid looks down at Grawp with sad eyes. "He gets his food and all, but it's company he'll be needin' when I'm gone." He turns to us. "You will look after him, won't you? I'm the only family he's got."

"That's nonsense," I blurt before I can stop myself. Everyone looks at me. "Sorry. Bad timing." I take a breath. "What I mean is... we're the family he's got." And I walk up to Hagrid and wrap him in a hug.

His arms close around me, warm and careful despite their size. For the first time, I see a different kind of giant—one who's just trying to protect what little he has left.

The next day goes by normally... or at least it pretends to. Everyone in the inner circle is suddenly busy. Too busy. I try to hang out with them like we always do, but no one really answers me. Not properly. So eventually, I give up, sigh, and head to my dorm.

I'm curled up on my bed reading when there's a knock on the door. I open it to find a tiny first-year boy, barely able to hold up a heavy-looking box. "This came for you," he says, sweet as anything.

I quickly take the box from his little hands. "Thank you, sweetheart," I say, pecking his forehead gently.

His cheeks flush bright red and he bolts toward the common room like I just embarrassed him for life.

Smiling to myself, I bring the box in and open it.

Inside is a gorgeous black dress—simple yet stunning. Elegant full sleeves, a neckline that isn't too deep but somehow still makes me feel like me. It hugs all the right places. There's also a note tucked inside. I unfold it.

Olivia, Wear this tonight. Put on some nice makeup and come to the Room of Requirement. 10 PM sharp.

No signature. But only one person calls me Olivia like that.

I head to the dungeons, hoping to catch Draco and confirm my suspicion. When the door opens, it's not him—it's Blaise, his arms full of... something. He looks startled the moment he sees me.

"O-Olive," he stutters. "Blaise, you look like you've just seen a ghost," I say, stepping closer. Honestly, considering where we go to school, it's not that dramatic.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, glancing around like he's checking for spies. "I'm looking for Draco. Haven't seen him all day." He shakes his head. "Neither have I." I frown. "Well, is he inside?"

"Nope," he replies a little too fast, then adds, "Look, Olive—I'm kinda busy. I'll see you later, yeah?" Before I can say anything else, he ducks out.

Suspicious much?

Back in my dorm, I wait for Hermione or Ginny to return, but neither of them show. Weird. I check the time. Still a couple hours until the note's mysterious invitation.

So, I pass the time getting ready.

I curl my hair slightly—just enough to frame my face—and do my makeup like the note suggested. Not too heavy, not too simple. The dress fits like a dream. I add some big hoop earrings and slip into my black heels. One last look in the mirror and... yeah. I'm ready.

When I step into the common room, I stop.

A little girl is waiting for me with a bouquet of Calla Lilies in her hand and a small note.

Faith and purity.

I walk out. Another girl is waiting.

Daisies. Another note.

Innocence.

A few more steps—a boy, a new bouquet.

Orchids. The note says:

Love, thoughtfulness, charm.

Then sunflowers.

Adoration and loyalty.

Then asters.

Patience.

With each flower, my heartbeat quickens. Every step brings something more—something beautiful and intentional.

Finally, I reach the Room of Requirement. One last note is handed to me:

When all of this is brought together, I find the most beautiful flower I have ever seen. Olivia.

The wall shifts. The door appears. And Blaise steps out holding a blindfold. "Blaise?" I ask, confused. He doesn't answer—just smiles and gently ties the blindfold around my eyes.

"What are you doing?" I laugh nervously as he guides me inside.

"Open your blindfold, Olive," he whispers.

I do.

And my breath catches.

The Room of Requirement has transformed. Balloons float above us, ribbons dangle from the ceiling. There's music, a snack table, even a full bar. But none of it holds my attention like the line of people standing in front of me—each holding a card.

H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y

Hermione. Ron. Harry. Fred. George. Ginny. Luna. Rafael. Chris. Blaise. Daphne. Theo. And Draco.

All of them.

"Happy Birthday!" they shout together as little fireworks burst around the room, crackling like stardust. They drop the cards and rush to hug me, one after the other.

Draco is the last. "Happy Birthday, darling," he whispers, wrapping his arms around me. "How'd you like the surprise?" I pull back and look at him.

Of course. This is all him.

"Thank you so much, you guys," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "But... you all do know my birthday is July 23rd, right?" Hermione rolls her eyes. "Yes, Liv. We know."

Ginny smirks. "Your birthday falls during the summer break. Plus, you've been through so much. Zabini and Nott thought we should throw you a party now."

By Zabini and Nott, she means Malfoy.

I shake my head, grinning like an idiot. "Thank you. Thank you so much. This means more than you know."

Everyone scatters to dance and mingle, but I walk straight to Draco. "You did this," I say, throwing my arms around him. "Yeah," he murmurs against my hair. "Though I didn't think you'd figure it out so quickly."

I smile into his chest. "Please. The minute I saw the flower meanings in the notes, I knew it was you." His arms tighten around me, and we just stay there, quiet in the middle of the chaos—right where I want to be.

I keep mingling, floating between conversations, laughing and sipping on whatever fruity drink Blaise handed me earlier. Hermione, Ginny, and I are deep in conversation about the ridiculous outfit Theo wore last week, when I suddenly hear the soft strum of a guitar.

Then... a voice.

That voice.

My whole body stills. I turn, heart racing, and follow the sound. A spotlight beams toward the front of the room.

And there he is.

Draco Malfoy. Sitting on a tall stool, a guitar in his lap, and his eyes—his eyes—are on me as he sings.

I just stare at him in shock. In awe. How is this even real?

The room bursts into applause, but I can't clap. I'm frozen in place. I knew I'd heard this voice before. That night when I followed the singing and he denied it—it was him. He lied so I'd give my honest opinion. Sneaky Slytherin.

"Excuse me," I say to Hermione and Ginny, barely hearing myself as I slip away and head straight for him.

He's chatting with Blaise and Theo now, casual like he didn't just hijack my lungs and heart in front of everyone. I grab his arm and tug him aside. "I didn't know you sang." He smirks, placing the guitar gently on a nearby table. "That's the thing, darling. There's a lot you don't know about me."

I don't get a chance to respond because Ginny practically shouts, "Presents time!" and just like that, the entire group migrates toward the couches. Before anyone else can claim the seat next to me, Draco slides in and pulls me closer to him.

"Alright," Blaise says, standing in front of me. "Theo, Daph, and I will go first." Theo hands me two big boxes, and when I open them, I gasp. Two gorgeous handbags—soft leather, my initials elegantly carved into each.

"These are lovely, you guys," I say, genuinely touched.

Draco takes them from my hands and sets them beside him like he's the official gift guardian tonight.

Ginny hands over her gift, along with the twins'. I unwrap a pair of dangerously high heels and a pair of cute sneakers. Honestly, very on brand for them. Ron, of course, brings food. The whole box is packed with chocolate frogs and a chocolate cake. "Classic," I say, already craving a bite.

Luna and Rafael give me cozy sweaters and some funky sunglasses. Chris gifts me a sleek little camera. Hermione's gift is, obviously, a stack of books—beautiful editions, of course. "Really, Granger? More books?" Draco teases, sliding the gift into his growing pile.

Hermione rolls her eyes. "Yeah, well. Let's compare gifts later and see which one she likes more." I mumble under my breath, "Not comparing the two most important people in my life, thanks."

Then Harry steps forward with a mischievous grin. He hands me a large box and a small Pandora box, and I swear Draco's jaw clenches the moment he sees it.

I open the smaller box first—two delicate rose gold bracelets. The larger one holds a stunning set of rings and a watch. "Harry, this is too much," I start, but before I can finish, Draco grabs the boxes from my hands and places them on the side like he's doing damage control.

"Oh, it was nothing," Harry says with a wink. Right. I forget the guy's basically wizard royalty.

"Thank you," I smile.

"Now it's my turn," Draco says, and I can already see the proud sparkle in his eyes.

He pulls out a big box from behind the couch and sets it on my lap. "I hope you like it." I lift the lid and nearly drop the box. A pair of stunning black-gold high heels glimmer back at me.

"Draco... this is..." I breathe, lifting them gently.

Gasps erupt from the girls around us.

"Is this real gold?" I ask, stunned. "Er... yeah," he says casually, like that's a normal sentence.

Before I can respond, he pulls out another box. My mouth drops.

"Draco, are you nuts? This is way too much—"

"Just open it," he insists, grinning like a boy with a secret.

I do.

Inside lies the most breathtaking diamond tiara I've ever seen. I don't even know what to say. My fingers tremble as I lift it.

"Draco..." My voice barely works. "Well? Do you like it?" he asks, a little softer now. "Like it? I love it, but it's too much, I-I can't—" He gently cuts me off, lifting the tiara from my hands and placing it delicately on my head. "A crown for the Gryffindor queen, isn't it?"

Ginny gasps. "You look beautiful, Liv."

Everyone else stares, like they're not sure if they should be clapping or bowing.

"Thank you, Draco," I whisper, leaning in and kissing his cheek without thinking.

He doesn't hesitate—just turns and presses a kiss back, right in front of everyone like it's the most natural thing in the world.

People start chatting again, music picking up in the background, but I stay close to Draco.

"Of course you love it," Blaise snorts, nudging Draco. "He spent hours and galleons on it." I blink. "W-Wait... you made it?" Draco looks down, a little shy. "Er... this Christmas, when we stayed at Hogwarts. Remember when you brought me lunch that day?"

My heart stutters.

"Draco, this is real diamonds. It must've cost you a fortune. I can't accept—" I start, trying to place the tiara back in the box.

He catches my wrist gently.

"Nothing puts a price on the adoration I have for you."

I look at him, eyes wide, heart full.

And I smile. Widely. Uncontrollably.

He did all this for me.

And I've never felt more seen.

"Liv, you coming?" Hermione asks, already halfway to the door.

"You guys go on," I say, standing up and gathering a few of the gifts around me. "I'll come after some time." I hand a few boxes to her and the rest to Ginny. "Can you take these? I don't think I can carry everything alone."

They nod, teasing smiles on their faces, and head out of the Room of Requirement.

I sink back down beside Draco, and his arms immediately wrap around me. It's just us now—well, us and Blaise, Theo, and Daphne. Not exactly alone, but it feels quieter somehow. "They're right here," I whisper-yell to Draco, eyeing the others.

"We know, Olive," Blaise snickers. Theo grins. "Draco doesn't exactly hide the love bites. Wears them like bloody trophies." My cheeks flush, and I bury my face in Draco's chest, groaning. He chuckles, holding me closer.

After a few more minutes, Daphne gets up and stretches. "Right, we're gonna head out. We're very tired, you know, decorating and all..."

"See you guys!" they call together.

"Or not," Blaise mutters under his breath.

I grab a pillow and hurl it at him. He dodges easily, laughing all the way out the door.

Then, silence.

The fire crackles softly, casting a warm glow across the room. Draco holds me, but his gaze is far off—fixed on the flames. I look up at him. "Tell me something about yourself?" His eyes snap back to me, and he blinks like I pulled him from somewhere deep.

"What do you want to know?" he asks, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

I smile. "Everything."

He lets out a low breath, and I shift into his lap, facing him, resting my hands on his chest. "We don't have that much time," he says with a soft grin. "But I'll give you a few." I nod, listening.

"When I was younger, I needed glasses. But my father had Snape brew some eye-correcting potion. Worked like a charm." My lips part slightly. The image of little Draco in glasses? Oh no. "Okay, that's hot," I murmur, biting my lip. "Maybe I need it too."

He leans forward and kisses my nose. "No. I like the way you look in glasses." I blush, and he continues, voice softer now.

"I'm terrified of storms. And the dark. I hate the taste of coffee." His mouth twists like even saying the word offends him.

He tells me more—random things, some sweet, some weird, all completely him.

I play with his hair, twirling the ends gently around my finger. "Can I ask you something?" He nods. "Anything, darling."

"I know you adore your mother, but..." I hesitate. "What happened with your father?"

His whole body stiffens. He stares back at the fire like it's pulling him in again. My heart sinks. "If you don't want to tell me, that's okay, Draco. I'm not forcing you."

He takes a deep breath, then looks down at my hands, folding them into his. "No, you're right. You should know everything." He kisses the back of my hand, and my throat tightens.

"I hate him," he says, voice barely above a whisper. "He's the reason I am the way I am. He was never affectionate. Cold. Distant. That's why I struggle with being... soft. I never knew what affection looked like. Or felt like."

"But you're wrong," I whisper. "You've learned."

He swallows thickly.

"Being a good father starts with respecting your child's mother," he says, voice cracking. "And my father doesn't. He—he beats her, Olivia. I've spent nights beside her, patching her up, waiting for her to wake up. I don't know how she still loves him."

My eyes sting.

"After she lost the child after me... he wasn't the same. To her. To me. Nothing I ever did was enough. That's why I dread it. I'm scared I'll end up like him. That I'll hurt you."

"No," I say firmly, cupping his cheek and making him look at me. Our eyes meet, both glossy with tears. "Draco," I whisper, kissing his forehead gently. "You are nothing like him. Nothing. And I know you'd never hurt me."

He wraps his arms around me tightly, burying his face into my chest. I rest my chin on his head, holding him just as tightly as he holds me. His shoulders shake once. Then again.

I kiss the top of his head and stroke his back gently.

"Thank you, Draco," I whisper. He looks up, eyes red-rimmed but soft.

"I know opening up like that... it's hard for you. So thank you for doing it with me. For trusting me."

He gives me a small, tired smile—and it's the most vulnerable, most beautiful version of him I've ever seen.