Resolution
It was a few days after the note incident. Your friend had scarcely left you alone since that day. She claimed it was because she was defending you from any potential rudeness or teasing which might have resulted from the incident, but you were pretty sure she just felt guilty and wanted to be around you to make herself feel better about it. Or make you feel better about it. Either way you weren't entirely grateful.. in fact you were rather frustrated, because right now more than anything you just wanted to be alone.
Finally after several days of this you managed to slip away from her by claiming you needed to go to the library to work on an assignment with another of your friends from another house, you'd promised him after all. She frowned, but agreed to go on to your dormitory without you. You just needed time alone to think.
You did not go to the library. You hadn't actually promised your friend anything. Instead you wandered, taking all the hallways and shortcuts that you knew usually had almost no people walking through them. Especially on a nice day like today. You found an abandoned hallway and sat down against the wall.
The repercussions of the incident had been much smaller than you'd anticipated. Not many people had heard of it, and those who had seemed to have heard it from the onlookers, so the reactions were usually somewhat confused or embarrassed (presumably about the content of the note itself), but mostly supportive and sympathetic regarding how Malfoy had treated you.
Hadn't Malfoy spread the rumour like fiendfyre? He must not have.. it almost seemed like the other slytherins didn't even know anything about the incident. But how was that possible?
"AArgh" you cried out, frustrated. What was Malfoy's deal anyways?! You had thought he was better than that. After that one night months ago in which you two had bonded, sharing secrets and learning to respect one another. After that night you had thought maybe he would be your friend, or at least spare you from mockery. That day you had learned he was actually a good guy. You must have been wrong about that, though. If he was any good he wouldn't have done that to you... That night had been so very odd anyways... Maybe it hadn't ever really happened...
And then there were his expressions. Why had he looked at you like that when he read your note? What had that meant? It had looked like softness, concern, care... But that must only be because you wished so desperately for that to have been what you'd seen, right? There was no way he could both have been so mean as to read the note out loud and look at you with that softness at the same time.
"Y/N?" your head snapped up from your knees as you heard your name, called by that familiar voice. Sure enough, there was Draco, alone at the end of the hall, walking straight towards you. Wait.. alone? Crabbe and Goyle were always by his side. But not today... Weird.
"Y/N, can we speak?" Draco's voice held anxiety, apology, guilt, and hesitance. You frowned, what was all this about? What did this mean?
You weren't sure you wanted to speak with Draco right now.. but then again, you certainly did want answers from him.
"What is it?" you tried to keep your voice haughty and uninterested. Hoping to hide all the confusion, hurt and betrayal you felt towards him.
He sat down cross legged on the floor in front of you. "I want to apologize about the other day. I've wanted to apologize since the moment I read the note, but I haven't been able to catch you on your own, and I didn't particularly want this conversation overheard."
You frowned at him, trying to keep a stony expression. Apologize? Really? You didn't believe him.
He sighed. "really Y/N, I'm really sorry... I realise I hurt you.. I didn't want to hurt you. When your friend shouted that the note was about me I had to come over to read it.. I didn't want others suspecting I'm soft on you, and I thought it might be fun to tease you a bit. I.. I was also really curious to know what you'd written about me. But I realise that it wasn't harmless fun like i had meant it to be, I really hurt you, and for that I'm really sorry"
"Really?" you asked quietly, hardly daring to believe that he meant it.
"Really really," Draco affirmed, "I'm sorry." He paused awkwardly as you blushed.
"Thank you.. for apologizing," you managed. You weren't sure you wanted to forgive him yet, but you honestly appreciated seeing this honest and gentle side of Draco once more. Maybe that night had been real after all.
Draco fiddled with his sleeves, almost as if torn about whether to keep talking or not. You waited, curious about what else he had in mind.
He sighed and seemed to decide. "I.. I was actually really touched. By what you wrote, I mean. You were so honest and trusting, you were so sweet and cute. I'm sorry again for breaking that trust.." He trailed off again.
"Do you mean it..? You looked so disgusted and offended as you read it.. I wish i had never written it.."
"No, no!" he interrupted "It was really sweet, I was acting offended because.. like I said.. I don't want others thinking I'm soft on you"
"Are you?" you asked, hardly daring to hope.
"Well.. yeah.. I suppose so," he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed, "but I can't have others knowing, now can I?"
"Why not?" you asked softly.
"Because.." he gazed at you, and it was like all the careful reasons he had constructed around himself regarding why he couldn't have you, couldn't even be your friend, suddenly seemed small, and unimportant. He shook his head. "It all seems kind of stupid now.. my father wouldn't approve.. I have a reputation to uphold.. you know.."
It was your turn to smirk a bit at him "Does that all really matter that much to you? I'm soft on you too Draco.. or at least I want to be.. but I can't let myself be if you're going to pull stunts like the other day.. if you're going to treat me like everyone else you despise.. I won't be able to help but believe you despise me too..." you hoped he would choose you, but you told yourself firmly that it was likely he wouldn't, that he would choose his father, his reputation over you, and that that was fine, it was time you got over him anyways.
He laughed, like this was somewhat of a realisation. "Oh god.. yeah of course.. I'm sorry.. you're right.. I can't treat you like that and expect you to treat me any better in return. I don't think I'd be able to stand that.." He gazed fondly at you. "You're just so soft, and precious, you're warm, honest, caring, gentle, special. You're really something else, you know?"
You were tearing up. He was speaking so genuinely, he really seemed like he meant it. This was also the first time anyone had said anything like this to you. Sure your friends gave you complements here and there, but this was so honest, so caring.
"I also.." Draco started, seeming unsure if he should continue, "I, um, also really hope that I can help you not wanna die. I like you a lot Y/N.. I'd like to keep you around." he gave you a soft smile and hesitantly opened his arms in an offer of a hug.
You were crying again, what was it with you and crying around Draco. You fell forward into the hug, gripping him tightly and crying into his shoulder. "Is this real? Is this really happening?"
"Yeah, it is real" Draco said breathlessly, as though he himself could scarcely believe it. He held you close, rocking you softly from side to side until your tears slowed and stopped.
"I'm sorry for crying all over your robes" you managed, breaking apart from the hug and shyly gazing at him.
"Don't worry about it, it's no big deal, you don't need to apologize for crying." Draco smiled at you affectionately.
He kissed your forehead softly and your face got very hot.
"One more thing," he murmured close to your ear, a blush softly dusting his cheekbones too, "I, uh, liked the sound of some of your other suggestions from that note. I'm sure you'd taste far better than apple pie though"
Your eyes widened in surprise, you gaped at him, your face beet red from shyness and embarrassment. "Really?!? Oh my god Draco, stop!" you shoved him away and he just laughed and hugged you close again.
"I mean it, but I think maybe we should take it slow, don't you? How about starting by officially becoming my girlfriend?"
"Yes!" you smiled more broadly than you had in months, your worries seeming small and distant in that shining lovely moment.