The Keeper of Secrets. (Draco Malfoy x Reader)

A Secret Between Friends

The sun cast a warm glow over Malfoy Manor, the grand estate surrounded by lush, manicured gardens. Ophelia Fontaine, a small, thin girl with dark brown, slightly wavy hair and large hazel eyes, ran through the grounds, her laughter mingling with the chirping of birds. She darted behind a towering hedge, trying to stifle her giggles as she listened for Draco Malfoy's footsteps.

"Where are you, Ophy?" Draco's voice called out, tinged with a hint of frustration. He was searching for her, intent on winning their game of hide and seek. The house-elves, usually so quiet and reserved, joined in the fun, their small forms darting about, eager to please the children.

Ophelia pressed a finger to her lips, motioning for a nearby house-elf to stay silent. She had always been kind to the house-elves, treating them with a respect and kindness that was unusual in the Malfoy household.

"Is Miss Ophelia hiding here?" a squeaky voice whispered, a house-elf with large, expressive eyes peeking around the hedge.

"Shh, you'll give me away!" Ophelia whispered back, a smile tugging at her lips.

Just then, Draco's blonde head popped around the corner. "Got you!" he exclaimed triumphantly.

Ophelia squealed and dashed away, but Draco was too quick. He caught her by the arm and they both tumbled to the ground, laughing.

"You're it!" Draco declared, brushing dirt off his robes. Despite his privileged upbringing and occasional brattiness, he couldn't help but smile when he was with Ophelia.

She grinned up at him, her hazel eyes sparkling. "Okay, okay, you win this time." She stood up and dusted off her own dress, a simple yet elegant outfit that her mother insisted she wear when visiting the Malfoys.

They walked together toward a shaded area of the garden, Draco still wearing a triumphant smirk. As the laughter died down, Ophelia's expression grew serious. She bit her lip, hesitating.

"Draco, I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" he asked, noticing the change in her demeanor.

Ophelia took a deep breath, her small hands twisting nervously. "My father has been given an important job in France. We have to move."

Draco's brow furrowed in confusion. "Move? For how long?"

"I don't know," Ophelia admitted. "Papa says it's a really important job at the Ministry. We'll be living there for a while."

"But... you'll still come back to visit, right?" Draco asked, trying to make sense of the situation. "You'll still go to Hogwarts with me like we planned?"

Ophelia shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "I don't think so. Papa says we have to stay in France for a long time. I might even go to Beauxbatons."

Draco's face fell. "Beauxbatons? But that's... that's in France. You won't be at Hogwarts with me." He paused, looking desperately for a solution. "But we can still visit each other, can't we?"

Ophelia's heart ached as she saw the hope in Draco's eyes. She shook her head again. "Papa's job is really important, Draco. We won't be able to visit or write to anyone who's not authorized by the Ministry. It's... it's complicated."

Draco's confusion turned to anger as the reality sank in. "No! You can't leave! You can't leave me, Ophy!"

"I don't want to," she said softly, her voice breaking. "But Papa says we have to go."

"No!" Draco shouted, his face flushing with emotion. "You can't go! They can't take my best friend away!"

At that moment, Clair Fontaine, Ophelia's mother, appeared, her elegant figure framed by the doorway. "What's all this shouting about?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

"Ophelia's leaving!" Draco said, his voice breaking. He turned to Ophelia and hugged her tightly, as if holding on could keep her from going. "You can't leave, Ophy. They can't take you from me."

Clair stepped closer, her expression softening but with a flicker of guilt in her eyes. "It's not forever, Draco. We'll visit when we can, and you can write to each other. You'll see each other again."

Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy, joined them, her usually stern face softening as she saw the distress on her son's face. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Yes, Draco. It won't be forever. Ophelia will come back to visit."

Ophelia nodded, though her own heart ached at the thought of leaving her best friend. "We'll see each other again, Draco. I promise."

Draco pulled back slightly, his grey eyes shimmering with tears. "Promise?"

Ophelia held out her pinky. "Pinky promise."

Draco linked his pinky with hers, his grip firm. "You have to come back. You can't ever leave me again."

"I promise," Ophelia whispered, their pinkies still intertwined.

As the sun began to set over Malfoy Manor, casting long shadows across the garden, the two friends stood together, bound by a promise and the hope that their friendship would withstand the distance between them. Meanwhile, Clair and Narcissa exchanged a knowing glance, each silently hoping that the children's bond would remain unbroken despite the challenging times ahead.