Back to Black- Draco Malfoy

22| counting stars

The soft glow of the moon filtered through the curtains, casting silvery patterns on the walls. In my dorm room, I slept enveloped in the warmth of my blankets, my breath steady and deep. But as the night wore on, an unease began to creep into my slumber.

At first, it was just a whisper, a rustle in the shadows that made me stir. The familiar sounds of my manor—the creak of the floorboards, the distant hum of the city—faded, replaced by an echoing silence. As I shifted, my brows furrowing as a flicker of dread ignited within me.

Then came the first image, a dark figure standing at the foot of a table, indistinct and menacing. I could feel my heart racing, the sheets growing heavy against my body, as if they were trying to hold me down. With every passing moment, the figure sharpened, its features becoming grotesque and twisted, and the realization hit me, I was trapped in another nightmare.

Panic surged as I struggled to wake, my mind clawing at the edges of consciousness. Yet the more I fought, the deeper I seemed to sink into the chilling abyss. The figure loomed closer, its presence suffocating. My breath quickened, each inhale a desperate plea for escape. But the dream tightened its grip, pulling me further away from the safety of waking life.

A chilling whisper slithered through the air, curling around my thoughts like smoke. "You'll join soon," it taunted, each word laced with a haunting familiarity. My pulse thudded in my ears, drowning out the insistent sound.

Desperately, I turned my head, seeking any glimpse of reality. The room was distorted, the walls warping and bending as if they were alive. The shadows stretched, elongating into claw-like fingers that reached for me, hungry and relentless.

“Wake up!” I  screamed silently, willing her body to move. But it was as if I was encased in invisible glass, each attempt to escape met with an overwhelming heaviness that pulled me back. The figure edged closer, its features sharpening into a face I thought I had forgotten—a haunting reminder of a loss I couldn’t bear to confront... Voldemort.

My mind raced, replaying memories like a film on a loop, each moment darker than the last. The laughter that had once filled my life felt distant, replaced now by a suffocating silence. The figure's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, piercing through the darkness and locking onto mine...

And then, he lunged. I immediately jolted awake, gasping for air, my heart racing against the confines of my chest. I was back in my dorm room, the moonlight soft and reassuring. But the remnants of the nightmare clung to me, a chilling reminder that the shadows had not entirely retreated.

Sweat slicked my brow as I sat up, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. Outside, the world continued on, blissfully unaware of the darkness that lurked in the corners of my mind. I knew I  needed to confront what I had run from, but how could I face it when it haunted me even in my dreams?

I looked to my left to see Astoria and Parkinson still heavily sleep, both passed out from earlier activities. Lucky bastards. I couldn't fall back asleep, not after that for sure. Looking at the moonlight outside my window caused me to think of the time, around midnight hours.

With no hesitation, I got up from my bed and through on a black jacket before heading out of my dorm room silently. I keep telling myself not to do this in case I get caught and in serious trouble, but otherwise I would just be sitting in my bed.

I scanned the hallways for anyone before I scurried out of the school and started making my way towards the Astronomy Tower. The night almost fully engulfed me in it's presence, the dark shine casting a glow on my sight.

When I finally reached the tower, and climbing the stairs, I went to the wooden ledge in front of me and leaned against it. I had no purpose to be up here, but then again, I had no purpose going back to sleep either when the same nightmare would occur..

With a deep sigh, I just stared out at the night. That was, until I heard footsteps behind me. They were quiet steps, but so was the darkness in the sky. I turned my head a bit to the side to see the body heading towards me.

Just who I wanted to see. Wonderful.

I turned slightly, bracing myself for the familiar sneer that usually accompanied Draco’s presence. Instead, as he stepped into view, I was struck by the weight of his expression. There was no arrogance, no bravado—just a deep, searching intensity in his silver eyes.

“Briar,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper, as if the night itself might shatter the moment.

I felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. “What do you want, Draco?” The edge in my tone surprised even myself, a defensive barrier built from weeks of silence.

“I—” He paused, taking a breath as he stepped closer, the distance between us almost electric. “I wanted to talk.”

I crossed my arms, instinctively guarding myself against the vulnerability that loomed between us. “About what? The argument? Or how you were so quick to dismiss everything we built since we've been back together?”

Draco ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just… I feel cornered. You have to understand that.”

I turned away, staring out at the sprawling grounds below, the castle bathed in moonlight. “Understanding doesn’t change what was said, Draco. You made your feelings clear.”

“Did I? Or did I just say what I thought you wanted to hear?” His voice was tense, laden with emotion. “I can’t pretend everything is fine when it’s not. I care about you, Briar. I have for a long time.”

The air felt charged with unspoken words and feelings, each heartbeat echoing like a drum. I faced him again, searching for sincerity in his expression. “And what does that mean for us? Can we just forget the things we said?”

Draco stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. “No, we can’t forget. But we can confront it."

A flicker of hope ignited within me, but doubt quickly followed. “What if we just end up fighting again?”

“Then we’ll fight. But at least we’ll be fighting for something real,” he said, his voice steady.

For a moment, the world around us faded. The stars twinkled like distant promises, and the night held its breath as I weighed his words. Finally, I took a step forward, closing the gap between us. “Then let’s start over. No more walls, no more games.”

Draco’s lips curved into a tentative smile, relief washing over his features. “I can work with that.”

As we stood together on the Astronomy Tower, the weight of our argument began to lift, replaced by the fragile threads of understanding. The night sky stretched endlessly above us, and for the first time in weeks, the future felt less daunting.

"Draco." I stated. I had a weird and inquisitive question and I needed it answered, now. With a small 'hmm?' from his lips, I continued. "My nightmares...they're getting worse. The more I think about you, us... I've been losing sleep, dreaming but it all becomes a nightmare."

"This time though..you-know-who made an appearance." I finished. I looked over at him while the nightly wind blew through my hair. He straightened his posture and fixed his shirt before saying,

"Briar. Are you completely and honestly sure it was him, I'm being serious." I've never seen Draco so serious while speaking. He looked like he had seen a ghost but an actual terrifying one..

"Yeah it was him. He said something along the lines of "You'll join soon" or something like that?" I quietly laughed along to ease some of the tension on the tower. I looked back over at him and saw something different.

Him.

Draco's pulse raced with fear as I uncovered Voldemort's intention to force me into his service, brandishing me with the Dark Mark that would seal my destiny in darkness.

Just. Like. Him.