Astronomy Project
A/n: Set during 3rd year, PoA, during the middle/beginning of the year when there isn’t anything to disrupting happening.
Astronomy was usually a pretty good class. There was always an excitement when you got to go out after dark on a Wednesday.
Today it was more information about star movements that Professor Sinistra was teaching but a lot of your time was spent staring off into the glow of the night sky.
“And lastly, we’re going to be doing group projects. There will be four people in a group and you are going to have to research, almost like an experiment where you observe the stars every week for 2 months.” The professor said and you look to your best friends, who you were sat near, quickly. This was an opportunity you’d not yet been given in Astronomy and one you hoped you could make the most of by picking your own group.
There was a flicker of hope in their eyes as they looked at each other. “I’ll be picking the groups.” A sigh of disappointment was heard across the room and your shoulders slumped. “Hush, hush. The first group who will be taking the movement of Jupiter, Y/l/n, Malfoy, Thomas and Brown.” You couldn’t keep the disappointment off your face, the one chance you had to work on a project for Astronomy and you couldn’t do it with your friends. On top of that, you had to work with Draco.
There wasn’t a history between the two of you, you just didn’t like him much from all the rumours you’d heard throughout the three years you’d been at Hogwarts. As for Dean and Lavender, you were friendly enough with them.
While Professor Sinistra was telling the rest of the class their groups, you were preparing for the worst.
Five minutes was all the time it took for you to be sat next to your group, hoping for some miracle that could put you in a different space-time continuum where you got to pick your group.
“Maybe we should meet tomorrow at the library to discuss how we’re going to do this?” You suggest to the group. Everyone else looked just as bored as you felt.
Dean and Lavender nodded at the idea and Draco huffed.
You look over to your best friend, sitting with another group, with an ‘Avada-Kedavra-me-now’ look and she returned it. This was not going to be a fun week.
“Alright, I hope you’ve made some plans. Class dismissed.” Professor Sinistra said and you almost jump up from your seat to leave.
“So we’ll all meet at the library tomorrow before classes? We’ve got a study block.” Lavender asked, noticing Draco’s obvious distaste to the rest of the group, hoping he’d agree to participate and not be a dick about it.
You and Dean both nodded, looking over to Draco. “Yeah, fine.” He finally agreed and the group went their separate ways.
Seeing as it was late in the evening you left to your common room, chatted with your friends for a while before going off to bed in dread of the next day.
The next morning you skipped breakfast, opting to do a little bit of research in the library instead before everyone else turned up. You flicked through a few books about Jupiter and it’s movements.
Suddenly there were books slammed down on the table in front of you, making you jump in fear before looking up at… Draco.
He looked down at you with his eyebrows raised and his lips drawn into a line. His hair looked as it did last night, maybe a little tidier but his face was still as pale.
“Hey.” You said not really know how to talk to him.
He looked somewhere in between bored and nervous. “You weren’t at breakfast.” He noticed making you furrow your eyebrows at the fact Draco Malfoy noticed you.
“I wanted to read up on what our project was about.” You explained, still not sure why he was asking and why you were telling him. But there was something about him that made you not want to ask why he asked.
Instead of standing, he sat down on the chair across from you and opened a book. You watched as he read through his notes.
A few minutes later Lavender turned up and then finally Dean. You spent the morning working on the plan for the project, a plan which included dividing up all the work. Lavender and you were tasked with going up to the astronomy tower that night to observe the sky.
“So, we have the rooster and we’ll just follow that for the rest of the time we have to do this.” You said, showing the rest of the group the schedule you’d jotted down.
There was a collective agreement before you all went to your separate classes.
It had been three weeks and once again you found yourself bored in class, thinking about going up to the astronomy town tonight with Dean.
Classes seemed to be taking a long time but you finally made it to lunch, taking a seat next to your friends.
“Y/n.” You turned your head at Lavender calling your name. “Dean’s not feeling great and I have to have to help decorate a banner for the quidditch game tomorrow.” You nod at what she’s saying before realising what it means. “So, you can go with Draco tonight?” Probably the last thing you wanted to hear, you weren’t meant to have to go with Draco until the 5th week.
“Yeah, of course.” I should get points for this team commitment You thought while you agreed.
Now the rest of your afternoon classes were filled with dreading this evening. It was going to have to happen but at least if everyone kept to the schedule you would have had another two weeks to prepare mentally.
Finally, around 9, you walked up the stairs of the astronomy tower with your parchment, quill and astronomy book in your hand. You found Draco already sitting there, looking up at the sky.
You hadn’t seen him since Charms class but as the moonlight danced across his face he looked peaceful.
“Hi.” You said, trying to give him your best smile but honestly, it had been a long day after you failed a quiz on undetectable poisons and Snape yelled at you.
There wasn’t a lot of work you needed to do, just look over the map of the sky you had started the first night and trace the new location of Saturn onto it.
“Are you alright?” Draco asked as he continued to stare at you.
His question confused you, the thought of Draco being able to read human emotion really sent your head spinning.
Silently, you nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay.” In your head, you were debating asking why he asked, “Why’d you ask?” It finally came out.
“You just look…” He trailed off slightly, was it possible he didn’t want to offend you by using the wrong word. “Upset.”
The fact he could read how you were feeling was an even more concerning revelation. He stayed seated, watching you. Feeling awkward standing, you sat next to him.
Something about his now caring eyes made you want to tell him all your problems. “I just didn’t know 3rd year would be so difficult.” The perfect thing to say that didn’t disclose too much information.
“Potions?” Your eyes flicked to meet his quickly, concerned about how he knew. It wasn’t that people didn’t know, you just didn’t want Draco to laugh at you.
As you nodded at him, he smiled. Now that was something you didn’t see much. “I was waiting to talk to Snape, I didn’t mean to hear.” It almost sounded like an apology.
“It’s alright, just don’t tell anyone, please.” You rush out, a little concerned.
His face changed to looking worried. “I wouldn’t.” He seemed the type to. “You know, if you do need help, I can tutor you or something.” The generosity in his voice was out of character but charming.
“It’s alright.” Again you rushed out your reply. Maybe it was that you were nervous around him but maybe it was that you feared him a little.
He looked almost… sad. “Okay, should we get this done?” He asked, switching the conversation.
“Yeah.” You agreed, getting up and starting on the work you had to do. It only took about 5 minutes before you were walking down the stairs, splitting off from Draco with a ‘goodbye’
Another 2 weeks had passed before you went up to the astronomy tower for your project again. And you knew Draco would be there.
You left your common room a little bit earlier and made it to the astronomy tower before Draco was there so you sat on the ground with your feet dangling over the edge of the tower.
It was something that had always thrilled you, the fact that as amazing as magic is if you were to jump it probably couldn’t help you.
“What are you thinking about?” A voice you definitely recognised interrupted your concentration. Whipping your head around, you saw Draco standing there with the sky map and a quill in his hand.
His hair was slicked back in a middle part which is how he was wearing it there days. The way he looked at you with those sparkling blue eyes was such a difference from his usual personality.
“Not a lot.” You replied. “Just life.”
“Philosophical.” He quipped, making you smile.
“Not really, wanna get started?” You ask, getting ready to stand up.
Instead, Draco walked over and took a seat next to you. “Why don’t we just sit here and talk?” He asked, much to your surprise.
“What do we have to talk about?” You had to ask, even if it came off as a bit rude.
He shrugged. “Why you hate me.”
His statement caught you off guard, making you do a double-take to look at the upset look on his face. “I don’t hate you.” There was still a frown on his face. “I’ve just heard things about you and I’ve heard things you’ve said.” You mumbled out.
His face fell even more and you wanted to fix it but you didn’t know how. “I’m sorry.” You told him. “I don’t mean to judge you.”
“It’s okay.” Draco cut you off before you could continue. “Should we get this done?” He asked, standing up and offering you a hand.
As soon as you took his hand you noticed how cold it felt, and those silver rings were even colder.
Once he helped you up you got started on the project. It only took 5 minutes but being up in the astronomy tower with Draco was a nice feeling.
Somehow you had both ended up sitting in the astronomy tower and talking for another half hour.
“That first time in the library, you worried about not knowing enough, weren’t you?” Draco asked after a while, somehow he just knew everything.
Your eyes meet his again. “Yeah, how’d you know?”
“I’ve been in the same situation…” He mumbled, staring past you and into the sky.
“I just wish reading up on stuff could help me in potions.” You said with a sigh, over the past two weeks the class had only gotten worse and you really couldn’t keep up at this point.
“You know, I can help you out.” Draco offered again but now that you’d sat with him you didn’t feel so horrible about it.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” He shook his head. “Okay then, tomorrow in the library?”
He nodded quickly. “I didn’t think you’d agree but yeah, I’ll see you after dinner.”
Sitting with Draco in a library was the last thing you expected to be doing on a Thursday night but here you were. It was quiet as usual and there were only a few other groups which you were thankful for, too much attention while you sat with Draco could only be bad, your friends had already had expressed their concerns about it.
You’d taken up a whole table with your books, parchment and quill and Draco was sitting next to you with his blonde hair looking as perfect as ever and those dreamy eyes.
“How do you get all of this?” You asked, feeling hopeless about an hour in.
Draco looked over with a smile, sliding a book in front of you. “Well, I am Snape’s favourite.” He joked, letting you laugh. “I guess I just understand it. Don’t beat yourself up about it, though. I’m sure there’s some class you’re really good at.”
You turned your head on the side, that probably wasn’t true. “I guess I like astronomy.”
He nodded. “So you were probably really disappointed with the groups in the project?”
“Yeah, but I think the whole class was.” You told him and he nodded in agreement.
Finally after about 3 hours of joking around and Draco helping you understand what Snape had been saying the whole time. You packed up your stuff quickly and walked with Draco out of the library.
There weren’t many people in the corridor so you walked together for a while before he asked, “Do you maybe want to hang out down at Hogsmeade this weekend?”
“Is the Draco Malfoy asking me out?” You quipped back, smiling as you look up at him before he frowned and you realised you might have come off as joking too much.
He nodded. “Yes, and will you accept?” Maybe it was mock confidence but it showed you he wasn’t going to back down.
“Yes.” You smiled before walking off to your common room, more excited about Saturday than you ever have been.
“So where do you want to go? I was thinking Scrivenshaft’s because I want one of those new quills and Honeydukes of course.” One of your best friends asked, rambling about the different places.
Awkwardly, you looked over to the blond Slytherin boy, standing with his own friends in casual clothes. “Actually, I was going to hang out with Draco, is that alright?” You squeeze out, feeling awkward.
“Okay, but we’ll talk about that later.” She said with stern eyes which made you laugh.
After they had let you go, you walked over to Draco and waited until his friends had left to tap him on the shoulder. “Hey, you.” You said with a smile that he returned.
“Hey, ready to go?” He asked, up close you could see the amount of work that he had put into his hair and it almost made you ask yourself if he was nervous. Not that it had been much different in your room this morning as you attempted to pick out an outfit.
“Sure.” You said, looking around to see just about everyone had left which made you feel less nervous about everyone watching you on what was basically your first date.
With the same, possible faux, confidence Draco took your hand in his and held it as you walked.
You’d done the walk to Hogsmeade a few times before but this time, with Draco every part of the walked seemed prettier and you chatted about classes and your friends. Much to your surprise, it didn’t even feel awkward.
“Let’s go to the three broomsticks?” He said, sort of as a question as he seaked your approval.
“Yeah, of course.” You agreed, sweezing his hand to comfort him.
Two butterbeers, a table in the corner later and you were talking about how much better your grade in Potions had gotten. His supportive smile did make you smile back at him. And maybe it was the dimly lit room, Draco’s kind attitude or the nerve you had lost but suddenly your hand was on his across the table.
He was a bit taken back and his hand twitched a little but eventually settled, holding your hand in his like you’d seen people do in the movies.
For two hours you sat together, just holding hands and talking. It wasn’t what you usually spent time during Hogsmeade trips doing but it was nice. Being with Draco was nice and nothing like you expected it would be.
“Do you want to go past Honeydukes before we have to go back to school? I’ll get you what ever you want.” He offered, noticing the time on his watch.
You nodded while getting out of your seat. “Yeah, but you don’t have to buy me things.”
“Seriously, I want to.” He told you as he laced your hands together again and you walked past some other students and out of the Three Broomsticks.
You past a few students from your year on the way to Honeydukes and they all looked at the pair of you with eyebrows raised.
Finally you got to Honeydukes and, as usual, you had to spent a few seconds admiring the wonderful shop. From the light green shelves to the glass jars full of candy, you were never not amazed by the store. Even the vibe of excitement between students over picking what candy to get was enchanting.
Draco noticed you’d stopped and looked over at you. “What’s up?” He asked, a little concerned.
“Sorry.” You quickly apologised, snapping back into reality. “This shop just does something to me.” He chuckled a little at the look in your eye and unintertwined your hands, wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you into his side. It felt good to be so close to him, close enough you could smell the cologne he usually wore buried in his clothes.
He didn’t comment of it, instead letting you look at the candy as he lead you around.
“Okay, what’s your thing?” Draco asked a few moments later.
You didn’t even need to think about the answer. “Pink coconut ice, always.” There was so much confidence in your answer.
“Alright so pink coconut ice, exploding bonbons and tooth-spliting strongmints.” Draco told Mr Flume, the shop keeper you had come to love.
Once you got your candy you took it outside to sit on a bench. “I can’t believe I’m on a date with someone who likes exploding bonbons.” You said, rolling your eyes at him as he put one into his mouth. They were seriously not something you enjoyed.
“What? They’re so good.” He exclaimed, looking concerned for you. “Here, try one.” He said, picking it up and putting it near your lips.
You shook your head but his constant smile made you part you lips and he put it into your mouth. Inside your mouth felt like it was on fire, with a weird mix of acidic flavour and slight pain.
The urge to throw up was strong but you resisted it, swallowing down the ‘sweet’ as to not make a mess. “That was so gross!” You exclaimed, hitting him on the chest.
He laughed at you and it made you smile after the distaste was obvious on your features.
“Now you owe me some of this.” Draco said as he put a hand into your bag of coconut ice to get a piece.
“What? I can’t feed it to you?” You quipped as he put it into his mouth, that remark made him smirk.
And he didn’t have a comment for that but let’s just say that the rest of the project was much more enjoyable