Maybe it's more than just friendship

The common room was warm, the fire crackling softly as students trickled in, exhausted from the long train ride and the dramatic events of the night. I sighed, my body heavy with fatigue, but before I could say anything, Draco turned to me.

"Goodnight, Selene," he said, his voice softer than usual. Then, without much thought, he pulled me into a brief hug.

It wasn't something we did often—Draco wasn't exactly the sentimental type. But in that moment, I knew what it meant. After the Dementor attack, after the chaos of the day, this was his way of saying he was glad I was okay.

I smiled against his shoulder before pulling away. "Goodnight, Draco."

As he strode toward the boys' dormitory, I felt a warmth settle in my chest. It wasn't romantic, not exactly, but it was something. Draco trusted me, relied on me in ways he didn't with anyone else. I knew that much. And for some reason, I loved that.

Pansy, standing a few feet away, didn't say a word, but her expression told me everything. She wasn't scowling, nor was she rolling her eyes, but the slight pursing of her lips, the way her gaze flickered between Draco and me, spoke volumes. I ignored it, brushing past her as Sree, Kenny, and I made our way up to the girls' dormitory.

The moment the door closed behind us, I could tell something was off. Sree and Kenny exchanged glances, whispering in hushed tones, their faces unreadable in the dim glow of the lanterns.

I furrowed my brows. "What?" I asked, curiosity and unease creeping into my voice.

For a moment, they hesitated, as if debating whether to tell me. Then, finally, Kenny exhaled and spoke.

"Sree thinks she has a crush on Draco."

I blinked. The words hit me harder than they should have. It was like an invisible hand had reached into my chest and squeezed.

My first instinct was disbelief. "What?" I let out a breathy laugh, though it didn't sound as lighthearted as I intended.

Sree didn't meet my gaze.

I opened my mouth, and what came out next surprised even me. "I mean, you guys have been teasing me about him since first year. And you know I like Draco. Why would you go for him, Sree?"

The moment the words left my lips, I realized the weight they carried. Did I just admit it? Did I just say, out loud, that I liked Draco Malfoy?

Sree remained silent, but the lack of an apology in her eyes told me she wasn't feeling guilty about it.

"It's just a small crush, right?" I asked, my voice quieter now, almost as if I was convincing myself more than her.

Sree didn't answer.

The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. A million thoughts raced through my mind—Did I like Draco? Was it just the familiarity, the comfort of our friendship, or was it something more? And if it was... what did this mean?

I looked at Sree, my best friend, and for the first time, I felt something strange between us. A crack.

I swallowed hard. I didn't want this to ruin our friendship. I didn't want a boy—Draco Malfoy, of all people—to come between us. But I couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at my chest.

Because, deep down, I knew.

Draco wasn't just my best friend. He wasn't just someone I cared about.

He was something more.

And that realization terrified me.

I woke up to the quiet hum of the dormitory, the faint sounds of deep, even breaths filling the space. Kenny and Sree were still lost in sleep, their blankets tangled from the night's rest. I had always been an early riser, finding comfort in the stillness of the mornings. It was the only time I could truly be alone with my thoughts—though today, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

Sliding out of bed, I quickly changed into my robes, shivering slightly as the crisp September air crept through the stone walls of the castle. The Slytherin common room, tucked away beneath the Black Lake, was always colder in the mornings, but I was used to it. I pulled on my green-trimmed blazer, fastening the silver buttons as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

The library was where I was headed, as always. It had become a routine for Draco and me—to get ahead, to study, to make sure we remained at the top. Neither of us could afford to slip behind. Even if we didn't always land in the top three, we needed to be in the top five. It was an unspoken agreement, an expectation we placed on each other.

As I stepped into the dimly lit corridors, my boots clicking softly against the stone, my mind drifted back to last night.

"I mean, you guys have been teasing me since first year, and you know I like Draco. Why would you go for him, Sree?"

The words had left my mouth before I could stop them.

Had I really admitted it? Had I really said, out loud, that I liked Draco Malfoy?

A shiver ran down my spine, though I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or the realization creeping into my chest. It was one thing for my friends to tease me about it, but another thing entirely for me to believe it. And now, something had shifted. Something I couldn't ignore.

The problem wasn't liking Draco—it was the fear that came with it.

By the time I reached the library, I had composed myself. Or at least, I had tried.

Draco was already there, sitting at our usual table near the tall stained-glass window. The morning sun streamed through, casting fractured emerald and sapphire hues onto the wooden surface. He looked up as I approached, a lazy smirk curling at his lips.

"Good morning," he greeted, his voice still carrying that husky undertone of someone who had only recently woken up.

"Good morning," I replied, settling into the seat across from him.

It was a simple exchange, the same as always. And yet, it wasn't.

Because now, every glance, every word, every movement felt heavier.

I could feel his eyes on me as I opened my book, and for the first time, I wasn't sure if I could meet his gaze without giving myself away.

That morning in the library was quiet, except for the occasional rustle of parchment and the soft whispers of students immersed in their books. Draco and I sat across from each other, our books open, quills ready, but our attention only half on our studies. The thought of today's classes, particularly Care of Magical Creatures, had already soured Draco's mood.

"Alright, let's see our routine," he muttered, scanning his schedule. "Today we have—Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures." His expression twisted in distaste as he leaned back in his chair. "What times have come, we have to refer to an oaf as 'Professor.'"

I nodded, flipping a page in my textbook. "He isn't even a wizard. And on top of that, the way he sees creatures like dragons as 'misunderstood creatures'—I wonder what we have to deal with today."

Draco scoffed, tapping his quill against his book absentmindedly. "Probably something with claws, fangs, or a penchant for biting off limbs. Honestly, I don't see why we even need this subject. What's the point?"

"Apparently, to 'broaden our understanding of the magical world,'" I quoted in a mockingly grand voice, earning a smirk from him.

We both sighed and returned to studying, but in the back of my mind, I knew today was going to be an eventful day.

Kenny always had a way of reading my mind, and today was no exception.

Our first class was Potions, and as fate would have it, Draco was partnered with Sree. I couldn't quite explain the sharp pang in my chest when Professor Snape announced it, but it settled deep and uncomfortable within me. I tried to ignore it, tried to focus on the lesson, but every time I glanced at their table, something unpleasant twisted in my stomach.

Breakfast had already been tense. Sree barely spoke to me, and I wasn't sure if it was guilt, indifference, or something else altogether. It was almost like Kenny was the only one holding the conversation together, with Sree and me simply nodding along to whatever she was saying.

Now, as we sat together preparing our ingredients, Kenny gave me a knowing look.

"You know you can always confess to Draco," she said, casually slicing her root of asphodel.

"Oh yeah? And then kiss his ass goodbye forever?" I snapped before I could stop myself.

Kenny huffed, unimpressed. "Oh, come on, Selene. You're so pretty, smart, and you're basically attached to Draco at the hip. Why would he say no?"

I rolled my eyes and turned back to my cauldron. "Why don't you confess to Blaise, huh?" I shot back.

Kenny blinked before laughing. "Come on, we aren't close like the two of you." She shook her head, stirring the potion with precise movements.

I glanced across the room again, watching as Sree said something to Draco, who smirked in response. It was stupid. It was so stupid to feel this way, but I couldn't help it. Sree was gorgeous. She had long, luscious jet-black hair and a sharp, contoured face. Her smile was stunning—especially with her slight fangs that peeked out when she laughed. She had plump lips, a beautifully hooked nose, and a jawline so sharp it could cut through glass.

"I know what you're thinking," Kenny muttered, not even looking up from her work. "Two pretty people can co-exist, you know."

I exhaled sharply, nodding, but I couldn't shake the feeling clawing at my chest.