I hurried my way out of the library, and I couldn't possibly rush any faster than I already did. I avoided every stare, every student that tried to greet me as I stormed by,

I couldn't think clearly.

The blonde-haired Slytherin clouded my mind, and nothing else made sense.

My steps echoed heavily as I walked over the courtyard's stone-covered ground, stumbling to the bridge, leaning over the edge of the railing, the darkened woods, the chilly breeze soring against my cheeks caught my attention for a split second, and everything that held heavy across my heart stunned in relief,

I hated him.

I hated him so much for having the hold of me we both knew he had.

I hated him for making me feel, only to rip my heart out of my chest,

I hated him for causing me to want him, to need him.

I never needed anyone before, except for my mother and my best friends, but right now — I couldn't be with her either, and I missed her, so much — more than words could ever come to describe,

No words could define the loss I held at this moment, the hurt of not being able to be with my mother, the need of the boy my heart ached for,

I felt my insides twist; the sickening feeling scored my senses as I tried to focus on the night — many people would fear the eclipse, but not me. I never minded the darkness, the untold, the not recognizable, and it was more than likely something I had inherited from my father,

The fearless senses, the intriguing feeling of always wanting to know the things you shouldn't — except for grief and loss. Those lived to be my greatest fears,

'' Are you bloody mad?'' His voice shredded the peace I felt lost in, his footsteps clinked loudly, '' What the fuck are you doing out here—,''

My eyes rolled at his words as I gripped the stone tighter, '' Go away, Malfoy,'' I whispered, not knowing if he even heard the spoken words,

The cold hands gripped roughly around my arms, striving to turn me around, '' I said — What are you doing out here?'' The fingers digging into my flesh made me dizzy; the touch he brought, even if it was meant to be a cruel one, affected me more than anything,

The blue eyes bored through mine, the strokes of moonlight lightened the pale skin, '' And I told you to leave, Draco—,''

His head snapped to the side, brows furrowed, '' Are you going to see Cedric?''

'' Because if you do, I swear to god that I will kill that little—,'' He arose, but the startled look on my face shut him up, he hushed, jaws clenched into sharp lines, '' Answer me, are you going to—,''

'' No,''

'' No what?'' Draco spat, the temper failing him terrified me, '' And don't you dare lie to me—,''

'' Why do you even care, Draco?'' I snapped, pushing the blonde-boy back, '' Why do you care about who I see and not? You made it more than clear that you didn't want me,''

I couldn't take it anymore, the constant battle in my mind, hoping that he one day would wake up and realize what's standing right in front of him, and the truth of him never doing so,

Silence,

My tells left him speechless, numb to a point where he didn't even fight back, '' For a Ravenclaw, you're more than stupid at times,'' He growled, rushing a ring-coated hand through his hair, '' Leave. I don't want you out here at this hour,''

My face turned in grimace, staring confused at his sudden change of demeanor, '' Draco, you can't just—,''

'' I said, fucking leave,''

And without thinking — I did as he demanded,

I walked away. Leaving him alone in the darkness.

_____

Days slowly passed without Draco speaking one single word to me since the night in out in the courtyard, but perhaps that's for the better, us not even looking in each other direction,

It eased my mind, not fretting his temper to cause me more pain.

Because it did,

Everything he did to me has caused me such great pain.

But the letter Narcissa granted me allowed me to breathe through the hurt; she penned that she kept in touch with my mother, that she could not write me herself due to my father and the evil search of her, but she wrote me her words — that when all of this was over, we would never be apart again, and even if that was plain torture at this time,

I intended to hold her to that promise,

Narcissa made me swear never to tell her son about my mother since the loyalty he kept for his father was graver than all of us. Draco trusted his father more than anyone, and ever since Luna told me that her father caught whispers about my father looking for me, no one in my mind could ever be trusted.

_____

'' You're doing it again,'' Blaise chuckled, making me wince by the surprising words. My eyes snapped to his, giving him an annoyed look before looking out over the lake again, '' Oh, is this how it's going to be?''

'' What?'' I huffed, my knees pushed up to my chest, '' What am I doing?''

His shoulder scored against mine, nudging me away, '' This is exactly my point, you see—,'' He smirked, white teeth showing in a cheeky smile, '' You're not here, or — you are,'' He held, his fingers brushing over his head, scratching it after, '' But you're not, does that make sense?''

I felt more than bad. My mind wandered a lot these days, even if I wished it not too and falling lost in my thoughts wasn't a rare thing anymore,

I forced a smile, peering up at the gentle boy next to me, '' No—, I'm sorry. I just...''

'' I have so much homework to do—,'' I lied, even if every bone in my body caved for me not to — I did. Because he deserved so much better than the painful truth of reality, '' I'm sorry. I'll try to do better—,''

'' Don't say that,'' He spoke, tilting his head to look at me, '' If a lot is going on, I'm here for you. You know that, right?''

I nodded, stray strands of hair fell over my shoulders as he smiled at it, softly tucking it back behind my ear, '' So can you, you know?''

'' I know,'' He hushed, the brown eyes glinted in guilt as he shook his head — his mind fought between right and wrong, '' I do... I do need to tell you something,''

'' What?'' I nearly whispered, my head dipping to rest on his shoulder, '' What does Blaise Zabini have to tell me this time?''

Moments of silence passed as he hesitatingly held his breath, kindly brushing his cheek against my head, '' Mr. Malfoy came to see us earlier today, and he asked if you—,''

'' He did what?''

My body jolted up from the grass, standing tall in my shoes in front of him, '' Tell me what he asked,'' I urged, in need to know why — to understand if this was another attempt for him to find out more about my mother.

'' He wanted to speak with you, but Draco refused to let him see you. He said that you—,''

''Where is Draco now?'' I spat, feeling my temper flooding through every vein — he always did this. Draco still took my decisions from me and turned them into his. Not once am I allowed to decide something for myself when the blonde one is involved,

Blaise's face frowned in skepticism, eyes gazed to our homework laying on the ground, '' But you were supposed to help me with—,''

'' I'll find you later, just—,'' My chest closed in as the air in my lungs tightened, '' Just tell me where he is,''

His hues rolled in annoyance, releasing a sigh before he nodded against the castle, '' He's in our common—,''

But before he even had the chance to finish his sentence, I stormed off.

_____

With sharp heels, I rushed my way through the dungeons, making my way to his common room,

I was furious.

No,

More than it,

He had no right to speak for me, to lie on my behalf without me even knowing about it,

This had to be about my mother, and I knew that Lucius had information about her that I needed, that his wife needed, yet Draco once again took that away from me,

My body shook in fury as I forced the doors open, causing every student in the common room to snap their head to mine, staring at me in dubiety as my eyes searched the room, clocking the blonde boy resting on the couch with a girl plastered to his side,

With a harsh swallow, I stepped down the stairs — glaring every student and their curiosity down, '' Everyone out, right now,''

And without question, the students served me. That's simply the only thing I held dearly with the name Riddle — every student in Slytherin always did as I asked, more scared of my father than of me,

Draco stood tall from his seat, his eyes watching me as I booted closer, my palms struck his chest, ramming him into the wall, '' What the—,''

'' Fuck?'' I finished for him, my teeth gritted as I once again forced my fists into the toned chest, '' That's what I'm asking you, Draco—,''

'' What the fuck are you playing at?''

My words made Pansy let out a devilish giggle behind me. I locked my eyes in hers, turning around to face the provoking look on her face, '' I told you to leave,'' - but she simply rolled her eyes away from mine, staring directly back at Draco,

'' Sit down again, Draco. She's not worth—,''

I shoed closer to her, my hands gripped the collar of her robe as I forced her up from her seated position, '' I. said. leave.'' I watched as her eyes flashed in fear, her lower lip slightly quivering,

Draco cleared his throat behind me, two cold hands wrapped around my waist to pull me away from her, '' Leave, pansy.'' He growled, feeling the minty breaths fanning my shoulder as I stared at her,

And she did. She obeyed him in a heartbeat, my hands off her as she sprinted out of the common room, leaving me alone with the boy who triggered my temper,

I felt his fingers tensing around my waist, almost as he pulled me closer, '' Draco—,'' I breathed out, struggling out of his grip, '' Why would you do that?'' My eyes narrowed in his, '' Why would you tell your father that I—,''

'' What?'' He spat, his face shifted in stone, the crease in his forehead faded as the vein popped out, '' What did you say?''

'' Your father was here, and you told him—,''

'' And who told you this? My mother?''

My brows furrowed, my mind swirled in question, '' Why would your mother—,''

'' Then who?''

My arms crossed over my chest as I stayed silent, refusing to betray my friend, ''Leiah, I swear to—,'' He snarled, '' Oh. Blaise?'' He slowly shook his head, a scoff left his lips as he scratched his hand over the sharp jawline,

'' He's dead,''

Draco pushed past me, storming off towards the entrance — my fingers rushed through my hair, tugging it back in defeat, the panic flushing through my vessels drowned me. He can't do this. He's in his wrong mind, not me, not Blaise, him.

'' Don't you dare walk away from me, Malfoy,''

He halted in his steps, the suit jacket stretched around his shoulder as he cracked his neck, '' What was that?'' He turned to face me, '' Don't I dare?'' He mocked,

I felt my bravery failing me, slowly stepping back as he stepped closer, '' And what are you going to do about it? Slap me again?'' The corner of his lips twitched, upper lip curling into an amused smirk, '' Please, enlighten me. What are you—,''

My sights dropped to the stone-covered floor, arms fell to my sides as I was utterly pitched underneath his trance, '' I hate you,'' I whimpered to myself, '' I hate you so much,''

An iced hand reached under my chin, fingers bending my head up to match his evil stare, '' What was that?'' He taunted me, provoked by the disgusted look shattering my temples, '' You hate me?''

'' I do—,''

The blue eyes rolled, his head slowly nodding, '' Then it's a good thing that I hate you too,''

I sucked in a thick breath, chewing my bottom lip as I prepared myself to argue my cause — to confront him with all the cruelty he always used on me, but before I knew the word of it, the instant my lips parted to speak,

His lips crashed into mine,

_______