[4] UNREQUITED ENEMIES ━ Draco Malfoy

08. The House on the Shore

EIGHT THE HOUSE ON THE SHORE

     Everything was a blur when Xander felt sand meet his knees as he crumpled to the ground wherever they had apparated. The sound of crashing waves met his ears as his tears dripped down his cheeks and met the sand below him. Instantly he felt arms around him and he already knew it was Diana coming to catch him the way she always did.

"We have to go back, I have to go back," Xander sobbed into the girl's arms as they sat on the sand. He had no idea where they were, but it wasn't Malfoy Manor and Xander knew he had to go back for him. Draco deserves more than to be on the losing side of the war, he needed someone to pull him out.

"Xander, you can't, you can't go back," Diana was whispering in his ear.

He stilled as he watched the waves. Dobby was standing there, but something was wrong. As a dark color began to seep through the pillowcase the house-elf was wearing, Xander realized what was happening.

It seemed like it was happening in slow motion. Harry ran out into the waves and caught the house-elf as he fell. It seemed Bellatrix had gotten the last laugh after all. Xander stayed silent as Dobby fell, not knowing what to do. His eyes flickered to the side where Ron was cradling Hermione, blood still fresh dripping down her arm. She had been carved into like stone, Xander thought it was horrific. This scene was frightening, nothing made sense and nothing was going the way it should.

"No," Diana muttered in the boy's ear as she held them, sand from the beach they were on scattering across their clothing, but that was the least of their concerns as Harry stood, a lifeless Dobby in his hands. He hadn't known Dobby long, but the elf had died for them. If it wasn't for Dobby, they'd still be locked in that basement most likely. Xander's soft tears had a new purpose.

A man came out of a house that Xander only just noticed — he was tall, red-haired, and a scar crawled down his face in an aged white. He must be a Weasley, Xander thought. Ron was the one who directed them here, so it made sense. A shorter blonde woman with soft features cursed with tension stood by his side, holding onto him tightly as they watched the scene. Harry dug a grave, time seemed to stand still. Xander wasn't sure how much time had passed, but on this beach it felt like no time at all.

"Xander, hey, come on, let's go inside. Bill's letting us stay here and lie low," Diana spoke after an elongated silence. Xander blinked up at her with no response. She didn't hesitate to tug him up off the ground and pull him into a hug, "I know, baby, I know. You don't have to tell me what happened, but I'll listen if you do."

"He," Xander wasn't even sure he would be able to say it out loud, but he forced them out as his throat ached, "He said he loves me. He loves me, but I don't know if I'm ever going to see him again."