_____

'' Don't move.''

_____

Amelie breathed out, almost eased, as she felt his lips placing kisses on the back of her neck. Draco's arm around her tensed the instant he felt her moving — the second that he understood that she was awake.

She didn't say a word as she gently — in the early hours of dawn, shifted around to face him. Draco's skin felt heated against hers as she crossed her leg over his in between the sheets.

She couldn't help but feel the shivers as they pathed down her back. She had this dream — this image of someone watching her as she slept, and it felt more than real. It bothered her, the sense of someone eyeing her down in the night.

Amelie was quiet. Her eyes flickered all over his soft features as he looked just as tenderly back at her. His breaths tasted sweet on her lips as he dragged her even closer, locking the inches of space left between them.

'' Good morning.'' The blond's voice held raspy, nearly as if he was growling, '' How did you sleep?''

Amelie's arms snuck underneath his neck, and her fingers locked behind it as she gently kissed his chin, '' I slept just fine, you?'' Her note in a whisper.

Draco merely hummed in response, his lips pushed against her forehead as he wrapped his arms around her, and in a swift move — she was straddling him.

'' Draco—'' Amelie smiled shyly at the blond in surprise at what he did.

'' Amelie?'' He rose a brow, attempting to suppress the smirk he felt curling.

Her eyes rolled, and his hands were large upon her body — she wasn't wearing more than her underwear, and the way his eyes held glued in hers not to look down at her bare chest made her nervous.

Amelie leaned in, her lips on his as he let go of her and propped himself up more against the headboard — and not even a second later, his hands were back upon her soft skin while hers brushed through the blond strands of his hair.

'' I have—'' Draco sought to speak in between kisses, '' I have business—''

'' Mhm,'' The tips of her fingers trailed over his chest as his hand moved up to her neck, holding her in place — keeping her steady in top of him, '' Then you should go, shouldn't you?''

Draco scoffed into her parted lips before she slowly drew away. Her eyes found his again as they held an agonizing glance, '' I have to,''

Amelie could tell that he didn't want to — he would've done anything not to leave her this morning. 

'' I know,'' She whispered again, her fingers dragged over his shoulders, and his forehead dropped to her shoulder.

Amelie held him as close as she could, for minutes in silence before she meant to push herself off him — to allow him to leave, but the very instant she sought to do so, as her knees loosened from the mattress — he yet again, turned them around.

Her spine struck the covers as a squeal fled her throat because of it.

'' Draco—'' Amelie chuckled, her arms around his neck as he dipped down to the soft, soothing spot right in the middle of her shoulder and collarbone. He loved kissing her there, right where her pulse was.

Her neck arched to free more space for him to kiss her, and his body lowered over hers — skin on skin as he mumbled, '' My Amelie,''

She gasped at that, at his hand on her jawline and his constant kisses across her neck.

'' Mine. '' He whispered, almost as if he said it to himself, and then he pushed himself off her, leaving her with her breath stuck in the back of her throat as he closed the door to the bathroom behind him.

Amelie's eyes rolled at his strange behavior, but she knew that if he stayed with her in bed — only for another second, he wouldn't be able to leave.

She tossed and turned as she waited for him to be done, to come out and kiss her like he always did before he left. Amelie grasped that this had something to do with Teddy — and what she'd asked of Draco two days ago.

She needed him to find out as much as he could about Theodore's father and what they could do to help him before it was too late. Draco didn't even hesitate to help her friend — or now, his friend. She was happy, pleased with the fact that the two most important boys in her life were getting along.

'' I'll be back in a few hours.'' Draco's voice made her clock out of the thoughts she held, and her eyes flickered to the tall, blond — standing in front of her, at the edge of their bed in his black suit.

'' Is it Teddy?'' Amelie asked him, surprisingly, and his jaws slightly clenched at the question. He didn't want to admit it as he uncomfortably bent over her, '' Just tell me if it's his father, Draco.''

His hand cupped the back of her head as he tilted closer, and he kissed her forehead, leaning his own against it after.

'' It is.'' Draco swallowed before he drew back. His eyes flickered all over her, hungrily.

'' Thank you,'' Her smile made his veins flush in warmth, and he nodded, '' I'll see you later then?'' She turned to her side. Her exposed thigh caught his attention in a heartbeat.

'' Fuck—'' Draco groaned, once again bending closer to her, and with the palm of his hand as it rested on her jaw, his lips matched hers.

He kissed her gently, '' I'll be back soon,'' Draco's nose stroked against hers, '' Just... don't move,''

The blond pulled away, with force and he turned around to look at her from the doorway, '' Alright?'' He rose a brow as she shyly nodded, 

'' Don't move.''

_____

Amelie stayed in their bed, staring up at the ceiling — fiddling with the bracelet she still had locked around her wrist, but the hours kept ticking by without any sign of Draco being back.

She finally had enough of waiting as she pushed herself off the bed, and she got dressed to see what Teddy was up to — Amelie still had failed to talk to him about the letter his father had sent him.

She didn't want to bother him yesterday. She didn't wish to push him. In any other case — he would've come to her. Theodore would've told her everything about the letter, but strangely, he didn't.

He even failed to mention it to her.

Her knuckles collided with his door as she slowly shoved it open, '' Teddy—'' Amelie sought to whisper, '' Teddy, are you in here?''

'' I am,'' He stepped out of the bathroom, his shoulder leaned against the ledge of the doorpost and his chest exposed, '' What can I do for you?'' Theo mumbled as he tightened the towel around his hips.

'' Are you okay?'' Amelie closed the door behind her as she bravingly strode up to his bed before flopping down onto his mattress.

'' What do you mean?'' Drips of shower water spilled over his chest from his wet hair as he shook his head, '' Did something—''

''No,'' Amelie hewed him off with a smile, turning to lay on her stomach, '' I just remembered your father's letter the other day, and I don't know. I just wanted to check up on you, I guess?''

'' That's sweet,'' Theo grinned, his damp strands of brown hair kissed his forehead as he walked over to his dresser, pulling out a shirt, '' But I'm fine, and everything was alright with my father too—''

'' What?'' Amelie's brows knitted, her elbows pushed against the covers as she propped herself up, '' What do you mean about fine?''

Teddy stared at her as if she was turning delusional. He didn't grasp the sudden concern in his father's wellness.

'' He's doing fine. He just wished he could spend Christmas with us, but I told him that we could celebrate together next year.'' Theo scratched the back of his head as he awkwardly strolled back to the bathroom, '' Is that a problem for you or...?''

'' No—'' Her eyes widened as she shot him a forced smile, '' I'm just not in the right headspace.''

'' So I've noticed, but I just have to change, and then we can join Pansy in the kitchen for lunch?'' Theodore smiled back at her as she nodded. He disappeared into his bathroom, and the brave look on Amelie's face quickly fell into an agonizing one.

She couldn't help but feel bad for the boy she knew to be locked up in the basement below them and how he had no one to wish him happy holidays. He was alone, all unattended in the darkness Draco's cellar brought.

All she wished to do, was to wish him a Merry Christmas.

Amelie caught Theodore's movements from within the bathroom as she struggled up from his bed, and with quiet, slow steps — she managed to sneak out of his room, undetected.

Her eyes flickered all over the hallways as she slipped down the stairs, through the entrance of the manor, and without a second thought — she rested on the top of the stairs, leading down to where her gravest nightmare was captive.

Even if she knew that he was in chains, without magic and one single chance to get to her — she still couldn't help but haul her wand up, and her hand traced over the diary that still laid in one of her pockets.

She didn't want to take a step without that diary — the gift she'd given to Draco, her part of the gift. 

With a harsh breath, deeply inhaled between her teeth, Amelie began to sneak down the steps, further into the gloomy surroundings.

Her eyes snapped in the dimmed lights, and as they did — the heavyweight in her chest she had been fighting so hard to lose — slammed over her like a tidal wave. 

Amelie couldn't breathe. 

'' No—'' She gasped, almost stumbling into the stone wall behind her, 

'' No,'' 

'' No'' 

'' No—''

Amelie's hands grasped at her throat. Her nails scratched the tender skin as she watched the horrifying truth in front of her. All the frightening sense she had felt since Lucius left — came back to this.

The feeling of someone watching her as she slept. 

It all came back to the open door and the empty cell. 

'' No, no—''

Her steps up the stairs couldn't be faster than they already were, and the panic flushing through her veins nearly ached as she suffered the wind in her lungs. 

He wasn't in there.

Adrian wasn't in the basement anymore.

'' Teddy!'' Amelie shouted as she sprinted through the hallways in the direction of the foyer, '' Teddy!''

'' Hermione!'' She called out again, and the desperation, breaking through her notes, shredded loudly — even Amelie herself heard how scared she sounded.

'' Pansy!''

She wasn't just scared — she was terrified. 

'' Teddy—''

She was quickly cut off. Her eyes glinted in tears the very moment she stepped into the hall. Her head slowly shook, and her lips parted. It felt as if Amelie couldn't breathe anymore — her heart missed its beat, and everything she believed to be true — wasn't. 

All she saw was Adrian, standing in front of the front door, with a knife held up against the girl's throat. 

_____