"Aurora! Wait up!"

I groaned as Harry called after me. I was just making my way up the platform at Hogsmede station. Waving the twins on, I waited.

Harry jumped off the train and hurried to my side. "So," he smiled, "are you nervous?"

"Not really, Harry, I was here for most of last year, remember?"

He gave a nervous chuckle as he adjusted his glasses.

"Well, I'm always here if you need me," he murmured, "you know I haven't forgotten how you were one of the few people that believed I hadn't put my name in the Gob-"

"I'm surprised the Ministry's still letting you walk around free, Potter!"

Harry and I span round at the approaching drawling voice.

Draco was marching towards us, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, newspaper in hand. "Better enjoy it while you can." He spat. "I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it."

"Oh fuck off, Malfoy!" Harry snarled. "Just because you're bitter that I spent the entire summer with your girlfriend!"

Draco stopped. His eyes bulged wide as they darted from me, back to Harry. "What?!"

"That's right, Malfoy." Harry sneered right up in Draco's face. "Aurora's joined our side now. As if she wants to be associated with a scummy Death Eater's son!"

"Harry, stop, it isn't like that." I implored, grabbing his arm to try and pull him back.

"Is it true?" Draco snapped, his grey eyes flicking past Harry, piercing into mine. "Did you spend the summer with him?"

"And the Weasleys!" Harry spat. "We had a great time planning your daddy's downfall!"

"Harry!" I cried, not quite believing what he was saying.

Tossing his newspaper aside, Draco furiously grabbed Harry by the folds of his cloak and rammed him up against the train. "You fucking dare talk about my father again, Potter!"

"Draco, please!" I begged him, near to tears.

Draco turned his head to look at me, and something flickered in his grey eyes. He slowly let go of Harry, stepping back, his chest heaving heavily as he looked at him in utter loathing.

Harry straightened up, shrugging his cloak back on properly, before walking off, closely followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

Draco and I stood alone, looking at one another. My heart pounded in my chest, torn between wanting to shout at him and wanting to kiss him.

"I didn't hear a single fucking thing from you." Draco spoke, breaking the silence.

"I couldn't, Draco." I explained, my voice wobbling. "I wanted to, so much, but I wasn't allowed."

"I was terrified for you! And then I see you laughing and joking with them!"

"They are not as bad as you think, Draco."

He looked at me incredulously, his face screwing up in disgust. "They are filthy blood trait-"

He suddenly stopped short, as if realising a little too late what he was saying and to who.

"They took me in when my father collapsed at my brother's grave as they lowered him into the ground." I said, my voice steady despite my whole body shaking with fury. "I had no one left, Draco! And don't tell me I had you, because I don't remember seeing you there when I needed you the most!"

Tears started spilling down my cheeks. I turned away and strode furiously up the platform, away from him, feeling so angry and hurt.

Hands grabbed me from behind, whirling me violently around. I found myself engulfed in his arms, pulling me furiously to his chest.

It felt so wonderful and familiar that, despite my anger, I couldn't help but throw my own arms around him, clutching him desperately to me.

"I'm sorry, Aurora. I'm so sorry." He murmured into my hair, releasing a deep sigh of contentment as I clung to him.

"I missed you," I sobbed, my body shaking against his. "I missed you so much."

"I know, I missed you too." He wiped my face with his fingers, drying my tears, before connecting his lips down on mine, kissing me softly and sweetly, sending tiny thrills zipping throughout my entire body.

To touch him was everything. To be in his arms, to kiss him. My body literally sang out to be near him again. I had missed all of this so much.

"It killed me that I wasn't there for you," he sighed, breaking the kiss, but holding me tighter. "Even mother tried to persuade father, but he wasn't having any of it."

I stilled at the mention of his father. It still gave me the shivers when I remembered the way he had looked at me.

"He wouldn't let you go because of me," I said, sighing knowingly and resignedly, "because of what my family are." Blood traitors. Half breeds.

"You know that doesn't matter to me," he said vehemently, his silver grey eyes piercing into mine. "It doesn't change the way I feel about you."

"Draco, you say that, but I see the disgust on your face when you look at the Weasley's and people like Hagrid. I get it, I do - your father has brought you up to believe in the importance of blood purity. And yes, you may struggle to think otherwise because of this - but your father will never, ever accept me for who I am."

Draco just looked down at me, pained. He swallowed. "If it came to choosing between my you and my father, it's you. It's always you, Aurora."

The train suddenly gave a loud toot, making us look up in alarm. The platform was empty, all the students had left the train and were now making their way to the castle.

"Shit," Draco said, dropping his arms from around me and taking my hand. "We better move before we miss the carriages. You can't be late for your Sorting."

I let him lead us away from the station. We managed to catch the last carriage, which we thankfully had to ourselves. Draco wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into his side. He played with my fingers on his lap, caressing and intertwining them with his own. It felt blissful just to sit with him like this.

"So, what do you think you'll be?" Draco murmured in my ear as we jostled about from the bumpy ride. "Reckon you'll join us in Slytherin?"

I wrinkled my nose, and shook my head. "As much as I love you, Draco - I just can't see myself as one of you lot. I don't know, perhaps I'll be a Hufflepuff like Ced."

I felt the familiar twist of my heart as I said his name. And, as if sensing my pain, Draco leant down, planting a sweet kiss on my forehead.

"Just please don't be a Gryffindor." He smirked, his lips still pressed to my brow. "I'd never live it down, having a girlfriend in the house of dorks."

"Hah! You just don't want me near Harry and the Weasley's."

"Potter is a twat. End of."

"He's not that bad! He just feels... responsible for me."

"What the fuck?" He spluttered, his eyes bulging furiously. "You're my girl - not his. He doesn't get to be the one to look after you."

"Cedric asked him to. It was his last request." I sighed sadly, looking up at the approaching castle. "And so now Harry feels obligated."

"I'll have a word with him."

"Leave him alone, Draco. You two are completely incapable of having any kind of conversation without it turning into a pissing contest."

"I'd win." He muttered as a smirk played on his lips.

"I'm sure you would, Draco." I said, rolling my eyes heavenwards.

Draco looked down at me, his eyes twinkling brightly under the moonlight.

"I love you." His voice was solemn, earnest.

"I love you, too." I whispered back, leaning up to brush my lips against his.

The carriage came to a halt outside the castle's gates. Draco helped me down from the carriage, and together, we walked hand in hand up the stone steps.

"Are you ready?" Draco asked, giving my hand a squeeze.

"I'm ready," I said, giving him a quick peck on the lips before letting go of his hand. "I'll see you on the other side."

And with that, I went and joined Professor McGonagall and the first years, who were waiting anxiously in the Entrance Hall for the Sorting to begin.