dark side • draco malfoy

29 | Light In The Dark

The train ride home from Hogwarts had always been bittersweet, but three days after Dumbledore's funeral was the most depressing train ride yet. Ginny and I had managed to get a compartment to ourselves, while assuming that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had their own compartment and Neville and Luna were sitting somewhere else. Finally, Ginny broke the silence by awkwardly clearing her throat.

"So... Harry broke up with me."

"What?" I gasped as my eyes grew considerably wider, "Why?"

"He has to go after You-Know-Who, and he's worried that if You-Know-Who finds out about his feelings for me, then I'll be kidnapped or killed to get to Harry." She sighed, staring down at her lap.

"I'm so sorry, Gin. Harry is probably right though. I'm sure he's still crazy about you, but if you guys continue dating, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will find out and use you to get to him." I replied.

"I know, but that doesn't make it hurt any less." Ginny spoke quietly, and in that moment my heart ached for my best friend. She was always so tough and fearless, and seeing her this upset was painful.

For several moments, I remained silent. I wasn't sure what to say to make Ginny feel better, but I finally realized that the only thing that would help her heal was time. She would just have to push through it and stay strong like always,

"No, but it is what it is."

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

As the Hogwarts Express pulled onto Platform 9 3/4, everyone was oddly quiet. Both the students on the train and the families waiting for them were still mourning Professor Dumbledore, and an eery feeling of dread had settled inside all of us. Dumbledore's death had been the last straw, and now everyone knew that the war between good and evil was upon us.

"You're coming for Bill and Fleur's wedding, right?" Ginny asked, pulling me out of my thoughts as we grabbed our bags and exited the train.

"Of course. I'm staying with Remus and Tonks so you'll be seeing me lots this summer. I'll see you soon, okay?" I told my friend.

"Yeah." She nodded, shooting me a sad smile. I returned it, and pulled her in for a quick hug before she joined the rest of her family. Turning around, my eyes landed on a familiar head of bubblegum pink hair, and standing next to her was a raggedy looking man covered in scars; Tonks and Remus.

"Hey, Ivy!" Tonks called, and I smiled at her as I walked over.

"Hi Tonks, hi Remus." I gave them both hugs, and Remus graciously grabbed my bags from me.

"Ready to go?" He asked. I nodded, and glanced around the platform one last time before grabbing onto both of them as the three of us apparated back to their house. My sixth year at Hogwarts was officially over.

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

After several gut-wrenching seconds, my feet landed on the solid wood floor of their home, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Apparating by myself was fine, but side-along apparition still made me feel sick to my stomach.

"You alright, Ivy?" Tonks asked, frowning as I clutched my stomach and took a few deep breathes.

"Just peachy." I responded, earning a chuckle from Remus.

"Still not great at side-along apparition?" He asked, waving his wand to make my bags levitate themselves into my room upstairs.

"Was it that obvious?"

"Truthfully, yes." He replied as the corners of his mouth turned up in a sly smile. Even though I still missed my parents more than anything in the world, I found that I had actually missed being around Remus and Tonks while I had been at Hogwarts, and it was oddly comforting to be living with them again.

"Your room is just the way you left it Ivy, and I'll be making dinner in a few minutes." Tonks broke through my thoughts.

"I'm going to go unpack, and I'll be back downstairs for supper." I smiled at her, before heading up the stairs and into the small but cozy bedroom that they had kindly allowed me to take over as my own.

As I closed the bedroom door with a lazy flick of my wrist, my heart suddenly felt ten times heavier as I thought about Draco. Right now, he was probably attending Death Eater meetings in Malfoy Manor, or embarking on dangerous missions for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I sat down on the small, twin-sized bed and clutched the heart locket that rested against my collarbone. It felt oddly comforting to wear it; having the necklace right next to my heartbeat made me feel closer to Draco in the most inexplicable way possible. I just hoped that wherever he was and whatever he was doing, he would be okay.

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

That night at dinner, something seemed off. As the three of us quietly enjoyed our homemade lasagna, Tonks and Remus kept making eye contact and smirking every few seconds.

"Okay, what the hell is up? Why are you two acting like you drank a love potion or something?" I questioned, setting my fork down loudly and glancing at the two of them suspiciously.

"Well... we have something to tell you, Ivy." Tonks began, looking at Remus and earning a small nod from him before continuing, "I'm pregnant. Remus and I are having a baby."

"WHAT? Are you serious?" I exclaimed, feeling my jaw drop in shock. Tonks glanced down at her stomach lovingly and giggled at my reaction.

"Dead serious." Remus grinned.

"Merlin's beard I'm so happy for you guys! When is the baby due?" I questioned, and I felt like I was speaking faster than the speed of light.

"In seven months." Tonks replied excitedly, and I could feel my cheeks getting sore from smiling so widely. In seven months, I was going to have an honourary baby brother or sister, and I knew that Remus and Tonks would be amazing parents.

"Congratulations guys, this baby is going to be the luckiest baby ever!" I told them, leaning over and giving them each a tight hug. Even with all the terrible things happening and the darkness to come, this moment was proof that - according to Professor Dumbledore - happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.