cigarette burns

leaving for the last time

Now that the eighth years were finished with their exams, they were free to take the Hogwarts express home, if they so chose, and the unlikely trio that had formed over the past year were ready to be free of the halls that echoed with their worst memories.

Draco had finished packing before exams had started, though whether that was because he was just that eager to get out of there or just him being on top of things, Asterin couldn't work out. She, however, had obviously left it to the last minute, enlisting Draco's help in getting all of her stuff away.

"Oh." Draco suddenly spoke from where he was buried in clothes and shoes.

"What, is something wrong?" Asterin sounded panicked, so he quickly put her mind at ease.

"No, no. I just... forgot I gave this to you." He held up his hoodie which he'd given her on one of their first midnight meetings back in September.

Asterin stared.
Draco frowned a little, unable to read her, not knowing what was running through her head. "Asterin?"

She shook her head, reaching out for it, so he threw it to her. She caught it, easily, holding it up and looking at it. She smiled softly, a relief to her boyfriend, and buried her face in it. Miraculously, it still smelled like him, as though it had been frozen in time since that night their friendship started, and she replaced the jumper she was wearing with his. "I forgot I had this, I thought I gave it back."

"I'm never getting that back, am I?" He grinned as she shook her head with a smile, burying her face into the oversized sleeves. "I'm so in love with you."

Draco froze, realising too late that he'd said it out loud.

Asterin looked up, the unforgotten hoodie now the last thing on her mind as she processed the bombshell Draco had just dropped.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spring that on you right then, I'm sorry, I know it's-" he made his way over to her as quickly as he could without stepping on anything in fear of breaking something hidden in the mess, "-it's still fairly early, I didn't mean to just drop that on you-"

"Draco Malfoy," Asterin spoke softly, but it still shut him up (something she was secretly proud of), "stop being a moron and kiss me already."

Still looking a little nervous, he obliged, pulling her in by her waist and pressing his lips to hers.

After a few seconds, she pulled away, her arms around his neck, and just looked at him for a few seconds before saying, "I love you, too."

"You don't need to say it."

"I know, moron. I'm saying it because I mean it. But I'll say a whole lot more to you if we don't get all of this packed and on the train in time, and I doubt you'll like what I have to say."

Laughing, they got back to it, though Asterin did have to climb on top of her trunk to make it close enough to tie the straps, and with barely minutes to spare, they were on their way in one of the carriages to meet Hermione on the platform.

"Hey!" Asterin stood as they neared the platform, waving to Hermione who was anxiously awaiting their arrival.

"Where have you two been? I thought you weren't going to make it! Hurry up, get on the train before it leaves!" She hurried the two, flagging down someone to load their trunks onto the train for them while they climbed into the carriage she'd saved for them. "Honestly, I thought you'd decided to stay until the end of the year!" She frowned slightly.

Asterin half-smiled half-grimaced, "I'm afraid it's my fault, left packing until the last minute, so we had to scramble to get it all packed in time. But we were on schedule until Draco decided that right in the middle of packing would be the best time to profess his undying love for me," she giggled.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Idiot, you couldn't have waited until you were at least on your way down here?" She scolded, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. "You guys ready to go home?"

Asterin shrugged, "Haven't found home yet, still apartment hunting in London, but I suppose it's better than nothing. Or being at Malfoy Manor."

Draco grimaced, "Anywhere is better than there."

"Is Ron going to be waiting for you on the platform?"

Hermione nodded excitedly, "He's meeting me there to take me back to the burrow, and so's Harry, though Ginny isn't coming back until the end of the year, still being in seventh year."

Asterin nodded, feeling Draco tense up a little. "That's nice that they're going to meet you off the train, I know you've missed them."

Hermione nodded, looking down at her lap. "I know you haven't had the best relationship with them over the years," she addressed Draco, "But I want you to know that I'll always have a place for you, no matter what. For everything you've done."

Draco didn't know what to say, barely managing a "thank you" without tearing up a little.

Smiling, Asterin said, "he appreciates it. He can't say because he's more sentimental than he'll ever admit to anyone but me, but he does."

Hermione chuckled, "I know."

And, as they left Hogwarts for the last time, the three settled into a comfortable silence, having made friendships they all thought would be impossible only the year before.