"I feel bad leaving them down there," I sighed, distractedly watching the whisk stir the tomato sauce.
Once Draco and I made our way back upstairs, deciding it was probably time to eat something ourselves, I insisted on making the food together.
No house-elf had to prepare pasta and tomato sauce; it simply didn't feel like it was worth their time and effort. That and the fact that watching Draco try to cook really was a sight for sore eyes.
His brows were knitted together tightly, so focused on adding just the right amount of salt to the sauce. If I hadn't just brought up such a serious topic, I probably would've laughed at the scene.
It took him a moment to register my words, his hand lowering in defeat as the pinch of salt in between his fingers fell to the floor. He shook his head in frustration at the seemingly hard task of seasoning.
"I know. Me too. But there's not much we can do," He shrugged, a hint of disappointment in his voice as his gaze lingered on me for a moment. Eyes darting back and forth between me and the sauce, he scrunched up his nose before another sigh left his lips.
Lost in his own thoughts, he bit his lip in concentration as he reached for the salt. "How much is a pinch of salt? Can't these muggles just use normal measuring units?" He grumbled, visibly annoyed.
This time, a singular laugh passed by my lips, and I shook my head at his perfectionistic nature.
"Would you look at that," I teased. "Mister outstanding-in-potions can't even make a proper tomato sauce," I mumbled, amusement lacing my voice.
He groaned in annoyance, throwing a glare my way, "If you're so good at it, why don't you do it?"
"Well, it's much more entertaining this way, don't you think?" I huffed, though hopped off the marble countertop to stand beside him. "You know, there's no need for you to try and do everything so utterly perfect," I murmured, shaking my head as I grabbed a generous amount of salt and just tossed into the now boiling sauce.
The enchanted whisk immediately started stirring and mixing quicker, seemingly happy to finally have a task.
A little bewildered, Draco followed my movements as I reached for the pepper and added some.
"What recipe are you following?" He asked, his arms crossed in front of his chest and a brow quirked.
"It's called a gut-feeling, Draco. You should really try it sometimes," I responded flatly, rolling my eyes. "So who cooked their meals, then? It clearly wasn't you." I added some basil as well as oregano before hopping back onto the empty countertop next to the stove.
He scoffed, pretending to be offended by my remarks before he decided to answer, "One of the house-elves."
I raised an eyebrow, expecting the answer, though being puzzled by it, anyway.
"And you trust them?" I wondered, tilting my head as he began walking over towards me. He nodded. "How come?"
"She noticed how- uh, unwell I was after what happened to you during summer," He began, scratching the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.
I guess the memory of watching me get tortured wasn't the most pleasant in his eyes, either.
"And she offered to help. They don't usually do that; the house-elves. They're my fathers; so they serve him. What Larbey did could've very well ended in her own death. So, I figured I can still trust her now."
I smiled as he mentioned the kind house-elves name. "I remember Larbey," I hummed to myself, remembering the book she brought me under Draco's instructions.
It was quiet for a moment, and a rather interesting, yet random question flooded my mind. "What's your Patronus?"
His brows furrowed at the words, and I watched him intently in hopes I'd be able to read his reaction.
"Where did that come from?" He wondered, taken aback a little as he raised his hand to scratch his neck, eyes wandering through the dark kitchen.
I shrugged. "Just general interest. Seeing as you're my boyfriend, I feel like I should know. Don't you?" I said, a deep smirk on my lips as I raised my brows expectantly.
He scrunched up his nose at the words, and his reaction irritated me for a moment, making me wonder whether I said something wrong. Though soon after a smirk grew on his own face and I huffed in relief at the sight.
"Don't tell me you can cast a Patronus," He snickered, a playfully condescending tone in his voice that made me gasp loudly, my hand flying up to my chest.
"What's that supposed to mean? You don't think I can?" I retorted sarcastically, shaking my head in disbelieve.
Draco huffed in contentment as he came to a halt in between my legs, our eyes almost levelled now that I was sitting on the counter and he was standing in front of me.
"Well-" He began, the smirk on his face deepening.
"You absolute arse, Draco Malfoy!" I grumbled, hitting his chest lightly before a smile found its way to my own lips. "If you must know, it's a deer; my Patronus," I revealed proudly.
"A deer?"
I nodded. "It was my mother's as well, I think," I explained quietly, and now he was the one nodding. "Anyway," I quickly cut what could've become a rather emotional conversation short. "What's yours, then?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" He huffed in amusement, shaking his head with a slight smile on his lips that didn't seem as genuine as it should have been.
I groaned lowly before it was quiet in the kitchen for a moment, nothing but the bubbling of the pasta water in the air as his hands rested on my hip and my arms intertwined behind his neck as I rolled my eyes.
"I could get used to this, you know," He murmured, his voice no more than a raspy whisper.
"And what exactly is this?"
"Doing normal things. A normal life. With you." He sighed at the way his words sounded, shaking his head in amusement at it. "Merlin knows that'll never happen."
"Never say never," I warned, hoping the playful tone in my voice would get rid of how heavy the air around us suddenly felt. "I know, that's a muggle saying, but still-"
His lips suddenly on mine cut me off, and I swallowed the rest of my sentence in surprise at the unexpected motion.
They moved against mine longingly, and soon enough, his tongue poked against my lips asking for access which I granted just as hungrily.
The grip on my hip tightened, his other hand finding my thigh to hold on to, as I fumbled with the hem of his shirt. Though, a loud hiss made us quickly jump apart; startled.
I laughed loudly when I realised it was simply the pasta water boiling over. Draco still looked terrified, even after he realised what it was, and the sight only made me laugh louder.
Still laughing lowly, my gaze trailed over the rest of the room. "Fuck," I giggled. "I love you-" The words caught in the back of my throat, and my body stiffened as I locked eyes with the figure in the doorway towards the kitchens.
My breath hitched, and Draco seemed to notice the change in attitude. As he turned around towards me, following my gaze, he, too, froze in his movements at the sight of Severus Snape.
Of course. The moment was too good to be true, anyway.
I'm surprised it wasn't Voldemort himself who had to ruin it.
His eyes were narrowed, examining the situation carefully. Though, we all knew he didn't have to put anything together to know what was going on.
I sighed, chest deflating before I jumped off the countertop and cooled down the water with a quick spell. Honestly, I wasn't quite sure what was to follow.
Draco didn't seem like he did, either, but he moved to stand in front of me, anyway.
The gesture warmed my heart, though not enough to forget about the situation we just found ourselves in.
Snape swallowed thickly at the picture in front of him but didn't seem like he was going to act on it. For a while, I thought he'd just stand there until I voluntarily retreated back into that room. But then, he did speak.
"Have a plate be brought up to my room. The rest of them will return within the next two hours, so I suggest you eat quickly." He turned to leave as soon as the word's left his mouth.
Though, he stopped in his tracks as another thought hit him. "And for goodness sake, don't be so ridiculously careless."
Gone.
Neither of us dared to move for a moment, not quite sure what to make of the situation. I blinked a little quicker than usual, utterly perplexed by it.
At least this would show where Snape's loyalty truly laid; whether I could truly trust him.
A/N: I'm in love w this chapter :(
Also not Draco lying about his Patronus jklhjghfg he's embarrassed he can't cast one :( bless him
See you tomorrow <3