Chapter 14
The next few weeks passed Draco by and he barely noticed and his mind bounced between pure fear and pure excitement ahead of his impending move to uni. He had been placed in a lovely student flat with three other people. He had an ensuite and from the pictures online the kitchen looked really nice. Remus had taken him on a big shopping trip to York, given that it was the nearest city, which included a little tour of the uni too. He got all the kitchen essentials and school essentials and he got his mum to trade in his laptop and get the new one sent straight to the farm, which she only agreed to do when he lied to her and said the laptop was for looking into late applications to Oxford.
She had sounded ecstatic over the phone and a brief wave of guilt washed over him, but he hastily pushed it down and focussed instead on his day with Remus. They went clothes shopping too, which was Draco’s favourite pastime with Pansy and one he hadn’t done in a long time, and it made him miss her a lot. She was very excited for him to go to York. She was going to Durham, which wasn’t so far away that they couldn’t visit each other, which was also a very exciting prospect. It was all becoming more exciting the closer he got, even though he was filled with an aching sadness at the prospect of leaving the farm behind. He had silently promised himself to visit every other weekend, but Sirius kept telling him that once he got there, he would be so caught up in everything he wouldn’t want to come home. That Sirius had called the farm Draco’s home made his heart do a somersault in his chest.
Move-in day was bittersweet. They filled the land rover's boot with Draco’s things, and all Remus, Sirius and Draco piled into the car to do the hour and a half drive up to York uni. Harry had to stay behind because someone had to look after the animals, but the night before he had come to the cottage late to personally say goodbye. He had even gone as far as to say he would miss Draco, which was kind, even though Draco suspected it to be a lie.
They did a food shop, went out for lunch, and then it was Draco’s move-in slot, and they drove to his accommodation. Draco was jittery, and was shaking the whole time. His room was small, but then again, so was the cottage, and though his room in London had been huge, loneliness had lingered in all the dark corners, and this room-and the cottage- he could make his own, more than his space in London had ever been.
Sirius sat on the bed making sarcastic comments whilst Draco and Remus set up- sorting out plugs and his books on the desk, and hanging up his clothes, finding him a cupboard in the kitchen for all his kitchen equipment and the like. Eventually Sirius had to get up so they could dress the bed, and then it was done. He was all moved in, and it was time for Sirius and Remus to return to the farm. Remus and Sirius both gathered him into tight, bone crushing hugs one after the other, before they left Draco all alone in his room.
Onto the next big adventure, he mused, trying not to cry as he gazed out of his window.
****
Dear Remus, Sirius, and Harry,
I love it here. My flatmates are lovely, and my course has proved interesting so far. The city is lovely, and I’ve spent many evenings going on long walks with my friend, Tadgh. Speaking of- would it be okay if Tadgh came to see the farm for a night or two at the start of the Christmas holidays? Totally okay if not though! I miss you all, and I am hoping to come down as soon as possible, but much to my chagrin they have changed the bus route, and it no longer goes via Hogsmeade. If/when I find another route home, I’ll let you know!
Love, Draco xx
Dear Remus, Sirius, and Harry, Remus, thank you so much for offering to drive me down for reading week. Mine is the 2-8 november, and it would be amazing to come back for a week! Lectures are going well still, and I handed in my first assessment for business last week, which was a big relief. Thank you also for letting Tadgh come down, he is really excited to see the farm, and meet you all. I miss you all, and hope the Weasleys and Hermione and her family are all doing well too.
Love, Draco xx
Dear Remus, Sirius and Harry, I had a great time seeing you all for my reading week, but I must say that farmwork was much more enjoyable in the summertime. Work is picking up again, so my postcards might get even more infrequent, I’m afraid. It’s takeaway night tonight, which I’m very excited for. I miss you all!
Love, Draco xx
Dear Remus, Sirius and Harry, Christmas is getting closer and I cannot wait. Uni is proving to be a lot of work, and I am desperate for the reprieve. I am loving it here though- the people and the city are lovely, and I’m so glad I made the decision to come here, even though I miss you and the farm (and the cider!) massively. See you all soon!
Love, Draco xx