Draco isn’t the type to say things first.

He shows love in sideways glances, in the way he reaches for your hand when no one’s looking, or the way he memorizes your coffee order like it’s the most important spell he’s ever learned. He doesn’t do confessions. Not easily. But tonight feels different.

The Astronomy Tower is quiet, the sky scattered with stars. You sit side by side on the ledge, legs swinging over open air, shoulders touching in the kind of silence that says more than words.

He’s been tense all night—fidgeting with the sleeves of his jumper, chewing the inside of his cheek, eyes flicking to you and away too quickly.

You turn to him. “You okay?”

He swallows hard.

“No.” he replies in a barely audible voice. “Not really.”

You look at him in a concerned manner. “What’s wrong?”

He finally looks at you. “I need to say something, and I swear to Merlin if I don’t say it now, I’m going to expIode.”

You blink as your heart skips. “Okay…”

He takes a breath like it physically hurts. “I’m so in love with you. It’s ridiculous. It’s consuming. It’s terrifying.”

You stare at him, but he doesn’t stop.

“I’ve tried to keep it together, I have. I’ve tried to act normal, like this is normal—but it’s not. You walk into a room and I forget how to speak. You laugh, and it’s the only sound I want to hear. You touch me, and I swear my whole damn world resets.”

He leans in. “I’m in love with you, and I don’t want to keep pretending like I’m not.”

Your lips part, but nothing comes out.

“And if you don’t feel the same, that’s fine—I’ll deal with it, I just had to—”

He freezes as he watches your eyes flicker over his features.

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