Chapter 54: The Countryside

"Theo told me what's going on," Dominique said, pressing a cup of tea into Draco's hands. She took a seat across from Draco at the kitchen counter in Theo and Dom's clean little farmhouse, just a few miles from the Leroux family farm. Theo sat in the stool beside Draco's, nursing a glass of firewhiskey. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Dominique continued, her eyebrows raised with worry.

"I thought she would leave," Draco said, taking a sip of tea. "But it's been a month, and she hasn't left."

"Can't you just avoid her?" Theo asked rationally.

Draco shook his head. "No, I can't. She's always at the bookshop beneath my flat every single time I go there. I can't avoid my own flat, can I?"

Dominique chewed her lip, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Have you spoken to her?"

"Sort of," Draco said, taking another sip of tea. "She cornered me the first day she was there. Trapped me, really. So I sat there and listened to her apologize for everything that happened. She was crying. And I just sat there because I was so damn pissed that she was there, that she had the nerve to come back here and screw with my life again." Draco's knuckles were white, he was clutching his cup so tightly.

"Did you say anything to her?" Theo asked.

"I said thank you, then I left."

Dominique pursed her lips. "That's all?"

"Well, what else was I supposed to say?" Draco challenged. "Thanks for never telling me where the hell you were all of seventh year? Thanks for ditching me when I needed help? I'm sorry for almost killing your boyfriend?"

"Are they dating now?" Dominique asked, surprised.

"I don't bloody well know!" Draco cried. "And I don't care! I just want her to leave! I keep seeing her, and then I keep remembering everything that happened, everything I did..." Draco's choked, his eyes full of tears. "I tried so hard to forget," he whispered softly as the tears began spilling down his cheeks.

"I know, I know," Dominique said, rushing over to hug him. She cradled his face in one of her hands as she leaned over his back. "I know, Draco," she continued as Draco's body began to shake with sobs, his tears forming a puddle on the counter beneath him. Theo handed Draco a tissue, which Draco used to mop up the puddle.

"No, mate, that was for you..." Theo began, cut off by a glare from Dominique.

"What-am-I-supposed-to-do?" Draco asked through sobs.

"Dominique shook her head. "I really don't know. I just...I don't know." She held him tighter as Theo poured him a glass of firewhiskey.

"Have you told Albert and Callum about her?" Theo asked, sliding the glass over to Draco.

Draco almost laughed. "Why would I do that?" He asked, tears still streaming down his face.

Theo shrugged. "Maybe you could send one of them to go tell her off or something. Better yet, tell Claudine to do it! She can pretend to be your girlfriend, and she can act all pissed because she thinks Hermione's flirting with you!"

Draco let out a watery chuckle. "That's actually not bad," Draco said, his tears subsiding. "Only Claudine would never agree to that."

"True," Theo said thoughtfully, with a cheeky smile. "See, you're feeling better already."

Draco gave him a small smile and looked up at Dominique, who was still hugging him. "Thanks," he said, squeezing her arm.

"Of course," she replied, letting go of him and heading for the cabinet. "Now, let's eat something! That'll cheer you up for sure!" She said with a grin. Minutes later, a plate of steaming hot pasta was sitting in front of Draco. He wolfed it down in seconds. Dominique and Theo ate some food too, then the three friends chatted for a while. When Draco was getting ready to leave, Theo placed a warm hand on Draco's shoulder.

"We're here for you, Draco," Theo said kindly. "Whenever you need help. We can fix this."

"Thanks, mate," Draco said, giving Theo a hug. Draco then gave Dominique a quick peck on the cheek, then headed back to the Lerouxs' place.

Draco spent the rest of his holiday really trying to enjoy himself, to melt into the fields and bask in the sunshine, forgetting everything that had ever happened to him and simply enjoying the feel of the stalks of wheat brushing against his legs and the sun shining on his face, accompanied by his mother's laughter as she worked to harvest the vegetables alongside Draco in the garden. The sweet smell of straw lulled Draco to sleep each night, and the call of the rooster roused him just as the sun was climbing above the mountains in the distance, painting the sky a beautiful mixture of pink, green, gold, and blue. Almost every evening, Theo and Dom came over for dinner, and the three of them spent their post-dinner hours running around the fields catching fireflies and pointing out constellations in the clear night sky, not often unaccompanied by bottles of bubbly champagne. When Sunday morning finally came, Draco felt himself consumed by dread at the thought of having to return to Paris, a sentiment he had never experienced until then.

On Saturday night, Draco had gone over to Theo and Dom's house again, where they discussed everything again over a dinner of soup and salad. Draco was trying his hardest to remain cheerful.

"Just avoid the bookshop, alright?" Dom told him, placing a kind hand on his arm. "Just Floo straight to work and back until she's gone. She'll leave soon, I promise."

"And if she tries to talk to you, pretend you've gone deaf," Theo said seriously.

Draco laughed. "Will do. That sounds like a brilliant plan, Theo."

Theo chuckled as well. "And, hey, if it's getting too much, just come stay with us. Tell Claudine you want to do a piece on small family farmers or something."

"That's a much better plan," Dom said, handing Draco a slice of lemon meringue pie. "Like we said before, you can always come to us, Draco."

"I know," Draco said gratefully, digging into his pie. "This is great, Theo," he said with smirk. Dominique pouted.

"I just wanted to take credit for one dish. One dish!" She cried, the corners of her eyes wrinkling as she smiled, unable to hide her guilt.

"You can't fool anyone, Dom," Theo said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Everyone knows you're a terrible cook."

"And you're a terrible husband," Dom replied, teasingly. Draco laughed and continued to consume pie until he could eat no more.