Draco Malfoy was insufferable. Talia didn't know how to handle the situation anymore. Every morning since their fight she'd wake up to find a small tin of chocolates on her bedside table—chocolates from Honeyduke's… expensive chocolates at that. At first, she had been confused, and partially startled; the chocolates were left anonymously, with no note or indication of who had bought them—and then she smelled him. That subtle hint of mint, that expensive splash of cologne—it was Draco; there was no doubt in her mind about it.

Talia ignored him as best as she could; she'd throw his chocolates into the fireplace, she'd avoid being left alone with him, she'd arrive early to Potions and sit beside Blaise Zabini, a reserved fourth year who merely smiled at her and gave her no trouble should she return the courtesy. She'd sit with the younger Slytherins during meals, or even go as far as to sit with the Gryffindors, who always seemed to form a protective circle around her.

The whole school was aware that Talia and Draco were not on speaking terms, and it was all the Gryffindors needed to know to accept her as one of their own.

It was one such day that Talia found herself sitting amongst the Gryffindors during dinner. She wasn't sure what Hermione was talking about, but it was probably another attempt to get Harry to talk to Ron. Harry of course refused, and Ron wouldn't have any of it—the whole thing was stupid in Talia's eyes. Harry did not enter his name into the Goblet of Fire, but Ron claimed that he did. As it were, it was none of Talia's business—as long as she wasn't pulled into that mess, then she was happy.

"Talia, have you been listening to a word I've said?" asked Hermione impatiently, nudging Talia with her elbow.

"Yeah," Talia said absentmindedly, dipping a piece of toast into her beef stew.

Hermione sighed rather loudly, rolling her eyes. "Honestly," she said flatly, "you should just say sorry and make up. You're obviously miserable."

"What?" asked Talia, dropping her toast onto her plate, "I've no idea what you're—"

"He's looking over here again," whispered Hermione harshly, an obvious look in her eyes.

"Let him look," said Talia indifferently, knowing exactly who Hermione was talking about, "he can look all he wants."

"I really don't understand why you two are—"

"He made me a promise after that whole thing with Moody," Talia snapped, keeping her voice low, "he said he'd protect me, he said that he wouldn't let anything happen to me—and then I get blasted ten feet in the air, taking a curse to the face. Harry at least had the decency to apologize to the both of us after what happened, but all Draco's been doing is sending me chocolates an—"

"He's sending you chocolates?" asked Hermione in disbelief.

Talia sighed, pushing her plate away, "Yeah, he has. Every morning there is a new tin of chocolates on my bedside table. I didn't touch them at first—I thought Pansy was trying to poison me, so I'd just throw the tin into the fireplace, but then I figured out that it was him—"

"And you still threw the tin in the fire?" asked Hermione with a knowing look.

"Of course," said Talia arrogantly, holding her head high.

Hermione allowed herself a chuckle, before getting back to business, "But really, Talia, you should at least talk to him about it. Maybe you two can work something out."

"Why Hermione," said Talia sarcastically, "this sudden care for Draco—"

"I could care less about that prat," snapped Hermione viciously, but then softened her voice as she said, "I care about you, and this little fight between the two of you is obviously affecting you. When's the last time you honestly had fun, Talia? I don't think I've seen you smile in days."

"I have too smiled," replied Talia with a glare, "that joke Fred told us the other day, about that troll with the missing left arm and leg, and how he's "all right" now—"

"It wasn't genuine, your smile," said Hermione softly, "and your laugh was a bit forced."

Talia kept silent for a moment, before looking down at the tabletop and saying softly, "You don't know what you're talking about, 'Mione."

Hermione sighed. "You and Draco are just like Harry and Ron."

"Whatever," mumbled Talia, before quickly changing the subject to, "has Harry found out what the first task is?"

"… He has," said Hermione delicately.

"And?" prompted Talia, looking up at Hermione eagerly.

"And you'll just have to wait until tomorr—"

"Oh come on," whispered Talia pleadingly, nudging Hermione with her elbow, "I know that you know what it is—I've seen you two working on Summoning Charms these past few days; what's he gotta do?"

"I can't say," said Hermione with a little smile, "I don't want to ruin the surprise for you—you'll love it, trust me."

"Damn it, Hermione," Talia sighed.

"How about this," proposed Hermione, "you go talk to Draco before the end of dinner, and I'll let you in on what the first task is."

"I'll wait until tomorrow, thanks."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You are insufferable, Natalia Snape."

"It's one of my main qualities," Talia shrugged.

The rest of dinner passed on without so much as another word in regards to Draco, and Talia couldn't have been any happier, but of course, in true Malfoy fashion, Draco would not stand for being ignored. As Talia settled into her four-poster, the curtains shut around her for privacy, she felt something off about her pillow—there was something underneath it. It was a box, no bigger than the palm of her hand. A silver ribbon kept the lid from slipping off, and Talia sighed in annoyance as she took the box in her hands.

"Honestly, Draco," Talia mumbled underneath her breath as she untied the ribbon, "I don't know why you keep trying—"

Words left her as she peered into the box. There, nestled in blue tissue paper, was a porcelain figurine of a unicorn. A small gasp left Talia's lips as she carefully took the little unicorn out of the box, and when the unicorn sprang to life at her touch, a large smile settled on Talia's lips. She watched with glittering eyes as the little unicorn tromped through her sheets, holding its head high and looking very regal. She was so entranced with the unicorn that she didn't notice the folded piece of parchment at the bottom of the box, at least not until the little unicorn walked back into the box on its own accord, curling up and becoming inanimate again.

"Let's see what you've got to say, Drake," said Talia softly as she unfolded the parchment—

I'm trying—I'm trying so hard, but everything I do only serves to make you upset. I'm a horrible friend, I'll admit that, but I try so hard—for you.

I know I fucked up, and I hate to think that the trust we had is broken; I never meant to hurt you. I broke my promise, I realize that, and I feel so bad about it, but I swear that I'll never let it happen again.

Just give me another shot, that's all I ask for.

—Draco

Talia froze for a moment, her mind going blank, but then a flurry of thoughts and emotions washed over her, and she fell asleep that night with a smile on her face.

Only Draco Malfoy would know how to say, "I'm sorry" without actually saying the words "I'm sorry."

And that was okay with Talia.