a n c h o r

t w e n t y t h r e e

Alexandra clutched the charms handing around her neck and cried as she looked at the destruction surrounding her. She couldn't help but feel like it was all her fault. Not only did Dumbledore put her in the position to believe it was a possibility, but Slughorn even told her she was one of the reasons Tom fell into madness.

"You did everything you could," Fred stated, slowly approaching the girl. He knew he was meant to die tonight. The look in Alexandra's eyes whenever she looked at him told him everything. It was one of the main reasons he decided to leave school and open up the joke shop earlier than planned. He wasn't entirely prepared to die, but he accepted it.

"It wasn't enough," Alexandra said quietly, refusing to look at him.

"Are you mad? You've sacrificed everything for the sake of the ones you love, what else could you have done?" Fred asked. "You once told me that death is inevitable. That if you were to save one person, another would take their place. You can't save everyone."

"Do you think things will ever go back to normal?"

"I don't think anything has ever been normal, love," Fred smiled lightly, putting his arm around Alexandra and pulling her into him as she began to calm down.

"I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you," Alexandra said, falling into Fred's chest and holding onto him for dear life.

"I think tonight has proven that you never will," Fred smiled. "You're stuck with me and my jokes for the rest of your life."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Alexandra said, smiling as well.

"Fred!" A girl yelled. Fred and Alexandra turned towards the entrance of the castle and saw Katie Bell. Alexandra smiled, pulling away from Fred and crossing her arms.

"Katie Bell, eh?" Alexandra asked.

"Are you jealous?" Fred joked, attempting to fix his appearance in any way he could. Alexandra shook her head.

"Go on, then," she encouraged, shooing him towards the girl. "I've got to go find someone, anyway."

"Last I saw, Malfoy was in the middle a quarrel with his parents in the Great Hall. I suppose he's still there," Fred smiled, gesturing for her to follow him towards the castle. She did, saying hello to Katie Bell before entering the Great Hall once again. This time, it wasn't empty. The dining tables have all been returned to their spots, with students and professors of all houses mingling around them.

"It's always been her, father,"  Draco's voice echoed as Alexandra approached him and his parents. She stayed a few feet away from them, not wanting to interrupt where she didn't seem welcome.

"She associates with blood traitors and muggle-borns. Associating with her alone makes you-"

"I know exactly what it makes me," Draco said sternly, standing his ground. Alexandra watched in disbelief as Draco Malfoy stood up to the people he looked up to more than anyone.

"I will not allow my son to tarnish this family's name for a silly girl," Lucius glared. "You must choose your next actions very carefully, son."

"I choose her," Draco said confidently, straightening his posture and holding his chin high. "Nothing you do or say will change my mind."

Alexandra's breath caught in her throat as she watched Lucius and Narcissa disapparate, leaving Draco alone in the Great Hall. He took a deep breath and composed himself before turning around and immediately making eye contact with Alexandra.

"You really are mad," Alexandra told him as he approached her.

"You didn't expect me to keep you a secret forever, did you?" Draco asked, smiling lightly.

"What you've done today, for me, for everyone..." Alexandra smiled. "I've never seen a man more courageous."

Draco didn't know what to say. He didn't agree with her. In fact, he could name a number of men more courageous than himself, but he knew she would only fight with him if he disagreed. Instead, he kissed her.

Alexandra pulled away from Draco after a short moment, her face glowing red under all of the dirt and blood.

"We're in public," Alexandra laughed, stating the obvious.

"I'm not ashamed of you," Draco told her. She smiled, kissing him again.

"That's absolutely horrid," Ron frowned, noticing the pair practically snogging across the Hall.

"Let them be happy, will you?" Hermione asked. When Bellatrix tortured her in the Manor, the memories of Draco desperately asking for her help flooded back. She remembered everything, from him asking to make the unbreakable vow to the night at the Astronomy Tower. She knew Draco deeply cared for Alexandra, and it was proven again tonight as he fought both for her and beside her, and now as he showed his affection for her publicly for the first time.

Even Harry Potter himself didn't entirely loathe Draco Malfoy after recent events. They would never become friends, but now they understood each other, and that was enough.

"My family has another home in Wiltshire. I've decided to reside there upon leaving Hogwarts. Would you care to join me?" Draco asked hopefully. Alexandra hesitated.

"We're so young, Draco."

"I'm not asking for anything more than your company," he assured her. Still, she was hesitant. She couldn't just pack up and leave the Burrow after everything the Weasleys have done for her.

"Give me time to consider. You have to understand my hesitation," Alexandra said sadly, not wanting to hurt his feelings when he seemed so hopeful and excited.

"I understand," he nodded, clearing his throat. "I'll write you in the morning."

"You're leaving?"

"I thought you'd like some time with your friends," Draco stated, nodding towards the Weasleys and Hermione sitting around a table nearby.

"Stay and eat, you must be starving," Alexandra begged, not wanting him to leave so soon. "I'm not asking for anything more than your company."

Draco chuckled, following her with hesitation as they approached the Weasley family. Everybody greeted him kindly, surprising him more than anything else that's happened recently.

Despite everything the Malfoys have said and done, the Weasleys have collectively decided to be civil towards the boy. He fought on the right side of the war despite everyone and everything he was raised to obey, and that was enough for even Molly and Arthur to offer him a second chance.

Stories were told, laughs were shared and tension was gone for a few peaceful hours as the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Alexandra and Draco enjoyed their last meal within the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

———

Note: it's all coming to an end!!
It literally took me so long to write this chapter because it's at such a weird point between the events of the war and the events of the future I already have planned in my head, so I apologize if it's boring.
The remainder of the chapters will be primarily outlining Alexandra's future after the war, and will include a lot of Draco for obvious reasons, but there will be some chapters dedicated to her relationship with her friends moving forward and even some unexpected people as well.
As always, I appreciate your feedback. I love reading your comments and always take suggestions into consideration (Fred thanks all of you).
Thank you all for reading and lots of love xx