dark side • draco malfoy

27 | Goodbye

"Remember, please complete your essays on the dangers of Amortentia if incorrectly brewed, and hand them in on Monday morning! Happy weekend, everyone!" Professor Slughorn finished his class, and immediately the dungeon was filled with the sound of scraping chairs and muffled chatter.

As Hermione practically dragged Ron out of the Potions classroom to help him study for his Transfiguration test, I found myself walking beside none other than Harry Potter. Glancing over at him, I noticed that his skin had turned ghostly white, and his hands were obviously shaking as he gathered his supplies and exited the classroom.

"Hey, Harry. How are you?" I asked the raven haired boy in an attempt to figure out what was troubling him. He immediately jumped at the sound of my voice, and I was barely able to catch his wand as it flew through the air.

"Hi, Ivy. I'm alright... just a little nervous." He whispered the last part of his answer, glancing around anxiously as he took his wand from my outstretched hand.

"Nervous? What for?" I frowned at my friend.

"It's tonight - Dumbledore is taking me to find a horcrux tonight." He sighed, keeping his voice low in case anyone was eavesdropping.

I knew that Harry had been meeting with Dumbledore to learn about the horcruxes and how to destroy them, but I hadn't realized that they were planning to hunt one down so soon.

"Harry, isn't it going to be... you know, dangerous?" I gaped at him.

"Definitely. But we've got to do this, Ivy. It's the only way to defeat You-Know-Who." He whispered determinately.

I frowned, knowing that as much as I didn't want Harry to risk his life to find the horcruxes, I wanted Voldemort dead even more. He personally ordered the death of both of my parents, and I would sleep better at night knowing that he was dead.

"Just be careful, okay?" I sighed, looking Harry in the eye.

"Always." He shot me a half-smile, before giving me a quick hug and disappearing down the corridor in the sea of students. I really hoped that he'd be okay.

As I continued to walk towards the Gryffindor common room, a second year Slytherin boy tapped me on the shoulder and held out a folded piece of parchment.

"From Mr. Malfoy." He squeaked nervously, before shoving it into my hand and hurrying down the staircase.

Opening the note, I saw only three words scrawled in Draco's rushed cursive;

Room of Requirement.

***********************************

When I entered the Room of Requirement, Draco stood with his back to me, in front of a grand fireplace and cozy looking couch. I made sure the door was shut, before slowly walking up to him and carefully wrapping my arms around his waist. He involuntarily leaned into my touch, and I smiled at how much he had changed from the beginning of the school year.

"Hey." I whispered.

He grabbed my left wrist and spun me around so that I was pressed up against his chest, before looking down at me and answering, "Hey."

"What's up?" I asked him, lightly pressing kisses along his jawline. Draco visibly shivered at the touch of my lips on his skin, and I watched as he closed his eyes for a peaceful moment, before pulling me down to sit beside him on the velvety, green couch.

"It's going to happen tonight. I have to do it." He frowned, and I felt my heart sink a little.

"Tonight? But it's so soon!" I feebly protested.

"Ivy, the school year is almost finished. It has to be done, or else you know what the Dark Lord will do." His face paled at the thought of Voldemort torturing and killing him and his family. No - he would not let that happen.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" I sighed, knowing that it was futile to fight him.

"Yes... stay inside your common room tonight. Ivy, there are going to be other Death Eaters in the castle tonight." He said, and I immediately sat up straight.

"Well then I want to fight!"

"Please, Ivy. I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you. Please, just promise that you'll stay hidden in your common room until they're gone - for me." Draco pleaded, his grey eyes watering slightly in desperation.

As much as I hated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his mindless followers, I didn't have the heart to deny Draco what he wanted.

"Alright... I promise." I finally gave in, and he let out a sigh of relief, "But what are you going to do after tonight? Surely they won't let you stay at Hogwarts."

"That's the thing... I won't be coming back to Hogwarts. I'm sorry, Ivy." He whispered, and even though it made logical sense, the news still hurt nonetheless.

"When am I going to see you again?" I asked, hearing my voice waver as I fought to hold back my tears.

"I don't know, love. I don't know." Draco croaked, and I felt tears begin to roll down my cheeks as he pulled me into his chest. It was like the universe was playing a cruel joke on me; just when I find myself in love with someone, they're ripped away in an instant.

As his head tilted down, our lips connected and moved in a way that was surprisingly new and yet totally familiar. The taste of salty tears reminded me why we were in this room in the first place; to say goodbye. My fingers wound themselves in his platinum blonde hair as he pulled me impossibly closer, and I tried my absolute hardest to pour all of my unspoken feelings into the kiss.

Our heartbroken infinity finally ended as we pulled apart, and I rested my head in the crook of his neck as he placed his lips on the top of my head.

"Whatever you do, never stop fighting the darkness, Draco." I whispered against his porcelain skin, and he nodded, tightening his grip around me,

"Never."

As I inhaled his intoxicating scent for what may have been the last time ever, I allowed those three special words to roll off of my tongue one last time.

"I love you."

"I love you too." He mumbled into my dark hair, before standing up and exiting the room, leaving me completely alone. The silence in the room was suddenly deafening, and I didn't wait long before leaving and making my way back to my dormitory.

As I lay curled up in a tangled mess of blankets with the curtains drawn around me, I could only hope and pray that Draco, Harry, and everyone else that I cared about would be okay. I didn't know what I would do if they weren't.