The Dragon in The Ice Fortress- Draco Malfoy

19

The end of the school year always brought a mix of emotions. As I stood in the Great Hall, surrounded by the soft murmur of students finishing their meals and packing up, I felt both excited and a little sad. The castle, which had been a hive of activity, was now winding down to a quieter, more reflective atmosphere.

Draco and I had just finished our last meal of the term. The usual chatter had given way to a more subdued mood as everyone prepared for the summer break. I glanced around at the familiar faces—Daphne and Blaise were busy chatting with a few other Slytherins, their laughter a comforting backdrop to the chaos of packing.

I turned my attention to the Gryffindor table, where Harry, Hermione, and Ron were huddled together. They looked a bit worn out but relieved that the year was over. Taking a deep breath, I approached them with Draco by my side.

"Hey, guys," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "Looks like another year is in the books."

Ron looked up with a tired grin. "Yeah, it's been a whirlwind. Can't believe it's over already."

Hermione, her eyes scanning her packed bag, nodded in agreement. "It's been quite a year. I hope you're all looking forward to a restful summer."

Harry looked up from organizing his things, his face breaking into a warm smile. "I'm definitely looking forward to it. But I'll miss seeing you all around."

"We'll miss you too," I said, reaching out to give each of them a hug. "It's been good having you around. We've had some interesting times."

Ron chuckled. "Yeah, interesting is one way to put it. Let's hope the summer brings some relaxation and not too many surprises."

As we finished our goodbyes, I felt a pang of sadness mixed with excitement. I was looking forward to the summer, but I'd miss the camaraderie and the daily rhythm of Hogwarts.

Draco, who had been unusually quiet during our farewells, seemed to be lost in thought. As the trio gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, Draco turned to me with a thoughtful look.

"Are you ready for the journey, Love?" he asked. "We should head to the platform soon."

I nodded, feeling a flutter of anticipation. "Yeah, I'm ready. It'll be nice to get out of here and start the break."

As we walked towards the platform, Draco reached out and took my hand in his. The gesture was simple but meaningful, and I could feel the warmth of his touch even through the chill of the early summer air.

"I'm really looking forward to spending some time with you over the break," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I know you've got family commitments too, but I'm glad we'll have some time together."

I squeezed his hand, feeling a surge of affection. "I'm looking forward to it too. I'll be visiting my family first, but we'll have a few weeks together after that. I'm excited to see what we can do with that time."

As we reached the platform and saw the train waiting, I felt a mix of relief and sadness. It was always hard to say goodbye, even if it was just for the summer. But knowing I had Draco by my side made the departure a little easier.

As the train's whistle blew and we prepared to board, Draco leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "We'll make the most of our time together. I promise."

I smiled, my heart fluttering. "I'm counting on it."

With one last look at the bustling platform, we stepped onto the train, ready to begin our summer adventure.