*Last chapter before the epilogue*
It has been a couple of months since our visit to Harry and there's still no sign of Draco. I've kept in touch with Harry and he's reassured me multiple times that they're trying and doing the best they can to reach him. Even though he tells me this over and over again, I can't help but worry about Draco. It's gotten worse over this past month. I've become so obsessed with Draco that I've started seeing him (or should I say people who I think are him) everywhere I go.
Some days are worse than others. Today, for example, has been a pretty bad one. It doesn't help the fact that today would have been Draco and mine's anniversary. Ashley and Liz took me out on the town for the day to try and get my mind off of him, but it hasn't worked one bit. I've already seen 'him' at least 3 times today and it's only 2 in the afternoon. Oh great. To make things worse my shoe's untied.
"Hey guys, my shoe's untied," I tell them as I stop to bend down. "But don't stop. You two can go ahead to the restaurant. You know our reservation is in ten minutes. I'll catch up."
"Alright. See you there," Ash says as she and Liz head down the street towards the restaurant.
"This is why I like wearing sneakers with no laces. I don't have to keep stopping to tie my shoes," I mumble to myself as I try to swiftly lace up my shoes. I sigh as I quickly try to stand up, not really watching what's going on around me. As I go to stand though, I crash right into someone in front of me and fall flat on my butt. Great. Not this again!
"I'm sorry! I wasn't looking," I explain as I get up and brush myself off. Even better. I've got dirt on my butt.
"No, it's quite alright. It was partially my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going either," this nice British-accented man answers me. This surprises me, since it's not too often you find Brits in West Chester, PA. I take my eyes from my butt to properly look at the man I slammed into.
Now I know I'm going insane. This guy looks almost exactly like Draco. He even has the British accent. Geeze Rachel. This is the 4th one today. You need to get a grip on yourself.
"Excuse me, is something wrong?" this man questions as he interrupts my thoughts. Oops. I must have been staring at him like some crazy person.
"No, no it's nothing. You just remind me of someone I knew once," I try to explain.
"You know, I was thinking the same thing, but that can't be," he says as he tries to examine my face a little closer.
"Nah. It's probably just my imagination. Sorry to have troubled you."
"Not a problem. Well good day," he says as he waves me goodbye and heads up the street.
"Bye." I jog quickly to the restaurant to join up with Ash and Liz.
"I just can't help to think that I've met him before," I explain to Ash and Liz as we walk into our apartment.
"We know. You said that about 100 times over lunch and shopping," Liz sighs.
"Sorry you guys. I know I've been a pain in the butt for the past couple of months."
"Yeah you have, but it's okay. I'm sure we would be the same way if we were in your position," Ash tries to comfort me.
"You know what would make this a little bit better?" Liz asks us.
"What?"
"Harry Potter Scene It of course!"
"Aww do we have to?" I whine.
"Yes. Now come on, it's my time to finally beat you," Liz declares.
"Yeah right. Like you could do that. Fine you're on," I exclaim as I run to get my game from my room.
As we start playing, we quickly get into the game and forget all of our woes. After I swiftly beat Liz, she challenges me to another game. It's my turn and I just press the 'my play' button on the TV screen when there's a knock on the door and a man stating that the pizza is here.
"Hey Ash, can you get that? I just started a 'my play' and I don't want to get up," I state.
"Sure, but I don't remember ordering any pizza. I'll just shoo him on his way."
I hear her open the door, but I loose focus quickly as my 'my play' comes on the screen and tells me to watch the following clip. I move my chair directly in front of the TV to get a better look, putting my back to the door.
"Come on. Why does it have to be a Draco clip? The one time that I don't want it to be and it is," I sigh quickly getting depressed.
"Who is this prick?" a familiar British-accented voice calls out.
Way to interrupt my train of thought! I thought Ash got rid of the pizza boy.
"That would be Tom Felton. He plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies," I explain, not taking my eyes off the screen.
"But he doesn't look anything like him," the guy declares.
"How would you know? Anyway, he sort of does," I say trying to defend him. "Except, that the real Draco had these piercing silver eyes that could cut right into your soul if he looked you straight in the eyes. Then there was his gorgeous blonde hair that he would always have pulled back into a ponytail, unless he was around people he truly cared about. Then and only then would he let it flow free. And let us not forget his lithe, yet well-toned body." I get lost in my memories, not caring anymore about the game.
"It sounds like you really cared about him," the man says gently.
"Yeah, I did. I still do," I sigh. "Wait why am I telling you all of this. Why do you care?" I ask coming out of my stupor. I don't turn around, afraid of what could dash my hopes. I see Liz give Ash a look out of the corner of my eyes and I don't know whether that's good or bad.
"Well, you see, I heard that my girlfriend lived here and I was wondering if she still feels the same way about me as I do about her. I see that I was right."
"Draco?" I gasp as I stand from my chair, still not wanting to turn around, just in case it's not really him.
"It's me, Rachel. You can turn around," he says gently.
I turn slowly around and smile as my eyes gaze upon him. He looks just the way I pictured him, only a little bit older and more mature.
"I knew it was you that I bumped into," I say as I race over to him and give him a bone-crushing hug. He lifts my chin and gives me that passionate kiss that I've been waiting for all of these months. As he breaks away, he looks into my eyes.
"I had this weird feeling that it was you too. It just didn't dawn on me until it was too late. It's been so long and I've been searching so hard. Once Harry gave me your address, it took me a while to believe it was true. Plus I had to get my courage back. What if you didn't love me anymore? What if you found someone else? But now that I've found you, I'll never let you go." We embrace once more.
"Awwww," Ash and Liz coo.
"Shush. You're just jealous," I giggle as I snuggle into Draco's chest.
"That is so true," Liz says.
"But it's good to see you again, Draco," Ash says.
"You too, Taylor, I mean Ashley. Sorry. I'm going to have to get used to calling my cousin/best friend for all of my life a new name," Draco states as he gives Ashley a hug. "Oh and it's good to see you, Elizabeth."
"Same here, Draco, but call me Liz," she chuckles as she gives him a quick hug. Draco turns back to me with a huge grin on his face.
"And you are a sight for sore eyes," he says as he takes me into his arms once more and spins me around.
"You mean you don't care that I don't look the same or that I wear glasses?" I ask my most feared question.
"Now, love, you should know by now that you will always be beautiful to me no matter what you look like. And I have to say, I really don't mind the new you," he says as he scans my body.
"Oh, Draco," I say as I playfully slap his arm. He grabs my hand as he once did before and gives me a loving look.
"I believe this is yours," he explains as he slips a ring onto my finger. "That is if you'll have it and forgive me for all the things that I have done wrong to you."
I look at my hand to find the ring that Draco gave me once before.
"Of course I'll forgive you Draco."
He gives me his big toothy smile and kisses me again.
"I still can't believe this is all real. I mean one day we're eating lunch in Lawrence, now I'm dating Draco Malfoy."
"I know what you mean," Ash says.
"Well believe it baby because I'm never leaving your side again," Draco says as he squeezes me closer to him.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," I whisper as I gently kiss him once more.