He took the photograph out of its drawer. The furniture moaned under the sudden strain. With a ferocious thrust he slammed the drawer shut. He didn't give a damn if they caught him looking at it right now. It was the only thing that kept him sane these recent months. He wished he could turn back time when it was still an open option to switch over, maybe he'd have some sense of normality in his life then. But no. He opted for the easy, "safe" way.
With trembling fingers he traced over the picture. The girl in it moved so fluidly it seemed like she was right there. How her hair flew around her making it look like it was floating. Her laugh etched on her face marking the innocence of the time when it was taken. He managed to get the picture under false pretences. Then again at the time he just wanted a good wank. Over the years he found himself going back to it because of its safe demeanor. Its edges bent and tattered making it look more aged than it actually was. He had to make sure no one found it so he found himself shoving it away hastily many a time.
His face grew hot. His eyes even hotter. He set the photograph down on the grand desk and looked over it. He slammed his hands on either side of the moving image, of the girl and her date, many couples twirling around them as others looked on. It looked like such a fun occasion. Still, that couldn't keep his tears from rolling down his face and falling onto the paper. It wasn't fair. He knew the mistakes he made in the past. He made amends with all of them silently. He had too much time to think now that everything had finally unfolded. If he could go back and smack his eleven year old self he would. In fact, if he had the power there would be no stopping him from doing so and even going further to telling himself to go after her! All this self torture sure wasn't doing him any good that's for sure.
He squeezed his eyes shut. The last of the tears rolled down his face with a pit pat. He sucked in a few quick breaths before opening his eyes. He smiled at the photograph. All the things that he could have said but didn't. The things that he could have done. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the window to the past.
"Incendio."
He watched as the girl was spun by her date. He watched as her face began to glow. He watched as her laugh bubbled up and was wisped away by the fire. With a final spin she was gone.
"Draco."
He was startled by a voice he knew all to well.
"Yes, mother." He stiffly turned to her.
"Come now, they're all waiting. What were you doing in here, darling?" His mother asked as she reached for him.
"Nothing important. Just getting rid of some things."
With a final glance where his sanity was kept safely in tact, Draco went down with his mother to another meeting, dreading of the things to come, wishing he could just go back.