This chapter contains violent actions. Please read with caution.

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" Where the fuck did you go?" He shouted only inches away from my face — His words caused me to swallow thickly — not owning the courage of speaking my mind.

All my mind could process was how close he stood, " For fucks sake — just answer me," He cursed again, eyes narrowed in mine,

I inhaled sharply, sucking my bottom lip in between my teeth, " That's none of your business, Malfoy." I tried pushing my palms into his chest, wanting him to leave, but he didn't budge — his tongue rolled on the inside of his cheek as he caught a step closer — placing his hands on each side of my trembling body, trapping me in,

My heart pounded out of my chest when his lips nearly brushed against mine — his minty breaths fanned my skin, " Draco, please." I begged, noticing the furious look flashing through his dense eyes,

But he merely ignored my pleads for him to back away. Instead, I felt his cold fingers traveling up my nearly exposed back — a trail of goosebumps traced across my damp spine as he goes,

Even if I resisted it, with every bone in my body - I still couldn't help but to crave his touch - it consumed me,

I felt a gasp escaping my lips when his hand gripped a handful of hair, yanking my head back to please his eyes, " You have a bad habit of not listening to me, Leiah." He spoke silently,

I felt my blood boiling at his words, " That's because I told you not to touch me," Staring intensely into his blue eyes,

He only scoffed at my words, " You don't want me to touch you?" He cooed as I chewed my lower lip,

I do,

I want you to touch me,

More than anything,

But I can't give in — I refuse to.

The tension between us clung touchable, " No,"

But he ignores my statement. He tightens his grip around my neck, pulling my head back even more, pressing his body onto mine.

" If you leave without telling me, ever again. I will make sure that you don't come back." He threatens me before he lets my hair go, pushing himself off the sink, taking a step back from me.

'' Also, make sure to stay away from Blaise. '' He mutters, giving me one last look before he turns around and storms out of my room.

Leaving me leaning against the sink with his scent surrounding me.

I turn around, hovering over the sink as I let my eyes run all over my reflection in the mirror in front of me, still breathing hard in doubt of him;

What is he doing to me?

But more importantly —

Why am I letting him do this to me?

Trying to wrap my mind around what just happened, and suddenly, I feel it.

The longing for his cold eager touch;

The longing for his skin to touch mine;

Fuck.

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I slipped down to my seat at lunch, next to Luna and Hermione as usual, ashamed for leaving them — even if they told me numerous times that they didn't mind — I still felt terrible, but that was only another thing to add to the list when it comes to why Luna is my best friend — is that she's always giving me the benefit of the doubt, every time, without questions asked.

I felt a smirk growing onto my lips as I thought about it — how lucky I am, '' What are you smirking at?'' Luna chuckled as I shook my head, snapping out of my mind, '' You look — like you're up to something,'' She smiled, shouldering me to the side as she leaned closer, not for Hermione to hear,

'' Whatever it is — can I join?'' Her curls tickled my nose as I shoved her back, eyes rolled between us,

I looked at Hermione with annoyed eyes, '' She's mental this one,'' I smirked, gesturing to my best friend beside me, earing a slap on my arm because of it,

Luna's face twisted in a grimace as a peel of soft laughter heaved her lips, '' I'm the mental one?'' She hissed, pointing a finger towards herself, '' Well, if that's the case — this crazy one needs to do her homework,'' — she pushed herself off her seat, planting a kiss on Hermione's cheek before she turned back to me, '' See you later, silly,''

I snatched her hand in mine, stroking it carefully before she walks away — My sights clocked back to Hermione as she's looking after her lover, sipping on her glass of pumpkin juice.

I felt my views wander, staring over the busy hall of students and chattering, and then — my eyes matched his — the blond-haired Slytherin, blonde strands of hair messy over his temples, jaws clenched. I chew on my lower lip as I caught myself staring lost into his eyes, not even bothered by the brown-haired girl seated next to him — stroking his arm,

'' What are you gawking at?'' Hermione's voice caused me to tear my sights away from his, looking at her instead — my cheeks flushed, still feeling his eyes bored through mine — ''What do you mean?'' I shrugged, trying to shake the feeling of him off me, '' I'm not gawking, Hermione,''

Her eyes sought mine, trying to figure out who I was looking at before her views fell to the table — her colored cheeks turned pale, '' Leiah, maybe we should—'' But before she had the chance of finishing her sentence — I peered over my shoulder, shocked by the grey-eyed Hufflepuff storming towards us,

Cedric holds an inch away from me as I stood up to level him — heavy pants fanned my skin as he shoved me back, '' Fucking around now, are you?'' He cursed at my startled front, earning a furrowed look from me, '' Fucking answer me,''

I felt my insides twist in disbelief — I haven't talked to him in over a week — not even to confront him about being with Cho the night he fucked me — and still, he dared to walk up to me and humiliate me in front of everyone,

I narrowed my sights in his as he caught a step closer — towering over me as my blood begins boiling, '' What is wrong with you?'' I challenged him, '' You have no right to come in here and start—''

His hand clutched my wrist, yanking me back to look at him, '' Did you fuck him?'' He seethed as the grip around my wrist tensed, '' Malfoy?'' — Cedric's words caused my veins to ice, shivers fled my spine as I looked into his grey eyes, pleading him to stop,

I shook my head, feeling dizzy of everything passing, '' What? I—,'' I breathed, seeking to find the right words,

'' Don't you dare lie to me,'' He hissed, teeth gritted as he flung my arm away, '' Cho saw him leave your room last night,'' — my stomach turned as a sickening feeling washed over me — it was true then — He used me — Cedric fucking used me.

I tore my eyes away — not owning the strength to look at him right now, '' I hate you — I fucking hate you,'' — a cruel curve climbed his lips as he took another step closer, '' You have no right to talk to me like that, Cedric — you were the one—''

'' Like what?'' He smirked, pure venom dripped off his tongue, '' Like the whore we all know you are?''

I stood frozen, my eyes snapped back to his as he let out a peel of provoking laughter, '' And you have the marks to prove it,'' Grey eyes traveled down my neck, clocking the bruises left by Draco's hands —

And by that — I didn't own any control over myself anymore —

I slapped him, hard.

Leaving a red mark on his cheek as he grasped it with his hand — looking shocked at me before something inside of him — snapped,

Cedric snatched both of my arms, '' You fucking—,'' He rose, roughly squeezing his hold of me, and I felt myself trying to shove him back, terrified of what he'd do to me '' You're nothing but a fucking whore, Leiah — You disgust me,''

'' That's enough, Cedric.'' Hermione's voice heard from behind, but he didn't care — he was too angry — too furious to let anything get to him as his hands were beginning to hurt around my skin,

'' Let me go, Cedric,'' I demanded, still trying to yank myself out of his grip, but to no use — he was trapped in hatred, and just as my temper was failing me,

I sensed him — the ice-cold presence behind me as a frozen hand pulled me away from Cedric's hold, my eyes clocked him again, '' Calm the fuck down, now.'' Draco cautions me before his eyes shot Cedric a death glare, '' He's not worth it,''

Cedric merely scoffed at Draco's words, eyes rolled as I forced Draco's hand off me, '' I can take care of myself,'' I seethed before taking steps away from the two angry boys — my shoulder struck Cedric's as I pushed myself past him,

'' You truly are a whore,'' The brown-haired Hufflepuff mumbled as I walked away — his words caused me to stop in my tracks, and just as I was about to turn around to face him,

His body dropped to the floor like a trail of blood is splattered onto my skirt,

I didn't find the words to speak at this moment — I stood terrified, peering down at the squirming Hufflepuff laying close to my feet, as sobs echoed through the hushed hall — my views stared in shock, before snapping up to Draco — standing tall, fists clenched by his deeds,

'' Draco,'' I breathed, and by the sound of my voice, his numb eyes flickered to mine, '' Draco, what did you do?'' — a string of light breaks through his numbness by the sound of my voice. I looked at him, still startled by what he'd done — He stood there, blue eyes bored through mine before he kneeled, next to the wounded boy, whimpering on the ground,

'' If you as much as look in her direction again, you're dead.'' He threatened through gritted teeth, visibly shaking before he leveled up to me again — placing cold hands on my waist, '' You need to leave — now,'' His eyes begged mine,

But I couldn't move — I felt my breaths hitch as Draco shoved me back, '' Draco, please,'' I pleaded, feeling his heavy pants caressing my skin, '' Please,''

His head snapped to Hermione as she placed on her seat — terrified of what just happened, '' Granger,'' He seethed, voice low, '' Take her out of here — now.''

I felt my insides twist in question as Hermione rushed her way up to me, evilly glaring at Draco before wrapping her hands around my shaking figure, '' It's okay, darling.'' She whispered into my hair, '' Let's go,''

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Hermione left to find Luna — she was the only one who could calm me in times like these, the only one who understood me — I felt my eyes pooling, still in shock of what Draco did.

I feel terrible for Draco — I never wished for him to do what he did, but still, in some way — I was grateful for what he did. Cedric deserved much more he had ever received — I hated him — He used me, but yet I was scared — scared of how my mother would react if she found out about this — scared of Draco's father and what he would do if—,

'' Leiah, are you crying?'' A humble voice spoke before me as I clocked out of my thoughts, '' What happened?'' I felt myself stumble back when I meet his brown eyes, staring into mine,

'' I—, Blaise I—,'' I breathed, not being able to form my words as he took a step closer, shoving his books into his bag, '' I just—,'' My sob caused my tears to fall — my body shaking as I hugged myself,

Blaise's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close into his warm embrace, '' It's okay, love.'' He mumbled into my head, '' Come with me,''

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Blaise stretched the glass of water out for to take, '' Here,'' He spoke as he tilted his head, sending me a concerned stare, '' You should drink something,''

My shaky hands reached for the water as I shot him a humble smile, '' Thank you,''

He paced around in his room, back and forth as he rushed his hands over his head, '' Tell me precisely what happened,'' He heaved, '' Tell me what Draco did,''

And by that — we took place on his bed, and I told him everything — everything that happened today — everything that had passed with Draco, Cedric, my father — I'm not sure of why I would do that — why I told him everything, but there was something about Blaise, that made it all easier,

His knuckles rubbed the heavy brown eyes as he tried to gather his words, '' First of all — are you alright?'' He tilted his head to rest on my shoulder, '' Because I know in first hand what Malfoy and his games can do to a person,'' I peered down at the boy resting beside me, noticing his fingers nervously tugging the sleeves of his sweater,

'' I think I am,'' I huffed, '' I just—, It's not normal, for a person to act the way he does — I don't understand it,'' I felt a drowning feeling lingering within as I thought about it — how Draco almost chocked me to death the other day but now he protected me?

He turned in his position, looking at me with wide eyes, '' What do you mean?'' He questioned me, '' I just—, He's been ignoring me for years, Blaise, and now? From out of the blue — he cares?''

A smile rose on Blaise's edges when he caught onto my words, '' He tried to kill me, Blaise. This isn't funny,'' I spoke, my voice scored low,

'' You can't honestly be that surprised, Leiah,'' He snickered, placing his head on my shoulder yet again, '' He even told me to stay away from you,''

The words leaving Blaise's lips earned a shocked look from mine,'' Why would he do that?'' I scoffed, annoyed at Draco for even trying to interfere with my friends, '' Because he's Draco — he doesn't make any sense most of the time,''

His hand sought to find mine, fiddling with my fingers, '' Doesn't the two of you spend Christmas together?'' He chuckled as he inspected my painted nails, '' Can you do this on me sometime?'' He asked, changing the subject as he trailed my hand up, pointing towards my nail polish, '' It's pretty,''

My heart flushed at his request as I sent him a slight nod,'' Of course,'' I smiled as he pushed himself up, shoving me to the side, a concerned look coated his features, '' Are you sure that you're okay?'' I shook my head at the boy next to me before I shoved him back,

'' Are you sure that you're okay?'' I mocked him, as he shoved me once more — causing me to fall over the edge of the bed, grasping his hand to pull myself up but instead — he dropped down next to me — His chest felt heavy against mine, '' You bloody fool,'' He laughed trying to prop himself off me, '' Look what you did,''

I felt my stomach bend in pain by all the laugher, eyes pooling in joy — '' I'm the bloody fool?'' I gasped between chuckles, '' You were the one pushing me off the bed,'' I felt his breaths fanning my blushed cheeks, and just as he pushed himself up —

The door slammed open, causing both of our necks to snap to the blonde-haired boy standing frozen in the doorway. I pushed Blaise of me, sitting up in fright as I watched Draco's face drop — pale skin turned paler of what he'd just witnessed, '' Draco,'' I gasped — but to no use, his defeated look swiftly turned to a furious one, before he turned around —

And stormed out.

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