CHAPTER 6

A month into their relationship and Draco could feel that what he had with Diana was really something special. He had always been fond of his study partner back in school, but things had gotten so complicated during the war. He knew that in school, there was no way that they'd ever have a chance. She had been right - what she said back at the restaurant. They were always on opposites. A war was brewing and he had been on the wrong side of it. He let his mind wander back to their days in school. He couldn't quite figure what she had seen in him back then, but he was grateful that she had.

After a late shift at St. Mungo's Draco had come home in the early hours of the morning, collapsing on the couch of his flat that overlooked the city. He eyed the photograph sitting on his coffee table - he always kept it there. The photograph had become a reminder, in the time he spent punishing himself for the role he had played in the war, that there was someone out there who once saw him for him. Draco knew what a little shite he had been in school, but with Diana, he had been able to be himself… even just for a minute at a time.

He reached for it, smiling as he turned it over in his hands, examining the photo. It was the night of the Yule Ball and he hadn't been able to take his eyes off of the girl. There she was, seated on their study desk, laughing and pushing him away from her as he had tried to put his arm around her...

"Shouldn't you be with whatshername?" Diana asked with a giggle as Draco pulled her into his arms. One hand wrapped her waist while the other held her hand as he led her through the waltz stepped. She let out another laugh as he began humming a tune for them to dance too.

"Parkinson? I thought you said that she was a vapid, shallow narcissist who was only interested in me for the family name and pureblood status," Draco answered, continuing his humming as he moved his feet quickly out of excitement.

"I did, but like attracts like, Malfoy. Sounds like a perfect match to me," she teased in response.

"Oh come off it," Draco rolled his eyes, picking up the pace of their dance.

"Wait. You actually listen to me?!" she exclaimed playfully.

"Sometimes," he smirked.

"Slow down!" she shrieked, fumbling over the steps. She tripped over his feet, stepping on his toe. "Malfoy!"

He laughed, turning them before releasing her. The two friends exchanged a glance before sharing another laugh.

"You look… lovely… perhaps Slytherin would've suited you," he complimented her, referring to her emerald green dress.

"Fat chance," she shot back, playfully. "Like I would've wanted to be in Slytherin."

"Had you been in Slytherin maybe we would've become friends earlier," Draco suggested with a playful shrug.

"Is that what we are? Friends?" Diana asked. She had never said it out loud so it felt strange, almost foreign, coming out of her mouth in reference to him. After a year of studying secretly together, she was beginning to believe that they were.

"Guess so," Draco replied.

"Hmm," she sounded, taking a step closer to him. He met her with another step as they stood in front of each other. "Draco… why did you ask me here?"

"I told you. I wanted to give you a proper dance," he answered, inches away from her. Was he going to kiss her? She wasn't quite sure how she felt about that, but she had butterflies and was nervous with anticipation of what he'd say next.

"I've got a brilliant idea!" Draco exclaimed, jolting her as he leapt over to the desk that they had set up in their secret tower.

"Hmm?" Diana asked, following him.

Draco picked up the camera that he had stashed in there from their last session. It had been a gift from his father for getting good grades and he had wanted to try out. He had left it in the tower the last time they were up here.

"Let's take a picture!" he suggested, excitedly.

"What? And have photographic evidence of our friendship that someone can use against me? I don't think so," Diana shot back.

He rolled his eyes with a frown, "Get over here, Tsai."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"I'm not-."

"You're doing it!"

She sighed in defeat, before stomping her way over to him, hopping up onto the desk he was leaning against.

"How does this thing work anyways?" she asked, curiously.

"Here," Draco said, placing it gently on one of the tower window ledges. "And all we have to do is…" He brought out his want, tapping it towards the set up camera to take a picture. He slid an arm around her shoulder, surprising her. There was a bright flash as she leaned in towards him, then laughed and pushed him away from her.

"Oh don't get any ideas, Malfoy," she teased.

"It's for the picture. Don't flatter yourself," he teased back. She giggled. So she was friends with Draco Malfoy.

Draco smiled, tossing and turning the photo in his hands, remembering that night. He knew that he had done the right thing by letting her go but he wondered what could've been if things had been different.

"Find me when all of this is over," he read aloud to himself, off of the back of the photograph. He sighed out, holding the photograph to his chest as he allowed his mind to drift back to that moment.

September 26, 1996: Sixth Year

Draco Malfoy walked down the empty corridor, his mind swimming with anxieties about fixing the cabinet in the room of requirement. He had tinkered with it a bit the day before to no avail and couldn't stop thinking about it, like a puzzle he couldn't solve. He had returned to Hogwarts this year and instead of feeling joy, he was filled with dread. He felt trapped - suffocated - by the thought of what he had been tasked to do. He could tell his friends had noticed something different - only furthering his withdrawal from them.

"Malfoy," he heard a voice hiss as he walked down the empty corridor. "Damn it, Malfoy. I know you can hear me!"

He turned to where the voice was coming from and saw Diana peeking out of the girls' lavatory.

"I thought you said-," he started, but was quickly interrupted as she grabbed his shoulder, pulling him into the washroom. He looked around, nervously, making sure no one else was in there. "What is it, Tsai?"

"What is it? When we finished fifth year, I was under the impression that we would resume our studies. I've written to you, but haven't heard from you in weeks, Malfoy. What's up yours?" Diana snapped, impatiently.

She was frustrated with him but could tell that something was different about him. Something had changed. He was clad in all black and his blonde, almost white, hair fell over his tired eyes.

He swallowed, "Yeah, you'd think you'd get the bloody hint that I wasn't writing back?"

She scoffed at how rude his remark was, "Well, at least have the bloody decency to tell me then."

"I just did," he shot back, crossing his arms over his chest and averting his eyes from her. "You got a crush on me or something?"

She let out a laugh - a knee jerk reaction to his preposterous accusation.

"You wish, Malfoy. I take my studies seriously so if you're planning on standing me up this year, tell me now so I can find someone else to work with," she stated coldly. Draco hadn't expected it to hurt as much as it did - the idea of her replacing him.

He shook his head, his gaze still off to the side, only glancing quickly at her before fixing his eyes on the sinks.

"Think that may be for the best," Draco said, his jaw tense.

"Fine," she huffed, frustratedly. Diana hadn't expected to be so enraged by him. Not only was he being disrespectful to her but she hadn't expected to grow to enjoy his company as much as she did - regardless of whether she was ready to admit it or not. "I've got one of your old textbooks. Meet me in our study tower later and I can give it to you."

"I don't think that's a good idea," he said, coldly.

Their eyes met, neither one of them expecting it. Both of them could see the hurt in each others' eyes, but neither were willing to part ways with their pride.

"One last bloody time, Malfoy. I don't want to hold onto this," she stated. He couldn't tell whether or not she was talking about the book or him. He figured it was best if he didn't know.

There was a moment of silence between them before Malfoy finally said, "Alright. I'll meet you at 9."

"Alright," Diana agreed, before hurrying out of the lavatory.

September 26, 1996: Sixth Year. 9 PM.

Diana climbed the last set of stairs leading up to their secret meeting spot: a room adjacent to the astronomy tower that overlooked the entire school. She sighed out, knowing that this was the last time that she would come here for quite some time. Sure, she could come here herself, but it wouldn't feel right to be here without him. She mentally chastised herself for the thought. When had she become so attached to the Malfoy boy?

The boy she had confronted today hadn't been the Malfoy she had come to know. His usual arrogant demeanor had been replaced with something… darker. He was cold - colder than usual. And he seemed sad, angry even. She wasn't quite sure what was going on with him, but had a horrible gut feeling that things were getting bad. He didn't even seem to be interested in conversing with his friends in his own house… So much had changed since their conversation in the infirmary last year, before either of them left for summer holiday. She could only imagine things at home were even more confusing than ever.

She wasn't quite sure whether she should be prepared for a fight or something else. On one hand, she felt for him. His father was in Azkaban and he seemed sad. It surprised her, as she never expected to feel any kind of sympathy for himl. On the other, she was furious at him for treating everyone around, including her, like an absolute prat. She didn't want to admit that his family was involved with You Know Who. She just wasn't ready.

As Diana reached the top of the stairs, she saw him standing in the tower, gazing out at the school grounds, his blonde hair glowing in the moonlight. Why had he asked her to meet so late?

"Draco," she said, causing him to jump. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-."

"'S fine," he said back, turning around and nodding his head slightly.

Diana examined his face. He hadn't come here for a fight. He looked so sad - like the world was weighing him down. She could see the dark circles under his eyes and wondered if he was getting any sleep.

"9 PM… 's a little late, eh? What, you turn into a decent person after 9 pm or something?" she teased, light heartedly. He didn't find it funny. "Sorry."

Draco just stood there, meeting her with an awkward silence.

"I've got your book. Here," Diana began, reaching into her messenger bag and pulling out the old textbook that she needed to give back to him.

"Thank you," he said, almost robotically, taking it, and tucking it under his arm. They stood in silence, listening to the sound of the night. Draco wasn't sure what to say to her, which only infuriated Diana as she waited.

"You gonna say anything?" Diana spat, angrily.

He rolled his eyes, "Don't know what you expect from me, Tsai."

Diana scoffed, frustratedly, "I don't get you! We spent two and half years studying together and you even call me a friend. Then… what? One day you're just too good for me? Decide it's time to be the foul, abhorrent prat that everyone thinks you are?"

"Oh shut it, will you? You don't understand HALF of what's going on with me. Got that?" Draco exclaimed, shutting down her. Diana looked away, angrily, leaving them in yet another tense silence.

"It's just… it's for the best, alright?" Draco started. "I don't… I don't think we should be friends anymore. I don't think I'm good for you anymore."

His last sentence caught her off guard, causing Diana to look at him. Their eyes met and she could feel her guard lowering, just a bit. She was afraid to ask what he meant by that, but opened her mouth to do so.

"What do you mean?" she asked, softly.

"It's better if you don't know," Draco answered, staring at the floor.

"So this is it then?" Diana asked.

"Guess so," Malfoy answered.

Diana nodded, taking the time to process.

"How're you gonna pass transfiguration this year then?" she jested, lightheartedly.

Draco let out a small laugh, "It's not funny."

"It is a bit," Diana answered back, trying her best to ease the tension. She looked up at him, reluctant to let this be the end of their friendship, but knowing in her heart that they had to.

"Things are getting bad, aren't they?" she asked.

"I can't-," he started.

"I know," she interrupted. She opened her mouth to apologize but couldn't follow through with it. "Draco, I don't know what's going on with you but you could tell me. You could-."

"I can't!" he said, this time louder.

She knew she needed to back down and had an awful pit in her stomach about what was to come. They were past the point of words. Nothing either of them said could fix how dark the wizarding world had become. Instead, she took careful and soft steps towards him. He locked eyes with her, questioning what she was doing as she got closer. They stood in front of each other, almost as close as they had been the night of the Yule Ball. That's when Diana closed the gap between them and hugged him.

Malfoy gasped at the contact, his arms wrapping around her. That's when it hit her. Their friendship was over and the boy that she had grown fond of could very well be on opposite sides. How bad were things going to get? Would they both make it out alive? Tears watered behind her eyes, surprising her, as she let herself sink into the embrace.

Her hands slid underneath his cloak to wrap her arms around him. She didn't want him to know that she was crying so she buried her face into his jumper hoping she could leave the tears brewing behind her eyes there.

"I don't want to let go," she whispered against him.

"Me neither," he whispered back.

There was no one around to hear but it was as if all either of them could do was muster out a whisper. They held each other for what felt like an eternity before she slowly began to pull away from the embrace. She looked up at the boy - much taller than her - and into his icy blue eyes.

"Ehm," she began, rumbling into the pocket of her cloak where she had hid it. "This is… you gave this to me in our fourth year. Remember?" She could feel the tears in her voice.

"Yes, of course," he replied, softly.

"Here," Diana said, handing him the photograph.

The boy looked down at it. They were smiling and laughing as the moving picture played out. Clad in an emerald green formal dress, she was pushing him away and they continued to laugh without a care in the world. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her that night. Of course he remembered.

"I want you to have it," she added.

"I-, thank you," he said, taking the photograph. He held it in his hands, afraid of what this meant. It all felt so… final.

"I've got to go," she said back, her voice lowering to a whisper again as she turned to leave their meeting place - one they had been meeting in for two years now.

"Diana!" he called after her at a whisper shout.

"Yes?" she asked, turning to the blonde boy, her eyes misty and hopeful. She wasn't sure what she expected him to say.

There was a long pause before he opened his mouth to say, "I'm sorry."

Diana nodded, defeatedly, "I know, Draco."

He watched as she left, his heart feeling as though it had been ripped from his body. He knew it was the right thing to do… to let her go… so why didn't it feel right? He turned the photograph over in his hands to see that she had scribbled something on the back of it.

"Find me when all of this is over."