This chapter contains emotional trauma. Please read with caution.

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'' I feel your heartbeat.''

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Adrian never returned back to school that week. His parents believed that it would be for the better if he rested in recovery in the walls of his own home, but that didn't interrupt the truth of Amelie missing him — more than she possessed the words to explain.

She knew it was for the greater good that he wasn't here. It would spare them all a piece of their minds. She understood that him being among them in a time like this — where both she and Theodore had failed him terribly, wouldn't end well.

Still, she would have to get used to the fact that Adrian wouldn't be around much anymore because later this week — his fate was to be destined with the darkness, and he would finally, as he had longed for, be a part of the Death Eaters.

Amelie didn't fear Adrian as a Death Eater more than she did with him, not being one of them. It frankly brought her peace that he wouldn't be around, that he only would come back to visit her for a few days at a time — because it meant that she would have the freedom to spend time with Theodore without anyone constantly looking over her shoulder.

Her eyes fell upon the brunette, watching as he rested in her lap, and she smiled by the autumn breeze dancing through her hair. The gentle strokes of sun tickled her nose as Theodore mumbled to himself.

He always did that — muttering the words he was reading without realizing that he did it.

'' What are we reading today?'' Amelie asked him, feeling how his body slightly flinched by her unexpected speaking.

Theo merely shrugged, turning a page of his book, '' Same as usual, but you already knew that, didn't you?''

She held on to her smile as her eyes rolled, '' Only because you've been reading the same book for a decade now.''

The tips of her fingers dragged gently through his hair, untangling the messy strands, and the touch of her — brushing through the brown pieces, made him gaze up at her. His eyes glimmered by the bright light around them,

'' Can I read you something?'' He looked eager.

'' Of course.'' Her fingers kept on brushing over his head as she peered out over the lake in front of them. Both Amelie and Theodore loved sitting out here, close to the water, as they read in quietness.

It was one of the many things they always did together, and especially out here, because here — Adrian couldn't find them. He didn't know about their secret little place.

'' Ready?'' Theo asked as she nodded, '' Alright. What greater punishment is there than —''

'' — life, when you've lost everything that made it worth living?'' She finished for him with an amused cloak on her face, '' And it's still Romeo and Juliet. You have read me that line a hundred times.''

'' So what if I have?'' He began to pout, shifting around in her hold, '' I like it. What's wrong with that?''

Her brows knitted together as she sought to hide her growing smile, '' There's nothing wrong with it, Teddy. It was just the obvious choice for you, that's all.''

Theodore sighed loudly as he rose from her lap, settling himself next to her instead, but he stayed quiet. He didn't speak against her, and he didn't try to defend himself like he normally would've.

'' Is that so wrong?'' He humbled, his legs crossed in front of him, '' Is it so wrong to wish for someone that cares for you so much that they would rather die than be without you?''

Amelie caught his tone slightly breaking, and she could tell that he was upset, even if he tried to hide it. Theodore never had anyone to care for in the way Amelie had Adrian. He never met someone so special that he wanted anything similar to being in love.

'' You have me, Teddy.'' Her hand gripped the spine of his book before placing it on the ground to take his hand instead. She tangled their fingers together, '' You always have me.''

'' I know.'' He tipped his head to rest on her shoulder, '' And you have me, Amelie.''

'' Good, because you're stuck with me, and I'm not going anywhere—''

'' What are you two doing?'' A hoarse, darkened voice spat from behind them as they, without even thinking about it — jumped apart. Amelie and Theodore flew to their feet as they watched the two Slytherin boys storm closer.

'' Zabini.'' Theodore snarled, '' What do you want? Still on the lookout for your best friend?''

'' Don't talk about Pucey like that.'' Blaise hissed, halting feet away from the two, '' You know better than to disrespect your superiors.''

Amelie took a step back, and her spine collided with a warm chest as she immediately spun around, '' I'm sorry. I didn't see—''

'' My superiors?'' Theodore made a face of disgust, '' You're actually calling yourself my superior?''

'' I am—''

'' Zabini.'' The blonde growled, '' Manners.''

Blaise simply rolled his eyes at Draco before looking back at Theodore, '' Don't you know that she's spoken for? Why would you even touch—''

'' Oh, piss off.'' Theo spat, annoyingly as he towered the rude boy, '' You know nothing more than what Adrian has told you, so I suggest that you stay out of things that don't concern you.''

'' Pucey asked me to keep an eye on her.'' Blaise's head swiftly tilted towards Amelie, '' And I actually do as I'm told. That's more than I can say for—''

'' Blaise!'' Draco called out for him again, his face stern in anger, '' You and Nott can take whatever this is, inside. I need a word with Avery.''

Amelie's heart started pounding, roughly within the cage of her chest.

'' But I—'' Blaise sought to speak again, but the blonde cut him off by raising his hand.

'' Now, Blaise.''

His eyes rolled again as Theodore shot Amelie a frustrating glare. He looked sad because this was the first time in a week, both of them had found a moment of peace and quiet together — but even in Adrian's absence, he was able to ruin it.

'' I'll find you later,'' Theo mumbled as he shoved Blaise out of his way, marching his way up to the caste again, and Zabini wasn't slow to follow.

Amelie didn't dare to turn around, to let her eyes level the grey ones. Still, she was intrigued as she scented him, the sweet, minty taste in a fusion with clean cotton.

'' Avery,'' Draco spoke quietly behind her as she turned around, his hands shoved into his suit pockets, '' I would like to talk to you about last week.''

She nodded, staying still in front of him, '' What about last week?''

'' In the library.'' His voice cold, '' I was in the wrong for speaking to you the way I did.''

Her heart nearly missed its beat as she felt the ache in her veins. She had tried to forget that night — she didn't want to think about how angry he had gotten with her for telling the truth.

For once, she spoke her mind. She didn't know if she wanted his help — if she wished for anyone's help, and she said it, out loud — still, he was irritated with her for doing so.

'' You didn't—'' Amelie rose, but he quickly hushed her down.

'' But I did.'' Draco reached his hand out in an attempt to touch her arm, but the very second he did so — she winced back, almost stumbling back as he pulled his touch away.

'' Please.'' She said in a whisper, '' Don't touch me.''

Draco's eyes grew wide at her reaction, and he didn't understand what he did wrong, so once again — his hand reached for her arm,

'' Don't—'' Amelie felt tears in her eyes as she was terrified by another person's touch, everyone that had ever touched her did it with force, and she couldn't take that anymore.

She flinched again, her lower lip quivered as she did everything possible not to cry, but it didn't work.

Her mind fled to Theodore, her safe place on this earth, and she tried to do as he told her — to breathe slowly, steadily, but nothing.

She couldn't calm herself. The panic drowned her from within as her tortured mind turned overwhelmed by everything.

Amelie's chest heaved, her hands grasped at the roots of her hair, and she closed her eyes, trying to shut it all out. She needed to slay her mind before it killed her.

'' No.''

'' No.''

'' No.''

She fell to her knees as her voice split in hurt; barely a proper sound could escape her lips. It wasn't easy — it was terrifying, to her this was her heaviest fear — that someone would touch her without her permission.

'' Avery—'' Draco kneeled beside her, in total shock of what was passing, '' Damn it, Avery, talk to me.''

She couldn't form a word as her breath heaved in her throat and the tears draining her skin burnt.

'' Theodore!'' He shouted, hoping that her friend hadn't gone too far away, but nothing. He panicked. He didn't know what to do either as Amelie was breaking apart next to him.

'' Amelie.''

He said her name.

He never speaks her name.

'' Amelie, can I—'' Draco swallowed as his fingers tugged at his tie, loosening it, '' Damn it, Amelie, can I touch you?''

Still no answer.

The blonde didn't know what to do. He didn't dare to lay a hand on her again, worried that he would do her more harm than good. He stood tall on his feet beside her, looking around as her soft, almost inaudible whimpers tore through his ears — but not a soul in sight, the yard shredded just as empty as he felt.

'' I am so sorry for this.'' He whispered before he bent down, his cold hands wrapped around her back and thighs, and without even being clear-minded to what he was doing — he lifted her.

Amelie's head buried into his chest as he carried her with him, and she gasped the second she felt the icing water embracing her.

'' Draco—'' She breathed out as he kept on walking into the lake. Her arms clung around his neck, and he halted as he came to mind that she was waking from her haunted thoughts.

The water held at his chest, and he let the hold of her thighs go. His hands wrapped tightly around her waist as he looked at her.

He always seemed to look at her.

'' Do you feel that?'' Draco whispered as her forehead leaned against his chest, '' Do you feel how the cold water eases everything?''

His skin fumed hot by the frosted lake around them, and the bright strokes of sun dimmed as the darkened clouds dragged over the castle.

'' I feel your heartbeat.'' Amelie lastly spoke up, and he could feel how her skin chilled, '' I feel it beating with mine.''

'' I feel it too.'' The blonde placed his head on top of hers, and they stood there, in the water, for moments as the heavy clouds shifted closer and the drips of nature began to pour.

'' Why?'' She mumbled into his suit jacket after minutes in quietness, '' Why are you helping me? Why do you care?''

Draco's jaws tensed as his eyes shut. He didn't want to speak the words he was about to say, but somewhere he knew that he needed to tell her — to make it clear to the girl he feels like he hurt so badly,

'' Avery.''

Her neck arched as her eyes matched his.

'' I don't care.'' He said, and even if he didn't show it — his heart dropped by the shallow look of her, '' I have told you before. I don't care about you.''

The grip he held of her waist loosened, and her arms dropped from around him — she couldn't feel his heart anymore.

'' I know,'' Amelie whispered, and her view dived from his. She couldn't look at him anymore because she knew that there wasn't hope to be found — she knew that she shouldn't have wished for her life to stand a chance against her fated odds.

Because she had no chance against the destiny her life was chained to.

She felt the pouring rain as she looked up at him again, seeing as his hair was wet, and his clothes soaked, by the look of that — a smile coated her lips in bravery, '' I know that you don't care. No one cares, Draco, and that's alright.''

And then — then she walked away.

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The art for this chapter is illustrated by @ dar.a_art (on Instagram and Tumblr)