---------- Chapter 38 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Put down your quills,” Pansy instructs.
And with that, the NEWTS are over! I’ve finished my seventh year of Hogwarts! I’m done!
“Hey Deid!” Nate chirps, sitting on the banister, waiting for me.
“Hey Nate! We’re done!” I announce gleefully, giving him a huge hug.
Nate’s the only reason I’ve managed to survive the last two years. After Draco quit, I thought that was it. I knew I would fall to pieces and probably ruin my future because of that. But no! Nate didn’t let that happen. He made sure I never had the time to dwell on Draco. And eventually, it didn’t hurt so much. I could move on with my life without feeling like I would die.
Along the way, Nate fell in love with me. I love him too. But I also still love Draco. We still write to each other every week.
Technically, Draco and I are still together, but it feels like I’ve cheated on him. I spend almost all my time with Nate, we attend all the formals together, we do everything together.
To top it off, I know he loves me. I know he wants to be more than friends. And I can’t deny that there’s a part of me that wants that too. But I love Draco.
“So now that we’re done, what happens?” Nate asks, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“I don’t actually know,” I admit.
When will I ever see Nate again?
“I don’t want us to only meet up during reunions, Deid. I want us to be this close forever,” he murmurs absent mindedly.
“I want that too...but what choice do we have? We have to grow up,” I remind him cheerfully.
“You’re awfully happy!” he comments, assessing me severely.
“Of course I am! The NEWTS are over!” I announce, feeling like I could jump up and down for hours on end.
“Are you sure it has nothing to do with the fact that now you and Draco can finally be together?” he asks, his voice laced with jealousy.
“That might have something to do with it,” I murmur. “But Draco doesn’t have a hold over me anymore, not like before. I know I can survive without him. I’ve become stronger.”
“Thanks to me,” Nate declares smugly.
“Yeah, thanks to you!” I agree, leaning into his side.
“Deidre...have you ever considered leaving him?” Nate finally chokes out.
“I have. Many times. But do you know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that tells you you’re with the right person? That’s what I feel when I’m with Draco. I feel like no matter how much pain I have to go through, it’s all worth it,” I try to explain. It’s like we’re meant to be.
“You guys haven’t met up since he left Hogwarts,” Nate reminds me. “How do you know he’s been loyal to you?”
“I don’t. I know he messed up once. He cheated on me with one of his co workers. But he admitted it to me. He apologised. I was hurt of course...but I forgave him,” I murmur darkly. That’s one letter I cried over so much, I can barely read it anymore.
“Why did you forgive him?” Nate asks frustrated. “He cheated on you! You deserve someone who would treat you like a queen!”
“I forgave him, because sometimes it feels like I’m cheating on him too,” I admit after a heart beat.
“What do you mean?”
“You. Us. Nate, you know I love you. And had I not met Draco, I would declare my undying love for you...but as much as I love you, I love Draco more. And for me to love two guys, at the same time...it feels like cheating too,” I mumble awkwardly.
“Sometimes I wish I was the first one you met,” he murmurs, his face drawn.
“Nate...” I stammer, not knowing what to say. Instead, I lean in and give him a kiss on the cheek.
Nate grins at me and pulls me into a huge hug and I know it’s a goodbye hug. I can’t keep giving him fake hopes. Nate deserves a girl who would be madly in love with him, and only him!
“Am I disturbing something?” my favourite voice in the world asks. Despite not hearing it for almost two years, I immediately know it’s Draco.
I step away from Nate and sure enough, Draco stands in the empty hallway, a bouquet of the palest pink roses in his hands. He grins at me and holds his arms out for an embrace. Without thinking twice, I launch myself at him.
He wraps me in his arms, and it feels so right. I know for sure now that Draco is the right one for me.
So I guess, even though it took us three years to get here...it was worth it.
***
Draco helps me with my bags as we head down the courtyard and out of the gates. I wouldn’t be riding home in the Hogwarts express this year. Nope, Draco has a carriage waiting. He’s been waiting as eagerly for today as I have.
Once he’s loaded all of my things into the carriage, he helps me up. We sit opposite each other, grinning like idiots.
“You look so lovely,” he whispers, kissing my hand.
“And you look even better than before,” I murmur back, enraptured in his beautiful stare.
“You’re still wearing the ring!” Draco suddenly exclaims, his fingers playing with the promise ring he gave me while we were in Diagon Alley.
“Of course I am. I love you silly,” I remind him, switching seats so I sit beside him. I lean against him and breathe in his scent once again.
“So what do we do first now that you aren’t a student?” he finally asks, resting his cheek on the top of my head.
“Well, I’d love to see my parents...and you have been pestering me about meeting your parents, right? Maybe...” I trail off speculatively .
“That sounds about right!” Draco murmurs. “Oh, before I forget, I have some letters for you,” he murmurs tossing me two, thick white envelopes.
Draco Malfoy and Deidre Dursley
Both envelopes are addressed to the both of us.
I tear open the first envelope and gasp in shock. A wedding invitation?!
YOU ARE READING
A Harry Potter Fanfic
FanfictionWhat if, after defeating Lord Voldermort, Harry, Ron and Hermione went back to Hogwarts to finish their seventh year? What if the Dursley’s had a daughter who happened to have magic? What if she went to Hogwarts and fell in love with her cousin’s wo...
