Draco and I go back to Hogwarts on the 27th. It's a very lonely thing. Erica wanted to know what was making me so sad, but I told her, "later". We were both stubborn with each other, but I won in the end. I then told her that I needed time alone.

Right now, I'm by myself in a compartment. I am reminiscing on Christmas. It definitely wasn't the best. Draco and I have connected and I'm not that mean anymore. That, unfortunately, means that my bad girl rep has basically went down the toilet. I can also no longer take out my sadness and anger on other people. Now, all I can do is sulk and cry my heart out. I feel broken.

I was surprised when my first tear rolled down my cheek. I had just told Draco that I was pregnant and he didn't take it very well at all. I ran to my room to collect myself. I buried my face in my hands in anger. I felt moisture and looked at my hands, which were wet. I gently touched my cheek and felt tears rolling down my face. I had cried for three hours straight.

That's when I knew that he had left a permanent mark on my heart.

All I know now is that he's grown on me. I can't live without him. I never meant to get mad.
No matter what he says, I'm going to have the baby. Evil or not, I'm not a cold-hearted baby killer. I won't murder the innocent. I'll raise it myself, with or without him and his arrogant ways.

I do know that I'll miss him inside, but I have to move on.

Before I know it, the train stops. I'm back at Hogwarts.

Draco's POV

Did I really say that?

I'm thinking of Christmas. The day Collette told me the "big news".

Maybe I overreacted.

She's pregnant for God's sake! As in baby! As in mine!

Well, I guess it wasn't her fault. I am the one who made her have sex with me. No one can control the rest.

"Malfoy!"

"What?" I snap back at Zabini.

"Geeze. You're filthy rich, but you can't even pay attention."

"I thought you weren't coming back for seventh year," Millicent pointed out.

It takes me a while to remember the conversation we all had at the beginning of our sixth year. I know the answer but I didn't want to think of Collette anymore. "My mum wanted me to finish school. She wants me to have an education," I lie, mocking a mother's tone.

"Oh."

The real reason for coming back was because I believed I had a chance with...her. Well, my chance has come and gone and I'm going to have to move on and forget about her.

Who am I kidding? I can't stop thinking about her and what happened on Christmas. When I yelled at her, I saw tears well up in her eyes. I don't think she's ever cried. Man, do I feel guilty.

I sigh.

What I really don't understand is that I've screwed countless girls and never cared. Now I feel guilt for screwing Collette? Sure it all started because of her, but that can change, right?

Ugh! Draco, just give her up!

"But I can't," I whisper as the train stops. I'm back at Hogwarts.

"Draco! Thank God I found you!" Erica comes running up to me. I, for one, am heading to my common room.

"What do you want?" I snap at her.

"I want you to apologize to Collette."

"No."

"Do you know what you've done?" she snaps, sounding like a mother scolding a child.

"Do you?" I ask skeptically.

"No, but I know that her change of behavior is due to you. There she goes! Just look at her."

I see her briskly walking with her head down. Through her hair, I see that her nose is pink and that her eyes are puffy, like she had been crying.

"So?" Erica asks. When she sees my mask still in place, she commands, "come with me." She drags me along, silently following Collette to the Ravenclaw tower. She makes me quietly explain myself on the way. She is appalled. I allow her to guide me to Collette's room where we remain out of sight. Everyone else is in the common room catching up with each other so they don't see us sneak past behind the meanest Ravenclaw ever. She opens the door wide enough to see Collette with her back to us. She falls to her knees and cries. My jaw drops.

Wow. So this is what I've reduced her to? A sniveling ocean of her own tears. I feel so bad...

"Collette?"

What is Erica doing?

"Go away, Erica."

She turns to me and mouths the word, "go."

No need to tell me twice. I really don't want to see any more.

I flop on my bed ten minutes later.

How could I do that to her?

Stop it, Draco. Don't go soft now.

But she's so miserable. She's never cried before...

I sigh.

What do I do now?

End Draco's POV

It's about eleven o' clock when I enter my dormitory. I can just imagine him in the corner, rushing up to me and apologizing for everything he's ever done to me. I can feel him caressing my back and kissing me with all the tenderness in the world. I can hear his heart beating in time with mine. I can smell his scent wafting into my nostrils, overtaking me and giving me a glimpse of heaven.

I feel a tear roll down my cheek, pulling me back to reality. I remember that November night when everything changed. My vision blurs, so I can just barely tell from the reflection in my mirror that someone...maybe two some ones...are watching me.

I try to hold it together so no one sees this, but a strong stab of pain in my heart brings me to my knees and I let the tears fall.

"Collette?" The familiar voice echoes in my ears. Right now all I want is to be left alone.

"Go away, Erica." I wipe my tears away. She can't see me like this.

"Collette, what happened?"

"Malfoy. That's what happened," I say disgruntled, sitting down on my bed.

"What did that bastard do?" Her comment is half-hearted as she sits down next to me. I can tell from the tone in her voice.

"It all started . . . ." I tell her about everything until now. I clutch the sheets of my bed to keep from doubling over in pain. When I am done with the explanation, I bury my face in the comforter. I inhale the remnants of Draco's cologne, surprised by the fact that it still smells so strong. I cry harder, not caring who is watching.

"Why did he leave me?"

"Maybe because he's scared and doesn't know how to handle this. That's how I'd react. Just give him time. I'm sure he'll come around," my friend assures me.

"I hope you're right." I feel the tears still coming down and sniffle. "You sound so confident."

"I just have a feeling. You know, if he saw you like this, he'd-"

"He'd laugh," I say bluntly.

"He'd feel incredibly guilty and come back to you," she corrects.

"He'd laugh. I know he would."

"Come on, Collette. I can't believe I'm saying this, but we both know he's not that cold hearted."

I scoff. "His heart is colder than ice, Erica."

"Oh, give it up, Collette. You don't even know what you're saying! You're just lying to yourself to make you feel better." I smack her.

"Don't you dare! I know exactly what the fuck I'm saying! So, shut up, damnit!" Her eyes fill up with tears. I realize what I just did and feel bad. "Let's just get to bed."

What just happened? I think to myself after she scurries out of my room. I just...lost it.

I flop back onto my bed and turn to face my window, where a single bright star is visible in the black velvet sky. I think of the good times when Draco and I were together. I come to terms with all of my feelings, stare at the star and whisper, "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, wish I may, wish I might get the wish I wish tonight. I wish...for Draco...to come back to me." My eyelids start to grow heavy with sleep, but before I let it take over me, I breathe what I truly know and feel. "I miss you, Draco, terribly. I love you and...I miss you." A single tear bleeds down my cheek before I completely submit to sleep.