(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Chapter fifty-two

After convincing Luna that we were in desperate need to talk about the things that kept nagging at us, the things we'd been through that year, we seemed to grow even closer than before. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from our chests and that in being open to conversation, we took a step closer towards finally moving forward. We spent pretty much every waking moment together, except for the days when she was working, and it felt like we were able to heal, together. Of course, it had still only been two months since the Battle of Hogwarts, but we both felt like it'd be better if we broke the silence. I was still hurting, and I didn't think I'd ever be able to move on from the things that happened to me. However, this was as close as I'd get to happy.

There was a cute, little picturesque french bakery just around the corner from were we lived, and as it turned out, our new friend and neighbour Kate, was co-owner with her partner Ava. Due to our desperate need to make money not only for ourselves but also for the baby, Ava and Kate were kind enough to hire Luna, thus earning us a living. Just like our flat, it wasn't the most grandeur of employments, but Luna's amazing work ethic earned her quite the salary. It wasn't much, but it was enough to secure a healthy future for each of us. I guess you could say I was forever indebted to Luna, who worked her ass of to make sure I could be at home and rest until the baby came.

One of these nights, when I was close to drifting off to sleep yet again, I heard the door unlock and in came Luna. Obviously exhausted, she tip-toed into the living room, where I was lying on my back, with my hands resting on my bump.

"Hey", I said, nearly startling the blonde. "How was work?".

She sighed. "Oh you know? The usual. It was quite hectic and I had to close today. I feel like I could sleep forever". Yawning, she stretched her arms out, before sitting next to me on the sofa and lifting my legs to her lap. She had her light blonde hair in a messy bun, showing off her hand-crafted dirigible plum earrings that she never seemed to leave the house without.

"I was thinking...—", I started, well aware that she had been dreading the moment I would bring up Draco again. "I'm going to Malfoy Manor in the morning. I just want to get talking with him over with. I don't think I'll be able to move on until I have".

Luna opened her mouth to speak, but I was quick to interrupt.

"—And before you say anything, I know you think it's a bad idea, but I need to do this. He has a right to know, and I don't think he's a bad person because of what he said".

It's true. I. didn't consider him a bad person, I just hated the things he said and did.

I tried my best to keep a brave face, but inside, I was stressing out over the idea of seeing him again.

"I don't think it's a bad idea, I just worry, that's all. I want you to be careful. He's still Lucius Malfoy's son and the things he did during the war, they don't just go away. It would take a lot for me to forgive a person for something like that".

I smiled, rubbing gently at my growing stomach. She was one of the most forgiving people I knew, and I loved her even more for it. However, at the same time I knew even the most patient of people would have a hard time moving past something like that. I couldn't blame her, really.

"I know, and I love you for that". I took her hand and gave it a gentle and reassuring squeeze. "You're my best friend, and that's never going to change".

She gave me a faint smile, before standing up from her seat to leave the room.

"I love you too", I heard her mutter, before disappearing out of view from me. I drifted off to a dreamless sleep not long after that.

***

The following day, I couldn't freak out more about my upcoming visit to the Malfoy residence. I was experiencing every feeling in the book at once. I was scared. Afraid he might shut me out and demand I left before even giving me the chance to tell him. I was angry, still furious with him for what he did, but trying my best to keep an open mind. I wanted to be patient, to give him a chance to have a say in the matter and to feel whatever he would feel after telling him. But I was all the more infuriated with him for what he did. How he ended things.

But I was, perhaps worst of all, still heartbroken.

Despite all the horrible things he did and the hurtful things he said, I was still madly in love with him. A boy who had me convinced he never cared for me as I did for him, and who hurt me in more ways than one. I still loved him, as much as I ever did, and it haunted me to feel that way. So I had told myself, that this time, this time I wouldn't be so easily persuaded to forgive him. If that was even a possibility. This time, I would keep the walls that I had built over time, I'd keep them up, just to be sure. Because I didn't think I'd be able to ever recover from another heartbreak — especially when I still wasn't over the last one.

Malfoy Manor looked just about the same as it always did, with its overgrown hedges and majestic exterior that made it look like the house of someone who had passed on. The giant windows reflected the early morning sun, and I caught a quick glimpse of someone inside. At first, I thought I was imagining things, that my brain was playing tricks on me, but soon I realised that it was in fact, the outline of a person that I had seen. I realised later, that that person was no other than Draco Malfoy. The person I had been most anxious to see again.

You can do this, I tried telling myself, as I stepped up to the giant door. You just have to go in there, tell him and then hear what he has to say. Just remember: he doesn't owe you anything, just like you don't owe him anything.

One. Two. Three.

I knocked on the door.

I don't know what I was expecting. I had no idea whatsoever if Draco was still even here, or if he had left the country, and I was wondering if he was still working for his father, or if had finally left all that behind him. No matter what the truth of it was, I tried telling myself that it would all be over in a matter of minutes, and that I didn't care whether he wanted to be a part of mine and the baby's life or not.

Of course, that was a huge lie.

I did care. Perhaps too much.

"What is it now?", I heard the voice of someone all too familiar behind the door. Just by the tone of his voice, he seemed. . . different. Whether it was good or bad different, I couldn't really tell at that point.

Then he opened the door.

"Hi", I said quietly, feeling my knees buckling beneath me. My own nervousness caught me off guard, and I stumbled into his arms. It didn't take long before darkness took over, and I fell into unconsciousness.

____

WHAT a drama queen Delaney is! Wonder how she'll go about telling Draco the big secret.

How do you think he'll react?

Love,

ddraconifors