limerence- d,,Malfoy

chapter twenty

I have crossed paths with this feeling many times before. Hurt, it was an odd feeling to have. It sort of wrapped you in a bubble. I was hurting myself, I wasn't eating, and I wasn't sleeping well. I didn't look after myself.

The news of Barty Crouch's death hit me harder. The realisation that it was beginning—in merely a few weeks' time, I would be whisked away My father hadn't written back to me—not one letter. I didn't expect any less from him.

The end-of-year exams came faster than expected. I couldn't study or focus at all. Surely almost barely passing them. I was lucky enough to do did. My hands trembled as I scribbled the last final words.

Ella sat next to me, her leg bouncing rapidly. She nibbled on the end of her quill, her eyes catching mine. She gave me a solid thumbs up, but then frowned at her own work. The exam hall went empty, and I was left with the remaining four, including myself.

"That was harder than I expected," Ella whispered, handing her paper up to Professor Flitwick. Her hair had now changed to an electric blue; she stated that the red was too hot-headed. Whatever that meant

I hummed in response, taking her by the arm. We elbowed our way through the crowded corridor. I brushed shoulders with a few second-year students who dressed in supporting champion colours.

'Just stick to the plan'

"Excited, I already bet four galleons on Cedric," she squealed, opening the door to her dorm. She kicked off her shoes and opened her closet door. I didn't respond, only getting undressed myself.

"Hello, did you hear what I said?"

"Yeah, sorry, just a bit tired from all that writing."

Ella shrugged, pulling on a pair of dirty hightops. Her hair spiked up outside her little yellow hat. I flattened the creases of my shirt, hoping that my nerves didn't show through. She yanked me out the door, racing us both down to the final task grounds.

I caught a glimpse of Valentine as we entered. He looked at me with the same worried eyes. Only for a moment, then returning to his conversation. I prayed to any god or star that would listen. somehow we wouldn't play any part in this.

I was also lying to myself.

Draco waved us both over, a drum stage flag in his hands. I sat down next to him, wiping the sweat off my palms. Just as the loud entrance music played, the crowd cheered and clapped. All the excitement in the air didn't let me hear the thumping of my heart.

"Silence," Dumbledore boomed. "Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard cup deep within the maze; only he knows its exact position. Now that Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter are tied for first, they will be the first to enter the maze."

I was unable to do anything but watch in silence as the crowd applauded. I scanned the area, looking for Valentine. He gave me a direct look while shaking his head, then he resumed cheering. Harry Potter's bewildered gaze fixed on me.

I felt the knock of my heartbeat in my chest. As the cans sounded for the first champions to enter, I looked at Valentine, who stayed seated. There was silence; for a long time, all that was heard were the sounds of chatter.

Draco laughed besides me with his friends. I admired his face and his beauty as he leant his head back in laughter. I wished he could notice the inability I had to breathe properly. Ella had sprung into conversation with a Drumstag girl.

I was isolated, alone here, only with myself. The people in the crowd disappeared; it was just me. Alone, hoping that it wasn't true. That he would somehow fail and not return. But once again, I was lying to myself. 

The French student fell out of the maze with tears in her eyes. Had it already happened? Was he back? No, she was just upset about losing. Her sliver hair disappeared underneath the entrance to the stands. She was quickly followed by the Romanian, his eyes glazing over.

He kept muttering nonsense, having to be carried away. I sat up straight,  a harsh wind blowing from the maze. Valentine stood up, making his way over towards me. He quickly jumped over a few students as the Champions song played.

Silence hit the crowd. Valentine ripped me away from my seat. Cries of terror came from the students' lips. I looked over at them, and only a huddle of people crowded my view. I pulled back against Valentine's grip, wishing to see the destruction it caused.

"Aurora, we have to go," he chided, tugging harder. "We have to leave; come on!"

"Wait!" I yelled, unleashing myself. "I have to see what happened!"

"Aurora no!"

It was too late; I had already seen. My eyes welled with tears, and his body lay without any sign of life. Harry Potter curled himself over him, sobbing, his whole body shaking. I screamed till my throat went redraw. He stared up at me, his eyes lifeless. His skin still looked full of warmth, and his body was still.

"He's back," Harry wailed, turning to Dumbledore. "Voldemorts are back!"

I gasped, but the wind from my lungs pulled. Valentine tugged harder, but this time I followed. The tears flowed down my face, wetting my skin. We stumbled in the dark into the forest, down to the lake.

I stopped before we could go any further. My eyes were sore and puffy, and my stomach lurched. I threw up all the fear and anxiety that had been built up. Valentine caressed my back, holding back on his own. He patted my head, pulling me into a warm embrace.

"Come, we can't stay for much longer," he whispered, holding his hand for mine. I took his, gripping it tight, hoping to never let go.

The fog rose high, and from it came my father. His tall stature towered over my brother. In his hand, he held his wand, the only source of light. I didn't dare run to him; I only stood sobbing. His eyes remained cold, and his face remained still.

He looked just like Valentine, with his strong, dark eyebrows. His thick nose crooked slightly to the right. Valentine took his hand, firmly holding it. My father only turned it over, dragging his wand across the wrist.

"Valentine!" I shrieked as he cuddled into an inhuman shape. His wrist was bending and twisting. But revealing a runic symbol, which then and only then did my father stop.

"Come children, much is to be done." My father ordered, his voice as dark as his eyes. He waved his wand around in a semi-circle. A portal formed, the manor revealing itself on the other side.

Valentine stepped first, disappearing for a moment, but then reappearing on the other side. My father stood behind me, his hand firmly on my shoulder. I slept through; the squeezing section only lasted a second. Then, arriving at the gardens of the estate,

It looked just as it had done once before. The grass was still the same pristine colour of green, and the hedges were perfectly cut. The night was still, it was quiet, and not a sound was heard. All I could do was wipe old tears off my face.

Turned towards the portal, but nothing. I had left it all behind me—the dead, the living, my friends. To suffer here alone until I could see it all over again.

"Hurry inside; the cold is catching," Father grumbled, placing a hand on my shoulder once more. "Much is to be learned, Aurora."

With one last glance back, I swear from the corner of my eyes I could see him. The face of Draco calls me back, telling me to run now. But I walked the long way back to the manor. My body shivered in fear and pain.

No longer holding the same innocence I once held.