Delicate {𝔻𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪}

Chapter 18

The new cover I drew ^
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The entire school boarded the Hogwarts express to head home for Christmas for the first time in its history. With the reparations needed after the battle the previous May, all students had to returns home so that they could make more progress on the reconstruction.

Harry and Draco had gone to a compartment near the back together, an apprehensive feeling surrounding both boys as they attempted to ignore the places they were headed towards. Their home was back at the castle with each other, so neither felt like they were going home for Christmas, rather leaving it behind.

They decided to find a compartment to themselves so that they could have a bit of privacy and enjoy their last few hours before they went to their respective houses.

Harry was still cursing Tom Riddle, as, despite his death, he still needed to stay with the Dursley's due to some of Voldemort's un-captured followers remaining out for his blood and searching for him with a vengeance. Harry had debated risking it all just to get away from those he was expected to call family, but when thinking about those he cared about, he decided he'd rather take the abuse than not be alive to see Draco's shining smile.

Whether he could even survive to the end of Christmas at home remained to be seen.

Draco was going back to Malfoy Manor. With his father gone, he was less nervous than he would be, but the residual dark magic from the Dark Lord's stay remained, and his home was forever tainted. He also had to attempt to deal with his father's plans for his future. How the man still had power from his cell in Azkaban baffled the young blonde, but he should have expected it. Even now, he couldn't escape his crazed father's control over him.

He would just move away and leave the mansion of his childhood remain where it should be, in his past, however, he didn't have the heart to leave his mother there alone, and she had adamantly refused to leave, planning to refurbish it and start afresh.
She had ignored Draco's suggestion to start afresh in a new home, much to his dismay.

The two boys were heading home to their respective horrors that they had been using the school year to work past. Only now, they were thrown back in, without the comfort of their other half.

The two boys felt the train stop and wished that it was all a dream. Alas, it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. After a desperate kiss and lingering hug goodbye, Draco and Harry exited the train's compartment and headed their separate ways. Neither turned back, knowing they wouldn't be able to continue forward if they cast a final glance at the one they loved too much.

Unsurprised by the lack of car ready to pick him up, Harry headed towards the apparition point, preparing for a long walk back to Surrey.

Draco smiled at his mother gently and hugged her to him, attempting to keep the tears at bay. He had made the mistake of turning once he arrived beside his mother, and he watched as Harry dejectedly walked away, shoulders slumped in defeat. Narcissa returned his smile before the two of them headed home.

ʕ•ᴥ•ʔʕ•ᴥ•ʔʕ•ᴥ•ʔʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

Harry arrived at the door of the Dursley's only to get grabbed by the collar when the door opened. Vernon Dursley snarled in the young boy's face as he was pulled through the door.

"It disgusts me to have you in this house. You're late, get to work Freak." Vernon told his nephew venomously. Harry nodded obediently and immediately set out to work, knowing that this was how his entire stay was going to play out.

He was just glad that he had eaten a large dinner the previous night and an even bigger breakfast that morning. Merlin knew he was going to need it to get him through his stay. Petunia's favourite pastime was seeing how long Harry could go without food before he passed out.

After a rough smack across the head, Harry was shoved into the kitchen as Vernon headed into the living room to watch the soccer game that was on. Petunia, lip curling in disgust, merely handed him his list of chores before she left the room, not wanting to be in the presence of such 'filth' for longer than necessary.

Biting his lip to suppress his tears, Harry set out to work. Usually, he would be unaffected by the treatment, having adjusted to the harshness over the many years living with his 'family'. However, after an entire term of feeling cherished and important in the arms of one Draco Malfoy, the location change hit him harder than usual.

Harry only hoped he could make it through the few weeks he was staying in Little Whinging, wanting to get back to the blonde, somewhat stable, so as not to worry him more than necessary. Harry always felt like a burden, with the baggage he had and the lack of self-worth he held. Draco's continuous reassurances were struggling to combat years of insecurities in the Raven.

That night Harry went to bed with a fresh black eye, bruised ribs and an empty stomach. Knowing that night would set the tone for the rest of the holiday, Harry had been extremely diligent, choosing to obey his Aunt and Uncle's every whim, in the hope that they would grant him any small reprieve. He knew it was naive, but if he couldn't even hold onto that small hope, then he would have nothing, and he wouldn't be able to keep himself alive.

It just depended on who's hands would be the ones to end his life, Vernon Dursley's or his own.

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Hello all, yes I've been aware forever, yes I re-drew the cover so it looked like I was actually doing something, no I can't promise it won't happen again because that's probably lying. However, over the next week, chapters will be coming out in bulk because I have exams and this is a way to semi-productively procrastinate. After that hopefully, I will have an updated schedule in place for the holidays and this book will finally be completed by the end of January. Saying that is gonna come back to bite me in the ass but hopefully, a deadline will motivate me. I love you all and your support despite my absence has been overwhelming. We've reached 24k reads for Merlin's sake. THAT'S CRAZY! I love you all, and I'll stop talking (writing?) now.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter xx

Lila out💜