BORN TO DIE    ╱    DRACO MALFOY
꒷꒦ · ˚.‧ . written by ella . . . © -lostgardens
078 ━━━━━━ ❛ farewell, hogwarts ❜

As the Beauxbatons girls walked across the corridor, the Hogwarts students that were gathered on either side of them, including Olivia and her friends, clapped for them as they went by. Then it was the Durmstrang boys, and the actions repeated themselves. And before either group left, Olivia walked over to Fleur and her sister, both of whom smiled at her.

She smiled back. "Malgré tout, je suis heureux que vous soyez ici cette année, Fleur. Je sais que nous n'étions pas très proches, mais je suis là si jamais vous voulez envoyer une lettre." Olivia said to the older girl. Despite everything, I'm glad that you were here this year, Fleur. I know we weren't terribly close, but I'm here if you ever want to send a letter. Then she faced the younger version of her fellow champion. "Et vous. Vous êtes incroyablement talentueuse et courageuse, Gabrielle. Le même sentiment s'applique à vous aussi." Her smile remained on her face. And you. You're amazingly talented and brave, Gabrielle. The same sentiment applies to you too.

"Merci, Olivia," Fleur replied with a soft smile before placing a small kiss on the girl's cheek. As she pulled back, she said, "Pareil pour toi." Same to you.

"Oui. Merci, Olivia," Gabrielle added.

This made Olivia feel better, knowing that she had offered such a kind gesture. "Au revoir," she told them, waving as they began walking away.

"Au revoir," they said together, waving as well.

Then she walked back over to her friends, giving a small wave to Krum as she passed by him. He just bowed his head, as she'd expected him to. Did Durmstrang students even know how to wave? Or were they allowed to? Or was there some kind of rule against it, saying that it made them look less warrior-like? She was glad Lucius had changed her mind about sending Draco there. She didn't know if she'd be able to handle him if he were like that, all high and mighty. Oh, wait, he already was! For better or for worse.

Just as she reached her group, all but the boy on her mind piled away, going towards the end of the corridor so that they could look out and watch the Durmstrang ship and Beauxbatons carriage go on their ways, though they were not quite leaving yet. Olivia watched them as they practically sprinted over to the edge, like little kids in Honeydukes or Theodore and Blaise in Zonko's Joke Shop. She just shook her head in amusement and turned back to look up at Draco.

Her brows raised at him questioningly. "You didn't want to watch them leave?"

"No," he admitted, looking over her head at their friends. Then he focused down on her, taking a step closer. "Someone had to keep you company." He smirked, and she playfully rolled her eyes.

"And what makes you think I don't want to watch them leave?" she asked rhetorically.

He gave her a knowing look, the smirk still on his face. "Because I know you, and I know that you find it pointless to watch a ship take sail and a carriage fly off when you've already said your goodbyes."

She smirked, taking a step back. He did know her well. "Congratulations; you've passed the test," she joked, placing her hands on the bottom of one of the open spaces along the corridor wall—almost like a window but without the glass—and pulling herself to sit inside it. Her hands were by her sides as she crossed her left leg over her right, staring at him.

He just stared back before he took a step closer.

Both of them were fighting smiles.

Then they began talking, neither realizing that just across the corridor, a mere fifteen feet further down, stood the Golden Trio. Well, Hermione and Harry stood while Ron sat like Olivia did. "Do you think we'll ever just have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" the ginger asked with a small chuckle just after he had jumped into the opening.

"No," Harry and Hermione answered, the girl with more amusement.

"No, I didn't think so," Ron agreed. "Oh well. What's life without a few dragons?" He gave Harry a knowing look as he placed his hand on his shoulder and stepped onto the ground to stand next to his two friends. Then he and Harry began walking away, not even realizing that Hermione wasn't following them.

The girl remained next to the entrance of the corridor from the courtyard, her hand gently placed on the stone as her eyes were focused on the familiar ground below her shoes. She seemed to be in deep thought. And the boys walked a bit further before they noticed she wasn't with them, so they turned around, focusing on her.

She seemed hesitant to voice what she was thinking, which was quite unusual for her given her history of speaking in class, even when not called upon. Or perhaps she didn't want to say what she was thinking because then it would make it all the more real. But then, finally, she spoke. "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?" she asked, finding the gazes of the boys in front of her.

Ron just smirked. "Well, I think Olivia's going to start being nice to us, if that's what you mean," he jokingly said with a small laugh, seeming to try and lighten the mood. He thought about the somewhat comforting experience Hermione had told him about with Olivia in the corridor after the ball—she had left out the fact that she'd been crying over him when it came up, of course—and the two decent conversations Harry had with her, one just this morning.

Hermione just gave him a bored look, and then she walked closer to them.

Harry placed a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes as she focused on him. "Yes, Hermione, everything is going to change," he told her, and she seemed to like his bluntness, glad that he hadn't tried to sugarcoat it, lighten the mood, or take her mind off of it all. Voldemort was back, and that only meant bad things and danger, not only for Harry but for all of them.

"What do you think he did to make her look at him like that?" Ron inquired before either of the other two could say anything else, confusing them. His two friends glanced over at him, seeing him looking at someone in front of them, and they followed his line of sight, only for their eyes to land on Olivia and Draco. They watched as the blonde boy, who made it his life's mission to tease them any chance he got, messed with the necklace of the girl that they were learning wasn't as bad as they thought, holding it against his fingers as he examined it. Then his eyes found hers, a smirk on his face to match the one she was wearing.

They just stared at each other after that, their eyes gleaming with something that none of the three could place. But they knew it was something special—something more than friends. Well, Hermione knew; the boys just thought she was looking at him better than she looked at anyone else.

"The way she's looking at him?" Hermione asked with bewilderment. "Surely you mean the way he's looking at her. I wasn't aware Malfoy could even feel emotions like that—let alone emotions at all besides hatred and disgust." She crossed her arms over her chest.

Then something happened that none of them expected. Draco began leaning down, closer to Olivia, as if he were going to kiss her. But before he could get too close, a voice rang in all of their ears as the other Slytherins walked back over. "All right, you two lovebirds, let's go," Pansy teased, placing her hands on her hips with a teasing grin.

Olivia and Draco looked over at her, the boy taking a step back. "We're not—" Olivia began, meeting Draco's gaze, and her cheeks turned a small shade of pink. And then the two accused lightly laughed as she placed her head in her hands to hide what she was feeling. When she lifted her head, she glanced to her side, not expecting to see anything or anyone, but then her eyes caught onto the trio just standing there and staring at her.

They looked away for a second, trying to make it seem as though they hadn't been watching her, but they knew they were already caught, so they focused on her again.

Olivia had her hand raised, softly waving to them with a matching smile. And they sheepishly return the gesture, still finding her kindness odd, though they never would tell her she was being kind because then she would most likely change that as quickly as she could.

The girl then hopped down from where she was sitting and focused on her friends as they all began to walk away. Olivia stood beside Draco, their shoulders brushing with each step they took and their hands doing the same.

Olivia couldn't believe that their fourth year—Lucas's third—was already over.

≀⋆⁺₊⋆ ꗃ 𖦹⨳✺

Sitting on the train, the energies of the day had calmed, now like it was that morning instead of a little earlier when they were saying their goodbyes to the visiting students. The group was in their usual compartment. Olivia sat next to Draco, her head resting on his shoulder, as she stared out the window next to her. Pansy and Blaise sat next to each other across from them, while Theodore sat next to them and Lucas sat next to Draco. Crabbe and Goyle were in the compartment across from them. As the years went by, the two boys became more bodyguards for Draco than friends, though Olivia still considered them as such. She was no longer giving Goyle reading lessons, and she rarely knew what the two were up to most days unless they were with Draco, but they still held a place in her small heart that grew larger each day.

The train ride was mostly quiet. Pansy ended up falling asleep about an hour in, while Theodore and Blaise chatted for a bit with Draco, but then eventually they fell asleep too. Lucas just sketched in his book, and Olivia continued to watch the sky. She didn't sleep despite being extremely tired, mentally and physically. She just let her thoughts roam around in her mind, the feeling of Draco next to her bringing her comfort.

At some point, the boy's hand had taken ahold of hers like it had in the Great Hall that morning, and their entangled fingers rested in her lap. He stayed awake the entirety too, keeping her company once Lucas told her he was going to find his Ravenclaw friends for a little bit but had been sure to let her know that he'd be back before the train ride was over so they could face their parents together and at the same time.

When the train came to a stop, Lucas had returned just as he said he would. Blaise, who had woken up from his slumber a mere ten minutes prior, then practically knocked Theodore awake when he realized the boy's head was resting on his shoulder as if they were the couple and not him and Pansy (yes, they had finally put a label on it), woke up Pansy gently.

Once they were all ready, they stood from their seats, Olivia slinging her tote bag's strap on her shoulder, and walked out of the compartment and off of the train. They came face-to-face with the business of Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters, with the train letting out puffs of steam and the horn sounding a few times behind them.

In front of them, just as always, their parents stood, separate from each other, waiting on them with blank expressions on their faces. And beside them, the house elves were unloading their luggage and placing it on the ground for them to sort through while the other students disembarked the train. Olivia sighed as she and her friends made their way over to the luggage, grabbing their trunks from the pile.

Once they had everything, that was it. All they had left to do was say their "see you laters." It was for only a few months; Olivia knew that, but she could've sworn that with each year, it grew harder and harder to say bye, especially with a certain blonde that she didn't think would ever leave her mind and her hea- now that he weaseled his little way in them like the ferret he was once turned in to.

She turned to Pansy first, seeing the girl tearing up, and she just hugged her tightly. "I'm going to miss you, Pans."

"I'm going to miss you too, mon petite diable," Pansy muttered back, sniffling as if she were crying. Olivia didn't think she was ever going to get rid of that nickname. She didn't mind it all that much, though. Whatever made Pansy happy, made her happy. And if that meant that she was going to be called the girl's little devil in French, then so be it.

When they pulled back, Olivia gave her a soft smile, which was returned. Then she turned to Theodore. She hugged him and was surprised when he didn't make a joke about... "I know you're going to miss me most of all," he told her as they pulled apart, a very Theodore smirk on his face. "I mean, how could you not?"

Olivia knew she had spoken too soon the moment the surprise had crossed her mind.

She just playfully rolled her eyes at his joke and focused on Blaise next. She hugged him and said her goodbye, which he returned, then she waved to Crabbe and Goyle with a small smile, which they returned. And last but not least, she faced Draco, who was already staring at her with a half-smirk curled at one side of his mouth. She wanted to say something that was going to wipe it right off his face, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

She took a step closer, wrapped her arms around his neck, and brought him down into a tight hug. And then they pulled away from each other, with Olivia taking a small step back. He leaned down and placed a small kiss on her cheek, causing her to smile and look away from him. She hated that he made her flustered so easily. It was honestly annoying. Then she felt his breath on her ear as he whispered, "I'll write to you." He straightened his spine, looking down at her with that same annoying smirk.

She simply nodded with a sweet smile on her face. "I may write back."

"You may?" He raised his brows.

She hummed in response. "See you soon, Draco."

"See you soon, Liv," he replied.

Her smile just deepened as she stared up at him, watching his grin do the same as he held her gaze. Then she turned to Lucas, asking, "Are you ready?" to which he just nodded. And with that, the two gave their friends one last look and turned around to face their parents. They pulled their trunks behind them as they walked towards the expressionless adults. Well, their mother had a slight scowl focused on Olivia.

The rest of their group split a second later, going to their own parents. Olivia and Lucas's focus, however, remained on their parents.

"Olivia." Their mother tipped her head at her daughter, then turned to her son, repeating her movements. "Lucas."

Both of them could tell she was holding something back, biting her tongue, and having something she so desperately wanted to say. Olivia was sure it had to do with Draco, and perhaps the fact that he'd kissed her cheek and she'd hugged him. They glanced at one another before focusing back on the woman. "Mother," they responded in unison.

Clodagh didn't say anything back; she just turned, raising her hand as a gesture for them to walk in front of her. Olivia copied the movements, raising her hand and nodding forward for her mother to go ahead. Clodagh narrowed her eyes but dropped her hand to her side, looking as if she were about to turn and walk away, not wanting to play one of Olivia's games. But before she could even take one step, Olivia brushed past her with her chin raised, pulling her trunk behind her, while Lucas followed and did the same thing. She knew her mother was sure to have rolled her eyes, and she was glad for it, loving getting on the woman's nerves.

A moment later, their parents were following them, going to the fireplace. Once they reached it, they each grabbed a handful of floo powder. They then floo'd home, going one at a time.

Olivia was last to arrive at the familiar fireplace in one of the many rooms of the manor. And Bobbin and Trinky rushed over to her and Lucas, greeting them immediately. The house elves took their trunks without even being asked to and snapped their fingers, causing the luggage to disappear and, presumably, go to the siblings' rooms. Then Bobbin turned to Clodagh, looking up at her with her big eyes and her hands held together in front of her. "Mistress, supper shall be done in an hour," she told her.

Clodagh just nodded, and then she and Andrew walked away without saying anything else.

The four of them, the two siblings and the two house elves, watched as the heads of the house got further and further away from them, presumably going to the study. Then, once they were out of sight, Olivia and Lucas focused back on the house elf as she did the same. Then they had two hands on theirs, dragging them towards another room. Then they sat them down on the sofa that was in there and stared at them with big, questioning eyes.

"Is Miss Olivia all right?" Trinky asked with concern, both elves looking at them with worry in their eyes. "Trinky and Bobbin heard about the tournament."

Olivia and Lucas shared a look, then they looked at the two in front of them. "How did you know abou—"

"Bobbin has her sources," the other house elf told her.

This time, the look Olivia and Lucas gave one another was knowing, like they both were thinking the same thing. Then they focused on the ones in front of them again. "Have you two been talking to the house elves at Hogwarts?" Olivia questioned them, raising her brows.

Bobbin and Trinky shared a look, then let out small laughs that told them that they were caught as they found the gazes of the pair in front of them. And after that, Olivia chuckled and began to tell them everything, taking the remaining hour until supper to do so. Once she was done, the food was ready, and she and Lucas joined their parents in the dining room.

The dinner was quiet, but the silence was loud. Olivia knew that Bobbin and Trinky wouldn't be the only ones questioning her about the events of the school year. Her parents were just waiting a bit longer, perhaps letting her settle back in. How thoughtful of them! She wanted to roll her eyes at the thought as she pushed around the food on her plate, not having the biggest appetite now that it had all settled and she could fully listen to her mind.

When dinner was finished, Olivia escaped to her room while Lucas went to his, and their parents went back to the study. As she opened the door, she heard a tapping as if something were hitting glass. She waved her wand, and the candles around her room lit instantly. Her eyes found her window, just opposite her, and she saw an owl outside, tapping its beak on the glass. She closed her door behind her and then walked over to the window. Slowly, she pushed it open, allowing the gorgeous Eurasian Eagle-Owl to perch itself on the window sill. It had something in its mouth, and she took it before moving over to her desk and searching for owl treats.

When she found them, she returned to her window and fed a few to the owl. It ate them and then flew away as she studied the letter. She closed her window back and then moved over to her desk, plopping herself down into her chair, her eyes never leaving the beautiful handwriting of her name on the back. Flipping over the letter, her gaze caught on the seal holding the parchment closed. Indented into it was the Malfoy crest, and she smiled, knowing exactly who the letter was from.

She wasted not another second and peeled it open and unfolded it, reading the first part.

Dear Olivia,
I told you I'd write to you.

And then she read the rest with a smile on her face. What was he doing to her?

Little did she know that it was only the beginning of these letters.

≀⋆⁺₊⋆ ꗃ 𖦹⨳✺

━━━━ ella's speaking !
here's an update to celebrate my birthday and the fact that this fic hit 20K reads today!! tysm for all of the support—it truly means the world to me!

there's only two more chapters of act four and then we're on to act five!! i'm so excited to write it and for y'all to see what i have planned!

make sure to comment and vote 🫶🏻

kisses.

━━━━━━━━━━ born to die,
© -LOSTGARDENS, may 2024

word count: 3540. written: 5.2-3.24. published: 5.25.24.