Love in the Aftermath

Olivia Montgomery's POV

I flutter my eyes open and blink against the harsh brightness of a white room. I'm lying on a bed, but everything is so blinding I can't tell where I am. Squinting, I sit up and glance out the window. There's the Black Lake, glimmering under the sun, and the mountains beyond it. This has to be the castle's view.

I swing my legs off the bed and stand, heading toward the door. I open it and step into the Great Hall—half in the hall, half still in the room I woke up in. Voices echo nearby, so I quickly close the door behind me and sneak outside. I follow the voices, but every time I get close, they drift farther away.

"Hello, gorgeous," a voice calls. I spin around.

There he is. Cedric. Just like last time I saw him—happy. I run to him, and he wraps me in a warm hug.

"Cedric!" I exclaim, feeling safe in his arms. "Oh, I missed you so much," he murmurs into my shoulder. "I missed you more," I whisper back. He finally lets me go. "W-where am I? I mean, I know it's Hogwarts, but why am I here?" I ask, still confused. He grabs my hand.

"Come on, I want you to meet someone," he says, pulling me along.

We walk hand in hand until he pulls me closer, arm draped around my shoulders. "Meet Aurora Montgomery," he says.

The woman turns around. She has long brown hair that falls past her hips and green eyes just like mine. She's a little taller, but if anyone saw her, they'd say she's just an older version of me. Like my mother.

"Mum?" I ask softly.

She opens her arms, and I run into her hug, feeling a warmth I never knew I was missing. It's so different from the hugs I've had from Narcissa or Molly. This is real. Soothing. Perfect.

"You fought so bravely," she says, cupping my face and pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I'm very proud of you," she adds, and I smile, unsure what to say. What do you say to someone you love but never really knew?

"Come on, let's take a walk," she says, holding my hand as we stroll around the castle, Cedric trailing beside us. "When I first saw Cedric, he was such a sweetheart," Mum says, looking at him. He blushes.

"So, he's not now?" I tease, earning a playful shove. "No, no. He is," she laughs. "I see Narcissa is keeping her promise," Mum says, eyeing the necklace around my neck. I touch it and grin. "Yeah, she loves me. Sometimes, I think even more than Draco does," I joke, and we all laugh.

Then it hits me—Draco. What is he doing right now? How is he handling my absence? And with Cedric here... what am I supposed to say about the fact that I started dating Draco in my fifth year? How would Cedric react? My mind spins.

"I know what you're thinking. It's okay," Cedric says, reading my expression. "When he first helped you, I knew he had feelings for you. But I never realized they were this deep," he says, pointing at my glowing necklace.

Wait—why is it glowing?

I smile at him, then turn to Mum. "Mum, this necklace... it's yours, right? What does it do? I never really knew. Narcissa told me to always wear it, and I did, never questioned it. But then Mione and I found out it's not just any necklace—it has magic."

I fiddle with the quartz.

"I looked everywhere for information—every library I could find. I even found the book about it, but—"

"But the page was torn out," Mum finishes for me. "I did it," she admits quietly when we reach the bridge. "If people knew about this necklace, they'd try to steal it from me, or after I died. So I thought it was best to tear out the page. When I passed it to you, I planned to tell you about its magic then," she explains, stopping mid-bridge.

"So, what does it do?" I ask.

She looks out at the view and says, "The Rose Quartz—also called the love stone. When enchanted with the right magic, it can help heal someone from any hardship—even death—only when they're truly loved by someone. A love so powerful, it can destroy hate and let souls rest in eternity."

"This is what the page said. The necklace can bring its owner back from death, but only if they have true, unconditional love," she smiles at me. "Then why didn't it work for you when you died?" I ask, unclasping the necklace and holding it gently.

"Because I didn't have anyone who loved me unconditionally. No soulmate," she answers sadly. "The man I thought was my soulmate turned out to be a monster," she says, fiddling with her fingers. "Mum, you don't have to blame yourself," I say, placing a hand over hers.

"No one knew he'd turn out that way. And when you realized, you took care of me and left—that means something, Mum," I say, trying to reassure her that she did what was right. "Thank you, sweetheart. Now, do you want to go back?" she asks suddenly.

"I—I have a choice?" I look between her and Cedric. "Yes. Everyone has a choice, no matter what," she says, and we start walking back to the castle. "No, not everyone," I say sadly. "What do you mean?" Mum frowns.

"Well, Draco didn't have much choice when Voldemort gave him that task. He had to do it," I say, glancing at Cedric. "Ced, can I ask you something?" I look down. "Anything, gorgeous," he replies softly, putting a hand on my back.

"Why didn't you want to come back?" I ask.

He stops and sighs. "Because I never knew if we'd win the war—or if there even was a chance. I didn't want to return to a world ruled by him."

I nod.

"Looks like Draco's love is undeniable, everlasting, and unconditional," Mum says as my necklace glows brighter—so much that it blinds us. "Cedric, dear, put the necklace back on her," she says, and he clasps it around my neck again.

She takes both my hands. "I'm proud to call you my daughter. Proud you're here to make the world better. When you go back, your soul will feel strong like this, but your body will be tired from the war. So hold on tight, and hold on to Draco—he's a good guy."

I smile, and she pulls me into a hug, tears slipping down her cheeks.

I turn and see Cedric, eyes wet too.

"He's right for you. I accept that now," he says, pulling me close, cupping my cheeks. His lips meet mine.

"Sorry, I just had to do that," he grins, pulling away.

Draco Malfoy's POV

I'm crying as I carry her lifeless body to the Great Hall, where all the ones we lost are kept. I set her down beside Fred, but keep her in my lap. I don't want to accept it. I don't want to let go.

I bury my head against her neck and sob.

"How could you do this? This isn't right. You said you'd never leave me," I whisper into her skin, my tears soaking her. "Sweetheart—" Mum places a hand on my shoulder, but I jerk it away.

"No!" I yell, clutching Olivia tighter. "Please, darling, I'm right here. Come on, I love you. Please, I beg you," I sob loudly. "Mal—Malfoy," Granger says softly, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Look," she says, pointing at Olivia. I glance down. Her necklace is glowing.

I gently put her down, and she begins to levitate, rising high into the air. Her arms stretch out, her whole body shining. Her hair floats as if underwater.

Everyone stares.

"What's happening?" I ask aloud, watching her.

Slowly, every broken wall, every shattered pillar, every hole in the floor begins to repair itself. Stones and shards of glass lift from the ground and settle back into place. Within minutes, the castle looks untouched—like the war never happened.

"Freddie!" I hear a Weasley twin yell as he rushes to his brother, who groans and starts to wake.

Others begin to come back, too. Their loved ones run to them, tears of joy and disbelief. But many remain lost, unwilling to return to a world where they thought Voldemort had won.

I look around at all the happiness—and then at her.

The glow fades, and she slowly descends, collapsing onto the floor. I leap forward and gather her in my arms. She's still not moving. I really thought she'd come back. I rest my head on her chest and cry again.

Then—I feel it.

A heartbeat.

Weak, but there.

"She's alive," I whisper, eyes wide.

"Malfoy, you're—"

"No, Weasley, I'm not imagining this. Look—Granger, feel," I say, urging her to check Olivia's pulse. She takes Olivia's wrist and searches. Then looks up at me and nods. "He's not hallucinating. The pulse is weak, but it's there. We need to get her to the hospital, right now," she says, standing.

I lift Olivia carefully. "There's no time for St. Mungo's. I can't risk it—not now. We'll take her to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey is excellent—she'll help." Granger, Weasley, Potter, and a few others follow behind.

I place Olivia on the bed and Madam Pomfrey immediately starts healing her. She tells us to wait outside.

I don't want to, but I nod and step into the waiting area, sitting heavily on a chair. Mum comes up beside me. "How are you feeling?" she asks quietly as I fidget with the engagement ring on my finger. "I don't know," I admit. "I'm happy she's going to be okay, but sad she had to suffer alone for so long."

Potter, Weaslette, Granger, Weasley, the twins, Lopez, Chris, Zabini, Nott, Daphne—all of them are here with me in the waiting room. I rest my elbows on my knees and lower my head between them.

"She's not alone, Malfoy," Granger says softly, sitting beside me. "For the second time, I'm actually glad you were with her when Voldemort took her."

"This young lady is right," Mum adds, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Olivia was never alone. All these people here, waiting for her as she fights for her life—they're proof." I say nothing. Just nod absently and sigh.

"Where's Father?" I ask, breaking the silence. "He... went home. Everyone was staring at us," Mum replies, her voice barely a whisper.

I don't know what this means for my parents. Everyone has seen how I changed sides, how I fought alongside them, not against.

I sit up straighter, lean my head back against the wall, and close my eyes.

~~

There she is, sitting under the tree, curled up with a book. Her back rests against the trunk for support. Every few minutes, she looks up, then dives back into her reading. Her green eyes catch the sunlight and almost sparkle. Her brown hair falls perfectly to her shoulders. Whenever loose strands fall over her face, she tucks them behind her ear, and I can't help but notice how her cheeks flush pink in the sun—natural and soft. And that smile of hers... her eyes nearly disappear when she smiles.

She closes the book with a sigh, clearly deep in thought. She's staring out at the beautiful view—the wind makes her hair dance and the leaves flutter. The sun shines down on her, making her look like she's been sent straight from heaven. The lake sparkles, reflecting the sunlight perfectly.

"Hello, darling," I say, dropping down from the tree she's sitting under, surprised she didn't hear me climb up. "Oh, jeez," she gasps, clutching her chest. "Draco!" she scolds, lightly hitting me with the book.

"What have I told you about startling me?" she says, shaking her head while I laugh out loud. "You're cute when you're startled," I tease, scooting closer. "And thank me because you're not supposed to be here. What if someone from Umbridge's squad showed up?" I warn, taking the book from her hand.

"I was careful—"

"No, you weren't. Plus, what are you doing here? Don't you have your DA class or something?" I ask, holding up her book. "No, not yet. Harry's teaching today," she says, and I nod. "Pride and Prejudice," I say, looking at her.

"Yeah, it's a great book. I think you'd like it," she replies, pulling out her guitar. "Then read it to me sometime," I say, smiling and closing the book.

"Me?" she asks, surprised.

I nod gently.

"Alright, then—it's a promise," she says, smiling as she tunes her guitar.

The doors open, pulling me back to the present. I shake off the memory and go to see Madam Pomfrey, who looks exhausted. "Let's hope she wakes up by tomorrow," she says after hours of healing.

I sigh, relief and worry tangled inside me. She said "hope," which means there's still uncertainty. I nod, and we all enter.

She's asleep. Her chest rises and falls rhythmically, though her breathing is still weak. Bandages wrap around her head, with patches on her hands and legs. Even unconscious, she looks tired. I sit beside her, gently stroking her face.

"You all can go on. I'm here," I say, staring at Olivia—how beautiful she still looks, even like this. "No, we're fine. I think I can speak for everyone—we'll go home when she's better," Weasley says, settling into the chair beside the bed.

Within the hour, everyone crowds around her bed. I'm drained from the war—my legs ache, wounds still fresh, eyes heavy—but the thought of seeing Olivia smile again keeps me going.

I'm fiddling with her engagement ring on her finger. How I promised her. How I promised to keep her happy, no matter what. But I broke that promise. Here she is, fighting for her life, weak and worn.

"So, you guys got engaged?" Granger half-asks, half-states. "She got engaged?" Lopez chimes in. I look at him. "Yes and no," I say, glancing back at Olivia. "What does that mean?" Weaslette asks, resting her head on Potter's shoulder.

"When she was held captive at the Manor, she was forced to agree to come over to that side. If she didn't, Voldemort was going to kill me. So she agreed. A few days later, he called me, my family, and her down. He told my father that since Olivia and I seemed to be in love and that he wanted to be involved in her life, they should arrange our marriage. Then he asked Olivia what she thought." I sigh, looking at my ring.

"She was silent. For a moment, I thought she'd say no, but she didn't. We were the only two people happy in that house—except my mother, who was over the moon," I say, shaking my head.

"So, I told Olivia we should do it, for our parents' sake. She agreed. I also told her it was just a promise ring—even though we were engaged, it was a promise that I would marry her after all this was over and when we both felt ready." Granger nods.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but you make her happy, Malfoy," Potter says.

"I can't believe it either," I reply with a small scoff.

~~

Olivia Montgomery's POV

I groan and flutter my eyes open. I'm in a hospital. I turn my head to the left—and there he is. The man of my dreams, the man I love, the man who loves me back, but somehow even more intensely.

He's holding my hand, our fingers tangled together, his hand close to his chest. I look around the room and see everyone sitting nearby.

None of them wear their war clothes except Draco. So, I guess I've been out for days. But they look just as tired as I feel. I smile, knowing I have the best friends in the world. I'm about to look back at Draco when suddenly he pulls me into a tight hug.

"Darling, you're awake," he says, his voice breaking a little and waking everyone up.

He pulls back just enough to cup my cheeks gently, like I'm made of glass. Then his lips meet mine. I sigh into the kiss—happy, content, whole. But then a mischievous idea hits me.

Just a little fun.

I pull away from the kiss, the one I really need right now, and say, "Erm, w-who are you, and who are all these people, and where am I?" The second I say it, I regret it. His face falls, every emotion draining away. His eyes grow wide. I can't stand seeing him like that, so I shake my head quickly.

"Okay, sorry, bad timing," I laugh nervously, though I know Draco's mad. Everyone laughs, and Ron smacks me playfully. "You scared us!"

"I hate you!" Draco grumbles, pulling me back into another hug. He presses me close to his chest, rests his chin on my head, and wraps his hand around my hair, kissing the top of it. "No, you don't," I whisper into his chest, sliding my hands onto his arms. "No, I don't."

"Don't ever do that," he says, kissing me again.

He sits down, and I look around at everyone. At first, I don't notice something—but then I do. "Freddie?" I sit up straighter as Harry goes to call Madam Pomfrey. "Yes, in the flesh," Fred says, stretching his arms out. "H-How—?"

"I'll explain," Draco says, sitting beside me on the bed.

He tells me everything that happened after I died. He breaks down before he can even finish. I turn to face him. "Hey, hey, hey," I say softly. "Look here." I cup his cheeks and wipe away his tears. "I'm here. Right here. Next to you. And you're not getting rid of me that easily," I tell him, and he chuckles quietly.

"What's that?" I ask, noticing Hermione's hand tangled with Ron's. Hermione looks down, blushing a deep red. "Thank Merlin. I've been waiting for this for so long," I say happily. "Right, dear. How are you feeling?" Madam Pomfrey asks as she comes over and checks me.

"Still tired," I say, glancing around the room. "Still?" Chris asks, and I nod. "You've been out for two days—" he starts, but I cut him off. "Draco, you haven't gone home in more than 48 hours?" I ask, sounding angry, and he shakes his head.

"I wasn't going anywhere. You should've been home at least once—"

"Nonsense. I wasn't leaving until I knew you were all better," he says, kissing me again.

"What's with all the flowers and chocolates?" I ask, noticing the room nearly overflowing with them. "From all the people you brought back after the war. It's their way of saying thanks," Draco says, chuckling softly and glancing at Madam Pomfrey.

"Madam Pomfrey tried to keep them in the other room but gave up as more and more arrived every day," he finishes, and Madam Pomfrey smiles. "I didn't mind. I was happy. You saved so many people, Olivia. Thank you," she says, handing me a potion and returning to her desk.

I sip the potion and look at Draco, love filling my eyes. He returns the same look. "We'll give you two a few minutes," Hermione says, and everyone starts to leave. "Thank you, Draco," I say, setting the goblet down and smiling at him. He pulls me in again for another hug.

"I thought you hated hugs, Malfoy," I tease, wrapping my arms around him.

"Shut up, Montgomery," he grumbles, squeezing me tighter.

"What are you thanking me for?" he asks, pulling back and sitting down. "Just... thank you," I say, smiling wide. Draco's arms are wrapped so tightly around me, it's like he's afraid I'll vanish if he lets go. We're curled up in the hospital wing, the sounds of celebration and mourning echoing distantly outside these walls. But here, in this little corner, it's just us. 

Us, and the weight of everything that's happened.

He buries his face in my hair and whispers, "Now, will you tell me why you did that?"

I sigh. Merlin, where do I even begin?

"When I saved Snape's life... I took him to the safe house," I begin, resting my palm on his chest where his heart is racing beneath the fabric. "It was there that he told me. That I'd have to be the one to kill Voldemort. We've known that part since fifth year—there was a prophecy."

"But that's not what I asked," Draco says quietly. His voice isn't angry, just... broken. I lift my gaze to him and I see the tears sitting on the edge of his lashes. He doesn't look at me. He can't. Not like this.

"Draco..." I whisper, cupping his cheek with trembling fingers. His lips part, but it takes a moment for the words to come. "Why did you do it, darling?" His voice cracks on that last word and it shatters something inside me. I swallow back the lump in my throat and force myself to speak.

"Snape told me... when my mum died, I—absorbed her powers. All of them. But with her death, something else happened. Voldemort started to weaken. And he died when he killed the Potters. When Snape found me, he didn't know why at first, none of us did. But the necklace I wear—it started glowing. Somehow, our souls were... tangled. Tied together. It wasn't like Harry being a Horcrux. I wasn't a piece of Voldemort."

I pause. My chest feels tight. "I was him."

Draco stiffens, and I see the tear fall, leaving a trail down his cheek.

"If he was to die... I had to die too," I say, finally. "And the only way it would work—the only way he would truly die—was if I killed him. And gave my life in return."

He sniffs, his hand moving up to clutch the fabric of my sleeve. "And you did it. Without even thinking."

"I did it because I had to. Because my father murdered so many. Because students—children—died because of the war he helped feed."

"That wasn't you," Draco says fiercely. "That was him, not you."

"If I didn't do it, Voldemort might've come back. He still might, if the necklace ever falls into the wrong hands. If my blood falls into the wrong hands. That's why I never take it off. Not even when I shower," I add, with a small, humorless smile.

At last, he looks at me. Really looks at me. His eyes are red-rimmed and glassy, and I feel his pain like it's stitched into my own skin.

"I can't bear the thought of losing you again," he breathes. "I promised you everything. The world. Happiness. Peace. And yet... here you are, back from the dead, and still carrying the weight of it all."

I lean in, press my forehead against his, and whisper, "As long as I have you, I do have the whole world, love."

Our lips meet—soft, lingering, and aching with everything we can't say out loud.

He pulls away just slightly, just enough to promise, "I'll never leave you, Olivia. Never. I'll protect you... even if it kills me." 

"Go on, go home and come back later. I'm right here, and I think the Order will be here to receive me, so relax," I say, but he shakes his head.

Hermione and the others come back and sit down again.

"So, now what?" she asks, looking at me.

I smile and say, "Let's come back for our seventh year and graduate."