Chapter 17: Good-bye
The next day Draco and I spent all day together. We decided I would go home that night, considering the potion was only good for another day and a half. We made out, yes, but we also just spent a lot of time holding each other in silence. Draco went to his first class that morning—Transfiguration—and then spent the rest of the morning out by the lake with me. I wasn't exactly approving of his skipping, but he flat out told me that no matter what he'd be with me. We went swimming a little, but most of our morning was spent with him leaning against a tree and me sprawled between his legs, his arms wrapped around me. I've never felt as safe as I felt in his arms. And his hugs…better than Nick's, even. I just wanted to sit that way forever.
But soon lunch came, and I had been listening to Draco's stomach grumble for quite awhile, so we walked off to the Great Hall. Many people looked at us in amazement, but we ignored them. I ate lunch for the last time at Hogwarts with one of Draco's arms wrapped around me.
After lunch I made Draco go to Care of Magical Creatures because I knew for a fact that Hagrid was going to give Draco a detention if he skipped another lesson, and I did not want to be the cause of that. For once, Gryffindors did not have Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherins, so I went to say good-bye to Harry, and Ron and Hermione as well. They all wished me luck, and then I went down to the kitchens to see Dobby. He cried… I tried reassuring him but it just didn't work. Then I mentioned that maybe someday I'll see him again, and he got so excited I was afraid he'd wet himself.He didn't, so I left a perfectly dry but sad house-elf in the company of his friends, including Winky who apparently had decided that she was disgracing the house-elf name by not working and was now working twice as hard as Dobby even. I was sent back to my room with loads of food.
While waiting for Draco to return, I packed what little things I had. I put all my pictures away, put my old (cleaned) clothes back on. I debated keeping the robes and decided against it. I did grab a cloak though. It was one that Draco had given me, and it still smelled like him. I wondered if there was a spell to make it always smell like that…
I rummaged through the drawers to see if I had forgotten anything. I found the feather that Dumbledore had let me keep what seemed like ages ago. I put it bythe letter, right next to my teddy bear. The roses were just as beautiful as ever, but I only wanted to take one. It too was laying on my bed. I avoided thinking about what I would miss most when I took the potion, but it was nigh impossible, especially when he walked in my door. He skipped off Double Potions that afternoon, telling Snape he felt terrible, and we pretty much made out the whole time. I think though that we made out because we wanted to distract ourselves, not cause we were horny. Okay horny might've had something to do with it, but not much.
Before we left for dinner I asked Draco about the smell spell, and he obliged with a wicked grin. He thought it would be funny to see my mother trying repeatedly to wash the smell out when it wasn't possible. At dinner, Dumbledore (being the all-knowing guy we all know and love) said a good-bye speech to me, and when he called a toast, I noticed almost every person raised their glass to me. I felt quite appreciated. I barely ate anything, and neither did Draco. We both knew what came next.
After dinner we were probably the last people to leave the table, and we walked slow enough that even if we had left right away we still would've arrived at the common room last. Slytherins greeted us with a sort of mute respect when we walked in, and I noticed—with pleasure—that Pansy was nowhere in sight. We walked into my room and immediately after shutting the door Draco kissed me.
"You don't have to leave," he said desperately, holding me so close I could feel his breath on my face.
"Yes I do. As much as I don't want to, I do." I kissed him soundly before starting to step back.
Before I got far he pulled me to him again. "Then I'll come with you," he insisted.
"Draco, stop. You need to finish your schooling. So do I." I rested my forehead on his chest. I could feel my eyes stinging. "Don't make this harder. I don't even know if I'll make it through the way it is."
He kissed the top of my head. "Alright. Sorry. I just…"
"I know." I pulled away and lifted up the bear. "Thank you, by the way," I said, cradling the bear in my left arm. I pick up the box and tucked it in my back pocket. The feather and rose went in my left hand.
Then I picked up the vial. Draco wrapped me in a hug again. I felt the tearsspillout ofmy eyes. He helped me drape his cloak over my right arm. We kissed, one last time.
"I love you Draco," I said stubbornly.
"I love you too baby," he replied.
"Don't ever forget," I added.
"Never." He reached out and pushed my hair back.
I popped open the top and the liquid inside turned a sort of blue-ish color. I sighed heavily.
"I'll find a way to come to you," Draco said suddenly. I couldn't bear it any longer. I could feel myself starting to break down.
"Good-bye, Draco. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
I flipped the liquid into my mouth. In a blinding flash of lightDraco Malfoy, Slytherin hottie extraordinaire, was gone.
it's short, but hey there's an epilogue so just R&R!