Hiraeth // draco malfoy

EPILOGUE

the butterfly effect
{song suggestion: stop crying your heart out by oasis 🎶}

Morning. Dru's favorite time of day. Dru had been back from her spontaneous vacation to Germany for three months now. She had readjusted to life in New York and moved in with her best friend Ziggy. Calista was angry with Dru for a little bit, for leaving without any contact. But after Dru explained that she needed to get through this major depression she was going through, Calista came around. Ziggy on the other hand, could never stay mad for long, let alone at Dru. So when she came back, he had his arms wide open and a spare bedroom for her to live in. She got a new job at the library, deciding that the museum would never take her back but she didn't want them to anyways. She finally felt somewhat content with her life. And that was enough for her.

"I'm headed to work!" Ziggy shouted from the hallway.

"Wait!" Dru shouted, lunging up from the bed and following him out.

"Damn, how long have you been up for?" He asked her as they entered into the apartment hall.

"Since 6. Why?" She asked.

"Just surprised you're all dressed and ready. You got a date or something?" He joked as they walked down the street with the summer sun shining brightly on them.

"Please," she waved him off with an eye roll. "I just felt like looking nice today. Is that a crime?"

"No, but that hairstyle should be." He mocked, pulling the hair ties from her braids and shaking her hair out. She laughed, looping her arm through his. They reached the coffee shop, and Ziggy walked into the back throwing his apron on and getting behind the counter. Dru sat across from him as he made her usual black coffee and set it before her. They chatted for a little while before she departed and made a few stops along the way home. First the bookstore, where she bought a new book for herself considering she had already read her little library at home, and then the pet store to pick up a small bag of cat food for her and Ziggy's outdoor cat that just started showing up a few weeks prior.

When she arrived back at the flat, she walked inside, grabbed the small cat bowl and pack of cigarettes, and went back out to the front where she poured some of the food in the bowl and placed a cigarette in her mouth, lighting it. Suddenly, a harsh gust of wind caused her hair to blow everywhere and the cigarette flew from her hand down the sidewalk. Following it, she reached forward to pick it up, when another hand appeared, grabbing it for her. She followed the hand to the arm and then up to the face of a man she had never seen before. Pale grey eyes peering into her like a familiar memory she once had. "Thank you." She stuttered, taking it from him, and straightening up to her feet.

"No problem." He said, trying to contain his nervousness. She turned from him, walking back to where the cat bowl was placed and leaning against the brick wall. "Could I get one of those?" He asked. She looked down at the pack in her hand and nodded, handing it to him. He placed it between his lips as she lit it for him.

"You visiting?" She asked, noting the British accent.

"Uh, no, actually. I just rented out the place upstairs." He told her.

"Oh, so you're the new neighbor." She smiled.

"Do you live here?" He asked, knowing full well that at least Ziggy did.

"Yeah. With my friend, Ziggy. We're just right down there." She exclaimed, happy to meet new people and make new friends. He was happy to hear that she lived here now, too. Made it easier to see her more. And for her friends, the Ministry had already taken care of obliviating them from remembering him just before Dru was sent back. "What brings you to the city?"

"Just trying to venture out. Visit new places and see where I want to end up." He nodded, in a lie.

"I did some traveling a few months back. Totally worth it."

"Definitely. Ever been to London?" He asked her, not finding any fun in this, but knowing he needed to reestablish a friendship with her before he can have her entirely again.

"No, actually. I've always wanted to go, though. That where you're from?"

"In a sense." He smirked, inhaling the smoke from his cigarette. She watched him, carefully, finding an intriguing nature about him. There was something about him that brought her a sense of relief. Like she could breath again after having her head under water for so long.

"I'm Dru, by the way." She introduced herself, extending her hand in greeting. He retrieved it, giving it a slight gentle shake, just happy to feel her skin against him once again.

"Draco. Draco Malfoy."

"Nice to meet you, Draco Malfoy." She smiled, dropping the cigarette on the ground, and stepping on it with the heel of her black boot. "I'll see you around." And with that, she returned inside.

*a/n: hey hey, more chapters are ahead for the prequel of their time at hogwarts!! i hope you all enjoy, as this story is not over yet!🥰🫶*