it's been five years since hogwarts. we finally graduated, survived the war, and then all went our separate ways. but the one thing that never stopped haunting me was how draco left without saying goodbye after the battle. he just disappeared, pulled away from everything... including me. and even after all this time, no matter how much i try to deny it, i don't think i ever stopped loving him. not really.
harry got married, and hermione married ron. everyone seems to have found their place, their person, their peace.
everyone except me.
why? maybe because i ended up becoming a famous singer and dancer—something the wizarding world doesn't know about, and something the muggle world doesn't know i use magic to help with. i keep everything carefully hidden, constantly balancing two lives that never fully fit together. still, i keep in touch with some of my old hogwarts friends... jay, mark, blaise, and pansy. they're the only ones who truly feel like home anymore.
that night was colder than usual. the sky was dark, heavy with winter, and soft snowflakes drifted down as christmas decorations lit up the streets. families walked arm in arm, couples held hands, laughter echoed between glowing shop windows. i walked alone, my footsteps crunching softly against the snow-covered ground while i stared down at my phone, barely paying attention to where i was going.
then suddenly, i collided with something solid—a chest, warm through the fabric of expensive winter robes. the impact startled me, and i rubbed my forehead with a quiet groan.
"i'm so sorry," i murmured without looking up.
"no, it's okay," a familiar voice said with a small laugh.
i froze. i lifted my head...and my breath caught in my throat. i gasped, hands flying up to cover my mouth.
"y/n..." he said softly, his voice deeper than i remembered.
"draco." the name left my lips like a memory i'd spent years trying not to think about.
his eyes softened as he looked at me. "oh my—i saw you on tv. you look so beautiful."
a shy smile tugged at my lips. "thank you."
he took a slow breath, his expression shifting—guilt, regret, something almost broken. "i'm so sorry," he started, voice tight. "i didn't get to say goodbye to you after the battle. my mother...she dragged me out. i didn't even have a chance to look back." his eyes glistened, tears gathering at the edges.
"it's okay, draco," i whispered, and i meant it. "i know what happened."
"and..." he trailed off, looking down, voice trembling.
"and?" i asked gently.
he swallowed hard. "i'm married."
