Loving, Leaving, Bruising, Bleeding

The study of Malfoy Manor was a quiet, hollow place. Draco threw down his quill and looked out the window and into the snow below. Cold air blew through the hallways and curled around his shoulders, sinking into his lungs and sending shivers down his spine. Draco had been warm before, but that was ages ago. He'd spent nights curled in the arms of a lover and that was when he'd felt the warmth. Now, however, all Draco could feel was emptiness.

Draco's train of thought ran so deep it took him five minutes to realise that a snowy white owl was tapping at the window. Draco looked up and unclasped the window. He thrust it open and the owl flew in. It circled his head once and landed softly on his shoulder; its talons sinking lightly into his skin. The owl nipped at his cheek, acting as if it recognized him. Draco was curious as to who the letter could have been from. The Ministry of Magic, most likely. However, this bird did look familiar. Draco furrowed his brow but didn't search too far through his memory bank.

Draco turned the letter over slowly and looked at the golden seal emblazoned with a phoenix across the back. The letter was definitely not from the Ministry. Draco picked up a silver letter-opener from his mahogany desk and slid it through the wax. Draco unfolded the parchment and scanned his eyes across the letter. The letter-opener fell to the floor. It made a loud clatter against the wood panneling startling the owl on his shoulder. It fluttered around the room and perched itself ontop of a tall wooden dresser. Draco stumbled backward, leaned against his desk and brought his eyes back up to the familiar hand writing.

Draco,

It has been two years since our last meeting. Do you remember? I will be entering the gates shortly.

Your one and only - right?

Draco dashed from the study and into the hall. The house was empty except for him. It had been like that since the Great War was fought. The Dark Lord had been defeated, Lucius killed, and the remaining Death Eaters thrown into Azkaban. The Dementors had been removed, by the suggestion of Albus Dumbledore and Draco was left to carry on the name of Malfoy - although it commanded less respect than it had before. Shortly after the death of Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy commited suicide using one of the dark spells from a book in Lucius' study. Draco ordered every book containing dark spells to be burned. Then, he shut himself into his room for days on end. It was all because of Harry Potter. A person that Draco couldn't bear to think about.

Draco thrust open the door of his magnificent bedroom and scurried into the bathroom. With a wave of his wand, hot, steamy water came pouring into the tub. Draco stripped the clothing from his body and slipped quietly into the shower. He would see his beloved once again. Draco sank to his knees in the shower and performed an act he hadn't done in two years...he wept.