The Dragon in The Ice Fortress- Draco Malfoy

39

The days that followed felt like a blur. Everything around me seemed to move in slow motion, while my thoughts swirled faster than I could keep up with. I wandered through the hallways, attended classes, and exchanged pleasantries with my friends, but it was as though I wasn't really there. My mind was trapped somewhere between the pull of Draco and the desperate need to hold on to the world I knew—the world I had fought so hard to stay connected to.

I barely listened as Professor McGonagall discussed Transfiguration that morning, my quill scribbling notes automatically as if on autopilot. My eyes kept drifting to the Slytherin side of the classroom, where Draco sat, his platinum hair catching the light as he leaned over his parchment. He was focused, as always, his brow furrowed with concentration. But every so often, I saw it—the cold detachment that had begun to settle over him, an invisible wall that kept everyone, including me, at arm's length.

I tried to ignore the pang in my chest, but it was impossible. Even from across the room, I could feel the pull—the magnetic force that drew me to him, no matter how hard I fought against it. He wasn't just slipping away from me; he was dragging me along with him. And the more I watched him, the more I felt myself inching closer to the darkness he inhabited.

"Thalia?"

The sound of my name snapped me out of my daze, and I blinked, realizing that Daphne was staring at me with concern in her eyes. We were in Potions now, sitting at our usual table. I hadn't even noticed the transition between classes.

"You alright?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing.

I nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

Daphne didn't look convinced, but she let it go, turning back to her notes. I cast a glance at the front of the classroom where Professor Slughorn was droning on about the properties of Veritaserum, but my mind had already wandered again.

Draco was here, too, sitting with his usual group of Slytherins. His back was to me, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he kept shifting in his seat. He hadn't looked at me once since the encounter in the hallway a few nights ago. Not directly, at least. But I knew he was aware of me. Just as I was aware of him.

I tore my gaze away, trying to focus on the bubbling cauldron in front of me. I could hear Harry and Ron whispering beside me, talking about something related to the Triwizard Tournament. Their voices were low, cautious, as if they were wary of anyone overhearing.

For a moment, I considered telling them everything. I could picture it in my mind—pulling Harry aside after class, explaining what I'd seen, what I knew. They would listen, they would understand. They'd come up with a plan. They always did.

But then I thought of Draco. His words echoed in my head, sharp and biting. You'll lose everything.

And I knew he was right. Telling them meant betraying him. And that was something I wasn't sure I could do.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and I gathered my things in a daze. Harry and Ron were already talking excitedly about the upcoming Quidditch match, while Daphne shot me another concerned glance.

"Are you sure you're okay, Thalia?" she asked again, her brow furrowed. "You've seemed really distracted lately."

I forced another smile, though it felt more like a grimace. "I'm fine, Daphne. Really. Just a lot on my mind with exams."

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. And as we made our way out of the classroom, I could feel the weight of that unspoken truth pressing down on me like a boulder.

The rest of the day passed in a haze. History of Magic, Charms, and then Care of Magical Creatures—all of it felt like an endless loop of monotony. I went through the motions, nodding along when necessary, answering questions automatically, but none of it registered. My mind was elsewhere—always back with Draco.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, I found myself wandering aimlessly through the corridors, not entirely sure where I was headed. My feet seemed to move of their own accord, leading me to places I hadn't planned on going.

I found myself near the Astronomy Tower, the place where so much had changed—where everything had begun to fall apart. I paused at the base of the stairs, staring up at the spiraling steps that led to the top. It felt like a lifetime ago that Draco and I had met here, that we had laughed and talked about the stars, about a future that seemed so distant now.

I wondered if he still thought about those nights. Or if the darkness had already consumed him, leaving no room for those memories.

"Thalia!"

The sound of my name jolted me from my thoughts, and I turned to see Harry jogging up to me, his eyes bright with excitement. "I've been looking for you! You're coming to the match tomorrow, right?"

I blinked, trying to shake off the fog in my mind. "Yeah, of course. Wouldn't miss it."

Harry grinned, but then his expression softened as he looked at me closely. "You sure you're okay? You've seemed a bit off lately."

It was the third time today that someone had asked me that, and each time it felt like a harder question to answer. But I couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

"I'm fine, Harry," I said, my voice steady, though my heart wasn't. "Just... a lot on my mind."

He nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "Well, if you ever want to talk—about anything—you know where to find us."

I smiled, the guilt twisting in my chest. "Thanks, Harry."

He waved and headed off down the corridor, leaving me standing alone at the base of the tower once more. I stared after him, the weight of my decision pressing down on me like a lead blanket.

Could I really keep this secret? Could I continue to walk this line between Draco and the Golden Trio, between light and dark? Or would I eventually have to choose?

The thought made my stomach turn, and I pushed it away, refusing to face it just yet.

Instead, I turned away from the tower and began walking back toward the Slytherin common room, my mind still spinning with unanswered questions.

When I finally reached the common room, Draco was there, sitting by the fire, his face illuminated by the flickering flames. He looked up as I entered, his eyes locking onto mine.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched between us, heavy and charged with everything unsaid.

But in that silence, I felt it—the pull of the darkness. The part of me that wanted to be near him, to be part of whatever world he was sinking into. And that terrified me more than anything else.

Draco's eyes softened, just for a moment, and he gestured to the empty seat beside him. "Sit with me," he said, his voice low, almost tender.

And despite everything, despite the war raging inside me, I did.