This chapter contains mention of emotional trauma and blood. Please read with caution.

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''One day, all of this will end. All of this will be over, good or bad, and I want you to make sure she's still on your side when it does.''

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Draco was hovering her body, towering over her from her side of the bed. Not once since he caught her numb body in his arms did he leave her.

He watched as Theodore healed her wounds and strengthened her soul with tears in his eyes. Feeling as the guilt drowned him within the coat of his own body.

He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't take the sensation of being at fault for everything that happened to her.

The fight they had before he left her haunted him. He didn't understand how he could be so foolish that he left her in the middle of it — that Amelie had begged and pleaded with him not to go, and he did it anyway. Simply the fact that he failed to go to the cabin the very instant she wasn't back in the house. 

He failed her tremendously this time.

Not earning a clue as to why she was supposed to leave a few short minutes with her mother, only to come back with a bleeding cut in her stomach and bruises covering the entirety of her frame.

Huffing out, the boy leaned forward, stroking her stilled arm, ''What if I search her memories? What if I just look to see what happened, and I'll be back before she wakes up?''

Theodore sighed out, annoyingly from across the room, seated on the armchair next to the windows, ''Not a chance in hell, Malfoy. No one goes anywhere alone anymore. I can't keep doing this. Enough is bloody enough.''

''You can't do this anymore?'' Draco hissed angrily, his fingers trancing goosebumps across her skin, ''How come she comes back after being somewhere, fucking stabbed, every damn time, and you can't do this anymore?''

''You know that's not what I mean,'' Theo muttered, his fists clenched around the material of the chair, ''I can't see you hurt. I can't see both of you leave and think that everything will be fine, only for you to come back wounded — besides, she'll wake up any minute now. Her injuries weren't as fatal as last time.''

''What about her mother?'' Draco questioned, sounding severe, ''If she has anything to do with this — I'll kill her, Nott. I've had enough of that fucking—''

''Don't—'' Theo warned, cutting him short as he shot him a glare, ''Amelie might be able to hear you.''

''I don't care if she hears me. She knows exactly what I think of that pathetic excuse of a mother. She's not worthy of the bloody air she's breathing. If it were up to me — I would have handed her over to the Dark Lord the minute we found her,'' Draco lowered, fixing his stare onto Amelie again.

He didn't carry the strength to look away from her for more than a mere second, ''She's hurt, Nott. Yet again, it's her coming back with cuts and marks, never anyone else, and it fucking kills me. I can't see her like this.''

Theodore knew precisely what the blond was talking about. After seeing Amelie hurt for years in her vow with Adrian, he knew exactly how much pain Draco was in and how viciously it could suffocate him.

''I know, Malfoy. Trust me — I know, but we need to wait for her. It's her mother, her life, and I'm done making decisions for her when she's not aware. It hasn't played out well up til now, and I can't do it anymore,'' Theo shook his head, pushing his palms into the armrests as he stood up, ''I don't care how all of this ends, but she needs to be a part of it. Keeping her out of the loop will never work.''

''Yeah?'' Draco leaned back in his seat, letting go of her arm and frustratingly dragging a hand through his hair, fingers tangled into the long strands, ''Is that why you've been working together with Voldemort without telling either of us? Because you're so good at including her?''

Theodore's face fell into a pained cloak, his brows resting as he pushed his lips together, ''No, it's because I'd be dead if I did and no matter how much you want to kill me — I'm no use to her—'' He gestured towards the sleeping girl, ''If I'm dead, or if she's dead, so excuse me for once again putting all of you above myself.''

Draco rolled his eyes away from the brunet, feeling as it sickly rocked within him.

''It's not exactly fun for me, being the Dark Lord's errand boy if that's what you think. Healing those bloody Death Eaters isn't easy — but you'd know, wouldn't you? Since it's your damn massacre I am cleaning up every time.''

Theodore felt so beaten, it wasn't a point for him to hold it in anymore, but it left them in silence. Malfoy taking in the spoken words, and Theo feeling the pain of them.

''I need something from you,'' Draco huffed out, sealing his eyes closed as he seized a breath, ''Do you know anything about a masquerade being held at the castle? Zabini told me that it's being arranged for tomorrow and—''

''Yeah,'' Theodore began to stroll over the floor, ''I heard about it. Death Eaters are gathering to celebrate the death of Harry Potter.''

Draco's eyes widened, his breaths hitched for a slight moment, ''What are you talking about? When did Potter—''

''A few days ago apparently, and I wasn't meant to tell you this, or Amelie, but...'' Theodore's eyes grew with agony, ''There were other deaths...''

Feeling as his veins iced, Draco shot up from his chair, his hands nervously shoved into his pockets, ''Who?'' He questioned, urgently, ''Who died?''

Gritting his jaws, Theo slowly shook his head, ''Malfoy, it's not—''

''Who?'' He asked again, harshly as he shot Amelie's resting self a dubious glance.

''It's not known yet, but they were looking for Horcruxes, and they got caught—'' Theo felt his eyelids as they rimmed with tears, ''They stood no chance. They couldn't do a thing. The Death Eater's showed up at the Burrow, and it didn't even last five minutes—''

''Fuck—'' Draco spun around, quickly as his chest began to heave, ''Fucking hell, Nott.''

''The Weasleys. All of them, no one could do anything...'' Theodore sensed the tension of the room as it drained, ''And Granger, she didn't stand a chance. She was killed instantly—''

''Don't,'' Draco swallowed the pain as it bolted through his every nerve. Not for his sake but for Amelie's. She adored Hermione, and it was her last standing piece of Pansy, ''Damn it.''

''It wasn't a fair fight, but none of them suffered, except for Potter — he was taken back to the castle and tortured to death,'' Theo couldn't see properly anymore, ''It's not fair.''

''I know it's not,'' Draco muttered, his fingers balled into fists, and his heart felt like it had dropped to the pit of his stomach, ''I know it's not fair, Nott. None of this is fair, but there isn't a thing we can do.''

''I just thought you should know and I think—'' Feeling nervous, he hesitated for a moment, ''I think you should tell her, Draco. She deserves to know.''

''I know she deserves to know,'' He kneeled down next to the bed, tipping his forehead to her arm as he drained her of comfort, ''I'll tell her when she wakes up, but I need to attend that ball, Theodore. I need to be there, in disguise, of course, but I need to see what they know. They knew about the cabin, and they can easily know about this house as well.''

''And what do you want from me?'' Theodore asked, on his way out of the room, leaving them both to mourn the loss of their friends in silence, ''Do you want me to stay here? With her?''

''Yes, I can take care of myself, but you need to stay here. Not run away in the middle of the night,'' Draco hushed, arching his neck as he placed a kiss on her hand, ''You need to protect her while I find out what the hell is happening in this bloody world.''

''I can do that,'' Cocking his head and nodding towards Amelie, ''If you promise me, you'll be quick because she won't settle for you being away. She told me about your fight yesterday, and she's not doing well with you leaving her all the time, Malfoy.''

His chest strained, his throat tightened, ''I know, but I can't just leave this. We need to end this, Theodore. All of this bloody madness needs to stop, and in order for that to happen — we need to find a way to kill him. The Dark Lord needs to go. Otherwise, we'll never be free, not you, not me, not her — or Atlas.''

Theodore didn't say much more. His shoulder fused with the doorway as he turned around to watch two of the people he cherished more than anything, ''I know we do, Malfoy. I'm just telling you to think about what you're doing to her while being away, because—''

Drawing a deep breath, Theo's eyes pained in agony, ''One day, all of this will end. All of this will be over, good or bad, and I want you to make sure she's still on your side when it does.''

Draco gritted his teeth, his sight flickering, ''She's always on my side,'' He spat, growing inflamed, ''And I will always be on her side.''

''Just make sure you're fighting for the same thing in the end, because if it comes down to killing the Dark Lord or protecting her brother, Draco... I hope you know what she'll choose. There isn't a way to beat Voldemort when the kid is still a Horcrux.''

It left Draco with an empty feeling — he'd never seen it like that before, that they might be struggling for two different things, not certain if he would be able to sacrifice his cause for hers.

The hatred he held for the Dark Lord was overwhelming. Everything Draco had to go through before he approached Amelie soared within. He was trained as a young boy how to kill and slaughter. He was manipulated and toyed with to fit the wishes of Voldemort.

He'd been through hell and back to earn his way of being a worthy Death Eater, and he truly didn't know if he was equaled enough to give his craving of slaying the Dark Lord of life — up. 

All the things he put Amelie through. How he'd let Adrian loose to capture her for months, how he'd threatened Draco to search and abuse her mind — he couldn't ease the burning rage of revenge he felt.

Draco cleared his throat, loosening himself from the thoughts he held, ''Where is he, anyway? Atlas?''

''With your mother, in the garden, but he's been asking for Amelie all morning,'' Theodore admitted, ''He was upset that she didn't tell him goodnight yesterday and I didn't want to tell him about her... being hurt again.''

''Wise,'' Draco muttered, still resting on his knees, ''Leave it that way, and she can tell him if she wants, but about tomorrow—''

''I'll stay with her, Malfoy,'' Theodore spoke, sending him a faint smile before he marched out of the room, leaving them alone as he went out to Narcissa and Atlas in the garden.

Draco remained there, next to her side for hours until the buckets of paint in the far corner of the room trapped his attention, and he recalled the conversation he'd held with Amelie the night they went to her childhood home.

How she craved that her bedroom would be painted in a bright shade, to not let the light fade into darkness, and he couldn't help but smile.

Their new bedroom was light indeed, but not in that precious fair yellow shade the buckets contained. Knowing that she wished to paint it their first night sleeping in there, but she never earned the chance.

Standing straight on his feet, he marched up to the buckets, and he sighed loudly to himself at what he'd become. Never did Malfoy think he'd be painting the walls of his bedroom yellow, but he would always cave for her.

Picking up a paintbrush, he ripped the lids off the cans of color, and he began to stain the walls.

It took him hours to work through the entirety of their room, and just as he was washing his hands — drying them of the cream color, he flinched at the figure standing in the doorway.

Theodore was back after playing with Atlas, his warm eyes meeting Draco's icing ones through the mirror in front of them, ''Still nothing?'' Nott asked, silently not to disturb Amelie.

Shaking his head, Draco turned around, the soft material of the towel wrapped around his fingers, ''She hasn't moved a muscle.''

''She will,'' Theo said, confidently, ''Perhaps she just needs the extra rest, but I was thinking....''

Draco's eyes broadened, throwing the cloth into the bin, ''What is it now?''

Theodore looked bothered, concerned almost, ''What are we telling her? When you're leaving tomorrow? Because there's no chance in hell, she'll let you leave without a valid explanation.''

''I'm not telling her,'' Draco was quick to reply, his answer laced with annoyance at the brunets questions, ''I'll leave when she's going to bed, and I will be back after a few hours. She won't notice.''

Nodding, Theo looked suspicious, not agreeing at all, ''And you think she won't notice?''

''She won't, and if she does, you'll send for me, and I'll come back, but she can't know,'' Marching past Theo as he strode up to the bed, he hunched in his seat, ''It's for her own safety.''

The two Slytherin's were so caught up in their plotting that they failed to notice the small twitch of her fingers.

Amelie could feel the slight strokes of the sun as she drew a deep breath, faltering a bit in her wakening as she caught the conversation.

''And you won't get caught? You're absolutely sure about that?''

''Of course, I won't. It's a bloody masquerade, Nott. I'll be wearing a mask, and I won't be there for long.''

''I'm certain Zabini told you that they wouldn't grant you any mercy if they catch you there. The deal is still in place, but that won't matter to them if you're trespassing. It's their territory, and they are free to deal with you however they please if they catch you.''

''I'm not a child, Theodore. I know damn well what they'll do to me if I'm caught, but I won't be. I'll be quick.''

''You'll be alone. You won't have any backup.''

''Aren't I always?''

''I can come with you. Keep an eye out for you? I know that castle like the back of my hand—''

''And you don't think I do? I have been one of them for years, Nott. I practically grew up in that castle. I need you to stay with her.''

''Not even your mother? She's still trusted. Perhaps she can be of use?''

''Don't bring my mother into this. She won't be going anywhere. Did you forget what they did to her yesterday? It might have been a scheme to fool me away from Amelie, but they betrayed my mother to get to me, Theodore. She's not safe anywhere near that castle.''

''I just don't like the idea of you going there by yourself. What if they capture you? What do we do—''

Amelie flayed her lashes wide, shifting a bit in her position as they noticed the movements she made along with the crispy sheets.

''Amelie—'' Draco shot Theodore a shaking of his head, cutting their conversation short as he threw himself forward, ''Amelie, can you—''

Coughing out, she could still, despite the cleaning spells Theodore performed, taste the metallic tang of her own blood on her tongue.

Her eyes flickering, taking in every piece of where she was and for a moment, if so a short one — she was still terrified. Not truly grasping that she made it out of that cabin alive and well.

Amelie's body coiled as she pushed her hands into the mattress, jolting up as her spine straightened, ''Draco—'' She breathed out, finally looking at the blond, and her verity calmed.

He failed to answer as he stood up, tucking his arms underneath her, and he lifted Amelie in the air to seat himself in the bed, with her on his lap. The scarred girl clung onto him with all she had, her fingers grasping at his shirt.

''Do you mind?'' Theodore spoke lowly as he bowed his head to his wand, meaning to cast a spell to see how her body was recovering. Draco nodded, quietly and his arms wrapped so tightly around her shaking figure.

Amelie needed a moment to collect herself, to gather her mind from what she'd been through the day before. Azure light shifted in the air, spinning around her frame as Theodore hummed to himself, making sure that her body was healing in the way it was supposed to.

''How are you feeling?' Draco's voice braided with worry, yet he so desperately wished to appear calm for her sake.

''I'm—'' Amelie let her head move, feeling his lips as they pushed into her hair, ''I'm feeling okay. I think.''

She believed she felt okay despite what she'd been through. It eased all of her senses to know that she was safe inside their house.

Theodore and Draco looked at each other, both distressed of what she'd been through, ''Amelie—'' Theo hunched down onto the edge of the bed, ''What happened? Where is your mother?''

She could feel how Draco's jaws tensed and his hold of her tightly secured. He kept her so close on his lap, firmly pressed to his chest.

''How long—'' Amelie swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth, ''How long was I out for?'' She let her hands trace underneath the oversized shirt she was wearing, the tips of her fingers brushing at where her mother had stabbed her.

It still ached, lightly. Not as much as it did before she fainted, but her skin was sore.

Draco inhaled sharply, ''Since you came back, yesterday so... almost a day.''

Her eyes grew wide as she nodded, weakly against him. Her knees hugged to her chest, ''For that long?'' Amelie's voice was barely heard, ''Was I that hurt?''

''No—'' Theodore made clear, shaking his head at her, ''You had a wound in your stomach, but it wasn't too deep. If you would've returned later than you did — I don't know what would've happened, but you got here just in time.''

''I'm glad,'' She whispered, closing her eyes as she was still adjusting to the bright light. Something within her caused her to feel numb, like the energy of fighting wasn't there.

''What happened?'' Draco asked now, tilting his head to watch her, ''Amelie—''

''My mother...'' She let out, tears stinging in her heavy eyes, ''She—''

Both of the boys could tell that it was more than hard for her to speak about what had happened, ''Amelie,'' Malfoy mumbled, ''It's alright to tell us.''

She caught the tear of pain in Draco's voice, but she stayed clear of his stare. Amelie would break apart if she watched that glint of torture he carried.

''My mom—'' She felt the lump in her throat as it ached, painfully, ''I was picking up my notes, in the little box underneath the bed, and they came out of nowhere—''

A sob hewed her off, feeling so weak, ''Death Eaters, they ambushed us, we didn't even stand a chance. They were too many, and they threw spells everywhere, and one hit me and I—''

It hurt so much to speak. The air filling her lungs felt as if it was on fire, ''I was hurt, pretty badly, and I tried to make her leave. To let me cause a distraction so she could run because I knew I couldn't—''

''You did what?'' Draco snapped but was quickly countered with a cautious stare from Theodore.

''Not now, Malfoy. Let her speak.''

Amelie was crying. Tears streamed down her ashen cheeks as her breaths trembled, ''I knew I wouldn't be able to run, and they blocked the magic, so it had to be like that. One of us had to be captured for the other one to escape, and I tried to talk her into letting me stay—'' She knitted her fingers together, easing the waver of them, ''But she refused, she wouldn't leave me, and she—''

Her insides wrenched, still being able to feel how the knife ripped her apart, how the blood tickled her skin as it poured.

''She didn't see another way out. She said she needed to do this because if they went in to look for me — they had to think I was dead,'' She was stuttering, her voice breaking.

Theodore placed a hand on her thigh, but he looked away, seeing how Draco rested his chin on the top of her head. His eyes were closed.

What Amelie was telling hurt them so much.

''So she stabbed me, she stabbed me, and she took away her own memories. She said she couldn't risk us, and she—''

Draco held onto her, his arms shielding her body when all he wanted to do was to lit the world on fire. He wanted the entirety of their world to burn for what she had to go through.

''She gave herself up for us to be safe, and I couldn't do a thing. She told me to hurry home and then she left....'' Amelie's voice faded, leaving them all speechless.

''So she stabbed you?'' Draco scowled, out of her sight, but the dismay in his vocals and the anger as it pitched tore through the girl, ''She just stabbed you? In the stomach? With a bloody knife?''

''Draco—'' Theodore tried to calm him, but the boy didn't falter.

''No, I won't fucking accept this. I refuse to be alright with her stabbing you. I can't accept it, Amelie,'' He stated, sounding more than severe, ''That's... just cruel.''

Draco was so angry. So infuriated with Athena for putting her daughter through that misery, even if he deeply within knew that it was the only way for her to escape.

Every single person that ever hurt the girl he loved died in his eyes instantly.

''She didn't have a choice,'' Amelie shifted around, lastly facing the damned sight he carried, ''She didn't have a choice. It was either that or us both being caught. Don't blame her for doing what she had to do to save me.''

Pushing his lips into a firm line, Draco couldn't stand against her. She was breathing, and even if he would make Athena pay for what she did to Amelie — he couldn't keep his ruthless act in front of her.

He melted the very second he felt her palm caressing his jaw, her thumb tracing across his pale skin, over the dark circles underneath his eyes.

''I'm here, and I'm okay,'' She assured him, over and over, forcing him to believe that she wasn't as hurt as she actually was. She didn't want him to know just how scared she'd been.

Amelie wished to save him from the agony it brought.

''But we need to get her back,'' She uttered, her fingers lingering on his skin as her eyes hooked in his, ''We need to get her back, Draco. I know you don't want to. I know you hate her so much, but the Dark Lord will kill her.''

Theodore looked at Draco, their eyes crossing, and they both knew that the masquerade would be the perfect opportunity to look for her mother.

''We will get her back,'' Draco pushed his hand into her head, leaning his forehead against hers, ''I can't say that I like it. But you know I'll do anything for you, even get your mother back. I will bring her back to you. I promise.''

Tears still drenched her chin as he tipped his head forward, gently kissing the drops away.

''But you need to rest now, Amelie,'' Draco hushed her inaudible sobs, brushing his nose along the spine of hers, ''You need to heal.''

Theodore nodded, stroking his hand over her bare thigh before he forced himself off the bed, ''Well, I'll come to check up on you later. I still need to look at you properly, but I promised Atlas that I'd cook dinner with him.''

Amelie's eyelids widened, her head snapping in Theo's direction, ''Is he okay? I didn't get to see him—''

''He's fine, don't you worry about that right now. I'll look after him, and he can come to say good night before he goes to bed,'' Teddy smiled at her, granting her solace from afar, ''But he misses you, and I think we should tell him about Athena—''

''I will...'' Amelie nodded, her head falling back to Draco's chest, ''And there's—'' She cleared her parched throat, ''Mother left a vial for me, with her memories, so she can have them back when we find her, but I think I left it at the cabin—''

Reaching down into his pocket, he hauled the flask of her mother's remembrance up, putting it on full display for her, ''You brought it back with you. I found it out on the ground when we carried you inside.''

Smiling, faintly, she stretched her hand out, taking the glass in her hand, ''Thank you.''

''Anything for you,'' Teddy's note held so soft, grateful that his healing worked and that she seemed to be alright after all, ''I'll see you in a bit, get some rest, both of you.''

Closing the door as he stepped outside, Amelie turned to the boy holding her, ''I'm sorry—'' She whispered, ''I'm sorry that I didn't say I love you back yesterday and I'm sorry I got so mad—''

Cutting her short by pressing his lips to hers, Draco kissed her. Savoring every inch of the girl in his arms, ''You have nothing to apologize for,'' He said, sheeting his arms around her as he leaned against the headboard of the bed, ''I'm sorry that I left. I shouldn't have left you.''

''Draco—'' She pleaded, her heart shattering at the way he was constantly blaming himself, ''You don't have to apologize to me.''

''But I do,'' He let out a sigh, his silver eyes snapping across her worn features, yet she was still beautiful to him, ''I have everything to apologize for. I shouldn't have left you. It's that simple. I shouldn't be so damn stubborn all the time, and I should've listened to you when you asked me not to go.''

Allowing her body to cave into his, she sealed her eyes, ''I don't feel like that,'' Her limbs slightly shaking, ''I think you did what you had to do, and I trust you with that. I don't think you'd do anything to hurt me, Draco.''

''I shouldn't have left...'' It was as if he was speaking to himself. His heart hammered, his blood boiling, ''You got hurt, again and I wasn't there to protect you—''

''It's not your job to protect me,'' Amelie spoke back, raising her voice, ''I know you feel like it is, but you didn't make me go to the cabin. You didn't tell the Death Eaters where to find us. This isn't your fault.''

''But I wasn't there, Amelie,'' Draco leaned his head against the pad of hers, huffing out quietly, ''I wasn't there to protect you when you needed me, and that's the thing I'll always blame myself for. I hate myself every damn time it happens.''

Amelie pulled him down with her, lying properly on the bed as she nestled up to him, dragging the covers over them, ''I don't,'' She said, with so much honesty that it shook him, ''I could never hate you, no matter what you do — I could never hate you, so don't hate yourself, Draco. You always look out for me. You have made it your life mission to make sure I'm safe, and I am. I am safe with you.''

Her words eased his demons. They always did.

''I love you,'' She yawned, her neck arching to look up at him. Her lashes battling her heavy eyes, as did his, ''I love you even more for painting the walls.''

His pupils glistened at that, feeling proud that he at least did something right, ''I love you so much more,'' Malfoy kissed her forehead, and he watched as she was on the far edge of falling asleep.

Amelie did just that, her body resting close to his as she slipped into slumber.

_____

''Is she asleep now?'' Theodore mumbled from the doorway, poking his head in carefully not to let the lights in the hallway outside wake her up, ''You can't go unless she's asleep—''

''She's asleep,'' Draco whispered harshly as he gripped his suit-jacket from its hanger and strode close to the brunet, ''And she won't wake up until the morning. She didn't sleep much yesterday.''

''Why?'' Theo frowned, opening the door a bit more, ''Was it hard to tell Atlas about Athena—''

''Of course it was!'' He rasped out, sending the boy a glare, ''What do you think? He had no one but his mother for seven years, and now she's gone. Of course, it was hard. It was bloody painful, Nott.''

Theo gulped, nodding hesitantly, ''Well, at least he knows, and we can go from there.''

Draco didn't say anything else, it was with a lifted brow, his eyes locked in Theodore's, and he shot him a slight bow of his head, threading his coat on and putting his mask in place.

''And you'll be back soon?'' Theodore still didn't like the idea of it — Malfoy going out there by himself with no one to cover him as Theo was meant to guard Amelie, ''And I'll just send for you if she wakes up?''

''How many times are we supposed to go over this?'' The blond snapped rudely as he was growing impatient with his friend. His shoulders strained underneath his jacket, ''I'll be back in a few hours, and if she wakes up — you send for me.''

''We're going to hell, Malfoy. I hope you know that.'' Theodore muttered as he stepped past Draco into their room, aiming to sit down on the armchair next to Amelie's side of the bed.

''I know we will,'' He gritted his teeth as he as well walked up to the bed, bending over Amelie and pushed his lips into her head, ''I'll be back,'' Draco whispered, hushed so that he wouldn't risk waking her.

The instant Draco marched out of the room, dressed in his all-black suit, with a mask covering half of his face, Theodore sighed, frustratingly. He always seemed to get caught in both Amelie and Malfoy's acts, but at the same time — he didn't mind it.

It gave him the chance to keep an eye on both of them as they shared their doings with him.

But it didn't take long until the boy gasped, wincing back as he clocked back to reality — Amelie was sitting up in the bed, shadows of darkness around her.

''Amelie—'' Theodore choked out, confused and scared. Lowering the book in his fist as he felt dread flushing through his veins, ''What the hell—''

Jumping off the bed, she at once strode into the closet, flicking the lights on as it spread across the carpet right outside. Theodore's lips parted, breathing shakingly, ''Amelie, what the hell are you doing? Didn't care to tell me that you were awake? You scared me—''

Amelie huffed from inside the closet, ''Didn't care to tell me the suicide mission you let Draco go on?'' She shot back, making him frown from the chair as he watched her pull out a hanger with a mahogany red suit glued to it, ''It's a shame you didn't tell me about that, isn't it?''

He had no clue how to defend himself, frightened that she'd hex him if he tried to justify holding the truth from her, ''How do you—''

''I heard you when I was waking up, Teddy,'' She said as he combed his fingers through his messy curls, trying to wrap his head around all of it, ''You weren't very discreet.''

''I don't—'' Theodore sought to speak, his eyes traveling across the suit, looking to be a perfect size for him, ''He asked me not to tell you—''

''I know he did, but you'll make it up to me,'' Amelie's pulse stressed as she threw the suit onto the bed, nodding her head towards it before she hurried back into the closet again.

''I'll make it up to you?'' Never had Theodore been so confused as he was now, standing up, he caught her small grunts, the noises of things being thrown around before the clinking sound of heels took over, ''How am I— oh wow,''

Blinking quickly, Teddy nearly lost his breath as Amelie strode out of the closet after long moments, turning the lights on so that he could see the dress she was wearing. It was shining in the same color as the suit on the bed did.

''Amelie,'' He breathed, his eyes flickering across the gown smeared to her body. He was blown out of his mind at the look of her. Her hair falling perfectly across her spine, her face dolled up.

Theodore always saw his best friend as the most beautiful human being to walk on this earth, and he'd seen her at many gatherings, danced with her in all the different dresses she'd worn, but this was something else.

She had grown up. She didn't look like that confused girl, chasing after the devil in her life at the parties they used to attend. She wasn't the girl who faded into the crowd of people anymore.

Amelie robbed him of his breaths, and he felt his cheeks as they heatedly blushed by the stunning look of her. Theodore was left speechless. He didn't know what to say.

Shortly noticing the two masks in her hand. Her wand hugged in between her fingers, ''What are you—''

''Get dressed, Teddy,'' Amelie smiled gently, tilting her head as the soft curls framing her angelic face followed, ''We have a masquerade to get to.''

_____