This chapter contains violent actions. Please read with caution.

_____

''Let him go.''

_____

Four days passed, and Amelie still laid unconscious on Draco's bed. They moved her from time to time, making sure that her muscles wouldn't solidify.

Malfoy was a complete mess.

He didn't know right from wrong at a time like this one. He honestly didn't know what to do. He didn't know anything anymore. All he tended to do was being angry — furious with himself for allowing this to happen.

It didn't matter how much both Narcissa and Theodore ensured him that it wasn't his fault — he still felt blamable for it. If he only would've said something, done anything to show her that he indeed was alive when she believed that he wasn't.

Draco stayed close to her, in his room on the armchair in the corner of it. He refused to let her out of his sight, and it was his lifeline to watch her chest rise and fall beneath the green sheets of his bed.

Something he loved doing a few times a day was to wet a towel and pat it against her skin — to somewhat reassure himself that he's taking care of her. Theodore helped him master a spell that revealed how her body was recovering and how to read the measurements that showed.

He did that, probably once every hour, to see that she was still with him. It looked better for every day, and how her figure redeemed itself wasn't the issue — it was the state she'd be waking up in.

Theodore had told him that there was no way of knowing how damaged her mind would be, how her head chooses to tackle the horrible fact that her heart had stopped for minutes. He said it to Draco every day, to truly help him realize that she might not be the Amelie she was before.

It was a frustrating thing to Theo, watching how Draco slowly killed himself with the fact that he felt at fault. All of them knew that he wasn't, but the boy was stubborn as ever to blame himself.

He tried to visit Draco at least once every few hours when the blond let him. At times, Malfoy didn't let Theodore in the room, and at first, he thought that it was because he was crying, but he quickly came to the realization that it was because he was mad — angry at everything and everyone but her.

One thing Theo had caught on to after being near Malfoy for a year is that the boy tended to lock himself up within the coat of his own skin, and he refused to let anyone in, except Amelie, but she couldn't help him. She hadn't been able to do so for months now, which caused Theodore harm because he knew that he could help him.

He was capable of lessening Draco's worn mind if he'd just let him, but he didn't. He craved to hurt for what he believed he'd done, and that was something Theodore allowed him to do. If that was the way Draco wanted to handle his feelings, he was free to do so.

The house echoed emptily, and not a single sound tore through the enormous mansion. Everyone failed to speak to each other because no one knew what to say.

It was a ruinous time for all of them.

''Any news?'' Draco muttered from behind Theodore as he poured yet another cup of coffee. Both of them missed their sleep. They didn't know how to rest when Amelie was held in the state she did, ''Have you checked up on her?''

Theo settled the can back at the counter, opening a cabinet to bring Draco a cup as well, ''No, not since this morning. I was planning to run another test on her after dinner.'' He grabbed the pot again, filling the empty cup for Draco.

''Can you do one now?'' Draco reached for the porcelain, stretching it up to his lips, ''I have a thing I need to take care of, and I don't want her to be alone.''

''Of course,'' Theodore sipped on his coffee, ''Do you mind telling me where you are going?''

''No,'' Draco followed his movements, tasting his hot drink as well, and with that, a grimace cloaked him. He wasn't much for coffee, but he sure needed it, ''It's none of your concern.''

Theo rose a brow, nodding slowly, ''But I'll stay with her. Your mother wanted to sit with her this afternoon as well, so we'll manage.'' He sounded passive, exhausted almost, ''What if she wakes up?''

''Do you think she will?'' Draco mumbled as his jaws gritted at the thought. It hurt, thinking of her being awake when none of them knew if that was possible.

''No, highly unlikely.'' Theo sighed, pushing his spine off the counter to walk upstairs, ''Do you know how long you'll be gone?''

''A few hours, not longer,'' Draco responded stiffly as he placed his cup back at the wood, ''You better look after her while I'm gone, Nott.'' It was a threat. He knew that Theo wouldn't leave her side, but he still needed to speak it.

''Don't I always?'' Theodore turned around, facing the blond again, ''Be careful, whatever you're going. Amelie needs you back in one piece.''

''I know,'' Draco hauled his wand out from his suit pocket. His brows knitted and his face as emotionless as ever, ''Tell my mother—''

''Tell me what?'' Narcissa snapped, striding into the kitchen from the garden entrance, ''What would Theodore tell me that you couldn't possibly tell me yourself?'' Her note severe, her eyes narrowed.

Narcissa placed a bundle of newly picked flowers on the countertop, pulling her gardening gloves off her hands, and she let the bun held in her hair fall down, making the fusion of brown and platinum white curls mix together.

Draco's eyes rolled, and he huffed, ''That I'll be back—''

''So you're leaving?'' Her hands settled on her hips, and she glared at her son, ''When Amelie is in this state?''

Draco's fingers curled into fists as he gripped his wand tighter, ''You know nothing—''

Narcissa's eyes flickered to Theodore's confused ones, ''My son had taken it upon himself to hunt down and find every last Death Eater that was in contact with Adrian before he died. He has no respect for—''

''Enough,'' Draco growled, shaking his head dangerously, ''You know nothing of what I'm doing. I have somewhere to be—''

''Don't leave this way, Malfoy,'' Teddy pleaded, his hand gripped the timber of the doorway, ''Don't leave here angry, we don't know what can happen.''

Narcissa hummed for herself at that, fiddling with the flowers she had brought inside. She stepped over to a cabinet, taking out a vase to put the colorful bouquet in, ''I don't condole to what I know you'll do, Draco,'' She stated, sternly, ''So I'm not staying to watch it. I'll go up and talk to Amelie for a while...''

Theodore nodded, smiling at the flowers she took with her, ''They're beautiful.''

Narcissa's whole self brightened at that. A curve played on her lips as she so proudly peered down at them, ''I thought I'd bring her something, before... all of this happened,'' She paused, looking agonizingly at her son, ''Amelie talked all winter about my garden and how she wished to see it flourishing, so I wanted to bring her a few of my favorite pieces.''

Draco couldn't possibly stay mad at his mother for that, so he — despite his furious state, marched over to her and, with an arm crossing her shoulders and his mouth pushed to her head, he mumbled, ''Thank you. She'll love them.''

Narcissa nodded, still concerned for Draco's well-being and the way he was doomed to act, ''Be careful, we have had enough loss for a lifetime.'' Her hands tensed around the flowers at her own realization, and she strolled off.

''So tell me, Malfoy, do I need to come with you for this one?'' Theodore broke the minutes of silence, studying the blond from across the room as he seemed to be lost in his thoughts, ''Amelie is safe with your mother, and I don't think it's the best plan for you to go alone.''

Malfoy swallowed, knowing that he'll bring Theodore into what he believed to be a trap. He couldn't risk it. He had — without their knowledge as they searched for Amelie, looked for her mother too.

He didn't wish to tell anyone because he was terrified of letting the girl he loved so dearly down, but he didn't quit it. He stayed hunting for her mother because, as his father had asked him months ago — he knew why her mother was chased, and he knew what the Dark Lord would do to her if he were to find her first.

''I can't bring you—'' Draco rose but was hastily hewed of by Theodore looking at him spitefully, "I can't bring you, Nott. If I go missing, she'll have no one. With Pansy dead, Granger is with the bloody Weasley's, and my mother can't do this alone.''

''Hell, you can't,'' Theo snapped back, raising his voice, ''Then you better bring me along so that nothing happens to you.''

Long lost minutes of silence suffocated around them before Malfoy, for all caved into what his friend asked.

''Fine, but you do as I say when I say it, and I don't want any questions, Nott.'' Draco grumbled, scratching the back of his head, ''Am I clear?''

''Yeah, but—''

''Nott,'' He aimed his wand towards the brunet, brows furrowed, ''What did I just tell you?''

Theodore's eyes rolled, huffing annoyingly as he stalked closer to Malfoy, ''Fine...'' He placed his hand on Draco's arm, as loose as he could before the blond mumbled some unclear words, shifting his wand in the air.

''What are you doing?'' Theo looked more than clueless, watching the soft light of white shades filled the room.

''Protecting spells,'' He hushed in between hummings, ''I'm not leaving them unprotected.''

''Smart move,'' Theodore got ready to apparate, even if he never seemed to get used to it.

Meanwhile, through Draco's magic, the boys left the Manor behind them to go on one of his many missions. Narcissa closed the door to Amelie and Draco's room behind her.

She halted for a mere second, watching the heavily sleeping girl as she laid perfectly beneath the green sheets. Pillows were tucked around her, the brown strands of her hair were brushed out, and she could immediately clock that it was Theodore who'd combed it.

Amelie had mentioned to Narcissa many months ago just how useless Theodore was with her hair. He never left it sleekly, but she couldn't help but smile to herself as she placed the vase on the nightstand, grabbing the brush instead.

She hunched down, seating herself on the edge of the bed as she as gently as she could — began to brush through Amelie's hair, ''There you go,'' She whispered, ''These boys don't know how it's done, do they?''

She placed it smoothly on each side of her head, letting it spill over Amelie's shoulders, ''I think they both left for a little while, but I'm here to look after you.'' Narcissa huffed as her own shoulders slightly sunk.

''He misses you very much, my son and Theodore too,'' Her fingers stroked over Amelie's pale cheek, comforting her, ''I miss you, making lunch has been so lonely since you...''

She paused, settling the brush back at the nightstand as she grasped at the vase instead, ''I wished you could see these,'' She smiled, bravingly, ''They are beautiful like I told you before Christmas. I think you'd adore my garden now, especially during spring.''

Narcissa let the tips of her fingers run along with the petals, ''Draco used to love my garden, but he hasn't taken the time to go out there for a couple of years,'' She whispered. ''When he was a child, he used to be out there all the time, and if my husband were in a good state, he would join him, and they picked all kinds of flowers together.''

It seemed to hurt, a stinging feeling in her chest as she spoke the memory she cherished. Narcissa missed the old times, where her son wouldn't dream of hurting anyone and her husband was free of the Dark Lord.

''And now, I hope that you would wake up so that you and I can pick those flowers instead. I would truly be lying if I said that I didn't imagine you and little Aimee out there, but life doesn't always live to be what we wish for, does it?''

She put down the container, dropping her arms to her lap, ''But that is something you need to do, Amelie. You need to wake up. None of us can do this for much longer without you, especially my son. He has gone...''

She felt a lump in the back of her throat.

''He's not well when you're in this state. He blames himself a lot, and that usually results in people being hurt and as a mother—''

Tears shredded in the corner of her eyes, ''And as a mother to a child, you know to be nothing like he's acting, it truly hurts.'' Her finger wiped the tear away before it had a chance to flee down her skin.

''I don't expect you to understand that now. Hopefully, when you and Draco are older, you will have kids on your own, and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about, dear.''

Amelie didn't move a muscle, her breaths still light as Narcissa reached to hold her hand, ''We miss you, much indeed, so if there is a chance, even a small one, that you hear me, then please come back to us.''

_____

''What is this place?'' Theodore let go of Malfoy's arm, peering around nervously, ''It looks like one of those safe houses you told me about.''

''That's exactly what it is,'' He spoke back, lowly, not to draw any attention to them as he stepped forward, gazing at the apartment complex showing behind the trees across the street, ''And it's crawling with Death Eaters, do you have your wand?''

Theo flinched, nearly squeaking at the feeling of a tree branch, touching his shoulder. Draco cocked his head, sending Theodore the evillest of stares, ''What do you expect me to do?'' Theo whispered harshly, ''It's bloody scary.''

Draco's eyes rolled, shaking his head at the boy, ''Just be quiet,'' He muttered, taking another step out of the shadows as he watched three masked men standing across the stairs, leading up to the front door, ''I asked if you have your—''

''Why would I go with you on a suicide mission without my wand?'' Theo snapped back, yelling in a whisper, "Yes, I have my bloody wand, Malfoy, stop asking.''

Draco turned around, his skin reddened in fury, ''You better shut the fuck up, right now, Nott, or I'm throwing you out on the street as bait.''

Teddy gasped, gulping after as he quickly nodded. The glint of ruthlessness in Malfoy's eyes caused shivers to trail down his spine, ''Yes, sir—''

Draco rose a brow, looking puzzled, ''Did you just?''

''Malfoy, I mean,'' He stuttered on his words, ''Hell, can you just tell me what we're doing here?''

''You called me sir,'' Draco grinned, mocking Theo as he rushed a hand through his hair.

''I didn't—''

''Yes, you did,'' Draco nearly let out a chuckle, ''And you're scared of a tree.''

Theodore's shoulder struck his, shoving him to the side, ''Now shut up, or I'll throw you out on the street as bait.''

''Is that a promise or a threat, Nott?'' Draco seethed, without looking at the boy, ''Because I don't do well with threats.''

Theodore gulped again, shrugging to the comment, ''Alright, so we're here, outside a house that's filled with Death Eaters, what do we do about it?''

''I don't know,'' Draco huffed, feeling his insides wrenching. Even if it was days ago, Adrian had knocked him out with a torturous spell, it still wounded within, ''I don't know what to do, just let me think—''

''Can you at least tell me why we're here? I mean, not that I don't enjoy going on a killing spree with you, mate, but I think I deserve to know why I'm—'' Theo was cut short by Draco's loud sigh, he shook his head, debating whether he should tell Teddy or not.

''It can't come back to her.'' Draco stated, lowly, in need to intimidate Theo, ''She can't know about this, and I know that you two have your little private club of secrets where I'm not invited, but this is a serious matter, Nott.''

The flicker of devastation tore through Draco's dimmed eyes, and his lips pressed together to void the hurt brought along the truth he was about to tell.

''I won't tell her,'' Theodore's sight dragged from Malfoy's, ''If it hurts her, you know that I won't.''

Draco observed his movements for a few seconds as the night-cold breeze stabbed his skin. He understood that Theodore wouldn't let this near Amelie until he allowed it. Still, it felt more than wrong to ask him to keep such a restricted matter from her.

It wasn't a battle of right and wrong — it was a fray of protecting her. He craved constant reminders of that to keep himself sane.

''I'm looking for her mother,'' Draco exhaled from out of the blue. He needed to get it out there, fast and shot free. He couldn't stall it because it would change the blond's mind, ''I have been for months now, and I know for a fact that they kept her here last week.''

Theodore's mouth hung, his eyes hooded at the sudden confession, ''Pardon?'' He couldn't believe what Draco told, he couldn't let it slip within the already overworked mind he possessed, ''You have done what?''

''Her mother,'' Draco's jaws gritted as he took a step up on the sidewalk, not hiding in the shadows anymore, ''I am trying to find her mother, and I was doing so when Amelie was...missing, too.''

''And you didn't tell me?'' Theo mimicked his doings, standing tall next to the blond, ''Hell, Malfoy. Why wouldn't you tell me?'' His voice raspy and low, ''Why would you keep me in the dark like that? I could've helped."

''Like you're helping now?'' He hissed, ''If it weren't for you and your stupid questions, I'd be home and in bed with her by now, but instead, I have to babysit.''

''Babysit?'' Theo scoffed, looking over the men on the stairs as they stared right back at them. They had been noticed, ''Damn it, Malfoy. What do we do now?''

Draco licked his lower lip, turning to Theodore and with a half-whisper — he mumbled a spell, covering Theodore's face behind a dark mask, ''They know that it's me, but they don't have to know that you are involved, now, bring out your wand.''

Theodore stood frozen, unprepared for what was deemed to be happening. He didn't move a muscle as two of the three men slowly moved towards them, ''Draco, I—''

Malfoy wasn't held in fear as his friend was, and he — without delay — stormed towards the masked men. Theodore barely had the chance to blink twice before all of the Death Eaters were dropped to the ground, and Draco stood on the top of the stairs.

''For Gods—'' Draco groaned, his black suit-jacked hugged his tensed shoulders, ''Nott, get over here now and take your bloody wand out, you are going to need it.''

Draco booted the door to the complex open, without even looking inside as he marched through the hallways, searching for the woman who'd brought the love of his life into this world and then failed her by leaving her to the devils in it.

''Malfoy...'' A man's voice tore through his ears from behind as he turned around, wand aimed and ready, ''I don't know what you are doing here, boy, but it would be best if you made your visit a brief one. We already called on the Dark Lord.''

Draco squinted slightly as he recognized the man standing before him. It was an ally of his father's, but that didn't fool the blond. He trusted no one, ''I'm searching for someone.''

''I thought you succeeded in finding her,'' The man replied, ''We found Adrian Pucey's body in his home, and it's to our beliefs that the girl suffered the same fate as he did.''

''She did,'' Draco was quick to tell, making sure that the Dark Lord and his servants believed Amelie to be dead, ''That's why I'm here. I'm looking for—''

''Draco...'' A whine came from the front door, causing his eyes to flicker, ''I'm sorry. I tried—''

''Quiet!'' Another masked man had a rough hold of Theodore's neck, slowly leading him into the corridor with his wand pushed into Theo's side, ''See, Malfoy. You don't have the upper hand anymore.''

''I'm sorry—'' Theodore whimpered at the stinging feeling in his rib cage, but the plea only made the man dig his wand deeper, ''Fine, I'll be quiet, just stop—''

Draco's eyes narrowed, shooting the man holding his friend an evil stare, ''Let him go,'' He demanded but was greeted by a dark laugh.

"I said...'' Draco edged his wand at the man, ''Let the boy go, right now—''

His head tilted, and an arch curled on his lips, ''Or I will kill every single Death Eater in this house.''

''Including this one?'' The man grinned, amused by the situation they'd put Malfoy in. It was to them — pleasing to battle someone so powerful as Draco seemed to be, ''Let's see to it that you do kill every single one then, shall we?''

Draco felt two men grab his shoulders from behind, and with a kick on the backside of his knee — he was forced down to the ground. His wand dropped from his grip, and his face shifted in sorrow right away.

''Let me go, right now—'' Draco seethed dangerously, but a wand was threatened to the back of his neck, and he didn't dare to move. He needed to be smart about this.

Theodore cried out as the man holding him tore his sleeve open. He stabbed his wand down into Theo's arm, ripping his flesh apart as blood slipped the immediate wound,

''You said every single Death Eater, didn't you?''

_____