HOW TO BE A HEARTBREAKER

YOURS

( Thursday 5th February 1998 )

  Rowan found herself disappointed when Draco was late to prefect duties that evening. As she waited outside the Slytherin common room, listening to nothing but muffled echoing voices down where Snape's office was, her brain immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusions.

Rowan assumed he was off with some girl. She found it hard to believe that Draco hadn't slept with anyone since before Christmas, but people were still occasionally talking about how strange his new behaviour was, so maybe it was true.

However, Draco could slip up any moment. Rowan wasn't sure if all it would take is an eager, beautiful girl for him to break his streak of celibacy. Most importantly, though, Rowan hated the fact that it mattered to her.

She hated the sickness she felt in her throat and the twisting of her stomach at the thought of him being late to meet up with her because he was off with some other girl. Showing her affection, giving her pleasure, and also getting pleasure off of her.

Rowan had to close her eyes and think about the mock exam she had in the morning to distract herself from her intrusive thoughts. Even that was less stressful than wondering if Draco was currently in bed with someone that wasn't her.

She hated this! Rowan hated these jealous feelings! Or having feelings for Draco Malfoy full stop. The world was not meant to be like this. The world should be Rowan hating Draco, and Draco hating Rowan. That was how it had been for years, and that was how she still wanted it to be.

She'd not had feelings for someone since Adrian Pucey last year, and she was only now remembering how painful it was to like someone. Even if she knew Draco liked her back, she didn't know if that was enough for him to stop his eyes straying elsewhere. Besides, it wasn't like they were a couple. They'd only ever kissed a few times.

A few amazing kisses....

"Sorry I'm late."

Rowan jumped, her eyes snapping open as she pushed off of the stone wall behind her. Draco stood in front of her, and much to her dismay, he looked flushed and his hair was messy. Rowan felt a lump in her throat as her stomach dropped.

"Only say sorry if you mean it," Rowan scowled, allowing her anger to get the best of her as she marched down the hallway, taking the lead. "Otherwise, it's pointless. Slipped back into your old ways, have you?"

Draco was quick to move after her, his long legs barely having to put in any effort to keep up with her quick strides. As if she was trying to get rid of him, but not really. His face was scrunched up in confusion.

"I'm sorry?" He scoffed, "Look, I'm only five minutes late."

"It's just impolite," Rowan retorted.

"Look, I really did mean my apology. I was up at the owlery, sending a letter to my mother. I ran back when I realised the time," Draco said, "I'm not slipping into my old ways," he added defensively.

Rowan slowed down. Everything clicked into her head and she felt guilty. Draco was obviously telling the truth, and he looked slightly dishevelled because he'd been running. Running so he wouldn't be late meeting her.

"Oh." Rowan cleared her throat. "Sorry, Malfoy. I didn't mean to be such a... an arsehole."

Draco shrugged. "I'm used to you being an arsehole to me."

Rowan scoffed and shoved him. Draco chuckled, barely moving as he shoved his hands into his pockets and carried on walking beside her now. He looked down at her for a moment and Rowan was nearly breathless by the look on his face, as if he was really admiring her, before he looked back up and she had a nice view of his sharp jawline flexing ever so slightly.

"Have you been revising for the Herbology mock tomorrow?" Rowan asked, desperately trying to forget all about the pathetic, jealous moment that she had just had — and nearly taken out on a genuinely innocent Draco Malfoy.

Draco shrugged. "I've been trying to. I've been more focused on other stuff."

"Quidditch stuff?" Rowan suggested knowingly as they headed up a flight of stairs.

He gave a small laugh. "Mostly, I suppose. I've been reading Eunice Murray's biography. You said she was your all-time favourite Quidditch player, right?"

"Yeah," Rowan replied, surprised he had remembered. "She's great."

"She is," Draco agreed, "I read about how she petitioned for the Snitch to be faster because she was catching it too easily."

Rowan laughed at the reminder. "That's why she's my favourite. And because being a woman in the most successful Quidditch team in the early 1900s must have been... rough. So for her to say that..." Rowan shook her head with a grin. "She's everything I want to be."

Draco hummed at the thought. "My mother often says she wished she had tried Quidditch whilst she was at Hogwarts. She never did though. Slytherin Pureblood tradition and all that."

"Oh, yes," Rowan said knowingly, "My father wasn't too pleased when he found out, but I never really cared. Nothing beats flying. Or winning. When I realised I was actually decent at Chasing, there was no way I was ever quitting. Not for him or for anything else."

"Well it's a good thing you never did give up," Draco said, "It's a stupid belief — that Slytherin women are to be so proper as to not play Quidditch."

"I always think about how different our games would be if that had never been the case," Rowan said, "If Slytherin girls had always been let on the team with no discrimination. We could be ten times better, maybe. But we'll never know now."

Draco was about to reply when there was a bang from the other corridor. They froze in place, then Draco's hand quickly reached for his wand. When they heard the giggles he rolled his eyes, sharing a knowing look with Rowan.

Rowan huffed and moved forwards with him, turning the corner only to stop in place. Draco did too, an eyebrow quirking up curiously when they saw Daphne with Clay. She had him pressed up against a wall, her mouth moving against his quickly. Draco glanced down at Rowan, and relief filled his chest when he saw nothing but disgust. Not an ounce of jealousy or hurt.

"You do realise there's other places to do that shit, right?" Draco drawled, causing both teenagers to freeze, looking at him with wide eyes, their arms still wrapped around one another.

Rowan couldn't help thinking about how hypocritical the two of them were, considering they'd both fooled around in these corridors before. Rowan's partner in crime was even standing right in front of them, being accused.

Clay looked pale upon seeing Rowan.

"Rowan." He moved away from Daphne. "I didn't — I was —"

Rowan furrowed her eyebrows. "Just hurry back to the common room," she warned. Everyone knew that Slytherins didn't take house points off of other Slytherins. It would be like shooting yourself in the foot.

Daphne glanced over at Draco, her jaw clenched, and then she marched on, making sure to huff as she passed Draco and Rowan. Clay followed, hesitantly pausing in front of them.

"Rowan, just so you know, that didn't mean anything to me. I was just —"

"Inkwood..." Rowan said, "You're not my boyfriend. I don't care who you kiss. All I will say is that there are definitely better options than Greengrass."

"Yeah, yeah, r-right," Clay nodded, his cheeks heating up as he became visibly flustered. "Er, sorry for, you know, breaking the rules. I'll be off then."

Draco grinned in amusement. "Goodnight, Inkwood. Sweet dreams."

Clay sent a small glare as Draco waved with fluttery fingers. He was forced to walk away, leaving Rowan with Draco.

They both shared a glance once they were alone and burst into laughter.

...

  ( Saturday 7th February 1998 )

  Rowan was grateful to be in the warmth of The Three Broomsticks, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as she pulled the beanie off of her head, stuffing it half-heartedly into her coat pocket. It was snowing outside, and Rowan felt like it had been on and off for months now, but February always came with the most of it.

She placed herself down at the nearest available table, placing all of her shopping bags beside her on the booth seat. Rowan yanked off her gloves and fixed her hair with her fingers, relishing in the warmth for a moment or two before she forced herself to get up and order a Butterbeer.

When she came back, Rowan froze upon seeing someone sat in the seat opposite hers. She raised her eyebrows in suspicion, placing down her drink and taking her seat.

"Any reason you have decided to bless me with your presence this evening, Malfoy?" Rowan said sarcastically.

Draco scoffed. "I saw you sitting alone. Shopping by yourself is a little bit sad, isn't it?"

Rowan furrowed her eyebrows. "No," she replied defensively, "That's an immature thing to think. Besides, I'm not really alone. I walked here with Pansy and her girlfriend. We'll all walk back with each other when they're finished shopping, too. However, I decided to be a good friend and give them a little privacy."

Draco hummed and drank some of his own Butterbeer.

"Besides," Rowan carried on, and Draco smirked at how defensive she was being. "You're sitting here alone too."

"No, I was with Theo and Blaise back there." Draco jabbed his thumb deeper into the pub. "But they wanted to go to Gladrags Wizardwear."

"Not a fan of Gladrags?" Rowan teased.

"No, not at all," Draco huffed back as if he was insulted by the thought of her thinking otherwise.

"Why? Do they not have enough black suits in there for you?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "They're comfortable and smart," he replied.

Rowan scoffed a small laugh. "I'm sure walking around in a suit all day every day is comfortable."

"It is," Draco claimed, "Besides, I'm in my uniform more often than not."

"Hmm," Rowan hummed back unconvincingly, and took a sip of her Butterbeer, being cautious to lick her lips after and rid them of any of the cream.

Draco's jaw clenched, his silver eyes trained on her mouth. Rowan's heart skipped a beat when she noticed. Her cheeks nearly began to heat up, the idea that she had the power to make him... feel things making her feel giddy rather than powerful like it did a few weeks ago.

She hated having feelings!

"Have you got much left to do in Hogsmeade?" Rowan asked, "I could just walk back with you if you're heading back to school soon. Let Pansy and Bridget spend some more time with one another."

"Yeah," Draco replied, and lifted his own Butterbeer. "I was going to head off after this."

"Good idea," Rowan said, "It's meant to snow again soon. I don't particularly fancy getting caught up in it, either."

Rowan gulped down the rest of her Butterbeer, wiping her lips again afterwards. She glanced out of the window, and sighed when it started to sprinkle with snowflakes.

"Shit," Rowan muttered, "If we don't leave now, it'll most likely storm it down."

"C'mon then," Draco said as he climbed from his seat.

Rowan copied his action, putting her hat and gloves back on, and then grabbed her shopping bags. Draco held open the door for her, letting her duck beneath his arm, and they entered the bustling street of shops. Out of the corner of Rowan's eye, she spotted Pansy and Nancy, and gave her best friend a wave.

Pansy rushed over. "How's shopping going?"

"Good," Rowan said, and gestured to her bags. "Spent as much as usual. I was about to head back, actually."

Pansy furrowed her brows. "Oh. Nancy and I still wanted to go to Madam Puddifoot's, though. You could... You could come with us, I suppose?"

Rowan's nose crinkled. "I can't imagine anything more awkward than being the only single person among dozens at Puddifoot's. Especially when third wheeling your best friend's date. I'll pass, thanks. I'm heading back with Malfoy."

The look of surprise on Pansy's face was almost comical. Her eyes darted to the blond boy clad in black looming behind Rowan as if that was the first time she had noticed him there. Pansy looked back at Rowan, sending her an unsure glance.

"If you're perfectly sure?" She hesitated, "Nancy and I can skip Puddifoot's to walk you home if —"

"Don't be so silly," Rowan scolded, "Go and enjoy the rest of your date with Bridget. Look — she looks all lost and awkward waiting over there for you. Put her out of her misery."

Pansy sent Rowan a small glare. "She's not awkward."

"She's standing like she's just been scolded by Snape," Draco pointed out, an eyebrow raised.

Pansy glared even harder. "Both of you shut it, or I'll kick you both so hard you can't play Quidditch for months."

Rowan rolled her eyes teasingly. "Yeah, yeah. Love you too, Pans. See you later."

Pansy sent them both a middle finger over her head as she headed through a small crowd and back to her girlfriend. Rowan smiled slightly at the sight of Pansy's hand immediately reaching for Nancy's, giving it a squeeze as the two girls grinned at one another.

"Come on then," Rowan said.

She headed off, Draco walking alongside her. Snow crunched beneath her shoes and fell down into the strands of hair that were in front of her eyes. She could smell Draco's cologne as she walked alongside him, and she hated the butterflies that it gave her in her stomach. Her nose crinkled and she tried to focus on the smell of her own perfume to take her mind off of him and his close proximity.

They were about to make it to the bridge that led them out of Hogsmeade when a hand grasped at Rowan's arm and she was tugged back. She gasped sharply out of fright, whirling around, attempting to yank her arm back from the strong grip of her father.

Corban Yaxley glared angrily at her, his face red with fury. If he were a dragon, Rowan was sure his nose would be puffing out smoke from the raging fire burning inside of him. Rowan felt her heart drop into her stomach. Draco froze beside her too, in shock more than anything.

"Rowan, you have no idea of the amount of repercussions you will face for the little stunt you pulled with that Parkinson girl," Corban snapped furiously, "And the ghastly things you said to my colleagues and I at that ball! You have put so much shame on —"

"Let go of me," Rowan gasped, trying to tug back again, only to be jerked forwards. Her eyes were wide in shock, her body barely reacting like she wanted it to.

  Corban turned to Draco with an apologetic glance. "I am sorry, Draco, that I am having to spoil your day, but—"

"On the contrary, Mr Yaxley, the only person spoiling my day right now is you," Draco spat harshly, much to the shock of the father and daughter. "If you wouldn't mind letting Y — Rowan go, then I would feel much better."

Mr Yaxley surely knew better than to piss off a Malfoy. Whilst the Yaxleys were still high up and respectable, a part of the Sacred 28 to this day, the Malfoys were a whole other level of prestige and fame.

Corban released Rowan and she staggered backwards, holding her arm to her chest. She glared furiously at her father, feeling sick to her stomach.

"I need to talk to you, Row —"

"I don't want to speak with you ever again," Rowan said, horrified. "I'd rather you disowned me than forced me back into any house with you."

Yaxley looked absolutely livid, like the vein in his forehead was about to burst any moment, but Rowan took off before he could say anything else. She walked fast, ignoring his calls. Rowan faintly heard a small jab come from Draco, but she had no idea what he'd said to her father.

Rowan walked fast enough that Draco had to yell for her by the time he'd gotten Corban to walk away. Rowan barely slowed down, wiping away her tears quickly, sniffling, trying to calm the frantic beat of her heart.

"Yaxley —" Draco went to touch her shoulder, but she jerked away from him.

"Don't," Rowan spat, and carried onwards. "I'm not weak or pathetic and I – I could have dealt with that all by myself."

Draco pursed his lips. "It didn't look like you could."

Apparently that wasn't the right thing to say, because Rowan shoved his arm and took off even faster this time.

"I could have!" Rowan seethed, "I'm fine!"

"Would you try and calm down —"

"I am calm!" Rowan yelled, and then froze in place when Draco lifted a brow. She placed her palm against her forehead. "Look, Malfoy, thank you for whatever the hell it is you just did, but I am fine and I don't want to see anyone right now. Especially not you."

"Yaxley," Draco spat angrily, "Stop fucking yelling and moving and let me fucking help you."

Rowan breathed heavily when she realised how frantic she had been. She stared at him, watching as his tongue darted out to wet his lips and he gave her a small nod.

"Don't tell anyone," Rowan struggled, "Please, Malfoy. Please."

His lips parted in surprise, his eyebrows furrowing. "Tell anyone what exactly?"

Rowan grew frustrated again. "What you just saw! That — That my father's a fucking weirdo, that I could barely fucking —" She swallowed thickly with a pained expression, "-That I froze up. Please."

"I won't say a word," Draco said firmly, and Rowan oddly believed him as he stared her down like a hawk. "But you shouldn't be so fucking embarrassed, Yaxley. He should be."

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," Rowan said, and carried on walking with her arms folded across her chest, her bags brushing against her. "Pretend it never happened, okay?"

Draco made a noise of frustration, exhaling loudly past his nose, but walked beside her, his hands moving to his pockets. Neither of them spoke the entire way back to Hogwarts, not even when they reentered the courtyard and the snow was falling slightly harder and faster.

Rowan, who'd been thinking everything through the entire trek home, bit her lip and then burst before they could walk through the Slytherin common room door.

"I'm sorry for snapping."

Draco's brows lifted.

"I'm sorry," Rowan repeated, more annoyance laced in her tone when she was forced to continue. "And thank you for helping me. I was mad at myself more than anything. For not saying everything I'd been telling myself I'd say the next time I saw his face. And because I was embarrassed that you saw everything."

"And like I said," Draco said, his voice low with warning. "Your poor excuse for a father is the only one who should be ashamed. I don't know exactly what happened at my father's New Years Party, but I heard what Greengrass said, and I'm not an idiot."

Rowan's heart thudded hard in her chest. "Please —"

"I won't say a word," Draco said, moving closer to her, keeping his voice quiet. "It's nobody's business. But if he does something, I want to know."

Her face screwed up in confusion. "Why would you want to know?"

"So I can do something about it," Draco replied sharply, pointedly. "Sick fuckers like Corban shouldn't have the world at their feet. They should be locked up in fucking Azkaban."

"He's never..." Rowan swallowed thickly, cringing at the thought, but despite her burning cheeks, carried on. "He's never touched me before, if that's what you're thinking has happened."

"Good," Draco replied, but his stern expression didn't leave. "But I'm under the impression that he's far from a good man, and I know I'm not a fucking angel, but Merlin, Yaxley, if he ever does anything, I'll —"

"You'll what?"

Draco's face was so close to hers. "I'll make him wish he was fucking dead," he spat.

She didn't need to ask him why he'd do it for her. It was all there in his face. Rowan's chest heaved. Her fingers twitched to grasp at Draco's blazer, and she leaned up, hesitant, looking at him in his silver eyes, and then moved back, unsure for a moment. However, Draco grasped her cheek and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers.

The breath was knocked out of her lungs, her heart hammered, and she felt like she wanted to drown in him. Kissing had never felt like this before — so good and so meaningful. Rowan was terrified, pouring her helplessness into him, hoping he'd hold her together and guide her.

They pulled apart when they heard someone laugh a few corridors down. Draco adjusted his blazer and ran a hand through his hair whilst Rowan swiped beneath her lip, making sure her lipstick wasn't smudged. Somehow it had managed not to transfer over to Draco's slightly swollen ones.

Her lips parted, like she wanted to say something. However, like all of the other times they'd kissed, nothing came of it.

"You know where I am if he harrasses you again," Draco said, and then he left through the common room door as a group of fourth years came around the corner, laughing and clutching bags of shopping.

...

( Sunday 8th February 1998 )

Rowan wanted to snap Draco's broomstick in half and beat him with both sides of it. She realised how crude that sounded the moment the thought passed through her head, but it still stood.

Everything was his fault!

She couldn't sleep last night because all she could think about was Draco fucking Malfoy, and so she turned up to Quidditch two minutes late and earned a few harsh words from the boy himself. Then, her performance was slightly worse than usual for three reasons:

1. The fact that she had stayed up all night thinking of Draco Malfoy, so now she was fucking exhausted.

2.  The fact that Draco Malfoy was her Captain and looked handsome as fuck in his uniform.

3. Draco Malfoy wouldn't stop fucking yelling at her for every single tiny mistake that she made, even when with all of her mistakes combined, she was still the best member on the team hands down.

Rowan was seething with rage by the time he finally blew the whistle that indicated the end of practice. She'd spent all of her time in the air gripping her broomstick, her teeth gritted, her brown eyes rolling when she heard the snap of her last name from that arrogant posh twat's mouth.

"He's being a bit harsh on you today," Blaise muttered awkwardly as the two of them flew to the ground, pulling off their gloves and other bits of protective gear.

"I know," Rowan hissed, a permanent glare on her face.

"Is The Plan not working?" Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Theo was rather thrilled to find he'd walked you home yesterday, you know. I thought that meant things were going well too."

Rowan's heart sort of dropped.

"This isn't about all of that," Rowan huffed, "He's just being his usual dick-ish self. Just leave it, Blaise."

Blaise held his hands up in defence. "Okay, I hear you loud and clear, Yaxley. I see how it is, I see how it is."

Rowan rolled his eyes at his teasing and gave him a mocking shove, watching as he laughed before taking off towards the showers. She barely had a second alone before Clay was in her face.

"You alright?" He asked, tucking his broom beneath his arm. "Malfoy was —"

"Reasonably frustrated with Yaxley's underperformance," Draco cut in sharply from behind them both.

Clay loudly huffed. "You were plain mean at times, Malf —"

"I can stand up to Malfoy myself, thank you, Inkwood," Rowan interrupted.

"Go on then," Draco dared, his eyes twinkling as he folded his arms across his chest and stared down at her. "Stand up to me, Yaxley."

Rowan wondered if even Clay could feel the amount of sexual tension between her and Draco in that moment. Draco's eyes darkened at the way Rowan visibly shifted, and he sent a scathing look at the younger Slytherin.

"Piss off before I kick you from the final match," Draco ordered roughly.

Clay almost squeaked, "But –"

"Go!" Both Rowan and Draco yelled at the same time.

Rowan immediately winced at the defeated look on Clay's face as he turned and moved away from them, ignoring the satisfied smirk on Draco's face when he glanced back at Rowan. He was clearly happy that she had ordered him to go away too.

"You're fucking annoying!" Rowan hissed, pointing a finger at him once Clay was gone. "You know what? Inkwood was right, you were plain mean today for no reason —"

"You were slacking," Draco smirked, his arms folded against his chest. "If I don't put you in your place, then who will?"

Rowan's breath hitched. "Fuck off," she growled, "You know what the fuck you are doing when you say shit like that."

"Shit like what, Yaxley?" Draco raised one eyebrow and moved closer to her. "When I talk about putting you in your place? I was talking purely about Quidditch. Why? What were you thinking about?"

Rowan swallowed and took a metaphorical leap.

"I was thinking about you pushing me up against the stands and fucking an apology out of me," Rowan hissed back hastily.

It was with great satisfaction that she watched Draco's entire face go slack, his mouth opening and his breaths visibly quickening ever so slightly.

"Cat got your tongue?" Rowan dared, taking a step closer. "What is it, Malfoy? All bark and no bite?"

His large hand reached out and grabbed her face, his slender fingers wrapping around her jaw, puckering her lips for him to dive in and take them as his own. Rowan kissed back hungrily, enjoying their most eager make out session yet. Her hands clawed at his back, scraping his shoulders, reaching into his messy Quidditch hair.

He had her pinned against the wall of a stand in a seconds, her leg shifting up as if to wrap around his waist. Draco grabbed it, his hand squeezing at the flesh of her thigh, sliding down until he cupped her ass, squeezing that too. Her gasp allowed for him to slip his tongue into her mouth.

Draco pushed himself fully up against Rowan, letting her feel what she had done to him. Rowan stifled a moan inside Draco's mouth. He was hard as anything, and she could tell that he was big too.

He pulled off of her, breathing heavily. "You — You fucking do things to me, Yaxley. Things that no other girl on this fucking planet has ever done to me."

Rowan could practically hear the blood rushing in her veins, fast with adrenaline.

"You are like nobody else I have ever encountered." His hand stroked her face, his thumb brushing her swollen lips. "I've never felt so... so deeply for someone."

Rowan felt like she could be sick with gleefulness.

"Is that how you feel too?" He asked.

"Unfortunately..." She gave him a gentle smirk.

Draco barked a small laugh. "I know. It'd be much easier to hate you."

Rowan shook her head. "This feels more right than hating you."

His silver eyes softened. "It does, doesn't it? It feels like these moments with you are what my entire life has been waiting for."

It felt like somebody was stomping on Rowan's chest with the world's heaviest boots.

She grasped his arms. "I feel the exact same way."

And she did. Holy shit Rowan meant it with every fibre of her being. She was drunk on him. Waiting for him to kiss her again, to give her another dose.

"Be mine," Draco breathed heavily against her lips.

Rowan gave him a slow kiss and then stared into his eyes. "I'm yours, Malfoy."

...

sorry for the lack of updates, hopefully them getting together makes up for it a bit!

word count: 4.7k

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