Dove Taylor lies on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Only a few hours have passed since her and Draco's fight, but she feels awful. She twists the ring on her finger, tears sprouting in her eyes as she does.
Narcissa made it seem as if she'd marry Draco one day. Dove wants too. She loves him and could definitely see herself spending the rest of her life with him. But Draco made it sound as if that idea was ridiculous.
If he doesn't want to have a future with her, then why is he dating her? She wouldn't be dating him if she didn't see a future with him. Isn't that why you date someone?
Hurt fills her for what feels like the hundredth time today. She grabs her pillow, holding it tightly to her chest as tears stream down her face again. Her door suddenly opens, Draco walking in. He looks just as miserable as she is.
"Dove, I--" He stops when he sees her. "Oh, baby, I'm sorry," he murmurs, shutting the door and walking hurriedly over to her. He sits next to her on her bed, pulling her into his arms. "I'm sorry. I was mad and let my emotions get the better of me."
"I understand that, but you made it seem like you don't want a future with me," she says pathetically, sitting up. "And I get it if you don't, but then why date me?"
"Dove, that's not what I meant," he sighs, hugging her. She relaxes in his arms, breathing him in. "Of course, I want a future with you. I love you. Seeing you with that ring just angered me because I wanted to find a special time to ask you to marry me."
"We're too young to get married," she sniffs, drawing back. "We're too young to even be engaged."
His fingers maneuver the ring off of her finger. He gets off of the bed, dropping to one knee. Did he not hear a word she said?
"Dove Lorraine Taylor, I love you," he utters with a smile. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I understand it's too early to ask you to marry me even though I'd do it in a heartbeat. However, I promise to love you forever, to build you up when you feel weak, to hold you when you can't stand, and to make you happy. Do you accept this promise ring?"
A huge smile crosses her face, "Yes."
He slides the ring back onto her finger, kissing her slowly. He lingers, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Even if we fought every day, I would always come back to you," he tells her, pecking her lips once more.
"I hope that's a possibility that never happens," she counters, "But of course, I'd come back to you as well."
-
Draco Malfoy holds his girlfriend's hand tightly as they walk through what remains of Diagon Alley. He pulls her close to her as they pass the broken remains of Ollivander's. She swallows, releasing his hand to wrap her around him, slightly afraid.
"Draco, I have a bad feeling about this year," she whispers faintly, her heart feeling cold with terror.
He stops walking, causing her to stop as well, "Dove," he murmurs, looking down at her. "I promise that I will do everything in my power to ensure nothing happens to you or to us, okay?"
She only nods, not trusting her voice to say anything else. She knows her and Draco could hold their own against anyone who tried to hurt them, but she still wishes she'd agreed when her parents asked the couple to go with them.
The streets are virtually empty save for a few students of Hogwarts, but they mostly seem to be keeping to their families or friends. Most shops are closed, some permanently it seems. The once bright and happy place is now cold and scary. How could things go downhill this quickly?
"Taylor!" Harry calls from behind them.
"Harry!" She says, trying to muster up a smile. She hugs him, finding it odd that he seems surprised by her warm greeting. The two always hug when greeting or leaving each other. He shakes Draco's hand, giving him a smile. What's gotten into him? "This place is so sad now, isn't it?"
"What else do you two need?" He asks, ignoring her question for the time being.
Dove checks their list, "We just need A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration and that's all."
"Follow me," he says mysteriously.
Draco and Dove exchange a look but follow Harry into a seemingly closed shop, "Harry, what is this?" She asks worriedly.
He doesn't reply. She automatically reaches out for her boyfriend's hand, who hurriedly takes it, giving her some comfort. She looks up at him, trying to get his attention. He looks over, and she widens her eyes a bit, trying to send a signal. Something doesn't seem right about this.
He called her Taylor. He didn't want to hug her. He was too familiar with Draco. Things aren't adding up.
She takes out her wand, and Draco follows suite. The trio come to another door, Harry opening it and motioning for them to go in first.
Dove suddenly points her wand at him, releasing her boyfriend's hand, "What's the first thing you asked me to do last year?"
Harry startles, looking between them suspiciously, "Why do you ask, Dove?" His voice is a little dark. She doesn't back down. "Do you not trust me?"
"Not at the minute," she shoots back. "What is the first thing you asked me to do last year?" He shakes his head at her, the scar on his forehead suddenly disappearing. "Draco, he's not Harry," she whispers in a rush. "Run!"
She doesn't use her wand, knowing she could potentially be expelled from Hogwarts for not being seventeen yet. The two break into a run, zig-zagging down the hall to ensure they don't get hit by any stray spells.
They run out of the shop, holding hands tightly. Dove screams when she runs into someone. Draco immediately raises his wand, tugging her into him to protect her.
"Dove, it's just us!" Harry Potter exclaims, eyes wide.
"What's the first thing you asked me to do last year?" She erupts hurriedly, raising her wand.
"Dove, whatever is the matter?" Mrs. Weasley asks, eyes wide.
"Harry, answer the question!" She near-shrieks.
"I asked you to join Dumbledore's Army," he relents.
She sags in Draco's arms, putting down her wand, "We were just taken into that building by someone using a Polyjuice Potion to look like you, Harry. We managed to get away when I realized he wasn't the real you."
"Come on, let's get out of here," Mrs. Weasley immediately says. "Whatever you lot don't have, we can have someone pick up for you."
The large group Floos to the Burrow, Draco feeling awkward and sticking to Dove's side. She doesn't mind. She's still shaken up.
"How'd you know it wasn't me?" Harry asks as they sit in the living room, Mrs. Weasley disappearing to get tea for her.
"You seemed as if you didn't want to hug me," she admits, laughing a little. "And you seemed way too friendly with Draco."
"You called her Taylor," her boyfriend adds. "And then your scar disappeared."
"Why do you think they were trying to lure you two away?" Hermione Granger asks.
Dove's jaw drops, and she suddenly grabs Draco's arm tightly, "Draco, that could have been a Death Eater. That means the Dark Lord could know you're here."
"What if whoever it was wanted to make you a Death Eater?" Harry asks quietly.
"Show us your arm," Ronald Weasley intervenes, just to make sure.
Without hesitation, Draco rolls up his sleeves, showcasing both of his bare arms, "I wouldn't do that to Dove or her parents."
"We should probably get back to my parents," she says uneasily. "They're probably worried about us."
"I'll Floo over there," Mr. Weasley suddenly says. "Just in case. I'll bring them here, alright? Our safety lies in numbers right now."
Unable to protest, Dove and Draco sit on a couch, holding hands. Why would someone be posing as Harry? What would they want with the young couple? Why wouldn't they do someone more apt to Draco, like Blaise?
Unless... Blaise was at her party yesterday. He was being friendly with Harry... There's quite a large possibility that the Slytherin could have gotten a hair from Harry's head and used it to become him.
But even then, why would he be so cold to Dove? They're not the greatest of friends, but they are friends. He was so kind to her yesterday. She simply doesn't believe he would do that. She certainly think he's capable of it, but she doesn't think he would do it.
Right?
-
A/N
Sorry for the late update! I've been fairly busy lately but will do my best to keep up with this story. Obviously, I changed Draco's story arc quite a bit. I have to do something to make up for it, such as choose someone to take his place as Dumbledore's assassin. The foreshadowing at the end of this chapter is quite clear, but you never know who it will be until the last second. :)