BOTH NARCISSA and Lucius Malfoy rode their carriage, and as they rock inside of it, they talked in hushed voices.

"How are we supposed to find Draco?!" Lucius hissed, "He's always been a disappointment-" the old Malfoy was then cut off by their coachman's coughs, making him groan.

Narcissa ignored the sick coachman, and looked at Lucius in the eyes, "He is not a disappointment, Lucius."

The man shook his head in disbelief. This was their only chance to save the family name, and Draco has blown it! Of course he's mad. 

"We need to find him this instant!" exclaimed the man.

Looking outside, Narcissa let out a tired sigh. She never wanted any of this to happen, but if they don't do this, if they don't tie the knot with the Greengrass', the Malfoy name might die.

They can't afford that.

An owl suddenly perched itself on the window, making the two furrow their eyebrows in confusion. Narcissa untied the letter from the owl's leg, and the owl immediately flew away.

With heavy hands, Narcissa opened the letter, and read it out loud, "Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, I'm afraid to inform you that our daughter Astoria Greengrass won't be marrying your son any longer-"

"They what?!" exclaimed Lucius in anger, "This can't be happening!"

Narcissa ignored her husband, and continued reading, "Therefor, she will be marrying our dearest Mr. Warrenton. Someone who's always here for us whenever we need him."

Lucius was red with anger. But instead of putting it all out on his wife, he ran a frustrated hand through his face. Why was this happening? More so, why was it happening to them?

The two went silent in shock. Narcissa put the letter back inside its envelope, and just put it down beside her. She didn't know what to do.

Suddenly, it became quiet, the coughs of Lester disappeared, but something felt wrong. With furrowed eyebrows, Narcissa opened the window and looked out.

Her eyes widen when she didn't see the coachman on the seat up front, but the carriage was still moving, lead by the thestrals.

Lucius furrowed his eyebrows, and looked out aswell, "What- stop the carriage!" he exclaimed in fear, seeing that they were going straight into the woods.

Narcissa, once coming down to earth, immediately pulled out her wand, pointing it at the thestrals. Using a nonverbal spell, she slowed down the thestrals, making Lucius sigh in relief.

Slowly, they went out of the carriage, "Where is Lester..?" asked Narcissa.

But they didn't see the man, as if he just disappeared. Who knows what happened to him? He jumped? Escaped, because he doesn't want to serve the Malfoys no longer?

Or.. died?

* * *

Draco entered the same pub he came from, his shoulders down. He doesn't know how to think- Merlin, he doesn't know how to feel. Was he really supposed to feel upset? Isn't he supposed to feel happy because maybe this was his way out? That if Y/N gets mad at him, she'll just get tired of him, and set him free?

But no, he felt upset, because he made Y/N upset.

Salazar, he hates this.

Seeing the girl by the piano, he looked at the bouquet of flowers in his hands. Where were all his courage? His bravery?

Call him crazy, but at this point, he wished he had some Gryffindor spirit in him.

Draco shook his head, and walked forward towards the girl- who was leaning her head on her palm with her elbows by the side of the piano. She tapped the keys one by one, creating a beautiful melody.

He cleared his throat, making the girl stop from playing the piano, "I think you dropped this," he said, holding the bouquet up. Without looking at him, Y/N took the flowers from him, and put it down on the piano. Draco looked down, and cringed at himself as he tried to apologize, "I'm sorry for lying to you about seeing my parents- the truth is, I'm happy to not see them."

The boy mentally face palmed himself. What kind of apology was that?

Y/N still ignored him, but Hudson popped out from by the girl's neck, "Just save it for the living girls, Draco. I think you've said enough," said the worm, making Draco sigh.

"I never meant to-"

But the blonde was cut off by the worm, "I have a friend who's had dozens of husbands- but you know, they're not as heartless as you. You should be ashamed."

The worm's words hurt. He knew that, and he is ashamed. He's heard enough of it from his father, there was no need t o hear it from Hudson, too.

Still, the blonde tried, "But-"

"You're married, Draco. There's nothing anyone can do about it, so better just get used to it," said Hudson.

Draco just looked down, and was supposed to walk away when Y/N suddenly spoke up, "Just don't bother, Hudson. We can't force him to like me, anyways."

The blonde knew it was supposed to be only between Hudson and the girl, but he just couldn't help but overhear.

And even before he could stop himself, he just blurted out, "But I do like you."

Y/N glanced at him, and scoffed, "Yeah right," she said, and looked down at the piano. Once again, she glided her fingers through the keys, creating a soft tune.

Hudson slithered away, as if giving Draco another chance to make things right, and the blonde couldn't be more thankful.

Draco slowly sat down beside Y/N, and she just ignored him. Y/N continued to play, and the blonde observed the notes, and slowly, he let himself copy the movements of the girl's fingers, he glided his hands through the same keys, but just a higher note.

They glanced at each other, and the girl couldn't help but let out a small smile at him, which Draco immediately returned. 

With their fingers gliding through the keys of the grand piano, they created a wonderful tune, a perfect melody.

Draco knew there were no such thing as perfect, but as he stared at Y/N in awe as she created music, his heart tells otherwise.

They end their perfect melody with a high note by Y/N- and I meant her leaning forward to reach the highest note, making Draco laugh.

Y/N sat back down, a smile on her face, "Pardon my enthusiasm."

The blonde shook his head, "I like it."

Even though it was impossible, Y/N felt her cheeks heat up- which was not noticeable, because, well, she had no blood at all.

Absent mindedly, they stared into each other's eyes, it was like being lost into some kind of voids, there was only the two of them at the moment.

Draco could see his reflection through Y/N's eyes, they sparkled. It was beautiful, even though she wasn't alive, her eyes spoke differently. They were alive, they told stories.

She wants to be free. Just like him.

It was like they found each other through one another. They were the same, but they were different.

Y/N leaned in close, her eyes closing. Draco did the same absentmindedly.

But when their lips were about to touch, they heard a loud scream of joy, making the two of them shoot their eyes wide.

When they saw each other's faces, they immediately pulled away, Draco's cheeks turning pink.

Y/N cleared her throat, and stood up. She looked at the crowd forming by the bar, "I think there's a new guy," she said, and with that, she nodded towards the bar.

Draco stood up and followed the girl, their fingers touching each other, but Draco didn't hold her hand.

But together, they walked towards the crowd, and in the middle, they saw someone. Someone very familiar to Draco.

The blonde's eyes widen when he saw who it was.

~~~