Desired | Draco Malfoy & Theodore Nott, 18+

28

''So...'' Isla muttered, slipping down beside her friend on the bench next to the mass of ruins on the courtyard that still placed there after the war, in honor of their fallen friends and family, ''How's life going?''

She had failed to spend much time with her friend during the week that passed since Theodore left her. Not that she didn't want to see her friends — she did, but she couldn't help herself. She felt like a mess within the coat of her own skin.

Between not knowing how long Theodore would be gone, whether he'd come back at all, to the blond constantly hovering her from a distance to make certain that she wasn't in any trouble.

Isla believed he knew about Theo leaving as well and that it was the main reason why he finally granted her a moment of peace in the upheaval she seemed to be living in.

''Nosey much?'' Leo peered over his shoulder, looking up at her as he sighed out, lowering the book in his hands, ''With what exactly? The girl I can't be with or the chaotic sister?''

Huffing out a weak chuckle, she leaned back against the edge of the bench, dragging her knees up as she folded her arms around her limbs, ''Trying to be funny, yeah?'' She shook her head slightly, ''I don't know, both?''

''Well...'' He muttered, his sight dragged across the courtyard, noticing just how grey everything mirrored to be, colorless in a world that used to be filled with shades, ''About the girl, it's complicated. I love Mila. I always have you know that—''

Feeling as a shy smile climbed her lips at the thought of it. Leo and Mila had been in love for years, and they were meant to give it a try before their lives shattered in the war. Suddenly that wasn't as important anymore, and they put the feelings held for the other aside to heal.

''I know...'' She whispered, dropping her chin to her kneecaps.

''But it's not the same as before... it's more real now, you know? Like it might actually lead somewhere, and that's so scary because we can't. She needs to choose someone that's not me, and I need to live alone,'' He paused, sensing his heart as it dropped to the pit of his stomach, ''I want to enjoy it before it ends, I think... I think I want us to have some good memories together and not just think about that bloody law for a second.''

Isla caught the light rupture in his vocals, and she moved, shoving herself closer to the boy, and her head fell to his shoulder, ''I know, Leo. I know.''

''It's just—'' He sighed, tipping his head to lean against hers, ''It's a lot. We're all adults now, and it's not all childish games anymore. It's real life, and the battle happened, and we just...''

Her heartbeat quickened. Her pulse was stressed because she could feel just what he told her.

It wasn't a game anymore. It wasn't something that would resolve itself — this was what they were meant to do now. To live like this, learn to live after the new laws and rules in place, even if they didn't want to.

Mila and Leo were the gravest examples of this. How right it could feel when it was all mistaken. Having someone they loved before the war, still having them after but not being able to be with them.

Ironic, she thought to herself. That the marriage law was put in place to save the wizarding world yet, it felt as it broke it apart even more.

It hurt her tremendously to think about it, how they'd never be able to have their happy ending. A well-deserved lifetime peace they could never get.

''I don't know. It's hard, you know? Learning to live after this, when all I want is to be with her.''

Leo's head felt heavy upon hers as the biting late autumn wind tugged at her cheeks, and she was once again the one to underdress herself. Not thinking about the temperature as she got clothed this morning, she nestled up to her friend, her body draining him of warmth.