Two Sides of the Serpent // Draco Malfoy

Chapter Eighteen: Whispered Confessions

Even after Dumbledore's death, the school year trudged on as if nothing had happened. Students attended classes and carried on with their lives, but mine took an unexpected turn. My parents, gripped by fear that our connections to the Dark Lord and my own involvement in missions for him might be discovered, made the difficult decision not to send me back to Hogwarts.

As much as I longed to be at the heart of the battle against the encroaching darkness, my parents' concerns held me back. Our family's perilous situation was reason enough for them to keep me away from the school. They feared that my presence at Hogwarts could potentially expose their allegiance to the Dark Lord and compromise our precarious position.

The decision weighed heavily on me. I knew that being absent from the school during this critical time was a missed opportunity to contribute to the fight against the rising darkness. It was frustrating to be sidelined. The passing days only fueled my desire to make a difference.

I disapparated outside the castle grounds, my arrival near the Black Lake shrouded in secrecy. The world beyond Ashthorn Manor and the castle beckoned, and I was determined to find a way to the light.

Standing at the edge of the Black Lake, I noticed Luna Lovegood sitting alone by the water. Luna and I were never close friends, given the intricacies of house alliances, which often made forging relationships outside of Slytherin quite challenging. However, Luna and I had exchanged pleasantries during our occasional encounters in Charms class.

Approaching her with a small, tentative smile, I initiated the conversation, "Hello, Luna. What are you doing out here by yourself?"

Luna turned her head towards my voice, her distinctive bright blue eyes sparkling with recognition as she saw me approaching. In her usual untroubled manner, she returned my smile warmly.

"Oh, hello there!" Luna greeted me, her voice gentle. "It's peaceful, don't you think?"

She patted the ground beside her, offering for me to join her. With a faint curl of my lip, I accepted. Settling in on the sandy shore, we sat in silent retrospect, gazing out of the Black Lake. The reflection of the sun hanging high casted across the water as if a thousand little diamonds were spread across the surface.

Luna had always been sweet to those around her, regardless of how they had treated her. I know I had my fair share of moments being cruel towards her. She had a natural kind-hearted nature and an open mind, something that I had seemed to overlook. I glanced over at her, noticing the paint stains across her abnormally worn overalls and her hair tangled into a loosely worn bun.

With the recent events, I felt compelled to ask. "So.. how have you been? After everything that has happened.."

Her hands dug into the sand, feeling its cool and soft touch between her fingers. Her gaze remained on the water as she spoke softly.

"Losing Professor Dumbledore was a significant loss for all of us. He was a wise and kind soul. But I believe in the circle of life, you see. I have this notion that those who pass on continue to exist in some form or another. It brings me comfort to think that he is still with us in some way."

Turning her gaze towards me, her eyes filled with empathy, Luna wondered, "And how about you?"

I struggled to find the right words to covey my turmoil without revealing too much. Yet, there was something comforting about her, she held a certain calming aura that was very foreign to me. While I had searched for the words to say, my chest felt heavy and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"I wish I could see things like you do, Luna.." I said softly. "I've been forced down a path I no longer wish to be part of and I don't know how to escape."