Everyone avoided our path as Draco walked through the castle with me in his arms. No one knew where to go after what had just happened— or what to do. An eerie silence filled the air in the corridors because all of us knew that death was upon us.

My crying and weak sobs was one of the only sounds you could hear as you walked through the halls. Other students were mourning, too. I knew I didn't have the worst of it. Some people were starting to realize that their friend wasn't coming back to them tonight. He wouldn't come into the common room tomorrow. He wouldn't be around for them when they needed him again— ever. So many sad students dragging along like the other ghosts that filled the building. No magic buzzed in the air around us tonight.

Draco carried me all the way to the dungeons without a word about any of it. Aria, Blaise, Maggie, Dani, Crabbe, Goyle— they all followed behind us in a silent state of shock and grief. Some cried, too. Some couldn't believe what they had witnessed. I squeezed onto him tighter, wanting him to make all of this stop. Take the pain away. Do something for me for once.

Draco pulled his wand out of his pocket and muttered the password to the common room. The bricks began to shift out of the way as we all made our way through. Our friends gathered on the couch in the common room to wrap their brains around the evening. They didn't say much, but I could tell they just wanted to with each other in a moment like this. All I wanted was the complete opposite.

Draco had said something to Blaise, but I couldn't make out the words as my dry sobs still landed against his neck. I felt someone rub my hair softly in a soothing way, but with both of Draco's hands on my side, I wasn't sure who it would've been.

"I'm really sorry about Cedric, Juliet. I can only imagine how it feels... to lose someone you were close to like that..." I heard Blaise's voice talking to me quietly. I knew it was him touching me once I heard his attempts at sympathy. "I hope you feel better. Let me know if you need anything." He continued rubbing the backside of my head while my face was tucked away. "I'm really sorry." He told me again in a sympathetic voice. I nodded my head softly, letting him know I heard the words.

Draco started carrying me somewhere else. No one followed after us to just let us be. Thankfully. I could tell that we were heading towards the dormitories when he walked up the stairs out of the common room. 

Draco started fiddling with a doorknob in front of him before entering a room. I still had my face hidden in his neck, not looking up once since he told me not to look at Cedric's body laying on the ground outside. The image couldn't leave my mind no matter how hard I tried to force it out. Harry's screaming and the look on Cedric's face were all I could see in my head.

I feel so fucking ill.

The room smelled familiar— warm and homelike. It was like Draco, almost. I looked up to see where we were, even though I had an idea. It resembled my dorm, but was definitely more masculine. The bedding didn't look nearly as dainty, and the furniture was slightly different.

Draco sat me on a bed that I assumed was his, and started pulling stuff out of the drawers of the dresser beside us. He handed me a pair of black sweatpants and a large slytherin t-shirt. He nodded his head towards the bathroom, indicating for me to go and change out of my uncomfortable clothes. I couldn't move no matter how much I wanted to. I just stayed on the bed, still crying softly to myself.

Draco didn't pry anymore and slowly scooped me back up to carry me to the small bathroom. He gently sat me on the countertop and put the clothes in a pile next to me. I knew I was being ridiculous, and I really did want to stop. I tried muffling the sobs from escaping my lips, but it was no use. I just couldn't pull myself together.

"Get changed." He whispered. He raised his hand up to cup my cheek, and his thumb rubbed small circles on to my hot and damp skin. "I'll be right outside the door. Just call for me when you're done and I'll come right back." He told me in a hushed voice. I nodded my head in response as he kissed my forehead before leaving and shutting the door behind him.

I jumped off the counter and slowly took my clothes off. I slipped into Draco's sweatpants, tying the waistband tighter so they would fit better, and put on his t-shirt. I sat back up on the counter and leaned against the wall beside me. I started crying again soon after, and the deranged images from tonight were playing on a loop in my head all over again.

I think I'm in shock. It's all a mix of emotions.

1. Cedric is dead.
2. Voldemort is back.
3. This was the end of Draco and I as we knew it.
4. My life was about to change forever.

I didn't want to deal with any of this. I'm supposed to be turning 15 this summer. This isn't what I imagined my teenage years to feel like. And this is only the beginning of this nightmare.

Draco slowly opened the bathroom door, waiting on me to protest incase I wasn't ready for him to come back. He walked in when I didn't say anything and saw me sitting on the counter. The sight of him made me start sobbing harder and he let out a deep breath through his nostrils as he watched me.

He had already changed quickly out in his room, putting on a pair of pajamas to sleep in. It was late and I was tired. I wanted to curl up and close my eyes forever.

Draco stepped in between my legs and wrapped his arms around my torso delicately. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck immediately, pulling him in for an embrace. He lifted me up off the counter, and moved his hands under my butt to support me as he carried me back out to the dorm room, and laid me down on his bed.

"Draco-" I sobbed with a hoarse voice, trying to get any words out.

"Shhh." He cut me off while climbing into his bed beside me, making himself more comfortable.

"I- can't- I can't breathe-" I sobbed harder, trying my best to catch my breath as well as I could.

"I know, love." He said as he wrapped his arms around my body and pulled me onto him. My head was resting over his chest while he hugged me tight. I could hear his heartbeat under my ear and it was moving almost as quickly as mine was, despite how calm he had been acting all evening.

"I don't- want this-" I sobbed. He knew exactly what I was talking about without getting any more context.

"Shhhh." He began rubbing my head with his fingertips. The small gesture of his soothing circles made my headache feel a thousand times better. "We're gonna be okay." He said calmly.

"Aren't Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle going to want in here?" I tried asking, looking around the room slowly. "I don't want- they can come in here." I felt bad for keeping them out of their dorm, but if I was being honest with myself, I did not want to leave Draco's side yet.

"I already talked to Blaise." Draco assured me. "They are staying out in the common room tonight— they just want you to feel better." He rubbed my back with his hand. I looked up at him after he said the words, and I felt relived. I was tired and wanted nothing more than to rest just like this. 

"I'm scared, Draco." I cried softly. "I want to go home." He sat in silence for a moment before he asked me a question.

"Are you upset about Diggory?" Draco asked, looking at me with curiosity.

"Yes." I said in a calmer voice while my breathing slowed down.

"Is that why you're this worked up?" He asked, still rubbing my back gently. 

"No." I let out a sob, starting to get worked up again.

"Do you trust me?" He asked in a serious whisper. I looked up at him again while I nuzzled closer to him like he was my only source of protection. He was already looking down at me with worry in his ocean eyes. I nodded my head softly while my lower lip quivered.

"Of course I do." I whimpered truthfully. 

"Okay." He gulped, pulling me closer to his body with his arm around my back. "I'm glad you do. Because I will protect you, Jules. No matter what happens after this. I promise you that I will." He told me, rubbing my head softly with one of his hands.

"Are our parents going to expect that out of you?" I asked. At this rate, I didn't want Draco to feel obligated to care for me. I wanted to him to care for himself if that's what he needed to do.

"I don't know, and I don't care. I'm going to do it because it'll make me feel better if I know you're okay." He admitted in a shaky voice. I tucked my face away in his neck and enjoyed the warmth that his body was giving me. I had missed him so much, and I wasn't sure how long this treatment would get to last.

"He's really back, Draco. Our lives are going to be over now. You know what we're both probably going to have to do. He's back." I repeated with a cry. Voldemort, if you could just stay away from me forever, that would be splendid.

"We don't know what this means yet for sure. We still have time to figure it out." Draco protested while he laid his cheek against the top of my head. "You can't spend everyday of your life worrying about what might come. Just try to think about all the possibilities of the good outcomes. That's what I try to do." He sighed with his fingers running through my hair. "I've done it for years."

"What do you see being the good outcome of any of this?" I sobbed, too upset to think about anything positive at a time like this.

"I used to just think about... I don't even know. A random of things. Spending time with my mother at our manor, and the sun is shining while we float in the pool. Or getting to run around Diagon Alley with my friends, and no Mudbloods are running around to ruin the fun." He chuckled slightly, causing me to let out a laugh between my tears. Oh, Draco... "My newest one is that when all of this is over, I'll get the chance to try and be with you." He said in a soft voice, squeezing me a little tighter. I didn't say anything in response as I processed it.

"But for now," he continued with a longing sigh, "I'm going to enjoy my last night of a carefree life with you, and just be your friend because it's all I can do. I'm going to comfort you through all of this because I'm scared, too. We both know that tomorrow we start a new beginning, and I don't think we will be the same for a while." He said, sadness lingering in his voice.

I knew he was right. I just didn't think this day would come so soon. We probably wouldn't be able to be friends for a long time— just partners in family business that can't show they care for one another. Business I didn't even know if I wanted involved in. Death Eater business.

"Can I kiss you?" I asked him quietly out of the blue. I was nervous about what his response would be as the words formed in my throat. My head was still laying on his chest and I could hear his heart rate increasing. I knew this wouldn't make me feel much better when I'd have to leave him in the morning, but I just had to get one more kiss out of my system. He sat in silence for a minute as he thought about his response.

"I'd be a bloody fool if I said no to that." He whispered, his voice shaking.

I sat up slightly, leaning down towards his face that was just inches from mine. His breathing was shaking as well while he waited in anticipation, like he was nervous.

I moved in slowly and laid a passionate kiss on his lips, instantly finding comfort in it. But this was something that felt awfully close to an addictive drug— something that I knew I'd relapse for one day. He kissed me back as soon as my mouth met his, and even if he wasn't the best at expressing how he felt, I could tell that he cared. It was this moment that let me know he felt all the same ridiculous emotions I felt around him towards me. He moved his hand up to my cheek, caressing it softly as our lips moved against one another in harmony.

He pulled away hesitantly after what had probably been far too long, and he still stole multiple pecks like he couldn't give me up yet. I took in a shaky breath and released it through my nose to try to relax my heart rate.

"I'm gonna be okay without you by my side eventually. I think it'll just take a couple weeks." I told him quietly, pressing my forehead to his and keeping my eyes shut. If I keep lying to myself, I'll believe it eventually. He's just so hard to give up. "It's just going to suck."

"I think you'll be okay, too." He agreed, rubbing my face softly like I was a fragile piece of work.

"You promise you'll be my friend again one day?" I asked softly, hope lingering in my voice as I looked at him.

"As much as I can be, sweetheart." He said.