The Pact

“Hannah! You’re never going to believe what happened this weekend,” I say cheerily, pushing the door open to my dorm. I have to stop myself from flinching when I see Aurélien sitting on my bed, giving me an expectant grin.

“Hello to you too, mon étoile,” he teases lightly, standing up to come greet me with a hug.

I give him a short one, quickly pulling away to set my things down. “Sorry, troubadour. I didn’t know you’d be in here.”

He gives me an odd look, leaning back down to me and lifting a handful of my hair to his nose. “Mon soleil, you smell like… cologne.”

“Do I?” I ask, my heart racing. “It’s… probably my father’s.”

“I don’t think so,” he adds suspiciously. “Your father has always used that really strong cologne, this one is… light?”

 Hannah chimes in, attempting to diffuse the tension. “Probably from all the introductions you had to make at…” she trails off, not knowing how much I’ve told him.

“The mixer with my parents,” I say quickly, and she flashes me a knowing look. “Yeah, you’ll never believe it, Han. I started my period in the middle of—”

“Woah, woah,” Aury cuts me off, holding his hands up and backing away. “I do not wish to be a participant in this conversation.”

The tension in my shoulders slips when he takes the bait, and I chuckle unconvincingly. “Sorry, Aury. Sometimes I forget you’re not one of the girls, too.”

“Don’t worry,” he says, flashing me a grin. “I’ll leave you to your… girl talk.” He snatches his jacket from the back of my chair and gives a mock bow. “I’ll see you at dinner, mon étoile.”

“See you then,” I reply, managing a smile as he exits.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind him, I exhale deeply and plop onto the bed next to Hannah.

“What was that about?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, trust me,” I say, leaning in conspiratorially. “That was nothing compared to what I’m about to tell you.”

Hannah’s eyes light up with curiosity. “Is this about Draco?”

“Who else?” I mutter, rolling my eyes. Then, unable to contain myself, I grin. “But seriously, Hannah—you’re not going to believe what happened this weekend.”

“Spill,” she teases, laying on her stomach as she faces me.

I can’t help but smirk as I start. “Okay, so you know how I told you Draco and I came to an agreement recently, like to be friends?”

Hannah nods, her expression already brimming with curiosity.

“Well, this weekend was different. We actually got… close.”

She gasps, propping herself up on her elbows. “Define ‘close.’”

“Close enough that I stayed over at Malfoy Manor and—”

“Wait, what? You what?”

“Let me finish!” I laugh, trying to ignore the warmth rising in my cheeks. “We were supposed to be working together to—um—look through some old family records. His parents were out of town, so we were just… alone.”

“Alone, as in… no chaperones?”

“Alone, alone,” I confirm, biting my lip. “And things… happened.”

Hannah’s eyes widen, and she sits up straight. “Define things before I lose my mind.”

“Well,” I begin, suddenly feeling shy. “I convinced him to bake cookies with me, and he brushed the flour off my face really gently, and he kinda stayed in my space. And he gave me this look—”

“Shut up!” she says, covering her mouth. “Like…”

I chew on my lip, blushing. “He just stared at me like I was the center of the universe.”

She swoons. “That’s so cute!”

“I know, right? And then we found a bunch of stuff, but reading it gave me a headache and I asked to lie down and—get this—he gestured for me to lay on his lap. Like it was the most normal thing ever.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “Did you?”

“Obviously,” I reply, giggling. “And he actually sat there and played with my hair, and let me sleep on him for like an hour.”

Hannah moves over to me, sitting next to me on my bed, practically bouncing. “That’s like… intimate.”

“That’s not even the biggest part! At one point, he had a nightmare. I heard him yelling, so I went to check on him. And when I got there, he looked so… broken. I couldn’t just leave him like that, so I stayed.”

“You stayed?” she echoes, her voice rising. “As in—”

“As in, I climbed into his bed and held him until he calmed down,” I admit softly, my fingers twisting the edge of my blanket.

“Oh. My. Merlin,” she whispers, staring at me like I’ve just revealed I’m the heir to the throne.

“It wasn’t… weird,” I say quickly, trying to explain. “He just—he held on to me, like he couldn’t let go. And I didn’t want him to.”

“Okay, I need to know everything. Did he say anything? Did you?”

“Not really,” I admit. “But the next morning… things were just different. It’s like we’ve crossed some invisible line. He held me extra tight to his chest when he woke up, and whispered ‘you’re going to be the death of me’ into my hair, thinking I was asleep. That’s like… super lovey dovey, right? Anyway, I even called him Draco to his face, and he didn’t say a word about it. No sarcasm, no sneer, just… Draco.”

Hannah gapes at me. “You slept in the same bed as Draco Malfoy, held him through a nightmare, and now you’re casually calling him by his first name? This is insane!”

I shrug, though I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “It’s like… we’re not enemies anymore. But we’re not just friends, either. I don’t know what we are.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s definitely not nothing,” Hannah says firmly. “You don’t just cuddle a guy like Draco Malfoy unless there’s something there.”

I sigh, flopping back onto the bed. “That’s what scares me.”

She leans back with me, folding her hands on her stomach. “Is it something happening with Draco that scares you, or knowing that Aurélien likes you and won’t be happy about it?”

“How did you—”

“Come on, Y/n,” she jumps in, “everyone knows that man is in love with you. Don’t tell me you didn’t.”

I sit up abruptly, staring at her. “Everyone?”

Hannah raises an eyebrow, propping herself up on her elbows. “Well, yeah. He’s not exactly subtle about it. The way he looks at you, how he’s always hovering around like your personal guard dog… you really didn’t notice?”

I groan, dragging my hands down my face. “I thought he was just… being Aurélien. You know how he is—witty, flirty, a little over the top. I didn’t think he meant anything by it.”

Hannah gives me a look. “You don’t call someone mon étoile and stick around for hours waiting for them unless you’re in love with them.”

I flop back down onto the bed, covering my face with a pillow. “I’m such an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot,” she says softly, nudging my side. “You just didn’t see it because you didn’t feel the same way.”

“Exactly,” I mumble into the pillow. “And now I feel terrible. I didn’t mean to lead him on, Han, but now… now I’m worried I did.”

She hums thoughtfully, leaning back beside me. “So, is it Aurélien’s feelings that scare you, or… Draco?”

I pull the pillow off my face, staring at the ceiling. “Both, honestly. Aurélien… he’s been my best friend for years. I don’t want to hurt him or ruin what we have. But Draco… he’s just so complicated. I don’t even know where we stand, and the idea of trying to explain that to Aurélien—”

“Would probably send him into a tailspin,” Hannah finishes, nodding knowingly. “But let’s be real, Y/n. You can’t avoid this forever. If you keep getting closer to Draco, Aurélien’s going to notice. And the longer you go without talking to him, the worse it’s going to get.”

I let out a long sigh, my heart sinking at the thought. “I know. I just don’t even know where to start. What am I supposed to say? ‘Sorry, Aurélien, but I don’t see you that way, and also I may or may not have feelings for Draco Malfoy, of all people’?”

Hannah snorts. “Okay, maybe don’t put it like that. But you do need to talk to him—sooner rather than later. Otherwise, things are going to get messy.”

“Messier than they already are?” I mutter, earning a laugh from her.

“Look,” she says, turning to face me fully, “you’ve been through a lot lately. But you’re going to have to figure out what you want—because if you don’t, someone else is going to make the choice for you.”

Her words linger in the air, and for a moment, all I can do is nod. “You’re right,” I say finally. “I’ll talk to him. Just… not today.”

Hannah smirks, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. “That’s fair. But don’t wait too long, okay? You’ve got this, Y/n.”

“Thanks,” I reply softly, running a hand through my hair. “I got so nervous when he smelled Dray’s cologne on me.”

Hannah’s smirk grows even wider, and she raises an eyebrow. “You didn’t think to, I don’t know, change your shirt before seeing Aurélien? Or at least spray some perfume?”

“I didn’t think he’d notice!” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “And honestly, I didn’t even realize the cologne had rubbed off on me. It’s not like I was trying to smell like Draco.”

“Well, lucky for you, he bought the excuse—for now,” Hannah teases, poking my side. “But seriously, Y/n, what are you going to do if Aurélien starts putting two and two together? He’s not stupid.”

“I know,” I mumble, peeking out from behind my hands. “And the worst part is, he’s been so patient with me. He deserves better than me sneaking around, hiding things.”

Hannah’s teasing expression softens. “You’re not a bad person, Y/n. You didn’t ask for any of this—Aurélien’s feelings, Draco’s nightmares, the whatever is happening between you two. But you’re going to have to face it eventually.”

I nod, exhaling deeply. “I just… I don’t want to lose him, Han. Aurélien’s been my rock for so long, and I’m scared that telling him the truth will ruin everything.”

Hannah tilts her head, giving me a thoughtful look. “It might hurt him, yeah. But if he’s really your rock, he’ll stick around. And if he doesn’t… well, maybe it’s better to find out now than later.”

“Easy for you to say,” I grumble. “You’re not the one who has to break someone’s heart.”

“No, but I am the one who has to listen to you overthink everything,” she quips, nudging me playfully. “And for the record, I think you’re underestimating Aurélien. He might surprise you.”

I sit up, hugging my knees to my chest. “Maybe. Or maybe he’ll hate me for falling for someone like Draco.”

Hannah leans back on her elbows, studying me carefully. “Do you think you’re falling for Draco?”

The question catches me off guard, and my breath hitches. “I don’t know,” I admit after a long pause. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about him. About the way he looked at me when we were baking, or how gentle he was when he wiped the flour off my face. And when he held me after his nightmare…”

“Your heart skipped a beat?” Hannah finishes, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

“Yeah,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “It’s like he’s a completely different person when it’s just the two of us. And it scares me, Han. Because if I let myself fall, I don’t know if he’ll catch me—or if I’ll just crash and burn.”

Hannah reaches over, squeezing my hand. “You’re braver than you think, Y/n. And whatever happens, you’ve got me. But if you ask me… I think Draco Malfoy might just surprise you, too.”

“I can’t believe how supportive you are of this,” I say with a surprised sigh. “You used to hate Draco.”

Hannah laughs, leaning back against the headboard. “Oh, trust me, I still think he’s a pompous, brooding git most of the time. But…” She tilts her head, giving me a small smile. “He’s different with you. I can’t deny that. And if he’s making you happy, or at least less miserable, who am I to stand in the way?”

I shake my head, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips. “Less miserable? Wow, thanks for the glowing endorsement.”

“You know what I mean!” she says, rolling her eyes. “Look, Y/n, I know you. I know you put up with so much—from your parents, from people here, and sometimes even from yourself. But when you talk about him… it’s different. It’s like he’s peeling back layers of you that you didn’t even know were there.”

I blink at her, unsure how to respond. “You’re really laying it on thick, huh?”

“Hey, don’t let it go to your head,” she teases, nudging me. “I’m not saying Draco Malfoy is Prince Charming or anything. But maybe… maybe he’s not the villain in your story anymore.”

Her words sink in, and for a moment, I just stare at the floor. “That’s the thing, Han. I don’t know what he is. Some days, it feels like he’s my enemy. Other days, he’s the only person who really sees me.”

“And what about today?” she asks, her voice softer now.

I look up at her, my chest tightening as I think about the weekend. “Today, he felt like… hope. Like maybe there’s a version of my life where I’m not just surviving—where I’m actually living.”

Hannah’s expression softens, and she smiles. “Well, then I think you already know what you need to do.”

I groan, flopping back onto the bed. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy,” she says, lying down beside me. “But it’s worth it. And if anyone deserves a chance at happiness, it’s you.”

Her words hang in the air, and I let out a slow breath. “Thanks, Han. Really.”

“Anytime,” she says, grinning. “Now, tell me more about this lap-nap situation. Did he blush? Did you blush? I need details.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love me for it,” she replies smugly. “Now spill.”

~

We join Aurélien for dinner in the Great Hall, and I can’t help but notice that Draco is nowhere to be found. Usually that would send me into a spiral of anxiety, but after spending so much time with him, I’m having an easier time separating my feelings from his, and the only negative emotions in my body are purely my own. Hopefully that means he’s perfectly fine, maybe catching up on homework or reading a cheesy muggle romance novel.

“Bonjour, mon étoile,” he greets, his tone light but his eyes sharper than usual.

“Hey, Aury,” I reply, slipping into the seat next to him. Hannah slides in across from us, immediately diving into a conversation with a friend.

Aurélien nudges my arm, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’re awfully quiet tonight. Long day?”

“Something like that,” I admit, reaching for a piece of bread. “Just… a lot on my mind.”

Before he can respond, another Hufflepuff—Lydia from our Herbology class—leans over from a few seats down, her face alight with curiosity. “Hey, Y/n, is it true you’re friends with Draco Malfoy now?”

The question lands like a thunderclap at the table, drawing the attention of everyone within earshot. Hannah freezes mid-bite, her eyes darting to me. Aurélien stiffens beside me, his grip tightening on his fork.

“What?” I ask, trying to sound casual despite the heat creeping up my neck.

“Yeah,” Lydia continues, oblivious to the sudden tension. “I heard from someone at the Slytherin table that you two are, like, close now. Is that true?”

Hannah recovers quickly, giving Lydia a disarming smile. “You know how rumors are. People love to make up stories when they’ve got nothing better to do.”

But Lydia isn’t convinced. “It’s just weird, you know? A Hufflepuff being friends with a Slytherin? And Malfoy of all people? I mean, no offense, but isn’t he, like, your polar opposite?”

Aurélien’s jaw tightens, and I can feel the tension radiating off him like heat from a fire. I force a smile, trying to defuse the situation. “We just got partnered up for a project. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“But it must be, if people are talking about it,” Lydia presses, clearly not picking up on the unspoken drop it in my tone.

“Aury,” Hannah says suddenly, her voice light but pointed as she changes the subject. “Pass the pumpkin juice, will you?”

He doesn’t move. His eyes are locked on me, sharp and unyielding. “Is it true?” he asks quietly, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

I hesitate, my stomach twisting. “Aurélien—”

“Is it true?” he repeats, louder this time. The table falls silent, and now everyone is staring.

I swallow hard, glancing around before leaning closer to him. “Not here,” I murmur. “Can we talk about this later?”

But he doesn’t back down. “Later? While the entire castle thinks you’ve gone and made best friends with Draco Malfoy?” His tone is biting now, his words dripping with disbelief and anger.

“Aury,” I try again, my voice barely above a whisper.

He pushes back from the table abruptly, swinging his legs over the bench and standing up in one fluid motion. “Enjoy your dinner,” he says coldly before storming off, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

I stare after him, my chest tight with guilt and frustration. Hannah reaches across the table, her hand brushing mine. “You okay?”

I nod numbly, though I feel far from it. “Yeah,” I whisper, even as my appetite disappears completely.

The whispers start almost immediately, and I can feel the weight of every curious glance, every hushed word. For the first time in weeks, I find myself longing for the quiet solitude of the library—or maybe even the Room of Requirement.

Anywhere but here.

The noise of the Great Hall fades into a dull hum as I slip out, my footsteps quick and silent against the stone floor. My head feels too heavy, my chest too tight. I need to breathe.

The library seems like a good place to disappear—quiet, calm, and far from prying eyes and whispered rumors. I take a deep breath as I make my way through the corridors, the cool air soothing against my flushed skin.

But just as I round a corner near the stairwell, I hear raised voices echoing down the hall.

“I thought I told you to stay away from her,” Aurélien snarls, his voice low but unmistakably furious.

I freeze mid-step, my heart sinking as I peek around the corner. Aurélien stands tense and rigid, his finger pointed accusingly at Draco, who leans casually against the wall with his arms crossed.

“And I thought you didn’t speak for her,” Draco replies smoothly, though there’s a sharpness in his tone that betrays his irritation.

Aurélien takes a step closer, towering over Draco now. “She doesn’t need you messing with her life. She’s better off without you.”

Draco raises an eyebrow, his smirk faint but infuriatingly calm. “Funny. She doesn’t seem to agree.”

Aurélien’s face twists with anger. “What, so you’re her knight in shining armor now? Please. All you’ve ever done is hurt her.”

“And what do you call this?” Draco counters, his tone icy. “Picking fights in empty hallways? Sounds like someone’s projecting.”

“I’m protecting her!” Aurélien snaps.

Without hesitation, I step out into the open, my voice ringing out, sharp and clear. “That’s enough!”

Both boys whirl around, startled by my sudden presence. Aurélien looks guilty for a split second before his expression hardens, while Draco’s mask of indifference slips into something more cautious.

“What is this?” I demand, glaring at both of them. “Aurélien, what are you doing?”

“I’m doing what someone has to do,” Aurélien says, his voice tight. “You won’t see it, but he’s using you. I’m not going to stand by and let him ruin your life.”

“That’s not your call!” I fire back. “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me, Aury. If you have a problem with Draco, talk to me about it. But this?” I gesture between the two of them. “This is ridiculous.”

Aurélien’s jaw tightens. “Are you seriously defending him right now? After everything I’ve done for you? After all the times I’ve been there for you?”

His words hit like a slap, and for a moment, I can’t find my voice.

“This isn’t about choosing sides,” I finally say, my voice shaking with emotion. “I’m not choosing anything. I’m trying to figure things out for myself. And maybe you don’t like that, but it’s not fair to put me in the middle of this.”

Aurélien’s face hardens, and he narrows his eyes at me. “It was his, wasn’t it?”

“What?” I ask, caught off guard.

“The cologne,” he says sharply, as though it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “It was his cologne that I smelled on you earlier. And you… you lied to me about it.”

Guilt washes over me, and I know Draco feels it, too. “Aury—”

“Please tell me you two didn’t—”

“No! It’s not like that,” I cut in quickly, taking a step towards him. “Our parents stick us together a lot because they’re friends. Dray and I are just friends, that’s it.”

Both boys flash me a look, though for completely different reasons.

“Dray?” he echoes, his voice laced with disbelief. “Pretty close friends, then, hm?”

“Aury, stop.”

We stare at each other for a moment, and I can see the hurt in his eyes as he takes a step back. “How could you trust someone like him?”

“You don’t know him,” I retort, more bite in my voice than I intended. “We both know that’s not what this is about.”

Aurélien’s shoulders sag slightly, but his expression remains stormy. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“And I appreciate that,” I say, softer now. “But you have to trust me to make my own decisions. I’m not the same broken eleven year old girl you met during first year. I can handle myself now.”

He looks like he wants to argue, but after a long, tense moment, he nods tightly. Without another word, he turns and walks away, his footsteps echoing down the empty corridor.

The silence that follows is heavy, and I suddenly feel the weight of the confrontation pressing down on me.

“You okay?” Draco asks, breaking the silence. His voice is softer than I expected, almost hesitant.

I glance at him, and for once, there’s no trace of smugness or sarcasm in his expression. “Yeah,” I say, though my throat feels tight. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

I step closer to him, my eyes frantically scanning over him, checking for any sign that Aury touched him.

“You would’ve felt it if he did,” he says lightly, his voice bordering on teasing as he tries to calm me down. “I’m fine.”

“Right,” I say, facepalming. “Duh.”

Draco shifts uncomfortably, as if debating whether to stay or leave. Finally, he offers a faint smirk, though it lacks any sharpness. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t start it this time.”

I roll my eyes despite myself, though the tension in my chest eases slightly. “Right, I’m sure you were being a peacekeeper.”

He chuckles softly and pushes off the wall, turning to leave. “See you around, Hufflepuff.”

His arm brushes mine when he passes, and the contact immediately starts to bring me back to earth. I have to resist the urge to reach out and pull him closer.

As he walks away, I lean against the wall, closing my eyes and taking a steadying breath. One thing’s for sure: tomorrow is going to be even more complicated.