BONUS CHAPTER II
THE columbarium was colder in the mornings. Even with his black turtleneck, Draco could feel the chill down his spine, though he was not sure it was because of the weather entirely. Rather it has something to do with meeting his woman's parents. They may be deceased but it was only right for him to still greet them with respect. Anyone dear to Catherine was now dear to him. Even those he loathed, he had to learn to love them too.
With the picnic basket in hand, Draco followed the steps into floor 5, opening Catherine's parents box. When he was all alone, he couldn't help but sigh. Millions of people were cursed with nonchalant families, some may even wish their parents were dead. But Catherine was blessed with a beautiful home, only for the unfairness of life to rip them apart too soon.
Staring at Maria Ariendra through the moving pictures made his chest ache. She looks just like her mother, yet eerily has her father's charisma. His heart was pounding in his chest. His shoulders tense as if they were actually here.
Draco started to set the picnic. Placing the basket he brought on the ground, spreading the sheets and unpacking the food. He really wanted to do something for her. The written exam results are out today. Even though he had no doubts of her passing with exceeding expectations, he still wanted her to celebrate the baby steps in her journey.
Flick's wife caved in and finally told him more about today. Including a few sordid details of how Mrs. Ariendra was murdered. Details he did not wish to hear more, except Catherine wanted to tell him about it. He could not imagine how she handled the sorrows of her life and still turned out to be someone breathtakingly inspiring.
It made him love her even more.
He looked around the room, and made a mental checklist in his mind. Picnic, check. Her favourite snacks, check. Her favourite blend of coffee, check. New photographs and frames to replace the ones they broke, check. Flowers...
Shit, he forgot the sunflowers. And he had to pick up his pace in order to get to her on time. Just before the sun sets.
Draco finished setting everything, telling the goblins not to touch or move anything. He paid them enough galleons to bride his way in. With one last nod, he was making his way out the door when there was a tug in his chest. Turning his head to look at the two urns that were contrasting in colour, his feet began to pace back and stood in front of them. Their names are carved in silver along with their important dates.
He should say something, anything. It didn't feel right to just leave.
Draco cleared his throat, "Good morning." He looked around making sure no one was there.
"I'm..." He could see his own blurry reflection through the glass of the box. If they were still here, how would Catherine have introduced him? He imagined dinners just the four of them, her father firing him endless questions that he would gladly entertain.
A pang of insecurity flooded his veins knowing they would disapprove of a death eater as a future son-in-law.
But one day, hopefully soon enough, he was going to marry Catherine or there would be no one else.
"I'm someone who loves your daughter very much." The words sounded shallow in between the thick silence.
Slipping his hands into his pockets, he continued. His tone so soft, that the goblins eavesdropping from the outside awed his gentle statue.
"I cannot promise that I would never hurt her, but I vow I won't intentionally do so. I cannot promise her a life filled without pain, because pain is a part of living. What I can promise is to make her happy as best as I possibly can."
Because her happiness mirrors my own.
"Happiness encompasses all aspects of life. To be happy you have to be healthy, cherished, loved and I can assure you she will be."
With all my beating heart and forever more even if it stops.
"I wish that I could have met the both of you. Not only to thank you for giving me the love of my life. But to tell you in person that she has become a remarkable woman. A person so strong and resilient, yet she iridescently warms my heart every single day."
There was a knot in his throat from the magnitude of his words. He meant every single thing but hearing it out loud was so surreal.
"Even love itself is too weak to express what I feel for your daughter. I hope that you won't be too disappointed with me."
Draco had always believed he no longer deserve anything good in this life. That the universe revolves around pain, agony, destruction- but it was Catherine that healed his bruises and mended his broken dreams.
"And when you look down at us from the heavens, know that she is the saviour of my life and it is a privilege to exist in hers."
———
It was the first time in five years that Catherine did not cry to sleep on the anniversary of her mother's death. She missed her still, but yet there was no more sorrow, just peaceful longing and acceptance. Maybe it was because Draco's body was pressed closely against hers and his leg was draped across hers. She was running her hands through his hair, his face tucked closely into the crook of his neck.
Everything that Draco has done for her today was beyond words. She couldn't even thank him enough with her mouth on his skin, his neck and his lips. She was relieved in a way, knowing that there was going to be one more person in this world who would help care for her parents. One more person who can remember them, their stories, their precious memories are too valuable to go to waste. It was nice knowing that she didn't have to cherish everything all by herself.
Her hands moved to stroke his cheek and his arms went around her hips, snuggling in closer. Like he wanted to glue their bodies together and make sure she was safely stuck beside him. It made her wonder...
"Draco." She broke their comfortable silence.
"Yes, love."
"Can I ask you something?"
He kissed her neck and she suppressed a moan. He made his way to her jaw, her cheek then he laid his head facing her.
"Ask me anything." His eyes wandered to her lips. Someone was easily distracted tonight.
Catherine took a deep breath. "If I die-"
"Catherine."
"Wait, listen. If I die first-"
"Catherine." His tone now laced with a warning.
She groaned, "You said I can ask you anything!"
Catherine started to look away but Draco placed a hand on her chin, locking their gaze, "Anything that does not include you and death in the same sentence."
He was dead serious and Catherine sighed. She knew all about loss, Draco did too. It was a fear they shared together that can't seem to go away. But she decided to pester him a little longer.
"I'm just saying hypothetically..." she grinned a little when he grunted a curse out loud and closed his eyes. "If I die, like a hundred years from now, I want to be cremated and be placed near my parents."
"That's not a question."
Catherine frowned at his gloominess. "Would you do picnic's and stuff, just like today, for me?"
———
Draco's lips thinned as his silver eyes pierced hers. His hands moved to tuck a stray hair behind her ears and it slid to her neck, applying a firm pressure. He didn't know if he should strangle for asking suck a stupid question of just kiss her speechless.
Why are they even discussing this? He would rather talk about their future filled with a parade of children and a beautiful garden where he would plant sunflowers. Maybe he would warm up to the idea of having a few more dogs so that Smalls won't be so alone. He would make sure they have family traditions and that his family will have the freedom to do whatever they love.
Instead he asked, "What would you like me to do?"
"I would like some coffee."
His eyebrows raised, "Coffee? You want me to bring you some coffee?"
"Yes, I like your coffee. We could drink some together when you visit my box."
"I can do that." He hesitated, "But it will never happen."
Catherine rolled her eyes. "I said this was all hypothetical."
He had enough of this nonsense. He rolled her over so that he was pinning her down beneath him. He kissed her intently, sucking her bottom lip and playing with her tongue. He wanted to melt away her thoughts of them being separated, because he can't entertain the idea without his lungs running out of air.
Draco moved to kiss her neck, the spot where it drives her crazy and her legs starting to clench together in anticipation. Kisses turn to licks and sucks that finally made her moan his name.
"Draco..." she called out.
"Yes, ma cherie."
He didn't give her time to process more words. He only wanted to feel her writhing underneath his touch. Catherine's hands made its way tangled in his hair and it urged him to continue.
"What about-" She was interrupted by Draco's hands sliding up her shirt, "What about you?"
"What about me?"
She tugged on his hair, wanting to look at his face. Their noses are only a breath away from each other.
"What do you want... for when you die?"
To be honest he never thought about it. He never had someone that cared enough to still bother to think about his death. He always thought that he would die alone, not barring any destruction in his way. He had done enough evil that it would be such a blessing that he passed. Now he had someone else to think about.
Draco kissed him hard. This time without tongue or lust. He kissed him like he was saying thank you, for being a person that made him think of life as something worth having.
So he answered her.
"I don't want anything special in this life, Catherine. I just need to be right beside you."
I'm back with another bonus chapter! To those confused, this is an extended version or an addition to chapter 53. I hope you like it and I miss you all. Don't forget to vote and share this story if you loved it! Hugs and Kisses, Genevieve 🌻
P.S. If you love romance, fantasy, enemies to lovers with daggers to the throat please check out my new book "Battle of Crimson"!!! I have a few chapters uploaded and I would love your comments on it. Thank you ❤️