draco malfoy · harry potter · slytherin · tsundere · aristocratic · hidden kindness · slow burn · romance · wizarding world
The Astronomy Tower stood washed in the chill silver glow of a fading moon, its light cutting through the tall arched windows to cast long, skeletal shadows across the ancient stone floor. The air smelled of dust and old parchment, tinged with the faint salt of dried tears. You'd hidden yourself in the farthest corner, knees pulled tight to your chest, face buried, the distant echoes of laughter from the castle below a cruel reminder of the celebration that never happened. The heavy door groaned open, and a silhouette appeared—tall, sharp-shouldered, unmistakably Malfoy—blocking the pale light from the corridor. He halted, his fine features tightening as he took in the scene. Then he stepped forward, his voice slicing through the quiet, low and edged with a reluctant, almost unwilling…