Golden Girl (reader x Draco x Cedric)

? 01 | Hiraeth

'Well, I'd better get tickets for that show right now,' you giggle, feeling the blush creeping up your cheeks. 'They're going to sell out fast.' Clearing your throat, you add in a more serious tone, 'I... um, I apologize for my earlier remark. It was incredibly rude. I didn't mean it like that.'

Cedric waves off your apology with a casual gesture. 'No harm done,' he assures you, his smile warm and genuine as he finally hands you the rouille. 'Besides, a little friendly competition never hurt anyone.'

Shaking your head to break the prolonged staring session 'See you around,' you say with a fluttering heart as Cedric gives you a playful wink. 'You seem like a fun person to have around, Y/N.'

'Likewise,' you manage to reply before turning on your heel and heading back to the Ravenclaw table, already dreading the teasing you will endure. As you fight off the blush creeping onto your cheeks, you mutter to yourself, 'Boys are trouble... All boys are trouble...All boys are-Ah!'

Your chant is interrupted as you collide with something solid. No, someone who towers over you. You close your eyes reflexively, expecting a collision, but instead, you feel a gentle hand catch you by the waist, the other catching the bowl of rouille just in time.

'Nice catch,' you manage to say as the mysterious figure hands you the dish. 'Sorry—'

'The rouille almost lost its flavor,' a low, sultry voice remarks as the boy you ran into walks past you. As he passes, a waft of lavender fills your senses, and you catch a glimpse of soothing platinum blonde hair out of the corner of your eye.

You stand there, utterly starstruck, as the busy Great Hall fades into the background.

"That guy just now..." your own voice sounds distant, your throat both dry and wet at the same time.

'Draco?' you whisper as the Great Hall comes back into focus.

You turn around in a rush, your heart pounding, but the boy heading towards the exit is taller than you, lean, with disheveled hair and green robes. He's nothing like Draco Malfoy. Yet, inexplicably, your heart skips a beat, and your mind feels fuzzy. You chase him throught he hall and down the moving staircase where in you almost plumit to your death when a flight of stairs move form right udner your feet. But.You.Don't.Care.

And you finally see him, waling in the coutyard, his pale skin marble under the moonlight, like he's glowng in the dark.

Almost involuntarily, you call out, 'DRACO!'

For a terrifying moment, he keeps walking, and you wonder if you've embarrassed yourself by mistaking him for someone else. But then, he stops and looks up at the moon.

You hold your breath, watching intently.

And then, he turns around, locking eyes with you. In that instant, you know you were right. You'd recognize those silver eyes anywhere. He tilts his head ever so slightly, a smile tugging at his lips, and suddenly, the world feels like it's spinning, like you're levitating. The platinum blonde hair, the pale moonlit skin, the lustrous eyes—it's all there. But he's different somehow, not just in appearance, but in demeanor.

'Finally noticed me, huh?' his voice, like honey and velvet, breaks the silence. 'Slowpoke.'

'D-Draco?' you manage, stumbling towards him.

'You've been completely oblivious to my existence since you arrived at Hogwarts,' he says matter-of-factly. "I wondered when you might start noticing, but it wasn't until now that you realized something—"

"Why didn't you say anything?" you ask, a mix of confusion and relief washing over you.

Draco shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck. 'I suppose I found it amusing. Maybe I wanted to see how long it would take for you to notice me. Mabey I wanted to witness your expression...'

He meets your gaze, his smile sly. 'Me, on the other hand? I knew right away it was you, even though you've changed... Who's the shortie now?'

A chuckle escapes your lips.

'That comment about competition? It was quite inspiring.'

"You heard that?"

"What can I say? Feisty Y/L/N is loud."

A comfortable silence envelops you both as you take in each other's new selves.

'Your laugh hasn't changed,"'Draco remarks, cocking an eyebrow and extending a hand. 'What now? Want a reunion hug?'

"And fraternize with the competition?" you huff, though secretly wanting nothing more than that hug.

'Ah, right,' Draco says, remembering. "Still on the guy-hate train then?"

You feel a tightness in your throat and your eyes sting with the memory of your outburst at Malfoy Manor.

'Yeah,' you mutter. "I do hate guys.'

You look up, meeting Draco's gaze. Something unspoken passes between you, and his smile fades.

'But...' you feel a tingling sensation in your toes as you muster the courage to say the words you've longed to say fir four years 'You were the only exception.'

And this time, as you look up at him, you're certain that your words have colored his cheeks a soft shade of pink. He clears his throat, hiding his blush with the back of his hand, just like he did all those years ago.

'Well... for what it's worth,' he begins, his voice barely above a whisper, "I liked you too."

A sharp pang of uncertainty pierces your chest. What does he mean by "liked"? As a friend? Or something more?

'Too bad...' he continues, his gaze shifting to the ground. 'We can't go back to those days... Too bad... that you're a filthy half-blood.'