BORN TO DIE    ╱    DRACO MALFOY
꒷꒦ · ˚.‧ . written by ella . . . © -lostgardens
101 ━━━━━━━━━ ❛ the beginning ❜

Back to Hogwarts, she was going. Olivia could not believe how fast the summer had gone by, but it had also seemed slow. Usually, she would be speed-walking towards Platform 9¾ alongside Lucas, but both of them were keeping a mild pace this time around, with their parents, as well as Bobbin and Trinky right behind them. The truth was, she wasn't looking forward to going back to Hogwarts. She wasn't ready to see Draco or her friends, or even Harry, Hermione, and Weasley, for that matter. (She never looked forward to seeing Weasley—his gingerness insulted her eyes.)

The breeze was light around them, though there was an overcast. There was barely any time since Voldemort's return that there wasn't an overcast or some level of a storm. It was like their world knew he was back. And it did.

Everyone did.

Coming to a stop between platforms nine and ten, she and Lucas looked at the familiar stone pillar and then over at each other before they moved through it, with their parents still on their heels. Both of them were pulling their trunks along with them as they walked, her with her bag hanging off her shoulder, as Bobbin was carrying a couple of Olivia's smaller trunks, including her enchanted chest that the girl did not want to leave at the manor, and Trinky was carrying Apollo in his cage. The sight of Platform 9¾ and the Hogwarts Express came into view, and Olivia felt like she was going to be sick with her stomach in knots.

How was she supposed to be excited about going back to school with everything going on in their world? How was she possibly supposed to act normal, like she didn't have a target on her back? How was she supposed to act like she didn't have a prophecy, which was still locked away in the enchanted chest that Theodore had gifted her for her birthday? How was she supposed to look at Draco after what happened between them? She couldn't pretend that he hadn't hurt her by leaving and not saying anything after the fact.

As they approached closer to the train, Olivia turned around to face her parents. Her expression was grim, and theirs were blank. They were all ignoring the glances sent their way because, no matter how much they did to prove they weren't malicious, most would always believe such. It was quite something they had gotten used to over the years.

She hated them so dearly. Her parents. The gossipers. Everyone.

Her eyes lingered over the two in front of her. Her mother's hair was pulled half-up in a small knot around the back of her head, letting the rest of her hair free to fall in waves, while her father's hair was neatly styled, just as always. Her mother was wearing one of her signature dresses, the ones that touched the ground and covered her hands with wide cuffs, which she had clasped in front of her, while her father was wearing dark dress robes; both looked as esteemed as they could. Her mother's bright blue eyes were boring into her green ones, while her father looked away from her, his blue gaze looking off in the distance. They stood taller than Olivia, though her mother was shorter than her father, and they had impeccable posture, which only made them more intimidating to others. Not Olivia, of course.

She would never cower down to anyone, including her parents.

"What are you staring at, Olivia Katherine?" asked her mother sharply.

Olivia rolled her eyes, looking over at Lucas, who stood beside her with an unreadable expression and was staring at her. "Nothing," she replied, turning to focus back on the witch. But as she did, her attention was drawn to something else—or rather, someone else—and she let out a sigh.

She did not want to see him.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Mallard clan," Draco arrogantly said, catching all of their attention.

Olivia gave him a look, knitting her brows. What was he doing? She questioned in her mind. He really knew how to be obnoxious when he wanted to be. It was so frustrating. He was so frustrating. She watched as her parents and house elves, who seemed a bit shocked and stepped closer to her mother, turned around to find Draco walking towards them, alongside his mother, who looked like she would rather be doing anything else in the world than approaching the Mallards.

Draco's eyes fell on Olivia, and his smirk grew.

Usually, she would smile back, but she wasn't quite in the mood for that. There was nothing to smile about. She had to keep her distance from him. No, she wanted to keep her distance from him. It was for the best, and he had hurt her. He had slept with her and then left without even telling her or leaving a note, as if the act had been nothing.

Well, it was something to her.

"Hello, Olivia," he greeted softly, looking down at her, and brushed some of her hair behind her ear. He seemed oblivious to the tension between all of them. Between him and her.

Of course he was.

She just stared up at him blankly, not replying. She could see it on his face as he seemed to realize—or at least, it crossed his mind—that she was upset with him. She just turned to her parents and grabbed onto her brother's arm, putting a tight smile on her face and saying, "Lucas and I shall be going now. See you both when we come home." She whipped around, pulling her brother and trunk along with her, Bobbin and Trinky following quickly with their other things as they headed to the train.

Draco stood there, in front of her parents and his mother, looking confused as he watched her get further away from him, his brows drawn together, wondering what he'd done and why she was acting coldly.

"Looks like she finally came to her senses," Clodagh reveled.

Draco turned to her, seeing the smirk on her face, the most emotion he'd ever seen her have, and he narrowed his eyes. Then he focused on his mother, who had her hands folded and her head down. He took a step closer to her, and she looked up at him. "Goodbye, Mother." He placed a small kiss on her cheek, like a good son, and then took off for the train before she could even say her goodbyes to him.

Luckily, he set this trunk down with the elves and caught up with Olivia and Lucas before they could barely get on the train, noticing their elves going back over to their parents. They stood just by the door that led on and off the train when he came up behind them. "Was that pretending?" he asked, not sure if that had been an act between them since her parents had been right there. If it was, he hadn't been aware.

Olivia turned around, her eyes meeting his, staring at him boredly. Lucas was next to her, also staring at him, but more awkwardly than anything. "No, Draco. That was not pretending," she answered, narrowing her eyes and grabbing her brother's arm again. "Come on, Lucas. Let's go find the others." She turned around, and the two of them began walking in the direction that they had always gone when heading to their compartment.

"Remember how I told you that Pansy wanted to sit in one of the open compartments?" Draco raised his voice just the slightest so she could hear him. He watched her back and saw as she stopped in her tracks.

Olivia cursed under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut. Then she exhaled deeply, turning to face him again. She expected to see him looking smug and arrogant, but he didn't. He didn't have any emotion on his face, in fact. His expression was completely blank, his eyes more gray than before.

She watched as he nodded in the other direction, keeping his eyes locked on hers. "They're this way," he told her, and then turned on his heels and walked in that direction.

She and Lucas only stood in their spot for a second before following him. They caught up with him and then brushed past him, with Olivia bumping his shoulder. They made their way into the open compartments, which had multiple sets of seats in one area instead of just the one set in the compartment they usually sat in. That was where they found their friends, sitting close to the end of the train carriage. Olivia and Lucas walked over to them, while Draco followed behind, the three of them hearing the others talking.

"What are we discussing?" asked Olivia, putting on a better mood.

Pansy looked up at her best friend and sighed. "Theodore, here"—she gave the boy across from her a pointed look—"is accusing me and Blaise of shagging while we were in France," she admitted, giving an answer that Olivia had not expected. She leaned forward, still focused on Theodore. "We weren't, but even if we had been, we're dating, so it's not something to go running to the Prophet about."

"Oh?" Olivia raised her brows, turning her attention to Theodore, who met her gaze. "Why is it that you think that, Theodore?"

"I can't tell you," he replied, lifting his chin pridefully. Then he pointed a telling finger at her. "But trust me when I tell you that I have a brilliant source."

"You do realize you just told us how you know, don't you?" Lucas asked teasingly, stifling his laugh as a smile broke on his face.

"Who is this brilliant source, may I ask?" Olivia inquired, sitting down in her seat. Before she could even realize that she had made the mistake of not grabbing her brother and making him sit next to her, Draco took the empty spot, while Lucas sat beside Blaise, who had Pansy on his other side. She mentally cursed herself when she felt the blonde's presence next to her, but kept her focus on Theodore.

He tried to keep in the confession for as long as he could, under Olivia's gaze. Then he let out an exaggerated breath and mumbled, "Daphne."

"Daphne?" Olivia raised her brows questioningly, her voice sharp despite not meaning for it to be, and Pansy winced at the boy's admission. She turned to Pansy and Blaise, giving them the same questioning look. "As in Daphne Greengrass?"

"Did I say 'Daphne'?" Theodore blurted, chuckling awkwardly as Olivia focused on him once more. "I meant Astoria. You know, her little sister."

"Yeah, we ran into them while we were in France," Pansy added sheepishly, then pushed her hands forward in protest. "But don't worry, we didn't spend a lick of time with them."

"Then how would... Astoria know that you two shagged?" Olivia asked, feeling herself growing sort of frustrated about it all. She shouldn't be. Her friends were welcome to spend time with whomever they pleased, but Daphne Greengrass, of all people? She had killed Tommy. They all knew that.

"Our parents all wanted to catch up, and so we were all stuck together. But believe me, Olivia, we"—Pansy gestured between herself, Blaise, and Theodore—"did not spend time with them. We barely even spoke to them besides a quick hello. Astoria must've seen Blaise and I go into a room to"—she shot Blaise a quick glance—"talk."

"So it is true!" Theodore beamed, pointing an accusing finger at the two in front of him.

"I did not say that," Pansy retorted as Blaise held back a snicker. Then she turned to her boyfriend, giving him a look that told him to back her up in the argument. "Did I say that?"

"You did not," Blaise confirmed with a nod.

"But you implied it," Theodore countered, leaning forward.

Pansy narrowed her eyes at him, and Olivia held back a laugh, an amused smile on her face. Then Pansy let out a sigh, rolling her eyes as she slumped in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "Daphne... Sorry, Astoria needs to mind her own business."

Olivia shook her head in amusement, placing her hand on the seat. But as she did, her hand brushed against Draco's, which was also on the seat. She quickly snatched it back, putting it in her lap as she felt her face heat. He looked over at her; she could tell, but she didn't look at him. She just scooted closer to Theodore. Perhaps a little too close.

"Olivia, if you sit any closer to me, I'll become one with the train," Theodore joked, giving her a teasing look as she focused on him.

She could feel everyone staring at her, including Draco, and she made a risky decision. And Olivia being Olivia, she had to go with it. She leaned closer to Theodore and stared into his eyes with a cunning glint. "You don't want me sitting close to you?" she asked, with an innocent look on her face, though the look in her eyes was anything but.

"I didn't say that," he replied, smirking.

She smirked as well.

"What's going on between you two?" Pansy asked, her tone suspicious, cutting through the flirting before it could go even further.

Olivia looked over at her, feeling all of their eyes on her. "With me and Theodore?"

"No," Pansy drawled, looking slightly amused, lifting her finger and gesturing between Draco and Olivia, "you two."

Olivia didn't even glance over at Draco, nor did she need to for her to know that he was glaring at her, wondering why she'd been flirting with Theodore. Again. She could feel his eyes burning into her skin, but she ignored the sensation. "Nothing," she answered, though she was lying, and sat up straighter, no longer leaning closer to Theodore.

"Really?" Pansy raised her brows, sounding as if she didn't believe her. "Because you've barely looked at him since you got here," she told her knowingly. Pansy was no fool; she saw how Olivia was around Draco. And now it was not that. She smirked just slightly. "Usually you can't take your eyes off him."

Olivia narrowed her eyes, opening her mouth to deny. No words came out for a second as she gently shook her head. "That is not true."

"It sort of is," Lucas chimed in, muttering his words with a half-hearted shrug.

Olivia caught his gaze, her face full of offense. "Luke!"

"Sorry," he replied quickly, giving her a thin and awkward smile.

Olivia sighed, glancing over at Draco, only to see him with a smug and arrogant smirk on his face. She glared at him as he found her gaze, deepening his smirk. Then she looked away from him with a roll of her eyes, facing the window and staring out at the passing scenery.

They all went quiet for a long time, just settling into the train ride. Olivia kept her distance from Draco as much as she could, sitting so close to Theodore that their arms were brushing and her eyes remained on the window. Eventually, however, Draco stood up from the seat and walked over to his leather satchel that he had put on the racks above them and on the other side of the compartment.

Then everything went dark.

Some yelled and coughed as they were momentarily put into a cloud of black smoke. When it cleared, Olivia and the others looked around, confused, as Pansy and Blaise stood in their seats, their hands resting on the table.

"What was that?" Draco asked, turning to face them. "Blaise?"

"I don't know," the boy replied, his nerves settling.

"Relax, boys. It was probably just a first-year messing around," Pansy said, causing them both to focus on her. "Come on, Draco, sit down. We'll be arriving at Hogwarts soon," she told him as Blaise sat down again, squeezing back in the seat between her and Lucas. She sat down as well.

Draco turned, placing his hand on the half-wall between the back of his, Olivia's, and Theodore's shared bench with the other one of some other students. He sat back down, sitting closer to Olivia than he had been before. He rested his hands on top of the table that was between them, his fingers interlaced, and he looked out the window.

"Hogwarts," he began, breaking the silence amongst the group as the chatter around them went back to normal. "What a pathetic excuse for a school." Olivia looked over at him with boredom, though he didn't meet her gaze. "I think I'd pitch myself off the Astronomy Tower if I thought I'd have to continue for another two years," he confessed, causing Olivia to furrow her brows. What crawled up his arse?

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pansy asked, sounding genuinely worried.

Draco looked out the window, then focused on Pansy once more. "Let's just say I don't think you'll see me wasting my time in charms class next year," he replied, and a pit formed in Olivia's stomach at his words, wondering what he meant by them. He obviously didn't think he'd be returning to the school once their sixth year was over, but why?

Blaise snickered, catching everyone's attention.

They all looked over at the boy with tense expressions.

Draco focused on him the hardest, almost practically sneering. "Amused, Blaise?"

Blaise's expression fell flat as he looked up at Draco, going back to how he usually looked, not showing many of his emotions.

"We'll just see who's laughing in the end," Draco added, his words vague and almost threatening as Olivia focused on him again, trying to read what he was feeling and thinking based on his expression. But she couldn't, and that frustrated her. She watched as he glanced up, so subtle that the others didn't notice. She found where he was looking and saw a leather bag. She wondered what made him so curious about it.

After that, silence fell over them once more, and Olivia suddenly needed to get out of her seat. She felt like she was suffocating, sitting between Theodore and Draco. She needed space. "I'm going to take a stroll around the train," she told them as their eyes fell on her. One of her hands was braced on the table, while the other was on the back of her seat. Her body turned to Draco as she waited for him to move, but he didn't. He just sat there, staring at her blankly. Keeping her emotions in check, she sharply inhaled through her nose. "Draco, move. Let me out."

He just stared at her for another long moment before he rolled his eyes and moved out of the seat. She stood up as well, taking her bag with her, and tried to move away from him. But he was so close to the edge of the seat that she had to practically squeeze between the seat and him to get out, with her chest brushing against his—the fabric of her jumper and his black suit touching. Then she turned to walk away, not wanting to be near him any longer.

"Olivia," he said, catching her attention again. She turned to him with raised brows, looking at him impatiently. "Let me walk with you. We need to talk."

"I'll have to pass," she told him snarkily. "How about you stay here? I know how much you love to leave me alone, so it's a win-win. I don't have to deal with you, and you don't have to deal with me."

He knitted his brows together in confusion, watching as she whipped around and began to storm off. He was so bloody frustrating and annoying. She wanted to curse him. She had a scowl on her face as she practically stomped as she walked. She didn't make it too far, though, as she glanced back to see Draco still standing and watching her, having felt his eyes on her, and then ran right into someone. She collided with the hard chest, causing her to step back a few times before she regained her balance. She focused on the person she'd just run into with annoyance as if it were their fault. She was aware it had technically been her fault, but she didn't care. She hadn't been paying attention, but this person must've seen her, right? Unless they hadn't been paying attention either.

Her eyes caught on a somewhat tall, around Draco's height, perhaps an inch taller, boy with brown hair and matching eyes. He had tanned skin and a surprised look on his face. She didn't say anything, and neither did he for a moment, so she went to move past him, not wanting to be around anyone. She was already missing their old compartment. No matter what Pansy said, Olivia didn't think it was getting too crowded. If anything, the open car was more crowded. Literally! There were more people in it, after all.

Again, her attempts at being alone were disrupted when she felt a hand on her wrist, grabbing her. She stopped in her tracks, only to whip around with annoyance as she focused on the boy she'd run into. Who even was he?

"You're Olivia Mallard," he stated, still holding on tightly to her wrist.

She held the arm of the wrist he was holding in the air, and her eyes fell on his grip, then back to him. She wasn't surprised that he knew her, but she didn't know him. She supposed he was new to Hogwarts. He looked about her age, so it was a safe bet that he was a sixth-year student like her. "Yes, I am," she replied harshly. "Now take your hand off of me before we have a problem," she ordered, gritting her words through her teeth.

He seemed to fight back a smile at her words, but he let go of her wrist anyway. He took a step back from her, holding up his hands defensively, then turned around and walked away. Olivia watched him with a glare as he headed in the direction of where the others were. Then her eyes moved from his back and focused on Draco, who had watched the whole thing with his hands in his trouser pockets and his eyes locked onto her.

She just flattened her expression, lifted her chin, and turned around quickly again, walking in the direction of the compartment that they'd always sat in. As she entered, she saw that it was completely empty, which made her curious. But she didn't ponder on it too long as she shut the door and sat down. Her focus went to the window, and she rested the back of her head on the wall as she studied the passing field.

She could already tell this year was going to be interesting.

≀⋆⁺₊⋆ ꗃ 𖦹⨳✺

When the train finally came to a stop, Olivia stood up from her seat. She exited the compartment with the strap of her bag resting on her shoulder. She made her way past the exiting students and went back to where she knew her friends were, wanting to walk with them to the carriages now that she had a break from everything. But when she got there, the door was closed and the blind on it pulled down, blocking out anyone from looking in.

She furrowed her brows as she walked closer, slightly drawing the door open. When she looked inside, all she could see was Draco standing over... Harry? She quickly pulled the door all the way open so that she could stop whatever it was that Draco was about to do to the boy. He turned his attention to her, but Harry didn't move.

Was he petrified? Had Draco done that to him?

Draco looked her up and down and then said, "Shut the door, Olivia."

She watched as he turned back to Harry, looking down at him again, and for some reason, something in her screamed at her to shut the door. She didn't want him to get in trouble for whatever he was about to do. She should've stopped him.

Draco lifted his foot, and Olivia's eyes went wide. He stomped his foot down, the bottom of his shoe hitting Harry's nose and causing it to crack. Olivia's mouth fell open as she looked between both boys in shock. She knew Draco could be cruel, but he'd just... He leaned down, picking up something off the ground and holding it in his hand like he was going to throw it over the boy on the ground. "That's for my father," he sneered, and it suddenly became clear to her. He wanted revenge, even after he said that it was his father's fault for being caught. "Enjoy your ride back to London." He threw what she was assuming was an invisibility cloak over the boy to conceal him from anyone that was to look in there.

After that, Draco walked over to her as she looked at him in shock. He grabbed his satchel off of the table next to the door. He slid open the door and then grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the compartment before he used the hand holding his bag to shut the door open again.

She quickly pulled her arm from his grasp when he turned to look at her. "Don't touch me!" she said sharply, staring at him with wide, bewildered eyes. She looked like she didn't even recognize him as she looked him over. "You just... You just petrified him and broke his nose, Draco," she reminded him in a hushed whisper, though she was sure that everyone besides him, her, and Harry were off the train by then.

"He's responsible for my father going to Azkaban," he retorted sharply, leaning down closer to her so that his face was in front of her as he stared into her eyes intensely.

"You forget I was there as well," she countered in the same tone. "What is it you're going to do to me since you seem to want to seek revenge on those you deem responsible? Are you going to hurt me next?"

His expression softened, but he also looked offended that she would even think something like that. Could he blame her? "I would never hurt you, Olivia," he told her, taking a step forward and grabbing her arms gently.

She took a step away from him, her back hitting the wall as his hands fell to his sides. "Not physically, I suppose," she sneered, thinking back to the morning after. He looked confused, but she didn't stick around long enough for him to question her words. She moved past him, going to the door, opening it, and exiting the train. She heard him follow quickly as she went down the steps and began storming her way down the platform.

When they finally reached where the carriages were meant to be, they saw that there were none left, and that just made Olivia's rage even greater. "Brilliant," she muttered as she tossed her hands up and sighed in defeat. Then she turned to Draco with a scowl and shoved him, her hands pushing against his chest. He stumbled back a few places, looking at her with surprise. "This is all your fault!"

"How is this my fault?" he asked, stepping forward.

"You and your bloody revenge!" she shouted.

Someone grunted with annoyance, and they quickly looked over, seeing Filch standing there, behind a pile of luggage, and staring at them. Draco rolled his eyes and made his way over to the pile of trunks and luggage brought by all of the students. Olivia wasn't sure why it was there. The boy searched through the pile until he found what he was looking for. But when he went to grab it, Filch got to it before he could. Olivia felt someone staring at her, so she looked over her shoulder, only to see two men standing as stiff as statues behind her. How had she not noticed them? And what were they doing there?

"What's this cane here, then?" Filch asked, studying what Draco had tried to grab.

Olivia turned to the two of them again, focusing on what the man was holding. She rolled her eyes when she realized what it was. It was Lucius's cane that he kept his wand in. Well, the one he did before he went to Azkaban, that was.

"It's not a cane, you cretin," Draco spat. "It's a walking stick."

Olivia couldn't help but stifle a laugh, crossing her arms over her chest. She'd referred to it as a cane for a time or two, and she wondered how Draco would react if he heard her call it that. Would she be a cretin to him too?

"And what exactly would you be wanting with a walking stick?" Filch continued, snarling at the boy. "Be construed as an offensive weapon."

"It's all right, Mr. Filch," Snape, who had appeared suddenly, said, drawling out every word with his monotone voice. "I can vouch for Mr. Malfoy."

Olivia looked over to the professor as Draco snatched the walking stick from Filch. Then the blonde boy turned to her, seeing her give him a bored look as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Wow," she began, feigning admiration in her tone. "You really are trying to become him."

He took a step forward. "Become who?"

She looked him up and down as she moved closer to him, taking in the suit, the walking stick, and then finally focusing on his eyes. "Your father," she answered, then pouted her lip as she looked at him with clearly fake pity. "You even have his cane."

He narrowed his eyes at the mistitle but didn't say anything about it. "Yeah, try not to break this one," he told her, reminding her of all of the times she'd snapped Lucius's walking stick in half.

"I can't make any promises." She smirked and took another step forward, so much so that she had to crane her neck up to look at him.

He just stared down at her, studying her face with an unreadable expression. Then he took another step closer, and she didn't step back. She dropped her hands to her sides, and when he leaned down, she glanced at his lips and didn't move away, even though she knew that she should. The second he kissed her, she felt her body relax.

His lips were so soft, and his tongue brushing against her bottom lip reminded her of the night in her room. Her hand found the back of his neck, and she pulled him down closer to her,  her fingers running through his hair, both of them forgetting about the ones around them, including Snape, who looked away in disgust. Draco's hand found her waist, and he pulled her against him even more. They broke the kiss for a second just to take a little breath, their eyes meeting, small smiles on their faces, and then their lips were back on each other's.

"Hello, Olivia," a soft and feminine voice said from behind them.

Olivia quickly pulled her mouth from Draco's, turning her head down as she squeezed her eyes shut and dropped her hand from the back of his head to her side. She was supposed to be staying away from him, yet here she was, just having been seen with her tongue in his mouth and her lips on his.

Opening her eyes and putting on a happy expression, Olivia faced the girl. But not only was Luna standing there and staring at her with a kind smile, but Harry was next to her, looking at Olivia like she'd just betrayed him greatly. Her smile faltered just a bit as she caught the boy's gaze, feeling guilty, and even more so when she noticed the crookedness of his nose and the blood on his face. Then she revived her smile, making it as bright as she could, and said, "Hello, Luna."

Draco's hand was still on her waist as he, too, focused on Harry. "Nice face, Potter," he teased, his tone arrogant, knowing that he'd done that.

Harry just nodded, looking rather annoyed.

"Come on, Olivia," Draco said, moving his hand up to her bicep.

She quickly stepped away from him as she swatted his hand off of her. "Don't touch me," she muttered, causing him to look at her in confusion, his hand still in the air. She didn't meet his eyes, however, as she used both of her hands to tuck her hair behind her ears. Then she moved forward, sending a sympathetic glance back at Harry, while Draco followed her.

When she approached Snape, who was waiting on them, she faced forward, focusing on the professor. All she saw was him staring at her with a hint of disgust in his otherwise blank expression. She knitted her brows together and gave him a look that asked him what he was staring at.

He just looked away from her then, and she rolled her eyes.

And with that, the three of them walked to the school.

≀⋆⁺₊⋆ ꗃ 𖦹⨳✺

Finally settled in the Great Hall and dressed in her uniform, Olivia sat at the Slytherin table with her friends and other housemates. Pansy sat to her right, and Lucas was to her left, with Crabbe and Goyle beside him. Draco sat across from her, and Blaise and Theodore sat beside him. They were talking amongst each other as they ate their dinner and waited for Dumbledore to begin his annual start-of-term speech. Olivia noticed that Draco, however, was more focused on his goblet than anything, resting his elbow on the table and his chin in his hand. He looked rather down and out.

Did it have something to do with her? Perhaps his father?

Her attention turned away from the boy in front of her at the sound of the Great Hall doors opening. Harry was walking in, his nose now fixed, though still bloody, and Olivia noticed him holding a cloth to it. She needed to speak with him—clear things up before they could get out of hand, and he no longer trusted her. So quickly, she stood up from the table and made her way over to him, blocking his path before he could get to the Gryffindor table.

"Harry, I need to speak with you," she told him. "About what you saw."

He sighed, looking annoyed with her. Or perhaps more with the fact that she had been snogging Draco after telling him that she was done with the boy. "I thought you said you were going to stay away from him."

"I am," she replied.

"Right." He nodded, his tone full of sarcasm. "So that's why you were snogging him?"

"I wasn't snogging him; he was snogging me," she countered, suddenly growing defensive over herself. She had been snogging Draco, but it wasn't a lie that he had kissed her. Her eyes narrowed just slightly. "There's a difference."

"All right, then." He wasn't even phased by her sharp tone. "So you are going to stay away from him?"

Olivia relaxed slightly, standing up straight again. "Yes."

"Brilliant." He nodded once.

They just stood there for a moment, staring at each other with nothing to say. Then Olivia took a step forward quickly and wrapped her arms around his neck as she hugged him. He stiffened as she did, momentarily confused, before relaxing and hugging her back, still holding the bloodied cloth in his hand.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, her chin resting on his shoulder. "For what Draco did."

"It's all right," he replied, almost awkwardly, and she pulled back to look over his face, her hands resting on his shoulders with his on her back. "Luna fixed it, and I think she did a brilliant job."

Olivia gave him a knowing look. "That's not what I meant," she said, letting out a sigh as she looked away from him for a second. She took a step back, dropping her hands from his arms and refocusing on him. "I should've stopped him. I'm sorry."

"It's fine."

No, it wasn't.

She didn't argue, though she didn't believe that; she simply nodded as she pressed her lips together. "Well, I should get back to my table." She gestured to the table behind her, keeping her eyes on him. Then she felt eyes on her, so she looked over her shoulder, seeing Dumbledore standing at the front of the room, behind his podium, with his focus on them. "And I think Dumbledore is about to start his speech." She met Harry's gaze again.

Harry found the Headmaster, and then her, giving her a short nod. "Yeah."

"See you around, Harry," she said as she took another step back.

"You too, Olivia," he replied, smiling softly.

The two of them parted ways, heading to their tables. She found Draco staring at her as she was almost to the front of the table. Something crossed her mind, and she turned around quickly again, seeing that Harry hadn't made it too far. "Oh, and Harry?" She caught his attention, and he faced her with raised brows. She smirked, looking him over before finally settling on his eyes. "Is it mental for me to say that you look good with blood on your face?" Her voice was loud enough for the ones around them to hear, including Draco.

He smiled brightly, shaking his head in amusement, then turned and walked to his table.

Olivia did the same, not missing the curious looks she was receiving from her friends as she sat down. Draco had refocused on his goblet, his face flat, not even sparing her a glance. She was fine with that. Of course she was.

"Very best of evenings to you all," Dumbledore began a moment later, causing the chatter around the room to die down as everyone focused on him. "First off, let me introduce the newest member of our staff, Horace Slughorn."

Olivia sighed. Another new professor, really, Dumbledore? The man's name was familiar to her, and it only took her a second to realize that he'd been the former potions master at Hogwarts before Snape. Why was he there? She wondered, watching Slughorn stand up from his seat, noting that he looked like a nice enough man. Hopefully, he'd be better than the last new professor they had.

Dumbledore raised his hand to the man, while the new professor offered a small wave and smile before sitting down again. "Professor Slughorn, I'm happy to say, has agreed to resume his old post as potions master," the Headmaster revealed, causing Olivia's brows to furrow. If Slughorn was potions master, then Snape must've been... "Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape."

He'd finally done it. He'd finally gotten the job he'd pined for over the years.

Most of the Great Hall didn't seem too happy about this as they didn't clap and muttered their confusion and disappointment, while the Slytherin table, excluding Draco, who didn't even seem to be listening, had bright smiles on their faces, almost prideful, and applauded loudly for their Head of House. Draco's lack of interest usually wouldn't worry Olivia, but he looked so put out that a pit formed in her stomach. She tried to keep her focus off of him as best as she could.

"Now, as you know," Dumbledore continued, "each and every one of you was searched upon your arrival here tonight. And you have the right to know why." He paused to take in a small breath as the words swarmed around in the air. "Once there was a young man who, like you, sat in this very hall"—Olivia already didn't like where this was going, adjusting uncomfortably in her seat; she had a feeling of where this story was going—"walked this castle's corridors, slept under its roof. He seemed, to all the world, a student like any other. His name?" The silence loomed over them for a moment, and Olivia was already saying the answer in her mind. And she realized Slughorn had been the potions professor there when he was there. "Tom Riddle."

There was some chatter around the room once more, gossiping whispers when the name had finally been spoken. The Slytherins felt eyes on them as they looked around at one another, seeming a tad uncomfortable in these seats at that moment. Olivia wondered how Ginny and Harry felt, both having had bouts with the dark wizard.

"Today, of course"—Dumbledore paused as the room fell mostly silent again—"he's known all over the world by another name. Which is why, as I stand looking out upon you all tonight, I'm reminded of a sobering fact." Olivia tucked a bit of hair behind her ear as she waited for him to go on. Most everyone was, their attention completely trained on him. "Every day, every hour, this very minute, perhaps, dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's walls. But in the end, their greatest weapon is you." Olivia shot a short glance in Draco's direction. She hoped he hadn't become a weapon. "Just something to think about." He fell quiet again, staring at them like he hadn't put an immense amount of pressure on their shoulders. Olivia narrowed her gaze on the old man. "Now off to bed. Pip-pip."

And people wondered why she wasn't so keen on him.

The students listened, getting up from their seats. Draco seemed to snap out of his trance and look up to find his friends standing. Olivia caught his eyes for a moment, unknowingly giving him a look of sorrow, before she turned away, placing the strap of her bag on her shoulder. He eventually stood and joined them as they all walked out of the Great Hall. They talked while Olivia and Draco remained silent, with her trailing in front and next to Lucas, Theodore, and Blaise, and him in the back with Pansy as they led the first years to the dungeons, given that they were the Slytherin prefects. Crabbe and Goyle were behind them.

When they finally reached the dungeons, with about ten or so eager students behind them, Pansy told them the password, noting how they stared at the blank wall with confusion, and then she turned to Olivia and nodded with a small smile. Olivia sighed, then faced the wall and whispered the password, causing the familiar door to appear. There were surprised gasps heard behind her, but she didn't waste her time to glance back at the students. She opened the door and entered. They all followed closely behind, the children looking around the room as they took it in. Olivia remembered when she was a first-year and had been excited to come to Hogwarts.

Oh, how long ago that felt.

"This is the common room," Pansy began, lifting her arms like she was showcasing something, while Draco just stood next to her and remained quiet. He clearly wasn't interested in this post anymore. "You can enter by doing what we just did—saying the password, which you shall not reveal to anyone, no matter what, unless they are a fellow Slytherin, and making the door appear." She smiled kindly. She clearly enjoyed this post much more. "The boys' dormitories are up the staircase to the right, and the girls are to the left. The curfew is nine p.m., which means you must be in the common room by then but you have to be in bed by ten. Remember that. Being caught outside of the common room after that will result in house points being taken and even, sometimes, detention. Trust me, two of us know that firsthand." She not-so-subtly looked between Draco and Olivia, who knew she was talking about them.

The two of them just looked at each other, remembering when he had made her sneak out to spy on the Golden Trio as they had gone down to Hagrid's hut after hours. The girl felt the corners of her mouth turn up slightly, but she fought the urge to full-on smile, as Draco seemed to do the same. Instead, she took a step forward, focusing her attention on the first years in front of them. "Yeah, they hang you up by your thumbs in detention." Her tone had a faux sadness to it, like she was traumatized even thinking about the detention that did not happen. Well, it did, just not in that way. "It was so painful."

The new students looked up at her with wide eyes as she fought back the urge to laugh, while Lucas, Blaise, and Theodore stifled their own behind them. Pansy rolled her eyes, placing her hands on either one of Olivia's arms, squeezing her tightly. "This, my children, is my best friend and roommate, Olivia Mallard. You may know her. She is just messing with you."

"I am," Olivia agreed with a small nod. "But they did send us"—she gestured between herself and Draco, who was staring at her with a small smile that she forced herself not to notice—"into the Forbidden Forest, where we ran into Voldemort and Draco, here, ran away, screaming like a baby." The first-years' eyes just grew wider. "Well, it was Professor Quirrell, but Voldemort was on the back of his head, using his body as a host."

"Yeah, while you foolishly walked towards him," Draco countered, giving her a look, and she looked at him with surprise at his harsh tone. She had been foolish with her actions, but that was besides the point.

"Ole Quirrell, I'd forgotten about that bloke," Blaise admitted, cutting in.

Olivia faced the students, looking bored as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Pansy awkwardly smiled and said, "Point is, don't do anything that could get you detention or points taken. Also..." She paused, still with a smile on her face, and glanced over at Olivia, who met her gaze questioningly. Focusing back on the first-years, she added, "Olivia would be happy to help you should you need it and I or Draco are not available."

Olivia gave her a look of bewilderment, uncrossing her arms. "No, I won't."

Pansy gave her a pointed look, her smile tight. "Yes, you will."

"No, I won't."

"Don't worry, I will not be taking help from a blood traitor," one of the students, a girl, spat.

Olivia and Pansy quickly snapped their mouths shut from where they were about to argue and both turned to the girl. Olivia narrowed her eyes when she saw the proud raise of the girl's chin and the look on her face and took a step forward. "What did you just call me?"

Draco stepped in front of her before she got too close, putting his hands on her arms and stopping her as she kept her focus on the girl behind him, looking past his arm.

"Olivia, you cannot curse a child," Pansy muttered.

Olivia looked over at her. She seemed uncomfortable.

"She's just saying what she's heard," Pansy continued shyly. "Everyone knows your part in what happened at the Ministry, and so some are going to talk."

"Do you think I am a blood traitor?" Olivia asked before she could even think.

Pansy almost looked offended by her question, while the air around them changed into something less friendly and joyful in anticipation of the new year. "Of course not," she replied, taking a step closer to her best friend. "But most do, and you shouldn't expect otherwise."

Olivia looked away from her and to Draco, who was still holding her as he stared down at her with an unreadable expression on his face, then she moved onto Blaise and Theodore, who seemed to confirm Pansy's words. Not that she thought they believed her as one, but that others did, which likely included their parents. She focused on her best friend again, taking a step back from Draco. She softly smiled, though it wasn't genuine, almost a bit hurt. "I'm going to head to bed. See you in the room, Pans." She walked away, heading towards the staircase without another word, and they all just watched her as she climbed the stairs and disappeared. She was quite grateful that Pansy and Draco had been there because she had been close to cursing that child.

When she reached her door, she heard someone say her name from behind her, and she turned to see Draco walking towards her. How had she not heard him following her? She sighed, facing the door again, going to open it, but then his hand landed on hers to stop her. She snatched her hand back from his touch and turned her body to his, but she didn't meet his gaze.

His hands gently found the sides of her face, and he turned her head up so that she was looking at him. "Before you get any ideas into your head, know that I do not see you as a blood traitor," he told her pointedly. She opened her mouth to speak, but he did before she could. "And I do not blame you for my father being arrested."

She raised her brows. "But you blame Harry?"

"It's different, and you know it."

"How?" she asked, keeping her tone stern so as to not show the emotions she was feeling. "How is it different, Draco? I was there just as much as he and the others were."

He sighed. "Because I do not care about Potter."

"And you care about me?"

His hands fell from her face so that he could run them over his face. "How many times have we been over this, Olivia?" He focused on her and huffed. "Yes, I care about you; even in the times I know it'd be easier if I didn't," he admitted, staring desperately into her eyes. And before she could argue with him, like he knew she was going to, he leaned down and kissed her. It was short and sweet, not nearly long enough for Olivia's liking. He pulled away, rested his forehead against hers, and placed his hands on her face, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks as his other fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of her neck. "I care about you; I always have. Please never think otherwise."

She felt tears fall down her cheeks as his words settled with her, the feeling of his touch easing her as he brushed away the wetness from her face, and she slowly nodded, letting out a small sniffle. Then she lifted her head, looking up at him as he stared into her eyes. "Goodnight, Draco," she mumbled, then planted a kiss on his cheek before she stepped back and entered her room.

She had to keep her distance.

≀⋆⁺₊⋆ ꗃ 𖦹⨳✺

━━━━ ella's speaking !
IT'S OLIVIA'S BIRTHDAY !!!

i have most of act six written (only two chapters left that i plan on writing tonight) so expect frequent updates from now on! i can't believe i'm this far with this fic, i never thought it'd be possible tbh

make sure to comment and vote 🫶🏻

kisses.

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

word count: 8514. written: 8.4-6.24. published: 11.5.24.