On the train ride back to Hogwarts I avoided Cedric and Draco. They both had something important to tell me and I just needed time to mentally prepare for what was coming.

I walk down the hall of the train and spot the top of Dracos head coming towards me.

Shit.

I shuffle to look for an empty compartment.

Finally, I slam the compartment doors behind me and place a spell on the door so that they wouldn't open for anyone but me. The spell could easily be overwhelmed with another, but I suspect people will just think the doors are jammed and look elsewhere.

I let out a sigh of relief and sit next to the window resting my head against it.

What was so urgent that they both had to tell me?

What did Cedric want to discuss? We left on a good note last time we saw each other, a really good note in fact. I reminisce back to the time we were on the Quidditch field, the last day of school. I was utterly bummed that I wouldn't be able to see him the whole summer. So what did he have to say?

What did Draco need to tell me that was so urgent? I feel like he's just playing games. He'll say he wants me back and try to make it up to me as much as he can, but in the end it wouldn't be enough and he knew this. So what did he want?

The stress and overthinking never went away for the whole train ride so I took to taking a nap to ease my mind.

By the time I woke up the train was no longer moving, so I guessed we had arrived. I grabbed my bag from the over head and cautiously opened the compartment doors. It was completely deserted out there, I must be the last one.

I hopped off the train onto the last carriage.

Once I arrived at the castle we were all instructed to go sit at our house table for the sorting hat ceremony. But what house was I in? None of the teachers were on the deck and Dumbledore wasn't standing at the podium either. He could still be in his office.

Without another thought I marched over to Dumbledores office in demand that I return back to my former house. I was tried of trying to figure out who these orders came from since Dumbledore claimed that this was: "out of his hands". He's the headmaster, Merlin!

As I turn the corner into another hallway I immediately stop seeing Draco directly in front of me. Well, I avoided this as much as I possibly could.

"Let's go," Draco seethes grabbing my wrist.

"Where are you taking me?" I say stumbling over my feet.

"Nowhere new, not a word until we get there." He responds still pulling me along so that I couldn't make a run for it.

Once we arrive at the astronomy tower he finally lets go of my wrist and casts a privacy spell.

"What's so urgent Draco?"

Draco puts his wand back into his pocket and walks over to me grabbing hold of both of my arms.

His expression was unreadable, I had no clue what would come out of his mouth next.

Draco sighs, "I know who put you in Hufflepuff."

"Who?" I demand.

He looks down not meeting my eyes, "My father."

"Your father? W-Why?"

He scoffs, "Because he doesn't want to see me happy, Y/n. He doesn't need anymore reason than that."

"But how? How does he have that power over Dumbledore?" I ask still trying to put the pieces together.

"He threatened the safety of the school and the kids within it. He'll do whatever he has to, to get his way, and he'll get it."

I couldn't believe what Draco was telling me. His father was what caused a divide between us and he knew that by doing this he would. He knew his son would get overprotective, jealous, possessive, do anything to get me back, which in the end would just result in losing me.

Why the hell would any father ever do that to their son?

"Say something," Draco announces, tightening his grip on my arms.

"I-I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry Draco." I say pulling him into an embrace.

I expected him to pull away, but he didn't. He needed this.

I rub a comforting hand along his back and comb thought his hair with the other. I could hear Draco trying to suppress his sobs and losing the fight.

We didn't let go.

We both knew things would be so different right now if his father hadn't interfered.

I take a step back to look at him and he quickly wipes the few tears he hadn't wiped yet off his cheeks. I gently grab his hand and place it down at his side using my thumb to wipe away his tears.

I felt tears start to prick at my own eyes and let them flow.

I pressed my forehead against his rubbing the his hair as I did so.

"I'm so sorry Y/n, things, us would be so different right now."

"I know," I whisper.

We stay there for a moment mourning our lost relationship and what could've been.

Draco sobers up wiping away the last of his tears, "What does this mean for us?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"My father thinks he's succeeded in breaking us up. So you're free to return back to Slytherin, we could try things again. Wouldn't you like that Y/n?" Draco says holding my face in his hands.

"Draco-"

"Don't say anything now, just promise me you'll think about it."

I nod my head nuzzling my cheek against his hand.

Draco sighs, "You're free to go now," he says dropping his hands from my face and turning away.

I eye the stairs and then back at Draco. I approach him slowly and and embrace him one last time resting my head on his chest. He accepts the embrace for a couple seconds before letting go.

I pull away and shoot him one last look before descending down the stairs.

I walk out into the empty hallway and rush towards the Slytherin commons. I try my best to hold back my tears, but couldn't. I walk into the common room and search for the roster that has everyones name and room number.

There I was Y/n Y/l/n, room 5. No roommates. The least Dumbledore could do.

I ascend up the stairs wiping tears off my cheek and open the door to my dorm rushing for my bed. I wasn't going to do anything else tonight, but mourn over what could have been.

---

I woke up the next day with puffy eyes and a stuffed red nose. I was all cried out now, it was time to start thinking rationally. I took a cool shower to ease my mind and wounds before sucking it all up.

I got dressed in my most comfiest clothes sat down at my desk. If I went back to my bed I would no doubt curl into a ball and repeat the whole process of last night over again. I couldn't do that, I needed to be serious now. How would Draco and I move forward from this? Could we move forward from this?

At the risk of sounding like a self absorbed git I knew Draco would take me back in heartbeat if I said that we could try things again. He was so willing with me.

But could I take him back?

I think the first divide in our relationship came when we weren't around each other as often, and from there things got worse. It was clear that when he chose to believe the rumors about me and Cedric that he didn't trust me. He hurt my best friend. He cheated on me.

Draco didn't trust me.

Draco doesn't trust anyone.

Lucius was an obvious component to our break up, but he couldn't be to blame for the whole reason we broke up.

Who's to say Draco wouldn't repeat the same cycle now that he knows I'll take him back after everything. If I take him back I'm saying I know what you did and it's ok with me, its forgivable.

And that would be a lie.

What he did wasn't ok and it wasn't forgivable. I couldn't respect myself and still take him back. I couldn't do that to myself.

As much as I loved Draco and still do, I couldn't do that.

If the factors of our break up were even slightly different then maybe I could. But the world just isn't that kind.

This was my reality and I had to deal with it.

I got up from my desk certain with my decision and walked over to the boys dormitories. I knocked on Dracos door, the same door I've been knocking on since year one.

He opens it and invites me in closing the door behind me.

Draco approaches me slowly studying the necklace his mother gave me. Once he's in arms reach he gently reaches for it and fiddles with it between his index finger and thumb.

"You still wear it?" He asks with a tight smile.

I nod gently grabbing his hand returning it to his side.

His smile fades instantly letting go of the pendent and shifts back from me.

"Draco," I sigh. "You and I haven't had the easiest time in our relationship, it's like people thrive on our downfall. I wish I could shove all the blame on your father and those people, but I cant. They weren't the only ones who negatively impacted our relationship, we did too."

Draco takes a step towards me holding my hands in his, "You mean me, not you."

I chuckle at his generosity, "No, I had fault in our break up too Draco. I wasn't willing to let go of certain things, people rather and you didn't trust me wholly. We just don't work. I already knew this too, I've examined our relationship for so many different views and it just never adds up, even before I knew about your father."

"Last night we mourned something we had already lost Draco. You know that don't you?"

"But we could fix things," he says playing with my fingers. "I missed these fingers."

I quietly chuckle, "I missed these too. But we can't fix things, I don't want to go back to that Draco." I place my hands back at my side. "My feelings have changed. Haven't yours?"

His eyes falter to the ground, "Slightly, I suppose. But if I knew I had a chance, thats all I'd need."

I walk up to him engulfing him in a tight embrace, "But you don't," I whisper in a shaky voice. "I'm sorry Draco, it's what's best for the both of us."

No more tears. No more tears.

You knew this was over, it's been over.

I gently pull away and slide Dracos hair across his face away from his eyes, "I got to go now. I'll see you around."

Draco meets my eyes once more before forcing them away.

I silently walk over to his dresser and unclasp the necklace around my neck setting it down.

I walk over to the door and leave without another word.