At the End

III

Third Person POV

In the dimly lit common room of Slytherin House, Blaise Zabini lounged comfortably on a plush armchair, his usual air of nonchalance momentarily replaced by a furrowed brow. Across from him, Theo Nott leaned against the fireplace, casting a curious glance at their friend Draco Malfoy, who paced with an uncharacteristic unease.

Pansy Parkinson, perched on the edge of the sofa, couldn't help but voice her concern. "Draco, you've been acting strange all week. What's going on?"Draco paused mid-stride, his silver eyes darting between his friends before settling on Y/N, who stood by the window, gaze averted. "It's nothing, really," he muttered, his voice unconvincing even to his own ears.Blaise raised an eyebrow, exchanging a knowing look with Theo. "Nothing? Come on, Draco. We've known each other for years. You can't fool us that easily."Theo nodded in agreement. "And what about Y/N? They've been just as jumpy lately. Did something happen?"Pansy's curiosity turned into concern as she glanced at Y/N, who fidgeted nervously. "Y/N, dear, are you alright?"Y/N hesitated, unsure how much to share. "It's just... things have been a bit... complicated."Blaise leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Complicated how?"Draco sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Y/N and I... we've been keeping something under wraps."Theo's eyes widened. "You two? What's going on?"

''That's the most we can say, Theo. I'm sorry.'' Y/N states not entirely sure how to get out of this conversation.
''Aww, c'mon guys! Tell us something.'' Pansy wined, still persisting on knowing something.
''That's- It's just- I'm not that comfortable speaking about it.'' Y/N says looking everywhere but their eyes.

Blaise nudged Theo, understanding the sensitivity. "If it's anything, Draco, we've got your back. You can trust us."Draco felt torn, wanting to confide but also respecting Y/N's privacy. Pansy spoke gently, "We're here for you, and for Y/N too."Y/N shifted, feeling their friends' concern. "It's not just about me..."Blaise nodded. "Some things take time."Theo offered a reassuring smile. "We're here for you, mate."Draco glanced at Y/N, silently expressing shared apprehension. Finally, he said, "It's... complicated. But we appreciate your understanding."Pansy approached Y/N, offering support. "You can trust us, Y/N. We'll support you."Y/N managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Pansy."They found solace in their friends' understanding. In Slytherin House, loyalty and discretion were valued, providing comfort for Draco and Y/N.

Even with all these understandings they had for them, things never changed between Y/N and Draco. Or more with Y/N.

Even with their friends' understanding, things never changed between Y/N and Draco. Y/N tried to avoid him during their shared free periods, and they no longer engaged in small talk or shared stories about their days. They only spoke when they had assignments together or when their group hung out together. Y/N and Draco had been inseparable since their first year at Hogwarts, and they shared the same circle of friends.

Timeskip

Y/N lay on her bed, lost in thought. She felt lonely and unsure of what to feel. She knew that what she was feeling was caused by Draco. She wanted things to go back to the way they were before they were married, when they were just their joyful selves. As she thought about it, pictures of her past flooded her mind.

Third Person POV  in Draco's Room

Draco sat in his room, the sadness of not having his best friend or now wife with him anymore filling him. He felt like an outsider again, the warmth that always surrounded him when Y/N was around was leaving him like a hole made in a balloon. He didn't want this to happen, he didn't want to lose Y/N, but deep down he knew that this was his fault. He started remembering the times when the Ivory's and Malfoy's used to meet and how jealous he felt then. 

Flashback

"Draco! You're here!" cheered the younger Y/N."I'm sorry, Mum took forever to get ready," young Draco replied, flashing a sheepish grin before embracing Y/N warmly."Good to see you too, Uncle Lucius and Cissy," Y/N added politely, remembering the manners instilled in them."Are you excited, sweetheart?" Y/N's dad asked, lifting his overly excited child into his arms as they prepared to depart. Her older brother, who was 14, followed behind, laughing as he saw his younger sister's enthusiasm. Y/N's dad hugged her tightly, then set her down. "I know you're excited," he said, "but try to contain yourself. We don't want to get you all worked up before we even get there." Y/N's brother laughed again. "Don't worry, Dad," he said. "She'll be fine. She always is."
Draco couldn't help but feel a pang of envy, observing the affection Y/N received from her father—a sentiment he rarely experienced from his own father. He glanced expectantly towards Lucius, silently hoping for a similar display of warmth, but received only a stern glance in return."Don't be foolish, Draco," Lucius said dismissively, striding over to join Y/N's father in planning for the outing.The contrast between the parental interactions left Draco feeling a mix of longing and wistfulness, yearning for the kind of familial closeness he witnessed in Y/N's family. As they set off on their excursion, Draco couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider looking in, a feeling amplified by the warmth and camaraderie that surrounded Y/N and their family.

End of flashback

That night, Draco cried, filled with regret for his decisions. He wished he could go back and change things. He wanted to be happy again, and he wanted Y/N to be happy too. But he knew that wasn't going to happen.

-

A/N

Greetings, everyone! I am delighted to have uploaded two chapters in succession. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I am not certain that I can maintain this pace, but I will do my utmost. Thank you so much for your support!
 

                                                                                              -Nora<3