Love Never Dies. (Draco Malfoy Fan Fiction) (Watty Awards 2013 Winner)

Chapter 38: Hogwarts Express.

A/N: Hi everyone, here's the new chapter. Hopefully you'll like this one. I found it's been long since i've added a little romance in the story though more is to come. Thank you for reading and for voting. Please comment on anything that needs to be improved on and keep voting! More POVs will be added when the whole story is completed in Rachel's POV. Thank you x

A week passed by in a flurry. There was no stopping for a rest or anything and it seemed like everything would remain as it was forever until every death eater dies of age or of murder. Narcissa was assigned to send Draco and I to Platform 9 3/4. I didn't know if this was my last time visiting the station or just another visit. Who knew when either of us would die? No one. Our obedience and alliance to the Dark Lord secured our llves. The cold air hit me as I got out of the Manor and into the cold British air of London. It smelled familiar, triggering thoughts of my childhood. Being used to that already, I turn my mind back to the situation. Narcissa was at my side, Draco on my other. The both of us were rolling our heavy trunks across the road and into the station. Just when we entered, Narcissa hugged the both of us.

"Do this well. The Dark Lord trusts the both of you to carry out this task with utmost care," she whispered to the both of us, worry written all over her face. With that, she left, apparating back to the Manor, I guessed.

Taking my hand, Draco and I walked onto Platform 9 3/4. The start of Year 7, how joyful. The station was packed with busy students, carrying their broomsticks and others their owls. We board the train quickly, shoving past the herd of students. When our trunks were handed over to the attendant, we find our way to the cabin at the back of the train. We sit opposite each other when we find an empty cabin. It was late morning and there were curious parents peering through the window. I draw them down impatiently although I planned to open them up again. I gaze down at my hands and fiddle with them. The thought of Hermione being hunted down with her friends made me worry. Where was she now? Was she safe? She is my cousin and the blood that runs through her veins runs through mine as well. Though we were of different alliances, we were similar in ways no one would understand. My mind shifts to think of that night in the Astronomy Tower when Dumbledore fell to his death, literally. 

"Hey," Draco put his hand on my knee. "Are you okay?"

I look up to see Draco's face just inches from mine. My heart fluttered for a moment as his grey eyes searched mine. "Fine," was all I answered. I worried about confiding things into him and I feared that he would accidentally reveal what I said to the Dark Lord when he penetrates his mind. I managed it well the past few weeks, closing my mind whenever I had to.

"You don't seem fine," he whispered back when the train started moving. "What's going on?", he asked again, sincerity and worry etched in his voice. 

I look down at his hands and take them both in mine. "I've been worrying over a lot of things lately," I frown, closing my eyes for a bit before opening them. 

"What?" Draco answered, pushing the hair away from my face and kissing my forehead.

"I just... I'm worried about Hermione. I miss her friendship. I know I can't think about things like this right now but I can't help it," I look back up to see his eyes staring down at my hands. "I know I really shouldn't care about her and all but I just... do. I worry about my family too, my mother..." I trailed off.

"I know, I do too," he answered. "I wish none of this ever happened to either of us. I wish things would just end, that the Dark Lord will die someway, that Potter and his friends will destroy the horcruxes in time." I nod in agreement before I release his hands and open the blinds that now revealed snowcapped trees and frozen grass from last Christmas. I take a deep breath before I sigh and gaze out of the window. 

Draco came over and sat beside me, putting his arms around me. I lean on his shoulder and he leans on my head. We stayed that way for a while, just leaning into each other and appreciating each others' company. His breathing slowed over time and I close my eyes, trying to rest for a while. It wasn't long until Draco's head lifts from mine and I sit up straight again. One of his arms falls from my shoulder but the other stays. I look out of the window and I notice the sun was out and the icy fields appeared to shine and glitter. It was a calming sight though a little blinding. I feel a hand on my chin and Draco turns my head to face him. His eyes were looking into mine, unblinking and he was moving closer and closer to me. As he did that, his eyes closed slowly until our lips met. His hand moved from my chin to my thigh and I pull him closer to me. My heart was pounding against my chest and I could feel myself releasing all my worries and just letting myself sink into a mind of my own, open and in love. I was married, for God's sake. I've been so distant from my own husband I found no  joy from anywhere else. I pull away after a while, looking into his grey eyes, clear and beautiful and realised that it wouldn't be long until we reached Hogwarts and we'd have to act formal and refrain from any act of romance because missions and tasks from the Dark Lord was to be focused on and all forms of distractions were to be eliminated by yourself or the Dark Lord himself. The thought of having Draco killed made me cringe and upset so I pushed that thought aside for now.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, his breath blowing into my face.

"How important the next task is going to be," I answer back, my voice soft.

"It's going to be fine. Trust me," was all he said before he kissed my lips for a split second before he moved back to the other side of the narrow cabin. I smiled as I thought about that kiss minutes before, letting a blush creep up to my cheeks.

It wasn't long until we reached Hogwarts. We rode the same self-moving carriages into the castle to be greeted by intense traffic. Holding hands, the both of us make our way to our dormitories where we settle down for the night. Just when I was about to change into my sleeping clothes, I see an interdepartmental note hovering over my bed. I take it roughly and it read -

Meet me in my office in twenty minutes.
- Professor Snape

Perfect. The second we get back to Hogwarts, we were hurled into a brand new task. I rush out of my dormitory and call Draco down from his through Blaise, and we make our way through the cold corridors, hand in hand. When we reached Snape's office, we knock on the door and it flings open. We walk in nervously before he slams the door shut with a wave of his hand. Holy shit, he was good at wandless magic.

"Now on your new mission," Snape turned around to face us, his face paler than ever.