WITHDRAWAL. draco malfoy

v. dobby's tactic

« DOBBY'S TACTIC »

"What are you doing here ?" Lillian asked, bewildered to see the elf in her house. "I mean, how did you know I was here ?"

"I heard you were in trouble and needed to be brought back to your friends so I tried to make it here quickly so you would not be caught."

Lillian couldn't help it but smile as she grabbed the brooch and raised her head, "Thank you mum."

Dobby turned down the fire, the moon being the only source of light. Then, he made some clean clothes appear and gave some time for Lillian to change. When she came back, Dobby was sitting on her father's chair near the chimney, dangling his small legs since he couldn't touch the ground.

"I am ready," Lillian said as Dobby jumped up from the chair. "But, I still have the trace so... how are we gonna do ?"

"Well, it is quite simple, Miss Lillian." Dobby started before his eyes popped out. "I-I mean, not that you are not smart enough to think-"

Lillian raised her hand and smiled, interrupting him.

"I know what you are trying to say, just keep going with the plan."

"Oh, okay, so it is very simple. If you apparate to two different places in the matter of seconds, the trace will only keep record of the first location. That is how I will bring you to your friends."

"Brilliant."

Dobby extended his hand, "But be careful, your stomach won't like it."

Lillian barely had the time to process what was happening that she landed, face first, on a frozen ground covered with leaves. She had to breathe in for a few minutes as she felt dizzy and nauseous but when she got up on her feet, she realized Dobby was gone.

She squinted her eyes and collected her bag alongside a few items that had landed a little further. Lillian stood up, visibly confused by the final location. It was a random forest and no human noise could be heard.

The girl wandered around for what seemed like hours, growing more and more accustumed with the idea that her friends had changed location in the mean time.

But, as she had clearly given up, Lillian noticed someone from afar, coming her way hesitantly. Out of fear, Lillian grasped her wand, stumbling and falling down in the process.

"Lillian ? Is that really you ?"

Lillian choked, breathing rapidly, as she recognized the voice instantly. Back on her feet in a second, she started running towards the man, Harry. She jumped in his arms and he replied instantly, locking his arms tightly around her waist.

They stayed in each others arms for a long time, Harry bewildered to see Lillian had found them after such a long time. He had a hard time letting the girl go from his arms, scared to wake up and realise it was, once again, only this same dream he had had for the past few weeks, the only dream that didn't involve the Dark Lord, the only dream where he felt truly happy for a few minutes.

"I'm so happy to see you, Harry. I've been so so lonely," Lillian breathed out.

"H—How did you find us ?" Harry asked as he gently grabbed Lillian's face with his hands, utterly speechless.

"Dobby. And my mum."

Harry kissed her on the forehead and a few minutes later, Lillian discovered the part of the forest where they'd been hiding, a charm making them invisible. She remembered walking around this part of the woods a few times but never seeing or hearing anything.

"Hermione ! I have a surprise !"

Hermione came out of the tent and gasped at the sight. Lillian threw away her bag and the two girls hugged under Harry's soft gaze. But soon Lillian looked up, expecting the boy she considered her brother to show up.

"Where's Ron ?" Lillian asked.

Concern grew in the girl's chest as Harry and Hermione looked down, visibly embarrassed.

"Guys ! Answer me, where is Ron ?" Lillian yelled as she felt some tears forming. "Please, tell me he's alive," she whispered.

. . .

A few hours later, Lillian knew everything that had happened between her friends as she was gone and they knew what had happened for her.

Lillian was now sitting against a tree, near the tent, her eyes lost amongst the stars. She came back to the real world when she felt Harry sit next to her.

"Can I talk to you about something, Lili ?" Harry asked gently.

Lillian nodded as she put her arm around his.

"Why didn't you tell me about you and Draco ?"

Lillian sighed as she smiled, "Hermione told you, right ?"

"Yes. I think she couldn't keep it to herself anymore."

"I guess it was just unthinkable for me to tell you I had feelings for one of your worst ennemies."

Harry stayed silent, keeping his eyes on the blonde girl he had grown to like in a weird way. For all of these years she had been an incredible support for him and he felt on numerous occasions that he hadn't been there for her enough.

"But I don't know where this is all going." Lillian added.

"What do you mean by that ?"

"We are too different. Our relationship seems a bit doomed because of the war."

Lillian sighed, looking down. "I barely even think of him anymore. It has never been official and I don't think it'll ever become real."

"Because of the war ? Or something else ?" Harry asked.

"Because even if we all make it out alive, no one can truly forget everything that happened. Because he will always be a Malfoy and I'll always be a Henderson. We don't live in a fairy tale and at the end we all have to pick a side."

"I am sorry you had to go through this on your own, Lili. I really am."

"I was never alone, Harry. You, Hermione and Ron were always there for me, even when you didn't know anything. I always knew I could lean on you."

And just like that, Lillian slowly put her head on Harry's shoulder and entertwined their fingers as the chosen one brought their joint hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles in a soft manner.

✧✦✧

hello there everyone ! i hope you liked this chapter and this unexpected ending ! to be perfectly honest, this is something i had in mind for quite a while but i didn't know when it'd be appropriate to start this new twist. and important fact, i am currently writing a book that will be solely based on lillian and harry's letters from the first time they met. the book will be called « correspondence » and i'll post it very soon ! tell me if you're tempted by it or not !!