I sobbed. I cried, and I'm sorry.

I love you, all of you.

_____

Leiah Riddle,

I stared almost helplessly at my best friend, my mind more than puzzled in question; nothing made sense anymore," Why would she keep this from me, Blaise?" I asked him, his hand snaked its way to rest on my thigh, my head soft on his shoulder," I don't believe him, she would never—,"

"I think she did," He held, his shoulders shrugging," I think Luna would've done anything possible to keep you as safe as she could. I don't think this had anything to do with you in the way you're making it,"

The spoken words shook right through me, my heart ached by the thought of her, that she had been gone for almost nine months, that the feeling of her cold, numb body still haunted me at night,

But the dreams of us, my angel Luna and me, made up for every single tear because she's with me, in every breath, every heartbeat, in everything I did,

It's more than a hard thing, learning to live without the person who taught you how to live in the first place,

And now,

Now I have to remember her for longer than I have known her.

Blaise's fingers squeezed into my skin, his head slightly nodding at mine," Still there?" He sought to mock," You left me hanging, again—,"

My eyes rolled at the boy as I rose my head, lightly shaking it in efforts to stop torturing myself with the memory of her,

" I'm here—," I forced a smile, seeking to find some bravery in the unknown truth that my father is coming, he's on his way here to collect me, to shove me away in my room and never let me see the strokes of daylight ever again,

The clearing of his throat, the burning blue eyes piercing through Blaise's hand on my thigh, hewed both of us off," What the fuck did I tell you, Zabini. I don't want you to touch what—,"

"What's yours? No, I see," Blaise mocked in a cheeky smile, wrapping his hands around me, pulling me even closer," I'll see you when it's safe, alright?"

" Just don't forget about me,"

I peered over my shoulder, looking up at the boy who I stumbled into nearly two years ago, the boy who stopped Draco from hurting me in the dining hall that night — He really did grew to become so much more than an evil friend to the cruel blonde-boy,

He became my best friend,

The one person I could still rely on when everyone, including myself, failed me,

I buried my head in his shoulder, hugging him with all I had," Thank you, Blaise," I whispered into his neck," Thank you for taking care of me when no one else did. Thank you for being here, for always having my back," His arms clenched around me,

"I love you more than you'll ever know, Blaise,"

The boy bent back, gawking at me while his fingertips brushed over my cheek," I will miss you very much, so make sure to come back to me when all of this is over, alright?" He tucked a lock behind my ear before leaning in once more, pushing his lips against my head,

" I love you,"

Draco cleared his throat once more," We need to—," He rose, but quickly hushed down as I matched his eyes, fright flashed through in them, if so only a second," We need to go,"

I waited for Draco in the doorway, watching as he hugged his best friend goodbye," If something happens to her, Malfoy... I swear—,"

"It won't. I promise,"

I felt my heart shattering by the thought of going to a safe house, across the world, where his family believed us to be safe, to leave everyone behind us — even if the world was on the bare edge, my father and his ruling was on the awakening, his deeds to take over was more set, and it was only a matter of time before we all were in great danger,

"Shall we?" Draco urged, his hand touching mine — but I couldn't. I needed to say my goodbyes to his mother,

She was the reason we both got this far. She helped me keep Draco alive by bounding his life to mine, she held my mother well and hidden, she took me in when her son left me in pieces,

Narcissa was my savior, and I needed to thank her if there was the slightest possibility that I'd never are to see her again,

I shook my head at the boy before me," I just, give me a minute—," I mumbled, before hurrying out in the hallway; with quick steps down the stairs, I rushed my way into the kitchen, watching her face fall the second her eyes placed in mine,

"Leiah—," She held, her cheeks glinted in tears as I threw myself in her arms, holding her tightly — breathing in that motherly, calming scent she always brought," I'm so sorry you have to go through with this, love," Narcissa whispered into my hair, her fingers brushing through it,

"But if I may ask —,"

" Will you please take care of my son, now that I can't?" I felt my eyes prickle in salty liquid, lower lip shivering,

"Always, Narcissa." I managed to breathe out, striving not to burst out in tears as she let go of me, stepping back,

" Well, then you better get going. Your father is—,"

The bright sky outside swiftly shifted darkly as if all the happiness in this world had gone to rest. The look of cloak clothed men, masks covering their face's iced my veins; both Narcissa and I stood petrified before she shoved me away,

"Draco—," She shouted loudly, "Draco, you need to leave, right now,"

The blonde boy ran down the stairs, his hair tangled on his head as he bored blue eyes through mine," What happ—,"

The sound of harsh footsteps over the gravel-covered ground caught his attention, " Take my hand, darling — now,"

I shot Narcissa one last look, mouthing the words I knew she held so dearly," I love you," - and in the blink of an eye, the surroundings changed. His mother was gone, and so was the house he grew up in. We stood safe within the walls of my room at Hogwarts,

We made it just in time before the death eaters had the possibility to storm their home, but even then — even if we stood, without a scratch in my room, the boy I loved was shaking, his entire self trembled as I felt his hand yanking mine away,

Draco severely paced back and forth in front of me, his hands hauling at his hair in defeat, breaths ragged," Draco—," I tried to get to him, to break his trance of fright," Draco, please—,"

"What?" He snapped, blue eyes narrowed in mine," What is it?"

____

Draco Malfoy,

She flinched, and only that little twitch in the corner of her eyes, the slight shoe she took back, was more than enough for my heart to break,

She was afraid of me, scared of what I could've done in the wrong state of mind,

And that crushed me,

I shook my head, looking at the girl I was about to leave my entire life for, everything I had worked for my whole life — I was about to leave, to give up, for her.

And I would do it all again, without thinking twice about it, because it was her.

It has always been her.

She was the summer, to my winter heart,

She was the poison I spent my life craving to drink,

I wrapped my arms around her in the way I knew she loved, with one hand tightly sheeting her waist and the other one stroking her hair, lightly pushing her head into my shoulder.

She melted at that, she always has, since the day I held her when her mother was missing,

Her every nerve found a second of peace in that hold as if she knew she was safe here, and she was. With me, in my arms, she would always be safe, more than it,

"You don't need to do this, Draco—," She whispered into the fabric of my jacket, holding me more than tight," I know why you're upset, and I want you to know — that you don't need to do this with me,"

"I can leave by myself," Her voice tearing in hurt as she sought to push me back, to distance herself from me," You shouldn't have to leave your whole life only because I—,"

"Shut up,"

Her eyes snapped to mine, brows furrowed," What did you just—,"

"I said, shut up,"

The dimples in her cheeks faded, her decided face fell into confusion," Why—,"

"For a Ravenclaw, darling—," I smirked, pulling her back into my chest," For a Ravenclaw, you're more than stupid at times," The chuckle leaving my lips provoked one to escape hers, and another, and another until that last peel of quiet laughter shifted into a trail of sobs,

She held onto me, completely burying her head into my chest as she cried, her body trembled into mine, in such regret of what she believed she had caused," I'm sorry, Draco—," She sobbed," I'm sorry that you always have to give up everything for me,"

The words spoken made me nauseous, nearly sick that she would ever think of herself that way, that she saw me as someone who blamed her," Don't say that—,"

"But it's true, Draco—,"

"You're about to leave your mother, your best friend, everything you have ever wanted, and I—," She shook her head, her fingers grasping at my shirt," And I'm always the one to blame. You even had to leave me because of me,"

"It's not fair, Draco—, you shouldn't have to go through all of this because of me,"

Her breaths hitched, her body froze in the solid grip of mine," I have said it many times before, and I will say it again, till the day you believe me—,"

" You have a place, Riddle, a place in my heart only you can have, and no matter what will happen, you'll always have me,"

My words lived to be more than true,

She would always have me,

Be with me,

No matter what,

Because it was her and I,

Forever.

____

Leiah Riddle,

Our steps echoed heavily out on the courtyard, ready to leave this place — prepared to walk away from everything we believed our future to be," Wait," Draco mumbled, halting in his steps, yanking me back to him,

I stumbled into his chest, feeling the strokes of sunset settling over the castle as the dusk crawled closer," I love you, Leiah—,"

My eyes grew wide at his confession. The honest words scored right through me as bolts of warmth flushed my skin," I love you, and I want—,"

"Leiah—," The voice came threatening from behind, the steps closer severe," Oh how I've been looking for the two of you these last couple of days," She stepped down the stairs, her heels clinking over the stone,

Draco allowed his arms off me, turning around as he rose his wand at the girl standing in front of him," What are you playing at, Granger?" He spat, teeth gritted in remembrance of what she tried to do the last time we came across her,

He pulled his arm out, pushing me back, for me to be entirely covered by him," We're not here to stay, Granger— so whatever you came here to do—,"

"I came here, for you, Draco—," Hermione spoke softly, her wand pointed at the both of us, fingers shakingly grasping at it," That's the thing. That ever since that night in her room when you kicked me out. It got me thinking, now that I have a lot of time alone to think,"

"I was broken for months, Leiah—," Hermione laughed, nearly maniacally as she shook her head, the firm curls spilled over her shoulders," Because you took something from me. You took her from me,"

I shook my head, trying to push my way past Draco, in attempts to confront the girl who spoke such lies, but to no use — The blonde boy held onto me the second strode I took past him, making me meet the eyes I always sought to fell lost in,

"Don't —," He threatened, once again yanking me into him," We need to leave. She's not worth—,"

"That's the problem, isn't it, Draco?" Hermione mocked again in a cheeky smile, eyeing the both of us down," Why are the two of you allowed to live your pathetic excuses of lives when I'm stuck here, alone, without her—,"

" You took the love of my life—,"

" And you don't deserve the happy ending I know you'll get," I could hear her swallow harshly, even from feet away, sucking in a deep breath before she tilted her wand to the exact point it leveled Draco,

"You took my love away, Leiah—," She held, shutting her eyes closed," Now it's my turn to take yours—,"

Without doubt, without a second thought, without even the slightest of chance for the two of us to react,

"Avada Kedavra,"

I couldn't breathe.

The green light tore forcefully through his body. The seconds passed in hours, everything shredded in slow-motion as I stumbled back, with him in my arms,

His head rested on my lap, his eyes blinked slowly as he stared deeply into mine,

His eyes,

Those blue, beautiful eyes I fell in love with, I fell lost in — there was forever in those eyes,

"Draco—," I whimpered, not in the real mind of what's passing, " No, no, no, Draco—,"

"I'll be waiting for you—," He whispered, his lips slightly parted," Because you have a place, Riddle, that no one else could—,"

"No, Draco, don't you dare—,"

I tried to shake his shoulders, to bring him back to me,

" Don't you dare leave me, Draco,"

The light in his eyes, that glint of light that always illuminated in emotion, went out,

"No, no, no—,"

The breaths, the minty breaths that always tasted so sweet on my lips, stopped heaving,

"Please, Draco—,"

The one person, the one single person I loved more than everything, he died, in my arms,

"No, no, Draco, please—,"

My sobs echoed loud in the hours of evening, tears drowned every inch of my skin,

"You promised me, Draco—,"

My palms struck his chest, my hands cupped his cheeks, stroking my thumbs over the pale, drained skin, but nothing,

He was gone,

"You promised you wouldn't —,"

"You promised never to leave me,"

I lost my breath, my words in stutters,

My heart broke as it shattered into an infinity of pieces, over and over.

The torture of his cold, lifeless body resting in mine tore me in two, and all the pain and hurt I had ever felt in my life — would never compare to this,

Because he was gone,

The boy I loved so raw and so deeply died.

I buried my head into his chest, the chest I always found home in," Please, please come back to me,"

My body shook violently, tears rushed, " I can't do this without you—,"

My fingers tangled into the blonde strands of hair in the way I knew he loved," Please, Draco, please don't leave me,"

My nose brushing against his, in the way he always brushed his against mine," This can't be the end of our story, please—,"

I couldn't think, my mind clouded as I took his hand, the cold hand that always grew warm in mine, placing gentle kisses on his knuckles,

" I love you, Draco—,"

My chest felt heavier than ever as it came to mind, what he said to me," I'll be waiting for you,"

The drowning feeling within, my chest heaving slower, was all because of the vow,

The unbreakable magic that bounded our lives together,

If he died — I would too,

He knew. He remembered that I was destined the same fate he was,

Even if I had just came to the realization of my own death, the relief washed over me, my mind finally reached a point of peace,

Because out of all the promises we made and broke, this was the one he kept,

That it was us, always.

My head fell onto his chest, burying my nose in that little space right between his neck and shoulder, breathing him in, one last time, before I whispered the words I knew he always loved to hear,

"I'm yours, yours, yours and only yo—,"

The air in my lungs tightened as I fluttered my eyes closed, shyly smiling to myself,

Because soulmates aren't just lovers, as mother always used to say,

But he, he was.

The boy I hated. The boy who hated me. The boy who said that he could never be mine was now the boy I would die for, and even then — I wouldn't have it any other way,

I would sacrifice anything to be with him again, and now, I would,

On the stair to my own death — I knew that this world was not ready for us, for the love we held for each other.

And I knew as the light of the afterlife embraced me, as it brought me to the blonde boy who waited for me, who lived to be the greatest love of my life, that we would always be together,

In life,

In death,

In heaven,

In hell,

In a world different from this one, because we, Draco and I, are meant for each other,

Wherever that may be. Wherever the next adventure takes us,

It will always be the two of us,

My blonde boy,

My Draco,

And me,

Exactly how it's supposed to be,

Forever.

" It seemed so perfect but ended so soon."

_____

( The quote at the end of this chapter doesn't belong to me <3 )