Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
I woke up as the sun light hit my face, and found myself still on the balcony floor with my head on Lou's shoulder, and his arm wrapped around my body. We must had fallen asleep at some point last night. I pulled the blanket off of myself, and gently shook Lou to wake. He mumbled something inaudible at first, but slowly came to wake. I told him to catch on some sleep and I'll prepare breakfast. He barely made it to the couch before he dropped himself and went back to sleep. I was chopping down the mushrooms I would use to make mushroom soup when a note in the form of a swan flew in swiftly through the open balcony door. I set the knife down and caught the letter in my hand. It opened itself with a simple message.
                          
Look out your balcony
                          
I was not sure what to do since there was no mentioning who had sent it, and I had never received any note in the form of origami before, but my curiosity took the better part of me, as it always did. I stepped out on the balcony and looked down, only to fine a certain blonde haired wizard standing across the street from where my flat was, holding a piece of white rose. I motioned with my hand for him to come to the flat, and he seemed to get the message. I went back into the flat, washed my hand and heard a knock on the door just in time. I opened the door to let him in.
                          
"Not here, Lou's sleeping on the couch."
                          
He nodded and did not utter a single word as I led him into my bedroom. I locked the door, and cast a muffliato as to not wake Lou up.
                          
"What do you want, Draco?"
                          
"Via, I'm sorry ab-"
                          
"Oh don't you Via me now. What in Merlin's name got into you? You told me you love me, then you left faster before I could even register what happened, and disappeared into the night. Do you know how brokenhearted I felt last night and how worried I was for you? I know what I did was wrong, Draco, but you don't have to be so cold about it. And now you decided to popped in the first thing in the morning, acting like nothing wrong had happened less than twelve hours ago, acting like the flirt you are bringing a rose to expect me-"
                          
I was cut short suddenly when I found his face less than a finger away from mine, I was too frustrated of the event that took place the night before to realise he had taken a few steps closer to me while I was venting out everything I had been holding through the night.
                          
"Via"
                          
I shuddered slightly when he said my name softly like a whisper. His lips brushing against mine as he said my name and his breath hot against my face. I felt all the frustration I had suddenly evaporated into thin air, like nothing had ever happened the night before. I stood in silence, listening to my own heart, beating as loud as a drum in my ears. Draco then gently put an arm on my waist with the rose still in his hand, another on my cheek, and he closed whatever distance was left between us as he pressed his soft lips on mine. It was the first time we ever kissed and I felt like the rest of the world had disappeared, as if there was nothing else except for the two of us, embraced in each other's arms, lips intact. I did not want to let him go, but the need for oxygen had became dire, and so I pulled back slightly, resting my forehead against his. My breathing was shallow but so was his. He then pulled back even further, though he kept an arm on my waist, lifting my chin up with the other.
                          
"I know what I did was wrong, Via, and you deserve better than that. I came here to apologise. I understand why you did what you did, and I'm sorry for throwing everything at you last night. I meant what I said last night, that I'm sorry you have to lose your father because of mine and my aunt. And for the rose, I wasn't trying to be a flirt, Via. I brought it as my offer to you, I hope you would still be kind enough to have me back."
                          
"You're a git, Malfoy."
                          
"I've heard that a lot, love."
                          
I laughed as I took the rose from his hand. I brought it closer to my nose and took a whiff out of it, suddenly remembering Ireland. Mother had always had a thing for roses, and she busied herself with tending her rose garden when we were in Ireland. It was her form of grieving, a therapy that worked better than the sleeping draught. I put my arms around Draco's neck and closed the gap between us once more as I kissed him. The kiss was even gentler than the previous one, and lasted longer. I felt every ounce of love he had for me with every second of the kiss we shared, as if he had been waiting his whole life to kiss someone so dearly. When we finally broke the kiss, I asked him something that had lingered in my head since the moment I took a whiff of the rose.
                          
"Why the white rose, though?"
                          
"I'm worthy of you."
                          
"Come again?"
                          
"The white rose, it holds the meaning of the giver is worthy of the receiver."
                          
I smiled at him and took another whiff of the rose. He was genuinely pleased that I seemed to love the rose.
                          
"Did you know that the white rose is my favourite flower?"
                          
"I had no idea."
                          
"Mother used to have a garden full of roses of many colours, but the white ones always stood out among the others to me."
                          
"I'm glad you like it. I love you, Via, and if I'm lucky, I might get the chance to let you know that for the rest of my life."
                          
"I love you too, Draco. Why don't you stay over for breakfast? I was making one for Lou and I anyway"
                          
"That would be lovely, Via."
                          
He kissed my forehead and let me led him to the kitchen, where we were greeted by a mouth watering aroma coming from the mushroom soup that was cooking on the stove.
                          
"Great to see you lovers decided to come and join breakfast. By the way, not cool Cas, telling me you'd prepare breakfast then leave it halfway done."
                          
I smacked Lou's arm playfully and kissed his cheek before I put water in the kettle and set it on the stove to boil so that we could have some tea and coffee. I then reached up the cabinet where we store a few butterbeers and Firewhiskeys, and filled an empty bottle with water from the tap before I put the rose Draco had given me in it.
                          
"Nice seeing you again, Draco. I'll take it you've made up with Cassie then?"
                          
I was slightly alarmed at the tone Lou was using. Only a fool would fail to notice how serious he was. Draco seemed to be aware of it and only nodded once in response.
                          
"Good, you seem to make her happy. Walk away like that again and I'll hex you into oblivion."
                          
"Lou! Be gentle, will you? I'd prefer to have him unharmed."
                          
"Fine, for you my dear, I'll only curse him till the next century."
                          
I laughed at him and smacked his arm once more. It was just another good natured morning banter for Lou and I, but  Draco seemed to get the message Lou was trying to send to him clear as day, as he kept a good distance from Lou for the rest of the morning. Lou meant no harm, really, it's just he really cared about me since he considered me as his very own little sister, so anyone who would dare to break my heart will unfortunately be at the receiving end of Lou's wand, and Lou knew a lot of jinxes, hexes, and curses.