This chapter contains scenes of violent actions. Please read with caution.

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'' You suppose so?''

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The second she felt the door slamming shut behind her and the wind soring through her hair because of it — she changed her mind.

Amelie was well aware that Draco was more than capable of helping her through it all and that he made it out. He wasn't trapped anymore. He was chainless — steady on his feet, and that seemed to be all Amelie wished for too.

She needed his help, and by the look of it, he needed to help her.

With a harsh breath sucked in between her teeth, she gripped the handle, and she winced back by the sound of glass shattering everywhere. Her jaws dropped as she stared at the mess in front of her.

The blonde stood leaning over the sink. The mirror next to him was shredded in pieces as his knuckles bled.

'' Draco—''

'' Just...'' He breathed out as the door once again closed behind her, '' Just go, Avery.''

He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving as he shot her a glare, '' I told you—''

'' Would you have left?'' Amelie spoke up, facing the grey eyes, '' If it was me, Draco. Would you have walked out? You need help with that hand.''

'' Do I really need to answer that question?'' He huffed, and her heart ached. She didn't mean to upset him, to make him hurt himself because he didn't do anything wrong. Neither did she. She didn't know what she wanted. She didn't understand what would be right and wrong in this.

'' Just go, Avery. I don't need you.'' Draco shrugged, his other hand holding the bruised one.

'' But I—'' She held, her eyes flickered in nervosity, '' I think I need you... I think I need your help.''

His hooded eyes widened as his lips pushed into a firm line. The pain in his hand spread, but it didn't hurt. He could barely feel any pain anymore — he was too numb for that.

'' Avery,'' He tried to warn her, to give her a chance to get out before it seemed to be too late, and Draco — he wouldn't involve himself in something he couldn't control.

'' But Adrian can't know.'' Her eyes dragged over him, noticing how messily the strands of blonde hair were placed over his forehead.

Draco scoffed annoyingly as he shook his head, and he tried to stretch his fingers out, but the instant he did so — his entire face twisted in a hurtful grimace.

'' Here.'' Amelie took a step closer, her hand wrapped around his gently as she held it in place. Her other hand hauled her wand out, '' Stay still for me, will you?'' She smiled up at him as his eyes locked on his bruises.

'' Brackium Emendo,'' Amelie mumbled underneath her breath, and his fingers clasped together. The crackling noise of bones fixing together scored through their ears.

'' There you go.'' She held her smile, and his face fell into confusion. '' Theodore, he's pretty good at healing, so he taught me some things.''

'' I see.'' Draco muttered back, '' I suppose a thank you is in order then.'' His fingers traced over the wound, and it made her heart flutter. She helped someone, and that made her feel more than pleased with herself.

'' You suppose so?'' She rose a brow, taking a step back, and as she did — her heel stepped on the shattered mirror glass, coating the floor. She nearly fell backwards, but Draco's hands wrapped around her waist to keep her from hitting the ground.

His fingers dug into her skin, but she wasn't scared — she wasn't tormented. It felt soothing. His touch wasn't rough or hurting.

Amelie could almost taste his sweet breaths upon her lips.

He blinked quickly as if time slowed, and the tension between the two grew. Draco's tall body, holding her short one. Goosebumps pathed on her skin, where her dress had a lower back, and the icing touch of his hands made warmth flush within her.

All she saw was him, how his eyes glinted, how the ashen skin seemed so soft, flawless. The dark eyelashes battled the grey eyes, and every strand of blonde hair fell over his forehead, but then — when he noticed that he was studying her in a way she was looking at him — he stepped away.

His sights grounded as his jaws tensed at what he caught himself doing. '' My apologies.'' He mumbled, shoving his hands back into his pockets, and she stood in front of him — in complete shock.

'' But you need to go. It's almost time for Adrian's—''

'' Draco,'' Amelie caught his flaring stare, '' I—''

His head shook to hush her down before he walked past her to the door. He opened it and took every chance of privacy away.

'' Theodore should be here by now.'' He looked out of the doorway, '' If I see him, I'll tell him that you're looking for him.''

'' Draco—'' She spoke again, but he ignored her plea for his name. He shoed out of the bathroom, giving her a swift gaze.

'' Tomorrow night, in the library again.'' His fingers gripped around the lightly botched tie, straightening it instead, '' And don't be late this time.''

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Amelie rushed out of the bathroom, making her way through the hallways to find Adrian, with the hope that she wasn't too late, but to her disappointment, both he and his mother had vanished.

She stood on her toes at the entrance of the dining hall, her eyes flickered over all the heads seated in the largened room, still nothing — none of them in sight. With a quiet sigh, she walked up the stairs to his room, hoping that he'd be there — in the last place she had to look for him.

Her palms against the wood, and she shoved his door open, only to wince back by the tall, visibly shaking boy standing against one of the walls.

'' You missed it.'' Adrian's note was low, threatening, '' Bloody hell, Amelie, you missed it.'' He began to shout, his spine arched off the wall as he took dangerous steps closer to her.

'' How could you miss it? I asked one thing of you.'' His hands trapped her in as he booted the door shut behind her, '' One single thing, I asked, and you couldn't do as told once.''

Adrian's eyes tore through hers, '' Where were you? You weren't with me, so where were you?'' He spat, his jaws gritted together, and without as much as a warning, his large hand roughly wrapped around her throat.

'' Adrian—'' Amelie heaved as her toes barely touched the floor, '' Please, I'm sorry—''

The smirk on his face began to form at his doings, and her eyes snapped to his rolled-up sleeve, and there it was — the mark. The ink carved into his forearm she both feared and cherished.

'' Sorry?'' He hissed at her as his fingers dug deep into her neck, '' You're sorry? You missed it, Amelie. You were supposed to be there, and then you weren't. You made a complete fool out of me.''

Adrian's temper failed him altogether as he threw her body to the ground, and he watched her crawl together before he kneeled beside her.

''A tragic mistake. That's what you are, Amelie.'' The veins in his neck popped out of the rage he felt at her not obeying him, '' Nothing more than a pathetic mistake. I'm glad that your father and I both agree on one thing.''

He shook his head at her before forcing himself off the ground, and he left Amelie trembling on the floor.

'' The Dark Lord has requested for me to join him on an assignment for a few days, maybe more.'' He straightened his tie, but he kept his eyes off of her. '' So I won't be coming back to school with you, but I think you knew this already.''

Amelie sat up, her back against the wall, '' I see.''

'' Blaise will keep you company, to make sure you don't do anything stupid this time, and I will see you when I get back.'' He stretched his hand out, the vicious temper he just possessed tamed again.

Her hand in his as he helped her stand next to him. Adrian wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. '' Just know that Blaise will owl me the instant—''

''I won't do anything foolish.'' She blurted out in a whisper, making him take a step back, '' I promise, Adrian.''

'' I know you do, darling.'' Adrian walked towards the door, turning around in his last track, '' And don't go back to the party, Amelie. I can't have you looking like that, among the guests.''

He gestured to the tear in her dress, caused by him throwing her to the ground, and she forced a smile.

'' I won't.''

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She slipped down to her seat with her books slamming against the table. Amelie was waiting for Theodore, and she was excited. This happened to be the only class Blaise wasn't able to transfer to, which meant that the two best friends finally would have time to themselves.

Blaise was watching her like a hawk, hunting for its prey — precisely as Adrian had asked of his friend.

'' There you are,'' Theodore smiled, making her neck snap to his as he stood tall beside her, hanging his robe over the backrest of his chair, '' I looked in the library for you, but you—''

'' I had a free period.'' She mumbled, and her eyes flickered down to her desk. He took place beside her. Theo didn't let his sight off her as he sighed, loudly in need of attention.

'' Yes, Teddy?'' She huffed, and the annoyance in her tone caused his eyebrows to knit together, his mouth twitched into a sharp line.

Amelie felt guilty, '' No. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.'' Her eyes leveled his, and she shot him a smile, '' I had a bad day yesterday, that's all.''

Theodore nudged her to the side, earning a slight chuckle to fall off her lips. His brown hair held in a mess on his head, the locks tangled.

'' That's what I wanted to talk about. I looked for you everywhere at the Pucey's but I couldn't—''

'' You're in my seat, Nott.'' The dark voice scoring from behind caused both of them to coil back, and Amelie's hands grabbed the edges of her desk in panic, '' Get up, Theodore, and find another seat.''

Blaise stood tall next to them, his foot repeatedly stamped against the floor as he was impatiently waiting for Teddy to leave.

Amelie stayed silent. She didn't look, nevertheless speak to the boy who constantly intruded on her privacy.

'' Now, Nott. I'm not telling you again—''

'' No need to be rude, is it, Zabini?'' Draco's voice held severe, hushed from the other students to hear, '' Why don't we take a seat behind them, and leave Avery and Nott to it?''

The blonde gestured towards the empty desk in the row after theirs, and his hand on Blaise's shoulder yanked him back.

'' Now, Zabini.''

Blaise did as Draco asked, trails of whining left his lips as he hunkered down to the empty chair, still in full sight of what Amelie was doing — she met the grey eyes just for a brief second, still, in that short inch of time, she nearly felt lost in them.

'' Here.'' Theodore broke through her trance, and Draco sunk onto the seat next to Blaise's.

'' Look at this,'' Theo said again, but even if she turned in her chair to see what he was so eager to display — her mind had no strength in focusing on something else than the blonde boy and how excited she was to meet him in the library tonight.

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