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

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'' Let me help you.''

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'' Do it, Nott.'' Adrian shouted as a flash of green light struck the wall behind him, '' Looks like you missed.''

Amelie's heart ached out of the merciless vocals slipping off Adrian's tongue. Her knees weakened beneath her as she watched Adrian raise his wand.

'' No—'' Amelie breathed, still standing on the last step of the stairs, '' Don't.''

Her voice didn't catch any of the Slytherin's attention within the walls of the common room. They were all too upset, and the tension shared because of the danger they all were facing — thickened by the second.

Amelie's eyes flickered, and without doubt, they placed on the blonde boy — he was already looking at her, and even if it was flash in the grey eyes that held no longer than a second — he looked worried.

'' Adrian.'' Amelie clocked back to being from falling lost in Malfoy's eyes, '' Adrian, don't do this.'' Her voice was louder this time.

'' What?'' Adrian snapped, his eyes on hers as she trembled, '' What do you want this time?''

She didn't know what to say as she let her feet stumble past Draco, over to Theodore. She stood in front of him, protecting his large body with her small one.

'' Adrian...'' Her face fell into doubt as her heart was torn in two. The battle between her loyalty towards Adrian and her love for Theodore was torturing.

'' Don't you dare speak my name,'' Adrian growled, his wand pointed right at her, '' How do you live with yourself, Amelie?''

His words caused her lips to part in disbelief, '' I give you everything and still, you choose him? A pathetic—''

'' Pucey.'' Draco took a step closer to the furious boy, '' Perhaps we should leave.''

'' No.'' Adrian cleared his throat, narrowing his eyes at the two best friends in front of him, '' Little Nott here, just tried to curse me, and what? Am I just supposed to forget about that?''

Amelie swallowed, '' He didn't mean to—''

'' Don't speak for him.'' Adrian said, sternly, '' Don't you dare speak for him. You know better than to speak when you're not asked to do so.''

'' That is enough!'' Theodore finally choked out, his hand pushed into Amelie's shoulder as he shoved her out of his way, '' You don't get to talk to her like that. You don't get to talk to anyone like that.''

Theo's jaws clenched, '' I have had enough of you, Adrian. This needs to stop. You can't keep—''

'' Can't keep what?'' Adrian's fingers tensed around his wand, '' I can't do what our fathers did to our mothers?''

'' No. You can't. You should be better, and not take after what our monstrous parents did—'' Theo held his breath for a slight second, '' We should be better than them.''

'' Maybe we should, but who says that I want to be better? Who says that I don't want to be just as respected as my father is?'' Adrian's eyes flickered to hers.

Amelie still stood frozen, terrified, and she didn't know what to do anymore.

'' By hurting her?'' Theodore gestured towards Amelie, '' By hurting me? Well, that's one way to do it, isn't it?''

'' To be respected.'' Adrian shot back, his eyes dark and evil, '' To be feared.''

'' Pucey—'' Draco's hand on his shoulder, '' Don't do this, leave them alone and let's—''

'' Stay out of this, Malfoy.'' Adrian's teeth gritted as he looked straight at Amelie.

'' I hope you're happy now. That this is what you wanted, because the second we're out of this bloody school, I will lock you up somewhere, and you'll never see the light of day for as long as—''

'' Stupefy,'' Theodore shouted as Adrian stepped aside, making the white light of magic crash into the wall behind him. He only laughed at Teddy's attempt to disarm him,

'' Good try, Nott.'' The smirk he held grew wider, '' But you can't touch me. No one can.''

Adrian inhaled sharply before pointing the tip of his wand towards the brunette again, and it was as if Amelie couldn't breathe — she had seen Adrian act out of pure cruelty so many times. She understood that the boy her life was bounded with had no limits.

He would kill if it were to his satisfaction.

'' Crucio!'' Adrian twitched his wand, and Amelie — who nearly saw this coming, threw herself at Theodore to save them both.

'' That is enough.'' Draco growled again, his hand pushed into Adrian's shoulder as he stumbled back, '' You're acting like complete fools, both of you.''

Amelie's breath hitched as Theodore helped her up from the floor, and they looked at each other. She was more scared than ever.

'' Don't touch her.'' Adrian seethed at the look of Theodore's arm on her waist, '' Get your filthy hands off of her, right now.''

'' Adrian, please.'' Amelie felt tears shredding in the corner of her eyes.

But he would never leave a conquest like this one. She knew what this meant — the power Adrian's family possessed would free him of anything. He knew that he was able to do as he pleased without so much as a single consequence. If Adrian wanted to — if he truly set his mind to it, he could easily cease her of the one person that's still keeping her sane in all the madness.

Adrian stared at Theodore. His eyes stormed in hatred, and his lips parted, '' Avada—''

'' Stupefy!''

Her magic threw him across the room, unexpectedly as he fell helplessly to the floor. Both Draco and Theodore gasped at her doing, watching as her face fell off the realization — she harmed Adrian.

Amelie's hands shook as her eyes fell to watch the wand in her fist. She couldn't believe that she did that — that she caused harm upon the boy she thought to love so deeply.

Amelie's wand dropped to the floor as her hand cupped her mouth. She was on the edge of tears by her hurtful act.

This wasn't Amelie. She wouldn't hurt a soul — yet, she did. When it comes to Theodore, she will do everything she didn't think she was capable of doing to save him.

'' I—'' She breathed out, in complete shock, '' I didn't mean to—''

'' I know.'' Theodore shot Adrian's unconscious body a quick look before he wrapped his arms around the trembling girl, '' I know, love.''

Her head in his chest as he hugged her close, '' It's not your fault, Amelie.''

Theodore was in shock — they all were. Adrian had just tried to use one of the deadliest spells on him, but he couldn't think about that. He needed to help her. He had to push his own thoughts aside to save her from drowning in hers.

'' I didn't—'' It felt as she couldn't breathe, and her eyes were sealed. She didn't have the strength to look at her boyfriend,

'' I didn't mean to do this.'' Amelie sobbed into the soft fabric of Theodore's shirt, '' I didn't want to hurt him.''

'' I know.'' His breaths were calm, slow for her to follow them, '' I know.''

Theodore's heart ached as he felt her skin shiver — his arms around her held her steady because he could feel how her body caved. This was worse than any forbidden curse to him.

'' Malfoy.'' Theo tilted his head to the blonde, '' I need you to take her out of here.''

Draco's brows knitted together, '' Me?''

'' Yes, you.'' Theo's hand moved to her hair as he brushed his fingers through the brown strands, '' I need to take care of Adrian. He can't remember this.''

'' Teddy, what did I do...'' Amelie whispered again, her voice slightly broke by the running tears, '' Did I do this?''

'' Malfoy.'' Theodore said again, harshly, '' Now.''

Draco stepped closer, but Amelie only held onto Theodore tighter. She was shaking in fear, in confusion as to why she would do this, even if she deep down understood the meaning of it.

She was protecting her best friend — in ways, he always protected her.

'' Amelie—'' Theodore's hands gripped around her waist to create space between them, '' You need to let go so that we can fix this.''

'' No, please.'' She whimpered quietly, '' Don't let me go.''

Her hands locked around his neck, '' Draco will take you out of here, Amelie, and I will be right out. I promise, but you need to let go, for just a few minutes.''

'' No.''

'' Amelie,'' His hands cupped her cheeks, '' Look at me.''

Her head shook, her eyes stayed closed.

'' Amelie, look at me.''

She hesitated, still scared because, in her mind, it would become real. Her hurting Adrian would be the truth of her reality if she watched his numb body lying on the cold floor, and she wasn't ready for that.

'' You don't have to look at him, just look at me.'' He said softly, '' Open those beautiful eyes, Amelie and look at me.''

She swallowed, still hesitant to whether she should do as her friend said, but as her mind gave in to her soft heart — she did as he asked.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and the tears flooded down her skin.

'' There she is.'' Theodore smiled, bravingly, '' See, you can do this.''

Amelie didn't even seem to notice that Draco had placed a hand on her lower back, putting pressure on her spine to walk out with him.

'' If you go with Draco, just for a minute, I'll be right out.'' Theo granted her a comforting gaze as he slowly pulled his touch away.

She nodded, and without thinking — her hands grasped at Draco's arms. Amelie was still feeling more than unsteady, but the blonde didn't know what to do as she sought comfort in him.

He froze entirely as her body caved into his, and with his arms around her — he felt more than nervous.

'' Avery.'' Draco mumbled sternly, '' Come with me.''

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'' This is my fault.''

'' This is my fault.''

'' This is my fault.''

'' This is my fault.''

Draco's jaws gritted as he continuously heard her whisper those words to herself. He felt his blood fuming at the way she believed that she did something wrong.

'' Avery.'' Draco sought to get her attention, but she just kept walking down the hall with her sight grounded.

'' This is my fault.''

'' This is my fault.''

'' This is my fault.''

'' This is my fault.''

'' Avery, this is not your fault.'' He said again, louder, '' You did nothing wrong.''

Amelie faltered in her steps as her neck arched to look up at him, '' It is. It is my fault.''

'' How is it your fault? He tried to kill Theodore.'' Draco's face held a cold mantle, '' You did what you could to stop that, this isn't—''

'' I know.'' Her fingers twitched against her palms, '' I know it's his fault, but it's easier, convincing myself that I am to blame.''

'' Why?'' Draco looked startled, '' How could it possibly be easier for you to blame yourself?''

'' Because—'' She held her breath for seconds, intimidated to reveal her true thoughts, '' Because it's easier to love him if I hate myself.''

Draco's eyes widened as he slowly nodded — he could understand how it could hurt less to love Adrian if she loathed herself.

Still, in the blonde's head — she didn't deserve this, no one did, and now — now he had seen it himself. How cruel and vicious Adrian lived to be.

'' I can help you.'' Draco's eyes dragged over her, noticing the dried stains of tears covering the porcelain skin underneath her eyes, '' Let me help you.''

'' What do you mean?'' Her fingers tangled into the edges of her sleeves, and she wiped her tears away with the fabric.

'' I can help you with this. I can help you shut all the pain out.'' The grey eyes studied hers as a fallen look rose upon his ashen skin, and the bravery he held onto — lightly missed him.

'' It's hard to explain, but I know how to help you.''

'' How—''

'' Just—'' Draco sighed, his chest heaved as he looked down at her, '' Meet me tomorrow in the library, and I'll show you.

'' Miss. Avery.'' The hoarse, demanding voice shredded loudly behind them as they both spun around.

'' Headmaster.'' Amelie sought to stand properly, stretching her spine to seem polite as the man marched closer.

His eyes were glued on her, and he didn't bother to recognize that Draco was standing beside them, '' It has come to my attention that forbidden magic was used earlier.''

Amelie gulped.

'' And such dark matters have consequences. You and I need to have a word.''

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