Why You? | Draco x Reader

The next morning was cold and grey — the kind of Hogwarts day that smelled like wet stone and storm clouds. It matched Y/N's mood perfectly.

Because Draco Malfoy was avoiding her again.

He hadn't looked at her once during breakfast. Not when she passed him in the corridor. Not even when Blaise nudged him and said something that sounded suspiciously like,

"Still brooding about the Weasley girl?"

————

When Professor McGonagall announced how they would be having a Yule Ball, all the girls giggled meanwhile the boys looked like they were already dreading the event.

Y/N stood up to look for Draco, maybe this is how she could try speaking with him. By the time she had found him he had already sneaked away from the class.

She partnered with Ron after McGonagall let him free. Her mind was somewhere else though,

Why is Draco acting like this?

She'd had enough.

So when she caught him heading out of the Potions classroom alone after Slughorn let them out early, she followed.

"Malfoy!"

He didn't stop.

"Draco."

That did it.

He turned so fast his robe snapped around his legs. His face was unreadable — a perfect blank mask, except for his eyes. They were furious.

"What?"

"What is your problem?" she snapped, catching up to him.

"You tell me."

"You've been ignoring me since the exhibition. What, you can hex me and flirt with me and almost kiss me in detention but the second I duel with Ron—"

"You think that was just a duel?" he growled.

The hallway was empty now. The torches flickered low. Her pulse pounded in her ears.

"What else was it supposed to be?"

"You laughed with him."

Y/N blinked. "What?"

"You smiled at him."

"He's my friend."

"And what am I?"

That shut her up.

The silence between them crackled like live wires. Neither of them looked away.

Draco stepped closer.

"You don't get to look at him like that," he said lowly. "Not when I'm the one who—"

He broke off, jaw clenched.

"The one who what?"

"You know."

Y/N's voice rose. "No, I don't. Because every time we get close to talking about it, you run off or pretend it's a joke or say something awful just to push me away—"

"Because it's easier than wanting you!"

The words came out like a shot. Loud. Raw. Uncontrolled.

Y/N stared at him, stunned.

Draco looked like he hadn't meant to say it. Like he'd just heard the truth come out of his own mouth and didn't know what to do with it.

"You... what?" she whispered.