Tyler wasn’t obligated to see me every day so we didn’t see each other at all. I’d been taken out of his classes, and he’d stopped going to meals. Sitting next to Spencer was torture. We didn’t talk much either. I could tell he was still grieving over Muffy, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. She’d started going out with a seventh year Slytherin and they’d gotten pretty serious. I felt his pain, almost.
I’d lost my spot as Head Girl and was moved back into the Slytherin dorms the day after I talked to Dumbledore. Consequently , that meant Tyler moved back into the Head Dorms. I yearned for the end of the week so that he’d have to face me when he handed off Mackenzie for the week. I wasn’t sure what I’d say to him.
I was getting back onto my normal sleep schedule again and I’d gotten over my cold. I even started hanging out with my parents some more. Mackenzie was usually there every night, with Tyler having to patrol and all, so that made it easier for me to see her. Every night, I’d usually go over and sit and laugh with them for a little while, play with my little brother, sister and daughter, and then go home before curfew.
Tonight was different somehow. Tonight I stayed later. I’m not sure why, and my parents told me to go home a few times, but I lingered behind. About an hour after curfew, I finally gave in. I kissed and hugged everyone goodbye and slowly trudged back to my dorms in the dark and silence. I pulled out my wand and whispered the spell to light it, letting it lead my way.
I was halfway to my dorms when I heard it. The sound of scuffling shoes. The giggling: the high pitched girl’s and the low chuckle that I knew too well. “Nox.” I whispered, distinguishing my wand, and slowly walking towards the sounds. When I rounded the corner as silently as I could, hiding in the nearest alcove. It was definitely Tyler. Tyler and one of the Slytherin hoes. They were kissing. Actually, devouring would have been a more appropriate term. His hands were grabbing and groping her and hers were trying to get down the waistband of his jeans.
He chuckled again. “Calm down little girl.” He whispered and she acted offended.
“Little girl?” She replied. She ‘got back at him’ by grabbing his face and pulling it roughly to hers.
I stopped watching. I couldn’t watch anymore. Dumbledore had been right. Tyler did regret marrying me. He did want to sleep around. I ran all the way back to my dorm and straight to the fireplace, throwing a handful of dust in the flames and stepping inside. “Draco Malfoy’s house!” I yelled.
When I popped into Draco’s living room, I scared the hell out of him and Delilah. The moment he saw my face, however, he jumped to the rescue. “Alix, love, what is it?”
He pulled me into his arms and I sobbed against his chest. “Tyler got mad at me for overworking myself and refusing to stop my advanced studies. We got into a huge argument and he broke up with me. I’ve been trying to bide time and wait til he came home, but I don’t think he’s coming back. I caught him making out with some girl in the hallway. We switch off Mackenzie ever weekend and I’ve had to move back into the Slytherin dorms. I don’t see him in my classes or at meals anymore. I never see him at all. He’s always avoiding me. We’re over, Draco. We’re really over for good this time.” I sobbed.
“Shh, Love. Just shh. You’re alright.” He ran his hands through my hair to soothe me and Delilah rose to get me some tea.
“What do I do?” I asked.
“There’s not much you can do. You take it day by day. You breathe in and breathe out. You get up every single morning. You dress yourself up so that he sees exactly what he’s missing because even if he’s ignoring you, you’ll run into each other eventually. You go to your meals, you go to your classes, you go to your parents’, and you go home every single night. You study. You pass your sixth year with flying colors. You live your life, Alix. Take it from me. You’ve got to live your life.”
I nodded my head and halfway smiled at him. “There ya go, Love. And you know my door’s always open and I’ll always have a bed with your name on it.” I nodded again.
“Alix. I’m serious. Live your life. I stopped living mine for almost 17 years when I decided to grieve after your mother. You can’t do that. You can’t let him see you’re torn up.”
“Okay, Dray.”
“Wanna stay here tonight?”
I thought about it for a few minutes and Delilah returned with the tea. I stayed for about an half hour, drinking my tea and participating in a run-of-the-mill conversation with them – NOT mentioning Tyler again, before telling them I’d decided to go home for the night. Draco hugged me and kissed my forehead, whispering in my ear for me to “live my life” again, and Delilah followed with another hug and a few complicated signs that Draco translated to “Come over if you need us.” I thanked the both of them and disappeared into the floo network again. Draco was right. I couldn’t show Tyler how badly this was hurting me. I couldn’t show anyone.
I breathe in and breathe out,
Put one foot in front of the other
Take one day at a time
Until you find I’m that someone you can’t live without. – Chris Cagle “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out”
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