Always

One would think after graduating from a school of magic, there would be a world full of opportunities out there. That is if you have any idea what you want to do? Me? I haven’t a clue. It has been one year since graduating from Hogwarts, and I couldn’t even begin to describe what I want to do with my life.

I live in a small apartment with my best friend Ron. We have known each other since we were born. My parents worked with his father at the Ministry. After Ron’s father, Arthur, met my parents, he had them over for dinner, where my mum and Ron’s mum, Molly, became fast friends. Throughout the years, my parents were around less and less. Now I’m lucky if I see my parents once a year. I moved in with Ron’s family when I was fifteen, after my parents never came home during my summer break. Molly was very upset with my parents and moved me in with them. Her and my mum have not spoken since. Ron and I are one month and four days apart. We have been attached at the hip since. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

Ron works at his brother’s joke shop down the street from our apartment. I work at the Ministry with one of my other best friends, Hermione. She is head of our department, and I am her secretary. We work on the rights for Magical creatures. Our friend Blaise worked in my spot, but decided it is not what he wanted to do, so he left and opened his own shop. He owns an apothecary that sells both magical and non-magical remedies. Hermione and Blaise now live in his family’s house – well more like a manor – on the outskirts of town. Michelle’s parents are muggles, and they don’t really understand her anymore, and feel uncomfortable with her in the house, so she moved out shortly after graduating.

*****
I am currently out to dinner with Hermione, Blaise and our other friend, Draco. I am sitting, staring blankly at the sandy blonde in front of me. He was eating his dinner and saying something to me, but I was lost in my own thoughts, a memory playing in my head.

I was on my way to Draco’s dorm room. We did not get along at all. It was our second year at school, and we got stuck doing a project together for our potions class. We just wanted to get it over with. I just entered his common room, and I found my way to the room he described as his. Just as I was about to knock on the door, I heard shouting from within.

“How dare you help that filthy mudblood. Such a disappointment!”, an unknown male said. “Father, please. It was just a first year. And it was just a bloody pen!”, Draco responded back. A loud smack followed, and I flinched at the sound. “You will watch your tongue when you talk to me. You will respect me”, his father scolded him. I could hear shuffling behind the door.

“Well, I think you’re being stupid. Who cares? It was just a first year. At least it wasn’t Harry Potter or his stupid friends”, Draco argued back, his voice dripping with venom. There was a loud thump, and it sounded like he hit the floor. I burst in through the door, Draco’s father held his wand in the air as Draco’s body shook on the floor.

“STOP! STOP IT! You’re hurting him!”, I cried out, rushing to Draco, cradling his head in my lap and shielding him from his father’s curse. I could feel the curse leave Draco and go through my body briefly, before his father dropped his wand, ending the curse. My body went rigid to hide the pain I felt briefly.

“And just who might you be?”, his father asked me, disgust, lacing his words.

“Greene, Sir. I… I came… we have a potions project we need to finish”, I stammered out, tears dripping down my face from fear. I might not have particularly liked Draco but watching him in pain was more than I could handle. He didn’t deserve that.

“Well Miss. Greene, I would advise you to mind your own next time”, Mr. Malfoy said sternly. He turned on his heel, walking out of the room, the door slamming behind him.

“Can you walk?”, I asked cautiously, helping him sit up. He nodded and held on to my arm as I helped him stand and walk over to the couch in the corner of his room. I walked to the small fridge by his desk and grabbed a bottle of water for him. He took it from me gently.

“That was really stupid you know. You’re lucky he dropped the curse when you blocked me”, he said frowning. He handed me his water. “Take a sip, you took some of that curse, you need it too”.

I took the water from him and finished it off. “I know, I’m sorry… I just… I couldn’t watch you… are you okay?”, I stuttered, unable to get the words out. “

I’m fine. It’s not the first time”, he said through his teeth. I couldn’t tell you what possessed me to do it, but I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He was stiff at first, but soon relaxed into the hug.

“Hey, Katie… what’s wrong?”, Draco asked me, his voice stirring me out of my daydream. I shook my head to clear it and reached for my drink.

“Oh. Sorry, I was just thinking… about the day we became friends”. I cleared my throat and took a sip of the foam on the top of my cider. He moved to sit next to me, grabbing my hand.

“Katie, you have to stop thinking about that day, I am out of his grip now, you don’t have to worry about him”, he replied, squeezing my hand once and going back to talking to Blaise. Both Blaise and Draco’s families believed that the world was better without muggleborns. They believed those who come from pureblood families makes them better than everyone else. It was completely barking.

“Who would have thought? The Malfoy and Zabini families, friends with a muggleborn and ‘blood traitors’”, Blaise said, raising his glass for a toast. “Ladies? Refill?”, Blaise asked, gathering our empty glasses.

“No, I think I’m going to head home”, I said, standing and brushing the wrinkles out of my skirt.

“Oh yeah? Heading home to your boyfriend?”, Draco asked with a laugh. I rolled my eyes at him.

“It’s not like that and you know it”, I replied, giving him a smack on his shoulder. I gave everyone a hug and kissed their cheeks before walking outside. I lifted my chin towards the sky as the cool summer breeze swirled my hair around my head. I walked the block towards my apartment, where I was hoping my best friend was waiting for me.