DRIPS OF FANCY - draco malfoy

↳ 𝑐ℎ𝑝．29

The Hogwarts Express slowly came to a stop at the station, its wheels grinding against the tracks with a final screech. The mass of students quickly began to file off the train, eager to be back at school. Alvena felt a strange mixture of unease swirling inside her, but she knew she had to shake it off for now. The looming figure of Hogwarts and the familiar hustle of students rushing to carriages filled the air, but it wasn't enough to clear the fog of tension that hung between her and Draco.
As the group made their way off the train, Draco's eyes immediately locked onto Harry Potter, who was standing with Ron and Hermione. Without warning, Draco's voice rang out, cutting through the clamor of the crowd. "Potter!" Draco barked, his tone sharp and biting. "Got your fame back, did you? Not that it'll last long."
Alvena froze for a moment, startled. Her eyes shifted to Draco, and for a second, it felt like everything around them stilled. It was an outburst typical of him, but there was something in his voice that hinted at something deeper—resentment, maybe. Normally, she would've intervened, tried to calm him down, but today... something was different. She didn't. She stayed silent, watching Harry's annoyed expression grow as he glared at Draco.
"Leave it, Malfoy," Harry snapped, though his words lacked their usual bite, perhaps out of tiredness or the simple annoyance of it all.
Alvena's eyes flicked between the two boys, then to her friends, who seemed equally unfazed by the exchange. For some reason, she didn't feel the need to step in. Maybe she had too much on her mind, or maybe... maybe she was finally starting to understand Draco's frustration.
Mattheo raised an eyebrow at her but didn't comment as the group continued toward the waiting carriages.
The carriages were drawn by thestrals—those eerie, skeletal winged creatures that only those who had witnessed death could see. Alvena had always been able to see them, but she'd never fully understood why until last year. She had seen Cedric Diggory die in her vision. She had seen him crumple to the ground, lifeless, as the echoes of his death rang out in her head.
When the carriage doors opened, she hesitated before stepping inside, her gaze falling on the thestrals with a peculiar sense of clarity. Unlike the others, who watched in awe or curiosity, Alvena's eyes locked onto the creatures with an almost intimate understanding. She could feel them. Feel their quiet power. Their emptiness.
Draco, sitting beside her, followed her gaze. "You see them, don't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with something she couldn't quite place.
Alvena nodded, though she didn't offer an explanation. He didn't need one. He knew.
They made the rest of the journey in relative silence, and when they finally arrived at the Great Hall, Alvena felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she entered, the familiar buzz of students settling into their seats around her. She was grateful for the distraction of the moment—the start of the new school year, the grand feast.
As everyone settled into their places, a hush fell over the room, and the doors at the front swung open. To no one's surprise, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher stepped forward—Dolores Umbridge. Alvena couldn't help the groan that escaped her lips.
"Great," Stormy muttered from beside her, rolling her eyes dramatically. "She already looks like a walking headache."
"She looks...Insufferable," Alvena added, under her breath, though loud enough for Stormy to hear.
Their words didn't go unnoticed, and a few students around them chuckled, but it didn't take long for the attention to shift back to Umbridge as she stepped forward to address the students with a sickly sweet smile. Alvena couldn't stand the sight of her, and neither could the others. She knew it was going to be a long year.
Dinner was soon served, and the usual chaos of students passing plates around and chatting filled the air. Despite the familiar comforts of Hogwarts, Alvena couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her chest. She glanced over at Draco, but he was deep in conversation with Mattheo, his usual cocky demeanor back in place.
By the time the feast was over and the students began filtering out toward their common rooms, Alvena felt a strange wave of relief.
When they finally reached the Slytherin common room, Alvena's heart lifted slightly. It was the first time in a long time that she was actually sharing it with her friends— Sage and Stormy. It felt... right. They were a unit, something she had missed over the past few months.
"Finally," Sage said, flopping down onto one of the plush armchairs in the room's north corner, his voice laced with exhaustion. "I thought this day would never end."
"Tell me about it," Stormy added, stretching out lazily. "Hogwarts really knows how to give us a great start."
Alvena smiled softly, settling next to Sage, who had already begun unpacking her things. Her fingers ran over the familiar surface of the worn book she had brought with her, but before anyone could say much more, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Alvena called, her voice laced with mild annoyance.
The door opened to reveal a familiar figure—her face softened slightly as he saw who it was. "Draco," she said.
"up for our first prefect watch?" He asked softly, only giving eyes to the scarlet eyed girl in front of him.
Alvena sighed, pushing herself to her feet. "Alright, I'll be there in a second."
The others waved her off, and she followed Draco out of the common room, the door shutting softly behind them.
They walked through the hallways, the conversation was quiet at first, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.
"You know," Draco said after a beat, "we are still sharing a room with Theodore. I don't know how the others do it. It's... uncomfortable."
Alvena nodded, her fingers nervously twisting the bracelet on her wrist. "I forgave him, Draco. I really did. Even if you don't agree with my decision."
Draco's expression darkened, and for a moment, she saw a flash of something fierce in his eyes. "I hate it when you get hurt, I can't help it. You deserve better than that, Alvena."
The Blythe girl couldn't find the words to reply, so instead, she just nodded. They continued walking in silence, and it wasn't long before they heard muffled noises coming from a nearby broom closet.
Draco, with his usual dominance, led the way. When he opened the door, the sight before them made them both freeze for a moment. Two students—half-dressed, caught in the act of snogging—didn't seem to notice the intrusion at first.
Draco raised an eyebrow, his tone ice-cold. "Really? In a broom closet?" he muttered, stepping forward. "Out. Now."
The students scrambled to gather their clothes and hurried out, looking sheepish and embarrassed.
"Bloody hell," Alvena said, shaking her head as they continued their patrol. "Some people have no shame."
Draco smirked. "It's Hogwarts. What do you expect?"
As they moved on, Alvena felt her eyelids growing heavy. The excitement of the day, mixed with the lingering exhaustion, was catching up to her.
"You should go sleep," Draco said softly as they neared the end of the hallway. "I'll finish the rounds alone."
Alvena yawned and smiled faintly, her exhaustion clearly evident. "Yeah, maybe you're right. Thank you, Draco, for everything."
Draco nodded, and before she could leave, he reached out, pulling her into a brief hug. His arms wrapped around her, warm and steady, and for a second, everything felt... right. But she had to pull away, even if she didn't want to.
"Goodnight," she whispered, pulling away from him.
"Sleep well," Draco said, his voice low, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment longer.
She walked away, making her way back to the Slytherin common room, her head feeling much lighter despite the chaos of the day.