Draco had known you for a while now. The two of you shared the same social circle, and more often than not, you ended up talking to each other more than anyone else. He didn’t mind your presence—in fact, unlike most people, you didn’t annoy him. You were sharp, composed, observant. You understood things about him others didn’t. Maybe that’s what drew him in.

You had more in common than either of you ever really said aloud—high expectations, family pressure, the need to keep up appearances. You always looked put together, effortlessly elegant. Just like him.

He admired that.

Not that he’d ever say it out loud.

Draco didn’t like to admit things—not even to himself. Especially not that your presence felt… comforting. Like someone finally saw him for more than the name he carried. And while he never thought too deeply about it before, the truth was there, quietly blooming in the background.

It had been growing for a while. Lurking beneath the surface. And he was running out of room to ignore it.

He was walking down the corridor with Blaise, deep in conversation, when you suddenly appeared in front of them, cutting him off mid-step.

He blinked, surprised, and stopped walking. So did Blaise, who gave you a curious glance but said nothing.

Before Draco could even ask what you were doing, you reached out—fingers brushing the collar of his shirt, adjusting it with the kind of casual intimacy that made his breath hitch.

Your touch was light but certain, fingertips grazing the edge of his throat, knuckles brushing the fabric of his robes. The hallway around him seemed to still. He caught the scent of your perfume—subtle, clean, familiar—and it struck him how close you were. How natural it felt, like this wasn’t the first time you’d done it in some other life.

The touch was brief, but it sent a jolt through him.

When you dropped your hands, there was a small, satisfied smirk on your lips.

“You don’t look like an idiot,” you said smoothly. “And I’m not letting you walk around looking like one either.”

And then, just like that, you turned and walked away—cool, composed, and completely unaware of what you’d just done to him.

Draco stood there for a moment too long, staring after you. He could feel Blaise watching him out of the corner of his eye, but he didn’t move.

Because no one had ever cared that simply before. No one had just… fixed his collar without needing something. Without expectation or hidden motive.

And it hit him all at once.

This wasn’t a crush. It wasn’t just admiration. It was love.

Sudden. Quiet. Unshakable.

And for the first time, he wasn’t afraid to admit it—not to himself.

He had fallen for you. Completely. And there was no pretending otherwise anymore.