HP: Hogwarts Snake

As soon as I got off the train and entered the school gate, Theodore came to greet me.

"How did you know I would come?" Della was unaware that Voldemort had not yet given any more orders to anyone else.

"Let's try our luck." Theodore's bold gaze remained fixed on Della's face and body, both greedily gazing at his long-lost sweetheart and wanting to check on Della's physical condition.

“Very enthusiastic,” Della said as she walked with him toward the castle, under the watchful eyes of their classmates. “What wand are you using now, Theodore?”

Theodore drew his wand, the cherry wood dragon wand that Della had once used.

“You chose the most unknown path at the time.” Della looked up, her gaze shifting from the wand to Theodore.

“I can’t compromise and choose a path I’ll regret for the rest of my life,” Theodore said, handing the wand to Della, but adding, “May I keep it?”

“Stay, Theodore,” Della pushed her wand back. “You deserve it.”

On the day she left Hogwarts, she didn't give Theodore a wand, but rather gave him one last choice.

The first option is to simply place the wand in her room, and when Maggie comes in, the wand will automatically write words that will sever all ties with him.

Although he chose the wrong side once, Old Nott has already shown his face to Voldemort, so things shouldn't be too bad for him.

The second option is to go to Maggie with the wand after the timer expires, and bind yourself tightly to Della in your broken form. Maggie will take care of him out of consideration for her, but since everyone else is sitting on the sidelines, he probably won't be taken seriously.

At that time, Della gave the wand to Theodore, indicating her dissatisfaction with the status quo, especially emphasizing the lack of a return date. She did not immediately receive an answer from Theodore, but was only asked one question.

"Will you come back when you've figured things out?"

Della's answer at the time was, "Perhaps not returning means never being able to return."

She was too pessimistic at that moment, believing that if she couldn't face reality, she would only face death that would kill all possibilities.

“No, it’s not what I deserve,” Theodore said calmly beside him, “because I can’t see any other option besides that one.”

Upon hearing this, Della's eyes flickered, and she instantly understood.

Yes, if your loved one tells you she might die, if you truly love her, then you can only choose the path where she might return.

Della realized that the options she had given Theodore were cruel, even crueler in a sense than not valuing his true feelings, and that she had also—

“Also, Draco hasn’t been in a good state lately,” Theodore brought up the topic himself. “I’ve been trying to communicate with him. He used to be hostile to me, but now he can talk to me. I feel something is off about his emotions.”

She also told Theodore that if he chose the second option, she hoped he could help look after Draco. She felt that the emotional boy needed someone who genuinely wanted to help him, and neither Crabbe nor Goyle were trustworthy enough.

“You’re too dedicated, Theodore,” Della sighed, addressing the two heartbroken boys she had connected. “I’ve never been good enough to you.”

“But I think you’ll treat me better and better now, Della,” Theodore smiled slightly, his dark eyes shining, “and I’m even happier about this future I’ve fought for.”

"Have you been to Riddle Manor before?" Della asked him, ready to reward him immediately.

“No,” Theodore shook his head. “There aren’t many people who can go directly to see Mr. Riddle without sending a formal invitation.”

“Then you’re the first person who can go to see Miss Riddle without sending a formal invitation,” Della said, and the two exchanged a smile.

They walked into the hall side by side, and Draco, sitting at the long table, saw them all.

Just as Theodore had said, he wasn't in good shape; his skin was paler, his body thinner, and his eyes were larger, constantly exuding a hysterical aura.

He looked even more manic when he clenched his teeth because his ex-girlfriend and the new boy appeared on screen together.

Della didn't hesitate and sat down next to Draco. She smiled at him and said, "Long time no see, Draco."

Compared to a year ago, Della's voice is gentler, and her already more delicate features have matured, occasionally revealing a touch of glamour.

That smile and those words were enough to quell Draco's anger.

He stared blankly at Della, who had sat down next to him, ignoring even the annoying Theodore beside him. He had only one thought in his mind—Della was back by his side.

Simply being by his side is enough.

Draco lunged forward, just like during their reunion at the Quidditch World Championship, and hugged Della tightly, burying his face in her neck, letting himself be enveloped by the scent of her long-awaited presence.

This lunge was completely unexpected by Della. She leaned back and only managed to stay upright thanks to Draco's support.

After a brief moment of surprise, Della neither pushed Draco away nor responded to him. Instead, she slowly looked at the boy and realized once again the intensity of Draco's feelings for her.

“Enough, Malfoy,” Theodore walked over, pulled Draco aside, and said coldly, “You two are no longer related.”

Draco gritted his teeth, glaring at Theodore with hatred, while Theodore met Draco's stare with unwavering composure and cold indifference.

"..."

Della sighed and realized the biggest problem she had encountered on her way back to Hogwarts: managing a small group of girls who would fight over her.

It's really strange. School life is already considered childish for her, so how could she encounter something even more childish?

Oh, this is your debt from the past, Della.

It's a debt you owe for your past unrestrained emotional outbursts, Della.

Della sighed, ignoring the two boys, and turned her gaze to the teachers' table, where she met Dumbledore's eyes.

Dumbledore raised his glass to her, and Della smiled back and raised her glass in response to the wise man's kind smile.