Mine

[23]

I was relieved to finally be home. Even though I spent the majority of my time laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling. It was my third night home and I felt lonely, but at the same time I was glad to just be alone. I was glad that I could just have alone time without being in a busy common room or sitting amongst several people in the Great Hall.

My parents had called me down from my room and I found them sitting at the dining room table. I bit my lip as I took a seat across from them. I figured they'd want to sit me down and talk sooner or later. They'd been watching me carefully since I'd gotten home, probably trying to gauge how I was doing.

"Gemma, your mother and I wanted to talk to you. I'm going to ask that you let us speak first, and then I promise we'll give you the chance to say anything that you want." My father said once I had sat down. I simply nodded in response.

"Your mother and I love you very much. And our top priority is your wellbeing and safety. That being said, we know that Draco wasn't the one that killed Dumbledore, but that he is a Death eater and was assigned to do it." My father started, looking sideways at my mother. "I don't know whether you've spoken to him since that night or if you knew anything about it before it happened," My father held up a hand to silence me as I opened my mouth, "but we believe that you didn't know. We trust you."

"I know that this has probably been the worst year of your life." My father continued. "But things are only going to get worse. I know that it is scary and that you're probably worried about Draco, but I don't think it is safe for you to be with him, or to even speak with him. We have no idea what goes on in their household, or who is there. And with everything that has happened and what we can only assume will happen, your mother and I are likely to be spending more time helping the Order plan and strategize. I need to know that you are not going to take advantage of the times we aren't home to just go and show up at the Malfoy Manor."

"I would never just show up there at random." I promised my father. "Like you said, we don't know what is going on there and I know that it isn't safe."

"Thank you." My father nodded, letting out a sigh. "I'm not trying to keep you locked up and make you miserable by saying you can't see your boyfriend, I just need you to be okay."

"I understand." I said. "I haven't spoken to Draco since that night, before it happened. I haven't even written to him, nor has he written to me. I guess at first, I wasn't sure who killed Dumbledore, so I didn't know what to write to him or what to think. Then when I found out it was Snape, well, I don't know. I still don't know what I would say. I can't just write him a note saying, 'I know you didn't kill Dumbledore.' But dad, I need to talk to him."

"Gemma..." My dad said, sighing tiredly.

"I know you have your concerns, but Draco isn't a bad person. He's a broken person. He never wanted any of this. He was forced into it after his father was sent to Azkaban, probably as punishment for his father's failure. But I know Draco, dad. I know that he isn't okay and I know that he probably thinks I hate him and think ill of him and that's why I haven't written. I need him to know that those things aren't true. I've seen him in his low moments and I can only imagine how bad he's doing right now. I just – I need to talk to him." I looked between my parents, my eyes pleading with them. "Believe me, he's just as worried about my safety as you are."

"Honey, I know Draco isn't a bad person." My mother said softly. "I know he is much more Narcissa than he is Lucius. More importantly, I know you. You have a good heart and you wouldn't have given your heart away to someone who wasn't worthy. I think it would be okay for you to try to write to him, so long as it is something simple in case it falls into the wrong hands. But if you just trust us and don't act irrationally, we'll try to figure something out. Alright?"