Shattered Bonds

8| Tensions Rising

As the weeks passed, life at Hogwarts returned to its usual rhythm, but for Draco, everything felt different. His mind was constantly occupied by Faith—her words, her distance, and the tension that hung between them like an unsolved mystery.

Classes resumed, and he threw himself into his studies, trying to focus on anything that could distract him from the aching uncertainty. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape the thoughts of what he had done and how he had lost her.

In Potions, Draco caught glimpses of Faith sitting across the room with her Ravenclaw classmates. She didn't glance his way, not even once. She seemed entirely engrossed in her work, but Draco knew her well enough to see the walls she had built up.

Even Pansy noticed his distraction. She would toss him knowing glances or make small remarks, trying to pull him back into their circle. But Draco barely reacted. He had distanced himself from her, and everyone in Slytherin could sense the shift.

"I don't know why you keep torturing yourself," Blaise said one day as they sat in the common room, the fire crackling softly behind them. "She's not coming back. And even if she did, you think she's going to forget everything?"

Draco clenched his jaw, staring into the flames. "It's not about forgetting. I don't expect her to. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying."

"You're being ridiculous," Pansy chimed in from across the room, flipping through a magazine lazily. "You're Draco Malfoy. You could have any girl you want, but you're stuck on some Ravenclaw who doesn't even care about you anymore."

"Shut up, Pansy," Draco snapped, his tone colder than usual. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to be reminded of how badly he had screwed everything up.

Pansy's eyes flashed with annoyance, but she didn't push him any further. She tossed the magazine aside and stood up, brushing past him as she left the room. Blaise watched her go, shaking his head slightly before turning back to Draco.

"Look, mate, I get it," Blaise said, his voice more measured. "You miss her. But you're going to have to face the fact that she might never forgive you. And even if she does, things won't go back to the way they were."

"I know that," Draco muttered. "But I'm not giving up."

Blaise sighed, leaning back in his chair. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that. But don't say I didn't warn you."

---

Meanwhile, Faith wasn't as unaffected as she pretended to be. She could feel Draco's eyes on her during class, in the corridors, and at meals. And as much as she tried to ignore it, there was a part of her that ached for him too.

Her friends in Ravenclaw noticed her distraction. Sophia, one of her closest friends, finally confronted her about it one evening in their dormitory.

"Faith, are you going to tell me what's going on with you and Malfoy, or are you just going to keep pretending everything's fine?" Sophia asked, sitting on the edge of Faith's bed.

Faith sighed, lying back on her pillow. "There's nothing to say, really. It's... complicated."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Complicated? That's an understatement. He cheated on you, Faith. You deserve so much better than that."

"I know," Faith said softly, staring up at the ceiling. "I know what he did, and I know I should hate him for it. But... it's not that simple."

"Why isn't it? He hurt you. Isn't that enough?"

Faith closed her eyes, the weight of her emotions crashing down on her. "Because he's not just some guy. We have so much history, and despite everything, I still care about him. I wish I didn't, but I do."

Sophia was quiet for a moment, clearly struggling to understand. "You're better than him, Faith. You shouldn't let him drag you back into all that. You know how people talk—being with Malfoy is nothing but trouble."

"I'm not with him," Faith corrected, sitting up slightly. "We're not together. And I don't plan on going back to him, but..." Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head. "I just need time to figure everything out."

Sophia nodded, though her expression remained concerned. "Just be careful, okay? I don't want to see you hurt again."

Faith smiled weakly. "I'll be fine. I promise."

---

One evening, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, Faith found herself wandering the empty corridors of the castle, seeking some quiet. She couldn't stop thinking about Draco—the way he had apologized, the look in his eyes when he said he wanted to change.

Her footsteps echoed softly as she turned a corner, lost in thought. And then, as if fate had planned it, she came face to face with Draco. He was leaning against the stone wall, seemingly lost in his own thoughts as well.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Faith," Draco said softly, breaking the silence. "Can we talk?"

She hesitated, the war inside her heart still raging. But something in his voice made her stop. Made her want to listen.

"What is there left to say?" she asked, her tone guarded.

"I just... I wanted to say I'm sorry again. For everything. I know I've said it before, but I need you to know how much I regret what happened."

Faith looked down, her arms crossed tightly in front of her. "Draco, I don't know if I can trust you again. You broke my heart."

"I know," he said, stepping closer, his voice barely a whisper. "But I want to prove to you that I've changed. I want to earn your trust back, even if it takes forever."

Faith's heart ached at his words, but she couldn't deny the part of her that still cared for him. "It's not that simple, Draco. Trust doesn't just come back because you say you're sorry."

"I'm not asking for everything to be okay right away," Draco said, his silver eyes full of sincerity. "But if there's even the smallest chance that we could have something again, I'll take it. I'll do whatever it takes."

Faith's resolve wavered as she met his gaze. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that things could be different, that maybe they could find their way back to each other. But fear held her back—the fear of getting hurt again.

"I don't know if I'm ready for that," she whispered.

Draco nodded, his expression somber but understanding. "I'll wait."

With that, he stepped back, giving her the space she needed. Faith watched him walk away, her heart torn between the love she still felt and the fear that it might not be enough to save them.