This Town ⇢ Draco Malfoy

EPILOGUE {The End}

EPILOGUE

Hogwarts was in ruins, rubble strewn all about. In the middle of the rubble lay a young couple, both had just been through hell. Draco Malfoy and Zinnia Cross lay entwined in each other's arms, fear controlling their bodies.

Hogwarts was the end choice for both. Lucius and Narcissa had been tempting to Draco, but none the less, he decided to stay with his love. Zinnia commended his choice, knowing the risk of both their lives he was taking.

In the end, Hogwarts had won. Harry Potter had killed Lord Voldemort, relinquishing fear from many's hearts. The war claimed many victims, one of Draco's old friends, an ex teacher and his wife, and even a Weasley. Zinnia's heart fell when she heard such news, Ginny had recently been introduced to her by Luna.

Draco was consumed by guilt from it all. He couldn't help but feel this all happened because he couldn't follow the path that was thrust upon him. The Dark Mark mocked him every time his sleeve was rolled up, the healing scar from his attempt joining the fun. So, he wore his sleeve down, resisting the urge to scream and break down amidst the crowd of people.

The war had claimed many lives, but everyone knew that with time they must move on. Secretly and out of the public eye, Draco donated as much money as he could to assist in the reconstruction of Hogwarts. Both of them did attend their seventh year, sharing a dorm instead of living in the normal ones. Under special circumstances was this allowed, but currently they both kept each other up.

Three years after the war, one year after they completed their final year of Hogwarts, they moved in together. Draco's parents were okay with this, seeing as Zinnia was Slytherin and pure blood.

PTSD tended to consume Draco, but he fell back into his helpful habit, playing the guitar. The now twenty year old spent weeks out in the garden, writing a song he still had yet to finish.

"Draco." Zinnia whispered one morning, joining her boyfriend out by a low tree with two cups of tea in her hands. He could comfortably sit on it's large trunk and write, keeping the guitar in his lap.

"Zinnia." Draco whispered back, accepting the soft touch of her lips on his. He took the tea as well. A grin plastered on her lips, she sat down at the foot of the tree. Draco joined her on the dirt, bringing his things with him.

Birds sang around them, tree branches danced as their leaves rustled. A cool breeze blew sweet smelling air to their nostrils, enforcing the happiness they felt just being together.

"It's like when we first met. Only I'm not in the shadows." Zinnia pointed out, looking around her. She fixed her eyes on Draco's blue ones, smiling even wider than before.

"And now I have the most beautiful sight the eyes can behold." Draco smiled, grinning larger as she giggled to his response.

"Stop." She laughed, setting her tea down in the grass to poke his stomach.

"Oh, sassy are we? Well I guess we'll have to do something about that." Draco joked, setting his things aside. He lunged forward, gently tackling her to the ground.

"Draco!" She exclaimed through fits of laughter, unable to stop due to the fact he was tickling her.

"Love?" He asked, now pinned underneath her. The dirt dusted his blonde hair, his eyes more vibrant than before.

Zinnia kissed him, pressing her lips to his in an explosion of love. Draco kissed back, letting butterflies swell in his stomach, letting happiness enthuse him. They laid in each other's embrace for more than a minute, lips locked in loving, gentle passion.

"You've been working on a song," Zinnia began to say, slowly removing herself from atop the wrong man. "Care to share some?"

"It's not done yet and I'm not sure you'd want me to-" Draco began to ramble, knowing if she didn't cut him off he'd go for hours.

"Just play, pretty boy." Zinnia joked, watching intently as he picked up the guitar.

He played the beginning notes; already the song struck a chord in Zinnia.

"Waking up to kiss you and nobody's there
The smell of your perfume still stuck in the air
It's hard
Yesterday I thought I saw your shadow running round
It's funny how things never change in this old town
So far from the stars."

Zinnia wiped her eyes, as tears were beginning to form.

"And I want to tell you everything
The words I never got to say the first time around
And I remember everything
From when we were the children playing in this fairground
Wish I was there with you now."

Tears began to stream down her face, tears of happiness and peace.

"If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you."

Draco finished out the guitar, resting it against the tree behind him. "It's always you. Always." He whispered, pulling Zinnia into a hug, wiping away her tears.

"I love you Draco Malfoy."

"I love you Zinnia Cross."

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And that's a wrap! Hope you all enjoyed this book!
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any rights to the song. The lyrics are italicized. None of it is mine and I'm not being paid to promote the song or anything. It is purely for the reason it fits. I do NOT own it.