As the World Caves In

The Only Exception

Skye

     Next day before quidditch practice I post my response letter to George. I wrote that I'd love to see him but under these circumstances that are now given I can't. I hope he won't take this the wrong way... I head down to the field, grab my broom and wait for the other players to arrive. It's weird that Dray isn't here but I don't blame him. With all the planning and anxious waiting I lost interest in things too. I can't even properly hold quidditch practice because my mind keeps wandering off to all the ways we can screw up our mission. "Cap?" Goyle asks when he sees I'm in another reality. "Sorry..." I shake my head to return to reason. Today's practice was pretty shitty not gonna lie and I don't have anything to look forward to, the only thing on my mind is the assassination. I go back to my dorm gloomy not knowing why even I am here what's all this for? I might relinquish from my position as captain.. I lay on my bed and close my eyes as teardrops slowly fall on my cheeks to the slow, melancholic song. I'm interrupted when I hear a knock on my door so I quickly stop the music, sit up and wipe my tears away "Yeah?" I ask in a teary voice. "It's me" Draco's deep voice echoes through the door. "Can I come in?" he asks timidly. "Sure" I point my wand at the entrance and unlock it. My tall, platinum blonde haired boyfriend walks in "Hey were you crying?" he instantly notices and gets worried. He sits down next to me and I slowly nod, he puts his arms around me "I'm sorry about yesterday, I hope this isn't about it.. I would kill myself if I made you cry" he says and places a kiss on my forehead. "No it just... it got to me what we have to do and I don't think I can" I bury myself into his embrace when my voice breaks at the end of my sentence. "Who says you have to do it alone?" he breaks the hug to look at me, deeply in my eyes. "I've noticed you changed too... This is not good for us Dray. We should just leave, disappear!" I get excited with tears in my eyes as I mention we should leave everything behind, because the only thing that matters to me is him. I can leave everything behind but not him. "That's a crazy idea Skye.." he responds softly. "Crazier than killing our headmaster?" I raise my voice while standing up, Draco quickly covers my mouth "Shh, Skye. I know.." his voice breaks but he comforts me and I break down crying. He once again closes me tightly into his arms and I can hear him softly sob as I do too. I hug him back, making sure he knows I'm here for him even when I'm or he's a mess.

     The months pass by rapidly but our anxiety keeps growing because our poisoned mead attempt has failed too so now our only resort is confronting Dumbledore alongside the death eaters. To keep myself sane I stayed on the quidditch team until the end of year, because we only have two more plays. Dray unfortunately is still off the team, especially after another unsuccesful attempted assassination, it's been hard on him. He's been really depressed because it's becoming clearer now that we have to stand in front of our headmaster and say the killing curse. But I've been there for him, trying to be the stronger one out the two of us.

    During summer vacation Draco learned tons of nonverbal spells and even Legilimency, which his aunt Bellatrix taught him. It's probably a good thing that he's advanced in these areas of magic because if something goes wrong (or even right) and we have to run it will be useful. But if we have to become fugitives and save ourselves we'll also have to know how to apparate. I told Dray that he can leave that to me, I will succesfully pass the apparation exam and therefore be more  helpful in the future. I've been spending a lot of time trying to perfect it because my first few attempts were really bad, although I've apparated tons of times with my father and Alik so I'm used to the feeling but navigating has been pretty hard on me. The test will take place in Hogsmeade on April 21 for those who had already turned 17, including myself. I've signed up for a 12 week course, they began in February so almost 2 months ago. They are held in the Great Hall and tomorrow will be the 9th time I go and fortunately I only left half an eyebrow behind since the first try (although I apparated elsewhere) and last time was the first time I succesfully apparated to where I needed to go and didn't left any body parts behind. Test should be easy after this considering it's in a week and a half.

    "Morning Dray how did you sleep?" I ask him as he walks down the stairs to the common room with red eyes and purple under eye bags on a foggy saturday. "Eh fine.." he yawns then gives me a kiss on the cheek. "How are you doing with apparation?" he asks while fixing his hair. "Pretty good, I think I'll pass" I say excitedly with a smile. "Never had any doubt. After all it's you we're talking about" he encourages me. "You shouldn't doubt yourself if you believe in me!" I look into his eyes lovingly and help him make his hair look decent. "Wanna work on the cabinet?" he' focused on the task, nowadays it's the only thing he sees, obsesses over and worries about it. "Sure" I smile but my heart isn't. He gives me a quick kiss for helping him out then takes my hand and we head out for the Room of Requirement. "Okay so last time the apple worked should we try a living thing now?" I ask on our way to the room. "Yeah I already have something in mind.." he answers mysteriously.

     We step foot in the chamber where there're tons of magical things, including the Vanishing Cabinet. "Let's get to work" I change my tone to sound more serious. Draco goes to a bird cage and takes a little bloodhound out then places it in the cabinet and closes the door on it. He does the incantation but I look away in case it doesn't work. He lets out a sigh filled with hope then opens the cabinet's door again "Fuck" he slams it back angrily as he softly sobs. "We'll figure it out" I pat his back. "How Skye, how? We've been working on it since september we'd need a miracle to make it work.." he says disappointed as he shakes his shoulder making my hand fall off of him. He rejects help when he needs it most, I already knew this about him, so those times are the most important, I have to be with him and support him through anything because it will get better, it's only temporary. "Hey. We'll fix it!" I make him look into my eyes so he knows I'm serious then give him a hug to reassure him as he keeps sobbing.