in the dark | d malfoy

chapter twenty

everything was falling.

and then, i was back.

his arms were wrapped around me, holding me against him. tears soaked my shirt, or maybe it was rain, i didn't remember. "are you okay?" his breath was in my ear, and i didn't care how mean he'd been to me, or how crazy he drove me by kissing me without any explanation as to why. i needed him.

i didn't answer, all i did was cling to him, burying my head in his shoulder as he held me against him, rocking me back and forth. "you got it?" jan's voice floated, and i felt draco nod. i heard jan's footsteps leave, and draco rocked me back and forth.

"it's okay, katherine. it's okay."

-

two months later.

dear draco...

i never thanked you. for being there for me, that night. i know it must have been hard for you as well, with everything going on. and yet... you saw me, and no matter how much you hated the thought of being around me, you came to me anyway.

it meant a lot.

thank you.

katherine

my quill finished scratching my name across the bottom of the letter, and i hesitated before sending the letter off. the door to my room cracked open. jan poked her head inside. "you good?"

i nodded, giving her a soft smile, and she smiled back. "okay. i'll be downstairs if you need anything."

jan had let me spend summer at her place. i didn't have anywhere else to go, other than the home for girls. i felt a pang in my chest. i missed my mother.

the last days at hogwarts were the worst i spent there. ced's funeral was the worst. it didn't seem real, not until he was there, pale and still in the casket. and no tears trickled down my cheeks, instead i stared at him in the casket, shock radiating through my body.

i didn't see draco again. i barely remembered the night cedric died. he was there, holding me while i cried, and jan and alfie were close by too, unquestioning to why draco malfoy had extended his comforting arms for me in that moment. they simply accepted it in the moment, knowing the circumstances.

-

katherine,

it's so good to hear from you. i'm glad you're all right. i worried about you, that night. i'm sure you could guess how angry pansy was. safe to say i'm a single man again. (ha ha.)

draco

i stared fondly at the letter. it seemed to be the most amount of words draco had ever spoken (or in this case, written,) without insulting me. i didn't hesitate before responding eagerly.

draco,

oh no. i'm sorry that happened. she was kind of a prat, though. i hope you don't regret it. i don't know what i would have done without you that night.

it's all a blur.

how has your summer been?

katherine

-

katherine,

ah, it's been all right. and i agree, she was kind of a prat. like i said, her boobs were her best trait.

don't worry about it. i did what i needed to do.

don't feel special.

draco

-

draco

you haven't changed one bit.

katherine

-

the summer flew by before i could blink, and soon jan and i were back on the train to hogwarts for our fifth year (my technical second), haunted by the memories of the year before. when alfie threw open the door to our compartment, i almost burst into tears. "ive missed you," i murmured into her shoulder as she crushed me in a tight hug.

"i've missed you more, kat. and you, jan. don't think you're getting out of this." alfie grinned at her, and jan joined our hug. i squeezed them tighter against me, wondrous to how i had managed to make such good friends.

the door swung open again, and alfie- wait. alfie was right next to me. my eyes widened in surprise. with everything going on last year, i had almost forgotten about aimee, alfie's twin sister, who i had never officially met. she scowled at me, and i decided that i had picked the right twin to be friends with.

"jan. kat. i've heard stories," aimee scoffed, and she rolled her eyes lightly. "mom says this year we have to hang out more, in school." alfie groaned. "we aren't doing that, aimee. you know we live in different houses."

aimee bobbed her head in agreement, something very similar to what alfie did. "i agree, but she's not budging on this. so i'll see you around, all right? she wants us to look out for each other this year."

alfie sighed. "yeah, all right. i'll see you around." aimee left the compartment, shutting it tightly behind her. alfie turned to us with an annoyed expression on her face. "how is it," i began, "that i've been friends with you for a whole year and i've never met your sister?"

alfie rolled her eyes in an identical way to what aimee had done minutes prior. "because i like to pretend she's not my sister. plus, you were pretty busy this year." she gave me a grin. "not to be nosy, but jan told me you were writing malfoy letters."

i scoffed, turning and smacking jan on the arm. "hey! how'd you even know about that, anyway?" jan shrugged. "you made it pretty obvious. plus, you kept all the letters he sent you under your pillow."

i flushed red. "i just didn't want to misplace them." jan hummed, and alfie giggled a little. "but seriously, kat. it's funny, and all, but you should really stay away from malfoy. i know he was nice to you after... you know." my smile turned into a frown quickly.

"but, that's not excuse. he's a bad influence, and he's terrible to everyone, including you. if you're gonna date someone, don't let it be him."

i scoffed. "are you kidding? i don't want to date him. i have never wanted to date draco. that's ridiculous!"

but however much i tried to explain myself to my friends, there was a little part of me that rejoiced knowing that i'd see draco malfoy very soon.

-

a/n

year two!! and this is where the drama really begins...