9: Goodbye

You didn't see Draco again after that day.

You were on Hogwarts express, alone in a compartment. For the past few days, your mind wonders why does Draco look so sad when he left you in your common room. You never got to ask him, since you never saw him around after that.

You were quietly reading your book when the door of your compartment opened.

You look up from your book to see Draco Malfoy by the door.

Draco looked surprised to see you inside. But when you looked at him carefully, you see him pale with dark circles under his eyes. Before he could say anything, you jumped up from your seat and cupped his face in your palms.

"Merlin, Draco! You look horrible! Did you even got at least some sleep?" you said worriedly.

Draco leaned into your touch and not pulling away. He thought that it wouldn't hurt to be with you a little more for the last time before they head back for Christmas break.

"I couldn't sleep. I've been having nightmares." He wasn't lying, as much as he forced himself to sleep, he always ends up with nightmares.

You pulled his arm and dragged him inside the compartment. And he let you do whatever you want with him, he didn't pull away as he planned. When you sat down and pulled him to sit beside you, he didn't hesitate to oblige and follow your lead.

"I might have something that can help you," you said.

You dug into your satchel and took out a brown box. You turn back around to face him with the box in hand.

"I originally wanted to send you this for Christmas, but I think it's better if I give it to you now." You hand him the box.

Draco opened the box and then a familiar song came out from the box.

"Isn't this..." He mumbled, recognizing the song.

"Yup, it's the song I wrote for you. I know you like to listen to it when you're in a bad mood and sometimes you fall asleep listening to it." You laughed at the memory-making Draco smile too.

"So, since you've been having trouble sleeping lately, I decided to make a music box with that song for you. Now you can listen to it whenever you want when I'm not around." You said to him.

Draco didn't know what to say, no one has ever been this considerate and caring aside from his mother. Yes, you've been a great friend to him, but he has never considered you to show him any more kindness.

You were caught off guard when Draco pulled your wrist. You crashed into his chest and felt his arms wrap around your waist.

"Thank you, Lia." He just said, burying his face at your neck.

You wrapped your hands around his chest to his back.

"Your welcome." You said softly.

After a few seconds, you wanted to pull back but Draco doesn't seem to have any intention of letting go. You felt that Draco needed this, but you didn't know what caused this.

"Draco?" you called.

With a weak and tired voice, Draco hummed in response, letting you know he heard you.

"Are you alright?" you asked.

You heard him sighed, his breath blowing through your neck making you shiver a little.

"Yeah, I'm just exhausted." He said after his sigh.

"Lie down." You said bluntly.

Draco knew what you meant, he lets you push him down with his head on your lap once again. You brought your hand to his hand, stroking his hair. You've been doing this every time both of you do this. You never knew if this bothers Draco or prevents him from sleeping, but he never said anything, so you kept on doing it. But you never got to know that Draco actually likes it, your touch was addicting to him. He never pulled away when you stroked his hair, he enjoys it but he never told you.

With the music box still open since just now, the music played around the now quiet compartment. As he listens to the music with you softly brushing his hair, his eyes grow heavy and Draco caved in to his exhaustion.

Draco's breathing becomes softer and steady, signalling you he's in dreamland. You took out your book and continue your reading.

The train was close to arriving at King's Cross station when Draco heard someone calling his name.

That voice was familiar, he opened his eyes to find you above him. Then, everything came back to him, he remembered what happened before he fell asleep.

"Draco. Wake up. We're almost there." Your words finally clearly got to him. Draco's eyes spring open, surprised by what you said.

He got up from your lap, sitting upright. He looked out the window to find the dark sky. Did he really sleep through the whole train ride? Then he looked at you, wondering if you really did let him sleep on your lap the whole ride.

"Lia, you didn't move for the whole ride?" he asked guiltily.

"Don't worry, Draco. I ended up sleeping myself." You joked while also telling him the truth.

"You could've to wake me up." He said still feeling guilty.

"You don't need to feel bad about it, Draco. It was nothing. Besides, I used to do the same for my sister so much that I already got used to it." You said trying to make him feel better. And when you watch him, it seemed like he did since he smiled.

"That explains a lot." He said, almost like he was trying to say something.

"What are you trying to say, Malfoy?" you raised your eyebrows, trying to tease him with a smile on your face.

"I'm just saying you're too soft for your own good." He smartly bites back.

You sighed.

"Well, maybe I should be meaner to you from now on." You laughed. You stood up as the train pulled into the station.

"I doubt you would be able to do that, you'd feel guilty and apologize after doing that." Draco beat you to it by standing up and casually helping to pull your suitcase from their corner above the seats. You were tall compared to normal girl heights, but you were still shorter than Draco.

"Thank you, Draco." You thanked him. But then, he paused, he looked at you with a weird look.

"What?" you asked.

"You're supposed to be mean to me." He said with almost a sad smile.

You furrowed your eyebrows. Does he really expect you to be mean to him? You can't tell whether he's joking or being serious. Whatever it is, you were kind of offended.

"You know I can never do that." You said with a frown. You can tell Draco felt bad, but you can't tell if he felt bad about what he said or something else made him felt that way.

"Yeah, I know." He said with a guilty face and looking down to his feet.

Both of you remained in silence for a while. You could see Draco seemed deep in thought, but you could never tell what was in his mind. But, you had an idea.

Draco felt a hand on his shoulder. But he didn't need to look to know who was it, he knew it was you. But he couldn't meet your eyes, you shouldn't be kind to him.

"Draco, you know I won't ever do that. Right?" You were tried to convince him, but he thought otherwise.

"Come on, we should get going." He just said and grabbed your hand with his free hand as the other carried your suitcase.

You were dragged outside before you could say anything. You stepped foot at King's Cross Station, packed with a crowd.

Draco walked to your side, he finally turned around and meet your eyes. There was a lot of emotion in his eyes, but it was mostly sadness. You felt the need to give him one last hug, so you tipped on your toes and enveloped him in a hug with your arms around your neck.

Draco was taken aback by the sudden hug, but it didn't take long for him to hug you back with his arms around your waist.

"Goodbye, Draco." You bid him goodbye at his neck.

You didn't know it, but to Draco, it sounded like it would be the last time you would say that to him.

He tightened his grip around you.

"Goodbye, Lia." He sounded so sad, you wanted to ask him why. But before you could do so, he pulled away and placed his lips on your forehead.

Draco wanted to make this last moment count, it wasn't a lot. He can't really do much other than this either, but it was enough for him.

He stayed like that for a few seconds, taking in this moment before he had to pull away from you for the last time.

You couldn't comprehend what was happening. You don't hate what was Draco doing, you actually kind of like it. But still, you were confused. To you, it looks exactly like the time when Draco walked you back to your common room.

When Draco finally pulled back, he leaned his forehead with yours and his hand was at the back of your head. You didn't know what to say at the moment. Draco had his eyes closed, brows furrowed, he doesn't want to let go. If he did, it would be the last time.

But this moment couldn't last forever, he lets you go with a heavy heart. Before he completely let you go, he reached forward and gently tucked a strand of hair from your face to your ears.

"I'll see you after Christmas break." He spoke up at last. You just nodded at his statement, still at loss for words for what happened earlier.

With that, Draco finally walked away, leaving you and walking back to grab his own suitcase. Then, he was on his way to the Malfoy Manor, his dreadful and suffocating home.