Two

Without me –Halsey

[If they laugh, then fuck 'em all]

A/N: This story is going to be full of flashbacks to help understand Draco and Elizabeth's story from the very beginning. I apologise in advance if that causes confusion in some parts. Now, I hope you enjoy this. Votes and comments are highly appreciated. Thank you for reading.

- L

6th YEAR

Elizabeth's pov

This year is going to be amazing, I first thought. Next year would be the last and Draco and I could start building the life we've always dreamed of. I recalled it to my mind as I watched him hypnotised.

"Astaroth"

But I kept looking at him, as he sat in front of me.

"Astaroth"

Nothing.

"Hey" Blaise snaped his fingers in front of me, making me come back down to earth. I sat properly on the bench and looked at him kind of pissed off for ending my trance.

"What?"

Draco noticed and grinned, licking his bottom lip as he tilted his head to the side. "Focus, Astaroth."

Fucking stuck-up.

"What's the first class?" Blaise asked taking a bite of his breakfast.

"Uhm" I pulled out my perfectly handmade schedule. "Charms. With Gryffindor."

Draco let out a small scoff. "Ha! With your friends."

Ever since that summer when he and our families explained to me our important position in the Wizarding World, he used to tease me about the fact that in the beginning Potter, Granger and Weasley were my friends. And he loved doing that. I just think he loved the fact that he and his family had had the power of growing in my brain the hate I should have for those people. I thought, no, I was sure he adored that I could be a bitch.

But what he never forgot was that, when we were alone, I could also be his innocent girl.

Zabini whinged at my answer and turned to Samuel looking for some support, but he didn't find it.

"Don't you dare to fucking laugh, Bowery." He threatened shoving his long index finger in Sam's face.

"Come on, don't be so moody." Amelia laughed next to Sam.

"I wouldn't be if your freaking brother didn't make fun of me every single time Gryffindor is mentioned." Blaise spat.

Sam smirked taking a bite of his toast. "I just think we shouldn't leave behind the fact that you shagged Weasley."

"I was drunk!" Blaise slammed his palms on the table with frustration.

"Both of you were, mate." Draco cut him.

We all burst into laughter noticing Blaise lifting his middle finger for the blonde.

"Fuck you, Malfoy."

Two years ago, when Durmstrang and Beauxbatons visited the school for the Three Wizards Tournament, the school organized the Yule Ball in which all fourth years had to attend. I mean, it was not compulsory but, who wouldn't want to go to a ball?

At that moment, Draco and I weren't officially dating yet, but the tension was there.

It had always been there but, that year was just... our feelings came to light after all that time.

Flashback

4th YEAR

I was at the library vaguely going over the pages of 'Advanced Potion-Making'. Snape recommended us to read it if we wanted our weekly potions essay to be excellent, so there I was.

Freaking nerd.

I got distracted by Madame Irma's voice. "No running!"

I turned my head to see my blonde friend walking hastily towards me.

"Yes, yes, okay!" he breathed waving it off.

"What are you doing?" I whispered holding back my urges to laugh.

He shoved a chair back to sit next to me, making an unavoidable noise that caused Mrs. Pince to warn him again.

"Sorry!" he mouthed joining his palms.

His chest was moving up and down, trying to calm his now hectic breathing.

"Okay," he panted. "Okay."

Draco looked at me with a foolish smirk.

"Yule Ball," he spat.

I said nothing, I just stared at him.

"Are you going?" he asked finally.

"Yes, of course!" I was really excited, but I noticed his smirk fading, so I guess he wasn't as much.

Weird.

I put my quill down; this conversation now required my whole attention.

"Really?" I could guess he didn't expect that answer, but who wasn't going? "With whom?" he inquired.

Oh. Minor detail.

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear a little embarrassed. "Uhm... I don't know ye-"

"With me," he cut me off.

What?

"Wh-"

"You're going with me," his smirk showing up again. "I mean-. Woul-. Would you like to go? With me?"

He was now moving nervously in his chair, but he tried to put it together.

"Liz, would you be my date for the Yule Ball?"

"Y-. Yeah. Yeah, of course." I stuttered.

"Great," he breathed smiling. "Great."

He was... relieved?

"Okay-." He stood up and put the chair back to its place. "I'll-. At eight?"

"Perfect." I smiled.

"Okay-. Uhm-. See you later, Liz," he smiled back.

I found it funny how he behaved like we hadn't known each other since we wore diapers. This felt like an act of... Vulnerability?

I couldn't guess, but I was very excited. I found it all very... lovely. That soft side of his.

...

"No shit you made Draco Malfoy weak," Amelia gasped in surprise.

"Stop! He wasn't weak? I think he was just nervous; you know?" I replied. "Maybe he thought I would reject him."

Amelia raised her eyebrow, "Would you have?"

"No!"

We giggled in unison.

Amelia knew everything since the very beginning. Even during the first and second year, when I gathered myself with the Golden Trio, Amelia was the only one who knew what and how I felt for Draco Malfoy all those years.

"Plus," she added while we entered the common room. "I know he wouldn't have been that nervous if he had asked Pansy Parkinson."

She was laying on one of the green sofas playing with the hem of her skirt. We walked pass her and I threw her a superiority glance.

"Fucking ass bitch."

Amelia chuckled.

I couldn't stand her. She was always hovering around Draco. 'Malfoy this, Malfoy that' with that annoying voice she has.

Bitch just shut up. Know your place.

Once in our dorm, Amelia walked determined to our shared bureau, pulled out one of my grey Slytherin sweaters and threw it to my face.

"Get changed. We're going to Hogsmeade," she spoke.

"What? No, no. I need to finish this, and I have to study for-."

"Do you know what you're going to wear?" Amelia interrupted.

"A dress," I said as if it wasn't obvious.

"Do you have one?"

Fuck.

"No."

"Hogsmeade, then."

...

Gladrags Wizardwear was a peculiar place. Before we entered the shop, my eyes landed on the horrendous pink dress displayed in shop window.

"Amelia..."

She ignored my grumbles and opened the door.

"Good afternoon!" she blurted.

An old lady appeared from behind a mannequin and examined us gazing above her thin glasses.

"Amelia!"

The old lady approached us and pulled Amelia into a tight hug. "Merlin, look at you!"

"How are you doing, Ms. Bouvier?" my friend asked with a big smile.

Amelia turned to me. "Elizabeth, this is Ms. Bouvier. She's a friend of the family."

Mrs. Bouvier laid her eyes on me and stood quiet for a few seconds.

"Oh, miss Astaroth..." she whispered.

I couldn't help but look surprised. How did she-?

Before I could even ask her, she added with a soft giggle, "Oh, don't bother to ask, miss Astaroth. You are well known everywhere. There's not a single person who does not know your name."

I couldn't help but blush. I liked that information, of course, but who much did people know?

"Okay," Amelia intervened. "Mrs. Bouvier, my friend here needs a dress. We're going to the-"

"Yule Ball" the elder finished. "Well," she clapped her hands in excitement. "Let's get started."

"Fantastic!" Amelia jumped. I couldn't tell which of them was more excited about it. "Where are the special dresses?" she looked over the small boutique looking for them.

"No. We're going to do it from scratch," she concluded.

Excuse me?

"Merlin's beard! Beth, you're getting a made to order dress!"

"Oh, no Ms. Bouvier I can't accept it. It's not really a big deal it's just the Yu-"

"Rubbish," she waved off. "Amelia's friends are special," she winked.

I was completely flattered.

After she made an amazing sketch for the dress in less than two minutes, we followed Ms. Bouvier upstairs and she showed us a bunch of different fabrics.

I went for the crepe pink silky one and chose the length to be to the feet. My dress' neckline would be sweetheart shaped. I wanted it to look cheeky but fancy, so she, as an experimented designer, suggested the dress to be backless.

If she was as good as Amelia said, the final result would be stunning.

I was standing on the little platform while Ms. Bouvier used the measuring tape around my body.

"So, Miss Astaroth-"

"Oh, you can call me Elizabeth," I interrupted. I found her too sweet to be calling me by my family's name.

"Elizabeth," she smiled.

"Is Mr. Malfoy your date for the ball?" she said casually.

I couldn't help the smile forming on my lips. "Yes." I bit my lip.

Ms. Bouvier giggled and then I realized. How did she know?

I looked down at her, who was now taking measurements of my leg's length.

"How-"

"Foregone conclusion, honey," she smiled again. "It's always been the Malfoys and the Astaroths."

...

I was nervous as fuck. I don't usually get nervous for anything, it's not a usual thing in my family; confidence runs in our veins.

But when it came to Draco it was different.

I wasn't sure about all that situation. Like, what did he want? What were his intentions? Was he just being nice because we're like family?

Or was he to the bone for me as I was for him?

Amelia did a lovely upsweep in my hair, leaving a few wavy locks of hair fall over my shoulders.

As I made my way towards the stairs, I felt my heart beating louder in every step I took.

And there he was, waiting at the end of the staircase, hands on his pockets.

He was wearing black suit pants and a button up shirt, vest and bow tie matching his pale skin tone. His blonde hair combed effortlessly to the side, accompanying his cheeky expression as he chuckled about something Samuel said.

As soon as my heels started pounding against the stairs, he turned to look at me.

His expression was just... wow.

He gave me a look that made me feel the prettiest girl in this world.

I just... Have you ever looked at someone and just fucking melt?

Well, same.

"Liz," he breathed. "You look amazing," he said. Draco placed his hand at the end of my bare back and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek, making me blush at the sweet sudden gesture. His cold touch gave me goose bumps all over my body.

"Thank you," I smiled. "You look..." I bit my lip as I went over him from head to heels trying to find the appropriate words, but things are just as they are.

"Hot."

I noticed his cheeks getting a reddish colour, and he lowered his gaze to the floor. "Thank you, Liz," he chuckled.

Draco offered me his arm. "Shall we?" he asked.

And I accepted it. "Yes."

The ball was amazing. We danced.

And danced.

And laughed.

And danced. And laughed again.

Amelia and Zabini had decided to go together, as they didn't want to take any notice of any romantic shit. Also, they wanted to get wasted.

And they did.

In the middle of the ball, Amelia approached Draco and I as we were dancing.

"I'm going to bed," she tried to say. She was too drunk to talk properly.

Draco wanted to laugh, but I slapped him softly on the shoulder as a warning.

"Do you want me to-"

"No, no. Sam's taking me to the dorm," she spoke. "Enjoy the night, lovebirds."

After a few more dances, Draco and I made our way to the dungeons. He walked me to my dorm before going to his, but before I entered, we chatted a bit.

It was a weird situation, both of us were nervous as hell, and if it was strange in me, more it was in him.

"I-. I had a wonderful time tonight, Liz." I noticed him playing with his rings, but he was looking at me.

I always felt good next to Draco. He always made me feel comfortable, and after that night, I felt way more confident than at the beginning of it.

"I-," I placed my hand on his chest and smiled. "Me too, Malfoy." I teased.

He hated me calling him by his last name. 'It's too formal, Liz,' he used to say.

"Malfoy?" he smirked stepping closer.

"Mhm," I pressed my back to the door, trying to keep a straight face, but I couldn't help smiling.

"Okay, Astaroth," he replied, his face now inches away from mine.

Draco took his hand and cupped my cheek, his cold fingers resting on the back of my bare neck, which made me get chills.

"Is my touch going to give you goose bumps from now on?" he whispered smirking.

I hung my arms around his neck and pulled him even closer. "You find out."

And his lips pressed to mine.

Our first kiss.

After all these friendship years, our first kiss.

It wasn't rushed, nor aggressive.

It was soft, warm. It was sweet.

His hand travelled from my face to my waist, and then to my bare back, and he pressed myself to his.

He was gentle. And arousing.

That moment, the cold dungeons felt hotter than hell.

I tangled my fingers in his platinum hair and pulled it, making him let out a soft moan in my mouth.

"Liz..." he groaned on my lips.

Before he could place his hands below the end of my back, we started to hear moans.

But it was not him.

And it was not me.

He pulled away confused and we looked around the dungeons trying to guess where the heck was that. And from where did it come from.

He took my hand and guided me following those noises, until we were in front of his dorm door.

We looked at each other confused, and without saying anything, we pressed our ears to the door.

"Fuck-"

I gasped covering my mouth. "Is that Blaise?" I mouthed surprised.

Draco raised his brow and pulled away from the door, loud slap sounds emerging from the other side of it.

"No way. Is Zabini shagging Amelia?"

We shared a look and sprinted to my dorm. I opened the door quickly just to find out Amelia sleeping peacefully.

"Then who is...?"

We ran back to his dorm and stood there in silence for some seconds.

"Should we...?" he started.

We looked at each other and covered our mouths silencing our guffaws.

"C'mon," I said.

We approached the door, bending a bit for I don't know what. Maybe that made us be less loud.

Slowly, Draco turned the door handle.

As we looked discreetly from the small opening, our eyes widened at the sight.

Draco closed the door immediately, and before I could emit a single sound, he covered my mouth and dragged me back to my dorm door.

Once we made sure they wouldn't hear us, we bursted into laughter.

"We'll definitely be commenting this tomorrow at breakfast," I said.

"Blaise shagging Ron?" he panted. "No doubt."

"You're not going to sleep in there, are you?" I pointed.

"Are you kidding?" he laughed. "I'll go sleep with Sam."

"Good," I mumbled, getting a little nervous again.

"Uhm-. I'll see you tomorrow,"

"Yeah."

He held my chin between his index and his thumb and gave me a soft kiss.

"Night, Astaroth," he grinned.

"Night, Malfoy."

(end of flashback)

...

Amelia was playing with Blaise's rings as she looked how Hermione chatted with Potter. Through the corner of my eye, I noticed her furrowing her brows.

I stared at her waiting for some words, but she stood quiet.

I sighed, pulling away Draco's arm from my shoulders. "Okay, what." I questioned.

She grimaced, not taking her eyes off Granger. "I can't get over you first chose her as a best friend instead of me."

"What's gotten with you guys today just get over your shit and move on," Blaise spat out of nowhere. "Merlin!"

Sam rested his hand on Zabini's shoulder carefully.

"He hasn't looked at you yet, has he?"

Blaise turned to Sam, a dull look covering his face. "No, mate."

"Zabini, it's been almost two years and you're both still playing with the 'unnoticed looks' phase," Sam told him.

"Yeah, mate. Just take the step," Draco added.

Blaise's mouth dropped. "And you are telling me?" he uttered. "It took you almost fifteen years to open up to Beth. And you've been in love with her since-"

"Okay, Zabini." Draco cut him off.

Suddenly, a smirked formed in his lips. "At least Liz looks at me," he provoked.

"You-"

"Good morning everyone!" Professor Flitwick walked inside the class making his small figure a way to his desk as every student took a sit. He left his tiny bag on the wood table and faced us letting out a sigh.

"Okay." His hands rested intertwined on his lap as he looked at every single person in the room. "Gryffindor and Slytherin... This year is going to be fun."

"Yeah, no shit," Amelia whispered.

Sam swung his hand behind Amelia's head emitting a loud slap.

Draco and I couldn't help but snicker covering our mouths.

"Professor Flitwick" a voice emerged from the door to see Professor McGonagall. "Dumbledore requires your help."

I couldn't help but look at Draco, but even though his eyes were on McGonagall, he squeezed my thigh softly.

"Yes, sure Minerva." Professor Flitwick picked his leather briefcase again and faced us.

"You can use this class time to have a look at the course syllabus and be prepared for the next day. Class dismissed."

"Yes!" Sam and Blaise highed five. "Gardens?"

"Sure."

As we made our way out of the class, we heard Hermione complaining about missing this class.

"Oi! Hermione. Don't be such a swot. Enjoy life a little!" Draco mocked making us all laugh.

She stopped her tracks and looked at him, pressing her books to her chest.

"Fuck you, Malfoy. Why you always have something negative to say?"

He rolled his tongue inside his cheek, but before he could answer I stepped in.

"Watch your dirty mouth, mudblood."

"Uhhhh," Blaise covered his mouth with his fist.

Hermione scoffed at my answer and rolled her eyes.

"Where's the respect you once had for me, Elizabeth?" she spat. "Those people," she pointed towards Draco. "They really brainwashed you, didn't they?" she mocked.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but notice the little sadness in her tone.

I gave my bag to Amelia and stepped closer to Granger slowly, not leaving her eyes for a single moment.

"Astaroth," I spat back. "And I'm not disrespecting you, I'm just reminding you what you are."

I heard some Slytherins letting out small chuckles.

"Damn bro, she's bold," Sam whispered to Draco.

"Tell us something we don't know," Amelia added.

I stepped even closer to her. "A fucking. Filthy. Mudblood-."

Hermione dropped her thick books and swung her hand across my face.

"Hermione!" Potter shouted.

And I slapped her back harder, causing her nose to bleed.

Before I could jump on her, Draco and Blaise held me by the waist, lifting me from the floor the same time I kicked my legs in the air trying to get rid of their grip.

Ron and Potter did the same with Hermione.

"Liz-. Liz, stop!" Draco barked.

I obeyed his words and stopped with the air kicking, and finally the boys let me go. I tried to catch my breath, I needed to calm down, but Hermione continued on psycho mode.

"You are rotten, Elizabeth!" she screamed.

"Fucking nightmare, I'm going to-." I jumped towards her, but Draco covered my mouth before I could finish the sentence, placed me over his shoulder and dragged me out of there.

"Liz, just shut the fuck up!" he barked.

He was really mad.

Finally, after running away for the corridors, he stormed in the derelict bathroom leaving me on the floor aggressively making me stagger.

"Are you fucking dumb, Liz?!" he accused.

I'm sorry?

"What's gotten in you? Are you-? Did-. Didn't you hear him?" Draco shouted directly to my face.

"Don't you dare raising me your voice like that!" I pushed him by the shoulders and stepped back. I didn't want him close to me.

"Fuck. I'm-." he ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. For shouting."

I stood a few seconds with my arms crossed before I gave in.

"But you started a fucking argument for fucking nothing!" he added.

"And you are telling me?" I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Was he kidding?

"Okay, yes but-." He lowered his tone. "Liz, we can't draw too much attention this year. We've got tasks to do, and we can't do them with all Hogwarts having an eye on us."

"No, you've got tasks," I pressed my index finger to his chest. "I don't have any fucking task-"

"And we are always going to have eyes on us, Draco." I was really mad right now. "Oh, fuck off!!!"

Irritated, I threw my arms to the air and gave him my back.

I leaned over one of the sinks and looked at him through the mirror reflection as I took a deep breath.

"Fuck..." I whispered. "I'm sorry, too."

We were both very hot-headed when it came to any argument, and we never wanted to give in. But how not to?

After keeping an angered face for a while, he sighed. "It's okay, come here," he said opening his arms to hug me.

I hid my face in the crook of his neck and breathed his scent. He always smelt good.

"You hit her hard, didn't you?" he muttered in my hair.

"Oh, shut up!" I covered my face with my hands.

He giggled. "That was hot."

I looked at him through the spaces between my fingers and smiled. "You are a fucking bipolar ferret; do you know that?"

Before answering, he rolled his tongue through the inside of his cheek. "And you are very foulmouthed."

He took his thumb and ran it over my bottom lip.

"I should wash your mouth."

"I dare you," I threatened.

He hooked his big hands in my thighs and pressed me to his body, my legs around his waist. His lips pressed to mine as he walked to the sink and placed me over it.

The heat rose in my cheeks as I gripped his head firmly, as if to keep him from escaping. I wanted more. I always wanted more. He worked his mouth against mine, and I started working on his belt. He pulled away to catch his breath, but he didn't dive in again.

"Liz," he mumbled.

When I finally unbuckled his belt, he moved my wrists away gently.

"What are you-" I looked at him, but his gaze was lost behind my head.

Without taking his eyes away from what he was looking at, he helped me to dismount from the sink.

I turned around to see what had him so numb.

On the mirror, something was written with mist.

You do have a task, Elizabeth.