Without You

Promise

Autumn woke up the next morning, stretching her arms out. She finally had a good night's rest after yesterday's long journey. She blinked a couple of times until her eyes finally adjusted to the light in the room.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY!!!"

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and even Luna were in the room, a cake in Hermione's arms. Autumn jumped out of bed, surprised and grateful for her friends' effort to make her day somewhat special.

"We could decide between vanilla or chocolate... So we've made both!" Ginny giggled.

"Thank you so much..." Autumn said, after blowing out the candles on the cake as her friends cheered. Hermione and Ginny had clearly baked the cake. Hermione had been bothering Autumn about her favourite cake flavour for the past two weeks, Autumn took the hint.

They all exchanged a hug with her before Ron and Harry passed her a pink box, containing a book she had wanted for quite a while now. It was the first book to 'The Book of Witchcraft: Potions'. She held the book to her chest, thanking her friends once again before they all hurried out to the Great Hall for breakfast. Autumn was surprised Luna wasn't caught by any of the prefects, and left the Gryffindor tower casually without a rush.

Before they entered the Great Hall, Hermione stopped Autumn in her tracks. She passed her a note, smiling at her widely. Before Autumn opened the folded piece of paper, Hermione hugged her, whispering in her ear, "Have fun."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville entered the Great Hall as Autumn read the folded note. Autumn noticed that Hermione and Ron were holding hands, but they disappeared quickly before she had the change to ask. A lot must have happened during the Christmas break. What was happening now?

"Meet me by the lake. - D."

Autumn wasn't stupid. She knew it was from Draco. She walked through the viaduct, which lead to the Great Lake. Autumn figured that a lot of things had changed between Ron and Hermione in her absence. Hermione used to tell Autumn how upset it made her seeing Ron with Lavender Brown. Ron and his girlfriend obviously were no longer together, since Lavender was now nowhere to find around Ron.

Autumn remembered the way to the lake from the other time she went there to watch the second task for the Triwizard Tournament two years ago. Underneath the large tree, she could see Draco standing there, a rose in his hand. Autumn made her way towards him, the grass and fallen leaves rustling as she walked.

"Happy birthday, Autumn." he said, wrapping his arms around her. He passed her the rose in his hand, along with a similar pink box to the one Hermione had given her earlier. She unboxed her presentㅡ it was the second book of the series.

She looked up at Draco, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Thank you so much..." she whispered, pulling him into a tighter embrace. Autumn definitely missed home, but being in Draco's arms felt so right. In his arms, she felt at home, as if she belonged. She pulled away, as Draco pushed the hair out of her face.

"I heard you came to school with Davies last night."

Autumn flinched, afraid he'd be acting overprotective again. "I did." She hoped he wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Right now, she only wanted to spend more time with him and wanted to do anything to avoid bickering with him.

"He didn't try anything funny, did he?"

Autumn shook her head, "Of course not. He knows better than that."

Draco broke into a smile once again, pulling her in for another hug. "That's my girl."

For most of the day, Autumn and Draco sat there together, talking. About everything. Autumn was glad she didn't make the mistake of breaking up with Draco earlier in the year, when she thought things were going bad. If she did break up with him, what would it be like now? Draco would go back to bullying her, and Autumn would join her friends as another victim.

Draco explained that he wasn't quite feeling like himself earlier this year after his father had been arrested. He admitted that he felt that it was Harry's fault his father ended that way, not realising that it was his own decision to make. Autumn then heard the story about how Harry's nose had been broken, resulting to Autumn getting upset at Draco for at least twenty minutes. Autumn knew that Draco was somehow responsible for Harry's nose, but deep down, she was hoping that it really had nothing to do with him.

Although Draco could really be mischievous and troublesome, Autumn knew that she really liked him for the way he was. Most of the time, he did things she wish he didn't, but there was a side to him that Autumn truly fell in love withㅡ the real Draco Malfoy that everyone else was too blind to see. Underneath his mask of pride and ill-manner was a young confused boy who only needed somebody to be there for him.

As the day went on, the two had a walk around the lake, continuing on their conversations.

"What are you thinking of doing after Hogwarts?" he asked. Autumn remembered talking about careers with Snape the other time, realising how much thought she had put into it.

"Well, I once said I wanted to work in the Department of Mysteries," Autumn said honestly, "Although Professor Snape says I should decide on something else, like the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, or something."

"Department of Mysteries? You should go for it." Draco said, as if he was indicating something.

"Really? Why do you think so?"

No one had really supported her interest in the Department of Mysteries with the exception of her friends. Even her mother thought she should consider a different occupation.

"Well, I'm going for it." he shrugged, "And if you'd like to do it, go for it. You don't have to listen to anyone else who says otherwise."

Autumn had already been considering choosing the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, since her father used to work in that department. Draco, on the other hand, had been persistent on working in the Department of Mysteries as an Unspeakable.

"But you can't tell anyone," he said, "You're the only person I've actually told."

The sky soon got darker, a sign that the two should head back for dinner. Autumn picked up her rose and book from the ground, standing up underneath the tree with Draco. He smiled at her warmly, his silver-coloured eyes no longer piercing. His forehead suddenly creased, his hands grabbing hers. His smile became an expression of worry and desperation.

"Autumn, listen," he started, "Whatever happens, I want you to know that I love you. And I'll never hurt you. You know that, right?" he waited for Autumn to nod before he continued, "I want you to listen carefully to me. You don't have to understand, but you have to trust me, okay?"

"Okay. I trust you, Draco. But whatㅡ"

"Promise," his eyes looked deeply into hers, "Swear that you'll trust me."

He looked so serious this time. Autumn nodded one last time before Draco kissed her on the forehead.

"I promise."