_____

'' I just thought you would've been here sooner.''

_____

Theodore's eyes snapped in between them as he looked more than shocked at the person standing in the doorway.

His face fell into confusion, and his eyes blinked quickly, '' What on earth...'' He held, staring the blonde one down.

'' What are you doing here, Malfoy?'' Theo's mouth hung open as his breaths studdered unsteady.

The look Amelie shot him made his mind clock back to being, and his head slightly shook, '' Not that I'm not happy to see you, of course. I'm just... surprised.''

Theo's hand-stretched to the back of his head, scratching his neck in theory as he noticed that both Amelie and Draco were soaking wet from the rain, still pouring outside.

'' I just thought—'' Teddy held, reaching over to the kitchen counter, grabbing a towel before giving it to Amelie,

'' I just thought you would have been here sooner.''

Draco huffed, peering down at Amelie as she gently patted the towel to her face. '' Well. I didn't think that you would bring her to the end of the earth, Nott.''

Theodore rolled his eyes, but not in a cruel way — he did it because of the girl standing in front of him.

He watched as she turned to the blonde, without even thinking about it, and she stretched up on her toes — softly placing the towel over his forehead. Draco's mouth pushed into a firm line, not to let out a smile at what she was doing.

'' Oh.'' Amelie dragged her touch away, standing plain on her feet again as her cheeks blushed from the embarrassment she found herself in.

She didn't think of what she was doing — she just did the first thing that came to her mind as she watched the drips of nature flooding down Draco's hair, dropping from the ends of the blonde strands.

'' Here—'' Her hand reached out towards him, wanting to give him the cloth, '' I'm sorry. I didn't—''

'' No. Go ahead.'' Draco mumbled, his jaws clenched as he looked at her — meeting the eyes he'd missed so badly.

'' I think you would do a better job, anyway.''

'' Well. I'm glad you're here, mate.'' Theodore backed into the kitchen again. '' I'll make us some tea and leave you to it.''

But either Amelie or Draco caught his words. They just looked at each other, and once again, carefully— she stretched up on her toes. One of her hands against the now soaked fabric of his coat, and the other one slipped the towel against his skin.

She wiped all of the stains of the harsh weather outside — off of his face, and he kept his eyes locked in hers the entire time.

" There you go."  Just as she was about to pull away, his hand wrapped around her wrist — taking the cloth from her.

She swallowed nervously to what he was about to do, but her mind eased the instant he dried the raindrops off her skin.

'' Is this alright?'' Draco asked her, allowing his thumb to stroke over her cheek, '' I don't want to do anything that you're not comfortable—''

'' I'm alright.'' Amelie smiled back, softly placing her hand on top of his.

They stood there — as if they were frozen in time, looking at each other with such longing and warmth.

Her eyes flickered down to his lips, noticing the twitching curve in the corner of them, and she couldn't help but wonder how they felt like.

She had forgotten how his lips felt, pushed against hers. She didn't remember how his hands fitted so perfectly around her waist as he pulled her closer — feeling more of her.

His fingers traced over her flushed skin, tucking a wet lock behind her ear, and he finally gave in.

He let the urging arch on his lips spread.

He smiled at her.

'' Are you?'' Draco mumbled, keeping his large hand on her jawline. '' Are you alright, Amelie?''

She smiled back; a slight nod tipped her head,

'' I am now.''

_____

Amelie was seated on the floor, in front of the couch in the living room. Her back felt heavy against it as she scrambled with her words on the napkin.

He came back for me.

I didn't think he would do that. I didn't think he would actually find me, but he did.

He's here now, and I don't know what to say to him.

I thought I would be mad for him driving me away when it was so clear that we both needed each other, but I can't be mad.

I don't want to be mad.

I'm happy.

I'm truly happy that he found us, but I'm also scared.

I'm scared of what is about to happen.

I don't know where Adrian is, where my father may be, and I'm not sure that I want to know. I feel okay not knowing.

I want to ask Draco what he knows about this, but I don't want to bother him.

I want to ask what we are supposed to do now. Should we stay here? Should we leave? Are we going to continue the search for my memories?

What will happen when Draco meets the Dark Lord, and he doesn't have her location?

Everything feels fine, but everything also feels so uncertain.

I don't know.

I'm just happy.

Amelie still wrote her thoughts down onto the napkins. Ever since she forgot the diary at the manor — she couldn't write in a proper book. She didn't want to.

The fireplace sparked in front of her as she looked up at it, smiling to herself. She folded the napkin together, wrapping her fingers around it,

'' Still writing, I see,'' Draco spoke up from behind her, and her head snapped to the side. She almost felt ashamed that he had caught her writing her thoughts down.

'' I do.'' Amelie hummed back, looking softly at him as he stood tall beneath the lowered ceiling, leaning against the doorframe.

His arms crossed over his chest, and the fabric of his shirt tensed over his shoulders.

'' What are you writing?'' He rose a brow at her, tilting his head up,

She bent her head back to the flames in front of her, dragging her knees up to her chest, '' Nothing important.''

'' Nothing important?'' Draco questioned her, arching his spine of the wood as he strode up to her, slipping down on the couch her back rested against.

'' Nothing important.'' She whispered, '' How are you doing?''

Draco huffed, looking down at her from below as she scrunched the napkin in her fist. She didn't want him to see it.

'' That's not important.'' He sought to mock her, placing his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward.

Amelie shook her head, slightly scoffing at the blonde, '' Funny.''

'' I know,'' Draco mumbled as her head fell against the arms wrapped around her legs. He reached a hand towards her, still looking down at her as he brushed a strand of hair off her shoulder,

'' Tell me what you wrote—''

'' I'm going to bed.'' Theodore stepped into the room in nothing but his night pants. His muscular chest exposed, with his shirt hanging over his shoulder,

'' Do you need anything before I—''

Draco's jaws clenched as he watched Amelie smile at her best friend. He felt a light torch of jealousy tick at his nerves, and his eyes dragged off her, leaning back against the backrest.

'' No. We're fine.'' Amelie ensured him, '' Goodnight, Teddy.''

'' Goodnight, love.'' Theodore smiled back, gripping the clothing from his shoulder.

Draco kept his piercing stare in the fire, mumbling, '' Nott.'' To the boy.

'' Malfoy.'' Theodore grinned back, shooting them both a gentle look before walking into his room, and shutting the door close behind him.

Amelie peered up at the blonde, seeing the cold expression on his face — she felt terrible.

'' I was writing about you.'' She whispered, and his eyes caught hers; a curious look rose upon him as he leaned forward again.

'' Really?'' He sounded surprised.

Her cheeks burnt, '' Really.''

'' Let's hear it then.'' Draco tilted his head, nodding towards the paper in her hand, and she clenched it harder.

'' No.''

'' No?''

A peel of soft laugher fell off her lips, '' No. I'm not letting you hear what I wrote.''

Draco huffed, rolling his eyes at her as he thought about it. The book. Her book. He had brought it here because he wanted to give it back to her.

He knew that a girl who had suffered so much in her life as Amelie had done — getting attached to things, wasn't an easy thing, and she seemed tied to this book.

The tears staining some of the pages told him how she'd been crying while scrambling in it. The words of happiness and the words of hurt told him how much she trusted the bounded sheets of paper.

He could only wish that someday — she would put that much faith in him.

'' Fine.'' He smirked, '' But I want to hear the rest of it.''

Her features fell into confusion, her brows furrowed, '' What do you—''

'' You don't have to tell me about the me parts, but I would love to hear the rest of it.''

Her cheeks blushed again, '' It's just some stupid questions.''

'' Some stupid questions?'' The note falling off his tongue shredded in curiosity, '' What stupid questions?''

'' It's just—'' Amelie held her breath as she thought about it.

This was the perfect time to ask him about everything that was still unknown to her. To ask Draco all the things she craved to find out about.

Yet — she didn't quite dare to. Her heart began to pound, and her fingers gripped around the napkin.

She needed to focus, just like Teddy had taught her. She couldn't let the name of the boy who still had her life chained in magic do this to her anymore.

But it was as if she couldn't help it. It was a curse — having her life bounded with someone else's and especially with a human being who held so little respect for her life.

'' I was wondering about...'' Her lips pushed together, and Draco noticed how her breathing started to falter — how the calm, peaceful girl began to tremble.

His hands pushed into the sofa, forcing himself down onto the floor next to her. He placed a hand on her knee,

'' It's alright.'' He whispered, tilting his head against hers, '' You are safe here, and you can ask me anything.''

Amelie felt it — it did feel safe next to him, her tensed body softened by the touch he brought her.

The tightened air in her lungs — eased.

She wasn't scared here. She was safe.

'' I was wondering about Adrian and my mother.'' She whispered quickly before she had any chance to change her mind. She shut her eyes closed and bit down onto her lower lip.

Draco's teeth gritted. The heavy, severe breath he seized through his nose made her nervous.

He knew this was coming — that she would ask something like this, and she should. Amelie had every right to know what he knew about her family.

That wasn't anything that bothered him, but the fact of what he had to ask of her, again — made his bones cave.

The date he had set with the dark lord shifted closer for every day that passed, and it was almost time for him to meet Voldemort again. He understood that he couldn't show up empty-handed.

Draco needed her memories, but it tortured him to ask such a thing from her when he just got her back — when she finally held where she belonged again.

Not to think about the hurt and agony it caused her. Every time he searched her mind, she fell apart, and it took days for her to gather herself — even if she never showed it. He saw it every time.

Draco was scared too because now he knew that she could see his mind, just as he watched hers.

'' About that.'' Draco took a deep breath, his hand on her knee tensed, '' I need to ask something of you...''

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