Draco sat in the Common Room, hours after everyone else had gone to bed. Pansy was still up, sitting beside him. It was no secret that Pansy had always fancied Draco, ever since they were little kids.

Draco didn't exactly fancy her, but when his parents forced him to spend Christmas break with the Parkinsons, and Pansy had one too many firewhiskeys and confessed that she wanted to be his girlfriend, Draco thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get over these ridiculous feelings he felt for Eleanor Weasley.

Draco didn't have to like Pansy, he just needed the distraction, and he thought it had worked. Until he came back to Hogwarts and saw Eleanor sitting in the Great Hall, he knew he was doomed.

Draco stared into the fireplace, lost in thought when Pansy nudged him, bringing him out of his trance. Draco looked at her, and she smiled.

Pansy was a pretty girl, there was no doubt about it. She had jet black hair and brown eyes that lit up whenever Draco walked into the room, but she wasn't Eleanor.

Her lips weren't full like Eleanor's. Her eyes weren't as captivating as Eleanor's. Her smile didn't light up the room like Eleanor's. Her laugh wasn't contagious like Eleanor's. Her hair wasn't red like Eleanor's. She didn't keep Draco on his toes like Eleanor. She was so predictable, unlike Eleanor. Pansy Parkinson was not Eleanor Weasley.

"Weasley," Draco muttered, just above a whisper, loud enough for Pansy to hear.

Pansy's lips, which were pressed against Draco's jaw, came to a halt, her eyes widening as she looked up at him.

"Did you just call me Weasley?" Pansy asked.

"No," Draco scoffed, his cheeks tinting red. "Why the fuck would I do that?"

Pansy blinked. "I heard you," Pansy said. "You called me Weasley... are you thinking about her right now... while I'm kissing you?" Pansy asked, her hands balling into fists.

"Don't be ridiculous, Pansy," Draco rolled his eyes, standing up from the couch.

Pansy Parkinson may have been head over heels for Draco her whole life, but she wasn't a fool. Maybe deep down Pansy knew that Draco fancied Eleanor Weasley, but she just didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to believe that the boy she was infatuated with wanted another girl, and a Weasley at that.

"You know, Theodore Nott asked me out the day we returned back from Christmas break," Pansy said, her eyes filling with tears now. "But I told him no because I was dating you. I was so happy to finally be noticed by you."

Draco rolled his eyes as Pansy stood up and walked in front of him.

"Well, maybe you should go tell Theodore Nott that you've changed your mind," Draco said.

Pansy scoffed, the tears falling now. "I can't believe I've wasted my whole life being obsessed with someone as arrogant as you," Pansy said, glaring at him. "Why would you even date me if you fancy another girl, huh?" she asked.

"I don't fancy Weasley," Draco narrowed his eyes. "I don't fancy anyone."

Pansy scoffed, shaking her head as she turned on her heel and headed off to bed.

Just like that, Draco and Pansy's relationship was over... and it was all thanks to Eleanor Weasley.

Word spread like wildfire among the Slytherins that Draco Malfoy had moaned Eleanor Weasley's name while kissing Pansy. Pansy was embarrassed, but she knew it would be more embarrassing for Draco if everyone knew he fancied Eleanor, and revenge was one of Pansy's favorite pastimes.

News of the breakup reached Eleanor quickly, and her friends were starting to get suspicious of her.

"Have you heard?" Daphne asked as she and Blaise joined Eleanor in the Great Hall, where she was doing her homework before dinner.

"Heard what?" Eleanor asked, not looking up from her parchment. With a frustrated sigh, Daphne snatched her quill away from her, causing Eleanor to protest and glare at her friend.

"Pansy and Draco have broken up," Daphne said.

Eleanor scoffed, "Am I supposed to care?"

"Well, considering you were the reason they broke up, I do think you might care," Blaise said, a wicked smirk playing on his lips at the juicy gossip he had to share.

"Excuse me? How could I possibly be the reason they broke up?" Eleanor asked, her palms growing sweaty, wondering what Draco had done.

"Draco moaned your name," Daphne said.

"While Pansy was kissing him!" Blaise quickly added.

Eleanor's eyes darted between Daphne and Blaise, her cheeks growing red at the mere thought of Draco doing that. Eleanor couldn't stop the smirk that grew on her lips.

"Care to explain yourself, El?" Daphne asked. "I'm sure Malfoy didn't moan your name for the fun of it. What have you two been up to, hmm?" The blonde girl looked accusingly at her friend.

Eleanor gasped. "Nothing, Daphne. Gross, why would you even think that?" Eleanor asked.

"Don't play dumb with us," Blaise said. "What have you and Draco done?"

Eleanor laughed, shaking her head. She grabbed her homework off the table and snatched her quill out of Daphne's hand. Eleanor stood up, stepping over the wooden seat.

"Where are you going?" Daphne asked, looking at her ginger friend as she fixed her skirt. "Dinner is starting in half an hour."

"I'm not hungry," Eleanor shrugged, turning on her heel and exiting the Great Hall.

Daphne and Blaise exchanged a glance, wondering what their friend wasn't telling them. Either way, they'd get it out of her eventually.

Eleanor walked back to the Slytherin Common Room that by now was empty; most students had headed to the Great Hall to prepare for dinner.

Draco remained, sitting with his back to the door on the green leather couch. Eleanor pursed her lips, tiptoeing down the stairs and toward the back of the couch.

"Is it true what everyone's saying?" Eleanor asked. Draco jumped, looking over his shoulder, his eyes wide as he stared at Eleanor. "Did you really moan my name?"

"Fuck off, Weasley," Draco huffed, looking away from her. Eleanor snickered, making her way around to face him. She sat down on the couch opposite, one leg crossing over the other, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Oh, c'mon Malfoy. Lighten up," Eleanor chuckled. Draco rolled his eyes, his hands balling into fists. "Hey, I'll take it as a compliment—"

"Shut up, Weasley," Draco hissed, glaring at her. Eleanor raised her eyebrows at his sudden outburst, leaning forward ever so slightly.

"Make me," she said, just above a whisper.

Draco stood up, his movements quick as he moved toward Eleanor. A hand wrapped around Eleanor's throat, making her gasp, her eyes widening in utter shock as she stared up at Draco, who was glaring down at her.

"Maybe I did say your name," Draco said, slowly leaning down towards her. "Maybe I wanted it to be you kissing me, not Pansy."

Just kiss me, was all Eleanor could think. But he was taking his sweet time, staring down at her now watery eyes, his grip around her throat tightening ever so slightly, making her suck in a ragged breath.

Of course, things never could go to plan. Two giggling second years walked into the Common Room. The pair of them were too caught up in their own conversation to even notice Draco as he took a step away from Eleanor.

Eleanor's hand reached up to her neck, rubbing where Draco's hand had just been. Without a word, Draco walked away, heading towards the boys' dormitory. Leaving Eleanor shocked and confused on the couch, she eventually collected herself and decided to head off to bed before Daphne or Blaise returned and picked up where they left off.

———

The days that followed were a whirlwind for Eleanor. Everywhere she went, she could feel eyes on her, hear whispers that seemed to follow her through the corridors. She tried to bury herself in her studies, but even that offered little distraction from the rumor mill that was Hogwarts.

"Eleanor, are you okay?" Daphne asked one evening as they sat in their dormitory. "You've been really quiet."

"I'm fine," Eleanor said, though her voice lacked conviction. She was lying on her bed, staring at the canopy above, her mind replaying the moment in the Common Room over and over again.

"You don't look fine," Daphne said, moving to sit beside her. "Is this about Draco?"

Eleanor sighed, closing her eyes. "I don't know what it is," she admitted.

Daphne was silent for a moment, then she reached out and took Eleanor's hand. "You'll figure it out," she said softly. "And whatever you decide, Blaise and I are here for you."

———

The O.W.L.s test went to shit when Fred and George Weasley decided to play a little prank on Professor Umbridge, setting off fireworks and flying around the room on brooms mid-test.

Hermione was pissed off, but the other students, including Eleanor, were thankful. Fred and George, on the other hand, were expelled. Eleanor was just surprised it didn't happen sooner.

She was glad the test was cut short because she was too preoccupied with thoughts of Draco Malfoy's hand around her throat. As the days passed, it was still all she could think of. It plagued her mind so much that sleep became an even bigger rarity for poor Eleanor Weasley.

Eleanor sat wide awake, staring out the window of the Common Room into the Black Lake, trying to make sense of what she was feeling. Did she actually fancy Draco Malfoy? Or was she just a hormonal teenager?

She tried to picture another boy wrapping his hand around her throat, but her stomach didn't do somersaults like it did when she thought about Draco.

"I thought I might find you here."

It was him. Of course, it was him.

Eleanor didn't even turn around as Draco moved to sit beside her. She kept her eyes glued to the murky water.

"Can't sleep again?" Draco asked. Eleanor nodded and sucked in a breath when she felt his fingers push a few strands of her ginger hair behind her ear.

Eleanor looked over at him, her cheeks burning red. "Do you fancy me?" Eleanor blurted out, pursing her lips once she realized what she had asked.

Draco chuckled, staring at her face. "It's ridiculous, really," Draco said. "I get jealous thinking about anyone else having you, but I don't even have you myself."

Eleanor gulped at his words, her eyes remaining glued to his as much as she wanted to look away.

"I suppose that means I do fancy you," Draco said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Do you fancy me?" he asked.

Eleanor pursed her lips, looking down at her lap, her heart racing. "Maybe," she replied, barely above a whisper.

Draco moved closer to her, his hand coming to her cheek and forcing her to look at him. "I'm going to kiss you. I don't care if we get caught," Draco said, his hand resting on the nape of her neck.

Eleanor's breath hitched as his face inched closer and closer to hers. It wasn't the first time this had happened; Merlin, it wasn't even the second. They had been in this exact situation more times than Eleanor would like to admit.

She closed her eyes, bracing herself for yet another interruption, but it didn't happen. Instead, all she felt was Draco's soft lips pressed against hers, and it was like fireworks exploded in her stomach.

Time stopped as the two teenagers, who once hated each other, shared a kiss fueled with enough electricity to light up the entirety of Hogwarts. Eleanor's hands moved to Draco's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. Draco deepened the kiss, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

Eleanor's mind raced with a million thoughts, but the feel of Draco's lips on hers silenced them all. She had never felt anything like this before, and she never wanted it to end. They broke apart, breathing heavily, and Draco rested his forehead against hers.

"That was..." Eleanor began, but words failed her.

"Incredible," Draco finished for her, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. "I've wanted to do that for so long."

Eleanor's heart soared at his confession. "Me too," she admitted. "But what do we do now?"

Draco's eyes darkened with determination. "We keep this between us for now. But I don't want to hide forever, Eleanor."

Eleanor nodded, understanding the risks but willing to take them. "I don't either."

Over the next few weeks, Draco and Eleanor continued to meet in secret, their stolen moments becoming the highlight of their days. They found secluded corners of the castle, hidden passageways, and empty classrooms where they could be alone. Each kiss was more passionate than the last, and their feelings for each other only grew stronger.

One evening, they found themselves in an abandoned classroom, the door slightly ajar. Draco had Eleanor pressed against the wall, their lips moving together in a dance of fervor and longing. Eleanor's hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as she lost herself in the moment.

Draco pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "Weasley, I—"

Before he could finish, they heard footsteps approaching. Eleanor's eyes widened in panic, and Draco quickly stepped away, his heart pounding. They barely had time to compose themselves before Daphne and Blaise appeared in the doorway.

"There you are!" Daphne exclaimed, looking between the two of them suspiciously. "What are you doing here?"

"Just talking," Draco said smoothly, his expression neutral.

"Talking?" Blaise echoed, raising an eyebrow. "In an abandoned classroom? Really?"

Eleanor forced a smile, her heart racing. "Yes, really. We needed some privacy."

Daphne's eyes narrowed, but she didn't press the issue. "Well, come on. Dinner is about to start."

As they followed Daphne and Blaise out of the classroom, Eleanor exchanged a quick glance with Draco. They had narrowly avoided being caught, but their secret was becoming harder to keep.

Later that night, as they sat in the Common Room, Daphne and Blaise's suspicion was palpable. "Are you sure there's nothing going on between you and Malfoy?" Daphne asked, her tone laced with doubt.

Eleanor's heart pounded in her chest, but she managed to keep her voice steady. "We're just friends, Daphne."

Blaise leaned back in his chair, watching Eleanor closely. "For now," he said cryptically, a knowing look in his eyes.

Eleanor sighed, realizing that her secret was hanging by a thread. She would have to be even more careful if she wanted to keep their affair hidden.

But no matter the risks, they both knew one thing for certain: they couldn't stay away from each other.

———

As the school year drew to a close, Harry Potter and his two best friends managed to end it with a dramatic flourish. Professor Umbridge had mysteriously vanished from Hogwarts, leaving the castle in a state of tentative relief. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a few other brave souls ventured to the Ministry of Magic to face off against Lucius Malfoy and other Death Eaters in a desperate bid to recover a prophecy.

The battle was fierce and chaotic, ultimately leading to the tragic death of Sirius Black at the hands of his own cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange. The ordeal left the teenagers scarred and shaken, but it also forced the Ministry to finally acknowledge the grim truth: Voldemort had returned.

Eleanor watched the aftermath unfold from a distance, feeling a mixture of sympathy and relief. She was glad she hadn't been directly involved in the harrowing events at the Ministry. Her thoughts were occupied with a more personal concern: Draco Malfoy and his increasingly irresistible charm.

Despite the chaos around them, Eleanor and Draco continued their secret rendezvous, each stolen moment becoming more precious as the days passed. They found solace in each other, a sanctuary from the turmoil of the wizarding world. Draco's touch, his kiss, the way he looked at her—all of it consumed her thoughts.