Horologium, Latin for 'the pendulum clock', is a southern constellation, said to be named after Christian Huygens, the inventor of the pendulum clock. The Horologium Supercluster contains about 5,000 galaxy groups.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

🖤

He let her shower first. When he came out, she was sitting on his bed wearing the Slytherin jumper he'd given her.

He pulled the sheets over them as they hunkered down in the comforting warmth. His arm found her body in the darkness and wrapped around it securely.

"I love you," he said, his voice warm under the covers.

"I love you too." But her smile had faded, and she seemed almost sad.

"What's wrong?"

She sighed, looking up at the heavy canopy. For once, she could not find the words, but the look in her eyes spoke for her. He knew what she was thinking.

"I know I've not been... the best person. I've done things I'm not proud of. But this mark... it's not who I am."

"I know."

There was something about the night, the honesty of their shared connection earlier, that imbued him with the courage to speak.

"Angel, I've never felt like this before. I see the world through your eyes now. Every morning I wake up excited, and every night I go to sleep wondering what tomorrow will bring. I don't know... it's like I finally have something to look forward to."

She turned to look at him then. He met her gaze, no longer afraid.

"You've been so good to me all this time, and I know I don't deserve you. If I don't already tell myself that every day, others will. But can we not listen to them? Is it wrong to want you the way I do? Because I want you forever. I want to hear your voice every day. You could talk about Nifflers and Mandrakes till the bloody cows come home, and I want to hear it all."

She listened to him, her eyes glistening in the dark. "Draco," she turned, gently stroking his cheek. "You're stronger than you think. And you have your whole life in front of you. I'm just your first taste of what you could get out there, if you would just be open to it."

He frowned and reached to take her hand, suddenly feeling a twinge of panic. "But I don't want anyone else. Why are you talking like that? Are you leaving me?"

"I would never. It's just... I'm afraid you'll be the one leaving me instead. You're going to have to go away soon, aren't you?"

He hadn't wanted to think about that, but she was right. There was no way he would be allowed to stay in Hogwarts after the deed. Just months ago, he would have been perfectly fine to be rid of this school. But now...

"When everything is over, no matter the outcome, I'm coming back for you. No matter what happens, wait for me. I'm going to come back."

She thought in silence for a while. "Draco... I'm not terribly good at fighting." She had said this lightheartedly, but her mouth scrunched in the darkness as she tried not sob. 

He knew she wasn't going to use that plane ticket, come hell or high water. The sudden realisation of it all came crashing down on him like a ton of boulders.

"You know, any decent Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or even Gryffindor would be on that plane right now!" he exploded. "What is it with you lot and having good morals? Good morals aren't going to save you when you're staring down a death eater's wand!" He slammed his hand on the mattress, making her jump slightly.

A thick silence lingered between them as she looked at him tearfully. "You do not get to blame me for your family's choices." Her voice was soft, but rang loud and clear as church bells. She didn't say more, but he knew she was right. He had no one to blame in this but himself.

He pulled her closer to him. "I just... really need you to stay alive, alright?" he whispered. "I'll come back for you, I promise. Did you hear me?" She nodded into his chest. "Angel Dawson, I told you I'm yours forever, and I mean it. Wherever I go, I'm here with you."

He had heard these words from her more than once, and it was finally his turn to say it back. They carried more weight than she knew, especially when he spoke them now.

He did not want to kill Dumbledore, but to not do so was a death sentence for his family - one he could not escape. His heart hurt at the thought of leaving Angel alone. She would do fine without him, no doubt. But how would he ever live - or die - without her?

If Hufflepuffs established themselves on high moral ground, the Death Eaters and Snatchers might as well have stood on the lowest level of hell. They killed for sport. They would show no mercy. And they were not the only ones at the disposal of the Dark Lord. 

Trolls, Dementors, and other dark creatures would not hesitate to overrun the school if the opportunity presented itself. He knew of the chaos that would ensue, and there was really no way he could guarantee her safety.

And selfishly enough, he wanted her to be by his side when he killed Dumbledore, because he could not go through it by himself. Then he would have her stay at Malfoy Manor when they invaded Hogwarts, so she would be safe from the carnage. He wished she shared his Mark.

These thoughts were ludicrous and disgustingly abhorrent, but he knew she would have said yes if he wished it. She would follow him to the ends of the earth - he only had to ask. And that is exactly the reason why he will not.

Her breathing finally slowed as her sides rose and fell steadily, unaware of the battle going on in his head. Tonight, he held his entire world in his arms, and in a few days, he would probably never see her again.

Suddenly, he knew what he had to do. Struggling to fight back tears, he pressed his lips against the top of her head. He held on to her sleeping figure until the first rays of sunlight refracted through the murky water.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

A/N:
Strap in, babes. Shit's about to go down.