Mine

[24]

It definitely wasn't the best summer break, but at least we kept busy. My parents put Grant and I through hours of training basically every day. The had us duel against one another, and together against our parents. They wanted to make sure that we knew how to work together and utilize one another's strengths and weaknesses in the event we fought side by side. Most days I was exhausted after the training. We didn't just work on dueling. My parents trained us in occlumency and legilimency, as well.

"Your mind must be as strong as your body." My father often reminded us.

I enjoyed the training. It kept me occupied so that I didn't spend too much time wondering about Draco. It had been about a month since I'd gone to see him at Malfoy Manor, and we'd only written to each other a few times. I was holding onto the hope of seeing him at Hogwarts for our final year, but I wasn't sure if that was going to happen. For starters, I had no idea if he was planning on returning, but my parents were against Grant and I going back. We'd only discussed it a few times, but my parents had yet to budge on their feelings towards it.

There was a meeting tonight, but I'd stayed home because I was exhausted and my parents said they probably wouldn't be discussing anything new. I had gone downstairs to get a drink when I heard a sound come from near the front door. I quickly whipped my wand out from my pants, half expecting it to be one of my parents trying to sneak up to see if I'd be prepared or unarmed.

I was careful to move as quietly as possible as I made my way towards the front of the house, my wand held out in front of me. I jumped out from behind the wall I was turning from, ready to act.

"Merlin, Draco! I nearly hexed you!" I exclaimed, my wand still held out before me.

Draco's arms were up by his head, his eyes wide. "Sorry, it's just me!"

I lowered my wand, sighing. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my eyes peering around as if he'd brought someone with him.

"I just wanted to see you. It's quiet at the manor so I was able to slip away. I guess I should have written first. I didn't really think about whether your parents would allow me to come over. I just jumped at the opportunity." Draco said, flashing me a sheepish smile.

"Well, my parents aren't home. I'm not sure when they'll be back though. I'm sure my father would be just thrilled about me having a boy over while they were gone." I said with a smirk. I tucked my wand back into my pants and ran up to him, jumping up and wrapping my legs around his waist.

Draco stumbled slightly at the unexpected impact, chuckling as he pressed his lips to mine in a short kiss. "I missed you." He murmured, gazing up at me.

"I missed you too." I said with a smile, sliding down so that I was standing once again. "What have you been up to?"

"Nothing exciting. There's just been a lot of people coming and going, so I keep to myself and stay in my room most of the time." Draco said, pulling me close to his chest. "Why did you have your wand up? Did something happen?"

"Oh, no. My parents have been training me and Grant so that we'd be ready to fight. Sometimes they try to sneak up on us to make sure we're prepared for the unexpected." I explained.

"That's smart." Draco nodded. "Where are they, anyway?"

"They're at an Order meeting. I was too tired to go after all the training we did today." I said.

"You've been attending Order meetings?" Draco asked, looking down at me. I'd forgotten how little I'd gotten to update him on my life lately. Not that there was too much to update on, anyway.

"I'm a member now." I said with a nod.

"Well, look at us. Members of opposing sides." Draco joked, but I could see it didn't reach his eyes.