Everything changed.

The common room was eerily quiet, save for the crackling fire that barely illuminated the grand space. I had sat there all night, staring into the flames, my mind an endless loop of the argument with Sree. Every sharp word, every bitter glance, every moment I had convinced myself that she was my friend unraveled before my eyes. The truth was suffocating, weighing me down like chains I had unknowingly been shackled with all these years. She was never my friend. She had never truly cared for me. It had all been an act—a cruel, carefully crafted pretense. And the worst part? I had let myself believe it.

By the time the sun rose, exhaustion had seeped into my bones, but I couldn't close my eyes. I felt raw, exposed, as if my entire being had been turned inside out. I hadn't even bothered to change out of my uniform from the night before. My stomach twisted at the thought of facing another day, of plastering on a smile and pretending that everything was okay when it so clearly wasn't.

Morning came too soon, and before I knew it, I was sitting across from Draco in the library. My hands fidgeted with the quill, my mind hazy. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, and despite my best efforts, my head drooped slightly. Draco's voice, smooth yet edged with concern, cut through the fog in my mind.

"Alright, what's going on with you?"

I blinked rapidly and sat up straight. "What?" I asked, feigning innocence. My voice cracked slightly, betraying me.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Don't give me that," he said, leaning forward. "You're not paying attention, you look like you've been up all night, and—" He stopped, and his gaze softened. "And you look like you're about to cry."

I immediately turned away, biting my lip hard to keep my emotions at bay. This was exactly what I didn't want. I didn't want him to see me like this. I didn't want him to know. If I told him... it would ruin everything. It would expose Sree. It would expose me.

Draco reached across the table and gently took my hand in his. "Selene," he murmured, his tone different now—softer, hesitant, almost vulnerable. "Tell me what's wrong."

I swallowed hard. I couldn't look at him. If I did, I'd break. "It's nothing," I whispered, shaking my head. "Just tired."

Draco scoffed. "Oh, come on. Don't insult my intelligence."

I pulled my hand back, curling it into a fist. My vision blurred with unshed tears. "Draco, please," I begged, my voice barely audible. "Just... let it go."

But he didn't. He never did when it came to me.

He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms, studying me. "It's about Sree, isn't it?"

My breath hitched. "I—"

"I knew it." His voice was quieter now, laced with something I couldn't quite place. He ran a hand through his platinum hair, exhaling sharply. "I don't like her."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Well, that makes two of us."

He tilted his head, his eyes never leaving mine. "What did she say to you?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter."

"Like hell it doesn't," he snapped. "You've been off all morning. And last night—" He hesitated. "Last night, after you left, I..." He stopped, shaking his head. "Forget it."

But I couldn't. I needed to know. "After I left, what?"

His jaw clenched, and for the first time, he looked... uncertain. "I felt like something was wrong," he admitted. "I don't know. I just— I don't like seeing you like this, Selene."

Something inside me cracked at his words. My lips trembled, and before I could stop myself, I whispered, "She was never my friend."

Draco's eyes darkened. "What?"

I let out a shaky breath, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "She never cared about me," I said bitterly. "She was pretending all along. And I... I was stupid enough to believe her."

Draco's fingers curled into fists, his expression unreadable. "What did she do?"

I laughed dryly. "She made it very clear that I was the fool in this entire situation. And you know what's the worst part?" My voice cracked. "I defended her. Even after everything, I still tried to be a good friend. But she—" I stopped, swallowing my words.

Draco was silent for a moment before he stood up abruptly. "Where is she?"

My eyes widened. "Draco, no."

He ignored me and started gathering his things. "I swear to Merlin, if she hurt you—"

I grabbed his wrist before he could storm out. "Draco," I said, my voice trembling, "don't."

He looked down at me, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface, but something else flickered in his expression—something I couldn't quite name. Slowly, he sat back down.

I exhaled in relief, releasing his wrist. We sat in silence for a moment before I spoke again, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's not just about Sree."

Draco's brows furrowed. "Then what is it?"

I hesitated. My heart was pounding. This was it. The moment I had been dreading and longing for at the same time. I wanted to tell him, but I was scared. Scared of what it would mean. Scared of what it could change.

"I just..." I took a deep breath. "I don't know how to say it."

Draco leaned in slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Then don't say it," he murmured. "Just tell me what you feel."

I swallowed hard. My fingers tightened around the edge of the table. "I feel... I feel like I've been lying to myself for a long time."

He tilted his head, waiting.

I took another breath. "And I feel like if I say it out loud, everything will change."

Draco didn't move, didn't speak. He just watched me, his expression unreadable. And then, after what felt like an eternity, he whispered, "Say it anyway."

My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. My lips parted, and finally, finally, I let the words slip.

"I think... I think I—" My voice cracked, and I looked away. "I think I care about you more than I should."

Draco inhaled sharply, his entire body going still. The air between us was electric, charged with unspoken words, unsaid feelings. I couldn't look at him. I was terrified of what I'd see in his eyes.

And then, softly, he whispered, "Then maybe you're not the only one."

DRACO'S POV

I noticed it the moment she walked into the library. Selene wasn't herself. There was something off—her shoulders were tense, her usual easy smile was missing, and there was a certain heaviness in her eyes that she wasn't very good at hiding, at least not from me. I didn't say anything at first, just observed. She was always the first to greet me, usually with some quip or sarcastic remark, but today she just plopped down across from me and quietly opened her book.

That wasn't normal.

I leaned forward, tapping my quill against the table, waiting for her to meet my eyes. "You look terrible," I said bluntly. She always rolled her eyes when I said things like that. But today, she didn't. She just sighed, like she was carrying the weight of the entire bloody castle on her back.

That was when I knew something was seriously wrong.

She brushed it off with a small shake of her head. "Just tired," she mumbled.

Tired. Right.

I knew her better than that. Selene didn't just get 'tired.' She got exhausted from laughing too hard, from arguing too much, from overthinking everything—but not like this. Not the kind of tired that made her look like she was barely holding herself together.

I wanted to pry, but I knew Selene. If she wasn't telling me, there was a reason. And pushing her would only make her retreat further. So I let it go. For now.

But when she started dozing off over her books, blinking rapidly like she was fighting off sleep, I couldn't hold back anymore. "Oi, Cottoncandy, what's going on?" I asked, kicking her lightly under the table. "You're barely keeping your eyes open."

She jerked upright, shaking her head. "Nothing. Just didn't get much sleep."

I scoffed. "No kidding. Did you stay up all night planning my funeral? Because I swear, I can still hear you laughing about my 'near-death experience' with that wretched bird."

She let out a soft chuckle, but it wasn't the usual sound that made my chest feel lighter. It was forced, like she was trying too hard to appear normal.

And I hated that.

Something was eating her up inside, and she wasn't telling me. It made me feel—restless. Annoyed. And most of all, concerned. Because I wasn't used to Selene hiding things from me.

As the day went on, she only seemed to get worse. I caught her zoning out during classes, staring off into space, lost in thought. She barely even argued with me when I made my usual snide remarks, which was the biggest red flag of all.

By the time evening rolled around, I was done playing along with her 'everything's fine' act.

We were alone in the common room, the fire casting shadows along the walls, the only sound was the soft crackling of the flames. I turned to face her fully, crossing my arms. "Alright, enough. What the hell is going on with you?"

She looked at me, startled. "Nothing's going on, Draco. I told you."

I narrowed my eyes. "And I told you, I know when you're lying."

She opened her mouth to argue but then closed it, her jaw tightening. For a long moment, she just stared at me, as if debating whether or not to say whatever was on her mind. Then, to my absolute horror, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Selene never cried.

Something in my chest twisted painfully.

"Selene," I said, softer this time. "Talk to me."

She shook her head rapidly, blinking the tears away. "I can't."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "Can't or won't?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "Both."

I clenched my fists, frustrated beyond belief. "Why?"

"Because it will ruin everything," she whispered.

That was it. That was the moment I felt something shift between us.

I had spent so long teasing her, trying to make her jealous, trying to get her attention in ways I didn't fully understand myself—but this? This was different. This was real. And I wasn't sure I was ready for it.

But I knew one thing—I couldn't stand seeing her like this.

"Selene," I said again, softer. "It's me. Whatever it is, you can tell me."

She bit her lip, hesitating. And then, in the quietest voice, she said, "I don't want to lose you."

My heart stopped.

Lose me? What was she talking about? We had been inseparable for years. How could she think—

I reached out, gripping her wrist gently. "Hey, that's not going to happen. You're stuck with me, remember?"

She let out a shaky breath, looking down at where my fingers wrapped around her wrist. "You don't understand, Draco."

"Then make me understand," I pressed, stepping closer.

She was trembling. Selene—brilliant, sharp-tongued, fearless Selene—was actually shaking in front of me. And then, before I could say anything else, she looked up, eyes shining with unspoken words and emotions she had clearly been suppressing for too long.

"I like you, okay?" she blurted out.

My breath caught.

She immediately looked away, pulling her hand back as if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life. "Forget it. I shouldn't have said anything."

Like hell she shouldn't have.

"Selene—"

"No, Draco, just—let's pretend I didn't say it." Her voice was desperate, pleading. "I can't—"

"Why?" I cut her off, stepping even closer. "Why do you think this ruins everything?"

She let out a bitter laugh, rubbing her temples. "Because, you idiot, you don't feel the same way."

That was when I realized just how blind she was. Just how much of an idiot we both were.

I stared at her, really stared at her, as everything finally clicked into place. The way I always gravitated toward her. The way I always wanted her attention, even when I was being an insufferable prat. The way I hated seeing her upset. The way I had been trying to make her jealous with Sree and Pansy, without fully understanding why.

The way I had felt something unbearable inside me when I thought, even for a second, that I could lose her.

Bloody hell.

I liked her too.

I had always liked her.

I took a slow breath, steadying myself. And then, before she could talk herself out of it, I reached out and gently lifted her chin so she had no choice but to look at me.

"You really are an idiot," I murmured.

Her brows furrowed, confusion flashing in her eyes. "What?"

I smirked, but it wasn't my usual arrogant one. It was softer, more real. "You think I wouldn't like you back?"

She froze. "Draco, don't—"

I leaned in slightly, just enough so she could see the sincerity in my expression. "Too late. You already confessed. Can't take it back now."

She swallowed hard, her breath hitching.

For the first time, Selene looked scared. Not because of me, but because she wasn't used to this—wasn't used to being this vulnerable.

So I did the only thing I could.

I let her process it.

And when she finally exhaled, I knew—this changed everything.