Snatched; Draco Malfoy

twenty

I woke up late on the morning of the Hogwarts invasion to find that Draco had disappeared out of bed.

I slipped some fluffy socks on as well as a silk robe and trotted downstairs into the kitchen. I was expecting to see Narcissa cooking up some breakfast but instead a whole load of people were gathered round the dining table.

I recognised only some of them. Lucius Malfoy of course- he was sitting at the head of the table, Bellatrix was sneering at me, he eyes staring into mine, not blinking. I noticed Fenir Grayback sitting next to some twins who I recognised from the daily prophet.

My heart seemed to stop for a moment. My hands were clammy and my eyes darted to each person.

Draco was sitting opposite his mother, both of them fiddling with their rings anxiously. Narcissa turned swiftly to look at me and dread filled her face.

"Poppy, darling. We didn't think you were going to be awake yet. Go back to bed and Draco will be up there soon. We're just having a quick discussion together." Narcissa said warmly, motioning for me to go back upstairs.

Legs shaking, I turned my back and started to climb the stairs until a voice halted me.

"Wait!" Bellatrix hissed. "Come back. You can't leave without being introduced."

I faced them again and saw Bellatrix smiling wickedly and the others smirking to themselves.

"Poppy. Go. You don't need to be here," Narcisaa told me again then faced her sister. "Bella! The poor dear is obviously uncomfortable. Please leave her alone."

"Nonsense. We want to meet the little angel." The male twin said.

I looked over to Draco for help but he seemed as frightened as I was. Poor thing.

I slowly strode back down the stairs and sat in a spare seat next to the male twin.

"Go on them hunny. Introduce yourself. Don't be rude." Bellatrix laughed.

I cleared my throat and spoke in barely a whisper, "I'm Poppy. Poppy Carson."

"And what are you doing here, Poppy Carson," the female voice spoke.

"I- I'm staying here because Draco said Hogwarts wasn't safe."

"Is that so? I'm guessing you know about his task," she said again.

"Y- yes I do. But I want nothing to do with it." I said firmly.

The table looked at me, all of them with a sly smirk on their faces (except Narcissa and Draco.)

"Well, seeing as you know about the task, I don't think you can be trusted. You'll come with us tonight. And watch Draco fulfil his task. You want to support your little boyfriend don't you?" Fenrir said, from across the table.

"No! She's staying here at the manor with Blaise. I don't want her getting hurt. It's not safe and she means too much to me." Draco announced.

There was a long pause where everyone stared at Draco, analysing what he just said.

Then, everyone fell into a fit of malicious laughs. Fenrir was banging the table with his fists and Bellatrix was cackling manically.

"As if we'd ever bring you. Your nothing more than a little princess who needs her daddy draco." The female twin ridiculed. "You couldn't help fight if you tried!"

My mouth turned dry and heat rose to my cheeks. Tears were pricking at my eyes... I was humiliated.

"F-fight? I thought you were just going to do Draco's task." I asked, a lump in my throat.

"What's life without a little fight, Carson? You're too pitiful though you wouldn't understand. You can go. You've been humiliated enough." Bellatrix taunted.

Feeling like I weighed a ton, I pulled myself out of my chair and ran upstairs, back to bed. I flopped down and sobbed into my pillow, letting the cries escape me.

I felt so embarrassed. It was pathetic. Although I was expecting Draco to come upstairs and pull me into his embrace, he still sat downstairs with everyone else.

Soon, my body felt empty and I drifted into a light sleep.

~~~~~~

My eyes felt heavy, and my head was groggy. I squinted,still with my eyes shut, and they were sore from crying earlier on. I reluctantly lifted myself up, expecting to see Draco busying himself but instead I saw a note on the bedside table.

To my darling Pops,

You've been asleep for an awfully long time and you looked so peaceful- I didn't want to wake you. We've gone to Hogwarts. I will be back before you know it. I promise. Help yourself to food in the kitchen, Blaise should be somewhere. Please stay at the Manor. I don't want to see you be hurt.

I love you

Love, Draco

I folded the letter back up and ran downstairs to try and find Blaise. The first place I look was obviously the library. He did spend a lot of his time there.

Luckily, Blaise was sorting through the library books when I found him.

"Hey there, Princess. You alright?" Blaise called.

I ran over to him and hugged him tightly, glad to have some human contact.

"Woah! You alright darling?" He questioned, pulling me closer to him.

"I- I'm worried. About Draco. What's going to happen to him Blaise? Is he going to be ok? And- and what if something goes wrong? I never said goodbye to him... and I- I" i rambled, my chest heaving from the tears.

"Hey, hey, hey. Pops. Look at me." I pulled away from our hug and looked up at him - he was a fair bit taller than me.

"He's going to be okay," Blaise began, "Draco's smart, and no ones going to hurt him. He'll be back before you know it."

He wiped my tears away and I smiled up at him.
"What time is it? When did they leave."

"They only left the manor about 30 minutes ago. They're probably going into Borgin and Burke's now. How about we play a game of exploding snap to pass the time?" Blaise suggested.

I shook my head violently. "I have to go to Hogwarts. I can't just stay here."

Blaise looked startled. "No! No Poppy, Draco knows what he's doing. Please stay here. No one wants you to get hurt."

"I need to warn people. Like Hermione and Ron. And Luna, she doesn't deserve to be mixed up in this. Please Blaise. I have to go." I begged.

"Well. I could apparate you out of here. I've got my license and stuff. But you have to promise me you'll come back in one piece." Blaise told me.

"I promise. Don't worry. I'm careful." I assured him.

I changed into some jeans and a hoodie then Blaise apparated us into Hogsmede.

"Wow," Blaise said, "Hogwarts is not like it was in our first year."