When Worlds Collide

"Draco? Will you come out already? It's almost ten o'clock, for goodness' sake!"

No answer. I sighed and set the tray of dinner on the front steps of the tool shed. Not a single noise had Draco made since isolating himself outside, and I was starting to get extremely worried. Had he finally succeeded in suicide?

"Draco Malfoy, if you don't unlock that Godforsaken door in the next thirty seconds, I swear to God, I will dismantle this shed myself until I get in there. Do you understand?"

Still no answer. I blew air from my nose furiously and sat down with a loud thump, already starting to count down to the shed's ultimate demise. But by the time I had reached twenty, I felt the magic surrounding the shed's door disappear; and at twenty-five, the door latch clicked as it unlocked. I immediately got to my feet and opened the door, relieved that at least Draco was alive and listening to me.

The shed's interior was lit by a magical bonfire in the middle of the room, its blue flames licking up and illuminating Draco's face, who was staring into the fire as sullenly as I had ever seen him. I sat down again, this time across from him, and studied what I could see of his face. The tear tracks streaking down his cheek were not lost on me.

I sighed. "Draco, will you just tell me what's wrong instead of locking yourself up and taking more drastic measures? I mean, I know you want to go back, but I just don't understand why--you know, with all the bad memories and..." Draco still hadn't moved, not even to acknowledge my presence in the room. "I'm just rambling, aren't I? Listen, Draco, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did back there, it was insensitive, unfeeling, thoughtless--"

"I didn't let you in to have you talk my ears off," Draco growled. I smiled weakly; I took it as a good sign that he was feeling well enough to snap at me.

"Draco, I need to ask you--do you really want to go back to--your world?" I paused, then pulled the ring out of my pocket and studied it in my palm, as I had done many times inside the house over the course of the afternoon while I made my decision, before rolling it across the floor to Draco. "Because, as much as I think it's a bad idea... I'll let you."

The ring clattered to a stop at his feet. Draco slowly picked it up and looked at me wonderingly. "Why? Why the sudden change of heart?" he asked, more than a little scathingly on the last words.

"Well, you--you've been one of my closest friends in a long while, and you showed me magic and all, and--" I stopped up here, unsure of how he would take my next words. "--I love you too much to watch you suffer. Even if it means I won't ever see you again."

"Oh, Estella--" Draco moved closer to me. When I looked up, I found him studying me with some warmth in his eyes. "Is that why you didn't want me to leave? Because I might forget about you and never come back?"

"More that I didn't want you to die and never come back. Draco, how can you trust Snape, after all he did? He killed Dumbledore--"

"Only because I couldn't, remember? If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be talking to you right now, because the Dark Lord would have had me rotting in Azkaban with my parents." Draco was now sitting on the same side of the fire as I was, shifting ever closer during our conversation. "He's really not a bad person--all right, he's snarky and caustic most of the time, but that's just normal--and he's as loyal to his family as the next guy. I'm sure I'll--just don't worry about me, Estella. I'll be able to take care of myself."

There was a long silence as I wrestled with my emotions. He looked so--content and--earnest as he sat next to me, waiting for my reaction. And there was no way I could hold him back from what he wanted; it was true, my soft spot for him and my conscience would never let me watch him suffer.

Finally, I nodded, even though it was the hardest motion for me to make. My eyes filled with unshed tears as I heard myself say, "All right. I won't worry. When do you want to leave?"

Draco turned and pulled me into an awkward hug. "I'll do it tomorrow," he said quietly into my shoulder. "Before either of us gets cold feet about it."

WWC WWC WWC WWC WWC

Saturday dawned cold and clear. It was completely incongruous with my emotions, as I thought it would be more appropriate if it were pouring rain or hail--even a blasted tornado would work. But no, the sun still shined over Cedar Mills, even though the star that had burst its way into my life was about to wink out, perhaps for good.

Since Draco had only his wand and tattered robes when he first came to our world, I was more than happy to let him take some of my father's clothes with him. Quite expectedly, he was very fond of the outfit I had chosen for him on his first day here, and that was what he chose to wear in order to go back. As a personal gift, I gave him a set of mittens that I had knitted myself, shortly after he had arrived; it was in Slytherin green and silver, and I had ironed on a small Hogwarts crest from the local sewing shop onto the backs of each of them.

And then, Draco asked if he could take two things with him as mementos of his time here. A picture of me, I could understand; and I gave him one, a small snapshot of me in the woods behind my house in the spring. But his other request truly puzzled me.

"Why The Chamber of Secrets?" I asked as I pulled the aforementioned book from the bookcase.

Draco shrugged and took the book from my hands. "Well, I'm still not quite done with it, for one thing. Besides, I like it better than the first one--I'm in it more."

I laughed and watched as he shrunk the book to a size where it would fit easily in his back pocket and slipped it in. I realized then that I must have finally resigned myself to his departure--I wouldn't have been acting like Draco was just going on a short holiday to the beach if I wasn't.

Suddenly, Draco turned to me and pulled me into his arms. "I know it's hard for you," he murmured into my hair. "But I just want you to know--it's just as hard for me to leave you without knowing if I'll ever see you again. And I never got to thank you for saving my life, either."

I laughed into his shoulder; but it was a sad laugh, without much mirth. "You don't need to thank me for that," I said quietly. "But would you be willing to do one thing for me instead?" And before he could respond, I began to sing.

Think of me, think of me fondly,

When we've said goodbye.

Remember me once in a while--

Please promise me you'll try.

When you find that, once again, you long

To take your heart back and be free--

If you ever find a moment,

Spare a thought for me...

Draco nodded and tightened his hold around me. "It's not like I could ever forget you, anyway," he whispered, then tilted my head back so that our eyes met. I let my eyes close as he leaned in, waiting for the kiss that was sure to come--

"Estella? Are you home?"

Draco jerked back as if he'd been burnt, and I scowled as Dirk peered around the corner of the doorframe. My best friend was really a great guy, but there were some things he had yet to learn--like timing.

"Oh." Dirk froze as he took in the sight. "Were you--in the middle of something?"

"Yes," Draco growled.

"No," I squeaked at the same time.

Dirk glanced at Draco, then me. "Well? Which one is it?"

"Draco was just getting ready to--go home," I answered before Draco could interject. "He's found a way to get back to his universe."

Dirk looked a bit shocked for a moment; but he quickly recovered, moving forward and extending a hand to Draco. "Even though I would be lying if I said I'm sorry you're leaving...well, let's say that I'm sure you'll be missed." Dirk threw a glance in my direction, and I had the grace enough to blush.

Draco accepted Dirk's hand without hesitation; then, to my surprise, he released me and pulled Dirk into a masculine hug of his own. He muttered something--I wasn't sure, but I thought it sounded like, "Take care of her."

Dirk proceeded to follow Draco and I to the backyard, where Draco had planned to make his final departure. The sun was well up and shining over the pond by now; the bright light had me blinking for a few moments, rather like the owl that had delivered Draco's fateful letter. It distracted me from seeing Draco's face one last time... and from the throbbing pain in my heart that I knew wouldn't be gone anytime soon.

And then, as Draco pulled the ring that would send him home out of his pocket, I realized that there was one thing left that I wanted to give him.

"Wait!" I pulled a thin golden chain from beneath my neckline and unclasped it. On it was a small golden ankh, a present from my mother many birthdays ago. "This is an ankh, the ancient symbol of life for the Egyptians," I explained softly as I reached up and put it on Draco. "Wear it, and may it bring you good luck and long life wherever you may be, my magical friend. At least, may it let you remember our time together."

Draco fingered the small amulet before reaching into his collar and pulling out a silver chain of his own. Dangling from it was a round silver pendant, one side engraved with carvings of some sort. He took it off and fastened it around my neck as well.

"This is a Malfoy heirloom," he said to me, so that only I could hear him. "My father gave it to my mother when they were engaged, and she passed it onto me before she died. The Malfoy men have used it to mark their chosen ones since time immemorial." He brushed my hair to one side and smiled. "May it also let you remember our time together, my lovely star." Then, he lightly kissed me on the forehead--although I'm sure he was willing to do more, had Dirk not been watching.

Finally, with a nod to Dirk, and one last smile for me, Draco Malfoy slipped the Portkey ring on his finger...

And disappeared from my life in a whirlwind of color.

Suddenly, the pendant that Draco had given me grew hot on my chest. I lifted it up to my eyes, just in time to see the carvings shift as I watched. Where there once was a lone dragon enclosed by vines, now there was a dragon intertwined with a phoenix. I smiled; I had already seen my Patronus (and Draco's) once before when Draco had taught me how to cast it, so the symbolism was not lost on me. On this pendant, at least, we would always be together.

"Um, Estella?" I turned to my best friend, and he continued, "Was Draco trying to--kiss you when I came in? Like, on the mouth?"

I glared at him. There was no need to act so disgusted about it! "Yes," I sniffed. "And you ruined a perfectly good moment, thank you very much."

I was a bit surprised when he laughed and clapped me on the shoulder. "Well, I'm glad I stopped it, then. If he had kissed you, who knows how long it would've taken to get him to leave!"

After a few moments, I laughed along with him; and with that, Dirk and I walked back into the house to enjoy a much-needed late breakfast together.