This chapter contains violent actions, mentions of death, and emotional trauma. Please read with caution.

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''Birds, yeah?''

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Theodore's breaths felt as if they were on fire from walking the long path through the woods.

The wounds in his cheeks and over his hands stung as they bled. He'd been tripping atop of branches and roots in the ground.

Everything was so dark.

His skin shivered as he faced the massive castle in front of him. His eyes flickered across the carved details of skulls and snakes as it been shaped into the facade.

It was truly frightening — even if it was broad daylight, right here, surrounding this manor, it was cloudly dark. A weighty dim settled around him as his fingers tightened around his wand.

''This way,'' The man in front of him snarled lowly before he stepped up the stairs, and Theodore couldn't do anything other than follow.

He constantly threw an eye across his shoulder, checking to himself that no one would come out of the shadows and attack him from behind.

Not that he believed it to happen — no, they wanted him here for a reason and a solid one at that.

Theodore's feet stumbled, his hands grasping at the brick-covered walls not to fall over, and he tried his best to keep his sight off the ground. He didn't dare to look at all of the bodies that piled up along the floor.

It stung wildly in his timid chest to see that. To watch as the bodies of both children and their parents had been stacked up as if they were nothing — as if they were garbage.

It both hurt and angered the boy. Death and murder weren't a thing Theodore agreed with.

''In here,'' The man halted, his long cloak swirled around him as he gestured towards two enormous metallic doors, ''He'll be expecting you.''

The man walked away quickly as Theodore's sight dragged after him as he went.

Still terrified beyond explanation. His skin crawled as he as carefully he could — let his paled knuckles collide with the metal.

A loud screech echoed around him as the doors slowly shifted open, and the sound tore through his ears.

The entrance led into an even darker room, and with a ghastly mantle on his face, Theodore stumbled forward.

The doors slammed shut so loudly that he flinched even more, and he turned around to watch the metallic as it locked itself.

He nearly froze, right then and there. He was trapped — if there were ever a way out of this building, he would never be able to open it.

''Sit down, boy.''

Theo spun around again. A thin coat of sweat had layered on his forehead out of the panic he felt rushing through him, from head to toe.

He didn't see anyone.

Not a soul in sight held on display for him as he hesitantly stood still, refusing to move a muscle — scared to death that it'd be worse.

''I said, sit down, boy!''

The voice shouted. The dangerous tone in his vocals shot daggers through Theodore, who shakingly nodded and strode ahead. His finger grasped at the backrest of the chair that held in what looked to be the middle of the room.

Theo's teeth shattered. His skin vibrated, and the already shallow breaths he carried almost turned none existent. The tips of his fingers clawed into the wooden chair as he slipped down.

His spine was straight and stretched, his chin sunk not to look at something he wasn't supposed to.

''You must be wondering why I brought you here, correct?'' The voice shredded through his hearing murderously.

Theodore nodded quickly, ''I— I am,'' He was stuttering, still not facing anyone.

''And you must be wondering who I am?'' The loud, slaying voice shifted lower, ''Why a person like myself brought an innocent boy to my castle?''

His head tipped again, nodding as his lips parted, a shaking breath passed, ''I do wonder—''

''You are under the protection of Draco Malfoy, isn't that precise?''

Theo swallowed. He'd never give anything about Draco up, ever. He didn't even want to answer a question as simple as the one asked.

''Isn't that precise?!'' The voice yelled out. Something heavy struck the floor, and Theodore squeezed his eyes shut.

He was so scared.

''Well, I take it that your silence speaks louder than any word ever could....'' The voice mumbled, steps began to echo around Theodore, ''I suppose he's holding in the Malfoy Manor too, isn't that accurate?''

Theodore's head shook, ''No—'' but he had no chance of finishing that sentence nevertheless the word he was speaking until a rural flash of light tore through his chest violently.

He screamed, a heartbreaking, loud scream.

His lungs tightened at the magic, and his eyes flayed wide, making him stare straight at the line of masked men standing in position in front of him.

Death Eaters, he thought. Most likely, a dozen of them hovered around him.

''I don't do well with lies, boy. I should've been honest with that from the start,'' The raspy voice spoke again and the torture, carving Theodore open from the inside, eased.

His head fell back. His chest heaved uncontrollably as he squealed out of exhaustion. He'd been healing Amelie so much that he barely owned an ounce of strength himself.

''I'll ask you one more time, is he taking shelter at the Malfoy Manor?''

Theodore's head tipped forwards, bowing it as it hung. Blood slipped the corner of his mouth before it fused with the pearls of sweat fleeing his skin.

''As we believed then...'' The man rasped, ''And the girl?''

Feeling as his veins chilled, he stretched back up, doing his best to keep his head steady, ''What girl?'' Theodore chocked out, ''There's no— Amelie died—''

A loud slap shredded through the room as the man's palm collided brutally with Theodore's cheek, causing his head to spin and his breaths to rag.

''No—'' The man spat, a fist grabbed Theodore by the roots of his hair, the other hand pushed a wand, firmly into his neck, ''No more lies.''

''Fine—'' Theodore gasped, his hands gripping the armrests harder, ''I'm sorry I just—''

''You're a loyal one,'' The man chuckled, darkly, ''That will come in handy for me.''

Theodore breathed so unsteadily. His entire body shook out of fear, ''Who—'' The man slowly let go of him, ''Who are you?''

With his back facing Theodore, he stretched his shoulders, tipping his chin upwards, ''You've heard a lot about me, boy, but you've never seen me.''

Theodore felt his heartbeat as it bloated in his ears.

His head felt heated and faint while the man fixedly let his hands up to his head, and he dragged his hood off, allowing Theo to watch the back of it.

''We'll work well together, you and me—'' The man grinned, huffing out another sulky chuckle, ''So you might as well know whom you'll be working for...''

Theodore's eyes grew wide in the wickedness, gulping on his own saliva as the man revealed himself — on full unveil for the boy.

The Dark Lord.

Theodore looked away instantly as his jaws gritted.

He'd heard many frightening stories about the Dark Lord. Numerous of them from Draco himself, but never had he seen nor heard the man talk. He lived to be utterly shy with his identity.

''And—'' Theodore swallowed the dread, ''And what do you want with me?''

Voldemort narrowed his eyes at the boy, and Theo felt how the vicious stare burnt at his skin. It was truly how Draco had explained it. He was horrifying, yet he looked like any other man.

''It has come to my attention that you have a proper sight for healing, yes?'' Voldemort strode forward, closer to the brunet as he nodded, ''Very well. I am in need of someone to heal my warriors.''

Theo's sneck snapped, his eyes leveled the Dark Lord's, ''The—'' He faltered, ''The Death Eaters?''

''Yes...'' He lingered at the last letter, letting it slip out with a mock, ''You healed the Avery girl back to life, and I want you to do the same to my—''

''No.''

Voldemort stopped. His cloak dragged after him as he abruptly halted, ''No?'' He hissed, ''No one says no to the Dark Lord.''

''I do—'' Theodore propped himself up a bit, his nails digging into the timber as he thought about it.

He could never be an ally to the Dark Lord. He could never betray his family nor himself in that way. His father was a Death Eater, and now — so was he, but he'd fight it.

He'd battle the meaning of the ink in his skin with everything he owned if he had to. It would never become a part of him. He'd never stand for it.

Malfoy had slaughtered them. He'd killed every single one he laid an eye on, and Theodore could never go against that.

''Amelie Avery—'' A different man raised his voice as Voldemort tore his sight away from Theo to turn around and face the masked men behind him.

''Mother, on the run. Father, deceased. She is currently in a heavy sleep after taking her own life to free herself from Adrian Pucey, a loyal Death Eater. Living in the Malfoy Manor along with Draco Malfoy, Theodore—''

''Stop,'' Theodore whispered, shaking his head desperately.

''Along with Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, and Narcissa Malfoy. Highly taught within both healing and potions, a destined Death Eater and is sentenced to death for disobeying her master, Adrian Pucey.''

''Stop it!'' Theodore spoke louder this time.

''Narcissa Malfoy. Mother of Death Eater Draco Malfoy and wife to Death Eater Lucius Malfoy. Currently living in the Malfoy Manor, along with Amelie Avery, Draco Malfoy, and Theodore Nott.''

''I'll do anything, please—''

''A highly trusted wife and servant of the Dark Lord. A great witch who is now sentenced to death, for assisting her son in the unlawful actions against Voldemort.''

''Please, I'll help—''

''Draco Malfoy—'' The Dark Lord overlooked Theodore's plea, nodding for the man to keep going.

''Mother, alive. Father, heavily guarded at the castle from assisting his son with information. Currently living at the Malfoy Manor together with Amelie Avery, Narcissa Malfoy, and Theodore Nott—''

''Please, stop!''

''Highly listed within the Death Eaters as a former loyal servant of Voldemort, now—''

''I beg you!''

''Now,'' The man yelled out, ''Sentenced to death for the slaughter of two-hundred and seventy-six Death Eaters, along with aiding a fugitive and hiding Amelie Avery without orders to do so.''

''I told you—''

''Amelie Avery, Draco Malfoy, and Narcissa Malfoy are all three on the list to be taken from their home and tortured to death in the choosing of the fellow Death Eater's Malfoy have slaughtered—''

''It's enough!''

Voldemort's sight finally snapped to Theodore, watching as his skin fumed in a feverish color and how his eyes stung in tears, ''Please, it's enough.''

''This, boy—'' The man gritted, storming a few steps forward, ''This will be the end of your little friends if you fail to obey us.''

Theodore's eyes screwed shut.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't betray them.

''If you do prove yourself to be obedient and faithful as the Death Eater you are...'' The evil man chuckled, showing his crooked teeth a wicked smile, ''I will repay you with their lives held intact.''

Theo still didn't answer as his world crumbled around him.

''It's far from easy, being in love with your best friend. Isn't it? Someone who you grew up with, someone you mastered to love and learned to never live without — only for her to fall in love with someone else?''

Theodore's lashes fluttered as he caught a deep breath between his teeth, ''I'm not—''

''Of course not,'' The man grinned evilly, ''Not anymore, now you're simply thirsting for the idea of love and the thought of being just as loved as your friend is by Malfoy. Almost so much that you believe that it's him you love now, correct?''

Theodore's head shook, ''I'm not in love with either of them—''

''Oh, but you are, more than you'd like to admit but not for long. If you don't do as told — we'll kill them all, and you'll have no one, so you have to side with us—''

''That's enough, thank you, son,'' Voldemort rose a hand towards the provoking man, tilting his head to the side to lay off Theodore, ''I think this boy and I need a word, alone.''

Theodore couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had woken up in his bed this morning like nothing was wrong. He'd gone downstairs for breakfast with Narcissa after checking up on Amelie in her sleeping stage, and he'd taken his mail as he does every morning.

The only exception was that this morning — this morning, a dark, inky letter messed with the other ones, and he made the grave mistake of opening it, following the instructions to come here.

''Heal my servants or watch your friends die, boy,'' Voldemort clocked him right out of his head, ''Watch me take Amelie's life all over again and see me feed her limbs to the—''

''I'll do it!''

It turned quiet, utterly so.

Theodore's ragged breaths trembled off his lips as he sought to do everything not to cry out, ''I'll help you, but then you have to promise me—'' He swallowed the tears, ''They will never be harmed, none of them, not Amelie, not Narcissa and not Draco.''

''Draco, I can not promise. He's done the worst—''

''No!'' Theodore pushed. He needed to set his own ground for this. If he were meant to betray his friends, he'd do so knowing that nothing can ruin them.

''This will go for Draco as well. All three of them, or I won't take part in this.''

The Dark Lord flung around, grumbling to himself underneath his breath for minutes as Theodore tried to catch his. To calm himself and ease the aching nerves he held.

''Very well. I'll pardon your little friends if you take place on our side,'' Voldemort growled, visibly displeased what he'd agreed to. His face was stoned and cold.

''And they can never know,'' Theodore's shoulders sunk, his head tipped, ''I'll do this, you spare their lives, and they can never know.''

''Teddy—''

''If that's in your wishes, so be it,'' Voldemort's fingers grasped at his wand, holding it up between them, ''I will be contacting you as I did today, and you will show up here without notice.''

''Teddy, are you okay?''

Theodore nodded. His sight flickered as the ache inside scored heavily.

He couldn't believe what he was doing.

''Teddy!''

Theodore's head cocked to the side — his chest heaving as he stared blankly at Amelie, ''What?'' He snapped rudely.

Her brows knitted, and her lips pushed together into a firm line, ''What do you mean what? You've been lost all day in that big head of yours,'' A smile climbed over her at the spoken words as his eyes rolled.

He didn't answer her. Instead, he simply sighed out in relief at the memory he'd dreamt about just now, and he kept his eyes on her. It was a wave of guilt, trapping his every sense as he looked at her.

He was lying and terribly so.

Theodore had made a deal with the devil when she remained in her sleep, and he had no clue how to tell her. No thought of how he'd come clean with the fact that the Death Eater's Draco ceased of life — he brought back.

''I'm sorry—'' Theodore mumbled, tilting his head to lean on her shoulder as the fireplace sparkled in front of them, ''I didn't mean to be rude. I just—''

Amelie smiled as her hand stroked over his cheek, gently, ''I know, it's okay, Teddy. You have been through a lot too, and it's alright to be a little tense sometimes.''

''Tense?'' Theodore huffed out a chuckle, ''Tense is the least—''

''Do you want me to call you an idiot then?'' Amelie laughed out, turning her head to his as he lifted it, meeting her playful gaze.

He missed her like this. She never laughed anymore.

Amelie shook her head, inhaling deeply to free her childish behavior as she stared at him.

He didn't look the same anymore.

He was so fragile, so worn that she couldn't see those adorable curls falling over his forehead without her heart aching.

''Teddy, are you—''

''Are you alright?'' His voice was louder compared to hers as he sought to ignore her question. He couldn't lie more than he'd already done, and if he were to answer her asking truthfully — he'd open doors he'll never be able to explain.

''I am...'' Amelie hushed down, sinking deeper into the couch, ''I think I am. I'm having nightmares again, but it's nothing I can't handle.''

Theodore hummed, leaning on her completely as he gripped her hand, softly tangling their fingers together, ''Do you want help with them? You know I have my herbs—''

''I have Draco,'' She mastered a brave smile, moving her neck to push her lips into his head, ''I have you and Draco, and that's all I need to overcome this.''

''Overcome what?'' He asked, pushing her more to talk about what happened to her while being chained in Adrian's house. He knew that it was the best way for her to move on — to talk about it.

To open up and to shed light upon the demons in her life, to let them crack in the brightness, and to leave them there to dry.

It was always that she did with him — they talked about it.

''I'm still scared, at night...'' Amelie mumbled into his head. Her fingers squeezing his tightly, ''Sometimes I feel like he's watching me and don't—''

A light pause in her talking as she gathered herself.

It was still so traumatizing to her — something so vile happened, and she saw no way out. She did what she believed was for the best, and now she paid the consequences for it.

She died, and dealing with it, learning how to pact such a thing — was far from easy.

Draco helped her a lot, more than she'd ever asked for. He always shielded her as she fell asleep, and he was awake when she woke up, all so that she would never be alone.

He talked to her. He listened. He was there, every minute of every day — the blond boy comforted her if she was in need, even if she watched how it drained him.

Malfoy went through this himself. He lost her. He mourned her. He watched her lifeless body, and he carried it, he protected it, and he helped her heal.

He saw as she forgot about him, how her mind in the gravest missing of him — let him go for weeks.

He was as broken as she was — as wounded and as hurt. He indeed had scars too.

''Don't think I'm crazy, please,'' Amelie continued, ''Don't think that I'm insane or mental because I already know I am—''

Theo smiled at that.

''I don't know. I don't know if it's because of Adrian dying or if it's my head that's playing tricks on me... I don't know. I just feel trapped.'' She admitted, feeling like her insides as they wrenched, ''I still feel trapped, Teddy and I can't tell Draco that. I don't want to hurt him.''

Theodore nodded, sensing the soft fabric of her dress against his cheek, ''I know.''

''He's done so much for me, and I can't tell him that I still have this feeling... this feeling that I'm still bounded. We finally have each other, and I don't want a thing to come between that,'' Amelie finished with a sigh of relief.

She loved saying that — that they have each other because they did.

''You really love Malfoy, don't you?'' Theodore whispered, his eyes hooded, "Like really, really? Like how you read in fairytales?''

The warmth swelled within her, ''I do. I really do.''

He felt a fist clenching around his heart. He knew, deep inside of him, somewhere hidden, that what he was doing and what he had been doing was right.

He was saving their lives.

Once again, it was Theodore, rescuing everyone in silence. He continuously placed them ahead of himself, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

He lived for them to be happy.

''Can you do that thing—'' He spoke lowly, reaching for his wand as he handed it to her, his eyes flared in comfort at what he wished for her to do, ''That thing with your wand and the birds.''

Amelie smiled. A giggle fled her throat as she caved into him entirely, her chin on the top of his head as she whispered, 'Expecto Patronum,' underneath her breath, and the five — nowadays, the five identical birds, chirped around them.

''I love it when you do that,'' Theodore whispered, voiding her of all the comfort she could give him.

''And I love you,'' Amelie said, laced with honesty, ''I love you, and I don't say it enough.''

''I love you more,'' Theodore felt tired. His eyelids heavy as he caught the birds silent singing, ''I love you so much more Amelie, and I'm sorry—''

Amelie frowned, her brows knitted as she looked down at him, but she couldn't answer before his breaths shifted heavier and his body felt hefty on hers.

''Sleep,'' Her hand combed through his messy curls. His dimples faded, ''Sleep, and we'll talk tomorrow.''

Theodore grunted back, turning around in his position as he nestled up.

Amelie drew a blanket across him before leaning back into the furniture. She was worried for her friend. He'd never acted anything close to this before.

Theodore was never tired. He never answered a question with a question when it came to her.

He was brutally honest, and that made her even more concerned. He was going through something — things he would never tell her, and that could simply own one meaning,

He was protecting her.

''Birds, yeah?''

Amelie's neck snapped, scrunching her nose at the blond standing in the living room doorway, ''Birds,'' She whispered, her eyes flickered to the icing light in front of her. Her Patronus as it swirled around.

She realized that she never asked for his, and he never told her, ''What is yours?''

Draco's warm look stiffened as his head shook, lips firmly mangled together, ''I don't—'' He drew a harsh breath. Straightening his shoulders and raising his chin, ''I don't have one.''

She felt her heart as it ached within the cage of her chest. He didn't have one.

Amelie knew it to be based on the happy and joyful things in life — that the Patronus is earned and mastered by cherished memories, and to know that he didn't have one shredded the already torn girl to pieces.

''Yet—'' Her head tilted, sending him a soft stare filled with comfort, ''You don't have one yet.''

Draco merely scoffed, lofty at her words, not too minded, ''Well, I don't want one, don't bother.''

''Draco—'' Amelie breathed, gently pushing herself off the sofa as her wrist twitched and the chirping birds faded into the shadows, ''What's the matter?''

Using slow steps as she strode up to him, halting inches away with the most longing space between them, ''What happened?''

His pearly eyes shun brightly as she fell lost in them. She had a habit of doing that, falling completely gone when it came to him.

Draco stared right at her. Strings of hope rushed through him at the sight. She was staying so close without feeling as if she held miles apart. He'd missed that.

Her closeness like this. Her being her both in person and mind.

He'd waited for her, longer than a person should ever be allowed on hold for another.

Amelie felt a curl in the hem of her lips as she let it take over, smiling fully at the boy who entirely melted at the look of it.

''I have something for you,'' Draco said, inching closer. His hand brushed over her bare shoulder, ''Or I—'' He slightly paused for a second, delaying his words so that he could gaze at her just like this for a minute more.

''I got you something.''

Amelie arched a brow. Her eyes flickered across his calm features, ''You got me something?'' She questioned in a low whisper, not to wake Theodore from his slumber, ''And what could Draco Malfoy possibly gotten me?''

''It's still hard, you know,'' He mumbled, raspy, holding his voice in symphony with hers, ''Buying anything for you is always so hard.''

Amelie felt a sweep of guilt as it rushed through her, quickly fading into a flush of warmth by that soft look of his, ''You don't have to buy me things, Draco...'' Her note thinly, ''You know that you don't have to—''

''I want to,'' He hushed her, his hand squeezing around her shoulder to bring her closer, ''I've said it before, but it's incredibly hard giving the person who—''

''Already gives you everything — anything,'' Amelie held her smile, bravely taking a step closer to the boy, ''So I've heard,'' She mocked him playfully as she tilted her head, feeling as his palm caressed her cheek.

''So you do get it,'' Draco smirked, his thumb traced circles upon her blushing skin.

Amelie made a face — a mixture of dubiety and curiosity, ''I do.'' Her fingers slipped along her own frame, gripping the edges of her dress as his sight followed, landing on her bare thighs.

Draco quickly looked back up, growling silently within the flesh of his mouth, ''God—''

''What is it?'' Amelie felt the flush of both fear and excitement as it eagerly pushed through her veins. Not noticing the burning stare he brought.

''Come here,'' He mumbled, his hands slipping to draw her in by the waist as he dragged her with him up to their room, not answering a single question as they went.

He stayed utterly silent as she slipped down onto their bed, placing a pillow in her lap and crossing her legs.

Draco brought out a package — a black velvet box, and he nonchalantly handed it to her before stepping back, hunching onto the armchair.

Amelie stared wide-eyed at him, arching a brow, ''What is—''

''Open it,'' He cut her off harshly.

The corners of her mouth twisted at his behavior and the panic-struck cloak his features held. She could hear the hitched breath he carried — he was shy when it came to gifts. He always had been.

Draco preferred to spoil her with things when she wasn't around and have her find them after he'd left himself. He adored that tiny expression she made when she bit her lip in emotion, and she sought to conceal her smile as she unwrapped a gift, but it was still hard for him — to grant her something when he was near.

He was terrified that she'd be disappointed and not pleased enough for what he'd done, and he rather hide than be pained by that.

''Fine,'' Amelie taunted him as she pushed herself off the bed. Her steps up to him sounded along the floor, and he furrowed his brows at her doings.

''Amelie, what are you—'' Draco grunted, tilting his head back as she tracked closer. She fell down onto his lap, straddling him on the armchair, ''Amelie—'' He tried to warn, but she merely smiled at him.

''I'm opening my gift,'' Her eyes met his, and his hands landed on her hips, lightly stroking the material of her dress. His fingers curling around her flesh, ''And I want to open it with you, not only with you watching me.''

''I like watching you,'' Draco grinned, rolling his tongue on the inside of his cheek as he sent her a raised brow, ''You're beautiful to watch, Amelie.''

Her eyes broadened as her chin dipped, feeling as a rosy color stained her cheeks. The warmth he brought her swelled within, ''Stop it—'' She whispered, shaking her head.

''Open it,'' Draco said, enjoying the power his words had on her. Observing every twinkle in her shy showing, ''Open it so I can go back to tell you—'' His fingers on her waist tensed as he inched her closer on his lap, ''Just how beautiful you are.''

Amelie's heart pounded roughly as her sight fell to the box in her hands, and the tips of her fingers grasped at the silky material.

Simply the wrapping itself was astonishing.

Draco didn't drag his eyes off her. He studied her thoughtfully as she unwrapped the bow on the box, and she lifted the lid with a loud gasp falling off her lips.

''No—'' Amelie let her hand cover her mouth as a curve mounted Malfoy's lips, hiddenly, ''No you didn't—''

''I did,'' Draco smirked, still looking at Amelie, ''It slipped my mind that you didn't have one anymore, so I figured I'd get you a new one.''

Amelie gazed back at him, her eyes on the tipping point to tears, and she couldn't believe what she was watching.

''You got me a new wand...'' She quieted. Her entire body felt as if it was on fire on top of his, ''You didn't have to, Draco—''

''I wanted to,'' His breaths fanned hotly on her bare shoulder as he arched his spine, bringing himself closer to her. Even if she was seated on his lap — he had to peer down at her from above, ''I will take care of you, I hope you know that—''

He couldn't finish speaking before Amelie let the wand he'd bought for her fall in between them, and her palms cupped his jaws.

She brought him into the most gentle kiss he'd ever felt.

She kissed him so emotionally for moments as her lips parted, ''Thank you,'' Amelie whispered into his mouth, her hands moved along his neck, locking her fingers behind it, tangling the tips of them with his blond strands, ''Thank you for taking care of me.''

Draco kissed her back, his own arms wrapped around her entirely, ''No—'' He heaved, exploring her clothed spine with his hands, ''Thank you for taking care of me, Amelie.''

She leaned back, tearing their touch in two as she picked the wand up, fiddling with it between her fingers in the seeps of quietness, but something heavy clung around them — she could feel it.

Amelie carried that solid sense of grey in all the colors he'd granted her. She could see that tiny, nearly invisible flicker in his eyes.

He was happy, indeed — but there was something else. He was keeping something from her.

''Draco—''

''I need to tell you something,'' He hewed her off, looking away agonizingly, ''I don't want to ruin...'' He hushed, clenching his jaws at his own talks.

He truly didn't wish for this moment to end. He didn't want to bring her any more heartbreak, but this couldn't wait.

He hoped to talk to her the night they spent in her childhood home, but that would've been too much — too traumatizing for her to go through in that house.

He drew a deep breath, ''I need to tell you something, and I need you to stay calm.''

Amelie shook her head lightly as the happiness that spread across her face faded along with the warm embrace around them. The air suddenly shifted cooly, ''What? Tell me what, Draco?''

His hands dropped from her hips and her skin shivered by the lacking of his touch. A wave of the biting feeling she felt every time something tended to be wrong drenched her from the inside.

She tried so hard not to show him just how much.

''Tell me what, Draco? What are you—''

Malfoy's jaws gritted tightly. His face empty and reversed.

The grey eyes glimmered in torture as he slowly scanned her and, with a loud exhale and a slight tip of his head, ''It's about your mother...''

Amelie scowled at him, yanking back a bit as her face mantled in skepticism. A shot of doubt tore through her, ''I don't—'' She swallowed the weighty feeling, ''I don't know what my mother has to do with anything—''

''Amelie,'' Draco said calmly, ''I need you to tell me something. I need you to talk to me about something that I can't quite figure out myself and the only person who truly knows all of this...'' He held, trying to keep himself under control, '' Is you. I think you saw it, and I need you to tell me about those dreams you had when you were asleep. I need you to confirm something.''

She nodded willingly as her thighs around his legs tensed, ''Of course, but I don't understand what my dreams have to do with this? I dreamt about Pansy and then my mother and then her pregnancy—''

''Amelie,'' Draco said again, harsher this time as he glanced at her with a troubled look and he watched how she was so close to the realization herself, ''Amelie—''

It hit her.

It slammed right over her what he meant — what he wanted her to say. She had suppressed it for weeks.

Even in the wrong state of her mind, she ignored what she saw. She tried to make it about something else. She did everything she could in order never to face the truth she knew would be passing.

''No...'' She gasped, pushing herself off the blond as he tried to stop her from doing so. His hand wrapped around her wrist to keep her close. He couldn't let her create space between them because it would be so hard to get her back — he knew that.

Amelie's mind was set. She yanked her arm back as she stumbled back over the floor, her head constantly shaking, tears building up in the edges of her eyes, ''No, she can't be—''

''She couldn't be—'' Amelie's hair spilled over her shoulders as the wand Draco had granted her, fell to the ground, ''No, why would she leave me then? Why would she leave me only to—''

A sob cleared her throat, and Draco flew to his feet — desperate to comfort her, to hold her and take all her pain away, but she only backed further. Amelie couldn't handle touch when she felt like this.

''Tell me she wasn't. Tell me she didn't leave me while being—'' Another sob cut her short, and Draco's whole body ached to see her lose it, ''Please, Draco. Please tell me she didn't do this. Tell me she didn't—''

Amelie barely formed a proper word. Tears streamed down her colorless cheeks uncontrollably, and her hands tugged at the roots of her hair, ''She wouldn't do that, right?'' Amelie cried out, her knees weakened.

It was pure torture to Draco, knowing that he couldn't speak against her because he knew it to be true. There was no point in lying to her now.

''Tell me she wasn't—'' Amelie heaved, her hands shaking. Her breaths shallower, ''She was, wasn't she... Why?'' She blurted through a whine, ''How could she—''

''She did,'' Draco's jaws clenched, sharply as her heart shattered, ''Amelie—''

It stung in her lungs. The air around her thickened, and it was hard to breathe. She didn't feel as if she could inhale properly without the sensation of a thousand knives tearing through her throat.

The feeling of being ripped apart scored so heavily.

''No!'' She shouted, her hands stretched in the air to stop him from coming too close. Distancing herself from everyone and everything, ''I can't— Just—''

Amelie needed him more than anything. She craved for him to sheet her in his protective arms and make all of this go away. He always managed to do that for her — taking her pain away, yet she couldn't bear the thought of anyone touching her.

Not even Draco.

''Just tell me, tell me, let me hear it—'' Her tongue stumbled on her words. Her voice broke in cries every time her lips parted, ''I need to hear it—''

He hesitated. Malfoy didn't wish to do this. He didn't want to break her in ways he was unsure how to put her back together.

This was out of his hands.

''Draco! Just tell me—''

''She was pregnant!'' Draco spoke up, cracking under pressure he felt consume him.

Looking heartbreakingly at her, as if he could see her soul fading from her body and her skin parched ashenly.

''When your mother left you, she was pregnant.''

_____