Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 46: Until Next Time
By the time Draconia Malfoy and Alex emerged from the shopping centre, the afternoon was giving way to evening.
The sky had turned a soft shade of gold, and the streetlights were beginning to flicker on. Cars moved steadily along the road beyond the car park, their headlights reflecting off the shop windows. A cool breeze caught the loose strands of blonde hair around Draconia’s face, and she tucked them behind her ear.
Alex glanced at her.
“Cold?”
“A little.”
He slipped off his jacket. Draconia immediately shook her head. “Oh, no. You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
He settled it around her shoulders anyway. She looked down at the jacket, then up at him.
“You’re going to be cold.”
“I’ll survive.”
“How heroic.”
Alex laughed. “I do my best.” Draconia smiled and drew the jacket a little closer around herself. It was warm from his body and smelled faintly of soap and something pleasantly masculine that she couldn’t identify. She liked it. Rather a lot, actually. They walked slowly towards the quieter end of the pedestrian precinct, where Draconia had told him she needed to meet someone who would take her back to school. Neither was particularly eager to reach it.
“Well,” Alex said eventually, “I think that went rather well.”
Draconia glanced at him.
“Rather well?”
He smiled. “All right. Very well.” She pretended to consider.
“I suppose it was tolerable.”
“Tolerable?”
“The food was unusual, the cinema was crowded, and I was comprehensively humiliated by a machine involving motorcars.”
Alex laughed.
“You did crash quite a lot.”
“Seven times.”
“Eight, actually.”
Draconia stopped walking.
“Eight?”
“One of them was before you even got onto the track.”
She stared at him. Alex grinned. Draconia gave him a playful shove.
“You’re a dreadful person.”
“So I’ve been told.”
She laughed, then slipped her hand into his.
“But yes,” she admitted. “It was a wonderful afternoon.”
Alex’s expression softened.
“Mine too.”
They continued walking. For a while, neither spoke. Their hands swung gently between them, and Draconia found herself thinking how strange it was that something so simple could make her so happy. She had attended lavish parties, worn expensive dresses, eaten meals prepared by excellent cooks, and received gifts that cost more than most people earned in a month.
Yet she could not remember enjoying any of those occasions as much as an afternoon spent eating a cheeseburger, losing at a video game, and sitting beside a boy who made her laugh. She glanced at Alex. He caught her looking.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re smiling.”
“Am I not allowed?”
“Of course you are.”
“Good.”
She squeezed his hand. They reached a quiet little square a short distance from the shopping centre. There were a few benches, several trees, and a small café preparing to close for the evening. Draconia stopped beside one of the benches.
“This is where I have to say goodbye.”
Alex looked disappointed, although he tried to hide it.
“Already?”
“I’m afraid so.”
He glanced at his watch.
“I suppose it is getting late.”
“Unfortunately.”
Draconia slipped his jacket off her shoulders and handed it back.
“Thank you.”
“Any time.”
He put it on, then looked at her with a slightly uncertain expression.
“So ... when can I see you again?”
Draconia had been expecting the question. She had even rehearsed her answer. Unfortunately, now that he was standing in front of her, looking at her with those lovely blue eyes, the words felt less satisfactory than they had in her imagination.
“I don’t know exactly,” she admitted.
Alex’s smile faded slightly.
“Oh.”
“It’s not because I don’t want to,” she added quickly.
He looked up.
“Really?”
“Alex.”
She stepped closer and took both his hands.
“I’ve had one of the happiest afternoons of my life. Of course I want to see you again.”
His smile returned.
“Good. Because I was hoping you would.”
Draconia laughed softly.
“The difficulty is my school.”
“The boarding school in Scotland?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, relieved that he remembered.
“It’s rather strict about pupils leaving the grounds. We have to obtain permission, and we can’t simply go out whenever we please.”
Alex looked thoughtful.
“That sounds a bit old-fashioned.”
Draconia nearly laughed. You have absolutely no idea.
“It is,” she said.
“Very traditional?”
“Extremely.”
“Uniforms and everything?”
“Oh, yes.”
He grinned.
“Do you have to wear a blazer?”
“Among other things.”
“Bet you look good in it.”
Draconia blushed.
“Alex!”
“What?”
“You’re flirting.”
He smiled.
“Is it working?”
She pretended to consider.
“Possibly.”
He laughed. Draconia squeezed his hands.
“The next time I’m allowed to leave school, I’d very much like to see you again. But I can’t promise when that will be.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’d obviously rather see you next Saturday, but if you can’t, you can’t.”
Draconia smiled gratefully.
“Thank you.”
He hesitated.
“But we can still talk, can’t we?”
Her face brightened.
“Of course!”
“Text?”
“Absolutely.”
“Phone calls?”
“Certainly.”
“Good.”
Draconia tilted her head.
“In fact, I intend to text you quite often.”
“How often?”
She considered.
“Would every day be excessive?”
Alex laughed.
“No. Every day would be brilliant.”
“Excellent.”
She smiled mischievously.
“And perhaps I’ll call you in the evenings.”
“I’d like that.”
“Even if I talk too much?”
“Especially if you talk too much.”
Draconia laughed.
“You don’t know what you’re agreeing to.”
“I think I’ll take my chances.”
She looked at him for a moment, feeling something warm and wonderful settle in her chest.
“Then it’s a promise,” she said.
Alex nodded.
“A promise.”
They stood facing one another. Neither moved. Alex glanced towards the street, then back at her.
“Well...”
“Well,” Draconia echoed.
“I suppose I should let you go.”
“I suppose you should.”
He made no attempt to release her hands. Neither did she. After a moment, Alex smiled sheepishly.
“I’m not very good at goodbyes.”
Draconia smiled.
“Neither am I, apparently.”
He laughed softly. Then his expression grew more serious.
“Draconia?”
“Yes?”
“Can I kiss you goodbye?”
She felt a delightful little flutter in her stomach.
“You may.”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.