This chapter contains mentions of death, violent and upsetting scenes. Please read with caution.

_____

''I need you back in one piece.''

_____

Amelie was standing in Narcissa's garden again, surrounded by flourishing flowers and growing greenery.

Her spine curved as she picked yet another rose from its bush and placed it together with the rest of the flowers in her hand. She was harvesting them for a special occasion, something she'd been holding herself from doing — but it was time.

She couldn't stall it any longer.

Her bare feet softly sunk into the grass as she strolled in circles, reaping every floret she believed would be fitting for this.

It was a sensation of relief within her, even if it hurt her heavily to do this, to finally earn the strength to visit the person she'd yet failed to see. 

Amelie's eyes flickered, watching the bouquet she'd been collecting, and she felt an arch as it tugged in the corner of her lips.

It looked beautiful. The blooming colors of flushed roses in the shade of chalky peonies, green leaves hugging around them.

''It's beautiful,'' His voice soothed behind her as she felt two hands, gently slipping around her waist, ''But not near as beautiful as you.''

Tilting her head against his chest as she blushed, a rosy shade grew on her cheeks at his words, ''Here,'' Amelie whispered, spinning around in his arms to fully face him, ''This is for you.''

Malfoy's eyes grew wide at the sight of her, reaching a rose up for him to take, ''It was the prettiest one and...'' She smiled widely, ''And I wanted you to have it.''

Knitting his brows for a mere second as his fingers gripped the pedicle. Draco studied it intensely before his sight snapped to hers, and he didn't fully know what to do nor what to speak.

''Thank you,'' His mouth dragged out a bit, hesitantly smirking at her at the gesture, ''It's...''

Amelie's eyes rolled as she huffed out a laugh, ''It's what?''

''Lovely...?'' Draco pushed his lips into a firm line, the hand on her waist inched her closer, ''Just like you.''

Her sight grounded, still with her smile smeared to her lips as she nodded, thinking wildly to herself at the adorable reaction he carried to her giving him the flower.

''Are you ready?'' He pulled away, bowing his head against the tiny path leading down to the woods.

Amelie wavered. Her lashes fluttered in silence as he noticed.

Worry swept over his otherwise sharp features, looking down at her unsettlingly, ''We don't have to do to this today. We have time. There's no need to rush this.''

Her neck moved, and she gaped up at him. Amelie drew a deep breath, laced with both doubt and comfort, ''I want to, it's time for me to see her.''

Gritting his jaws as he nodded and she began walking ahead of him, down to the little glade in the woods where she'd never been yet.

Draco wasn't sure that it was a good idea, that this would live to be a great thing for her, but he would never take it away. If she wished to do what she felt as if she needed to — then it was her decision.

This he could never rule over.

He watched as she gracefully stalked through the hanging branches and the roots embedded in the ground. Her dress hauled in the soft strokes of summer wind, and her hair danced along with it.

Hell, even when he was stumbling behind her, trying to keep himself plain on two feet, he had no power in looking away from her.

Amelie was getting closer, and the place she'd been aiming for showed in between the trees standing around it. She halted as Draco stepped up beside her.

Her face fell into pure agony, and her sight gazed over the stones, holding perfectly in the strings of sunlight. It looked so warm to her, so friendly yet heartbreaking enough for her to second guess it.

Peering up at the boy next to her, she knitted her brows, giving him a thin smile, ''Are you coming with me?'' She asked quietly.

Draco shook his head, straightening his shoulders not to let the feelings of this place crawl beneath his skin, ''I think this is something you need to do by yourself, but I'll be right here if you need me.''

''Thank you,'' It came out in half a whisper, unsure as to whether she was speaking too loud. Her fingers tightened around the flowers she was holding, and she stepped into the glade.

Birds chirped around her, and the beams of sun scored hotly, but she didn't mind.

''Hello, love,'' Amelie smiled as she stood in front of the two rocks, ''And hello to you too, little one...''

Kneeling in between the stones as the grass smoothly caressed her skin, and she placed half of the bouquet in front of one rock and the rest of the flowers close to the other one.

She didn't entirely know what to do — if she should stand up, sit down, how she should talk, or even what to say. She'd done this before, many times at both her and Teddy's mother's graves, but this was different.

She still felt at fault for this, and it was far from easy for her to know how to act.

She didn't know if they would've wanted her to visit — she hoped they did, and she chose to believe that they would, but it was still as if a fist ripped through her chest and clenched around her heart.

Her eyes felt heavy, hooded and pearls formed the very second she caught what was carved into the headstones.

'Pansy Parkinson.'

'1980 - 1998'

'A beloved daughter, friend, mother, and the most gracious soul.'

'Falling stars shine brightest.'

Amelie could barely hold it together as she read that.

Mother.

If she only had worked harder, fought fairly — perhaps Pansy and Aimee could've made it.

If she wasn't as weak as she believed herself to be, she'd battled more forcefully, stood against all the sinful souls in this world — maybe they'd still be here.

She didn't, and it drowned her from the inside.

Her tear-filled eyes flickered to the other stone, and her chest tightened.

'Aimee Parkinson.'

'1998'

'The most loved angel of them all.'

'What comes from violence also blooms.'

Her head shook as the tears she'd brawled fell down her skin, streaming uncontrollably.

''I'm sorry—'' Amelie chocked out, burying her head in her palms to muffle the sounds of her cries. She didn't want to worry Draco more than she had been, ''I'm sorry.''

''I'm sorry I couldn't save you,'' She held her breath, closing her eyes as she shifted around, and she laid down in between the two graves, one hand on each side of her to feel closer to the two stars she wouldn't be able to watch anymore.

Gathering herself before she peeled her lashes wide again and she stared up at the sky.

''I would've come sooner, but Teddy didn't think it was a good idea for me to see you just yet...'' She pinched a few strands of grass between her fingers, ''But he told me that they put you to rest while I was... gone — and that it was beautiful.''

Her head tilted to one of the stones, ''I wish I could've been there, to put you to peace with them,'' Amelie's tone held airily, ''Most of all, I wish that I could've saved you... both of you.''

It was a pause, a hovering silence in her tells as the sound of singing birds echoed.

''I'm sorry for what he did to you back then. No one deserves what he put us through, and if I would've known that he hurt you like he hurt me...'' Tears pooled again, threatening to fall, ''I would have done everything I could to stop it.''

Her eyes flickered over the treetops.

''I wish I would've met you sooner, that we had the chance to be friends before it all got so complicated, I think we would have gotten along together,'' She said, and her mind fled to when they still were in school, ''But life isn't always what we want it to be, is it?''

Huffing out a sigh and she hoped that somewhere this wouldn't be real. That the night she lost Pansy and Aimee didn't actually happen, but it did, and she couldn't take it back now.

No matter how much she wished for it all to be a dream and for her to wake up from the nightmare she was constantly kept in — she couldn't.

''I haven't seen Hermione yet, but Teddy said that she was here when they buried you, and she thought it was just as beautiful as he did... I want to see her, but I don't think Draco would let me. He barely let me come here today.''

The stinging feeling in her eyes eased.

''He's not doing so well, Pansy, and I don't know—'' She pinched her eyelids sealed again. ''I don't know what I can do for him, I'm trying to help him as much as I can, but it's hard. He's stubborn, and he's just trying to protect me, but it's still... difficult.''

''But let's not talk about that,'' Amelie moved her head, facing the other stone, ''Let's talk about you...'' She smiled softly.

''I wish we got to meet each other too...'' She whispered, her fingers brushed along the chalky rock, ''I think we would've been the best of friends.''

It hurt her tremendously to know that Aimee didn't even have the chance to see the light of day. She was never able to be held or carried. She never got to see her mother or her girlfriend.

She didn't get to experience life, yet she was so loved and so cared for within the little family they seemed to be.

That was her gravest comfort in all of this — that they were indeed a family. Amelie had lost everyone around her, but they were replaced with people who she now never wanted to live without.

''I'm sorry you didn't get to meet Teddy, he makes the best breakfasts, and he knows how to fix everything... He would've helped you with all your schoolwork, and he would have made you focus on healing. He's convincing like that...''

She almost laughed, almost.

''You would've laughed a lot with him because he's not only smart, he's incredibly foolish too... he falls over almost five times a day, and he always spills his drinks on his white shirts.''

Smiling at her own words as she kept on talking.

''And Draco...'' She huffed out a chuckle, ''You would have loved Draco, and even if he wouldn't admit it to many, he would have adored you so much, he did. He loved you even when he didn't get to meet you...''

Amelie could feel his eyes on her as he shielded her from afar.

''Draco, you see, he buys the best gifts, and he would have played hours with you, building forts and castles. He might seem scary at first, but once he starts talking, he's the sweetest person you know. He would've protected you with his life...''

It began to hurt again, her mouth parched.

''Narcissa loved you more than any of us, I think. She wouldn't let you or your mothers go anywhere. She made you stay for weeks just to have us all close,''

Amelie tried to find peace in that — that they at least got some time together.

''She would've taught you how to cook and how to play cards, and she would've taken you shopping.''

She laughed at the thought now.

''Narcissa loves shopping, and even if she says she's buying things for you, she's most likely buying them for herself too.''

Amelie hushed, not certain if she wanted to speak about the next person on her mind.

''And your father...'' She whispered quietly, ''I know you think that he must have hated you because of what he did, but I don't think he did. I think your father was a very hurt boy, someone so deeply in over his head in his hatred and misery for himself that he didn't know right from wrong.''

She had to shut her eyes closed again, pushing away the tears.

''He wasn't always bad, you know. When I first met him, your father was a beautiful person. He loved me very much, and he took such good care of me, just like I wish to think he would've done with you... He was kind, caring but everyone around him failed him, and eventually...''

Her heart ached.

''Eventually, he broke. I think he was a bit broken all along, but he was good at hiding it in the beginning. Only because people do bad things doesn't always make them bad people. I think Adrian had a lot more to give, and I like to believe that you would've been his redemption, but he failed you and for that...''

She drew a shaky breath.

''For that, I am so sorry, you and your mother deserved so much more, and I wish I could've given it to you. I wish I could've taken you both away from all of this...''

Amelie's hands settled on her chest, laced together as she looked back up at the heavens. She liked to imagine both of them looking down at her as she did.

''And I...'' She kept her tone low, ''I would've given you the world, both you and your mother. We would've picked flowers in the garden together, and I would've taught you how to play the harp, it looks boring, I know, but when you learn it... you can't stop. We would've dressed the Christmas tree together. That's the only thing I like about winter, Christmas.''

The sun glimmered over them, all three of them.

''And I would have shown you rain,'' Warmth flooded through her, ''You would've loved the rain just like me...''

Amelie didn't say much more. She simply rested there, on the ground in between them for moments as Draco watched over her.

He didn't mind her staying there all day if she needed to. He'd be right there, in the shadows in case she would need him.

Not once could he look away as he leaned against the bole of a tree. She was mesmerizing, and even if he'd spent the past month plainly looking at her, all the time — he'd never grow tired of it.

Amelie needed this. She needed closure even if she didn't speak it — it was simply that to her. She was a person who craved to say her goodbye's and that was something he feared.

It frightened him, thinking that the reason she didn't talk to him about Adrian and what she went through the months she was held captive — was because she failed to seek closure with him.

He could never push her to do so, and he didn't once force her into speaking about things she didn't want to approach. Still, it bothered him, knowing that she kept all that hurt and betrayal inside of her.

Amelie pushed her palms into the grass as she stood back up, looking down at the gravestones, and she smiled, a true smile this time.

Even if the two had faded from this life too soon, she'd always be grateful for the time they had together.

The tips of her fingers pathed up to her lips, and she placed a soft kiss upon her own skin before she bent down, pushing her touch onto Pansy's stone, ''I love you, and I'll be back. I promise.''

She repeated the action with Aimee's stone, and she hunched down, stroking the rock carefully, ''I love you little one, and I'll be back to check up on you, but in the meantime,'' She blinked quickly, ''You have to keep an eye on your mother for me.''

Walking her away back to Draco, who pushed himself off the tree to meet her action, and she slammed right into him. Her arms folded around his waist as he held her tightly.

''Thank you,'' She whispered, and she buried her nose into his chest to drain him of comfort, ''Thank you for doing this for them and for letting me see them.''

Draco's hands scored large on her back as his chin settled on the top of her head, his neck arching to push his lips into her hair, ''Anything,'' He mumbled back, silently.

''I love you,'' She said, and he felt a smile as it teased on his lips at the three words that constantly made his heart flutter, ''Thank you for taking care of me, and them.''

''I will always take care of you,'' He hummed as his hands moved up her spine, stroking her shoulder before he softly gripped her jaws, bending her head back to level his gaze, ''You never have to thank me for that.''

Amelie shook her head, feeling his hands as they tensed, ''I have you to thank for everything.''

''So do I,'' He leaned down as she pushed herself up on her toes, and their lips connected so gently that it rocked within her. She loved the way he kissed her.

''It's late,'' Draco muttered into her mouth, catching her airy breaths, ''And you need to rest. You didn't sleep much after you got back.''

Amelie slightly froze, and she pulled away, forcing a smile at what he said, knowing that she'd be leaving again tonight, ''Will you come to bed with me, then?''

''I can't...'' Draco tore their eye contact in two, knitting his brows and sighing loudly, ''I need to do something, but I'll be here when you wake up.''

Amelie frowned, puzzlingly, ''Where are you—''

''It's for my father,'' He fired back, cooly, ''He needs help with one thing, and I promised mother that I'd do it, but it's harmless, and I'll be back, late.''

Malfoy spoke so severely that she didn't dare to ask any questions.

She nodded instead, feeling as he inched her closer, and placed another kiss on her forehead, lingering where her scar had been.

''Be careful, please?'' She huffed out, closing her eyes and tilting her head onto his chest again. Savoring the safety he brought before he had to leave, ''I need you back in one piece.''

''I always am,'' He held her tighter for another second until he let go, taking a step back, ''I'll see you in the morning, alright?''

''Alright—''

Amelie could barely answer before he had twitched his wand, and he faded from in front of her. The wind scented as he did as it scored around her for a brief minute.

She inhaled harshly, knowing what she was about to do.

_____

Amelie folded the knitted sweater over her head, threading it firmly around her body as she tucked her wand into the hem of her skirt.

Theodore watched her doubtfully, ''Are we sure about this? That we want to do this while Draco isn't here?'' His voice crackled nervously, ''He didn't go easy on me this morning. I'm thankful that he didn't kill me.''

Snorting out as she tightly mangled her lips together not to laugh at what he told, ''I'm sure he wasn't that upset—''

''Are you kidding me?'' Theodore cocked his head, narrowing his eyes in hers, ''You should've seen him. He broke my damn door, Amelie.''

Her brows dragged together, and a serious look mantled her features, ''Teddy—''

''No, he was so mad, Amelie. You don't understand. He was so angry that I let you go there without telling him.'' Theo sounded more than offended, ''And what did he do with you? He didn't say a word to you.''

Her head shook, her hair spilling over her shoulders, ''He's disappointed in me, I can tell. He didn't say more about it, but I see it. He's upset with me—''

''Not as he was with me, I actually thought he'd kill me,'' Theodore stepped closer to her, his arm linked with hers as he rose his wand, ''What if he did? What if after this, if he finds out about it, what if he kills me?''

Amelie scowled at him as he whispered, 'Apparate' underneath his breath, and verity looped around them again.

She stumbled back as her feet hit the ground, and the surroundings exchanged to a darkened street.

''He wouldn't kill you, Teddy, don't be foolish—''

''Foolish?'' He whispered harshly, ''Did he tell you that he almost killed me when you were gone? That he beat me until I couldn't—''

''He told me,'' Her gaze lowered, feeling ashamed that her friend had to go through that, ''And I'm sorry that he did, but we lied to him, we went without telling him, when he was asleep I might add, of course, he'd be mad at us.''

''Me,'' Theo shot back, rolling his eyes at her as he peered around, looking across the buildings around them, ''He's mad at me, and if he didn't kill me this bloody morning, I'm sure he will when he finds out about this.''

Amelie began walking, recognizing the street immediately, ''He's not finding out about this, are you crazy?'' Her voice in a half-whisper, ''If he knows about this, he'll kill me too, trust me.''

''He wouldn't,'' He scoffed as he stalked after her, ''You just tell him that you love him and do that face on his chest thing, and he forgets all about what you do, while I—''

Amelie flung around, frowning at her friend as her arms crossed, stubbornly, ''That's not true—''

Raising a brow at her as his head tipped, ''Are you serious? You can just smile at him, and he'll let you do anything you want.''

She looked away, a dry look came upon her, and she shrugged, ''So what if it's like that? Does that really matter—''

''It does, because you could kill someone, come home and kiss him and he'd be fine with it, while I end up in the woods, buried twelve feet down, and when you ask where Teddy is, he's gonna say that I—''

Amelie pushed her hand up to her mouth, stopping herself from bursting out in laughter, ''Theodore, that's enough, we should focus,'' She smiled, ''Fine, he loves me more than he loves you, are you happy now?''

She marched on, hearing as he stumbled behind her, ''Very!'' He muttered, tartly, ''And not to speak about—''

''Teddy, it's enough, okay? Yes, I get kisses, hugs, and special treatment. I'm sorry you don't,'' Amelie grinned, ''No need to be a sore loser about it.''

''Sore loser!'' He nearly shouted now, his skin reddened in fury, and he stormed up beside her, ''If you think Malfoy beating me half to death is me being a sore loser, I'd think that you hit your head harder than you actually did yesterday.''

Amelie only chuckled in response, trying to focus on what apartment complex they'd be walking into.

''You're welcome for that, even after I healed you, he still punched me,'' Theo kept on going, ''But I don't dare to tell you that because it will make me a sore loser, wouldn't it?''

''Can you just give it a rest! If he finds out about this, I'll tell him I hexed you and convinced you to go with me—''

''Yeah, and then you kiss him and tell him you're his, and he would still find a bloody way to pin this on me,'' He halted as she did, standing close to her as the wind scored lively around them, ''What? What is it?''

Amelie tilted her head, staring up at the building in front of them, ''Here—'' She mumbled, tugging her wand out and aimed it at the brick wall as she hummed inaudible words underneath her breath.

Teddy flinched back, squealing quietly at the rocking ground and the complex as it divided in two — a thundering sound shredded down the street, and his jaw dropped.

''What...?'' He gasped out, catching her arms as he spun her around to face him, ''How did I not know you knew all this magic?''

''Perhaps you never paid enough attention to me, Teddy,'' Amelie smirked, turning in her shoes as she walked forwards to the entrance of the house.

''Paid enough attention!'' He yelled out again, frustrated with the way she was taunting him, ''You're really on it tonight, aren't you? You're real smug sometimes, Amelie. You know that, right?''

''I know—'' She smiled cheekily.

''Paid enough attention, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Not like I've been your best friend for the past decade but yeah, let me pay more bloody attention...'' Theo cursed, silently, ''Just say that you're a bloody Ravenclaw and get it over with—''

''I can still hear you, you know?'' Amelie chuckled, gaily as her hand closed around the doorknob, twisting it open in one go, ''But yes, if you're insisting on me pulling the Ravenclaw card—''

''Oh, shut it,'' He seized heavy steps up the stairs, muttering as he went.

She tracked inside the building, her wand ready in her hand as she shot direct glares everywhere her eye could reach. It felt so familiar here.

''Are you sure we're in the right place?'' Theo asked, closing the door behind them as they cautiously marched down the corridor, ''I mean, have you been here before?''

''No,'' She replied, still with full force in her voice, ''I haven't, but I've been outside in the car while father was here. I remember.''

''Mhm,'' Theodore poked his head through a doorway, scanning the inside discreetly, ''So this was his office?''

''Yes,'' Amelie walked ahead, her skin slightly shivered as she reached the back room, her hand brushed along the doorpost to find the switch to turn on the lights, ''This was his office, and I don't think they know about it yet.''

''They?'' Theodore quirked a brow, ''What do you mean them—''

''Death Eaters,'' Amelie muttered, ''And here you are complaining about my house—''

''Watch it,'' He snapped, ''I'm one of them too, you know.''

Amelie faltered in her doings just as she caught the light switch, flipping it on, and she turned to him. Her eyes glinted in regret to what she just said, ''Teddy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean—''

''I know,'' He mastered a smile, nodding towards the bookshelves and the divisions filled with drawers, tags glued to them.

The room looked huge and old-fashioned. A tainted smell, along with the scent of elderly paint, filled her nostrils. The walls were covered in old portraits, and a massive clock coated the dusty desk in the middle of the room.

Amelie nodded shyly before she found her way over to the chest of drawers, falling to her knees in front of them, and she began to hunt immediately — so did Theodore.

For nearly an hour, they flipped through papers, files, books, and the Doctor's old archives, looking for something that could hint to where her mother and her brother could be.

It still didn't feel proper to Amelie, knowing that she had a brother and a younger one at that. Her mother had left her, fled to keep one child safe while leaving the other to suffer for it.

If it had been anyone else — they'd be mad, furious, but not her.

Not Amelie.

She was hurt, rightly so she believed, but she was even more concerned for their safety and that she had to find them before the Dark Lord had any chance in doing so.

The burning sensation in her chest was back the very instant she caught those thoughts — when her mind passed everything she did in the belief that her mother was dead. That she wouldn't be able to meet her again.

Shaking her head as she focused on the sheets of paper again. She couldn't falter now — she refused to cave when she was so close.

''I can't find anything—''

''Here!'' Theodore yelled behind her, his voice sparked in hope as he stormed up to her, using long strides, and he hunched right next to her resting body, ''Look, there's an address.''

The tips of Amelie's fingers trailed over the paper, and her eyes pinched shut.

Atlas.

She named her son Atlas after the room she used as a safe haven at home.

Her insides wrenched and she nodded, slowly peeling her lashes wide to keep reading, but it didn't take long until she had to look away again.

It was her mother's handwriting that threw her over the edge, and droplets began to shape in her eyes, ''It's really her... isn't it?'' She whispered so lowly that it caught Teddy's full attention.

''Amelie...'' He dropped the file to the floor, wrapping his hands around her as he fell to the ground entirely next to her, ''I'm sorry. I'm sorry she did this to you... I'm sorry she left you—''

''What the hell...'' Theodore whined out, jerking away from her roughly, and her eyes widened as he dragged the sleeve of his shirt up, revealing the ink embedded in his skin as it looped and twisted over his forearm.

''No...'' He breathed. His face came to master a cloak of panic, ''Not again, how do they keep finding—''

Amelie ripped the paper in front of her to pieces, memorizing the address on it before she did, and she shoved herself off the ground, tugging Teddy with her to stand flat on his feet, but the boy bent forward, screeching in pain.

''Shhh...'' Amelie hushed him, flickering her wand against the lamp to turn the room dark again, ''I'll get us out, just wait—''

'Apparate'

Nothing.

She tried it again, 'Apparate.'

Nothing.

A storm began to blast outside, and she huffed out, frustratingly, ''Damn it,'' She swore, closing her eyes, and she begged to everything she could that they'd make it out.

The front door slammed open with a noisy sound as they both flinched and steps echoed down the hall.

''We're in another country, again, how the hell—'' Teddy growled in a whisper, shrugging his shoulders to neglect the pain he felt, and he straightened his spine, rolling his neck.

''Teddy—'' Amelie pleaded, her eyes begging his, ''Teddy, I—''

''I know,'' He hewed her off, sternly, giving her a serious look, ''Me too, but don't you dare say anything, we are going to be alright.''

Amelie wished she believed that. She truly did.

Thunder was heard from outside, and the small bolts of lightning seeped through the windows.

Men marched into the room from the shadows outside it. Everyone carried the same masks as they'd done yesterday, and she drew the deepest of breaths. Preparing for the worst.

They looked surprised, just as Theodore and Amelie did, and it clocked her — the Death Eaters didn't know they would be there, simply following the same lead they did.

''And we meet again, I see...'' One of the men snickered, taking a stand in front of the others, pulling his hood off his skull, ''I thought the two of you would've learned something from our last encounter.''

''You can't touch her—'' Theodore gritted angrily, ''That's not part of the deal.''

''I told you, Nott, that the deal would be kept if your blond friend would keep his hands in check, and as far as we know, he hasn't.'' The man stared at Amelie, evilly from behind the mask shielding his features, ''And this one...''

The man stepped closer to her as Amelie stayed still. Not looking at him, not moving a muscle.

''This one played quite the act on us yesterday... didn't she?'' He earned snickers to flee his soldier's mouths as he spoke, ''A tough one at that, and to think that Malfoy is lucky to have all of this to himself.''

Her teeth shattered as her jaws clenched. Not letting a string of emotions show on her as she crumbled inside.

Them talking about Draco caused her to feel furious yet soothed. They feared him. They were scared of the boy constantly giving everything up for her.

''Don't—'' Theodore stepped in front of her, protectingly, but without notice — the Death Eater fired a spell, making the brunet crash into a bookshelf, falling helplessly to the floor.

Amelie's frame jolted, her breath hitched. Her sight flew after Theodore as he laid unconsciously on the cold ground.

''No—'' Amelie breathed, her eyes widened, fearfully before she snapped her neck, looking back at the Death Eater, ''What did you—''

''So...'' The man grinned, teeth on display as he aimed his wand at her, settling it underneath her chin to bend her face up, ''Where were we? Ah! Malfoy, right.''

Teddy.

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the dizziness she felt consuming her. It didn't feel like reality to her anymore.

Teddy.

That was all she managed to think.

Amelie's stare leveled his.

''Where is your savior?'' He taunted, looking around the room mockingly, ''Not here, is he?''

''Why would I need a savior?'' Amelie spat out, hiding the fact that she was terrified, ''Think too much of yourself, do you now?''

''Just like your father, I see, an arrogant cunt,'' He growled at her, and his palm struck her cheek, ''He surely didn't teach you any manners, that's certain.''

Shutting her eyes for a mere second, swallowing the stinging pain on her sore cheek before he turned her head back to face him.

Never show weakness, she could practically hear her father's words as they echoed in her head.

Teddy.

''Luckily, he didn't,'' Amelie narrowed her sight in his as they broadened at her behavior.

A seeping silence tricked them.

''I wish Malfoy was here so he could see what I'm about to do to you—'' His wand quickly rose, but so did Amelie's, pointing directly at the other,

''Oh, you're not bad...'' He grinned behind his mask, ''Too bad that I'm better—''

''Crucio—''

''Expelliarmus!''

The icing light blasted from Amelie's wand as the man's weapon landed in her other hand, and she backed away.

''Robbing a man of his wand?'' He spat, furiously, ''That's fucking pathetic—''

His hand lengthened in the air making the other Death Eaters aimed their wands right at her, and just as they fired a path of spells in her direction — Amelie threw herself behind the desk, shielding her body with the wood as it shook violently.

She panicked. Her whole self trembled. She'd never done this before.

Teddy.

Teddy.

Teddy.

That was all that kept going through her head. Teddy, her Theodore, lying helpless on the floor. Not the fact that she could get hurt and Draco would find out about this, nothing but Teddy scored through her mind.

Amelie did the best she could. The ringing sound in her head from being attacked with dark magic in fusion with the verity of Teddy, still not moving, a muscle ripped through her once again.

She tossed spells back, harmful but not lethal ones. She didn't want to hurt a soul if she didn't have to, and it went on for minutes until the men quieted, mumbling to themselves.

Her brows knitted as she peered out from behind the shredded wood, and in the corner of her eyes, she could see that almost every man stormed out in the hallway, their wands ready to discharge.

Not wasting a breath, she threw herself across the floor, timidly crawling her way over the wood as it scratched her knees and palms, but she couldn't even feel any pain.

Amelie climbed on top of Theodore, shielding his wounded body with her frail one, ''Teddy—'' She gasped, her hands gripping his neck, shaking his head in the touch of her palms, ''Teddy, wake up, we need to—''

Shouting bolted through the apartment complex. Screaming and yelling mixed with loud noises caused all already dimmed room to flicker in all different shades.

''Teddy, please—''

She caught magic being tossed around, and she was seconds from being hysterical. She didn't know what to do, ''Damn it, damn it, damn it.''

Her chest tightened, and she peered around as thunder scored around the building.

It felt as if time slowed, giving her an ounce more of it as the tiny space between the wall and bookshelves earned her heed, biting her lower lip, and she nodded to herself.

Amelie could do this — she could take Theodore away from here.

''I'm sorry—'' Her voice began to shake, her breaths trembled, ''I'm so sorry for this,''

Pushing herself up on her knees again, she gripped the fabric of her sweater, dragging it over her head, and she shoved Theo's body to the side, tucking the material underneath his back, leaving the sleeves free so that she could tug him with her.

Her skin shivered at the raw air, hands gripped the arms of her shirt, and she began to pull. Using the weight of her own body as she nearly fell to the floor out of exhaustion, but she didn't give in.

Amelie dragged Theodore's unconscious frame over the ground until her forehead glistened in lather, and her breath heaved.

She dropped to her knees again, her arms around his chest, and she shoved him to sit up, his head hanging weakly, ''Teddy,'' Amelie was begging now, she didn't know what else to do, ''Teddy please—''

Tears prickled.

Her palms cupped his jaws, inching closer till she was straddling him. Her wand tucked into the waistband of her skirt came to mind, and she pulled it out.

Her forehead leaned against his. He'd taught her how to do his.

''I will fix you, I promise, just let me—'' Her lashes fell shut, humming spells underneath her breath, and the looping sound in her head scored loudly. Her head didn't clock the Death Eaters once because all she could think of was Teddy.

She drew another deep breath, ready to continue healing her friend back to being as she flinched. Her body jolted back by the feeling of something wet shattered across her bare legs and arms.

Wide-eyed, she glared down, tracing the tips of her fingers over the liquid. Illuminated by the thundering lightning outside — she saw blood.

Crimson red blood covered her fingers, and it was as if it flickered in her head, realizing what had happened.

Someone was here.

Just as she was meant to protect Theodore's body again — a hand grabbed her by her neck, and she cried out at the fingers clawing into her skin.

Amelie was slammed into a bookshelf, and the hand tensed around her throat. She panicked at the feeling of running out of air.

She couldn't see who it was — it was too dark, but she fought them.

Her arms strived to push him back. Her body jerked and writhed.

''Please—'' Her voice wailed, silently, and with a step back and his eyes flickering to hers, Amelie saw who it was.

Draco.

Malfoy didn't look human. His chest rose and fell heavily, and his coat strained, tensely around his shoulders.

''Draco—'' Amelie cried out, her body shook, ''Draco, please—''

The blond tilted his head. His other hand moved to her hair, brushing it away from her face, and suddenly — he let go of her, catching her body just as she was meant to hit the ground.

His eyes pierced through her, burning into her soul mightily.

''Amelie?'' Draco growled, so loud that it shot daggers to vibrate through her wounded skin, ''What the fuck—''

Her head shook, rapidly and she blinked, trying to regain herself from the shock she felt.

''Did I hurt you?'' Draco seethed, cocking his head, ''Did I fucking hurt—''

He didn't.

His hands didn't leave a mark. His violence didn't wound her.

Feeling as her head pounded, she listened to him, blurting the words, and she couldn't give herself a moment. She needed to give it to him.

''No—'' Amelie whispered, shaking her head calmly. She couldn't understand what was happening.

One of the men came up behind them unexpectedly, forcing a spell against Draco, but he shielded it, firing one back as it caused his body to drop to the ground.

He gripped her by her jaws, his palms soothed against her skin, and his head dipped to hers.

Draco kissed her fiercely in the heat of the moment, allowing her the comfort she needed just for a second till he drew back, but she didn't.

Amelie clung onto him, her arms sheeted around his neck, her fist clenched around her wand as she caught a man, pushing himself up.

''Stupefy!'' Amelie shouted as the man tripped back into a bookshelf.

Draco's body flexed against hers, and he pulled back, clutching her arms, bending them down in between them.

He could see how scared she was, how her whole self shook.

''Close your eyes and turn around,'' He said, letting go of her as the men behind them grunted in pain, ''Right now, Amelie.''

Her eyes fell shut, and just as she turned around, knowing that she couldn't disobey him, not now.

She swallowed thickly at the screams and shouting happening behind her, stretching her hands up to cup her ears, not to hear it — not to listen.

She hummed to herself, silently.

Blood shattered across her skirt and skin. She coiled at the feeling.

Green lights scored through the room, but Draco wouldn't let a single piece of it touch them.

Amelie didn't let a second go to waste as she dropped to her knees again. Her eyes flickered across her best friend, still numb on the chilly floor, gripping her wand, and she whispered the words of healing he'd taught her.

''Please wake up,'' She pleaded, ''Teddy, please—''

Brushing her nose against the curly hair falling over his forehead as the world around her faded. All she saw was him again, her Teddy.

''Amelie—'' Theodore tilted his head back, faintly coughing, ''I'm sorry I—''

She didn't let him speak, her arms around his head as she drove him straight into her shoulder, hugging all her fear away, ''Shhh...'' Amelie whispered, ''It's okay, it's not your fault.''

A wash of relief scored over her, trapping her senses in a gentle feeling, ''You're okay...''

Theodore smiled into her hair, feeling as it tickled his nose, and he placed his palms on each side of her head, leaning in and kissing her forehead before he tipped back against the bookshelf again.

He felt so weak, but he was alright. That was all she could ever wish for.

''Are you out of your fucking mind?'' Draco's hand snatched her by her shoulder, yanking her back to fully face him as she winced, following his movements up on her feet again, ''Amelie, are you fucking out of your mind? How the hell could you do this—''

Amelie didn't understand reality anymore. She couldn't grasp what just befell her, looking around confusingly as she watched bodies ripped apart on the floor.

She looked away quickly.

Not being able to stand the massacre he'd caused.

Draco was fuming again. He couldn't think straight as he saw her cheek, glowing red, ''What the—'' His palm gripped her jaw, angling her head so that he'd earn a better look at it.

''I—''

''Don't fucking speak,'' Draco seethed loudly, ''Don't fucking speak, do you hear that? Are you completely—'' He sighed, shaking his head at her, ''Have you lost your mind? It was a dozen men, Amelie, do you understand—''

''How did you—'' She gulped, trying to gather herself from the evilness he'd put the Death Eaters bodies through. He truly slaughtered them, one by one, ''How did you find—''

Her skin shifted ashenly against his palm as he noticed. She was out of breath.

''Are you crazy? Is that it? Did you lose your fucking mind again? What if they hurt you — what if they fucking killed you? What the hell am I supposed to do—''

She didn't let him say another word as she threw herself into him, fully. The tips of her fingers were on his neck, clawing him down to her as she kissed him, over and over again.

Her lips melted into his as he kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her waist and her feet barely touched the ground anymore.

''I'm sorry,'' She said, a muffled sound of him groaning into her mouth, ''I'm so sorry, I won't do this again. I will never—''

He shut her up, pressing his lips so tightly against hers, ''Don't you fucking dare do this to me again,'' Draco mumbled, hugging her so close, ''Don't you fucking scare me like this ever again.''

''I'm sorry—''

She realized how dangerous it was. How much she and Teddy could've got hurt by all of this.

''So damn reckless—'' He leaned back, ''You're so fucking reckless, fucking crazy.''

He didn't know how to stop this — to stop her from danger when she walked right into it without thinking.

If he could — he'd leave her. If all of this were on him, he'd walk away, and he'd never look back to save her from all this madness, but that wasn't an option because this wasn't about him anymore.

This was about her and her family. There was nothing he could do.

Draco knew that, and it broke him, shattered his insides to pieces that he couldn't, no matter how hard he tried, keep her safe.

''I'm sorry—''

''Don't—'' He shook his head, but he didn't look away. He was so near to losing her yet again, ''Stop saying you're sorry.''

Amelie quieted, not speaking another word as he let go of her, and he kneeled next to Theodore instead, mumbling to himself.

He was okay. Teddy would be fine, she clocked the way his chest heaved, and his fingers twitched at the way Malfoy felt his pulse.

''Draco—''

''I said don't,'' He seethed, his note inflaming. He didn't want to yell at her, yet it was so difficult not to, ''Don't, Amelie. Just don't.''

''I just want to know—''

Draco flew up to his feet, taking a dangerous track closer to her. His skin held red in anger, and the veins on his neck nearly popped, ''What? What do you want to know—''

''How did you know we were here?''

Her question caused him to scowl at her. His jaws were sharp, and he looked away, ''I didn't.''

He should have.

Draco should've known that she was missing again. He shouldn't take it for granted that she'd stay put as he asked of her. He should've known.

''I came here for them,'' Draco shot the bodies, shattered over the floor a rapid glare, ''I didn't know you were here—''

Amelie's lower lip trembled. Her hair tousled, her skin stained in tears and dirt, ''You said you wouldn't do that, Draco. You said you wouldn't kill anyone—''

''I didn't,'' Draco growled. His eyes caught hers miserably, and he sighed. He didn't want to lie, ''I told you I'd kill them for hurting you. I tracked them down, and I followed them here, I didn't know—''

He felt so at fault, not knowing she was in danger and almost hurting her himself.

''I didn't know you'd be here.''

Bowing her head, leisurely and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She truly caused trouble this time, and it drained her. She didn't mean to. She truly didn't mean to.

''Let's just—'' Draco mumbled, dragging his hands through his hair. He never looked away from her, ''Let's go home.''

_____