"y/n-"

"no, Draco. if you help me then it wouldn't be safe for you here either." y/n interrupted him.

Draco swallowed.

"is that Leepy?" he asked suddenly, pointing to the little elf behind y/n's legs.

Leepy stuck his head out slightly.

"Leepy is sorry, son of master!" Leepy quickly apologized, getting ready to punish himself.

"no! Leepy it's okay." Draco stopped him.

y/n looked up at Draco. "can you not free him?" she asked.

Draco shook his head. "unfortunately, my father is his master. and now Leepy helps serves the Dark Lord, so i have no control over setting him free." he explained.

y/n frowned at Leepy's doe eyes.

"c'mon, y/n. you have to go." Draco grabbed her hand, but she pulled out his grip.

"no. i'm not leaving without you."

"y/n i can't leave without them knowing. you have to go." Draco began grabbing her stuff.

"i can't just-"

"please, y/n," Draco begged.

y/n swallowed. just as she was about to answer the door swung open. Leepy disappeared and Draco and y/n jumped.

Goyle's father smirked. "a little teenage romance in here, huh?"

"go away you freak." y/n replied.

"get lost," Draco spoke up.

"fine, fine." Goyle left the room.

Draco looked back at y/n.

"it's too late. we can't have you leave tonight," he said. he stared at her for a moment longer, studying how different she looked.

he hadn't seen her in months and she looked more mature, more beautiful.

"goodnight, y/n," he whispered before leaving.

-

y/n awoke the next morning to Narcissa opening the door. her eyes were tired as she tried to remain strong. "breakfast, dear."

y/n ate in silence as Draco and she sat outside. the sky was gloomy and no birds were chirping.

"good?" he murmured. the air was chilly as they were both dressed in black turtlenecks.

"very. do the house elves make these?" she asked.

"yep. all three meals, unfortunately, they aren't as good as the ones from Hogwarts." he joked.

y/n smiled. she had been here at the Manor for a week and a half now.

"how well do you know Leepy?" she asked him.

"not well, to be honest. last night was the first i've spoken to him in a long time. he never came out before you." Draco informed.

y/n shifted in her seat. "i love that little elf." she smiled.

"i wish i could free him for you." Draco sighed, putting his right leg over his left. his fingers twiddled together as he stared at the table.

"if Harry found a way to trick Lucius into freeing Dobby then i'm sure i can figure out something." y/n said.

"have you seen the garden yet?" Draco asked.

"only from the window. it looks beautiful, though." y/n replied.

"would you like me to take you down there?" he asked. y/n nodded.

as the two made their way down to the tall hedges in silence, both of them nervous, a rumble in the bush startled them.

Draco immediately rushed for his wand in his coat pocket while y/n jumped next to him. a little rabbit ran out.

Draco let out a sigh of relief as y/n started laughing. "a little rabbit made you shake?" she teased.

Draco smirked. "you can stop squeezing my arm now, love." he responded.

y/n released her hands off his bicep. "you probably enjoyed it."

"maybe i did. maybe i didn't."

a casual conversation flowed freely between them as they reached a small lake that ran through the back. they sat down next to it and listened to the sound of the stream.

"remember Milo?" y/n asked.

"the niffler?" Draco looked at her.

her hair was flowing off her shoulders as she stared at the water.

"yes. i miss him."

"y/n that was like- three years ago." Draco laughed.

"doesn't mean i can't miss him!" y/n joked.

Draco shook his head. "i do remember Milo. in fact, i remember that was when i kissed you under the tree in the Forbidden Forest."

y/n grinned. "we were what, like fourteen? "

"wow. i got girls that young. of course, I've always been a stud." Draco joked.

"don't act like i'm not the one who got you interested in me first," she smirked.

"yeah, yeah, whatever." he smiled.

silence fell between them. "i really missed you, y/n."

"i missed you too, i think. it's strange, you know. it's been really nice getting to know you again and... falling back in love." she whispered the last part.

Draco felt his heart pick up the pace. "you remember?"

"for the most part, yes, but just being with you again has helped a lot," she told him, now staring into his silver eyes.

"can i- uh-" Draco started but quickly stopped.

y/n got the hint and grabbed his chin, pulling his face close to her's. their lips intertwined and they kissed for the first time in months.

y/n shifted so she was now lying down and Draco hovered over her. their lips never broke and just as he was about to lift his shirt someone called out, "Draco!"

they pulled apart quickly and sat up. Narcissa looked flushed as she stared at her son and y/n with worry. "Harry Potter has been spotted at the Ministry."