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That following dinner was awfully peaceful, which was new to you since this school was full of surprises. The entirety of the dinner involved you and Draco chatting and munching on food, gradually growing closer together while the trio stared in melancholy glances. Malfoy and you didn't even have functioning conversations, it was just you and occasionally Pansy getting away with sly remarks directed to Draco while he just got angry every few seconds. You found it hysterical to see him pissed and you knew a lot of people thought the opposite. Even so, you still had no idea why people held fear around him. You knew you would eventually ask him, you just wanted to find private time with him to do so. On the other hand, you kind of felt bad you couldn't spend as much time with the Gryffindor trio wanted to with them, but what could you do? You were a Slytherin, and your school life revolves around your house. You'd have to really outsmart the system to find available time with them.
After the headmasters nightly speech, while everyone dismissed you ran over to the Gryffindor trio, knowing Draco would get mad but not giving two shits about it. You at least wanted to talk to them for a little bit before heading to the Slytherin common room. You ran up to them, passing through large crowds as they exited the big entry way in the dining hall, taking a left turn and in mediate voices conversing.
"Hermione! Ron! Harry!" You called as all three students turned their heads to look at the sound, realizing it was you. You watched as Hermione changed her expression to a beaming face, her hand motioning for you to walk over as the group paused, letting you catch up. You jogged over there, your breath a little staggered as you had to pass through all those students. You finally caught up with them as the crowds of people slowly started leaving, getting the chance to hug Hermione in a warm embrace, then hugging Ron and finally Harry. You missed the three knuckle heads more than anything.
"{ First Name }, how have you been?" Hermione pondered, a hand placed on her hip as she questioned you.
"Good! I'm acclimating to the school well. I really do love it." You informed them as they smiled at your comment to the school.
"This school is amazing, really. Only a fool would deny it." Ron pursued to you as you nodded politely, not noticing that Draco, clanking his black shoes on the floor, was approaching the group, soon enough feeling his presence right up behind you, while also noticing the expression of the trio changing.
"If it isn't you three serenading { first name } again." He interjected, projecting his aggravated voice as he talked to the three, Harrys scowl the worst out of the three as he stared into Malfoy's presence.
"If anything Malfoy you've been the only one serenading { last name } these whole few days." Harry claimed, spitting back at Malfoy's rude approach, causing you to feel from behind that his body heat started to increasing heat up, observing that it's one of the things that happens when he lashes out. You turned around, grabbing his arm firmly.
"Draco." You only had to say as he kept eye contact on Harry, trapping his lips together in an angry glare. You could tell Malfoy tried his best to keep his composure, himself in a stance that seemed violent.
"Control him." Hermione poured coldly towards you as she nudged the other two boys to leave, the trio walking away down the corridor. You sighed, feeling a block stack on the friendship you once had so strong and powerful. You remained paralyzed in posture, watching them go for a few seconds until turning right to Draco, clearly annoyed.
"Draco.... why?" You only managed to croak, your eyes slowly gaining sight onto his, realizing his whole stance changed and became more understanding.
"I just.. can't stand them."
"You don't have to Malfoy, but I do. I really consider them as friends, and what you did today was slightly tear the ties I made with them." You informed him, making sure he knows how you feel.
"If it's a slight tear it shouldn't be a problem { first name }. They like you right? They won't care." He affirmed you ignorantly as you scoffed to his response.
"Draco, that's not the point!" Your voice raised protectively, "What I'm trying to say is at this right who's to say they'll stay friends with me if every time they talk to me you have to meddle into the conversation?"
"I..." He started, at a complete loss for words but still looking at you, "I just feel the need to. I don't know what it is and why I've been doing so but my mind wants to... p-protect you." When you heard the last two words spoken your eyes and eyebrows lifted into soft shock as your ears ringed in his words with disbelief. You had no idea he felt the necessity to look after you.
"Ever since I've met you, I can't really explain it but I feel more closer to you than I do with anyone else. You don't look at me differently like all these other people or use me for popularity and what not. I feel like you see me as just me, and it's kind of comforting to know that someone in this fucked up world can look at me in that way. That's why as a friend I feel obligated to care for you." He confessed as you could only gawk and gape at his heartfelt confession. You really couldn't comprehend that this whole idea Draco told you is true.
"....Draco, I care for you too. I really do, and I understand while also accepting that that's the way you feel about our friendship, and honestly I couldn't be happier. Thank you for telling me that." You managed to say. Hesitantly, you leaned into him, clutching him into a sheepish cuddle, right in his arms. This time he felt more easy around your touch, and warmed right up, not doing much but indirectly letting you know he appreciated the touch by caressing your back. You beamed into the delightfulness of the embrace as you now pulled out, looking at Draco into his piercing orbs.
"I feel closer to you than anyone here." You croaked out of context, accidentally blurting that thought out. Your insides, especially your mind, was yelling at you for saying that and the vulnerability you gained from stating such thing, however, it seemed that Malfoy.... agreed? He seemed accepting to what you said.
"Me too." He wasn't too confident in saying that, you can tell, however you felt the meaning in it and that it was true. You let out a shy twinkle as both of you walked away silently, sides almost touching as you both were headed to the Slytherin common room, together.