All I Ask Of You (Sequel to "The Point Of No Return (Draco Malfoy)"

Chapter Fifteen

“I can’t believe this.”

            “I’m sorry. Please don’t tell anyone.”

            She was disappointed. I know. She was upset that Aly was right. She was worried I would get hurt. And maybe I would, but that’s the thing. I didn’t care.

            “Lucinda?” I asked when she didn’t answer.

            “You have to tell Aly and Kay.”

            “But,”

            “If you don’t, I will.” There it was. The ultimatum I knew I’d be getting from her.

            “Fine. I’ll tell them.”

            I told them one evening when we were all chatting in Lucinda and Kay’s room. Aly got mad again and went back to our room and Kay was surprisingly happy.

            “I knew it!” She’d shouted.

            I told them when I started seeing Draco again and how it was him I had been with all those nights in the Astronomy Tower. Lucinda said she’d been wondering if that’s what had been going on with me. She always had a way of figuring me out.

            I wasn’t allowed to return to my room until midnight. They wanted to know every little detail. And I told them most things, but left out some of my more personal experiences. I wasn’t about to give up everything I held close to my heart. But having my best friends know the truth put my mind at ease for the last few months of school.

            “How did you do?” Draco asked.

            I looked up from my grade card. “Exceeds Expectations.”

            His face immediately lit up and broke into a contagious grin. My feet were off the ground, twirling around and around. Suddenly there were a hundred tiny, white birds flying around us, following our motion. I didn't even notice him pull out his wand.

            I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him like I might die, like I could fall from the tower any second. The spinning stopped but the sound of wings remained. I could feel his happiness as he smiled into my kiss; feel our hearts keeping perfect time, feel the sun warming my goose bump covered skin.

            He set me on my feet, pushing me towards the rail. “Look.” He whispered. The birds circled us once more and shot over the edge like a waterfall, rushing to the ground, the sun dancing on their wings. We watched them slowly disperse among the trees and listened to the sound of beating wings fade away.

            “I wouldn’t have passed potions without you.” I finally said, remembering the hours we spent studying, even on his birthday.

            “You’d be fine.” He smirked.

            I shook my head. “No. I would never have passed the practical!”

            “You would.”

            “I don’t think so.”

            He didn’t argue. Instead he locked his arms around my shoulders, pulling my back against his chest. I closed my eyes and leaned back into him as he whispered stories from his childhood in my ear.

            He told me about summers at Malfoy Manor. Every year he would start a new project. One was building a bird house when he was seven. Another was reading as many of the books in the library as he could. The only summer he didn’t have a project was last summer.

            “Why didn’t you?” I asked.

            He sighed heavily. “I was going completely insane. I didn’t have time.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Natalie, I was seeing things that weren’t there.” He paused. “I would wake up each morning and you were there, outside my window. You’d stay there all day.” He stopped, letting go so I could look at him. His eyes were warm. “I thought I hated seeing you, but when first term started I would have done anything to go back. I couldn’t take you hating me and I’m sorry. I’m sorry if I didn’t say it before, but I’m so sorry.”

            “I never hated you.” I said.

            He laughed. “I tell you I was hallucinating all summer and that’s what you take from it?”

            I laughed too. “I’m just saying, I could never hate you.” I said, smiling. I pulled him closer and kissed him again, soft and slow.

            Suddenly I could hear giggling and feet running up the stairs. I pushed Draco back.

            “Natalie?”

            The giggling stopped.

            We both turned to the voice, shocked and caught.

            “Monica,”

            There she was. My twin sister, standing in front of me, holding the hand of a tall, dark, and handsome boy I didn’t recognize. The smirk faded from his face and was replaced with an awkward attempt at a smile.

            “I don’t know what to say.” She admitted. “Hermione warned me and I didn’t listen.”

            “Warned you about what?” I asked cautiously.

            “Him.” She gestured to Draco, not saying anything else on the subject.

            “Maybe we should just talk about this another time.” I suggested. She nodded in agreement. I grabbed Draco’s hand and pulled him past my sister and down the stairs.

            “She’s going to kill me.”