This chapter contains violent actions and mentions of blood. Please read with caution.

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''Don't make me leave like this.''

_____

Amelie looked at Draco. Her sight bored through the blond as he rested on his knees, beside his mother. He didn't need to tell her just how upset he was by this. How his skin nearly fumed in rage as he watched the blood stains on her skin.

Turning to her own mother, her brows knitted questioningly, ''What happened?'' Amelie managed to choke out, holding the tears she felt as they rimmed in her eyes, ''Was she attacked—''

''I don't know,'' Athena shook her head, her voice laced with worry, ''She just knocked on the door. She could barely stand.''

''Mother?'' Draco mumbled, gritting his jaws not to cry. Feeling as if he couldn't let the tears fall. He needed to be strong for her, ''Who did this to you, mother?''

Holding her hand, he traced her knuckles up to his lips, placing a soft kiss upon them as Narcissa's eyelids fluttered, her hues slowly peeling wide, ''Draco?'' She coughed out, weakly, ''Draco, what are you—''

''Shhh...'' Malfoy let the spine of his hand run over her forehead, calming his mother's stressed breaths, ''I'm here, mother. It's alright.''

Amelie could see how Narcissa immediately eased at that — her head rested against the pillow, and her chest heaved slower, ''Death Eaters—'' She managed to speak, so lowly that they barely heard her, ''They were looking for Amelie.''

The muscle in Draco's jaw ticked. His face cooled in the lack of emotion, ''What?'' He lifted a brow as his teeth clasped together tightly, ''They looked for her, and they hurt you?''

''I wouldn't—'' She withdrew her hand from her son's, pushing her palms into the couch as she sat up properly, leaning against the backrest, ''I refused to give her up. I didn't know where you went last night and they... punished me for it.''

Amelie watched the rising storm as it dashed in Draco's pupils. His eyes darkened, viciously, ''Mhm,'' He hummed, calmly yet dangerously, ''Are they still holding up in the castle?''

Narcissa snapped her neck, her eyes scanning her son as she realized what he meant to do, ''Draco—''

''Are they still in the castle?'' He asked again, severely this time, his note harsh, and her mother nodded slowly. She never had the power to stand against her son.

Clearing his throat, Draco stood up. Settling a hand on the backrest of the sofa and he pushed his lips into his mother's head, ''I'll be right back,'' He mumbled before he turned around, and his eyes leveled the girl he'd failed to pay any attention to.

Amelie didn't look at him. Her sight floored as she tried to breathe steadily — she understood that he was leaving again. That he was leaving to tear the Death Eaters, responsible for wounding his mother, apart.

Using slow steps, Draco strode up to her, tipping his head and reaching to cup her jaws in his palms, but Amelie yanked her head back, and it pained him.

Ache rushed through his veins at the way she refused to let him touch her, and he drew a deep breath, knowing how disappointed she had to be with him. Understanding that this wasn't something she stood for.

''Amelie,'' He said softly, ''Amelie, look at me.''

She didn't.

Her eyes were glued to the floorboards, and her fingers twitched against her palms.

''Amelie, please look at me,'' His vocals pleading. Malfoy didn't wish to leave her like this — her being upset with him, and he shot a swift look across his shoulder, watching how Athena was seated next to his mother, wiping the blood covering her cheeks away.

''Come here,'' He took steps past her, striding towards the door as he opened it, gesturing with his hand for her to follow him outside, ''Please, Amelie, don't make me leave like this.''

Shivers pathed down her spine, and it hurt her tremendously to treat him the way she did. She couldn't — even if she wanted to, even if she was furious with him for once again leaving her to put himself in danger — she couldn't let him leave without hearing him out.

She folded her arms over her chest, keeping her stare low as she spun around, marching past him out on the porch.

Draco closed the door behind them, looking heartbreakingly at her, ''Why are you mad at me?'' He spoke up, his shoulder fused with the doorway, ''Is it because I have to go?''

''I'm not mad at you,'' She stated, shortly as she peered out over the yard — the sun glimmering above them.

Malfoy scoffed, underneath his breath, shaking his head at her, ''You're not mad at me? If you're not mad at me, Amelie — why would you act like this?''

Sighing out loudly, her fingers curved around the wooden fence, keeping her voice short, ''You said you weren't leaving me.''

Pinching his eyes shut, he swallowed another wave of pain as it scored through him. It hurt him, hearing her speak in the terms she did, ''I'm not leaving you, Amelie. But they hurt my mother—''

''They are always going to hurt someone, Draco,'' She spun around, her eyes finally matching his and that gaze she held, that feeling of betrayal he could see as it twinkled, caused him to feel sick.

''Someone is always going to be hurt, but that doesn't mean you need to put your life at risk every time they do,'' Her tone raised, her arms dropping to her sides, and she felt defeated, ''I know that they hurt your mother. I know that it makes you furious — it makes me furious, and I know that it makes you feel like you need to seek some sort of vengeance, but it doesn't Draco. You don't need to kill to earn revenge.''

Feeling as his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, he shook his head, ''Yeah? Then what am I supposed to do? They hurt my mother while looking for you, and if I don't stop them, who will, Amelie? Who will stop them?''

Tears formed in her eyes, and she looked away, clenching her jaws, ''Then go, Draco. If this is more important to you than to stay here with your mother and me —'' Amelie's voice cracked as her heart ached, ''Then go, and do what you have to do.''

''Don't do this,'' Draco pleaded, taking a step towards her, ''Please, Amelie. Don't do this.''

Her sight leveled the horizon, showing between the trees, drawing a hurtful breath. It felt like fire in her lungs, and it burnt, ''I want you to be safe, Draco, but that's hard when all you do is putting yourself in danger. I can't decide for you. You are your own person, and you are free to do as you please, so if you want to go — go.''

''Don't do this to me,'' He said, striding even closer than he did before, ''Don't make me choose, Amelie.''

''Why would I do that?'' She whispered, her spine facing him as she let her lashes fall shut, ''Why would I make you choose when it's not even supposed to be a choice?''

Draco had to swallow the lump in his throat. She was right. He should stay with them. He shouldn't leave them — yet he couldn't manage that stinging anger boiling within him. He was so angry, furious with the men that laid a hand on his mother, that he couldn't.

Malfoy couldn't stay.

''I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry,'' He mumbled as he pushed his lips into the back of her head, ''You're mine, and I love you.''

Malfoy's hands wrapped around her shoulders, pressing his chest against her, and he waited for moments for her to say it back to him.

But she didn't.

Amelie didn't say a word.

The tears rolling down her cheeks spoke loud enough.

''Please,'' He couldn't leave her when she cried. He didn't need to see the tears spilling down her cheeks to understand that she was crying, ''Please don't do this. Don't make me leave like this, Amelie.''

''Then don't go...'' Her voice tenderly and she turned around, burying her head in his chest, ''Please don't go. Please, please—''

Amelie was so upset — so mad at him for leaving them like this, but at the same time, she couldn't hold herself from begging him to stay. She was so scared, terrified that he would get hurt.

Frightened that he'd be overpowered and that something would happen to him. She was always so scared. Never did she mean to make him feel guilty — she simply didn't know what to do, what to say to make him stay with her.

She feared for his life in ways she'd never done with anyone else before.

Draco placed his chin on the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her, and he held her so close. Nearer than he'd ever done before, ''I can't let them get away with this. I can't let them do this. They were looking for you, and I need to know why.''

''I don't—'' She swallowed a sob, his shirt stained with her hears, ''I don't care, just don't leave.''

''My Amelie,'' He tried to comfort her, his hands sheeting her head, and he bent it back, looking down at her, ''I'll be right back, I promise.''

''You promised not to leave,'' Her chest was heaving, her breaths held shallowly, ''Please, Draco. Don't go.''

''I'll see you in an hour or two, alright?'' He dipped his head, pushing his lips to hers, ''I'll send for Theodore, and you two can take my mother to the new house — you can show Atlas his room, and I'll be back before you know it.''

''Draco, what if something happens—'' Amelie rasped out, ''What if you get hurt?''

Kissing her so softly, he traced his lips up her cheeks, and he kissed her tears, ''I will always make it back to you — you know I will,'' Pulling away, he looked at her, feeling as his heart shattered, ''I'm yours, and you're mine.''

Amelie nodded, ''I'm yours, and you're mine...'' Letting it out in a whisper, she took a step back, making his touch drop from hers.

''I love you.'' He said. With a twitch of his wand, Draco disappeared from in front of her, and Amelie — Amelie went back inside to heal his mother.

_____

Draco landed safely on the grass of the massive lawn outside the castle he knew the death eaters took shelter in.

Not once as he strode across the yard did he hesitate. Not one single second passed that he regretted his decision to move up the stairs, to the grand foyer, and with his wand, tightly hugged in his fist — the doors clicked open.

The only thing Malfoy did regret was leaving Amelie. Never had his heart ached as much as it did when she refused to let him touch her, that yank of her head earlier, not allowing him to feel her — still soared inside. When she held herself from telling him that she loved him, it broke him, right there and then.

Draco wasn't a fool. He knew why she was upset with him to the point where she didn't wish his touch to embrace her — no one loathed him more than he despised himself for this. But he couldn't let them get away with it. He couldn't allow them to hurt his mother and search for Amelie.

He'd rather have her hate him than her not being safe.

That girl — that doll-eyed, stubborn girl, with her chaotic morning hair and her hatred for socks was to be protected. Never mind the cost of it. Just like Malfoy had told her the night before — he'd easily give his life for hers. He'd do anything to assure her safety.

Amelie was everything to him. She was his reason to keep breathing, the meaning of his miserable life. She made it all worth it, and he would, without a second thought, do anything to shield her.

Draco never knew love. He never quite grasped what it meant to have that type of love in his life that consumed him. That made him go crazy, that made him the luckiest man on the planet, and at the same time — a love that drowned him, that broke his heart by her not being close to him.

She was all of that. Always her.

The clouds hovering over the castle shifted darker as Draco snuck inside, holding close to the walls so if someone indeed saw him — he'd easily be able to slip through a doorway and disappear.

Not a soul in sight as he silently marched his way down the dungeons, to where the one person within the darkness he could still trust would be.

His heels echoed along with the stones as he slipped through the gate into the chambers, hesitating for a slight second until he watched the boy, hunched down in front of a desk — guarding the prisoners the Dark Lord held.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Draco peered around, making it certain that no other Death Eaters hid in the shadows.

''Zabini—'' Draco rasped out, stepping out of the gloom, causing the boy to flinch back, staring frighteningly at the blond.

Blaise's eyes narrowed, squinting to assure himself that he wasn't hallucinating, ''Malfoy?'' He whispered harshly as he slammed his palms into the table, ''What the fuck are you doing here? Are you bloody mental?''

Striding around the desk, Blaise crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at Draco.

''I need something from you,'' Malfoy said, lowly as the shouts and screams from within the cells cut through his ears forcefully, ''Information.''

Blaise scoffed annoyingly as he rolled his eyes, ''Do you know what the Dark Lord will do to you if he finds out you're here? Do you know how much trouble I would be in for not calling on the guards right now?''

''But he won't find out, will he?'' Draco fired back, his sight narrowed, keeping his tone hushed, ''And you won't call on the guards for that matter either.''

''Perhaps I should, Malfoy,'' Blaise's lower back rested against the desk, his fingers nervously twitching on the hold of his arms, ''Perhaps I should call on the damn guards, do you know what you've done? How many people you have—''

Taking a rushed step forward, Draco knew just how fragile his timeline is was, ''I'm well aware, Zabini. I'm fucking well aware of what I've done. But I did what I had to do — they took her from me.''

''So it's still about that bloody girl? Is that what you're telling me?'' Zabini's voice held accusingly, ''You killed our friends — our family's friends for a fucking girl? For the girl you were supposed to fool? And what? You fell in love with Avery instead of taking your damn assignment seriously?''

''Don't you dare address her. I don't want her name on your bloody lips, Zabini. Like I said—'' Draco's hues darkened, dashes of ruthlessness stained them, ''I did what I had to do. They should've known better than to cross me.''

Shaking his head, Blaise hissed, not fully coming to terms with Malfoy's behavior, ''I don't know what you want from me. I think he predicts that you'll come for me one day — the Dark Lord tells me nothing. Why do you think I'm stuck down here, watching the prisoners?''

Sighing out loudly, Draco's shoulders sunk. His persona darkened, ''I wouldn't expect less from the Dark Lord, but that's not what I'm talking about, and I think you know that. Voldemort doesn't have to tell you anything for you to know what's happening, does he?''

Blaise stared at the ground, his head tipping forward, ''Even if I did know anything — what makes you think that I'd ever tell you about it? You're a bloody killer, Malfoy. I was there once—'' He looked up, blankly gazing at the blond, ''After you paid a visit to one of the safe houses. I saw what you did to them. I saw how you killed every last man with your bare hands.''

Pinching his eyes shut, Malfoy shook his head, ''You will tell me because you want this damn madness to end as much as I do. You don't want the Dark Lord to rule. We both know that, and that's the reason you'll be telling me everything I need to know, Zabini. I will pay for what I have done, we all will — but until then, I'll be damned if I don't do everything I can to stop it.''

There was a loop of empathy in Blaise's eyes as if he agreed in silence to what Draco had spoken, and he shot the gate a swift look, stretching his spine, ''I suppose you want to know about the visit they paid your mother earlier today?'' He huffed out, his stare leveling Malfoy.

''I do. I want to know who was there and what they wanted from her. What the Dark Lord wants with Amelie,'' It hurt him to speak her name, being remembered of what struck between them before he arrived at the castle, ''They asked for her specifically, and I want to know why.''

Blaise nodded, his hands falling to the desk behind him as he gripped the edges of the wood, ''I don't know much, but from what a friend told me — they know you located the child, and they are coming for you, Malfoy. They are coming for Avery. Did you hear that she attacked them in Edinburgh? They aren't happy with her and after Dublin — the Dark Lord is furious.''

Feeling as his insides wrenched, his heartbeat pounded roughly, his pulse stressed, ''Do they know about the cabin?'' Malfoy asked, ''About the house Amelie bought?''

The boy faltered for a single minute, and he swallowed his delay, ''They know about the cabin, but I don't know anything about a house. I'd stop apparating there if I was her, he can't keep track of your magic or Nott's, but she's not a Death Eater. They are tracking her,'' Another pause scored them, ''That's why they interrogated your mother because they knew she'd go to you.''

Suddenly, Draco's chest tightened. His throat restrained as he stepped forward, ''So both the Malfoy Manor and the cabin are compromised?'' He urged, understanding that he needed to get back to Amelie as soon as he possibly could, ''But they don't know anything about the new house?''

''The manor is compromised, and the cabin — but they haven't found out about any house. Hide it, Malfoy. Hide it with magic, because they are coming,'' Blaise hushed, feeling an ounce of good as it scored through him, knowing that he was doing everything he could, ''They are coming for the whole Avery clan. Voldemort won't spare her or her mother's life. He wants the boy, and the rest is collateral damage.''

''They are not touching her. Nott is with them now. I told him to take them to the house, so they're safe.'' Draco growled out, sensing the bolting anger as it shot through him, ''But that's all you know?''

''That's all I know,'' Blaise held so much agony in his stare. He knew what he'd done, and he knew himself that he would pay for what he put Amelie through in her past. That he took Adrian's side and that he'd been nothing but cruel to the girl, and he indeed regretted that today, knowing that she held the safety of the wizarding world in her hands.

He pushed himself off the desk, striding around it again as he slipped back down onto his chair, ''You need to leave now, Malfoy. They come down here every hour, and if they see you—''

''I know—'' Draco felt sickly within, leaving his friend behind, ''You can come back with me, Zabini. You don't have to be here. We can protect you—''

''Not a chance in hell,'' Blaise fired back, frustratingly, his elbows struck the timber, ''Voldemort has my mother tangled into all of this. I can't risk her.''

Draco knew exactly how that felt, being held back by the Dark Lord as he toyed with the lives of their loved ones, ''I can get her for you. There's plenty of room in the house—''

''Malfoy,'' The boy spoke severely, ''There's no point in that. I have to stay behind, but you go do what you have to, and you end this. Now go ahead. You don't have much time.''

He already knew what Draco had to do. Zabini understood that he couldn't remember this — that his friend had to take it all away from him, and he didn't mind it.

Draco marched up to the desk, his wand wrapped in his fist, and he placed a hand on Zabini's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, ''Thank you, mate,'' He mumbled as Blaise shut his eyes, ''I'll find you when all of this is over. I promise.''

Raising his weapon, Draco drew a breath, inhaling sharply, and just as he meant to perform the magic, Blaise coiled back, something clocked the boy.

''Wait—'' He gasped, ''There's a ball, a masquerade here in two days, the Dark Lord is holding it for his soldiers. Perhaps you can find something there and keep an eye on Nott. He's been... around, lately.''

Malfoy nodded comfortably, ''I'll keep that in mind,'' He said, feeling a tide of pain as it washed over him. He exhaled, whispering, ''Obliviate,'' Underneath his breath, taking away the past hour from Blaise's mind, and just like that — Draco vanished back into the shadows.

He didn't have a second to waste. He craved to go back to the new house and to make sure that Amelie was safe within the walls of it.

_____

Apparating to the house Amelie had bought for them only the day before, he marched through the gates upon the road leading to their new home.

Draco couldn't help but admire it as he stormed towards it. The yard was massive — beautiful, and he was already able to visualize his mother in the garden, Amelie and Atlas playing around on the grass.

It caused warmth to spread within him, feeling as if all of this might turn out for the better in the end.

Stepping up the stairs, he twitched his wrist, and the door flayed open, revealing the majestic foyer, and he saw the boxes standing along the walls, along with the toys already spilling over the floor.

Theodore stepped out from the living room, surprised and shocked that the blond was standing in the doorway, ''Malfoy?'' A grimace climbed him, ''I thought you weren't going to be back until later?''

''Is she here?'' Draco ignored the asked question, his head snapping as he peered around, taking strides across the tile-covered ground, ''Where is she?''

''They brought Atlas and Narcissa here, and they told me to stay with them, helping them unpack while they got the last things from the cabin, but they haven't been gone for more than twenty minutes, so they'll be back any minute,'' Theodore's shoulder fused with the wall next to him as he cocked his head, ''It's a nice house she got, isn't it?''

Feeling as the relief battled the heavy stir in his chest, Draco nodded, ''It is,'' His voice cold, ''Twenty minutes you say?'' He questioned, ''What could she possibly need from the cabin? She hasn't lived there for over eight months?''

''I think Athena had a couple of things she wanted to bring, and Amelie didn't want her to go alone—''

''So you let her go with her?'' Draco lifted a brow, glaring at the brunet with pure disappointment as it rolled off his tongue, ''Why the hell would you let her leave with her bloody mother? You know I don't trust her—''

Being cut short, Theo huffed out, ''It's her mother, Draco. Their mother, and what do you want me to do? Lock her up in your room? Have you ever tried to tell that girl no? It's not possible.''

Gritting his jaws, Malfoy shifted impatient, feeling his tamed temper as it failed him, ''I don't care what you do to stop her, but you stop her, Nott. You stop her. As you should have before you went to Edinburgh and before you went to Dublin. The Dark Lord is furious with her for attacking those Death Eater's—''

''You mean the Death Eater's you tracked down and slaughtered right in front of her?'' Theodore spoke back, emotionlessly, ''I know I shouldn't have let her go, but there's a difference between what you and Amelie have and what she and I have. I don't question her, Malfoy. I don't stop her — I support her. I trust her, and I have her back no matter what we do. It has always been like that—''

''Yeah?'' Draco hissed, taking dangerous steps closer to his friend, ''Is that why she was trapped with Adrian for years? Because you were such a good friend?'' He let his tells out with sarcasm, ''Is that why she was so fucking broken when I found her that I barely got her together—''

''That's enough, alright?'' Theo spat out, his skin reddened at the blond's provoking manners, ''I know you think I failed her, and hell, perhaps I did! But don't you dare try to compare what we have. This isn't a competition. It's not a bloody battle of who loves her the most or who protects her more than the other. It's about her, Malfoy. It's about her and the right she has to still make her own decisions—''

He took a breath, a deep one before he continued, ''That's something so important to her, that she gets to have a say in what happens to her. Amelie spent her whole life being controlled by both her father and Pucey, but she's not anymore. She's her own damn person now — so God forgive me for actually treating her like one.''

Draco stayed silent, swallowing every word the brunet spoke.

''Was it stupid of us to go to Edinburgh? Yes. Was it stupid of us to go to Dublin? Absolutely. I never said it wasn't, but there is a difference in how you deal with it. I let her take control of her own life. I let her do it her way, and did it go straight to hell? Yes, but at least it was her call. She did it. She learns how to grow from her mistakes too, Malfoy.''

Theodore shook his head. His sight floored as the messy curls spilled wildly around him, ''I know what you think, alright? I know you think I am a terrible friend for letting her stay with Adrian, and I was, but they would've killed her, and she — believe it or not, asked me not to do anything. I respect what the two of you have. I know you're trying to protect her and keep her safe and that you're doing it your way, but you need to respect that she's my best friend too and that I have my own ways to be there for her.''

Draco gave a sigh, dubiously, ''I know...'' He said quietly, ''I know that. I know that you tried your best and that you are doing what you can for her, but she's all I have, Nott. There isn't a reason for me to be here if she isn't.''

''I know,'' Theodore agreed, ''She's all I have too, so perhaps we should stop fighting about her and start working together to protect her.''

Sensing doubt as it ripped through him, Malfoy squinted, slightly at the recollection of what Amelie had told him a few nights prior — about a deal Theodore had claimed to have made with the Death Eater's and how Blaise had told him to keep an eye on Nott.

His veins soared with loops of anger again, ''Then we'll start off with the deal you made with the Dark Lord.'' The blond stated, ''Care to tell me about that?''

Theodore froze, utterly in his position, and a ghastly cloak mastered him, ''I don't—''

''Yes you do,'' Draco endangered, closing in on the brunet as his spine pressed tightly against the wall, ''And you better tell me about it, right now or I swear—''

''I can't do that,'' Theo admitted, his gaze held in pain, his pupils blown in disbelief, ''You know I can't do that, Malfoy. Whatever the Dark Lord made me do — what he forced me into, I can't be honest about. You of all people know that.''

Gritting his jaws, Draco forced his curved fists into Theodore's chest, pushing him back into the wall, ''You can and you will, Nott. You will tell me about it, or what was the speech you just gave me? All for fucking nothing if you can't be honest.''

''I can't—''

Malfoy gripped the boy by his collar, pinning him against the wall as he breathed heavily, ''Tell me right fucking—''

''I can't! He'll kill me!'' Theodore shouted. Tears rimmed his eyelids, and he knew he was so far in over his head that he couldn't be truthful about this, ''You know he'll kill me—''

''And I have saved your life countless times!'' Draco growled out, keeping the boy threatened against the wall, ''But I can't fucking protect you if you don't start telling the bloody truth—''

''I'm saving your lives!'' He whined out, feeling Draco's hands as they tightened around his collar, ''I made a deal to save your lives!''

Emptiness showed on Malfoy's face. A confused mantle shortly replaced it, letting go of his throat, ''What the hell are you—''

Theodore fell to the floor, his knees bruised against the tile as his spine arched, panting out of control. He couldn't, no matter how hard he tried — he couldn't lie.

''I—'' He coughed, sounding weak, ''He was going to kill you. All of you — Narcissa, Amelie, you, and I cut a deal. I heal his soldiers, and he spares your lives. He would've killed you weeks ago if I didn't.''

Draco shook his head, puzzled beyond explanation, ''When was this?'' He urged, looking down at the brunet as he caught several steps back, ''When did you—''

''When she was still asleep,'' He whispered, fighting the tears, ''He approached me when she was still asleep, and I didn't have a choice, Draco. He was coming for you. He was coming for all of us, and none of us would've been able to fight him. You were still hurt, she wasn't conscious, and Narcissa... It wouldn't have worked.''

''So what?'' Draco snapped, rudely, ''You have been saving the people I put down?''

Theo bowed his head, placing his hand on the wall as he rose from the floor, paralleling the blond, ''I did, and I knew I couldn't tell you. I wanted to, I wanted to tell all of you, but at the same time, I knew I couldn't. It would've been too dangerous for everyone, so I just did what I was told.''

Malfoy scoffed, releasing a troubled breath, ''All those nights you left — you went to save Death Eaters?''

''Yes,'' Theo said, and he looked so remorseful. His note cracked, ''And I'm sorry—''

''And she doesn't know?'' Draco hewed him off, dragging his piercing stare away from Theodore, and he had to chain himself not to curse the boy right there and then, ''She have no idea?''

''She doesn't...'' Theodore felt the lump in his throat as it grew, ''No one but the Death Eaters knows.''

With a thick swallow, Draco raised his voice, sounding bitter, ''It has to stay that way. She can't know anything about this, Nott. She's being watched. Her magic is tracked, and she can't know. It's that simple—''

''What?'' Heard as he was surprised, Theo frowned, ''Is the Dark Lord watching her? I didn't hear a thing about any of that. Who told you—''

''Blaise,'' He let out, short and bothered, ''I went to see Zabini. He's the only one of them that's still trusted within Voldemort's inner circle and the one I can trust in there.''

''I see,'' Theodore lowered, his bones ached as he felt more than guilty for lying to them, ''But I agree, she can't now—''

''Who can't know? Amelie?''

Both of them winced back at the tiny voice. It struck them unexpectedly. Staring down at the little boy as he smiled up at them. His dolls hugged to his chest.

''Where is Amelie?'' Atlas said again, keeping his smile as the two boys nervously glared at each other, both of them unfamiliar with children, ''Mom said they would be back—''

''Little one...'' Draco cleared his throat. His hues matched Atlas's as he kneeled down. He glanced at the boy, wide-eyed, ''Your sister will be back any minute now, and so will your mom. They are bringing back all of your toys.''

Atlas smiled even broader, nodding eagerly, ''All of them?''

Draco rose a brow, feeling as a smile curled in the corner of his lips at the hopeful glints sparking in the boy's brown eyes, ''Yeah, every last toy but only...'' He knew he needed to tell Atlas that he couldn't tell Amelie one single word of what he caught, ''But only if Amelie not knowing is our little secret.''

''Yes!'' Atlas chuckled, peering down at his dolls in his arms before quickly looking back up at Draco, ''I won't tell her. I promise.''

Scowling suspiciously, Draco pushed his lips together, scanning the boy playfully, ''Do you promise?''

''I do!'' Atlas jumped closer, stretching his elbow out as Draco nearly gawked frighteningly at the act, ''It's a promise bump, here—''

The boy reached for the blond's arm, bending it as he'd done with his own, and he slammed their elbows together, ''See, now we promised.''

Huffing out a faint chuckle, Malfoy nodded, ''A promise bump, you say?'' He tried to sound sharp, yet a string of softness slipped him as he stood tall again, ''Did Amelie show you your room?''

''She did—'' Atlas almost immediately lost interest in the conversation but was rapidly brought back to it as Draco settled a hand on his head, tousling his hair slightly, ''She said she's buying me a slide so that I can slide down from my bed.''

It eased all the ache Malfoy carried as he caught that, but it at the same time — clocked him back to the reality where she still wasn't here. Only a few hours had passed since he walked out on her, and he already missed her more than he could come to explain.

''And you like your room?'' Theodore pitched in, noticing how Draco faltered, ''She's pretty good at picking rooms, you know? You should see my room. I love it.''

Atlas's face lit up in pure joy, looking so excited, ''Can I see your room? Perhaps she'll buy you a slide too—''

''Why isn't she back?'' Draco mumbled underneath his breath for only Theodore to hear, ''She should be back, Nott. Why isn't she—''

''Do you—'' Theo shot Malfoy a discrete nod towards the boy as his jaws clenched, ''Atlas, do you think you can find my room before I do?''

The little boy didn't waste a second as he spun around, so quickly and he sprinted down the corridor, ''I know I will!'' He shouted, disappearing out of sight.

Anxiety rocked within Draco as he felt his skin crawling. He let it slip his mind — that she wasn't here yet. Just for a few minutes, he let it escape his mind, and it caused his breaths to stress.

''It's alright, Malfoy. She'll be back any minute now,'' Theodore tried to comfort him from a distance, ''She's with her mother, and it's fine—''

''How do you know that?'' He snapped back, feeling as he began to heave. Tugging a ring-clad finger through his hair, ''Perhaps I should go there, yeah? Check so there isn't—''

The wind suddenly scored around them violently. Strokes of it made both of them step back as it swirled through the front door, still standing open. Cocking their heads and Draco hauled his wand up, ready to fight whatever was coming.

''What the—'' Theodore breathed at the storm as it gathered in their foyer, ''What the fuck is happening, Malfoy?'' He had to shout through the rush of air, ''What is—''

It stopped abruptly as they looked at each other, hearing footsteps in the gravel from the outside, and Draco didn't hesitate. Aiming his hand, he angled his wand, and he paced up to the doorway.

His heart dropped, and pearls of tears prickled in his icing eyes.

It felt like his soul left his body.

Like every reason, he had to breathe, faded.

He watched Amelie, clutching her stomach as she struggled to stand straight. Crimson red blood stained her dress, her arms, her legs.

She was completely covered in blood.

Time slowed as he, without a second thought, threw himself out the door, down the stairs. Malfoy almost tripped as he ran his way to her.

His breaths held none existent, and he was shouting her name so loudly that it echoed through the woods, but Amelie barely reacted.

Her head tipped back, her mouth hanging open as blood slipped the corner of it.

Draco ran faster than he ever had hurried before, and his heartbreaking gaze crossed hers drained, lifeless one for just a second until her lashes fluttered closed and her knees caved.

And the next thing he knew, Amelie fell to the ground.

_____