The Dragon in The Ice Fortress- Draco Malfoy

21

With each passing day, I wrote again, trying to reach him, but the replies never came. My letters seemed to vanish into an abyss, their contents lost in a void where no answers could be found. The silence was deafening, a constant reminder of the growing chasm between us. I felt trapped in a whirlwind of questions and unspoken fears, my heart aching for any sign that Draco was still out there, still listening. But each unanswered letter only deepened my anxiety and left me feeling more isolated than before.

My parents noticed the change in me almost immediately. The once lively conversations turned into solemn discussions about my well-being. They could see how the letters I sent to Draco had left me drained and disheartened. I tried to brush off their concern, but their worried glances and probing questions were hard to ignore.

One evening, my mother sat me down with a look of deep concern. "Thalia, we're worried about you. You've been so distant lately. We know something is troubling you."

I looked at her, trying to find the right words to explain, but the pain was too raw. "It's nothing," I said, forcing a weak smile. "Just some personal stuff. I'll be fine."

My father, who had been quietly listening, chimed in with a rare display of tenderness. "Sometimes it helps to talk about what's on your mind. You don't have to keep everything to yourself."

Their concern was genuine, and despite my attempts to downplay my feelings, their support began to crack the shell of my reserve. I knew they were right. I needed to confront what I was feeling, not just for my own sake, but for the sake of those who cared about me.

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My hope dwindled further. I continued to write to Draco, desperately clinging to the hope that my words would reach him, that somehow he would break his silence. Each letter was a plea, a cry for understanding, but the empty void remained unfilled. My calls for clarity went unanswered, and the frustration gnawed at me.

As the months dragged on, the pain of his absence grew heavier. I tried to keep myself occupied, throwing myself into my studies and spending time with friends, but the shadow of Draco's silence loomed over me. It was as though I was living in a suspended state, waiting for a resolution that never came. The longing for answers was relentless, a constant reminder of the distance that had opened up between us.

Eventually, I had to accept that Draco might never explain his reasons or acknowledge my attempts to reach out.

As the time to return to Hogwarts approached, a mix of anticipation and anxiety stirred within me. The familiar routine of school life beckoned, promising a semblance of normalcy after the long, unsettling months of silence. Yet, the unresolved tension with Draco weighed heavily on me, making it difficult to embrace the excitement of returning to the castle.

Packing my trunk felt like a bittersweet ritual. Each item I folded and tucked away was a reminder of the summer that had been marred by unanswered letters and growing concerns. My parents offered encouraging words, but their smiles couldn't fully mask the worry that lingered in their eyes. They knew this return was as much about facing my unresolved emotions as it was about rejoining my friends and the school environment.

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The Hogwarts Express rolled into the station with its familiar screech, bringing with it the end of a summer that had been marred by uncertainty and heartbreak. The once eagerly anticipated return to Hogwarts now felt overshadowed by the unresolved tension and painful reality of Draco's silence. As I stepped off the train, the bustling platform seemed more like a chaotic blur, my thoughts consumed by what awaited me.

The castle loomed ahead, majestic and timeless, but the excitement of returning felt hollow. I had been dreading this moment, knowing I would have to face Draco, but not fully understanding the depth of what I would discover. I had spent weeks crafting my letter to him, filled with hope and desperation, and now it felt like it had been in vain.

The familiar corridors of Hogwarts were as welcoming as ever, but the comfort they usually offered felt distant. As I made my way to the Slytherin common room, my heart pounded with every step. The stone walls seemed to close in around me, echoing my anxiety.

When I finally reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room, I found Draco waiting for me just outside, leaning against the wall with an unreadable expression. His presence seemed to command the space, his usual confidence now tinged with something darker. My breath hitched as I approached him, the confrontation I had been dreading about to unfold.

"Draco," I started, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to talk."

He looked up, his eyes meeting mine with a cold, distant gaze that sent a shiver down my spine. "Thalia," he said, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. "I've been expecting you."

My heart raced as I searched his face for any hint of the Draco I had known, the one who had shared moments of tenderness and trust. Instead, there was a steely resolve in his eyes that made my stomach churn.

"I received your letter," I said, taking a deep breath. "I don't understand why you ended things so abruptly, without any explanation. I need to know what happened."

Draco's expression hardened, and he straightened up, his posture exuding a sense of finality. "Thalia, there's something I need to tell you," he said, his tone clipped. "I've thought a lot about everything that's happened over the summer. I've come to realize that what we had was... not what I thought it was."

The weight of his words hit me like a physical blow, and I could feel the color draining from my face. "What are you saying?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. 

Draco's gaze was unflinching. "I've come to see that it was all just a momentary distraction for me," he said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "I don't think we're as compatible as I once believed. I've decided that it's better for both of us if we go our separate ways."

The finality of his words cut through me, leaving me breathless. "You're saying it meant nothing?" I asked, struggling to keep my composure. "Everything we shared, everything we had... it was all just nothing to you?"

He didn't flinch, his expression remaining impassive. "It's not that simple," he said. "But what we had was never going to be serious. I've made my decision. I don't want to see you anymore."

The pain of his words was almost too much to bear, and I could feel tears stinging my eyes. "So that's it? You just want to erase everything we had?" I asked, my voice cracking. "I don't understand how you can just throw it all away like that."

Draco's gaze softened slightly, but there was no warmth in it. "I know this is hard," he said, his voice losing some of its hardness. "But it's for the best. We need to move on."

The finality of his words left no room for argument, and as the realization sank in, I felt a profound emptiness. I had come here hoping for answers, for some kind of closure, but all I found was an abrupt end. The world around me seemed to spin, and I struggled to grasp the reality of what had just happened.

Without another word, I turned and walked away, the weight of Draco's decision heavy on my shoulders. The familiar corridors of Hogwarts felt more like a prison now, and the castle that once promised refuge now seemed to mock me with its permanence. As I made my way to the common room, I could feel the tears finally spilling over, each step feeling like a painful reminder of what had been lost.

The summer had ended, but the scars of this parting were just beginning to take shape.