Dude this chapter is so long but OH MY GOD IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. We finally get to see Draco's redemption arc ahiuafiwaufwauifhwa. He's so cute when he's just trying to be good. The very end almost made me cry it's so good. Watch me hype this up and then ya'll not even think its good oof. Anyways, its literally so good I'm so happy right now. I should be doing homework but instead I'm writing my 20 page chapter for my Draco Malfoy Fanfiction and I couldn't be happier about it. Vote! And please comment and tell me how you're feeling about it. 

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Draco's p.o.v

      A little bit of time had passed since my failed apology. The second trial was done being prepared, and seeing as Dumbledore told us that he'd handle the third, we had nothing left binding us together but our classes. 

      It irked me, that I'd finally been given a chance to prove myself but no time to show her my accomplishments. 

      Though not enough time had passed for a great change of character, I had been working on myself with such ferocity that even Crabbe and Goyle noted a difference. 

       As I made my way to the great hall I noticed a particular group of students. With a sigh, I squinted my eyes from the sheer brightness they produced. She was standing on the very left, escorted by Diggory. Next to them was yet another happy couple consisting of her rabid dog and the tall girl I always saw by Clementine's side.

      Diggory laughed and it took everything in me not to punch him square in the jaw, but I'd do as she asked.

      I'd better myself for her.

      I cared for Clementine, and I'd do my best to let her be happy.

      As I made my way through the courtyard, a stumpy sort of boy bumped into my shoulder. The place went silent as everyone watched on with sympathetic interest towards the poor boy. I began to say a slew of insults, but was stopped by the piercing green eyes of none other than the origin of all of my worries and wants.

      She looked at the scene with firm compassion, bending my thoughts to cease what I was about to do. Without another moment passing, I sighed, shaking my head at the boy, "Just-watch where you're going next time."

      I gave him an awkward sort of pat on the shoulder as I walked by him- attempting, and failing, to ignore the shocked murmurs that followed me. I hoped with every fiber of my body that Potter and his friends hadn't seen that. 

"That was a spectacle," Blaise mumbled as he took my side in the great hall, "What was that all about?" 

"I'm just trying to be a good Samaritan is all," I huffed, stabbing my chicken, "Shape myself into an upstanding citizen and all that- for the sake of the wizarding world." 

"You mean for the sake of that girl you're always looking at." 

"You," I began to attack him, but gave up. It was no use with him. Blaise tended to stay to himself most of the time, but when he took an interest in something- there was no way to veer him off his path, "It doesn't matter anyways, she won't forgive me." 

"You apologized?" He sounded shocked and I smiled. 

"I tried to," I responded, "But she said she couldn't accept it until I changed." 

"And you're doing that? Changing? For that girl?" He still sounded very shocked,  "I never thought I'd see the day." 

"Yeah, well," I huffed, looking at the girl in question quietly eating her food, "Me either." 

       The problem was, it seemed, that I wouldn't ever see the day that she would forgive me. Ever since I apologized, she didn't seem as angry- but she seemed distance. It wasn't like it was before. I knew that it was just her trying to protect herself, but still- it hurt to watch her live her life and be completely fine without me while it seemed I crumbled at the mere thought of not being next to her. 

      And I had no one to blame but myself. 

       I wasn't sure how to get her attention, to make her see that I'd never hurt her like that again. I'd exhausted myself with the task of betterment, all the while wondering how I could show my growth. 

      My eyes wandered over to her, finding her usual three friends chattering about while she listened. A thought popped into my head that I didn't particularly appreciate, growling as I took a bite of my food.

      I walked around the castle during my new found free second class, finding exactly who I was looking for on the bleachers overlooking the quidditch field. It seemed that, though there wouldn't be any official games this year, many students still took to it as a past-time. 

      I sat down next to her on the bleachers. She looked at me out of the corner of her eyes, then doing an over-acted double take as she realized who I was. Immediately, she became hostile.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Minnie growled at me, visibly scooting farther away from me, "Don't you know that none of us like you?" 

"I just came to talk," I tried in my most non-threatening voice.

"You don't ju-"

"I don't 'just talk', yes I know," I sighed, rubbing my hands together to warm them up, "But that's what I came here to do."  

      She quieted, obviously noting the deliberate mildness in my tone. With a sigh, she put her hands into her pockets, "And why, pray tell, would the great Draco Malfoy come to talk to me?" 

      If it weren't for my meeting Minnie, I never would've known such a small body could pack so much annoyance into it. She seemed as if she thought of me like the gum on the bottom of her shoe. I breathed out slowly; this was not going well. I desperately needed her help, and I needed her to see that. I decided that honesty would be the best approach. 

"Honestly, I'd rather not be speaking to you-" 

"Great start."

"But," I continued with a glare, "I need your help." 

      This seemed to pique her interest. She leaned slightly forward, tilting her head to the side, and raising her eyebrows, "Oh?"

"I apologized to Clementine-"

"I'm aware," She didn't seem like that changed her opinion of me. 

"And she said I had to change before she could accept it." 

"She shouldn't be accepting it at all." 

"That's the problem."

      I groaned helplessly, nearly pulling my hair out. This wasn't going anywhere. I watched my toes tap anxiously as I fretted over what to do.  It was a minute of contemplation before I realized that she was silent. I looked to her only to find her eyes trailing over my desperate face. I watched as she furrowed her eyebrows; she looked confused. For a moment, she was sat completely still, before she sprang back to life. 

"Oh my god," She exclaimed, surprise evident in her voice, "You actually care about her." 

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," I sighed in relief. It seemed her opinion of me had changed, if only a little, "I'm trying so desperately to earn her back, but I don't know how." 

       There seemed to be indecision in her as I watched the turmoil in her eyes. She looked to me again, and then solidified whatever worries were present.  She thought for a moment before sitting up straight, turning her whole body to me in a cross legged stance, "Tell me everything."

        It took nearly the whole free period to explain everything that had happened. I, of course, had to leave out some of the specifics of exactly what I'd found out about her. After regaling her with the turmoil of Clementine and I's partnership, she thought on it for a good long while. 

"That's tough," She nodded to herself, then beginning to pace, "Well, first things first, you're not trying to earn her back. She's not a prize. That's not what she wants anyways." 

"It's not?" 

"No," She scoffed, "She wants you to get better for you. You don't need to earn her. You need to earn you. That's how her mind works. I'm not exactly sure what she's sees in you, but I'm guessing she wants you to live up to that so that you can be happy. If you stay the miserable bully you are, then neither of you are going to be happy." 

      The harshness of the latter of the statement stung, but I knew that it was the truth. 

"Though, I guess you're already trying," She mused, gesturing to us sitting together, "Or else this wouldn't be happening." 

"I just don't know when I'm going to be changed enough." 

"I don't either," She huffed as if I was expecting her to, "I don't think you will know, specifically. It's different for everyone. It's just a feeling. I feel like, for me at least, it's a warm light that washes from the top of your head all the way to your toes and you realize that you always want to feel like that, and you'll do everything in your power to make her feel like that, always." 

"You sound like you know the feeling." 

"Yeah," She hummed, looking the the right, her eyes trailing after the tall girl that had just walked out of the castle, "I do." 

"Even if I change enough," I sighed, "It's not going to matter. You said it yourself- all of her friends hate me, and she listens to you guys."

"That's true," She agreed, "I guess you'll just have to prove us wrong." 

      I looked at her as if she was insane. The task she had just given me seemed unachievable. She laughed, slapping my shoulder. My eyes slowly trailed from my shoulder back to her in shock. 

"Don't worry," She laughed, "I guess you already have me on your side, so that's one down." 

       It was a turn of events I hadn't expected. I let out a small smile, looking to find that Elnora still had some distance before she could make out who I was. I furrowed my eyebrows as a question popped into my head, "I know I'm not the most well-liked person at the school," I started, grabbing her attention. I was nervous to ask this, for some reason. I suppose her opinion mattered to me now, "But you seemed angrier than most. Why did you hate me so much?" 

      All of her energetic humor seemed to leave her body. She quieted, pulling her knees to her chest and looking out to the quidditch field. I waited patiently for her answer. It's the calmest I'd ever seen the small firecracker, "I guess you wouldn't remember." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Back in our second year," She answered, "You made my life living hell."

      She turned to me and her face looked sad. For a moment I caught a glimpse of the past. Something I'd forgotten. It was her on the ground, much younger, turning to me with that same sad look.

"Manic Minnie," I whispered, floods of dark memories entering my mind. 

      Flashbacks to me and my so-called friends pushing her to the ground, calling her names, stealing her homework that was due, entered my head. I winced at the memories of the insecure me belittling her for merely speaking. 

"Yeah, that was what you called me," She cringed, huffing. 

"I'm so sorry."  

"It wasn't okay," She sighed, "But I do forgive you. Clem deserves to be happy and you're trying to give her that. I'm just glad you're not stuck as an insecure little rat anymore." 

"I guess I deserved that one," I chuckled, causing her to laugh. 

"Just be glad I'm merciful," She joked, perking up when Elnora got closer, "I think you'd better go. El's a sweet person, but she gets scary when you've messed with people she's cared about. I don't think you could take her on." 

      My eyes followed the greek girl walking up to us, "No, I don't think I could." 

"Why was Malfoy sitting with you?" I heard Elnora ask as I walked away, causing Minnie to shrug, "Anyways, we've got to get going. The first trial is today. Clem's not going because she doesn't want to see the Dragon get hurt so she decided to stay by the lake. She's up there with Cedric to wish him luck before it starts."

      I'd somehow forgotten that the tournament started today, seeing as my thoughts were scattered elsewhere. Without another word, I headed to the arena to meet up with Blaise. 

      Diggory was first, and though I tried to concentrate on the trial, I couldn't help but to get lost in my thoughts. Of course, I didn't like the fact that Diggory was with the girl that I so helplessly pined for, but a mixture of what Minnie had told me and thoughts of Pansy entered my mind and deterred me from any ill-wishes towards their relationship. 

      Clementine was happy with him, it seemed, and I wouldn't get in the way of that. I'd work to gain her trust again, and we'd be how we used to and that's all- nothing more. I'd become resigned to the reality of not being with her- of supporting her and Diggory- and I'd be happy with that much. 

Because she  was happy with that much. 

      Thoughts like these were the only thing going through my head for the duration of the first three contestants. I barely even noticed when one of them would get the egg, and the crowd would cheer. Blaise noticed the absence of my presence, but merely tapped on my shoulder during the times that it would look odd for me not to be engaged. 

      It was only when Potter's turn came up that I payed attention. The reason for my being pulled out of my inner thoughts was the fact that Potter wasn't in the arena anymore, and neither was the dragon. 

      Everyone seemed quiet as we waited for the boy who lived to return- or the Dragon to fly overhead, victorious. What was odd though, was that I didn't wish that the Dragon would be the one to claim the label victor. I still despised Harry Potter, to be sure, but there was some deep ache in my chest that hoped he would be okay. 

      He returned eventually, causing the crowd to scream and cheer. I heard him tell an official to the side that the dragon had fallen into the ravine. I knew Clementine wouldn't be happy about that. The cheering began to get louder as all four champions were gathered into the middle of the arena. I heard something though. It was so faint, but I could hear screaming. 

      I looked to the hufflepuff section to find that Elnora and Minnie weren't there. They must've left after Diggory's trial. Still, the faint whispers of a scream could be heard. Blaise looked at me, noticing my discomfort. 

     My eyes trailed over the arena to the lake, where Clementine was supposed to be. 

"Clementine," The wordless scream began to voice. I looked around to find no one else in the crowd hearing this, "Clementine, no!" 

      I caught sight of Diggory, who was looking in the same direction I was. At least I wasn't going insane. 

"Clem!" Another voice screamed, and even fainter could the dull roar of a dragon be heard. 

      Diggory and I locked eyes, and without another second began sprinting towards the lake. Blaise followed behind me, pushing his way past the crowd. I'm not sure if he knew exactly what was going on, but he could tell something was wrong. 

      When I arrived at the lake. the breath left my body. I stared with wide eyes at the scene in front of me. Somehow, the dragon had gotten out of the ravine, and was now hovering over the lake, Clementine held in it's grasp. 

"Malfoy," Minnie exclaimed- I was the first of the three boys to get there,  "I think it's claws stabbed her!" 

      I watched with horror-filled eyes as a flow of blood trickled through the air and into the lake. 

"Clementine," I screamed, catching her- and the dragon's- attention, "Clem!"

       Elnora and Minnie began to try and attack it after pulling their wands out. 

"No," A new voice called out, and I realized it was Clementine, "No!"

       But no one else heard her- it was too loud between the cheering from the crowd and the dragon's roaring and the shooting of wands. Our eyes met and she looked at me so helplessly. She was terrified, I could tell that much, and she was pleading for me to save her.

      She tried to speak again, but she looked like she was about to pass out. I watched her intensely, barely even noting the arrival of Diggory and Blaise. 

      I looked to Diggory to do something- he was the one who had just faced a dragon after all- but he merely stared with shocked eyes at the scene. 

      I turned my attention back to Clementine, who was still looking only at me to save her. I bounced on the heels of my feet as I tried to think of what to do.

"Stop," She cried out faintly, looking at the two girls who were trying to attack the dragon. 

"Stop," I echoed what she had said.

      They stopped shooting and I stared directly into the terrified eyes of the one person in the world I never wanted to see scared. She seemed to calm down a bit when they stopped, and looked to me, her eyes then flashing to the cheering crowd.

       It only took a second for me to understand what she meant. I went to work on looking for a certain looking stone. Blaise came up to me, "What are you doing?" 

"Just," I panted, my fingers beginning to tear from the force I was using to move the rocks around, "Get me a broom. There should be one in the hut near here." 

      Without questioning me, he did as I asked. Once I found the perfectly shaped stone, I waited impatiently for the broom as I watched the dragon begin to get agitated, tightening it's grip on her so much that she winced in pain. 

      As soon as the broom was in my hand, I flew off the ground- right in front of the dragon's face. The others were screaming at me in confusion. The dragon looked as if it were about to light me on fire. 

      As tenderly as I could, I held the egg shaped stone in front of the dragon. All at once, the dragon calmed, huffing a hot breath of air onto my face as its eyes held to the pseudo-egg. It reached for the egg, dropping Clementine in the process. I flew under it, catching her in my arms as it flew away. 

      I set her down on the lake shore gently, watching with worry as she groaned in pain, reaching for her stomach. The group surrounded us, giving us a little breathing space.

"My," She gasped, "My stomach." 

      She tried to pull her shirt up, which as now noticeably covered in blood, but nearly screamed at the pain it caused. Softly, I tugged the fabric of her shirt up, keeping my eyes on her face as I lied the cloth just above her ribs. 

      Now it was my turn to gasp as I witnessed the gash on her stomach. I tried to put pressure on it- to stop the bleeding- but she let out a dull scream and I stopped immediately, cringing away from the noise. 

"Here," Blaise offered, kneeling next to me, "Its essence of dittany. We made it in class today." 

      Gently, I put a few drops on the gash, watching the blood seep back into the body and the gash heal up into a scar. I let out a sigh of relief. It didn't last long though, as I noticed another huge scar on the other side of her torso. It looked as if someone had taken a huge blade to her, and the skin had mended over the years. 

"Draco," She mumbled, her eyes halfway open as she reached for me, "Draco." 

"I'm here, Clem," I assured, letting her hold onto my wrist as I pulled her shirt back down. 

      We stayed like that for a while, all of us just sitting there and listening to her breath. The dittany had mended most of the wound, but I could tell it had still taken it's tole on her. 

      After a while, she tried to sit up. Once situated, I backed away to let the others see her. First it was Elnora, and then Minnie. Blaise stayed to the side, watching with intent eyes. Finally, it was Diggory's turn. 

      He knelt down next to her, bumping his forehead against hers, "Never do that again, Clem. That was terrifying." 

"I'll try my best," She smiled weakly, taking his hand, "I'm okay. It's okay." 

      I watched the two of them with resigned eyes as I tried to ignore the pain in my heart. 

She was okay without me.

      Silently, I gestured to Blaise, signaling that it was time to go. He stood from the wall of the pillar he was leaning on, following after me. 

      I had only made it to the edge of the shore when I was called back to the lake, "Draco." 

      I turned around to find her standing, leaning her weight on Diggory. I stood silently as I traced my eyes over every inch of her face. 

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"If I stay here," I sighed, "I'll want to say something I don't think either of us are ready for." 

      She took a moment to ponder what I'd said, shifting her weight to the other side, "Try me."

      She had this sort of teasing smirk on her face when she said it, something I'd never seen on her before. It was an expression I wasn't ready for.

      She was rarely ever in a joking mood, and though the situation was serious- it was just what I needed. She raised her eyebrows knowingly. 

  "I'm so sorry," I felt as though I was repeating myself, but there was a newfound feeling in the words. I wasn't sorry because she was angry with me, I was sorry because I hurt her. I looked around to the group, realizing I'd have to censor some of what I wanted to say, "I should've never broken your trust. I know that now, and I don't expect you to forgive me- and that's okay. I just need you to know that you never have to worry about me hurting you like that again." 

"I just want you to be happy. That's all I need," I explained, ignoring the looks of shock I was getting from everyone else, "I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it so you can be happy, whether that means I'm by your side or not."

        She looked as if she were about to cry, and Cedric began to rub her shoulders. It brought to light a new topic. 

"And I know that you're with Cedric," I stated, glancing back to find Blaise watching the two of us with a spark in his eye I'd never seen. I turned back to her to find an expression on her face I couldn't understand, "And that's okay. If he makes you happy, I'll make sure you're with him. I'll make sure, that no matter what, you feel love- always." 

      She let out a sort of gasp, like she'd just been thawed out. There were tears brimming in her eyes, but they weren't falling. She looked to Cedric, who nodded at her, gently pushing her forwards so that she was a mere foot away from me. 

"Cedric and I," She said in a soft voice that made me want to hang onto every word she said. She smiled and repeated the words I'd said not that long ago, "We're not actually dating, I lied." 

"Oh," Was all my mind could comprehend to say.

      It was just then that I realized how badly we had communicated with each other. We were both in the same boat, it seemed- and that one simple fact made me smile back at her. 

"I forgive you," She said and it felt like a million little lightning bugs had lit up in my chest.

"Friends?" I tried after a moment, not knowing exactly what to say, sticking my hand out. 

      Sure, her and Cedric weren't together, but I wasn't going to push my luck any farther. 

      She smiled, pushing my hand down and shaking her head, "I think the only way I'm going to be happy- always," She mimicked the way I said it, "Is if we're by each other's side- always." 

"Oh," I repeated, elation spreading through my whole body. 

      I couldn't hold it in anymore. As gently and quickly as I could, I took a step forward, wrapping my arms around her. The reaction of her reciprocating my gesture was instantaneous. I could feel her smile against my ear. I don't think I'd ever felt this happy in my entire life. 

      I took a moment to look around at the group, who were all smiling us. I felt the need to turn my attention back to the beautiful creature in my arms, pulling her in tighter. 

"It's different for everyone. It's just a feeling."

      Without warning, this deep feeling of emotion hit me in the chest like a brick. It felt like pain and beauty and all of those things you think of that you can't explain. It spread through my body like the glow of a fire slowly eating up the embers left after it went out. It started in my chest, and reached to every inch of my body- leaving my eyes for last.

      I watched her, and my eyes felt like there was a fogged lens on them, slowly be burned away by those glowing embers in my chest until all I could see was how much she was glowing. 

      In that moment- for the first time in my life- I knew what love felt like.